Aerosol Generator Charging Solution

Abstract

A charging system for charging a first battery of an aerosol generating device may include a charger having a cord connection to a power source and a charging case. The charging case may include a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device, a power module mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generating device, and a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing and providing power to the power module.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Example embodiments relate generally to non-flammable aerosol delivery systems, and more particularly to charging devices for use with non-flammable aerosol delivery devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Non-combustion aerosol delivery systems (e.g., e-cigarettes / tobacco heating products or other such devices) generally contain an aerosolized substance, such as a reservoir of source liquid containing the formulation. The formulation typically includes a solid, such as nicotine or a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by the user, e.g., through thermal vaporization. However, devices containing formulations with other substances, such as cannabinoids (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or cannabidiol (CBD)), botanicals, drugs, caffeine, and / or other active ingredients, are also possible. Thus, non-combustion aerosol delivery systems typically include a vaporizer, e.g., an aerosol generation chamber housing a heater configured to vaporize a portion of the aerosolized substance in the aerosol generation chamber to generate an aerosol. When a user inhales on the mouthpiece of the device, powering the heater, air is drawn into the device and into the aerosol generation chamber, where it mixes with the vaporized aerosolized substance to form a condensation aerosol. A flow path is provided between the aerosol generation chamber and the opening of the mouthpiece so that air drawn into the aerosol generation chamber travels along the flow path to the opening of the mouthpiece, carrying a portion of the condensed aerosol with it, and exits through the opening of the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

[0003] Aerosol delivery systems include, for example, vaporization products, such as those that deliver nicotine, commonly known as "electronic cigarettes," "e-cigarettes," or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDs), as well as heat-not-burn products, including tobacco heating products (THPs). Many of these products take the form of a system that includes a device and a consumable, the consumable containing the source material of the drug to be delivered. Typically, the device is reusable and the consumable is disposable (although some consumables are refillable, as is the case with so-called "open" systems). Therefore, in many cases, the consumable is sold separately from the device, often in multipacks. Alternatively, the device or consumable subsystems and some individual components may be sourced from specialized manufacturers.

[0004] Aerosol delivery devices such as those described above can often be powered via rechargeable batteries. It is therefore desirable to provide a convenient and effective way to charge rechargeable batteries. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the problems in the prior art described above. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In example embodiments, a case or accessory for an aerosol generating device may be provided. The case may include a housing, a power module, and a wireless charging assembly. The housing may include a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device. The power module may be mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generating device. The wireless charging assembly may be operatively coupled to the housing to provide power to the power module.

[0007] In another example embodiment, a charging system for charging a first battery of an aerosol generating device may be provided. The charging system may include a charger having a cord connection to a power source and a charging case. The charging case may include a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device, a power module mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generating device, and a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing and providing power to the power module.

[0008] It will be appreciated that the Summary has been provided solely for the purpose of summarizing some example implementations so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the example implementations described above are merely examples and should not be construed as narrowing the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other example implementations, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of some example implementations described. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] Having thus broadly described some example embodiments, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, in which: [Figure 1] 1 shows a high-level block diagram of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system that may be used in connection with an example embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 shows a schematic representation, partially cut away, of an END device that may be used in connection with an example embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a schematic diagram of the device of FIG. 2 operatively coupled to a charging case to facilitate interaction with a charger, according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless charging assembly and wireless charger that uses inductive or radiative electromagnetic resonant charging, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 5A] ~ [Figure 5C]1 illustrates an example of a charging case incorporating solar charging, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 6A] ~ [Figure 6B] 1 illustrates an example of a charging case configured for wireless charging via a charging pad, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 7A] ~ [Figure 7D] 1 illustrates a wireless charging dish and corresponding charging case, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates a charging base having a charging slot and a charging surface configured to charge an aerosol generating device simultaneously with charging another device, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 9A] ~ [Figure 9B] 1 illustrates a charging base with storage according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Some example embodiments will now be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all, example embodiments are shown. Indeed, the examples described and depicted herein should not be considered limitations on the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present disclosure. Rather, these example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Additionally, as used herein, the term "or" shall be construed as a logical operator that is true whenever one or more of the operators are true. As used herein, operative coupling should be understood to refer to direct or indirect connections that enable functional interconnection of components operatively coupled to each other in each instance.

[0011] As noted above, non-flammable aerosol delivery systems, such as the END device, can be powered via a battery. Taking the device out of service to charge the battery can be a source of frustration for some users. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a solution that maximizes the ease with which charging can be accomplished. Additionally or alternatively, it is desirable to provide a device that extends charging times or allows charging to occur under highly convenient circumstances. In some cases, it may be preferable for such solutions to be provided for existing devices so that users of such devices do not necessarily need to purchase new devices to benefit from new services. Accordingly, some embodiments provide solutions to the above-mentioned problems, and such solutions may be implemented alone or in combination with each other. Solutions may include providing extended battery life and / or convenient battery charging in a case configured to receive the aerosol generating device. The case may have convenient battery charging capabilities and / or an auxiliary battery to extend the battery life of the aerosol generating device. Such a case may provide users the freedom to modify or customize their devices without requiring device redesign or reconfiguration by the manufacturer. This allows users to meet their unique requirements for device operation and availability while avoiding the costly process of evaluating design changes for marketability and / or regulatory compliance, for example.

[0012] Given that example embodiments are employed in connection with improving and / or enhancing the battery life and availability of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, such as an END device, several aspects of the case described herein may be adapted to interface with example devices, and a broad description of such devices will now be provided. In this regard, Figure 1 shows a broad block diagram of a non-flammable aerosol delivery system that may be used in connection with example embodiments, while Figure 2 shows a schematic representation, partially cut away, of an END device that may be used in connection with example embodiments.

[0013] Referring initially to FIG. 1 , the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 100 may include a housing 110 within which a power supply 120 and control circuitry 130 may be housed. The housing 110 may further include an aerosol generation assembly 140 and an aerosol precursor container 150 within which an aerosol precursor material (e.g., an aerosolized substance) may be stored or contained. The housing 110 may be of unitary construction or may be formed from two or more portions that are detachable relative to one another. For example, in an open system, the housing 110 may be of a unitary construction within which the aerosol precursor container 150 is refillable. However, for a closed system, the housing 110 may include at least one portion within which the aerosol precursor container 150 is disposed, such that when the aerosol precursor material is depleted, the portion within which the aerosol precursor container 150 is disposed may be removed for replacement with a new or full aerosol precursor container 150. In some examples comprising a detachable portion within which the aerosol precursor container 150 is disposed, the detachable portion may be referred to as a cartridge.

