Analog control components for an aerosol delivery device

Abstract

To provide an analog electronic component for control of an aerosol delivery device.SOLUTION: An aerosol delivery device 100 includes: a heating element 222; a reservoir 218 that retains aerosol precursor composition; an analog electronic component that, in response to user input and independently of a digital processor, directs a constant current to the heating element and thereby activates the heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition in response to the user input; and a user input interface through which the user input is receivable.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices such as smoking articles, and more particularly to aerosol delivery devices (e.g., smoking articles commonly referred to as electronic cigarettes) that may utilize electrically generated heat for aerosol generation. The smoking article may be configured to heat an aerosol precursor that may be manufactured from tobacco, derived from tobacco, or otherwise incorporate a material that may incorporate tobacco, and the precursor may form an inhalable substance for human consumption.

Background Art

[0002] Over the years, many smoking devices have been proposed as improved or alternative products to smoking products that require burning tobacco for use. Many of these devices purport to provide the sensations associated with smoking a cigarette, cigar or pipe, but are designed not to deliver significant amounts of products of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis resulting from the burning of tobacco. For this purpose, many smoking products, aroma generators and medicinal inhalers have been proposed that utilize electrical energy to vaporize or heat a volatile material, or to provide the smoking sensation of a cigarette, cigar or pipe without burning the tobacco to a significant extent. See, for example, the various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and heat sources described in the background art of Robinson et al., U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 and Collett et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,881,737, which are incorporated herein by reference. Also see, for example, the various types of smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices and electric heat sources referred to by trademark name and commercial source described in Bless et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015 / 0216232, which is incorporated herein by reference. Further, various types of electric aerosol and vapor delivery devices have also been proposed in Sears et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 and Minskoff et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0283859 and Sears et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 282,768 filed on May 20, 2014, Brinkley et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 286,552 filed on May 23, 2014, Ampolini et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 327,776 filed on July 10, 2014 and Worm et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 465,167 filed on August 21, 2014, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

[0004] It may be desirable to provide an aerosol delivery device having analog electronic components for controlling the aerosol delivery device. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0005] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device, a method of forming such a device, and elements of such a device. Thus, the present disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following exemplary embodiments.

[0006] Exemplary Embodiment 1: An aerosol delivery device comprising at least one housing, within which is housed a heating element, a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition, an analog electronic component, and a user input interface, the analog electronic component being configured to direct a constant current to the heating element in response to a user input and independently of a digital processor, thereby activating the heating element to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, and the user input being receivable via the user input interface.

[0007] Exemplary Embodiment 2: An aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the analog electronic components are or include a non-inverting op-amp or a linear regulator.

[0008] Exemplary Embodiment 3: An aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the user input interface includes a mechanical switch and user input is receivable via the mechanical switch.

[0009] Exemplary Embodiment 4: An aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, further comprising a solid-state switch operably coupled between and to a mechanical switch and analog electronic components, which switches current to the analog electronic components in response to user input, thereby switching a constant current induced by the analog electronic components to a heating element.

[0010] Exemplary Embodiment 5: An aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the solid-state switch is a latching switch.

[0011] Exemplary Embodiment 6: An aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, further comprising an indicator operably coupled between the solid-state switch and the analog electronic components and configured to provide a visual indication of the switched current.

[0012] Exemplary Embodiment 7: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the indicator is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a quantum dot-enabled light emitting diode, or includes them.

[0013] Exemplary Embodiment 8: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the user input interface includes a capacitance sensor and user input can be received via the capacitance sensor.

[0014] Exemplary Embodiment 9: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the aerosol delivery device further includes a single-pole multi-throw (SPMT) switch and a plurality of resistors of various resistances operably connected between an analog electronic component and a heating element, the plurality of resistors being connected to each throw of the SPMT switch, and the constant current having an ampere number that changes according to which throw is connected to the pole of the SPMT switch.

[0015] Exemplary Embodiment 10: An aerosol delivery device of any of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, further including a rechargeable power source configured to deliver current, and the analog electronic component being configured to conduct a constant current from the rechargeable power source to the heating element.

[0016] Exemplary Embodiment 11: A control body that is connected or connectable to a cartridge containing an aerosol precursor composition and having a heating element, the control body being connectable or connected to the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, the control body comprising at least one housing, within which an analog electronic component and a user input interface are housed, the analog electronic component being configured to direct a constant current to the heating element in response to a user input and independently of a digital processor, thereby activating the heating element and vaporizing components of the aerosol precursor composition, and the user input being receivable via the user input interface.

