Security tag

Abstract

Security tags may prevent unauthorized use of a device or product. Devices may include electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") devices, which may include aerosol delivery devices such as smoking items that generate aerosols. Security tags may prevent use until authorized. Attempting to use the device without authorization may render it unusable. Authorization may include identity verification or age verification.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a security tag or security mechanism for protecting the use of a device. The device may be an electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device comprising an aerosol delivery device, such as a smoking article that generates an aerosol. Use may be protected by a security tag for user authentication, including age verification. Background Technology

[0002] Many devices have been proposed over the years as improvements to smoking products that require the combustion of tobacco for use, or as alternatives to smoking products. Some exemplary alternatives have included devices that transfer heat to tobacco by burning solid or liquid fuels, or provide such heat sources using chemical reactions. Additional exemplary alternatives heat tobacco and / or other aerosol-generating substrate materials using electrical energy, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 (Worm et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein). Generally, devices that heat tobacco or other materials using electrical energy may be referred to as electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") devices.

[0003] Many of these devices are known to be designed to provide sensations associated with smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, but without delivering significant amounts of incomplete combustion and pyrolysis products resulting from tobacco combustion. To this end, numerous alternative smoking products, flavor generators, and medicinal inhalers have been proposed that attempt to provide the sensations of smoking cigarettes, cigars, or pipes without using electric energy to vaporize or heat volatile materials or burning tobacco to a significant degree. For example, see various alternative smoking articles, aerosol delivery devices, and heat generating sources presented in the background art described in U.S. Patent No. 8,881,737 (Collett et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 (Griffith Jr. et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 (Sebastian et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096781 (Sears et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0096782 (Ampolini et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0059780 (Davis et al.), and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 222,615 (Watson et al.) (filing date: July 28, 2016) (all contents incorporated herein in their entirety). Also refer to various embodiments of products and heating configurations described in the background art of, for example, U.S. Patent Nos. 5,388,594 (Counts et al.) and 8,079,371 (Robinson et al.) (the entire contents of which are incorporated herein).

[0004] The smoking products described above may be subject to specific restrictions, including identity verification and / or age restrictions. Improved processes are required to protect the device from unauthorized use. The problem to be solved

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a security tag or security mechanism for protecting the use of a device. means of solving the problem

[0006] The present invention relates to a security tag that prohibits unauthorized use of a device or product. The device may include an electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device that may include an aerosol delivery device, such as a smoking article that generates an aerosol. The tag may prevent use until authorized. In other words, the device is locked and cannot be used until it is properly unlocked. Although the locking mechanism is referred to as a security tag, the term "tag" is not intended to restrict the shape or form factor of the locking mechanism in any way, as the present invention considers "security tags" that take various shapes or forms depending on the form factor and characteristics of the device to be locked. The security tag may also be referred to as a security mechanism or a locking mechanism and is intended to include protecting the device. Attempting to use it without authorization may render the device unusable. Specifically, removing the security tag of some embodiments without proper authorization may render the device inoperable or damaged. Authorization may include identity verification or age verification.

[0007] It is understood that this "Description of the Invention" section is provided solely for the purpose of outlining some exemplary embodiments to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted in any way as narrowing the scope or spirit of the invention. Other exemplary embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the principles of some of the described exemplary embodiments. Effects of the invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a security tag or security mechanism for protecting the use of a device can be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0009] Since the embodiments of the present invention have been described above in general terms, reference is now made to the attached drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge combined together according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view of the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 1 in which the cartridge and the control body are separated from each other according to an exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4 illustrate perspective views of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and an aerosol source member, each coupled to and separated from each other, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 5 and FIGS. 6 illustrate a front view and a cross-sectional view of the aerosol delivery device of FIGS. 3 and FIGS. 4, respectively, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 7 and FIGS. 8 respectively show a side view and a partial cutaway view of an aerosol delivery device including a cartridge coupled to a control body according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 9 illustrates a circuit diagram of an aerosol delivery device according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 illustrates a circuit diagram of a signal control circuit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Figure 11 is an exemplary security tag on a device. Figure 12 is another exemplary security tag on a device. Figure 13 illustrates an example of communication. FIG. 14 illustrates an example where a device may be disabled when a security tag is improperly removed. FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a method for communicating audio signals through an audio detector. FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a method for communicating optical / visual signals through an optical detector. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a security tag process according to one embodiment. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a security tag process according to another embodiment. Figure 19 illustrates a system diagram for age verification through a security tag. FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of an age verification system connected to a host via a network. Figure 21 illustrates an example of verification of an age verification system. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0010] The present invention will now be described more fully below with reference to exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments are described to ensure that the present invention is thorough and complete and fully conveys the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In practice, the present invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be interpreted as being limited to the embodiments presented herein; rather, such embodiments are provided to satisfy applicable legal requirements. The singular elements and "the above" elements used in this specification and the appended claims include plural elements unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Additionally, while quantitative measurements, values, geometric relationships, etc. may be referred to in this specification, unless otherwise specified, any one or more of these, if not all, may be absolute values ​​or approximations to account for acceptable variations, such as those caused by engineering tolerances.