[0014] The control circuitry 130 is configured to detect or sense a user-initiated exhalation event, and upon detection of the exhalation event, the control circuitry 130 can activate the aerosol generation assembly 140 to convert the aerosol precursor material into an aerosol. Therefore, the control circuitry 130 can include a pressure sensor, a flow sensor, and / or other suitable device that can be configured to detect an exhalation event. A mouthpiece 152, defining an opening 154 in the housing 110, is associated with the aerosol precursor container 150 and can be used by a user to initiate an exhalation event by inhaling through the mouthpiece 152. Thus, upon detection of an exhalation event, an aerosol can be generated by the aerosol generation assembly 140 and orally delivered to the user via the mouthpiece 152.

[0015] The aerosol generation assembly 140 is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol precursor material using any suitable means. For example, the aerosol generation assembly 140 may be embodied as a heated device, such as by exposing the aerosol precursor material to a heating element (e.g., induction heater, conduction heater, dielectric heater, microwave heater, radiant heater, arc heater, electrical resistance heater, etc.) to generate an aerosol. In such an example, the aerosol precursor material may be provided as a consumable item that can be exposed to the aerosol generation assembly 140 to thermally generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor material. In some cases, the aerosol precursor material may include a substrate and / or susceptor that facilitates heating and aerosol release. Alternatively, in the case of a non-heated device (e.g., a nebulizer), the aerosol generation assembly 140 may be embodied as or include a vibrating piezoelectric or piezomagnetic mesh. However, compressed gas, ultrasound, surface acoustic wave, and other techniques may alternatively be employed. A nebulizer may be configured to atomize an aerosol precursor material into an aerosol without heating the aerosol precursor material. In other words, operation of the aerosol generation assembly 140 may or may not involve heat generation. Also, in some cases, the aerosol generation assembly 140 may include a combination of elements that may include both heating elements and additional elements, such as a vibratory aerosol generation component (e.g., a vibrating piezoelectric ceramic and / or other piezoelectric or piezomagnetic material) that cooperate to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor material. Such a combination may be referred to as a hybrid product.

[0016] The aerosol precursor material can be a solid, semi-solid, or liquid material. As such, the aerosol precursor container 150 can be configured to hold such a material, regardless of the form the aerosol precursor material takes. In some cases, the aerosol precursor container 150 can be a reservoir configured to store a liquid that is operatively coupled (e.g., directly or indirectly) to the aerosol generation assembly 140 for generating an aerosol, as described above. In some examples, the aerosol precursor material is provided to a substrate (e.g., coated or absorbed on / into a substrate) such that the aerosol precursor material can be integrated into, stored in, or deposited on the substrate before being used to generate an aerosol.

[0017] Power source 120 may be a replaceable or rechargeable battery. Rechargeable batteries may be beneficial in avoiding or limiting waste generation and in facilitating ease of operation. To facilitate charging of power source 120, a charging interface 122 may be provided. Charging interface 122 may include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port or other charging port into which a charger cord or other charging device may be plugged or inserted. Thus, charging interface 122 may form a penetration or opening in housing 110.

[0018] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example of a non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 that may be implemented in connection with example embodiments. The non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 is a more detailed example of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 100 of Figure 1, and both may be considered examples of aerosol generating devices. The non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 of Figure 2 is a two-part device (i.e., a closed system) that includes a control unit 210 and a cartridge 220. The cartridge 220 may be referred to as a consumable part (or a replaceable / disposable part, or sometimes referred to as a "pod"), and the control unit 210 may be referred to as a reusable part.

[0019] During normal use, the control unit 210 and cartridge 220 may be releasably coupled together at a coupling interface 230. When the cartridge 220 is depleted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different cartridge 220 (e.g., of a different flavor), the cartridge 220 may be removed from the control unit 210 and a replacement (i.e., a different or new instance of the cartridge 220) may be installed in the control unit 210 in place of the original cartridge 220. The coupling interface 230 provides structural, electrical, and / or pneumatic connections between the cartridge 220 and the control unit 210 and may be established according to conventional techniques, which may include threads, latching mechanisms, or bayonet fastenings, as appropriate, with appropriately positioned electrical contacts and openings for establishing the electrical connection and pneumatic path between the cartridge 220 and the control unit 210. The particular manner for mechanically attaching cartridge 220 to control unit 210 is not critical to the principles described herein and, for purposes of illustration, is assumed herein to include a latching mechanism in which a portion of cartridge 220 is received in a corresponding receptacle in control unit 210, e.g., with cooperating latching elements. It will also be appreciated that in some implementations, coupling interface 230 does not support an electrical connection between the components. For example, in some implementations, a vaporizer may be provided in control unit 210 rather than cartridge 220.

[0020] The cartridge 220 may include a consumable housing 222 (such as the example aerosol precursor container 150 of FIG. 1 ). The consumable housing 222 may be formed of a plastic, composite, or metal material. The consumable housing 222 supports the other components of the cartridge 220 and provides support for a portion of the mechanical coupling interface 230 with the control unit 210. The consumable housing 222 in this example is generally circularly symmetric about the longitudinal axis along which the cartridge 220 is coupled to the control unit 210. The consumable housing 222 in this example may have a length of about 4 cm and a diameter of approximately 1.5 cm. However, it will be recognized that the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shape and materials used, may vary in different implementations.

[0021] A reservoir 224 is provided within the consumable housing 222 to store a liquid aerosolizable substance (e.g., the aerosol precursor material of FIG. 1 ). The aerosolizable substance may be referred to as e-liquid in some examples. While the liquid reservoir 224 in this example has an annular shape, it will be appreciated that other shapes are within the scope of this disclosure, including an outer wall defined by the consumable housing 222 and an inner wall defining an air passage 226 in the cartridge 220. The reservoir 224 is closed at each end by end walls to store the e-liquid. The reservoir 224 may be formed according to conventional techniques, for example, from a plastic material integrally molded with the consumable housing 222. The opening of the air passage 226 at the end of the cartridge 220 provides a mouthpiece outlet 228 of the non-combustible aerosol delivery system through which a user inhales the aerosol generated by the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 during use.

[0022] The cartridge 220 in this example may further include a wick 250 and a heater element 260 (e.g., a vaporizer) positioned adjacent the end of the reservoir 224 opposite the mouthpiece outlet 228. In this example, the wick 250 extends laterally in the air passage 226, with its end extending into the e-liquid reservoir 224 through an opening in the interior wall of the reservoir 224. The opening in the interior wall of the reservoir 224 closely matches the dimensions of the wick 250 to provide an adequate seal against leakage from the reservoir 224 into the air passage 226 without undue compression of the wick 250, which may be detrimental to fluid transmission performance.

