Device agnostic PSA for aerosol generating devices

Abstract

A method for preventing unauthorized use of an aerosol delivery device may include receiving a wireless signal including an unlock code for unlocking the aerosol delivery device, processing the wireless signal to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information, adjusting a processing circuit to process the unlock code based on the host device characteristic information or environmental context information, and transitioning the aerosol delivery device from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to processing the unlock code.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary embodiments generally relate to non-combustible aerosol delivery systems, and more particularly to providing a device agnostic post sale activation (PSA) capability for an aerosol delivery device.

Background Art

[0002] Non-combustible aerosol delivery systems (e.g., electronic cigarettes / tobacco heating products or other such devices) generally include an aerosolizable material such as a reservoir of source liquid containing a formulation. The formulation typically includes nicotine, or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, e.g., by thermal vaporization. However, devices containing formulations that include other materials such as cannabinoids (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or cannabidiol (CBD)), plants, pharmaceuticals, caffeine, and / or other active ingredients are also possible. Thus, non-combustible aerosol delivery systems typically include an aerosol generation chamber, e.g., a heater, disposed to vaporize a portion of the aerosolizable material to generate an aerosol within the aerosol generation chamber. When a user inhales on the mouthpiece of the device and power is supplied to the heater, air is drawn into the device and into the aerosol generation chamber, where the air mixes with the vaporized aerosolizable material to form a condensed aerosol. Due to the presence of a flow path between the aerosol generation chamber and the opening of the mouthpiece, the air drawn through the aerosol generation chamber continues along the flow path to the opening of the mouthpiece, carrying a portion of the condensed aerosol, and exiting through the opening of the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

[0003] Aerosol delivery systems include vapor products that deliver nicotine, such as those commonly known as “electronic cigarettes,” “e-cigarettes,” or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), as well as non-combustion heated products, including tobacco heated products (THPs). Many of these products take the form of a system that includes devices and consumables, with the consumables containing the materials from which the substance to be delivered is derived. Typically, devices are reusable, while consumables are disposable (although some consumables are refillable, as in so-called “open” systems). Therefore, consumables are often sold separately from devices, and often in multi-packs. Furthermore, subsystems and some individual components of devices or consumables may be supplied by specialized manufacturers.

[0004] Aerosol-delivering devices, such as those described above, may be subject to certain restrictions, including age restrictions. In some locations, the use of items, including cartridges for ENDS devices, is restricted based on the user's age. To address the need for device authentication by age-verified users, one of several authentication methods may be used. However, many of these authentication methods may require interaction with a host device (e.g., a smartphone or other wireless communication device that can access authentication services). The host devices that a user may possess can vary considerably in their ability to process and present the information that will be used for authentication to the ENDS device. Furthermore, environmental conditions may also affect how certain information provided by the host device can be received by the ENDS device. In some cases, variability may cause authentication efforts to fail based solely on the influence of these environmental conditions or device capabilities. Therefore, it may be desirable to implement methods that allow the authentication process to be carried out with less reliance on specific device capabilities or environmental conditions. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In exemplary embodiments, an aerosol-delivering system can be provided. The aerosol-delivering system may include an aerosol-delivering device configured to interface with a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material, an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material, a lock assembly, and an adaptive signal detector. The lock assembly may be configured to prevent the aerosol generator from operating to generate an aerosol in a locked or controlled state, and to allow the aerosol generator to operate to generate an aerosol in an unlocked state. The lock assembly may also be configured to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to authentication of an unlock code received in a control signal from a host device communicating with an authentication agent over a network. The adaptive signal detector may include processing circuitry configured to process a control signal received wirelessly from the host device to extract the unlock code. The adaptive signal detector may also be configured to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information to facilitate the extraction of the unlock code from the control signal.

[0006] In another exemplary embodiment, a method can be provided for preventing unauthorized use of an aerosol dispensing device. This method may include receiving a radio signal containing an unlock code for unlocking the aerosol dispensing device; processing the radio signal to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information; tuning a processing circuit to process the unlock code based on the host device characteristic information or environmental context information; and transitioning the aerosol dispensing device from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to processing the unlock code.

[0007] It will be understood that this brief overview is provided solely for the purpose of summarizing some exemplary embodiments to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it will be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are merely examples and should not 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, together with the accompanying drawings illustrating the principles of some of the described exemplary embodiments.

[0008] Having described several exemplary embodiments in general terms, we now refer to the attached drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to a consistent scale. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1A] A general block diagram of a non-flammable aerosol supply system that can be used in connection with exemplary embodiments is shown. [Figure 1B] This shows an aerosol supply system in the form of a vapor product according to several exemplary embodiments. [Figure 1C] This shows an aerosol supply system in the form of a vapor product according to several exemplary embodiments. [Figure 1D] The following are examples of nebulizers that can be used to realize an aerosol generator for an aerosol delivery system. [Figure 2A] This illustrates an aerosol supply system in the form of a non-combustible heated product according to several exemplary embodiments. [Figure 2B] This document illustrates an aerosol supply system in the form of a non-combustion heated product according to several exemplary embodiments. [Figure 2C] This document illustrates an aerosol supply system in the form of a non-combustion heated product according to several exemplary embodiments. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a device related to a PSA process, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram of an adaptive signal detector according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a plot of rise time variance that can affect unlock code extraction, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a symbolic plot illustrating how inconsistent playback speeds can affect unlock code extraction, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a plot of symbols received in a changing ambient lighting context that can affect the extraction of the unlock code, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a symbolic plot illustrating how noise can affect unlock code extraction, according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 9] This is an exemplary structure of an optical signal according to an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 10] This is a block diagram of a method for preventing unauthorized use of an aerosol delivery system according to an exemplary embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Next, some exemplary embodiments are described in full below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show some, but not all, exemplary embodiments. In fact, the examples described and illustrated herein should not be construed as limiting the scope, applicability or configuration of the disclosure. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided to satisfy the applicable legal requirements of the disclosure. Similar reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout. Where used herein, operable coupling should be understood in any case as relating to a direct or indirect connection that enables a functional interconnection of components operably coupled to one another.

[0011] As described above, this disclosure relates to the requirement of authentication for age-restricted devices such as aerosol delivery devices or electronic nicotine delivery systems ("ENDS") devices. Authentication may include or require prior age verification so that the age-restricted device will not operate for users who have not been age-verified. Authentication may include the age-restricted device receiving a control signal to authenticate the device. The control signal may include an audio signal and / or a visual / optical signal to authenticate the device. In some cases, authentication may be initiated after a device wake-up procedure to conserve power before authentication. However, in any case, authentication (and / or wake-up) may be initiated by inserting a dedicated module into the device. Thus, the module may be added to minimize changes to existing ENDS device designs.

[0012] Aerosol delivery devices or ENDS are examples of devices that may be associated with restrictions such as age restrictions. Other examples include delivery devices for delivering cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and / or cannabidiol (CBD), plants, pharmaceuticals, and / or other active ingredients. Thus, while aerosol delivery or ENDS devices are used throughout as exemplary uses in various embodiments, this example is not intended to be limiting, and it will be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein can be used in conjunction with devices other than aerosol delivery or ENDS devices, including aerosol delivery devices that can be used to deliver other pharmaceutical ingredients and / or active ingredients to a user, or that can include smokeless tobacco or other tobacco products.

[0013] Device authentication via control signals can be performed in addition to, or required as a prerequisite for, user age verification. Users who have not been age-verified cannot authenticate the device. Periodic authentication may be required to use age-restricted products. There may be an age verification system to check the user's age and / or authenticate the appropriate user and / or device. In any case, these activities are sometimes referred to as post-sale activation (PSA), and the signaling associated with device authentication and / or age verification may be affected by the capabilities of the device providing such signaling and / or the environment in which the signal is transmitted. Therefore, it may be desirable to configure aerosol delivery devices or ENDS to accommodate a wide range of different device capabilities and signaling contexts. In other words, it may be desirable to provide a certain level of agility to the aerosol delivery device in terms of determining what capabilities or signaling contexts may be encountered for a given communication session, and to adjust the characteristics of the aerosol delivery device to deal with learned information. By configuring the aerosol delivery device to have such agility, the aerosol delivery device can be effectively agnostic to host devices that require communication in order to use PSA.

[0014] Assuming that exemplary embodiments can be used in connection with providing security for non-flammable aerosol supply systems such as ENDS devices, some aspects of the cases described herein can be adapted to interface with such devices, thus providing a general description of exemplary devices.

[0015] Unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, references to first, second, etc. should not be construed as meaning a particular order. Features described as being on top of another feature (unless otherwise specified or clear from the context) may instead be below it, and vice versa. Similarly, features described as being to the left of another feature may instead be to the right, and vice versa. Also, in this specification, there may be references to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships, etc., and unless otherwise specified, any one or more of these may be absolute or approximate to account for possible acceptable variations, such as those due to technical tolerances, etc., even if not all of these.

[0016] As used herein, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, the “logical OR” of a set of operands is an “inclusive OR,” whereby, in contrast to an “exclusive OR” which is false when all of the operands are true, it is true when one or more of the operands are true and only in that case. Thus, for example, “[A] or [B]” is true when [A] is true, or [B] is true, or both [A] and [B] are true. Further, the articles “a” and “an” mean “one or more” unless otherwise specified or clear from the context that the singular form is intended. Additionally, it should be understood that unless otherwise specified, the terms “data,” “content,” “digital content,” “information,” and similar terms may sometimes be used interchangeably with one another.

[0017] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to delivery systems designed to deliver at least one substance to a user so as to satisfy a particular “consumer moment.” The substance can include components that give the user a physiological effect, a sensory effect, or both.

[0018] Delivery systems can take many forms. Examples of suitable delivery systems include aerosol delivery systems such as electric aerosol delivery systems designed to release one or more substances or compounds from an aerosol-generating material without burning the aerosol-generating material. These aerosol delivery systems may also be referred to as non-combustible aerosol delivery systems, aerosol delivery devices, etc., and the aerosol-generating material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, semi-solid, liquid or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine.