[0011] As described below, the present invention relates to a security tag, which is a security mechanism that prevents the use or access to a specific device or product without appropriate authentication. In one embodiment, authentication may include identifying the user as the purchaser of the device or product, or verifying the user's age in cases where the age of use of the device or product is restricted. In one embodiment, the device may be an electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device that may include an aerosol delivery device. ENDS is an example of a device or product that may be subject to restrictions such as age restrictions. Other examples include delivery devices for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), plants, medicines, and / or other active ingredients. Accordingly, although ENDS devices such as aerosol delivery devices are used as exemplary applications of various embodiments throughout, this example is intended to be non-limiting so that the concept of the invention disclosed herein may be used with various products or devices other than ENDS devices, including aerosol delivery devices that may be used to deliver other medicines and / or active ingredients to a user or may include smokeless tobacco or other tobacco products. FIGS. 1 through 10 illustrate examples of some devices that may be secured and / or authenticated using security tags of various embodiments.

[0012] In another embodiment, a security tag may be used to authenticate the purchaser of a product. The security tag provides an authentication function that may be based on age verification, because such devices may be restricted based on age or other factors requiring some form of authentication, verification, and / or identification. Authenticating the user's identity can reduce the counterfeiting or other undesirable use of the product. While there may be many reasons to use a security tag to restrict or control access, one example described below is for age verification to ensure that minor users cannot use age-restricted products. Although detailed below, age verification is just one example of the usefulness of a security tag. A security tag can prevent or disable use unless authentication is performed. Authentication is further described below and may include age verification, but may further include purchaser, user authentication, or product authentication.

[0013] Security tags, also referred to as security mechanisms, include various embodiments that prevent the use of a device or access to the device. In some embodiments, security tags may prevent use or access without altering the functionality of the device. In other words, the device is not altered, but the security tag may operate to prevent use. Additionally, security tags may disable the device if it is improperly removed. While age verification is one reason for protecting the device with security tags, protecting the device with security tags may provide theft prevention, user authentication / identification, and / or product authentication.

[0014] An aerosol delivery device is an example of a product or device that relies on a security tag. Other devices or products, including other age-restricted devices or products, may be used in conjunction with a security tag. As an example, various aerosol delivery devices are further described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 10. Various aerosol delivery devices may be configured to generate an aerosol (inhalable substance) from an aerosol precursor composition (sometimes also referred to as an inhalable substance medium). The aerosol precursor composition may comprise one or more of a solid tobacco material, a semi-solid tobacco material, a liquid aerosol precursor composition, or a gel aerosol precursor composition. In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be configured to generate an aerosol by heating a fluid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., a liquid aerosol precursor composition). Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise one or more of the aforementioned substances, including but not limited to plant materials, medicinal materials, alcohols, and glycerin, and may comprise nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or other active ingredients. Such an aerosol delivery device may include a so-called electronic cigarette. In another embodiment, the aerosol delivery device may include a heated non-combustion device. In yet another embodiment, the aerosol delivery device may include a non-heated non-combustion device.

[0015] Liquid aerosol precursor compositions, also referred to as vapor precursor compositions or "e-liquids," are particularly useful for electronic cigarettes and non-heating, non-combustion devices. Liquid aerosol precursor compositions may include various ingredients, such as polyhydric alcohols (e.g., glycerin, propylene glycol, or mixtures thereof), nicotine, tobacco, tobacco extracts, and / or flavoring agents. In some examples, the aerosol precursor composition includes glycerin and nicotine. In other examples, the composition may additionally or alternatively include alcohols, other plant materials, other medicinal materials, or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), or other active ingredients, or some combination thereof.