[0023] The wick 250 and heater element 260 may be disposed in the air passage 226 of the cartridge 220 such that the area of ​​the air passage 226 around the wick 250 and heater element 260 effectively defines the vaporization region of the cartridge 220. E-liquid in the reservoir 224 penetrates the wick 250 through the end of the wick 250 that extends into the reservoir 224 and is drawn into the wick 250 by surface tension / capillary action (i.e., wicking action). The heater element 260 in this example may be embodied as an electrically resistive wire wrapped around the wick 250. In this example, the wick 250 may be a fiberglass bundle, although other configurations are possible. In use, power may be supplied to the heater element 260 to vaporize a quantity of e-liquid (e.g., an aerosolized substance) drawn by the wick 250 into the vicinity of the heater element 260. The vaporized e-liquid may then be entrained in air drawn from the vaporization region into air passage 226 to form a condensed aerosol that exits the system through mouthpiece outlet 228 for user inhalation. Power is then supplied to heater element 260 to selectively generate an aerosol from the e-liquid in cartridge 220. When the device is in use and generating an aerosol, the amount of power supplied to heater element 260 may be varied, for example, through pulse width and / or frequency modulation techniques, to control the temperature and / or rate of aerosol generation as desired.

[0024] The control unit 210 may include an outer housing 212 (e.g., as part of the housing 110 of FIG. 1 ) with an opening defining an air inlet 214 for the non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200. The non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200 may also include a battery 270 within the outer housing 212 that provides operating power for the non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200. The battery 270 may be operatively coupled to control circuitry 280 configured to control and monitor the operation of the non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200. The battery 270 may be an example of the power source 120, and the control circuitry 280 may be an example of the control circuitry 130 of FIG. 1 .

[0025] The control circuitry 280 is operatively coupled to an inhalation sensor 282 (e.g., a breath detector), which in this example includes a pressure sensor disposed in a pressure sensor chamber 284. The control circuitry 280 may also be operatively coupled to a visual display 286 (which may be optional). The visual display 286 may include one or more lights configured to indicate various status conditions of the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 based on light color, flashing sequences, or other indications. Alternatively or additionally, the visual display 286 may be configured to display text, images, and / or the like via a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs), or other display options. Thus, the visual display 286 may be configured to provide a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200. For example, the visual display 286 may provide information indicating the current power and / or temperature setting information, remaining battery power, etc. As an alternative (or in addition) to the visual display 286, some example embodiments may include other means for providing information to the user relating to the operational characteristics of the non-flammable aerosol dispensing device 200, such as using audio signal transmission or tactile feedback.

[0026] Control circuitry 280 may be configured to monitor the output from inhalation sensor 282 to determine when a user inhales through mouthpiece opening 228 of cartridge 220, such that power is automatically supplied to heating element 260 in response to a user inhalation to generate aerosol. In other example implementations, as an alternative to automatic operation of heating element 260, inhalation sensor 282 may be replaced by a button 288, which provides power to heating element 260 when the user manually activates button 288 to activate aerosol generation. Thus, button 288 is entirely optional and may be omitted in some cases.

[0027] The outer housing 212 may be formed of, for example, a plastic or metal material and may be formed to have a desired outer shape. In some examples, the outer housing 212 may be substantially cylindrical and therefore have a circular cross-section that generally matches the shape and size of the cartridge 220 to provide a smooth transition between the two components at the coupling interface 230. In some examples, the control unit 210 may have a length of approximately 8 cm, such that when the cartridge 220 and control unit 210 are operatively coupled together, the overall length of the non-burning aerosol delivery device 200 is approximately 12 cm. However, as previously noted, it will be recognized that the overall shape and size of the components may vary in different example embodiments without altering the principles described herein.

[0028] The air inlet 216 is connected to an air passage 216 in the control unit 210, which in turn is connected across a coupling interface 230 to an air passage 226 of the cartridge 220 when the control unit 210 and cartridge 220 are operatively coupled together. A pressure sensor chamber 284 housing the pressure sensor 282 may be in fluid communication with the air passage 216 of the control unit 210 (i.e., the pressure sensor chamber 284 branches off from the air passage 216 of the control unit 210). Thus, when a user inhales into the mouthpiece opening 228, a pressure drop occurs in the pressure sensor chamber 284 that can be detected by the pressure sensor 282, and air is drawn in through the air inlet 214, through the air path 216 of the control unit 210, across the connecting interface 230, through the aerosol generation region near the heating element 260 (when the heating element 260 is operating, aerosol generated from the aerosolized substance is entrained in the airflow), through the air path 226 of the cartridge 220, and out the mouthpiece opening 228 for the user to inhale.

[0029] The battery 270 in this example is rechargeable and may be charged via a charging connector 290. In this regard, the battery 270 may be charged through an opening in the control unit outer housing 212 through which the charging connector 290 is formed to which a charging plug or other charging device may be operatively coupled. The charging connector 290 may take any suitable configuration, including, for example, a USB connector, other standard power connector, or a proprietary charging connection.

[0030] Control circuitry 280 may be configured or programmed to control the operation of non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200 and provide its various functions. Control circuitry 280 may be thought of as logically encompassing various subunits or circuit components associated with various aspects of the operation of non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200 in accordance with the principles described herein and other conventional aspects of the operation of non-combustible aerosol dispenser 200, such as display driver circuitry and user input detection. It will be appreciated that the functionality of control circuitry 280 may be provided in a variety of ways, including, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers and / or one or more appropriately configured application-specific integrated circuits / circuitry / chips / chipsets configured to provide the desired functionality.

[0031] In some cases, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 may have three basic operating states. However, additional or different operating states are possible. The three basic operating states may include an “off” state, an “on” state, and a “standby” state. In the off state, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 cannot generate aerosol (i.e., in the off state, the control circuitry 280 may prevent power from being supplied to the heating element 260). For example, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 may be placed in the off state between periods of use, such as when the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is put away or placed in a user's pocket or bag. In the on (or active) state, the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 can actively generate aerosol (e.g., the control circuitry 280 may provide (or enable) power to the heating element 260). Thus, when a user is in the process of inhaling aerosol from non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200, non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is typically in an on state. In a standby state, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system may be ready to generate aerosol in response to user action (e.g., ready to apply power to heater element 260 in the illustrated embodiment), but is not currently doing so. Non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 will typically be in the standby state when a user first exits an off state to begin a period of use (e.g., when the user first turns on non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200), or between uses during ongoing use (e.g., between exhalations while the user is using non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200). While returning to a standby state between exhalations is common in non-combustible aerosol delivery devices 200 that use liquid aerosolized materials, non-combustible aerosol delivery devices 200 that use solid aerosolized materials often remain on between exhalations to maintain the aerosolized material at a desired temperature during a period of use that encompasses a series of exhalations.