[0017] Exemplary Embodiment 12: A control body according to any preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiment or any combination thereof, wherein the analog electronic component is or includes a non-inverting operational amplifier or a linear regulator.

[0018] Exemplary Embodiment 13: A control body according to any preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiment or any combination thereof, wherein the user input interface includes a mechanical switch and the user input is receivable via the mechanical switch.

[0019] Exemplary Embodiment 14: A control body according to any preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiment or any combination thereof, further comprising a solid-state switch operably connected between the mechanical switch and the analog electronic component and configured to switch current to the analog electronic component in response to a user input, thereby switching the constant current directed by the analog electronic component to the heating element.

[0020] Exemplary Embodiment 15: A control body according to any preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiment or any combination thereof, wherein the solid-state switch is a latching switch.

[0021] Exemplary Embodiment 16: A control body of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, further including an indicator operably connected between a solid-state switch and an analog electronic component and configured to provide a visual indication of the switched current.

[0022] Exemplary Embodiment 17: A control body of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the indicator is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or a quantum dot light-emitting diode or includes them.

[0023] Exemplary Embodiment 18: A control body of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the user input interface includes a capacitance sensor and user input can be received via the capacitance sensor.

[0024] Exemplary Embodiment 19: A control body of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, wherein the control body further includes a single-pole multi-throw (SPMT) switch and a plurality of resistors of various resistances operably connected between the analog electronic component and the heating element, the plurality of resistors being connected to each throw of the SPMT switch and the constant current having an ampere number that changes according to which throw is connected to the pole of the SPMT switch.

[0025] Exemplary Embodiment 20: A control body of any one of the preceding or subsequent exemplary embodiments or any combination thereof, further including a rechargeable power source configured to deliver current, and the analog electronic component is configured to conduct a constant current from the rechargeable power source to the heating element.

[0026] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. The present disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, or more features or elements described in the present disclosure, whether or not such features or elements are explicitly combined or recited in a particular exemplary embodiment described herein. The present disclosure is intended to be read as a whole such that, unless the context of the present disclosure clearly dictates otherwise, any separable feature or element of the present disclosure may be considered combinable in any of its aspects and exemplary embodiments.

[0027] Accordingly, it will be understood that this summary is provided only for the purpose of summarizing some aspects of the present disclosure to provide a basic understanding of some of its aspects. Accordingly, it will be understood that the above exemplary embodiments are merely examples and should in no way be construed as limiting the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. Other exemplary embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings that illustrate the principles of some of the described exemplary embodiments.

[0028] The present disclosure has been described in the foregoing general terms and will now refer to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0030] The present disclosure will be described in more detail below with reference to its exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described such that the present disclosure is thorough and complete and conveys the scope of the present disclosure fully to those skilled in the art. In fact, the present disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will meet the applicable legal requirements. The singular forms "a", "an", "the", etc. used in this specification and the appended claims include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0031] As described below, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an aerosol delivery system. The aerosol delivery system according to the present disclosure uses electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without significantly burning the material) to form an inhalable substance. The components of such a system most preferably have a form of an article small enough to be considered a handheld device. That is, in the sense that an aerosol mainly results from by-products of tobacco combustion or pyrolysis, no smoke is generated when using the components of a preferred aerosol delivery system. Rather, when using those preferred systems, vapor results from the volatilization or vaporization of specific components incorporated therein. In some exemplary embodiments, the components of the aerosol delivery system may be characterized as electronic cigarettes, which most preferably incorporate tobacco and / or tobacco-derived components and, thus, deliver tobacco-derived components in aerosol form.

[0032] The aerosol generating component of a particular preferred aerosol delivery system can provide a number of sensations (e.g., inhalation and exhalation patterns, types of taste or flavor, sensory stimulating effects, physical feel, usage patterns, visual stimuli such as those provided by the visible aerosol) similar to those experienced when smoking a cigarette, cigar, or pipe that is used (and thus, by inhaling tobacco smoke) by igniting and burning the tobacco without substantially burning any of its components. For example, a user of the aerosol generating component of the present disclosure can hold and use the component in the same manner as a smoker uses a conventional type of smoking article, draw on one end of the component to inhale the aerosol generated by the component, and smoke at selected time intervals, etc.