[0016] Some liquid aerosol precursor compositions that may be used with various embodiments may include one or more acids such as levulinic acid, succinic acid, lactic acid, pyruvate, benzoic acid, fumaric acid, combinations thereof, etc. Including acid(s) in a liquid aerosol precursor composition containing nicotine may provide a protonated liquid aerosol precursor composition containing nicotine in salt form. Representative types of liquid aerosol precursor components and formulations include U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 (Robinson et al.); U.S. Patent No. 9,254,002 (Chong et al.); and U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2013 / 0008457 (Zheng et al.), 2015 / 0020823 (Lipowicz et al.), and 2015 / 0020830 (Koller); and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2014 / 182736 (Bowen et al.); and is presented and characterized in U.S. Patent No. 8,881,737 (Collett et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein). Other aerosol precursors that may be used include aerosol precursors contained in any of the numerous representative products identified above. Also preferred is the so-called "smoke juice" for electronic cigarettes available from Johnson Creek Enterprises LLC. Other exemplary aerosol precursor compositions include the brand names BLACK NOTE, COSMIC FOG, THE MILKMAN E-LIQUID, FIVE PAWNS, THE VAPOR CHEF, VAPE WILD, BOOSTED, THE STEAM FACTORY, MECH SAUCE, CASEY JONES MAINLINE RESERVE, MITTEN VAPORS, DR. CRIMMY'S V-LIQUID, SMILEY E LIQUID, BEANTOWN VAPOR, CUTTWOOD, CYCLOPS VAPOR, SICBOY, GOOD LIFE VAPOR, TELEOS, PINUP VAPORS, SPACE JAM, MT.It is sold as BAKER VAPOR and JIMMY THE JUICE MAN. Embodiments of the foaming material may be used with an aerosol precursor, as described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012 / 0055494 (Hunt et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein). Additionally, the use of the foaming material is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,639,368 (Niazi et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,178,878 (Wehling et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,223,264 (Wehling et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,974,590 (Pather et al.); U.S. Patent No. 7,381,667 (Bergquist et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,424,541 (Crawford et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,627,828 (Strickland et al.); and U.S. Patent No. 9,307,787 (Sun et al.); and described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0018539 (Brinkley et al.) and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 97 / 06786 (Johnson et al.) (all contents incorporated herein).

[0017] Representative types of substrates, reservoirs, or other components for supporting aerosol precursors are described in U.S. Patent No. 8,528,569 (Newton); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261487 (Chapman et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0059780 (Davis et al.); and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0216232 (Bless et al.) (all incorporated herein in their entirety). Additionally, various inhalation materials and the composition and operation of inhalation materials within specific types of electronic cigarettes are presented in U.S. Patent No. 8,910,640 (Sears et al.) (all incorporated herein in their entirety).

[0018] In another embodiment, the aerosol delivery device may include a heating non-combustion device configured to heat a solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., extruded tobacco stick) or a semi-solid aerosol precursor composition (e.g., tobacco paste containing glycerin). The aerosol precursor composition may include tobacco-containing beads, tobacco pieces, tobacco strips, recycled tobacco materials, or combinations thereof, and / or mixtures of finely ground tobacco, tobacco extracts, and spray-dried tobacco extracts, or other tobacco forms mixed with an optional inorganic material (e.g., calcium carbonate), an optional flavoring agent, and an aerosol-forming material to form a substantially solid or moldable (e.g., extrudable) substrate. Representative types of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor compositions and formulations include U.S. Patent No. 8,424,538 (Thomas et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,464,726 (Sebastian et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0083150 (Conner et al.); Disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0157052 (Ademe et al.); and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0000188 (Nordskog et al.) (all contents incorporated herein). Another representative type of solid and semi-solid aerosol precursor composition and arrangement includes that found in the NEOSTIKS™ consumable aerosol source component for British American Tobacco’s GLO™ products and the HEETS™ consumable aerosol source component for Philip Morris International, Inc.’s IQOS™ products.

[0019] In various embodiments, the inhalable substance may specifically be a tobacco component or a tobacco-derived material (i.e., a material naturally found in tobacco that can be directly isolated from tobacco or prepared synthetically). For example, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise a tobacco extract or a fraction thereof combined with an inert substrate. The aerosol precursor composition may further comprise unburned tobacco or a composition containing unburned tobacco that releases an inhalable substance when heated to a temperature below the combustion temperature. In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise a tobacco condensate or a fraction thereof (i.e., a condensed component of smoke produced by the combustion of tobacco, which may retain flavor and nicotine).

[0020] Tobacco materials useful for the present invention may be diverse and may include, for example, soft-cured tobacco, Burley tobacco, Oriental tobacco or Maryland tobacco, dark tobacco, dark burning tobacco and Rustica tobacco, as well as other rare or specialty tobaccos or blends thereof. Tobacco materials may also include so-called "mixed" forms and processed forms, for example, processed tobacco stems (e.g., cut rolled stems or cut puff stems), volume-increasing tobacco (e.g., inflated tobacco, e.g., dry ice inflated tobacco (DIET), preferably in the form of a single tobacco stick), and recycled tobacco (e.g., recycled tobacco manufactured using a paper-type or cast sheet-type process). Various representative tobacco types, types of tobacco processing, and types of tobacco blends are U.S. Patent Nos. 4,836,224 (Lawson et al.), 4,924,888 (Perfetti et al.), 5,056,537 (Brown et al.), 5,159,942 (Brinkley et al.), 5,220,930 (Gentry), 5,360,023 (Blakley et al.), 6,701,936 (Shafer et al.), 7,011,096 (Li et al.), 7,017,585 (Li et al.), and 7,025,066 (Lawson et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004 / 0255965 (Perfetti et al.); PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 02 / 37990 (Bereman); and literature [Bombick et al., Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 39, p. 11-17 (1997) (the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference). Additional exemplary tobacco compositions that may be useful for a smoking device, including those according to the present invention, are disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,726,320 (Robinson et al.) (the entire contents are incorporated herein by reference).