[0032] To generate an aerosol with non-burning aerosol providing device 200, power from battery 270 is supplied to heater element 260 under the control of control circuitry 280. When non-burning aerosol providing device 200 is on, i.e., actively generating an aerosol, power may be supplied to heater element 260 in a pulsed manner, for example, using a pulse-width modulation (PWM) technique to control the level of power delivered. Thus, the power supplied to heater element 260 during an aerosol generation cycle may include an alternating sequence of on periods during which power is connected to the electric heater and off periods during which power is not connected to heater element 260. The cycle period of the pulse-width modulation (i.e., the duration of a pair of adjacent off and on periods) is 0.020 seconds (20 milliseconds) in this example (i.e., the pulse-width modulation frequency is 50 hertz). The percentage of each cycle period during which power is supplied to the heater (i.e., the length of the on period), as a fraction of the cycle period, is the so-called duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation. According to certain disclosed embodiments, the control circuitry of the non-flammable aerosol delivery system can be configured to adjust the duty cycle of the pulse width modulation to vary the power supplied to the heater, for example to achieve a target average power level or to achieve a target temperature.

[0033] As noted above, to avoid design changes to the aerosol generating device itself while still improving the overall capabilities or performance of the device, it is possible (and perhaps even desirable) to provide approaches to improving the functionality and / or operability of the device through other means. In some example embodiments, this issue may be addressed by providing an improved charging case that interfaces with the aerosol generating device and is configured to improve battery charging capabilities and / or extend battery life. The charging case may be configured to mate with, and in various embodiments at least partially surround or enclose, the aerosol generating device, thereby adding or improving battery capacity and charging capabilities to the aerosol generating device. Thus, for example, in some cases, the charging case may extend around all sides of the aerosol generating device. However, in other cases, the charging case may have one open side (e.g., a longitudinal end) into which the aerosol generating device can be inserted. In other cases, the charging case may have two open sides (e.g., both longitudinal ends, thereby forming a bottomless sleeve). In still other cases, the aerosol generating device may have more than two open sides. An example charging case of some embodiments is shown in and described with reference to Figure 3. Notably, the example of Figure 3 is described with respect to interfacing with the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 of Figure 2, but it should be recognized that interfacing is also possible in similar terms with the non-flammable aerosol delivery system 100 of Figure 1.

[0034] In example embodiments, the charging case 300 may be specifically configured for connection to the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 to maintain a streamlined and attractive appearance. However, the charging case 300 may also, or alternatively, be configured to provide additional functionality that allows for improved charging and / or battery life for the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200. Thus, when connected together, the combination of the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 and the charging case 300 forms a functionally improved or modified version of the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200, without any other design changes.

[0035] In some embodiments, the charging case 300 may include a housing 320 configured to receive and mate or interface with the non-burning aerosol delivery device 200 to securely attach the devices together. In this regard, in some cases, the wearable accessory 300 may be constructed to include a sleeve portion 322 formed in the housing 320. The sleeve portion 322 is a hollow, recessed portion inside the housing 320 and may have an inner diameter and / or shape configured to substantially match the outer diameter and / or shape of the control unit 210 (or another portion of the non-burning aerosol delivery device 200). In particular, as shown by arrow 324 in FIG. 3 , the distal end of the control unit 210 (relative to the cartridge 220) may be configured to slide into and be received within the sleeve portion 322. The diameter of sleeve portion 322 may taper slightly as it extends inward into housing 320 so that control unit 210 and sleeve portion 322 remain in contact with one another upon insertion of control unit 210 into sleeve portion 322. However, in alternative embodiments, other fastening methods (including latching mechanisms, catch members, complementary ridges / grooves, magnetic coupling, and / or the like) may be employed. For example, outer housing 212 of control unit 210 may be made of metal or have metal portions or magnets, and sleeve portion 322 may include a magnet (or a magnet or magnetic portion of outer housing 212 of control unit 210) positioned to mate with control unit 210.

[0036] Other examples for defining the interface between the housing 320 and the non-flammable aerosol dispenser 200 are also possible. For example, the housing 320 may include a hinged portion that opens to allow the non-flammable aerosol dispenser 200 to be inserted into the housing 320 and closes to retain the non-flammable aerosol dispenser 200 in the housing 320. The hinge may be a separate component or may be a living hinge (i.e., formed from the same material as the portion of the housing 320 to which it is joined). Another alternative may include a case with flexible sides or portions. The sides or portions may be biased to a closed (mating) position, so that they can be manipulated from the closed (mating) position to an open position to facilitate insertion and / or mating into the non-flammable aerosol dispenser 200. Once the non-flammable aerosol dispensing device 200 is positioned in the housing 320, the force used to manipulate the side or portion to the open position can be removed, causing the side or portion to release and return to the closed (engaged) position, retaining the non-flammable aerosol dispensing device 200 in the housing 320.

[0037] The housing 320 and sleeve portion 322 may be configured to expose desired portions of the control unit 210 and / or cartridge 220. In some cases, the housing 320 and sleeve portion 322 may expose only the cartridge 220. Also, in some cases, only the mouthpiece of the cartridge 220 may remain exposed. By exposing the cartridge 220 (rather than being enclosed by the sleeve portion 322), the cartridge 220 may be replaceable without removing the control unit 210 from the sleeve portion 322. Thus, for example, the sleeve portion 322 may extend along the control unit 210 up to the mating interface 230 (although the sleeve portion 322 may extend beyond the mating interface 230 or, in alternative embodiments, short of the mating interface 230). Also, so long as the visual display 286 and / or button 288 are included in the control unit 210, the sleeve portion 322 and the housing 320 may be configured to leave both the visual display 286 and / or button 288 exposed or to include a window or operating member (e.g., a transparent second and / or depressible section of the sleeve portion 322 aligned with the visual display 286 or button 288) through which the visual display 286 may be viewed and / or the button 288 may be activated. Thus, the charging case 300 may be attached to the control unit 210 without negatively affecting the functionality of the non-flammable aerosol providing device 200 in any way. However, in other examples, the housing 320 may include a display portion 325, which may be configured to display information about the charging case 300 (e.g., a charging status).

[0038] As described above, the battery 270 of the control unit 310 can be charged via the charging connector 290. Accordingly, in some cases, the housing 320 can have an opening 326 located at a distal end of the housing 320 (relative to the opening forming the sleeve portion 322) that is aligned with the charging connector 290. The opening 326 allows air to enter the sleeve portion 322 (e.g., as well as the air inlet 214 of the control unit 210). The opening 326 can also interface (directly or indirectly) a charger or charging device with the charging connector 290. While direct charging of the battery 270 is possible via the opening 326, in some cases the opening 326 can instead interface directly with the power module 330. The power module 330 can act as a backup, emergency, or extended power source for the battery 270. Thus, for example, the power module 330 can be a rechargeable or replaceable battery. Additionally, in some cases, the power module 330 may be a lithium-ion battery or other battery capable of providing a large amount of power in a relatively small form factor. By providing the power module 330 as an independent power source for the battery 270 of the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200, the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 may be recharged or may experience improved operability between charges due to the extended power provided by the power module 330.

[0039] Thus, for example, power module 330 may be separate from battery 270 (i.e., two separate battery packs or cells), and power module 330 may serve as an alternative power source for non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200 or a source for charging battery 270. In some cases, both battery 270 and power module 330 may be charged independently (possibly simultaneously) via charging connector 290 and opening 326, and also via power module 330. In such cases, opening 326 may itself be configured as a charging port.