[0019] Examples of suitable aerosol delivery systems include vapor products, non-combustion heating products, hybrid products, etc. Vapor products are commonly known as "electronic cigarettes", "e-cigarettes" or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), but the aerosol-generating material does not necessarily have to contain nicotine. Many vapor products are designed to heat a liquid material to generate an aerosol. Other vapor products are designed to break down the aerosol-generating material into an aerosol without heating or with only secondary heating. Non-combustion heating products include tobacco heating products (THP) and carbon tip tobacco heating products (CTHP), and many are designed to heat a solid material to generate an aerosol without burning the solid material.

[0020] Hybrid products use a combination of aerosol-generating materials and can heat one or more of them. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of, for example, a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gel. Some hybrid products are similar to vapor products, except that the aerosol generated from a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material passes through a second material (such as tobacco) and captures additional constituents before reaching the user. In some exemplary embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0021] Figure 1A is a block diagram of an aerosol supplying system 100 according to several exemplary embodiments. In various examples, the aerosol supplying system may be a steam product, a non-combustion heating product, or a hybrid product. The aerosol supplying system includes one or more of several components, each including, for example, an aerosol supplying device 102 and consumables 104 (sometimes called articles) for use with the aerosol supplying device. The aerosol supplying system also includes an aerosol generator 106. In various embodiments, the aerosol generator may be part of the aerosol supplying device or consumables. In other embodiments, the aerosol generator may be separate from the aerosol supplying device and / or consumables and may be detachably engaged with the aerosol supplying device and / or consumables.

[0022] In various examples, the aerosol supply system 100 and its components, including the aerosol supply device 102 and consumables 104, may be reusable or disposable. In some examples, the aerosol supply system, including both the aerosol supply device and consumables, may be disposable. In some examples, the aerosol supply device may be reusable, and the consumables may be reusable (e.g., refillable) or disposable (e.g., replaceable). In yet another example, the consumables may be refillable and replaceable. In examples where the aerosol generator 106 is part of the aerosol supply device or consumables, the aerosol generator may be reusable or disposable, just like the aerosol supply device or consumables.

[0023] In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol dispensing device 102 may include a housing 108 having a power supply 110 and a circuit 112. The power supply is configured to provide a power source to the aerosol dispensing device and, by extension, the aerosol dispensing system 100. The power supply may be, or include, a power source such as a non-rechargeable or rechargeable battery, a solid-state battery (SSB), a lithium-ion battery, a supercapacitor, etc.

[0024] The circuit 112 may be configured to enable one or more functions (sometimes called services) of the aerosol supplying device 102 and, by extension, the aerosol supplying system 100. The circuit includes electronic components, and in some examples, one or more of the electronic components may be formed as a circuit board, such as a printed circuit board (PCB).

[0025] In some examples, the circuit 112 includes at least one switch 114 that can be operated directly or indirectly by the user to activate the aerosol dispensing device 102 and, consequently, the aerosol dispensing system 100. The switch may be or include a push button, touch-sensitive surface, etc., that can be operated manually by the user. Additionally or alternatively, the switch may be or include a sensor configured to sense one or more process variables indicating the use of the aerosol dispensing device or aerosol dispensing system. Examples include a flow sensor, pressure sensor, pressure switch, etc., configured to detect airflow and pressure changes due to airflow when the user inhales the consumable 104.

[0026] The switch 114 can provide user interface functionality. In some examples, the circuit 112 may include a user interface (UI) 116 that is separate from, or is a switch, or includes a switch. The UI may include one or more input and / or output devices to enable interaction between the user and the aerosol dispensing device 102. As mentioned above with respect to the switch, examples of suitable input devices include push buttons, touch-sensitive surfaces, etc. One or more output devices generally include devices configured to provide information in a human-perceptible form that can be visual, auditory, or tactile / haptic. Examples of suitable output devices include light sources such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and quantum dot-based LEDs. Other examples of suitable output devices include display devices (e.g., electronic visual displays), touchscreens (integration of a touch-sensitive surface and a display device), speakers, vibration motors, etc.

[0027] In some examples, circuit 112 includes a processing circuit 118 configured to perform data processing, application execution, or other processing, control, or management services according to one or more embodiments. The processing circuit may include a processor that can be embodied in various forms, such as a processor core, a microprocessor, a coprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, or various other computing or processing devices, including one or more integrated circuits such as an ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or several combinations thereof. In some examples, the processing circuit may include memory coupled to or integrated with the processor that can store data, computer program instructions executable by the processor, several combinations thereof, and so on.

[0028] As also shown, in some examples, the housing 108, and therefore the aerosol-delivering device 102, may also include a coupler 120 and / or receptacle 122 structured to engage with and hold the consumable 104, thereby coupling the aerosol-delivering device with the consumable. The coupler may be, or include, a connector, fastener, etc., configured to connect to the corresponding coupler on the consumable by press-fit (or interlocking) connection, screw connection, magnetic connection, etc. The receptacle may be, or include, a reservoir, tank, container, cavity, receiving chamber, etc., structured to receive and contain the consumable or at least a portion of the consumable.

[0029] Consumable 104 is an article containing an aerosol-generating material 124 (also called an aerosol precursor composition), which is intended to be consumed in whole or in part by the user during use. The aerosol-delivering system 100 may include one or more consumables, each consumable may contain one or more aerosol-generating materials. In some examples where the aerosol-delivering system is a hybrid product, the aerosol-delivering system may include a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material for generating an aerosol, which may pass through a second solid aerosol-generating material to capture additional components before reaching the user. These aerosol-generating materials may be in a single consumable that can be separately detachable or within each consumable.

[0030] The aerosol-generating material 124 can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or given energy by any other means, for example. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gel, for example. The aerosol-generating material may also include an "amorphous solid," which is sometimes referred to as an "amorphous solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some examples, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material may contain about 50% by weight, 60% by weight, or 70% by weight of amorphous solid to about 90% by weight, 95% by weight, or 100% by weight of amorphous solid.

[0031] The aerosol generating material 124 may contain one or more of a number of components, such as the active substance 126, the flavoring agent 128, the aerosol forming material 130, or other functional materials 132.

[0032] The active substance 126 may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance physiological responses such as increased alertness, improved concentration, increased energy, increased stamina, improved calmness, or improved sleep. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nutritional supplements, or psychostimulants. The active substance may be naturally occurring or obtained synthetically. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), L-theanine, taurine, thein, vitamins such as B6 or B12 (cobalamin) or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, terpenes, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0033] In some examples where the active substance 126 is a derivative or extract, the active substance may be one or more cannabinoids or terpenes, or may contain them.

[0034] As described herein, the active substance 126 may include or be derived from one or more plants or their components, derivatives, or extracts. As used herein, the term “plant-derived” includes, but is not limited to, any material derived from plants, including extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, exoskeletons, shells, etc. Alternatively, the material may include naturally occurring active compounds in synthetically obtained plants. The material may be in the form of a liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, flakes, strips, sheets, etc. Examples of plants include tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, licorice, matcha, mate tea, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, anise, basil, bay leaf, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, and oreg. No, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, shiso, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, sartre, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, myrtle, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, kalbi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, carrot, theanine, siacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab, or any combination thereof.Mint can be selected from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha cv, Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata cv, Mentha piperita cv, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata cv, and Mentha suaveolens.

[0035] Further examples include: Active substance 126, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) / oxytriptan / Griffonia simplicifolia, acetylcholine, arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), Bacopa monnieri, beta-alanine, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), Centella asiatica, chai-hu, cinnamon, citicoline, cotinine, creatine, curcumin, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega-3), dopamine, Dorstenia odorata, essential oil, GABA, Galphimia graffica, glutamic acid, hops, Kaempferia Parviflora (Thai ginseng), kava, L-carnitine, L-arginine, lavender oil, L-choline, licorice, L-lysine, L-theanine, L-tryptophan, lutein, magnesium, L-threonate magnesium, myo-inositol, nardostachys chinensi, nitrates, sweet violet oil extract, oxygen, phenylalanine, phosphatidylserine, quercetin, resveratrol, Rhizoma gastrodiae, Rhodiola rosea, rose essential oil, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), Selenium tortosum, schisandra, selenium, serotonin, scale cap, spearmint extract, spikenard, theobromine, tumaryl, turnera It may be one or more of aphrodisiac, tyrosine, vitamin A, vitamin B3, or yerbamate, or may contain them.

[0036] In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 124 includes a flavoring agent 128. As used herein, terms such as “flavoring agent” and “flavor” refer to materials that can be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatosensory sensation in a product intended for adult consumers, where local regulations permit it.Flavorings include naturally occurring flavorings, plant substances, extracts of plant substances, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berries, red berries, cranberries, peaches, apples, oranges, mangoes, clementines, lemons, limes, tropical fruits). Fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascaria, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, chaat, naswar, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cinnamon, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage Ginger, fennel, wasabi, pimento, ginger, coriander, coffee, cannabis, peppermint oil from any species of the Mentha genus, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, laurel, mate tea, orange peel, rose, tea such as green tea and black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, curcuma, coriander, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, majolica It may contain other additives such as olives, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, fennel, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor blockers, sensory receptor activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), as well as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant matter, or breath fresheners.Flavoring agents may be imitations, synthetics, natural ingredients, or blends thereof. Flavoring agents may be in any suitable form, such as liquids like oils, solids like powders, or gases.

[0037] In some exemplary implementations, the flavoring agent 128 may include, in addition to or instead of, scent or taste nerves, somatosensory effects that are usually chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), and these may include agents that provide heating, cooling, stinging, or paralyzing effects. Suitable thermal agents may be, but are not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and suitable cooling agents may be, but are not limited to, eucoliptol, WS-3.

[0038] The aerosol-forming material 130 may contain one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may contain one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzylphenyl acetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0039] One or more other functional materials 132 may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants. Suitable binders include, for example, pectin, guar gum, fruit pectin, citrus pectin, tobacco pectin, hydroxyethyl guar gum, hydroxypropyl guar gum, hydroxyethyl locust bean gum, hydroxypropyl locust bean gum, alginate, starch, modified starch, derivatized starch, methylcellulose, ethylcellulose, ethyl hydroxymethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, tamarind gum, dextran, pluralone, konjac powder, or xanthan gum.