[0021] Furthermore, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise an inert substrate in which an inhalable substance or a precursor thereof is incorporated or deposited thereon. For example, a liquid containing an inhalable substance may be coated, absorbed, or adsorbed onto the inert substrate so that, upon the application of heat, the inhalable substance is released in a form that can be withdrawn from the article of the present invention through the application of positive or negative pressure. In some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise a blend of flavored and aromatic tobacco in the form of cigars. In another embodiment, the aerosol precursor composition may comprise a recycled tobacco material as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,807,809 (Pryor et al.); U.S. Patent No. 4,889,143 (Pryor et al.); and U.S. Patent No. 5,025,814 (Raker) (the entire contents incorporated herein). For additional information on suitable aerosol precursor compositions, see U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 916,834 (Sur et al.) (filed March 9, 2018) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0022] Regardless of the type of aerosol precursor composition, the aerosol delivery device may include an aerosol generating component configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. For example, in the case of an electronic cigarette or a heated non-combustion device, the aerosol generating component may be a heating element or may include a heating element. In other cases, the device may use an aerosol generating component that generates an aerosol through a primarily mechanical component, such as a vibrating piezoelectric component, an indenter mesh, and / or other mechanical aerosol generating components.

[0023] An example of a suitable heating element is an induction heater. Such heaters often include an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. The induction transmitter may include a coil configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field (e.g., a magnetic field that varies periodically over time) when an alternating current passes through it. The induction receiver may be at least partially located or housed within the induction transmitter and may include a conductive material (e.g., a ferromagnetic material or an aluminum-coated material). By inducing an alternating current through the induction transmitter, eddy currents may be generated in the induction receiver through induction. Eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material forming the induction receiver may heat the receiver by Joule heating (i.e., through the Joule effect). An induction receiver capable of forming a micronizer may be heated wirelessly to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition located in close proximity to the induction receiver. Various embodiments of an aerosol delivery device equipped with an induction heater are described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0127722 (Davis et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0202266 (Sur et al.); U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 352,153 (Sur et al.) (filing date: November 15, 2016); U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 799,365 (Sebastian et al.) (filing date: October 31, 2017); and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 836,086 (Sur) (all contents incorporated herein in their entirety).

[0024] In other embodiments comprising those more specifically described herein, the heating element is a conductive heater, such as in the case of an electric resistance heater. Such a heater may be configured to generate heat when an electric current passes through the heater. In various embodiments, the conductive heater may be provided in various forms such as foil, foam, disc, spiral, fiber, wire, film, yarn, strip, ribbon, or cylindrical form. Such a heater often comprises a metal material and is configured to generate heat as a result of the electrical resistance associated with passing an electric current through the heater. Such a resistive heater may be positioned in close proximity to an aerosol precursor composition to generate an aerosol and may heat the aerosol precursor composition. Various conductive substrates that may be used with the present invention are described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0255702 (Griffith et al.).

[0025] In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may include a control body and a cartridge in the case of a so-called electronic cigarette or non-heated non-combustion device, or a control body and an aerosol source member in the case of a heated non-combustion device. In the case of an electronic cigarette or heated non-combustion device, the control body may be reusable, whereas the cartridge / aerosol source member may be configured for a limited number of uses and / or configured for single use. Various mechanisms may connect the cartridge / aerosol source member to the control body to form a threaded connection, press-fit connection, interference fit, slide fit, magnetic connection, etc.

[0026] The control body and the cartridge / aerosol source member may include a separate individual housing or outer body that can be formed from any of a number of different materials. The housing may be formed from any suitable structurally solid material. In some examples, the housing may be formed from a metal or alloy such as stainless steel, aluminum, etc. Other suitable materials include various plastics (e.g., polycarbonate), metal plating on plastic, ceramics, etc.

[0027] The cartridge / aerosol source member may comprise an aerosol precursor composition. To generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition, an aerosol generating component (e.g., a heating element, a piezoelectric / magnetic mesh) may be located, for example, in contact with or near the aerosol precursor composition across the control body and the cartridge, or located within the control body where the aerosol source member may be located. The control body may comprise a power source that may be rechargeable or replaceable so that the control body can be reused with a number of cartridges / aerosol source members. As described below, the charger may be used to provide power to the security tag in one embodiment.

[0028] The control body may also include means for activating an aerosol delivery device, such as a push button or a touch-sensing surface, for manual control of the device. Additionally or alternatively, the control body may include a flow sensor for detecting when a user activates the aerosol delivery device by drawing from a cartridge / aerosol source absence.