[0040] In some examples, the power module 330 may directly or indirectly power the non-flammable aerosol delivery device 200. In this regard, for direct power supply, the power module 330 may provide power to the control circuitry 280 when the battery 270 is dead or below a threshold charge level. For indirect power supply, the power module 330 may be configured to interface with the battery 270 to charge the battery 270. For example, the power module 330 may include a charging interface 334 configured to engage with a charging connector 290 of the control unit 210 when the control unit 210 is inserted into the sleeve portion 322. When the charging interface 334 engages with the charging connector 290, the power module 330 is operatively coupled to the battery 270 to charge the battery 270 from the power module 330. Thus, for example, the power module 330 may be configured to provide a higher voltage than the battery 270 so that the battery 270 can be charged when operatively coupled to each other.

[0041] In such an example, the detection of an exhalation event does not prevent the operation of the control circuitry 280 in that it still provides power to the heater element 260, and power may still be provided by the battery 270. However, the battery 270 may be charged simultaneously with the heater element 260 or constantly (i.e., when not in operation). Thus, in some cases, charging of the battery 270 from the power module 330 is possible only when the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is not in operation. In some cases, the power module 330 may charge the battery 270 only when the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is in an off state. In other cases, charging of the battery 270 from the power module 330 is possible only when the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is in an off state or in a standby state. However, as noted above, charging during the on state is also possible in some cases. In some cases, the power module 330 may be configured to receive information indicative of the status of the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 and control the charging of the battery 270 (or the provision of power directly to the control circuitry 280) based on the received information. Thus, for example, charging may be stopped when the non-combustible aerosol delivery device 200 is operating and / or in a standby status.

[0042] When display portion 325 is provided as a display element (e.g., one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs), LED tubes, or other charge status indicators), display portion 325 is operatively coupled to power module 330 to indicate the charge state of power module 330. For example, display portion 325 may indicate the charge level (based on the number or color of lights illuminated or the illumination of an LED tube). Display portion 325 may alternatively or additionally simply indicate whether power module 330 is being charged or discharged.

[0043] 3 , the charging case 300 is reconfigurable to charge or boost the battery 270. In this regard, the opening 326 may be used to accommodate a corded charger or other charger plug to interface with the power module 330 or directly with the battery 270 of the control unit 210. However, as an alternative to, or in addition to, the opening 326, some example embodiments may also or alternatively include a wireless charging assembly 350. The wireless charging assembly 350 may include components and circuitry configured to interface with the power module 330 to enable charging of the battery of the power module 330 or (e.g., in cases where the power module 330 does not include its own battery but simply interfaces to the battery 270) to enable charging (directly or indirectly) of the battery of the control unit 210 via power generated by the wireless charging assembly 350. In this regard, the wireless charging assembly 350 may be configured to receive power transmitted by a wireless charger 370, which may receive power from an external power source, such as a wall outlet (e.g., mains power). However, as described below, wireless charger 370 is optional and may be omitted in some cases.

[0044] As can be appreciated from the above description, any of several wireless charging methods can be employed based on the inclusion and configuration of wireless charging assembly 350 and wireless charger 370 (if included). For example, wireless charging assembly 350 can include or be embodied as one or more solar cell instances that can generate power that can be used to charge power module 330 and / or battery 270 when exposed to light. In such an example, there is no need for wireless charger 370 because power is generated locally by the solar cells, eliminating the need for an external charger. As another example, wireless charging assembly 350 can include or be embodied as an antenna assembly configured for tightly coupled electromagnetic induction or non-radiative charging. In such an example, wireless charger 370 can be configured to employ an antenna to transfer power to wireless charging assembly 350 via electromagnetic induction or non-radiative charging. In yet another example, wireless charging assembly 350 can include or be embodied as an antenna assembly configured for loosely coupled or radiative electromagnetic resonant charging. In such an example, the wireless charger 370 may be configured as a power source for the transfer of power to the power module 330 and / or battery 270 via loosely coupled or radiated electromagnetic resonant charging. In either case, an antenna assembly provided as part of the wireless charging assembly 350 may be interfaced with a charging pad or other charging device that forms an example of a wireless charger 370 configured to transfer power to the wireless charging assembly 350 via the loop or antenna assembly.

[0045] 4 shows a block diagram of an example implementation of a wireless charging assembly 350 and a wireless charger 370 using electromagnetic induction or radiative electromagnetic resonant charging. In this regard, the wireless charging assembly 350 may include a receiving antenna 410 (or coil). The receiving antenna 410 is operatively coupled to a conditioning board 420, which may include control circuitry and other circuitry to condition the power transmitted to the receiving antenna to match power useful to the power module 330. In this regard, for example, the conditioning board 420 may include power conversion circuitry to convert AC power at the receiving antenna 410 to DC power for the power module 330. Other conditioning and / or control functions may be provided by the conditioning board 420 as well.

[0046] The receive antenna 410 may communicate with a wireless charger 430 (an example of wireless charger 370 in FIG. 3 ) when in proximity. The wireless charger 430 may include a charging cord 460 along with a control board 440 and a transmit antenna 450. In example embodiments, the receive antenna 410 may be configured to accept power wirelessly transferred from the transmit antenna 450 via the mechanisms described above. The charging cord 460 provides a connection to a power source (e.g., mains power) that may provide power to the transmit antenna 450 subject to control and / or regulation provided by the control board 440. In this regard, the control board 440 may include the control circuitry and / or signal conditioning circuitry required to enable the transmit antenna 450 to transfer power to the receive antenna 410.

[0047] Although not required, some embodiments may further include a magnet assembly that holds charging assembly 350 in proximity to wireless charger 430. In this regard, for example, the magnet assembly may include a first magnetic portion 470 (e.g., a magnet or a metal component that can be attracted to a magnet) that is mounted on wireless charging assembly 350 and a second magnetic portion 472 (e.g., a magnet or a metal component that can be attracted to a magnet) that is mounted on wireless charger 430. At least one (and sometimes both) of first and second magnetic portions 470 and 472 may include a magnet. First and second magnetic portions 470, 472 may be attracted to each other when in proximity to each other.

[0048] As can be appreciated from the above description, the charging case 300 of FIG. 3 (and implementations of the wireless charging assembly 350 of FIG. 4 ) can be embodied in a variety of ways. FIG. 5, divided into FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, illustrates an example of the charging case 300 of FIG. 3 , specifically an example charging case 500 designed to incorporate solar charging. In this regard, the charging case 500 of FIG. 5 is configured to interface with an aerosol generating device 505 including a control unit 510 and a cartridge 520 (which are examples of the control unit 210 and cartridge 220, respectively, described above). FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the aerosol generating device 505, and FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the charging case 500. FIG. 5C shows the aerosol generating device 505 inserted into the charging case 500.