[0040] In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 124 may be present on or within a support to form a substrate 134. The support may be, for example, paper, cardboard, cardboard, reconstituted material (e.g., material formed from reconstituted plant materials such as reconstituted tobacco or reconstituted hemp), plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy, or may include these. In some examples, the support may include a susceptor that can be embedded within the aerosol-generating material or on one or both sides of the aerosol-generating material.

[0041] Although not shown separately, in some exemplary embodiments, the consumable 104 may further include a receptacle structured to engage with and hold the aerosol-generating material 124 or substrate 134. The receptacle may be, or include, a reservoir, tank, container, cavity, receiving chamber, etc., structured to receive and contain the aerosol-generating material or substrate. The consumable may also include an aerosol-generating material transfer component (also called a liquid transfer component) configured to transfer the aerosol-generating material to the aerosol generator 106. The aerosol-generating material transfer component may be adapted to wick or otherwise transfer the aerosol-generating material by capillary action. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material transfer component may include a microfluidic tip, micropump, or other suitable component for transferring the aerosol-generating material.

[0042] The aerosol generator 106 (also called a sprayer, aerosolizer, or aerosol-making component) is configured to generate an aerosol by supplying energy to the aerosol-generating material 124, or otherwise cause the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol. More specifically, in some examples, the aerosol generator may be powered by a power supply 110 under the control of a circuit 112 to supply energy to the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol.

[0043] In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol generator 106 is an electric heater configured to perform electric heating, in which electrical energy from a power source is converted into thermal energy, and the aerosol-generating material is exposed to form an aerosol by releasing one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material. Examples of preferred forms of electric heating include resistance (Joule) heating, induction heating, dielectric and microwave heating, radiant heating, and arc heating. More specific examples of suitable electric heaters include resistance heating elements such as wire coils, plates, prongs, and microheaters.

[0044] In some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol generator 106 is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material with no heating or only secondary heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to apply one or more of the following to the aerosol-generating material: increased pressure, vibration, or electrostatic energy. More specific examples of these aerosol generators include jet nebulizers, ultrasonic nebulizers, vibrating mesh technology (VMT) nebulizers, and surface acoustic wave (SAW) nebulizers.

[0045] A jet nebulizer is configured to use compressed gas (e.g., air, oxygen) to decompose an aerosol-generating material 124 into an aerosol, and an ultrasonic nebulizer is configured to use ultrasound to decompose an aerosol-generating material into an aerosol. A VMT nebulizer includes a mesh and a piezoelectric material (e.g., piezoelectric material, pressure-magnetic material) that is driven to vibrate and allows the mesh to decompose the aerosol-generating material into an aerosol. A SAW nebulizer is configured to use surface acoustic waves or Rayleigh waves to decompose an aerosol-generating material into an aerosol.

[0046] In some examples, the aerosol generator 106 may include a susceptor, or the susceptor may be part of the substrate 134. The susceptor is a material that can be heated by penetration due to a fluctuating magnetic field generated by a magnetic field generator, which may be separate from or part of the aerosol generator. The susceptor may be a conductive material, and as a result, penetration due to the changing magnetic field causes inductive heating of the heating material. The heating material may be a magnetic material, and as a result, penetration due to the changing magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. In some examples, the susceptor may be both conductive and magnetic, and as a result, the susceptor in these examples can be heated by both heating mechanisms.

[0047] Unless otherwise indicated, either or both of the aerosol-providing device 102 or the consumable 104 may contain an aerosol modifier. The aerosol modifier is a substance configured to modify the aerosol produced from the aerosol-generating material 124, for example, by altering the taste, flavor, acidity, or other properties of the aerosol. In various examples, the aerosol modifier may be an additive or an adsorbent. The aerosol modifier may contain, for example, one or more of flavoring agents, coloring agents, water, or carbon adsorbents. The aerosol modifier may be a solid, semi-solid, liquid, or gel. The aerosol modifier may be in the form of a powder, thread, or granules. The aerosol modifier may not contain a filter material. In some examples, the aerosol modifier may be provided in an aerosol modifier release component that is operable to selectively release the aerosol modifier.

[0048] The aerosol supply system 100 and its components, including the aerosol supply device 102, consumables 104, and aerosol generator 106, can be manufactured in one of several different form factors, with additional or alternative components to those described above.

[0049] Figures 1B and 1C show an aerosol supplying system 140 in the form of a vapor product, which in some exemplary embodiments can correspond to an aerosol supplying system 100. As shown, the aerosol supplying system 140 may include an aerosol supplying device 141 (also called a control body or power supply unit) and consumables 142 (also called a cartridge or tank), which can correspond to an aerosol supplying device 102 and consumables 104, respectively. The aerosol supplying system, and consumables in particular, may also include an aerosol generator in the form of an electric heater 144, such as a heating element like a metal plate or metal wire coil configured to convert electrical energy into thermal energy by resistive (Joule) heating, which corresponds to an aerosol generator 106. The aerosol supplying device and consumables can be permanently or detachably aligned in a functional relationship. Figures 1B and 1C show a perspective view and a partially cutaway side view of an aerosol supplying system in a coupled configuration, respectively.

[0050] As seen in the cutaway diagrams in Figures 1B and 1C, the aerosol-delivering device 141 and the consumables 142 each include a number of components. The components shown in Figure 1C are representative of the components that may be present in the aerosol-delivering device and consumables, and are not intended to limit the scope of components included in this disclosure.

[0051] The aerosol-delivering device 141 may include a housing 145 (sometimes called an aerosol-delivering device shell) which may include a power supply 150. The housing may also include a user interface including a circuit 152 having a switch in the form of a sensor 154, a light source 156 which can be illuminated by the use of the aerosol-delivering system 140, and a processing circuit 158 ​​(also called a control component). The housing may also include a receptacle in the form of a consumable receiving chamber 162 which is structured to engage with and hold a consumable 142. The consumable may also include an aerosol-generating material 164 which may correspond to an aerosol-generating material 124 and may include one or more of several components such as active substances, flavoring agents, aerosol-forming materials, or other functional materials.

[0052] As can be seen in Figure 1C, the aerosol dispensing device 141 may also include an electrical connector 166 located within a consumable receiving chamber 162, configured to electrically couple the aerosol dispensing device with a consumable 142, particularly an electrical contact 168 on the consumable. In this regard, the electrical connector and electrical contacts may form a connection interface between the aerosol dispensing device and the consumable. Also as shown, the aerosol dispensing device may include an external electrical connector 170 for connecting the aerosol dispensing device to one or more external devices. Examples of suitable external electrical connectors include USB connectors, Apple's Lightning connector, and other proprietary connectors.

[0053] In various examples, the consumable 142 includes a tank section and a mouthpiece section. The tank section and the mouthpiece section may be integrated, permanently fixed together, or the tank section itself may define the mouthpiece section (or vice versa). In other examples, the tank section and the mouthpiece section may be separate and detachably engaged with each other.

[0054] The consumable 142, tank section and / or mouthpiece section may be defined separately with respect to a longitudinal axis (L), a first transverse axis (T1) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second transverse axis (T2) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the first transverse axis. The consumable may be formed from a housing 172 (sometimes called a consumable shell) surrounding a reservoir 174 (inside the tank section) configured to hold the aerosol generating material 164. In some examples, the consumable may include an aerosol generator, such as an electric heater 144 in the illustrated example. In some examples, an electrical connector 166 on the aerosol supplying device 141 and an electrical contact 168 on the consumable may electrically connect the electric heater to the power supply 150 and / or circuit 152 of the aerosol supplying device.

[0055] As shown, in some examples, the reservoir 174 may be in fluid communication with an aerosol-generating material transfer component 176 adapted to draw up or otherwise transfer the aerosol-generating material 164 stored in the reservoir housing to the electric heater 144. At least a portion of the aerosol-generating material transfer component may be positioned close to the electric heater (e.g., directly adjacent, adjacent, close, or relatively close). The aerosol-generating material transfer component may extend between the electric heater and the aerosol-generating material stored in the reservoir, and at least a portion of the electric heater may be located above the proximal end of the reservoir. For the purposes of this disclosure, it should be understood that the term “above” in this particular context is to be interpreted as substantially toward the proximal end of the reservoir and / or consumable 142 in a direction along the longitudinal axis (L). Other configurations of the aerosol-generating material transfer component are also contemplated within the scope of this disclosure. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-generating material transfer component may be positioned close to the distal end of the reservoir and / or across the longitudinal axis (L).

[0056] The electric heater 144 and the aerosol-generating material transfer component 176 may be configured as separate, fluidly connected elements, as a single unit, or as a combined element. For example, in some embodiments, the electric heater may be integrated with the aerosol-generating material transfer component. Furthermore, the electric heater and the aerosol-generating material transfer component may be formed from any structure as otherwise described herein. In some examples, a valve may be positioned between the reservoir 174 and the electric heater to control the amount of aerosol-generating material 164 passed from the reservoir to or delivered to the electric heater.

[0057] An opening 178 may be present in the housing 172 (for example, at the mouth end of the mouthpiece) to allow for the discharge of aerosols formed from the consumable 142.

[0058] As described above, the circuit 152 of the aerosol dispensing device 141 may include several electronic components, and in some examples may be formed from a circuit board such as a PCB that supports and electrically connects the electronic components. The sensor 154 (switch) may be one of these electronic components located on the circuit board. In some examples, the sensor may have its own circuit board or other mountable base element. In some examples, a flexible circuit board may be used. The flexible circuit board may be configured in various shapes. In some examples, the flexible circuit board may be combined with a heater board, laminated on a heater board, or form part or all of a heater board.

[0059] In some examples, the reservoir 174 can be a container for storing the aerosol-generating material 164. In some examples, the reservoir can be, or may include, a fibrous reservoir having a substrate on or within a support in which the aerosol-generating material resides. For example, in this example, the reservoir may comprise one or more layers of nonwoven fibers substantially formed in the shape of a tube surrounding the interior of the housing 172. The aerosol-generating material may be held within the reservoir. For example, a liquid component may be held absorbently by the reservoir. The reservoir may be fluidly connected to an aerosol-generating material transfer component 176. The aerosol-generating material transfer component can transfer the aerosol-generating material stored in the reservoir to an electric heater 144 via capillary action or via a micropump. Thus, the electric heater is in a heating configuration together with the aerosol-generating material transfer component.