[0029] In various embodiments, the aerosol delivery device according to the present invention may have various overall shapes, including but not limited to those that may be formed as substantially rod-shaped, substantially tubular, or substantially cylindrical. In the embodiments illustrated and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the aerosol delivery device has a substantially round cross-section, but other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., elliptical, square, rectangular, triangular, etc.) are also included in the present invention. This language describing the physical shape of the article may also be applied to individual components of the article, including the control body and the cartridge / aerosol source member. In other embodiments, the control body may take other handheld shapes, such as a small box shape.

[0030] In a more specific embodiment, one or both of the control body and the cartridge / aerosol source member may be referred to as disposable or reusable. For example, the control body may have a power source such as a replaceable battery or a rechargeable battery, an SSB, a thin-film SSB, a rechargeable supercapacitor, a lithium-ion or hybrid lithium-ion supercapacitor, etc. An example of a power source is a TKI-1550 rechargeable lithium-ion battery (produced by Tadiran Batteries GmbH, Germany). In another embodiment, a useful power source may be an N50-AAA CADNICA nickel-cadmium cell (produced by Sanyo Electric Company, Ltd., Japan). In another embodiment, for example, a plurality of such batteries, each providing 1.2 volts, may be connected in series. In some embodiments, the power source is configured to provide an output voltage. The power source can supply power to a powerful aerosol generating component to generate an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition. The power source can be connected to any type of charging technology, such as a charging accessory. In one embodiment, the security tag can also be connected to the power source or to any type of charging technology.

[0031] Examples of power sources are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,484,155 (Peckerar et al.); and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017 / 0112191 (Sur et al.) (filing date: October 21, 2015) (the entire contents incorporated herein). Other examples of suitable power sources are provided in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0283855 (Hawes et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0014125 (Fernando et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0243410 (Nichols et al.), U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0313901 (Fernando et al.), and U.S. Patent No. 9,439,454 (Fernando et al.) (all the entire contents incorporated herein). With respect to flow sensors, representative current regulating components and other current control components, including various microcontrollers, sensors, and switches for aerosol delivery devices, are U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 (Gerth et al.); U.S. Patent Nos. 4,922,901, 4,947,874, and 4,947,875 (all Brooks et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 (McCafferty et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 (Fleischhauer et al.); U.S. Patent No. 7,040,314 (Nguyen et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,205,622 (Pan); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 8,881,737 (Collet et al.); U.S. Patent No. 9,423,152 (Ampolini et al.); U.S. Patent No. 9,439,454 (Fernando et al.); and described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0257445 (Henry et al.) (all contents incorporated herein).

[0032] Additional examples disclosing components related to electronic aerosol delivery articles and materials or components that may be used in the article include U.S. Patent No. 4,735,217 (Gerth et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,249,586 (Morgan et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,666,977 (Higgins et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,053,176 (Adams et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,164,287 (White); U.S. Patent No. 6,196,218 (Voges); U.S. Patent No. 6,810,883 (Felter et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,854,461 (Nichols); U.S. Patent No. 7,832,410 (Hon); U.S. Patent No. 7,513,253 (Kobayashi); U.S. Patent No. 7,896,006 (Hamano); U.S. Patent No. 6,772,756 (Shayan); U.S. Patent Nos. 8,156,944 and 8,375,957 (Hon); U.S. Patent No. 8,794,231 (Thorens et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,851,083 (Oglesby et al.); U.S. Patent Nos. 8,915,254 and 8,925,555 (Monsees et al.); U.S. Patent No. 9,220,302 (DePiano et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. 2006 / 0196518 and 2009 / 0188490 (Hon); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0024834 (Oglesby et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010 / 0307518 (Wang); PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010 / 091593 (Hon); and PCT patent application publication number WO 2013 / 089551 (Foo) (each in its entirety incorporated herein). Additionally, U.S. patent application publication number 2017 / 0099877 (Worm et al.) discloses a capsule that may be included in an aerosol delivery device and a fob-shaped configuration for said aerosol delivery device, which is incorporated herein.Various materials disclosed in the foregoing documents may be incorporated into the device in various embodiments, and all contents of the foregoing documents are incorporated into this specification.

[0033] Another feature, control, or component that may be incorporated into the aerosol delivery device of the present invention is U.S. Patent No. 5,967,148 (Harris et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,934,289 (Watkins et al.); U.S. Patent No. 5,954,979 (Counts et al.); U.S. Patent No. 6,040,560 (Fleischhauer et al.); U.S. Patent No. 8,365,742 (Hon); U.S. Patent No. 8,402,976 (Fernando et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005 / 0016550 (Katase); U.S. Patent No. 8,689,804 (Fernando et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0192623 (Tucker et al.); U.S. Patent No. 9,427,022 (Leven et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013 / 0180553 (Kim et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0000638 (Sebastian et al.); U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 (Novak et al.); and U.S. Patent No. 9,220,302 (DePiano et al.) (all contents incorporated herein).