[0049] Charging case 500 includes a housing 530 with a sleeve portion 532 and an opening 534, which may correspond to housing 320, sleeve portion 322, and opening 326, respectively, described above. Control unit 510 may include a charging interface 512 that may interface directly with opening 534 or with a power module of charging case 500 similar to the examples described above. However, wireless charging assembly 350 in this example is embodied as a solar cell or photovoltaic cell assembly 540 that may be embedded in housing 530 or provided on a side thereof. Photovoltaic cell assembly 540 is capable of generating electricity upon exposure to sunlight or indoor ambient lighting.

[0050] Although the solar cell assembly 540 is visible on only one side of the housing 530 in this example, in some cases, other instances of the solar cell assembly 540 may be repeatedly provided on the opposite side of the housing 530. In some embodiments, the solar cell assembly 540 may be provided over most of the side of the housing 530 having the largest surface area (or both such sides if two solar cell assemblies 540 are employed). This may increase the charging potential of the charging case 500. As shown in FIG. 5, in some cases, the housing 530 may further include a charging indicator 536 as part of it. However, the charging indicator 536 may be provided on a narrow side of the housing 530 to avoid interference with the solar cell assembly 540.

[0051] FIG. 6, divided into FIGS. 6A and 6B, illustrates another example charging case 600 that may employ an example embodiment of the wireless charging assembly 350. FIG. 6A illustrates the charging case 600 with the aerosol generating device 505 of FIG. 5 already inserted (with the cartridge 520 exposed). Meanwhile, FIG. 6B illustrates the charging case 600 placed on a wireless charging pad 630, which may be an example of the wireless charger 430 of FIG. 4 above (but without the magnet assembly). The wireless charging pad 630 may employ the Qi charging interface standard or other suitable charging technology. Alternatively, the wireless charging pad 630 may be replaced with a puck, mat, or other charging surface / device. As shown in FIG. 6B, the wireless charging pad 630 may be powered by a cord 640 from a wall outlet or other mains power source. In some examples, the charging case 600 of FIG. 6 may include an example of the receiving antenna 410 of FIG. 4 located on the side of the charging case 600 opposite the charging status indicator 650. The user intuitively places the charging case 600 on the wireless charging pad 630 to make the charging status indicator 650 visible.

[0052] FIG. 7 illustrates an example similar to that of FIG. 6 , except that the charging case 700 is configured to orient the aerosol-generating device 505 in a vertical or perpendicular orientation relative to the ground, instead of lying flat, by incorporating a magnet assembly as described above with reference to FIG. 4 . In this regard, FIG. 7 , divided into FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, and 7D, illustrates another example of a charging case 700 that may employ an example embodiment of the wireless charging assembly 350. FIG. 7A illustrates the charging case 700 with the aerosol-generating device 505 of FIG. 5 already inserted (with the cartridge 520 exposed). Meanwhile, FIG. 7B illustrates a range of locations where the charging case 700 may be placed in a wireless charging dish 730 (including a magnet assembly, as described below), which may be an example of the wireless charger 430 of FIG. 4 above. The wireless charging dish 730 may employ the Qi charging interface standard or other suitable charging technology, including inductive charging. As shown in FIG. 7A , the wireless charging dish 730 may be powered by a cord 740 from a wall outlet or other mains power source. 7 may include an example of the receiving antenna 410 of FIG. 4 located on the charging case 700 at a location suitable for facilitating wireless charging when the charging case 700 is placed in a wireless charging dish 730, such as at a distal end of the charging case 700 (relative to the cartridge 520 of the aerosol generating device 505). In other words, the wireless charging dish 730 and the charging case 700 may have an interfaced configuration such that placing the charging case 700 in the wireless charging dish 730 necessarily places the charging case 700 within the transmission range of the wireless charging dish 730 to facilitate charging. The charging case 700 may also include a magnet 750 (or other ferrous component) that may interface with a magnet (not shown) located beneath the charging surface 760 of the wireless charging dish 730. The magnets 750 in the charging case 700 can interface with magnets underneath the charging surface 760 (or metal on the charging surface 760) to hold the charging case 700 in an ideal location to maximize charging efficiency via the wireless charging dish 730.Additionally, no matter how the user places the charging case 700 on the charging surface 760, the magnets 750 on the charging case 700 are attracted by the magnets under the charging surface 760, causing the charging case 700 to stand upright. In this regard, to position the charging case 700 upright in the best spot for charging as shown in FIG. 7D, the charging case 700 moves from anywhere in the range of positions shown in FIG. 7B until it stands upright as shown in FIG. 7C.

[0053] The wireless charging pad 630 of Figure 6 and the wireless charging dish 730 of Figure 7 are just two examples of specific ways in which a typical charging device (e.g., the wireless charger 430 of Figure 4) may be implemented. Other approaches are possible, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this regard, Figures 8 and 9 each illustrate an example in which the aerosol generating device 505 of Figure 5 is inserted into a charging device with various peripheral device capabilities.

[0054] In the example of FIG. 8 , the aerosol generating device 505 is inserted into a charging base 800. More specifically, the charging base 800 may have a charging slot 810 formed therein, and a charging surface 820 may be disposed adjacent to the charging slot 810. The charging slot 810 may be configured to match the shape of the distal end of the control unit 510 (relative to the cartridge 520) or may accommodate several different sizes and shapes of the body of various instantiations of aerosol generating devices. For example, when the aerosol generating device 505 is first inserted into the charging case 600 of FIG. 6 , the charging surface 820 may be configured to wirelessly charge another device (e.g., a mobile phone 830) or the aerosol generating device 505. The charging base 800 may have a cord that provides power to the charging base 800, allowing the aerosol generating device 505 to be wiredly charged while simultaneously wirelessly charging the mobile phone 830. Alternatively, two (or more) instances of the aerosol generating device 505 may be charged simultaneously with one such instance placed in the charging slot 810 and one or more other instances placed on the charging surface 820 (and placed in the corresponding charging case 600 instance).

[0055] Notably, in some cases, the charging slot 810 may also be configured for wireless charging. Thus, for example, the charging slot 810 may be configured to receive the charging case 700 of FIG. 7, and the aerosol generating device 505 may be wirelessly charged via the charging case 700.

[0056] FIG. 9, divided into FIGS. 9A and 9B, illustrates different versions of a charging base 900. In this regard, as shown in FIG. 9A, the charging base 900 may include a removable cover 910 that may be removed to expose a storage section 920. The storage section may store cartridges 520 (e.g., in a blister pack 930 or separately) and / or other consumables that may be used with an aerosol generating device, such as the aerosol generating device 505, aerosol generating device accessories, etc. The charging base 900 of FIG. 9 may also include a charging slot 940 that may be formed in the charging base 900 and a charging indicator 950 that may be located proximate the charging slot 940. The charging slot 940 may be configured for wired charging of the aerosol generating device 505 (similar to the charging slot 810 above). However, as noted above, the charging slot 940 may alternatively be configured for wireless charging of the aerosol generating device 505, for example, when the aerosol device 505 is first inserted into the charging case 600 of Figure 6. The charging base 900 may have a cord 960 that provides power to the charging base 900.