[0033] The aerosol delivery system of the present disclosure can also be characterized as a vapor-generating article or a drug delivery article. Thus, such an article or device can be configured to provide one or more substances (e.g., a flavor and / or a pharmaceutically active ingredient) in an inhalable form or state. For example, the inhalable substance can be in a substantially vapor form (i.e., a substance in the gas phase at a temperature below its critical point). Alternatively, the inhalable substance can be in the form of an aerosol (i.e., a suspension of fine solid particles or droplets in a gas). For clarity, the term "aerosol" as used herein means a form or type of vapor, gas, and aerosol suitable for human inhalation, regardless of whether it is visible or can be regarded as smoky.

[0034] The aerosol delivery system of the present disclosure generally includes a number of components provided within an outer body or shell, which may be generally referred to as a housing. The overall design of the outer body or shell can be changed, and the form or configuration of the outer body that can define the overall dimensions and shape of the aerosol delivery device can be changed. Typically, an elongated body similar in shape to a cigarette or cigar can be formed from a single integral housing, or the elongated housing can be formed from two or more separable bodies. For example, the aerosol delivery device can have an elongated shell or body that is substantially tubular in shape and can itself be similar in shape to a conventional cigarette or cigar. In one example, all components of the aerosol delivery device are housed within one housing. Alternatively, the aerosol delivery device can include two or more housings that are joined and separable. For example, the aerosol delivery device can have a control body at one end that includes a housing for accommodating one or more reusable components (e.g., a battery such as a rechargeable battery and / or a capacitor, and various electronic devices for controlling the operation of the article), and at the other end, an outer body or shell for accommodating a disposable portion (e.g., a disposable flavor-containing cartridge) that can be removably connected thereto.

[0035] The aerosol delivery system of the present disclosure most preferably includes a power source (i.e., an electrical power source), at least one control component (e.g., means for actuating, controlling, regulating, and stopping the power for heating, such as by controlling the flow of current from the power source to other components of the article, e.g., an analog electronic control component), a heater or heating element (e.g., an electrical resistance heating element or other component that can generally be referred to as a "atomizer" alone or in combination with one or more additional elements), an aerosol precursor composition (e.g., components commonly referred to as "smoke juice," "e-liquid," and "e-juice," generally a liquid that can produce an aerosol when sufficient heat is applied), and some combination of a mouth end region or tip (e.g., a defined air flow path through the article) that allows the aerosol delivery device to be suctioned for aerosol inhalation, such that the generated aerosol can be drawn therefrom by inhalation.

[0036] The more specific forms, configurations, and arrangements of the components within the aerosol delivery system of the present disclosure will become apparent in light of the further disclosure provided below. Further, the selection and arrangement of the various aerosol delivery system components can be understood in view of commercially available electronic aerosol delivery devices such as the representative products referenced in the background art section of the present disclosure.

[0037] In various examples, the aerosol delivery device can include a reservoir configured to hold the aerosol precursor composition. The reservoir can in particular be formed from a porous material (e.g., a fibrous material) and can thus be referred to as a porous substrate (e.g., a fibrous substrate). The reservoir may also be housed within or otherwise surrounded by a ferrite material to facilitate inductive heating.

[0038] A fibrous substrate useful as a reservoir of an aerosol delivery device may be a woven or non-woven material formed from a plurality of fibers or filaments and can be formed from one or both of natural and synthetic fibers. For example, the fibrous substrate may comprise a glass fiber material. In certain examples, a cellulose acetate material can be used. In other exemplary embodiments, a carbon material can be used. The reservoir may be substantially in the form of a container and may contain the fibrous material therein.

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an aerosol delivery device 100 including a control body 102 and a cartridge 104 according to various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Specifically, FIG. 1 shows a control body and a cartridge connected to each other. The control body and the cartridge may be removably aligned in a functional relationship. Various mechanisms may connect the cartridge to the control body to provide screw engagement, press-fit engagement, interference fit, magnetic engagement, and the like. In some exemplary embodiments, when the cartridge and the control body are in an assembled configuration, the aerosol delivery device may be substantially rod-shaped, substantially tubular, or substantially cylindrical. The aerosol delivery device may also have a cross-section that is substantially rectangular or diamond-shaped, thereby providing good compatibility with a substantially flat or thin-film power source, such as a power source including a flat battery. The cartridge and the control body may include separate respective housings or outer bodies formed from any of a number of different materials. The housing may be formed from any suitable structurally stable material. In some examples, the housing may be formed from a metal or alloy such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. Other suitable materials include various plastics (e.g., polycarbonate), metal plating on plastics, ceramics, and the like.