[0060] When in use, if the user inhales the aerosol supply system 140, the sensor 154 detects the airflow, and the electric heater 144 is activated to energize the aerosol-generating material 164 to produce an aerosol. When the mouth end of the aerosol supply system is inhaled, ambient air enters and passes through the aerosol supply system. In the consumable 142, the inhaled air is either blown out, sucked in, or otherwise drawn out by the electric heater and combined with the aerosol coming out of the opening 178 at the mouth end of the aerosol supply system.

[0061] Here again, as shown in Figures 1B and 1C, the aerosol generator of the aerosol-delivering system 140 is an electric heater 144 designed to heat the aerosol-generating material 164 to produce an aerosol. In other embodiments, the aerosol generator is designed to decompose the aerosol-generating material without heating, or with only secondary heating. Figure 1D shows a nebulizer 180 that can be used to realize the aerosol generator of an aerosol-delivering system according to some of these other exemplary embodiments.

[0062] As shown in Figure 1D, the nebulizer 180 includes a mesh plate 182 and a piezoelectric material 184 that can be fixed together. The piezoelectric material is driven to vibrate, causing the mesh plate to decompose the aerosol-generating material into aerosols. In some examples, the nebulizer may also include support components located on the opposite side of the mesh plate from the piezoelectric material to extend the life of the mesh plate, and / or auxiliary components between the mesh plate and the piezoelectric material to facilitate interfacial contact between the mesh plate and the piezoelectric material.

[0063] In various exemplary embodiments, the mesh plate 182 can have a variety of different configurations. The mesh plate may have a flat shape, a dome shape (concave or convex with respect to the aerosol-generating material), or flat and dome portions. The mesh plate defines a plurality of perforations 186 that may be substantially uniform across the perforated portion of the mesh plate, or may vary in size. The perforations may be circular or non-circular openings (e.g., elliptical, rectangular, triangular, regular polygon, or irregular polygon). In three dimensions, the perforations may have a fixed cross-section, such as in the case of a cylindrical perforation with a fixed circular cross-section, or a variable cross-section, such as in the case of a frustoconical perforation with a variable circular cross-section. In other embodiments, the perforations may be square or pyramidal.

[0064] The piezoelectric material 184 may be or may include both a piezoelectric material and a pressure-magnetic material. The piezoelectric material may be coupled to a circuit configured to produce an oscillating electrical signal to vibrate the piezoelectric material. In the case of a pressure-magnetic material, the circuit may produce a pair of out-of-phase oscillating electrical signals to drive a pair of magnets to produce an out-of-phase oscillating magnetic field that vibrates the pressure-magnetic material.

[0065] The piezoelectric material 184 can be fixed to the mesh plate 182, and the vibration of the piezoelectric material can cause the mesh plate to vibrate. The mesh plate may be in close proximity to the aerosol-generating material, in contact with the aerosol-generating material, or immersed in the aerosol-generating material, or otherwise receive the aerosol-generating material via an aerosol-generating material transfer component. Thus, the vibration of the mesh plate can cause perforations 186 to pass through the aerosol-generating material, which decompose the aerosol-generating material into aerosols. More specifically, in some examples, the aerosol-generating material can be driven through the perforations 186 of the vibrating mesh plate 182, resulting in aerosol particles. In other examples where the mesh plate is in contact with the aerosol-generating material or immersed in the aerosol-generating material, the vibrating mesh plate can create ultrasonic waves within the aerosol-generating material that cause aerosol formation on the surface of the aerosol-generating material.

[0066] As described above, hybrid products use a combination of aerosol-generating materials, and some hybrid products are similar to vapor products, except that the aerosol generated from one aerosol-generating material can pass through a second aerosol-generating material to capture additional components. Thus, another similar aerosol-providing system in the form of a hybrid product may be constructed similarly to the vapor product in Figures 1B and 1C (using an electric heater 144 or a nebulizer 180). The hybrid product may also include a second aerosol-generating material through which the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material 164 passes to capture additional components before passing through the opening 178 at the mouth end of the aerosol-providing system.

[0067] Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C show an aerosol supplying system 200 in the form of a non-combustion heating product, which in some exemplary embodiments can correspond to an aerosol supplying system 100. As shown, the aerosol supplying system may include an aerosol supplying device 202 (also called a control body or power supply unit) and consumables 204 (also called aerosol source components or cartridges), which can correspond to an aerosol supplying device 102 and consumables 104, respectively. The aerosol supplying system, and in particular the aerosol supplying device, may also correspond to an aerosol generator 106, which may include an aerosol generator in the form of an electric heater 206. The aerosol supplying device and consumables can be positioned permanently or detachably in a functional relationship. Figure 2A shows an aerosol supplying system in a coupled configuration, and Figure 2B shows an aerosol supplying system in a separated configuration. Figure 2C shows a partial cutaway side view of an aerosol supplying system in a coupled configuration.

[0068] As shown in Figures 2A, 2B, and 2C, the aerosol-delivering device 202 and the consumables 204 each include a number of components. The components shown in the figures are representative of the components that may be present in the aerosol-delivering device and consumables, and are not intended to limit the scope of components included in this disclosure.

[0069] The aerosol-providing device 202 may include a housing 208 (sometimes called an aerosol-providing device shell) which may include a power supply 210. The housing may also include a user interface which includes a circuit 212 having a switch in the form of a sensor 214, a light source 216 which can be illuminated by the use of the aerosol-providing system 200, and a processing circuit 218 (also called a control component). In some examples, at least some of the electronic components of the circuit may be formed from a circuit board or flexible circuit board which supports and electrically connects the electronic components.

[0070] The housing 208 may also include a receptacle in the form of a consumable receiving chamber 220 structured to engage with and hold the consumable 204. The consumable 204 may correspond to an aerosol-generating material 124 and may include an aerosol-generating material 224 which may contain one or more of several components, such as active substances, flavoring agents, aerosol-forming materials, or other functional materials. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating material may be present on or within a support to form a substrate 226.

[0071] In the combined configuration of the aerosol delivery system 200, the consumables 204 may be held in the receiving chamber 220 to varying degrees. In some examples, less than half or about half of the consumables may be held in the receiving chamber 220. In other examples, more than half of the consumables 204 may be held in the receiving chamber 220. In yet another example, substantially the entirety of the consumables 204 may be held in the receiving chamber 220.

[0072] As shown in Figures 2B and 2C, in various embodiments of the present disclosure, the consumable 204 may include a heated end 228 of a size and shape for insertion into an aerosol dispensing device 202, and a mouth end 230 for the user to inhale and produce an aerosol. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the heated end may include an aerosol generating material 224.

[0073] In some exemplary embodiments, the mouth end 230 of the consumable 204 may include a filter 232 made from a material such as cellulose acetate or polypropylene. The filter may additionally or alternatively include strands of tobacco-containing material. In some examples, at least a portion of the consumable may be wrapped with an external overlap material which can be formed from any material useful to provide additional structure, support, and / or heat resistance. In some examples, the extra length of the overlap at the mouth end of the consumable may function to simply separate the aerosol-generating material 224 from the user's mouth, or to provide space for the filter material, or to affect the inhalation of the consumable, or to affect the flow characteristics of the aerosol leaving the consumable during inhalation.

[0074] The electric heater 206 can electrically heat the aerosol-generating material 224 by means of resistance (Joule) heating, induction heating, dielectric and microwave heating, radiation heating, arc heating, etc. The electric heater can have a variety of different configurations. In some examples, at least a portion of the electric heater can surround, or at least partially surround, at least a portion of the consumable 204 containing the aerosol-generating material when inserted into the aerosol-providing device 202. In other examples, at least a portion of the electric heater may penetrate the consumable when the consumable is inserted into the aerosol-providing device. In some examples, the material of the substrate 226 can include a susceptor that can be embedded in the aerosol-generating material or on one or both sides of the aerosol-generating material.

[0075] Although shown as part of the aerosol-delivering device 202, the electric heater 206 may instead be part of the consumable 504. In some examples, the electric heater or part of the electric heater may be combined with the aerosol-generating material 224, packaged together, or integrated (e.g., embedded inside).

[0076] As shown, in some examples, the electric heater 206 may extend close to the engaging end of the housing 208 and may be configured to substantially surround a portion of the heated end 228 of the consumable 204 containing the aerosol-generating material 224. The electric heater 206 may be or include one or more resistive heating elements 244, such as an outer cylinder 242 and prongs surrounded by the outer cylinder to form a receiving chamber 220, and may extend from the receiving base 246 of the aerosol-providing device to the opening 248 of the housing 208 of the aerosol-providing device. In some examples, the outer cylinder may be a double-walled vacuum tube constructed from stainless steel to retain the heat generated by the (one or more) resistive heating elements within the outer cylinder, and more specifically, the heat generated by the (one or more) resistive heating elements within the aerosol-generating material.

[0077] Similar to the electric heater 206, the (one or more) resistance heating elements 244 may have various different configurations, and their number may vary from one to multiple resistance heating elements. As shown, the (one or more) resistance heating elements may extend from the receiving base 246 of the aerosol supplying device 202. In some examples, the (one or more) resistance heating elements may be located at or around the approximate radial center of the heated end 228 of the consumable 204 when inserted into the aerosol supplying device. In some examples, the (one or more) resistance heating elements may penetrate the heated end of the consumable and be in direct contact with the aerosol-generating material. In other examples, the (one or more) resistance heating elements may be located inside (but not in direct contact with) a cavity defined by the inner surface of the heated end of the consumable.

[0078] In some examples, one or more resistive heating elements 244 of the electric heater 206 may be connected to an electrical circuit including a power supply 210 so that a current produced by the power supply can pass through the resistive heating elements. When current flows through the resistive heating elements, the resistive heating elements can generate heat by resistive (Joule) heating.

[0079] In other examples, an electric heater 206 including an outer cylinder 242 and (one or more) resistance heating elements 244 may be configured to perform inductive heating, where the outer cylinder may be connected to an electrical circuit including a power supply 210, and the (one or more) resistance heating elements may be connected to another electrical circuit. In this configuration, the outer cylinder and (one or more) resistance heating elements can function as a transformer, where the outer cylinder is an inductive transmitter and the (one or more) resistance heating elements are inductive receivers. In some of these examples, the outer cylinder and (one or more) resistance heating elements may be part of an aerosol supply device 202. In other examples of these examples, the outer cylinder may be part of an aerosol supply device, and the (one or more) resistance heating elements may be part of a consumable 204.