[0057] Thus, as can be appreciated from the above examples, a charging system for charging a first battery of an aerosol generating device may be provided. The charging system may include a charger having a cord connection to a power source and a charging case. The charging case may include a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device (e.g., to hold this portion of the aerosol generating device in the housing), a power module mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generating device, and a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing and providing power to the power module.

[0058] The charging system (or its charging case (which may be broadly considered an accessory)) may include several modifications, enhancements, or optional additions, some of which are described herein. The modifications, enhancements, or optional additions listed below may be added in any desired combination. In this context, the charging system (or charging case) may be considered a first embodiment, and other embodiments may be defined by each combination of such modifications, enhancements, or optional additions. For example, a second embodiment may be defined in which the power module includes a second battery, and the first battery may be charged from the second battery. Alternatively or additionally, a third embodiment may be defined in which the aerosol generating device may be continuously powered by the first battery or the second battery based on the respective state of charge of the first and second batteries. In an example embodiment, a fourth embodiment may be defined in which the wireless charging assembly may include a solar or photovoltaic cell assembly mounted on at least a portion of one or more sides of the housing. The fourth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 3. In some examples, a fifth embodiment may be defined in which a photovoltaic cell assembly is embedded in a side surface of the housing over at least a portion (e.g., a majority) of the face of the housing having the largest surface area. The fifth embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to fourth embodiments. In an example embodiment, a sixth embodiment is defined in which the charger may include a wireless charger, and the wireless charging assembly may include a receiving antenna configured to receive power transferred from a transmitting antenna of the wireless charger via electromagnetic induction or resonant power transfer. The sixth embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to fifth embodiments. In some examples, a seventh embodiment is defined in which the wireless charger may include a wireless charging pad, and the receiving antenna may be located on a side wall of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is placed flat on the wireless charging pad during power transfer. The seventh embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to sixth embodiments. In an example embodiment, an eighth embodiment is defined in which the wireless charger may include a wireless charging dish having a charging surface, and the receiving antenna may be located at a distal end of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is perpendicular to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish during power transfer.The eighth embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to seventh embodiments. In some embodiments, a ninth embodiment is defined in which the wireless charging dish may include a first magnetic portion located proximate a charging surface of the wireless charging dish, and the housing may include a second magnetic portion located at a distal end of the housing, the first and second magnetic portions interacting with each other to manipulate the aerosol generating device so that it is perpendicular to the charging surface upon placement of the housing on the wireless charging dish. The ninth embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to eighth embodiments. In an example embodiment, a tenth embodiment is defined in which the charger may include a charging slot configured to receive the aerosol generating device for charging, and the charger may further include a charging surface proximate the charging slot. The charging surface may be configured to wirelessly transfer power to either a second instance of the charging case or another device configured to be wirelessly charged. The tenth embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to nine embodiments. In some examples, an eleventh embodiment is defined in which the charger may include a charging slot configured to receive the aerosol generating device for charging, and the base of the charger may also include a storage portion in which one or more cartridges of the aerosol generating device may be stored. The eleventh embodiment may be combined with any or all of the first to tenth embodiments.

[0059] Numerous modifications and other embodiments of the invention set forth herein will occur to those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Also, while the foregoing description and associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain illustrative combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be recognized that various combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided in alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, various combinations of the elements and / or functions set forth above are contemplated, for example, as set forth in some of the appended claims. In instances where benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be recognized that such benefits, advantages, and / or solutions may be applicable to some example embodiments, but not necessarily to all embodiments. Therefore, any benefit, advantage, or solution described herein should not be construed as critical, necessary, or essential to all embodiments or to the embodiments claimed herein. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. [Appendix 1] An accessory for an aerosol generating device, a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device; a power module mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generation device; a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing for providing power to the power module; Accessories that include: [Appendix 2] 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the power module includes a first battery and the aerosol generating device includes a second battery, the second battery being charged from the first battery. [Appendix 3] the power module includes a first battery and the aerosol generation device includes a second battery; the aerosol generating device is continuously powered by the first battery or the second battery based on the state of charge of each of the first and second batteries; Accessories as listed in Appendix 1. [Appendix 4] 10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging assembly includes a solar cell assembly mounted on a surface of the housing. [Appendix 5] 5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the photovoltaic cell assembly is embedded in a side of the housing over a majority of the face of the housing having the largest surface area. [Appendix 6] 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging assembly comprises a receiving antenna configured to receive power transmitted from a transmitting antenna of the wireless charger by electromagnetic induction or resonant power transmission. [Appendix 7] 7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the wireless charger includes a wireless charging pad, and the receiving antenna is mounted on a side wall of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is placed flat on the wireless charging pad during power transfer. [Appendix 8] 7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging dish having a charging surface, and the receiving antenna is positioned at a distal end of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is perpendicular to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish during the power transfer. [Appendix 9] the wireless charging dish having a first magnetic portion positioned proximate to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish; the housing having a second magnetic portion disposed at the distal end of the housing; upon placement of the housing on the wireless charging dish, the first and second magnetic portions interact with each other to move the aerosol generating device perpendicular to the charging surface. Accessories as listed in Appendix 8. [Appendix 10] 1. A charging system for charging a first battery of an aerosol generating device, comprising: a charger with a connection to a power source; A charging case, a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device; a power module mounted in the housing and configured to provide power directly or indirectly to the aerosol generation device; a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing for providing power to the power module; a charging case comprising: A charging system comprising: [Appendix 11] the power module includes a second battery; The first battery is charged from the second battery. 11. The charging system of claim 10. [Appendix 12] the power module includes a second battery; the aerosol generating device is continuously powered by the first battery or the second battery based on the state of charge of each of the first and second batteries. 11. The charging system of claim 10. [Appendix 13] 11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging assembly comprises a solar cell assembly mounted on a side of the housing. [Appendix 14] 14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the photovoltaic cell assembly is embedded in the side of the housing over a majority of the face of the housing having the largest surface area. [Appendix 15] the charger comprises a wireless charger; the wireless charging assembly comprising a receiving antenna configured to receive power transmitted from a transmitting antenna of the wireless charger by electromagnetic induction or resonant power transmission; 11. The charging system of claim 10. [Appendix 16] 16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging pad, and the receiving antenna is installed on a side wall of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is placed flat on the wireless charging pad during the power transfer. [Appendix 17] 16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging dish having a charging surface, and the receiving antenna is positioned at a distal end of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is perpendicular to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish during the power transfer. [Appendix 18] the wireless charging dish having a first magnetic portion positioned proximate to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish; the housing having a second magnetic portion disposed at the distal end of the housing; upon placement of the housing on the wireless charging dish, the first and second magnetic portions interact with each other to move the aerosol generating device perpendicular to the charging surface. 18. The charging system of claim 17. [Appendix 19] the charger comprising a charging slot configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol generating device for charging; the charger further comprising a charging surface proximate the charging slot, the charging surface configured to wirelessly transfer power to either the second instance of the charging case or another device configured to be wirelessly charged. 11. The charging system of claim 10. [Appendix 20] the charger comprising a charging slot configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol generating device for charging; the charger base comprises a storage section in which one or more cartridges of the aerosol generating device can be stored; 11. The charging system of claim 10. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 100 Non-flammable aerosol delivery system 110 Housing 120 Power supply 122 Charging Interface 130 Control circuit configuration 140 Aerosol Generation Assembly 150 Aerosol precursor container 152 mouthpiece 154 Opening 200 Non-flammable aerosol dispenser 210 Control Unit 212 outer housing 214 Air inlet 216 Airway 220 cartridge 222 Consumable Housing 224 Reservoir 226 Airway 228 Mouthpiece outlet 230 Bonding Interface 250 cores 260 heater element 270 Battery 280 Control circuit configuration 282 Inhalation Sensor 284 Pressure Sensor Room 286 Visual Displays 288 Button 290 charging connector 300 charging case 320 Housing 322 Sleeve part 324 Arrow 325 Display part 326 Opening 330 Power Module 334 Charging Interface 350 Wireless Charging Assembly 370 Wireless Charger 410 Receiving Antenna 420 Adjustment Board 430 Wireless Charger 440 control board 450 Transmitting Antenna 460 charging cord 470 First magnetic part 472 Second magnetic part 500 charging case 505 Aerosol Generator 510 Control Unit 512 charging interface 520 cartridge 530 Housing 532 Sleeve part 534 Opening 536 Charging indicator 540 Photovoltaic Cell Assembly 600 charging case 630 Wireless Charging Pad 640 Code 650 Charging Status Indicator 700 charging case 730 Charging Dish 740 Code 750 Magnets 760 charging surface 800 Charging Base 810 charging slot 820 charging surface 830 mobile phone 900 Charging Base 910 Detachable Cover 920 Storage Department 930 Blister Pack 940 charging slot 950 indicator