[0040] In some exemplary embodiments, one or both of the control body 102 or the cartridge 104 of the aerosol delivery device 100 may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control body may have a replaceable battery or a rechargeable supercapacitor, and thus may be combined with any type of recharge technology including connection to a typical wall outlet, connection to a vehicle charger (i.e., cigarette socket), connection to a computer via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) cable or connector, connection to a radio frequency (RF) charger, or connection to a photovoltaic cell (sometimes called a solar cell), or a solar panel of a solar cell. Some examples of suitable recharge technologies are described below. Further, in some exemplary embodiments, the cartridge may include a disposable cartridge as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,910,639 to Chang et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0041] Figure 2 shows the aerosol delivery device 100 in more detail according to some exemplary embodiments. As seen in the cutaway view shown therein, again, the aerosol delivery device can include a control body 102 and a cartridge 104, each including a number of respective components. The components shown in Figure 2 are representative of components that may be present within the control body and the cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of the components encompassed by the present disclosure. As shown, for example, the control body can be formed from a control body shell 206 that can include various electronic components such as a control component 208 (e.g., an electronic analog component), a sensor 210, a power source 212, and one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 214 (e.g., an organic light emitting diode (OLED)), and such components can be variably aligned. The flow sensor may include a number of suitable sensors such as an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, and the like.

[0042] Power source 212 can be a suitable power source such as a lithium-ion battery, a solid-state battery, or a supercapacitor, or may include them, as disclosed in the specification of US Patent Application No. 14 / 918926 by Sur et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. Examples of suitable solid-state batteries include the EnFilm(TM) rechargeable solid lithium thin-film battery from STMicroelectronics. Examples of suitable supercapacitors include electric double layer capacitors (EDLCs), hybrid capacitors, such as lithium-ion capacitors (LICs), etc.

[0043] In some exemplary embodiments, power source 212 can be a rechargeable power source configured to deliver current to control component 208 (e.g., an analog electronic component). In these examples, the power source may be connected to the charging circuit via a resistance temperature detector (RTD). The RTD may be configured to send a signal to the charging circuit when the temperature of the power source exceeds a threshold amount, and the charging circuit may respond by disabling the charging of the power source. In these examples, the safe charging of the power source may be ensured independently of a digital processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and / or digital processing logic.

[0044] LED 214 can be an example of a suitable visual indicator that can be provided in aerosol delivery device 100. In some examples, the LED may include an organic LED or a quantum dot corresponding LED. In addition to, or instead of, visual indicators such as LEDs that include organic LEDs or quantum dot corresponding LEDs, other indicators such as audio indicators (e.g., speakers), tactile indicators (e.g., vibration motors), etc. can be included.

[0045] Cartridge 104 can be formed from a cartridge shell 216 that fluidly communicates with a liquid transport element 220 configured to draw or otherwise transport an aerosol precursor composition stored within a reservoir housing to a heater 222 (sometimes referred to as a heating element). In various configurations, this structure may be referred to as a tank, and thus, terms such as “tank,” “cartridge,” etc. may be used interchangeably to refer to a shell or other housing that surrounds a reservoir of an aerosol precursor composition and includes a heater. In some examples, a valve may be disposed between the reservoir and the heater and may be configured to control the amount of aerosol precursor composition sent or delivered from the reservoir to the heater.

[0046] Heater 222 may be formed using materials of various examples configured to generate heat when an electric current is applied. Heaters of these examples may be resistive heating elements such as wire coils, micro heaters, etc. Examples of materials that may form a wire coil include Kanthal (FeCrAl), nichrome, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), molybdenum silicide (MoSi), molybdenum disilicide doped with aluminum (Mo(Si,Al)2), titanium (Ti), graphite and graphite-based materials (e.g., carbon-based foams and threads), and ceramics (e.g., positive temperature coefficient ceramics or negative temperature coefficient ceramics). Exemplary embodiments of heaters or heating members useful in an aerosol delivery device according to the present disclosure are further described below and can be incorporated into a device as shown in FIG. 2 described herein.

[0047] An opening 224 may be present within the cartridge shell 216 (e.g., at the mouth end) to enable the formed aerosol to be discharged from the cartridge 104.