[0034] In another aspect, the present invention may relate to a kit providing various components described herein. For example, the kit may include a control body having one or more cartridges or aerosol source members. The kit may include a security tag for a specific component of the kit, such as a security tag having a control body. In an alternative embodiment, the kit may have its own security tag, or there may be multiple components of the kit including a security tag. The kit may further include a charging accessory with one or more batteries and a control body having one or more cartridges. The kit may further include a charging accessory and a control body having one or more cartridges and / or one or more batteries. The kit may further include a plurality of cartridges and one or more batteries and / or charging accessories. In the aforementioned embodiments, a heating element may be provided in the cartridge or control body. The kit of the present invention may further include a case (or other packaging, carrying, or storage component) for accommodating one or more additional kit components. The case may be a reusable rigid or flexible container and / or simply a box or other packaging structure. Alternatively, the case may be a security tag or contain a security tag.

[0035] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge in the case of an electronic cigarette. In this regard, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an aerosol delivery device (100) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, the aerosol delivery device may include a control body (102) and a cartridge (104). The control body and the cartridge may be aligned permanently or separably in a functional relationship. In this regard, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an aerosol delivery device in a combined configuration, whereas FIG. 2 illustrates a partial cutaway side view of an aerosol delivery device in a separated configuration. The aerosol delivery device may be substantially rod-shaped, substantially tubular, or substantially cylindrical in some embodiments, for example, when the control body and the cartridge are in an assembled configuration.

[0036] The control body (102) and the cartridge (104) may be configured to engage with each other by various connections, such as press-fit (or interference fit) connections, threaded connections, magnetic connections, etc. Thus, the control body may include a first engagement element (e.g., a coupling part) configured to engage with a second engagement element (e.g., a connector) on the cartridge. The first engagement element and the second engagement element may be reversible. As an example, one of the first engagement element or the second engagement element may be male threaded and the other may be female threaded. As an additional example, one of the first engagement element or the second engagement element may be a magnet and the other may be a metal or a matching magnet. In a specific embodiment, the engagement element may be formed directly by existing components of the control body and the cartridge. For example, the housing of the control body may form a cavity at its end configured to accommodate at least a portion of the cartridge (e.g., the storage tank of the cartridge or other shell-forming elements). In particular, the storage tank of the cartridge may be at least partially accommodated inside the cavity of the control body, while the mouthpiece of the cartridge remains exposed outside the cavity of the control body. The cartridge may be retained within the cavity formed by the control body housing by a press fit (e.g., by using a detent and / or other features that create a press fit between the outer surface of the cartridge and the inner surface of the wall forming the control body cavity), by a magnetic fit (e.g., by using a magnet and / or magnetic metal located within the cavity of the control body and on the cartridge), or by other suitable techniques.

[0037] As illustrated in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 2, the control body (102) and the cartridge (104) each comprise a plurality of individual components. The components illustrated in FIG. 2 represent components that may be present in the control body and the cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of components included in the present invention. As illustrated, for example, the control body may be formed into a housing (206) (sometimes referred to as a control body shell) that may include a control component (208) (e.g., a processing circuit, etc.), a flow sensor (210), a power source (212) (e.g., a battery, a supercapacitor), and an indicator (214) (e.g., an LED, a quantum dot-based LED), and these components may be variably arranged. The power source may be rechargeable, and the control component may include a switch, and a processing circuit coupled to the flow sensor and the switch.

[0038] The cartridge (104) may be formed of a housing (216) (sometimes referred to as a cartridge shell) containing a heating element (220) (an aerosol generating component) that surrounds a reservoir (218) configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition. In various configurations, this structure may be referred to as a tank; thus, terms such as “cartridge”, “tank”, etc. may be used interchangeably to refer to a shell or other housing containing a heating element that surrounds a reservoir for an aerosol precursor composition.

[0039] As illustrated, in some examples, the reservoir (218) may be fluidly connected to a liquid transport element (222) configured to draw up an aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir housing or to transport it to a heating element (220). In some examples, a valve may be located between the reservoir and the heating element and may be configured to control the amount of aerosol precursor composition passed or transferred from the reservoir to the heating element.

[0040] Various examples of materials configured to generate heat when an electric current is applied may be used to form a heating element (220). In these examples, the heating element may be a resistive heating element, such as a wire coil, a microheater, etc. Exemplary materials that may form a heating element include Kanthal (FeCrAl), nichrome, nickel, stainless steel, indium tin oxide, tungsten, molybdenum disilicide (MoSi2), molybdenum silicide (MoSi), aluminum-doped molybdenum disilicide (Mo(Si,Al)2), titanium, platinum, silver, palladium, silver and palladium alloys, graphite and graphite-based materials (e.g., carbon-based foams and yarns), conductive ink, boron-doped silica, and ceramics (e.g., ceramics with positive or negative temperature coefficients). The heating element may be a resistive heating element or a heating element configured to generate heat through induction. The heating element may be coated with a thermally conductive ceramic such as aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, beryllium oxide, alumina, silicon nitride, or a composite thereof. An exemplary embodiment of the heating element useful for an aerosol delivery device according to the present invention is further described below and may be included in a device such as that described herein.