[0080] The outer cylinder 242 may be supplied with alternating current directly from the power supply 210, or indirectly from a power supply configured such that an inverter (as part of the circuit 212) converts direct current from the power supply to alternating current. The alternating current drives the outer cylinder to generate an oscillating magnetic field, which induces eddy currents in one or more resistive heating elements 244. The eddy currents then generate heat in one or more resistive heating elements by resistive (Joule) heating. In these examples, one or more resistive heating elements may be heated wirelessly to form an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material 224 placed in close proximity to the resistive heating elements.

[0081] In various exemplary embodiments, the aerosol-providing device 202 may include an intake port 250 (e.g., one or more openings or apertures) within the housing 208 (and optionally the receiving base 246 as well) to allow airflow into the receiving chamber 220. When a user sucks on the mouth end 228 of the consumable 204, the airflow can be drawn through the intake port into the receiving chamber, into the consumable, and through the aerosol-generating material 224. The airflow can be detected by a sensor 214, which can activate an electric heater 206 to energize the aerosol-generating material and generate an aerosol. The airflow may be combined with an aerosol that is blown, sucked in, or otherwise drawn out from the opening at the mouth end of the aerosol-providing system. In an example including a filter 232, the airflow combined with the aerosol may be drawn out from the filter opening at the mouth end.

[0082] As described above, PSA may be desirable after purchasing or acquiring the aerosol dispensing devices 102 / 202 in Figures 1 and 2, or other devices such as those thereafter. Figure 3 shows an exemplary system diagram for functional control of device 300 for PSA (which can be an example of the aerosol dispensing devices 102 / 202 in Figures 1 and 2), relating to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, Figure 3 shows how device 300 communicates with an age verification system 310 through network 320 and host device 330 to verify the user's age, which can also be used to periodically authenticate device 300. Device 300 may be locked (e.g., device 300 is unavailable or such use is strictly controlled) until it is properly authenticated through the PSA process. After authentication, device 300 can be unlocked and operate normally. The age verification system 310 can be operablely coupled with host device 330 on network 320. Although not shown, the age verification system 310 may be coupled with device 300 on network 320.

[0083] Device 300 may be any aerosol delivery device, including, for example, an electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device according to the various embodiments described above. In one embodiment, the age verification system 310 may not only verify age (e.g., in the case of age-restricted products) but also provide authentication or user identification (e.g., for actual purchase or to prevent theft). An example of authentication and age verification by the age verification system 310 is further described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 415,460, entitled “AUTHENTICATION AND AGE VERIFICATION FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE,” claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 282,222 of April 2, 2019, and the entirety of each of these disclosures is incorporated herein by reference. The authentication described below may rely on age verification, which is performed first using a control signal 340 transmitted to Device 300 and then referenced for subsequent authentication. However, there may be other verification mechanisms besides age. For example, in some embodiments, user identification may be performed instead of age verification. Therefore, for example, the age verification system 310 is merely an example of an authentication system configured to perform PSA on device 300, and thus the age verification system 310 can be more generally referred to as an authentication agent. Cartridges or consumables may be registered as part of an age verification or authentication process, as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 415,444, filed May 17, 2019, entitled “AGE VERIFICATION WITH REGISTERED CARTRIDGES FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE,” the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 by Fernando et al. discloses an identification system for a smoking device, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0084] The age verification system 310 may include a database that tracks users along with their age and maintains records of devices and components (e.g., cartridges) along with authorization. It may be encrypted and / or use an anonymous identifier for each user (e.g., a number, letter, or any alphanumeric identifier).

[0085] Initial age verification can occur and be stored in a database, such as being maintained in the age verification system 310 and / or made accessible on the network 320. In some embodiments, age verification records can be maintained using blockchain technology. Future age verification requests by the user can be confirmed by calling the database. Specifically, once a user is initially age-verified as confirmed in the age verification system database, future verification (i.e., "authentication") can simply be a call to this database to unlock device 300. In other words, a user can perform age verification initially, and subsequent use can request authentication without the full initial age verification requirement. The frequency at which device 300 must be unlocked or authenticated can vary. Similarly, the timing at which a user needs to re-verify their age (or otherwise re-authenticate themselves) can also vary. For example, each time a cartridge is replaced, the user may need to re-verify or re-authenticate. In some embodiments, re-authentication may be required after a certain number of puffs from device 300, or based on the passage of time (e.g., once every hour, day, week, month, etc.). Online databases can track authentication requests and set restrictions for each user. This can prevent potential unauthorized activity, such as a single user unlocking a device belonging to another user under a certain age. This also prevents the redistribution of unlocked (i.e., verified and authenticated) devices and / or accessories. Reasonable limits on the number of devices, chargers, consumables, and / or authentications can prevent this potential unauthorized activity.

[0086] A user profile, including the user's age-verified identification, can be stored (for example, on device 300 or from an application, i.e., an app, on host device 330). An app on host device 330 can access the user profile over a network, such as network 320. Once a user is initially age-verified, as confirmed in the age verification system database, a user profile for that user can be generated and stored so that future verifications (i.e., "authentication") can simply call this database. In one embodiment, age verification can be a prerequisite for host device 330 to generate and submit control signal 340 to device 300.

[0087] The host device 330 may be any computing or communication device such as a smartphone, tablet, mobile phone, analog phone, or computer. The host device 330 may communicate with device 300 for authentication or activation, or provide control signals 340 to device 300. The control signals 340 from the host device 320 to device 300 may be wired or wireless signals such as RF signals, vibration signals, audio signals, or optical / optical signals. Optical signals should be understood to include not only those in the visible light spectrum, but also infrared signals, optical fiber signals, ultraviolet signals, and signals related to intensity adjustment or wavelength adjustment. Audible signals should be understood to include signals inside and outside the range of human hearing. Furthermore, audible signals using decibel tuning or frequency tuning may also be included. Thus, in some embodiments, the host device 330 may be audibly or optically coupled with device 300 to communicate control signals 340 to authenticate and / or unlock device 300. Therefore, the host device 330's ability to transmit the control signal 340, and environmental factors that may affect the device 300's reception of the control signal 340, are all important for the successful authentication or authorization of device 300.

[0088] A user may acquire device 300 and attempt to perform a PSA in the manner generally described above, but may become frustrated or dissatisfied if the attempted PSA fails due to limitations of the host device 330 or environmental factors. On the other hand, if the PSA attempt proceeds smoothly for the user, it can increase user satisfaction, positive reviews, and the likelihood of continued sales of such a device. Therefore, to provide a higher likelihood of a positive user experience associated with PSA, an exemplary embodiment may provide an adaptive signal detector 350 in device 300, as will be described in more detail below. In this regard, the adaptive signal detector 350 may be configured to adaptively process the control signal 340 based on the device characteristics of the host device 330 and / or environmental conditions, which in any case can be determined by the adaptive signal detector 350. In other words, the adaptive signal detector 350 may be configured to evaluate the host device 330 while receiving the control signal 340, which contains an unlock code internally, and / or determine environmental conditions that may affect the transmission / reception of the control signal 340. Next, the adaptive signal detector 350 can adjust its own settings to better process the control signal 340 and utilize the unlock code within it for PSA. Therefore, in contexts where the control signal 340 is an optical signal, audio signal, RF signal, or vibration signal, it should be understood that the adaptive signal detector 350 processes the control signal 340 to determine device characteristics and / or environmental factors that may affect the reception of the control signal 340, and adjusts or modifies the receiving circuit of the adaptive signal detector 350 to enable better reception of the optical signal, audio signal, RF signal, or vibration signal, respectively, for processing the unlock code within the control signal 340. Furthermore, sometimes the control signal 340 may include a combination of any of the above signal types, and therefore the adjustment may also include a combination of receivers that can be adjusted accordingly. A more detailed example involving an optical signal is described below, but the principles represented by the example extend to other signal types as well.

[0089] Device 300 may also include a lock assembly 360 that prevents the device 300 from operating to generate an aerosol when the device 300 is locked, and allows the device 300 to operate to generate an aerosol when the device 300 is unlocked. For example, when locked, the lock assembly is configured to prevent the aerosol generator 106 in Figure 1 from operating to generate an aerosol, and when unlocked, to allow the aerosol generator 106 to operate to generate an aerosol. The lock assembly 360 may be the final step in the PSA process and, if the unlock code is authenticated, may apply the unlock code (or unique code) provided in the control signal 340 to transition from the locked state to the unlocked state. Thus, the adaptive signal detector 350 can receive the control signal 340 and process the control signal 340 using the adaptive techniques described herein. The unlock code from the control signal 340 is provided to the lock assembly 360, and if authenticated, it allows the device 300 to transition to the unlocked state to enable aerosol generation, thereby successfully completing the PSA process.

[0090] As described above, the control signal 340 can be, for example, a radio signal that can be optical or audible. General information relating to processing the control signal 340 as an optical signal is provided in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 441,937, filed June 14, 2019, titled "FUNCTIONAL CONTROL AND AGE VERIFICATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES THROUGH VISUAL COMMUNICATION," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Similarly, information relating to processing the control signal 340 as an audible signal is provided in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 441,903, filed June 14, 2019, titled "FUNCTIONAL CONTROL AND AGE VERIFICATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES THROUGH SPEAKER COMMUNICATION," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The adaptive signal detector 350 can be configured to provide adaptive processing to the control signal 340 in either context. However, to provide an example of how the adaptive signal detector 350 of several embodiments can be structured, Figure 4 is used to illustrate a specific example in which the control signal 340 is an optical signal.

[0091] Accordingly, Figure 4 shows a block diagram of an adaptive signal detector 400, which can be an exemplary embodiment of the adaptive signal detector 350 of Figure 3, configured to perform PSA in relation to the control signal 340 of Figure 3, which is embodied as an optical control signal. Referring here to Figure 4, the adaptive signal detector 400 may include a photodetector 410 operably coupled to a detection circuit embodied as a processing circuit 420. The adaptive signal detector 400 may also include one or both of a context monitor 430 and a host device evaluator 440.