[0048] In addition to the heater 222, the cartridge 104 may also include one or more other electronic components 226. These electronic components may include integrated circuits, memory components, sensors, etc. The electronic components may be adapted to communicate with the control component 208 and / or an external device by wired or wireless means. The electronic components may be located anywhere within the cartridge or its base 228.

[0049] Although the control component 208 and the sensor 210 are shown separately, it is understood that the control component and the sensor may be combined as an electronic circuit board. Further, the electronic circuit board may be arranged horizontally with respect to the figure of FIG. 1 in that the electronic circuit board may be parallel to the central axis of the control body in the longitudinal direction. In some examples, the sensor may include its own circuit board or other base element to which it can be attached. In some examples, a flexible circuit board may be used. The flexible circuit board may be configured in various shapes including a substantially tubular shape. In some examples, the flexible circuit board may be combined with, laminated on, or form part or all of the heater board, as further described below.

[0050] The control body 102 and the cartridge 104 may include components configured to facilitate fluid engagement therebetween. As shown in FIG. 2, the control body can include a coupler 230 having a cavity 232 therein. The base 228 of the cartridge can be configured to engage with the coupler and can include a protrusion 234 configured to fit within the cavity. Such engagement facilitates a stable connection between the control body and the cartridge and can establish an electrical connection between the power source 212 and the control components 208 within the control body and the heater 222 within the cartridge. Further, the control body shell 206 can include an air inlet 236, which can be a notch within the shell, where the notch connects to the coupler, whereby ambient air passes around the coupler and into the shell, then through the cavity 232 of the coupler and into the cartridge via the protrusion 234.

[0051] In use, the heater 222 is activated to vaporize the components of the aerosol precursor composition. When the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device is suctioned, ambient air enters through the air inlet 236 and passes through the cavity 232 within the coupler 230 and the central opening within the protrusion 234 of the base 228. Within the cartridge 104, the suctioned air combines with the formed vapor to form an aerosol. The aerosol is either blown off from the heater, inhaled, or otherwise suctioned and exits through an opening 224 within the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device.

[0052] Useful couplers and bases according to the present disclosure are described in the specification of U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 to Novak et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. For example, as seen in FIG. 2, coupler 230 may define an outer perimeter 238 configured to mate with the inner perimeter 240 of base 228. In one embodiment, the inner perimeter of the base may define a radius that is substantially equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the outer perimeter of the coupler. Further, the coupler may define one or more protrusions 242 on the outer perimeter configured to engage one or more recesses 244 defined in the inner perimeter of the base. However, various other example structures, shapes, and components may be used to connect the base to the coupler. In some examples, the connection between the base of cartridge 104 and the coupler of control body 102 may be substantially permanent, whereas in other examples, the connection between them may be releasable so that, for example, the control body can be reused with one or more additional cartridges that may be disposable and / or refillable.

[0053] In some examples, aerosol delivery device 100 may be substantially rod-shaped or substantially tubular or substantially cylindrical. In other examples, additional shapes and dimensions are included, such as rectangular or triangular cross-sections, polyhedral shapes, and the like.

[0054] The reservoir 218 shown in FIG. 2 may be a container or a fibrous reservoir as described herein. For example, in this example, the reservoir can comprise one or more layers of non-woven fibers substantially formed in the shape of a tube surrounding the interior of the cartridge shell 216. An aerosol precursor composition can be held within the reservoir. For example, the reservoir can adsorb and hold liquid components. The reservoir can be in fluid connection with the liquid transport element 220. In this example, the liquid transport element can transport the aerosol precursor composition stored within the reservoir to the heater 222, which is in the form of a metal wire coil, by capillary action. Thus, the heater is in a heating configuration with a liquid transport element. Exemplary embodiments of reservoirs and transport elements useful in an aerosol delivery device according to the present disclosure are further described below, and such reservoirs and / or transport elements can be incorporated into an apparatus such as that shown in FIG. 2 described herein. In particular, a specific combination of a heating member and a transport element, further described below, may be incorporated into an apparatus such as that shown in FIG. 2 described herein.

[0055] The various components of the aerosol delivery device according to the present disclosure can be selected from components described in the art and commercially available. Examples of batteries that can be used in accordance with the present disclosure are described in Peckerar et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0028766, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0056] The aerosol delivery device 100 can incorporate a sensor 210 or another sensor or detector for controlling the supply of power to the heater 222 when aerosol generation is desired. Thus, for example, in the case of an aerosol delivery device, a mode or method is provided for turning off the power supply to the heater and then turning on the power supply to activate or cause heat generation by the heater during inhalation. Additional representative types of sensing or detection mechanisms, their structures and configurations, their components, and their general methods of operation are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in U.S. Patent No. 5,261,424 to Sprinkel, Jr., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., and PCT Patent Application Publication WO2010 / 003480 to Flick.