[0041] An opening (224) may be present in the housing (216) (e.g., at the end of the mouse) to discharge an aerosol formed from the cartridge (104).

[0042] The cartridge (104) may also include one or more electronic components (226) that may include an integrated circuit, a memory component (e.g., EEPROM, flash memory), a sensor, etc. The electronic components may be configured to communicate with a control component (208) and / or an external device by wired or wireless means. The electronic components may be located anywhere within the cartridge or its base (228).

[0043] Although the control component (208) and the flow sensor (210) are depicted separately, it is understood that various electronic components, including the control component and the flow sensor, can be combined on a circuit board (e.g., a PCB) that supports and electrically connects the electronic components. Additionally, the circuit board may be positioned horizontally with respect to the depiction in FIG. 1 in such a way that the circuit board can be longitudinally parallel to the central axis of the control body. In some examples, the air flow sensor may include its own circuit board or other base element to which it can be attached. In some examples, a flexible circuit board may be used. The flexible circuit board may be configured in various shapes, including substantially tubular shapes. In some examples, the flexible circuit board may be combined with the heater substrate, laminated over the heater substrate, or form part or all of the heater substrate.

[0044] The control body (102) and the cartridge (104) may include components configured to facilitate fluid interlocking with each other. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control body may include a coupling part (230) having a cavity (232) inside. The base (228) of the cartridge may be configured to interlock with the coupling part and may include a protrusion (234) configured to be fitted into the cavity. This interlocking facilitates a stable connection between the control body and the cartridge, as well as establish an electrical connection between the power source (212), the control component (208) of the control body, and the heating element (220) of the cartridge. Additionally, the housing (206) may include an air intake (236) which may be a notch in the housing portion connected to the coupling part, thereby allowing ambient air around the coupling part to pass into the housing, pass through the cavity (232) of the coupling part, and pass into the cartridge through the protrusion (234).

[0045] A useful coupling and base according to the present invention is described in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0261495 (Novak et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein). For example, a coupling (230) as shown in FIG. 2 may form an outer perimeter (238) configured to be paired with an inner perimeter (240) of a base (228). In one example, the inner perimeter of the base may form a radius substantially equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the outer perimeter of the coupling. Additionally, the coupling may form one or more protrusions (242) on the outer perimeter configured to engage with one or more recesses (244) formed on the inner perimeter of the base. However, various other examples of structures, shapes, and components may be used to coupling the base to the coupling. In some examples, the connection between the base of the cartridge (104) and the joint of the control body (102) may be substantially permanent, whereas in other examples, the connection between them may be disengaged so that, for example, the control body may be reused with one or more additional cartridges that are disposable and / or rechargeable.

[0046] The reservoir (218) illustrated in FIG. 2 may be a container or a fiber reservoir as described above. For example, the reservoir may comprise one or more layers of nonwoven fibers substantially formed in a tubular shape surrounding the interior of the housing (216) in this example. An aerosol precursor composition may be held in the reservoir. For example, a liquid component may be retained adsorbently by the reservoir. The reservoir may be fluidly connected to a liquid transport element (222). The liquid transport element may transport the aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir to a heating element (220), which in this example is in the form of a metal wire coil, via capillary action or through a micropump. Thus, the heating element is in a heated arrangement with the liquid transport element.

[0047] In some examples, a microfluidic chip may be embedded in a reservoir (218), and the amount and / or mass of the aerosol precursor composition delivered from the reservoir may be controlled by a micropump, such as one based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Other exemplary embodiments of reservoirs and transport elements useful for an aerosol delivery device according to the present invention are further described herein, and such reservoirs and / or transport elements may be integrated into a device such as that described herein. In particular, a specific combination of a heating element and a transport element further described herein may be integrated into a device such as that described herein.

[0048] When in use, when the user inhales from the aerosol delivery device (100), the airflow is detected by the flow sensor (210), and the heating element (220) is activated to vaporize the components of the aerosol precursor composition. When inhaled from the mouse end of the aerosol delivery device, ambient air enters the air intake (236) and passes through the cavity (232) of the coupling part (230) and the central opening of the protrusion (234) of the base (228). In the cartridge (104), the inhaled air combines with the formed vapor to form an aerosol. The aerosol is stirred, exhaled, or sucked out of the opening (224) at the mouse end of the aerosol delivery device in a direction away from the heating element.

[0049] For further details regarding embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge for electronic cigarettes, see the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 836,086 (Sur); and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 916,834 (Sur et al.); and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 916,696 (Sur) (filed March 9, 2018) (the entire contents of which are also incorporated herein).