[0092] In exemplary embodiments, the adaptive signal detector 350 (more specifically, the processing circuit 420) may include a processor 470 and memory 480. The processing circuit 420 may be configured to perform data processing, control function execution, and / or other processing and management services according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, the processing circuit 420 may be embodied as a chip or chipset. In other words, the processing circuit 420 may comprise one or more physical packages (e.g., chips) including materials, components, and / or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard). The structural assembly can provide physical strength, size preservation, and / or limitations on electrical interactions of the component circuits contained thereon. Thus, the processing circuit 420 may, in some cases, be configured to realize embodiments of the present invention on a single chip or as a single "system on a chip". Thus, in some cases, the chip or chipset may constitute means for performing one or more operations to provide the functions described herein.

[0093] In exemplary embodiments, the processing circuit 420 may be embodied as a circuit chip (e.g., an integrated circuit chip) configured to perform the operations described herein (e.g., using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software). However, in some embodiments, the processing circuit 420 may be embodied as part of an onboard computer.

[0094] The processor 470 can be embodied in several different ways. For example, the processor 470 may be embodied as a microprocessor or other processing element, a coprocessor, a controller, or one or more of various other computing or processing devices, including integrated circuits such as ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) and FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays). In exemplary embodiments, the processor 470 may be configured to execute instructions stored in memory 480 or instructions accessible to the processor 470. Thus, whether configured by hardware or by a combination of hardware and software, the processor 470 can represent, while configured accordingly, an entity (e.g., physically embodied in a circuit in the form of processing circuit 420) capable of performing the operations according to embodiments of the present invention. Thus, for example, when the processor 470 is embodied as an ASIC, FPGA, etc., the processor 470 can be specifically configured as hardware for performing the operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processor 470 is embodied as an execution unit for software instructions, the instructions may be configured to specifically perform the operations described herein.

[0095] In exemplary embodiments, the processor 470 (or processing circuit 420) can be embodied, include, or control the operation of the adaptive signal detector 400 based on inputs received by the processing circuit 420 and programming stored in memory 480. Thus, in some embodiments, it can be said that the processor 470 (or processing circuit 310) causes each of the operations described in relation to the photodetector 410, the context monitor 430, and the host device evaluator 440.

[0096] In exemplary embodiments, memory 480 may include one or more non-temporary memory devices, such as volatile and / or non-volatile memory, which may be fixed or removable. Memory 480 may be configured to store information, data, applications, instructions, etc., to enable processing circuit 420 to perform various functions according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention. For example, memory 480 may be configured to buffer input data for processing by processor 470. Additionally or alternatively, memory 480 may be configured to store instructions for execution by processor 470. As yet another alternative, memory 480 may include one or more databases that can store various datasets in response to received inputs. Among the contents of memory 480, applications and / or instructions may be stored for execution by processor 470 to perform functions associated with each respective application / instruction. In some cases, applications may include instructions for providing inputs to control the operation of photodetector 410, context monitor 430, and host device evaluator 440, as described herein.

[0097] In exemplary embodiments, the photodetector 410 may include a light sensor, a photodiode, a reader, and / or an infrared detector. The light sensor may include any light-dependent resistive element. These types of resistive elements may have resistance that changes with the presence or absence of light. This may require that a current flows through the resistive element when an optical signal 490 (e.g., an authentication optical sequence) is being transmitted. The photodiode may include a sensor that generates a small current when exposed to a light source and can function as a switch with a relatively fast response time.

[0098] If a reader is used, the reader may be embodied as a camera or other photodetector. In one example, a user can capture an image of a unique code (e.g., a barcode) generated on the display of the host device 330. Examples of barcodes may include any type of scannable identifier, such as a Universal Product Code (UPC), a Data Matrix Code, and / or a Quick Response (QR) code. The code may include any one-dimensional (1D), two-dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), or other type of code. In another example, an optical sequence providing the unique code may be provided. In any case, the unique code may be part of the optical signal 490, which may be decoded by the processing circuit 420. If the unique code is genuine, the processing circuit 420 may unlock or otherwise enable the use of device 300.

[0099] In this regard, for example, the optical signal 490 may be generated by a display of the host device 330 (e.g., a light / color arrangement on the screen, or pulses from the display) or a flashlight (e.g., a rear flashlight on a mobile device or other computing device). The display may be placed near the photodetector 410 of device 300 to detect any color / pulse / pattern or sequence shown on the display screen. In the example of the host device 330 including a flashlight application, the application can be programmed to cause the flashlight to transmit light according to a specific pattern or sequence that provides a unique code within the optical signal 490.

[0100] Light intensity can be greater in a flashlight than in a typical display, which can affect the possibility of signal loss during transmission. Furthermore, if device 300 is in a bright or dark environment, or if the environment changes during transmission, these conditions can affect the ability of the processing circuit 420 to process the information collected by the photodetector 410. Other challenges affecting the transmission of optical signals may also relate to the capabilities of the host device 330. For example, there may be specific challenges and variability related to speed and timing issues concerning display capability, such as detecting the start and / or end of a signal, determining the edge of a transmitted signal, and certain signals, noise, etc. To improve the accuracy and reliability of the efforts made by device 300 for PSA, the adaptive signal detector 400 can be configured to have improved capabilities (and flexible configurations to support) for detecting the start / end of a signal, detecting the edge of a signal (e.g., via automatic threshold detection), using flexible duration limits, using timing calibration, and / or utilizing iterative trials. The description of various examples of these improvements will now continue to illustrate exemplary embodiments.

[0101] In this regard, the detection of the start and end of a signal in a single device can be affected by the transmitting device's ability to accurately represent the signal based on the start and / or rise time constraints inherent to the transmitting device. For example, if the host device 330 cannot accurately transition between white and black to transmit a unique code within the optical signal 490, device 300 may have a difficult time identifying the start and end times of individual code segments of the unique code. Figure 5 shows a plot of the transition 500 from a low (or black) value 510 to a high (or white) value 520, which can drive the color produced on the display of the host device 330. The period of time it takes for the device to settle into the new value is the transition period 530. In the example in Figure 5, the transition period 530 is approximately 15 ms long. However, some exemplary devices may have delays as long as 25 ms (or more). Depending on the specific timing of the transition period 530, there may be a difference of 5 to 10 milliseconds from the expected duration of the coded symbol. This difference in size can lead to a significant failure rate in reading the unique code, as the unique code symbol may be misread by device 300.

[0102] In addition to the transition period 530 during which the processing circuit 420 may relinquish its ability to properly process the unique code, the image playback speed can also have an effect. For example, if the unique code is transmitted over a device with a slower-than-expected frame rate, the unique code may appear stretched (and therefore different) at the receiver. Similarly, variations in playback speed can affect decoding accuracy. Figure 6 shows an exemplary unlock code sequence 600 associated with a unique code being transmitted over a device. Figure 6 shows a transition threshold 610 used to distinguish between high and low signals, and also shows the timing associated with the transmission of the unlock code sequence along the x-axis. As shown in Figure 6, the first region 620 may show the normal timing and playback speed of the unlock sequence code 600. However, in the second region 630, individual characters are stretched due to changes in playback speed during the communication of the unlock sequence code 600. Changes in playback speed can be due to processing load associated with other applications or tasks being handled by the processor of the host device 330. However, regardless of the reason, timing stretching can lead to unique codes not being processed correctly, as the same individual characters may not appear the same at two different speeds.

[0103] Changes in ambient light during the unlock sequence can shift the measured waveform (in the processing circuit 420) up or down. This phenomenon can be problematic when the readings of the black and white image portions are close to each other. In extreme cases, this can cause the overall waveform to shift more than the difference between the black and white readings. Figure 7 shows a plot 700 of the code symbol of the unlock code 710 displayed in an environment with changing ambient lighting conditions. In this regard, the unlock code is usually expected to define a square wave where all high and low values ​​are the same. However, in Figure 7, it can be seen that the unlock code 710 changes its level in the middle of the various code segments, creating a distortion that makes parts of the almost square wave appear as a triangular wave instead.

[0104] Noise can also affect the optical signal 490. For example, in an indoor setting, the lighting provided by a luminaire may have an AC signal noise component driven by the frequency at which the light cycles. Figure 8 shows a plot 800 of the code symbol of the unlock code 810 being received with a 60Hz noise component 812 overlaid. In the case of brighter light, the noise can have an even greater impact, potentially negatively affecting the processing circuit 420's ability to accurately process the unique code provided by the unlock code 810.

[0105] To address these and potentially other situations, the adaptive signal detector 400 may use either or both of the context monitor 430 and / or the host device evaluator 440 to enable the processing circuit 420 to adapt to conditions that may affect the reception and processing of the optical signal 490. The adaptation may include adjustments made in response to stimuli that may be detected by the context monitor 430. However, in other cases (or additionally), the adaptation may include processing strategies and / or extensions enabled by the host device evaluator 440 to provide improved capabilities for handling interactions with devices of varying capabilities. Furthermore, in some cases, extensions may be initiated based on knowledge gained about these various capabilities. In other words, extensions may be made based on an evaluation of the capabilities of the host device 330. Thus, for example, the host device evaluator 440 and / or the context monitor 430 can provide information that can form the basis for tuning the processing circuit 420 to provide improved accuracy in extracting the unlock code from the optical signal 490, regardless of the environment or host device used in the PSA process.

[0106] The context monitor 430 may be any means, such as a device or circuit embodied in either hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to allow adjustment of the processing circuit 420 for extracting the unlock code from the optical signal 490 by determining environmental context information, such as illumination level / intensity, noise, or information regarding changes in either illumination or noise during the transmission of the optical signal 490. Thus, for example, the context monitor 430 may be configured to determine changes in ambient light occurring during the transmission of the optical signal 490 (e.g., by comparing the level at the beginning of the transmission (e.g., in the preamble) to the level at the end (e.g., in the postamble), although this is not limited to this. In exemplary embodiments, the context monitor 430 may be configured to detect edges in the optical signal based on detecting changes in light intensity rather than simply detecting the light intensity level itself. In some cases, the context monitor may be further configured to detect edges in the optical signal based on automatic threshold detection via comparison of the average level of a given number of previous symbols to a threshold defined as a percentage of the average level to take context into account, rather than simply applying the information to a fixed threshold. Detection of changes or edges may also be achieved by other means. For example, the size of a potential edge can be measured and compared to the size of a previously detected edge to determine whether the potential edge should be considered an edge. Thus, edge detection can be performed, for example, by comparing a signal to a threshold, detecting the gradient characteristics of the potential edge to determine whether the potential edge is eligible as a detected edge, and detecting the edge size as described above.