[0057] Most preferably, the aerosol delivery device 100 incorporates a control component 208 or another control mechanism for controlling the amount of electrical power to the heater 222. Representative types of electronic components, their structures and configurations, their characteristics, and their general methods of operation are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 to Gerth et al., U.S. Patent No. 4,947,874 to Brooks et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 to McCafferty et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer 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 Application Publication No. 2009 / 0230117 to Fernando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0060554 to Collet et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0270727 to Ampolini et al., and U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 209,191 to Henry et al., filed on March 13, 2014.

[0058] Representative types of substrates, reservoirs or other components for supporting aerosol precursors are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Patent No. 8,528,569 to Newton, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261487 to Chapman et al., U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 011,992 to Davis et al. filed Aug. 28, 2013, and U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 170,838 to Bless et al. filed Feb. 3, 2014. Further, various wicking materials and the construction and operation of those wicking materials in certain types of electronic cigarettes are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0209105 to Sears et al., which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0059] An aerosol precursor composition, also referred to as a vapor precursor composition, may comprise various components including, for example, a polyhydric alcohol (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol or a mixture thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extracts and / or flavorants. Representative types of aerosol precursor components and formulations are also described and characterized in U.S. Patent No. 7,217,320 to Robinson et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013 / 0008457 to Zheng et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013 / 0213417 to Chong et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2014 / 0060554 to Collett et al., U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015 / 0020823 to Lipowicz et al., and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015 / 0020830 to Koller, as well as WO2014 / 182736 to Bowen et al., the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Other aerosol precursors that may be used include those incorporated in the VUSE(R) product of R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company, the BLU(TM) product of Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, the MISTIC MENTHOL product of Mistic Ecigs, and the VYPE product of CN Creative Ltd. The so-called "smoke juice" for electronic cigarettes available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC is also desirable.

[0060] Components that provide a visual stimulus, such as visual indicators and related components, audio indicators, tactile indicators, or additional representative types of indicators, may be used in the aerosol delivery device 100. Examples of suitable LED components, as well as their construction and use, are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,154,192 to Sprinkel et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,499,766 to Newton, U.S. Patent No. 8,539,959 to Scatterday, and U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 173,266 to Sears et al., filed February 5, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

[0061] Any other features, control units or components that can be incorporated into the aerosol delivery device of the present disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety into this specification from the specifications of U.S. Patent No. 5,967,148 to Harris et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,934,289 to Watkins et al., U.S. Patent No. 5,954,979 to Counts et al., U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 to Fleischhauer et al., U.S. Patent No. 8,365,742 to Hon, U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 to Fernando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0016550 to Katase, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0163063 to Fernando et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0192623 to Tucker et al., U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0298905 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 Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261408 to DePiano et al.

[0062] The control component 208 includes a number of electronic components and, in some examples, may be formed from a printed circuit board (PCB) that supports and electrically connects the electronic components. The electronic components may include a digital processor (e.g., a microprocessor) and / or analog electronic components configured to operate independently from digital processing logic. In some examples, the control component may be coupled to a communication interface to enable wireless communication with one or more networks, computing devices, or other suitably adapted devices. Examples of suitable communication interfaces are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 638,562 to Marion et al., filed Mar. 4, 2015, the content of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Examples of suitable manners in which the aerosol delivery device may be configured for wireless communication are disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 327,776 to Ampolini et al., filed Jul. 10, 2014, and U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 609,032 to Henry, Jr. et al., filed Jan. 29, 2015, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

[0063] As described above, the control body 102 may include a control component 208 for controlling the amount of electrical power to the heater 222. In some exemplary embodiments, the control component may be, or include, an analog electronic component configured to direct a constant current to the heater in response to a user input, thereby activating the heater in response to the user input to vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The analog electronic component may be configured to direct a constant current to the heater independently of a digital processor. That is, the analog electronic component may direct a constant current to the heater without using a digital processor. Thus, in some examples, the digital processor may be omitted from the aerosol delivery device 100.