Claims

1. An accessory for an aerosol generating device, a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device; a power module mounted to the housing and configured to provide power to the aerosol generation device; a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing for providing power to the power module; a magnet assembly configured to hold the wireless charging assembly in proximity to a wireless charger; the sleeve portion being a hollow recessed portion inside the housing having an internal cross-sectional profile configured to substantially match the external cross-sectional profile of the portion of the aerosol generating device; accessories.

2. 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the power module includes a first battery and the aerosol generating device includes a second battery, the second battery being charged from the first battery.

3. the power module includes a first battery and the aerosol generating device includes a second battery; the aerosol generating device is continuously powered by the first battery or the second battery based on the state of charge of each of the first and second batteries; 10. The accessory of claim 1.

4. 10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging assembly comprises a photovoltaic cell assembly mounted on a surface of the housing.

5. 5. The accessory of claim 4, wherein the photovoltaic cell assembly is embedded in a side of the housing over a majority of the face of the housing having the largest surface area.

6. 10. The accessory of claim 1, wherein the wireless charging assembly comprises a receiving antenna configured to receive power transmitted from a transmitting antenna of the wireless charger by electromagnetic induction or resonant power transfer.

7. 7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging pad, and the receiving antenna is mounted on a sidewall of the housing so that the aerosol generating device can be placed flat on the wireless charging pad during power transfer.

8. 7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging dish having a charging surface, and the receiving antenna is mounted at an end of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is perpendicular to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish during the power transfer.

9. the wireless charging dish includes a first magnetic portion positioned proximate to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish; the magnet assembly includes a second magnetic portion located at the end of the housing; upon placement of the housing on the wireless charging dish, the first and second magnetic portions interact with each other to move the aerosol generating device perpendicular to the charging surface.

9. An accessory according to claim 8.

10. 1. A charging system for charging a first battery of an aerosol generating device, comprising: a wireless charger with a connection to a power source; A charging case, a housing having a sleeve portion configured to mate with a portion of the aerosol generating device; a power module mounted to the housing and configured to provide power to the aerosol generation device; a wireless charging assembly operatively coupled to the housing for providing power to the power module; a magnet assembly configured to hold the wireless charging assembly in proximity to a wireless charger; a charging case comprising: the sleeve portion being a hollow recessed portion of the housing having an internal cross-sectional profile configured to substantially match the external cross-sectional profile of the portion of the aerosol generating device; In response to the sleeve portion fitting onto the portion of the aerosol generating device, an air inlet and an air outlet of the aerosol generating device remain unobstructed by the sleeve portion. Charging system.

11. the power module includes a second battery; The first battery is charged from the second battery. The charging system of claim 10.

12. the power module includes a second battery; the aerosol generating device is continuously powered by the first battery or the second battery based on the state of charge of each of the first and second batteries. The charging system of claim 10.

13. 11. The charging system of claim 10, wherein the wireless charging assembly comprises a photovoltaic cell assembly mounted to a side of the housing.

14. 14. The charging system of claim 13, wherein the photovoltaic cell assembly is embedded in the side of the housing over a majority of the face of the housing having the largest surface area.

15. the wireless charging assembly comprising a receiving antenna configured to receive power transmitted from a transmitting antenna of the wireless charger by electromagnetic induction or resonant power transmission; The charging system of claim 10.

16. 16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging pad, and the receiving antenna is installed on a sidewall of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is placed flat on the wireless charging pad during the power transfer.

17. 16. The charging system of claim 15, wherein the wireless charger comprises a wireless charging dish having a charging surface, and the receiving antenna is positioned at a distal end of the housing so that the aerosol generating device is perpendicular to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish during the power transfer.

18. the wireless charging dish includes a first magnetic portion positioned proximate to the charging surface of the wireless charging dish; the magnet assembly including a second magnetic portion disposed at the distal end of the housing; upon placement of the housing on the wireless charging dish, the first and second magnetic portions interact with each other to move the aerosol generating device perpendicular to the charging surface.

20. The charging system of claim 17.

19. the wireless charger comprising a charging slot configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol generating device for charging; the wireless charger further comprising a charging surface proximate the charging slot, the charging surface configured to wirelessly transfer power to another device configured to be wirelessly charged.

16. The charging system of claim 15.

20. the wireless charger comprising a charging slot configured to receive at least a portion of the aerosol generating device for charging; the base of the wireless charger comprises a storage section in which one or more cartridges of the aerosol generating device can be stored; 16. The charging system of claim 15.

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