[0107] The host device evaluator 440 may be any means, such as a device or circuit embodied in either hardware or a combination of hardware and software, configured to allow adjustment of the processing circuit 420 for extracting the unlock code from the optical signal 490 by determining host device characteristic information. The host device characteristic information may be any information about the host device, including, for example, information indicating the device type or capability of the host device 330 regarding the reproduction of the unlock code in the optical signal. The host device evaluator 440 may be configured to use one of several strategies for determining the host device characteristic information. For example, the host device evaluator 440 may be configured to determine the host device characteristic information at the beginning of the transmission of the optical signal, use such information throughout the transmission, and make a comparison at the end for success criteria. Alternatively, the host device evaluator 440 may be configured to determine the host device characteristic information at the beginning of the transmission of the optical signal and make a comparison at the end for success criteria. Additionally or alternatively, the host device characteristic information may be determined from signal portions that can be used to obtain such information, and these signal portions may be distributed anywhere in the optical signal. Additionally or alternatively, a preamble can be used at the beginning of an optical signal to initiate a calibration process that can be dynamically adjusted throughout the entire transmission of the optical signal. Thus, for example, either or both of the preamble and / or postamble can determine useful information for characterizing the capabilities of the host device 330, allowing the processing circuit 420 to be calibrated accordingly. However, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments are not limited to using information at the beginning and end of the unlock code, but can be incorporated within the optical signal at any defined moment. For example, the host device evaluator 440 may be configured to determine the code version used in the unlock code or to perform timing calibration based on a separate waveform contained within the optical signal.As another example, the host device evaluator 440 may be configured to detect the beginning and / or end symbols of the unlock code, enabling the use of deductive reasoning (by comparing multiple code transmissions or checksums) to find missing characters. Other functions may also be defined, as will be described in more detail below.

[0108] One of the adaptations that the adaptive signal detector 400 can be configured to implement is the inclusion of a preamble or postamble in the optical signal 490. The preamble may be a framing layer that can be provided at the beginning of the optical signal 490 to enable evaluation of the capabilities of the host device 330 before the communication of the unique code. The preamble may be processed by the context monitor 430 and / or host device evaluator 440 to provide feedback to the processing circuit 420 to facilitate the processing of the unique code (i.e., the unlock code) in the optical signal 490. As an alternative to or addition to the preamble, a postamble may be provided at the end of the optical signal 490. The postamble may also be used to evaluate the capabilities of the host device 330 and compare it with the preamble to determine any contextual changes that may have occurred during the transmission of the optical signal 490 (e.g., large changes in ambient light intensity or noise). Furthermore, to evaluate the capabilities of the host device 330, checks within the code may be evaluated and returned compared with the preamble / postamble or both in the optical signal 490.

[0109] In some cases, the preamble and / or postamble may include a square wave (or other distinct waveform) that can be sent for use in timing calibration. If an optical signal 490 is provided with a preamble / postamble code having a given number of pulses, and the processing circuit 420 uses the same number of pulses with the same expected duration (e.g., via a host device evaluator 440), the processing circuit 420 can use the preamble / postamble code to calibrate its timing parameters and match the signal. The preamble / postamble inevitably adds to the length of the optical signal 490 and may therefore slightly delay the reception of any single encoded signal. However, the use of a preamble and / or postamble can ultimately reduce the overall transmission time by improving robustness and accuracy (i.e., eliminating the need for multiple efforts in PSA).

[0110] When used, the preamble can also be used to distinguish between different versions of a code. For example, a host device 330 may be identified to an age verification system 310, which may provide a code tailored to the host device 330 based on the host device 330's identification and associated type classification. The host device 330 can then provide device 300 with either a slower or faster version of the code. Device 300 can use the preamble to detect the expected version of the code from the host device 330. Thus, device 300 can use the adaptive signal detector 400 to learn something about the code provided to the optical signal 490 before attempting to utilize the code to unlock device 300. In some cases, the preamble used for code version determination may be shorter than the square wave used for timing calibration, and therefore such use of the preamble may have less impact on users with faster devices. Thus, the slowest supported device may not affect the code processing time of all faster devices. It should also be noted that preambles can, in some cases, serve both purposes (i.e., timing calibration and code version detection).

[0111] In some exemplary embodiments, the adaptations that the adaptive signal detector 400 may be configured to implement may include the use of specific symbols to mark the start and end of a given loop or instance of a unique code. For example, a long white or black screen may be used to isolate instances of transmission of a unique code. In some cases, the symbols or characters marking the end or start may have a predetermined length (e.g., 7 hours long). Thus, for example, in the case of a code sequence of 20 frames per second, the start / end signals may add approximately 350 ms to each code attempt. The start / end signals may also provide a common point (e.g., in the case of iterative attempts as described below) from which synchronization can be achieved.

[0112] As mentioned above, edge detection can affect the accuracy of coding. In a typical coding sequence, the system repeatedly measures instantaneous light intensity and analyzes groups of samples to determine whether the screen is white or black for each period. This generally works well under ideal conditions (e.g., no change in noise and lighting conditions). However, ideal conditions do not always exist. Therefore, the processing circuit 420 (e.g., with or by the context monitor) may be configured not to measure light intensity, but instead to measure changes in light intensity. Significant changes in intensity over short periods (i.e., greater than a fixed or dynamic threshold amount) indicate a change between black and white (on / off, 1 / 0, + / -, etc.). Due to the rise and fall times of the signal, it may not be ideal to examine only preceding samples when calculating the slope. Ambiguity in rise and fall times can be eliminated by comparing one sample with another sample that has at least a complete rise / fall time in the past. Furthermore, if the time difference is chosen to synchronize with a typical AC signal, noise in both the signal frequency and its harmonics can be eliminated.

[0113] A typical algorithm can be configured to detect low or high signals by finding the midpoint between the highest and lowest samples within a given period. This strategy can allow the algorithm to function when lighting conditions change only slightly. However, if lighting conditions change significantly in a short period, this algorithm will fail. To avoid such a possibility of failure, an exemplary embodiment of the processing circuit 420 (e.g., by a context monitor 430) may instead be configured to measure the amplitude of the last X symbols, and a threshold of Y percent of the measurement may be used to detect the next symbol. In other words, the processing circuit 420 can be configured to perform a comparison of the average level of a given number of previous symbols with a threshold defined as a percentage of the average level in order to determine the level of a given symbol. The values ​​of X and Y may be determined by the designer, allowing the algorithm to adapt to changes in environmental conditions while filtering out noise. This processing paradigm is sometimes called automatic threshold detection.

[0114] In exemplary embodiments, the processing circuit 420 may also be configured to use flexible duration limits. In this regard, for example, in a code executed at 20 frames per second, the expected duration of one code time unit (e.g., the duration of the dot and the space between the dot / dash within a character) is 50 ms. By using flexible duration limits, the processing circuit 420 can be configured to use a range of acceptable durations to detect code symbols. Thus, for example, using the 50 ms nominal duration of each character described above, the time unit can be defined as a time window with a duration of approximately 35 to 65 ms. This ensures that signal stretching due to host device 330 loading or other factors does not affect the processing circuit 420's ability to effectively utilize the unique code in the optical signal 490 to unlock device 300. In some embodiments, it may not be desirable to look for a specific frame rate to support a binary protocol. Instead, a ratio between edge times may be determined. For example, a ratio around 5:1:2:2 for four consecutive edges may indicate that the start sequence has been detected. Using the ratio of edge times can allow for a wider range of variation in the capabilities of host devices.

[0115] In some examples, the processing circuit 420 (e.g., by the host device evaluator 440) may also be configured to employ a strategy of combining iterative attempts at code processing. For example, if start / end signals are used between subsequent unlock attempts (as described above), clear boundaries can be provided between successive instances of the unique code provided to the optical signal 490. The processing circuit 420 may be configured to evaluate the valid parts in multiple failed unlock attempts to combine the valid parts to define one complete valid code. In other words, two or more valid parts from multiple failed unlock attempts can be combined by the processing circuit 420 to define a single valid code.

[0116] For example, if the unique code used for unlocking is "12345" and this is repeatedly sent to device 300 under poor lighting conditions, the processing circuit 420 may decode "123xx" in the first sequence of code transmission and "xx345" in another sequence of code transmission. Rather than simply accepting both attempts as failures, the processing circuit 420 may be configured to deduce that the valid code must be "12345" using the knowledge that the code has 5 characters and that the above sequence has been received. The start / end signals provide the processing circuit 420 with the ability to determine which characters are in which positions to enable the above reasoning. However, the processing circuit 420 may in some cases require that there be at least one common character in the sequences to be combined. Thus, for example, "123xx" would not be able to be combined with "xxx45", but "123xx" can be combined with "xx345" due to the presence of a common character 3 in at least the third position.

[0117] As an additional or alternative measure of quality assurance, several exemplary embodiments may use checksums and / or cyclic redundancy checks to verify data or to enable the recovery of missing characters. For example, if the unique code is a 5-character unlock key, a 6th character may be added to include the sum of the other characters (e.g., using base 36 arithmetic to consider both letters and numbers). In a simple example, if the code is "11111", a checksum value of 5 would be the 6th character for sending the full code "111115". In such an example, receiving "111115" can verify the accuracy of the code "11111". However, receiving "111x15" can further enable the processing circuit 420 to deduce, due to the checksum value of 5 and the other characters in the code sequence, that the missing character must be "1". Length checks can also help determine whether the signal was properly received, with or without checksums and cyclic redundancy checks.

[0118] Figure 9 shows an exemplary structure of an optical signal 490 according to an exemplary embodiment. In this regard, the optical signal 490 may include a preamble 900 which can be used to provide code version identification and / or timing calibration. Next, a start symbol 910 may be provided to indicate that an instance of a unique code immediately follows. Then, the first instance of the unique code 920 (i.e., the unlock code) may be provided. The start symbol 930 may mark the end of the first instance of the unique code 920, or the beginning of a second instance of the unique code 940, or both. Furthermore, separate start and end symbols may be present as needed. After the second instance of the unique code 940, an end symbol 950 may be provided. Subsequently, a postamble 960 may follow the end symbol 950. As described above, the optical signal 490 in Figure 9 is just one example, and other examples of the optical signal 490 may have more or fewer components than those shown in Figure 9.