[0064] In a more specific example, the control component 208 may include an analog electronic component such as a non-inverting operational amplifier, a linear regulator, or another suitable electronic component configured to maintain a constant output current. Exemplary non-inverting operational amplifiers that may be used include the high voltage high current operational amplifier (the "OPA549") products of Texas Instruments(TM) and Burr-Brown products. Exemplary linear regulators that may be used include the single resistor type rugged linear regulator with 1.5 ampere (A) monitor or 1.5A constant current regulator (the "LT3081ER") products of Linear Technology(TM).

[0065] FIG. 3 shows in more detail a control body 102 having a control component 208 that includes an analog electronic component 302 (e.g., a non-inverting operational amplifier, a linear regulator) according to some exemplary embodiments. The power supply 212 may be connected to an electrical load that includes various components of the control body 102 to form an electrical circuit that includes an analog electronic component. More specifically, the analog electronic component may be coupled to the power supply and receive current therefrom. As described above, the analog electronic component may conduct a constant current therefrom to the heater 222, and the heater may also be included in the electrical load when the control body is coupled to the cartridge 104.

[0066] The analog electronic component 302 may be configured to conduct a constant current to the heater 222 in response to a user input. Accordingly, the control body 102 may also include a user input interface 304 through which a user input can be received. In some examples, the control body 102 may be coupled between the user input interface and the analog electronic component and further include an indicator 306 configured to provide a visual indication of the current conducted from the power supply 212 to the analog electronic component and then from the analog electronic component to the heater.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 4, in some examples, the user input interface 304 includes a mechanical switch 402 (e.g., a push button) and a solid state switch 404 (e.g., a latching switch) coupled to the mechanical switch, and user input can be received via the mechanical switch 402. In particular, the solid state switch is coupled between the analog electronic component 302 and the mechanical switch and may switch current to the analog electronic component in response to user input therefrom. Thereby, the solid state switch may also switch a constant current driven by the analog electronic component to the heater 222. In these examples, the indicator 306 may be coupled between the solid state switch and the analog electronic component and more specifically may be configured to provide a visual indication of the current being switched.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 5, in addition to or instead of the mechanical switch 402, the user input interface 304 may include a capacitance sensor 502 and user input can be received via the capacitance sensor 502. The capacitance sensor may be configured to detect nearby objects without any physical contact with the object. In particular, the capacitance sensor may measure a change in capacitance in the presence of a nearby object such as a user's finger or other device as described in Sur et al.'s U.S. Patent Application No. 14 / 988496, which is incorporated herein by reference, to provide user input.

[0069] The capacitance sensor 502 may also be connected to a solid state switch 504, which, in an example that includes both the mechanical switch 402 and the capacitance sensor, may be constituted by the solid state switch 404. The solid state switch switches the current to the analog electronic component 302 in response to a user input therefrom, and thereby may also switch the constant current led by the analog electronic component to the heater 222. In particular, the mechanical switch or the capacitance sensor may send an enable signal to the solid state switch in response to a user input, and the solid state switch may activate or deactivate a state in which the current is led from the power supply 212 to the analog electronic component and from the analog electronic component to the heater in response to the enable signal.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 6, in some exemplary embodiments, the control body 102 may include a single-pole multi-throw (SPMT) switch 602, such as a rotary switch or a thumbwheel switch. As shown, the SPMT switch includes a plurality of throws T1, T2, T3, T4 that can be selectively connected to the pole P to change the power setting of the heater 222. The plurality of throws T1, T2, T3, T4 may be connected to respective resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 having different resistance values. A plurality of resistors are connected between the analog electronic component 302 and the heater 222 so that the constant current led therebetween may have an ampere number that changes according to which throw is connected to the pole, thereby enabling the heater to have a variable power setting. Note that the illustrated example depicts four throws that can each be connected to the pole, but the SPMT 602 switch may include any number of throws that can each be connected to the pole.

[0071] As described above, in some examples, the analog electronic component 302 can be, or may include, a 1.5 amp single resistor rugged linear regulator product with a monitor from Linear Technology(TM). In these examples, the linear regulator may include a programmable current limiting circuit that can be programmed through an SPMT602 having a plurality of switches T1, T2, T3, T4 connected to respective resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 having respective different resistance values.

[0072] Referring again to FIG. 2, in addition to, or instead of, the control body 102, the electronic component 226 of the cartridge 104 may include an analog electronic component that is configured and functions in a similar manner to the analog electronic component 302 of the control body as described above with reference to FIGS. 3 - 6. For example, the electronic component may include an analog electronic component that is connected to the power supply 212 when the control body is connected to the cartridge. The analog electronic component is configured to receive current from the power supply in response to a user input, thereby directing a constant current to the heater 222, thereby activating the heater in response to the user input to vaporize the components of the aerosol precursor composition. In particular, the analog electronic component is configured to direct a constant current to the heater independently of a digital processor, such as by starting or further achieving the direction of a constant current to the heater without the use of a digital processor.

[0073] The above description of the use of the article can be applied to the various exemplary embodiments described herein through minor modifications that may be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the further disclosure provided herein. However, the above description of the use is not intended to limit the use of the article and is provided to comply with all necessary disclosure requirements of the present disclosure. Any of the elements shown in FIGS. 1 - 6 or otherwise described above in the article can be included in the aerosol delivery device according to the present disclosure.

[0074] Having the benefit of the teachings shown in the foregoing description and the associated drawings, many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure herein will come to mind to those of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Accordingly, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, but that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, although the foregoing description and the associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of specific examples of combinations of elements and / or functions, it is to be understood that alternative embodiments may provide different combinations of elements and / or functions without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, different combinations of elements and / or functions other than those explicitly described above may be contemplated as may be recited in some of the appended claims. Specific terms are used herein, but they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising: at least one housing, and housed within the at least one housing, a power source for supplying power to the aerosol delivery device, a heating element, a reservoir configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition, an analog electronic component including a non-inverting operational amplifier and configured to direct a constant current to the heating element in response to a user input and independently of a digital processor to activate the heating element and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a user input interface through which a user input can be received, the user input interface comprising a mechanical switch through which a user input can be received, a latching switch operably coupled to the analog electronic component and the mechanical switch between the analog electronic component and the mechanical switch, the latching switch being activated in response to a user input to the mechanical switch to switch current to the analog electronic component and thereby deactivate and switch current from the analog electronic component, and to switch the constant current directed by the analog electronic component to the heating element until a further user input to the mechanical switch, a solid state switch comprising the user input interface, and an indicator operably coupled between the solid state switch of the user input interface and the analog electronic component and configured to provide a visual indication of the switched constant current. An aerosol delivery device comprising the foregoing.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the indicator is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) or a quantum dot emissive diode, or comprises one or more thereof.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the user input interface includes a capacitance sensor through which a user input can be received.

4. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a single-pole multiple-throw (SPMT) switch and a plurality of resistors of various resistances operably connected between an analog electronic component and a heating element, the plurality of resistors being connected to respective throws of the SPMT switch, and the constant current having an ampere number that changes according to which throw is connected to the pole of the SPMT switch.

5. The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable power source configured to deliver current, and the analog electronic component being configured to conduct a constant current from the rechargeable power source to the heating element.

6. A control body that is connected or connectable to a cartridge that houses a heating element and contains an aerosol precursor composition, the control body being connected or connectable to the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, and the control body comprising at least one housing and housed within the at least one housing a power source that supplies power to the aerosol delivery device, an analog electronic component that includes a non-inverting operational amplifier and is configured to conduct a constant current to the heating element in response to a user input and independently of a digital processor to activate the heating element and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a user input interface through which a user input can be received, and the user input interface a mechanical switch through which a user input can be received, a latching switch operably connected to the analog electronic component and the mechanical switch between the analog electronic component and the mechanical switch, which activates in response to a user input to the mechanical switch and switches the current to the analog electronic component, thereby deactivating and switching the current from the analog electronic component, and switches the constant current conducted by the analog electronic component to the heating element until a further user input to the mechanical switch is received, including the user input interface An indicator, operably connected between a solid-state switch of a user input interface and an analog electronic component, configured to provide a visual indication of a switched constant current, and the indicator Comprising a control body. **Claim 7** The control body according to claim 6, wherein the indicator is an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) or a quantum dot light-emitting diode, or includes them. **Claim 8** The control body according to claim 6, wherein the user input interface includes a capacitance sensor, and user input can be received via the capacitance sensor. **Claim 9** Further comprising a single-pole multi-throw (SPMT) switch and a plurality of resistors of various resistances operably connected between the analog electronic component and the heating element, the plurality of resistors being connected to each throw of the SPMT switch, and the constant current having an ampere number that changes according to which throw is connected to the pole of the SPMT switch. The control body according to claim 6. **Claim 10** The control body according to claim 6, further comprising a rechargeable power source configured to deliver current, and the analog electronic component being configured to conduct a constant current from the rechargeable power source to the heating element.

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