[0119] Figure 10 is a block diagram of a method for preventing unauthorized use of an aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment. The method may include receiving a radio signal (e.g., an optical signal or an audible signal) containing an unlock code for unlocking the aerosol providing device in operation 1000. The method may further include processing the radio signal in operation 1010 to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information. The method may also include, in operation 1020, tuning a processing circuit to process the unlock code based on the host device characteristic information or environmental context information, and in operation 1030, transitioning the aerosol providing device from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to processing the unlock code. The method 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. For example, tuning the processing circuit may be performed in several ways or may include several different steps or operations. For example, tuning the processing circuit may include comparing a first light intensity during transmission of the optical signal preamble with a second light intensity during transmission of the optical signal postamble to determine changes in ambient light that occur during transmission of the optical signal. Optionally or additionally, tuning the processing circuit may include detecting changes in light intensity and determining the edges of the optical signal based on these changes. Optionally or additionally, tuning the processing circuit may include using a flexible duration limit defined for the window size of each symbol of the unlock code to extract the unlock code from the optical signal. Optionally or additionally, tuning the processing circuit may include determining the code version for unlocking and processing the unlock code based on the determined code version. Optionally or additionally, tuning the processing circuit may include performing timing calibration of the processing circuit based on the timing related to separate waveforms contained in the optical signal.If necessary or additionally, the processing circuit may be modified to determine missing symbols from the unlock code based on a start or end symbol, or based on comparing symbols from multiple iterations of the unlock code based on a checksum provided with the unlock code, in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code.

[0120] Several exemplary embodiments can provide security against unauthorized use of an aerosol-providing system. Thus, an aerosol-providing system may be provided as can be understood from the above examples. The aerosol-providing system may include an aerosol-providing device configured to interface with consumables containing aerosol-generating material, an aerosol generator configured to produce an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material, a lock assembly, and an adaptive signal detector. The lock assembly may be configured to prevent the aerosol generator from operating to produce an aerosol in a locked state and to allow the aerosol generator to operate to produce an aerosol in an unlocked state. The lock assembly may also be configured to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to authentication of an unlock code received in a control signal from a host device communicating with an authentication agent over a network. The adaptive signal detector may be configured to process a control signal received wirelessly from the host device to extract the unlock code. The adaptive signal detector may also be configured to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information to facilitate the extraction of the unlock code from the control signal.

[0121] The aerosol delivery system 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 regard, the system described above can be considered a first embodiment, and other embodiments may be defined by each of the combinations of modifications, enhancements, or optional additions. For example, a second embodiment may be defined in which the control signal is an optical signal. The adaptive signal detector may include a photodetector configured to receive the optical signal and a processing circuit configured to process the optical signal to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information before extracting an unlock code. Alternatively or additionally, a third embodiment may be defined in which the adaptive signal detector includes a context monitor configured to determine environmental context information. The context monitor may be configured to determine changes in ambient light occurring during the transmission of the optical signal. In an exemplary embodiment, a fourth embodiment may be defined in which the context monitor may be configured to compare a first optical intensity during the transmission of the optical signal preamble with a second optical intensity during the transmission of the optical signal postamble in order to determine changes in ambient light. The fourth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 3. In some examples, a fifth embodiment can be defined in which the context monitor can be further configured to detect edges of the optical signal based on detecting changes in light intensity. The fifth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 4. In an exemplary embodiment, a sixth embodiment may be defined in which the context monitor can be further configured to detect edges of the optical signal based on automatic threshold detection, which includes comparing the average level of a given number of previous symbols with a threshold defined as a percentage of the average level. The sixth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 5. In some examples, a seventh embodiment may be defined in which the adaptive signal detector can include a host device evaluator configured to determine host device characteristic information.Host device characteristic information can be determined from processing the preamble of the optical signal. The seventh embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 6. In an exemplary embodiment, an eighth embodiment can be defined, in which the host device characteristic information includes information indicating the code version of the unlock code received from the host device, based on information indicating the code version in the preamble. The eighth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 7. In some examples, a ninth embodiment can be defined in which one or both of the preamble and postamble of the optical signal may include separate waveforms processed by the host device evaluator for timing calibration of the processing circuit. The ninth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 8. In an exemplary embodiment, a tenth embodiment may be defined in which the host device evaluator may be configured to detect one or both of the start and end symbols in the optical signal that mark the beginning and end of the unlock code, respectively. The tenth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 9. In some examples, an eleventh embodiment may be defined, in which the processing circuit may be configured to determine missing symbols from the unlock code based on comparing symbols from multiple iterations of the unlock code based on a start symbol or an end symbol, in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code. The eleventh embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 10. In some examples, a twelfth embodiment may be defined, in which the processing circuit may be configured to use a flexible duration limit that defines the window size for each symbol of the unlock code. The twelfth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 11.In some examples, a thirteenth embodiment may be defined in which the processing circuit is configured to determine missing symbols from the unlock code based on a checksum provided to the unlock code in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code. The thirteenth embodiment may be combined with any or all of embodiments 1 to 12.

[0122] Those skilled in the art, who benefit from the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, will likely envision many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions described herein. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, while the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments in the context of specific exemplary combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, different combinations of elements and / or functions than those explicitly described above are also contemplated, for example, which may be described within some of the appended claims. Where advantages, benefits, or solutions to problems are described herein, it should be understood that such advantages, benefits, and / or solutions may be applicable to some exemplary embodiments, not necessarily all exemplary embodiments. Therefore, any advantage, benefit, or solution described herein should not be considered important, necessary, or essential to all embodiments or the embodiments claimed herein. While specific terms are used in this specification, they are used only in a general and descriptive sense, and not for limitation.

Claims

1. Aerosol delivery system, an aerosol-providing device configured to interface with consumables containing aerosol-generating materials, An aerosol generator configured to generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials, A lock assembly configured to prevent the operation of an aerosol generator for generating aerosols in a locked state and to enable the operation of an aerosol generator for generating aerosols in an unlocked state, wherein the lock assembly is configured to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to authentication of an unlock code received in a control signal from a host device communicating with an authentication agent over a network, An adaptive signal detector comprising a processing circuit configured to process control signals received wirelessly from a host device and extract an unlock code, Equipped with, The adaptive signal detector is configured to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information in order to facilitate the extraction of the unlock code from the control signal. The control signal is an optical signal. The adaptive signal detector comprises a photodetector configured to receive an optical signal and a processing circuit configured to process the optical signal before extracting an unlock code to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information. The adaptive signal detector includes a context monitor configured to determine environmental context information. A system in which a context monitor is configured to detect edges in an optical signal based on automatic threshold detection, which includes comparing the average level of a given number of preceding symbols with a threshold defined as a percentage of the average level.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the context monitor is configured to determine changes in ambient light that occur during the transmission of an optical signal.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the context monitor is configured to determine a change in ambient light by comparing a first light intensity during the transmission of the optical signal preamble with a second light intensity during the transmission of the optical signal postamble.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the context monitor is further configured to detect edges in an optical signal based on the detection of changes in light intensity.

5. An aerosol supply system, an aerosol-providing device configured to interface with consumables containing aerosol-generating materials, An aerosol generator configured to generate aerosols from aerosol-generating materials, A lock assembly configured to prevent the operation of an aerosol generator for generating aerosols in a locked state and to enable the operation of an aerosol generator for generating aerosols in an unlocked state, wherein the lock assembly is configured to transition from a locked state to an unlocked state in response to authentication of an unlock code received in a control signal from a host device communicating with an authentication agent over a network, An adaptive signal detector comprising a processing circuit configured to process control signals received wirelessly from a host device and extract an unlock code, Equipped with, The adaptive signal detector is configured to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information in order to facilitate the extraction of the unlock code from the control signal. The adaptive signal detector includes a host device evaluator configured to determine host device characteristic information, Host device characteristic information is determined by processing the control signal preamble. The system according to claim 1, wherein the host device characteristic information includes information indicating the code version of an unlock code received from a host device, based on information indicating the code version in the preamble.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein one or both of the preamble and postamble of the optical signal include separate waveforms that are processed by a host device evaluator for timing calibration of the processing circuit.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein the host device evaluator is configured to detect one or both of the start and end symbols in the control signal that mark the beginning and end of the unlock code, respectively.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine missing symbols from an unlock code based on comparing symbols from multiple iterations of the unlock code on a start symbol or end symbol, in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to use a flexible duration limit that defines the window size of each symbol of the unlock code.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine missing symbols from the unlock code based on a checksum provided with the unlock code, in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code.

11. A method for preventing unauthorized use of an aerosol dispensing device, Receiving a wireless signal containing an unlock code to unlock the aerosol dispensing device, Processing wireless signals to determine host device characteristic information or environmental context information, Adjusting the processing circuit to process the unlock code based on host device characteristic information or environmental context information, In response to processing the unlock code, the aerosol dispensing device is transitioned from a locked state to an unlocked state. Includes, A wireless signal is an optical signal, A method comprising adjusting a processing circuit to detect changes in light intensity and determining edges in an optical signal based on changes in light intensity.

12. A wireless signal is an optical signal, The method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing circuit includes comparing a first light intensity during transmission of the optical signal preamble with a second light intensity during transmission of the optical signal postamble to determine the change in ambient light that occurs during transmission of the optical signal.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is adjusted to use a flexible duration limit defined for the window size of each symbol of the unlock code in order to extract the unlock code from the radio signal.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing circuit includes determining a code version for unlocking and processing the unlock code based on the determined code version.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein adjusting the processing circuit includes performing timing calibration of the processing circuit based on timing related to separate waveforms contained in the radio signal.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine missing symbols from the unlock code based on one or more of the following: based on a start symbol or an end symbol, based on a cyclic redundancy check, based on a length check, and based on a checksum provided with the unlock code, in response to the inability to decode all symbols of the unlock code.

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