[0050] FIGS. 3 through 6 illustrate embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and an aerosol source member in the case of a heated non-combustion device. More specifically, FIG. 3 illustrates an aerosol delivery device (300) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The aerosol delivery device may include a control body (302) and an aerosol source member (304). In various embodiments, the aerosol source member and the control body may be aligned permanently or separably in a functional relationship. In this regard, FIG. 3 illustrates an aerosol delivery device in a combined configuration, whereas FIG. 4 illustrates an aerosol delivery device in a separated configuration.

[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 4, in various embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol source member (304) may include a heating end (406) configured to be inserted into a control body (302) and a mouse end (408) that a user inhales to generate an aerosol. In various embodiments, at least a portion of the heating end may include an aerosol precursor composition (410).

[0052] In various embodiments, the aerosol source member (304) or a portion thereof may be wrapped in an outer overwrap material (412) which may be formed from any material useful for providing additional structure and / or support to the aerosol source member. In various embodiments, the outer overwrap material may include a heat-resistant material, such as paper or other fibrous materials such as cellulose materials. The outer overwrap material may also include at least one filler material embedded or dispersed within the fibrous material. In various embodiments, the filler may have a water-insoluble particle form. Additionally, the filler may include an inorganic component. In various embodiments, the outer overwrap may be formed in multiple layers, such as a bulk layer underneath and a layer on top, for example, the typical wrapping paper of a cigarette. Such materials may include light "cloth fibers" such as flax, hemp, sisal, straw, and / or espato. The outer overlap may also include materials commonly used in the filter elements of conventional cigarettes, such as cellulose acetate.

[0053] Additionally, the excess length of the overlap at the mouth end (408) of the aerosol source member may function to simply separate the aerosol precursor composition (410) from the consumer's mouth, or to provide space for positioning a filter material as described below, or to perform aspiration from the article, or to influence the flow characteristics of the vapor or aerosol leaving the device during aspiration. Further discussion regarding the composition of the overlap material that can be used with the present invention can be found in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 (Worm et al.).

[0054] In various embodiments, other components may be present between the aerosol precursor composition (410) and the mouse end (408) of the aerosol source member (304), wherein the mouse end may comprise a filter (414) which may be made of, for example, cellulose acetate or polypropylene material. The filter may additionally or alternatively comprise a strand of tobacco-containing material, for example, as described in U.S. Patent No. 5,025,814 (Raker et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein). In various embodiments, the filter may increase the structural integrity of the mouse end of the aerosol source member and / or provide filtration capacity if desired, and / or provide inhalation resistance. In some embodiments, one or any combination of an air gap; a phase change material for cooling air; a flavor-releasing medium; an ion-exchange fiber capable of selective chemical adsorption; an aerogel particle as a filter medium; and other suitable materials may be positioned between the aerosol precursor composition and the mouse end.

[0055] Various embodiments of the present invention heat an aerosol precursor composition (410) of an aerosol source member (304) using one or more conductive heating elements. In various embodiments, the heating elements may be provided in various forms such as foil, foam, mesh, hollow ball, hemisphere, disc, spiral, fiber, wire, film, yarn, strip, ribbon, or cylindrical form. These heating elements often comprise a metal material and are configured to generate heat as a result of electrical resistance associated with the passage of current through it. These resistive heating elements may be positioned in direct contact with or in close proximity to the aerosol source member, particularly the aerosol precursor composition of the aerosol source member. The heating elements may be positioned in a control body and / or in the aerosol source member. In various embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may include a component (i.e., a heat-conducting component) that is embedded in or part of a substrate portion capable of functioning as a heating assembly or facilitating the function of a heating assembly. Some examples of various heating elements and components are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,078,473 (Worm et al.).

[0056] Some non-limiting examples of various heating element configurations include configurations in which the heating element is positioned in close proximity to the aerosol source member (304). For example, in some examples, at least a portion of the heating element may surround at least a portion of the aerosol source member. In other examples, one or more heating elements may be positioned adjacent to the outside of the aerosol source member when inserted into the control body (302). In other examples, at least a portion of the heating element may penetrate at least a portion of the aerosol source member when the aerosol source member is inserted into the control body (e.g., one or more prongs and / or spikes may penetrate the aerosol source member). In some cases, the aerosol precursor composition may include a structure in contact with the aerosol precursor composition that functions as a heating element or facilitates the function of the heating element, or may include a plurality of beads or particles that are embedded in or are part of the aerosol precursor composition.

[0057] FIG. 5 illustrates a front view of an aerosol delivery device (300) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view through the aerosol delivery device of FIG. 5. In particular, the control body (302) of the illustrated embodiment may include a housing (516) including an opening (518) formed at the engaging end, a flow sensor (520) (e.g., a puff sensor or a pressure switch), a control component (522) (e.g., a processing circuit, etc.), a power source (524) (e.g., a battery, a supercapacitor), and an end cap including an indicator (526) (e.g., an LED). The power source may be rechargeable, and the control component may include a switch and a processing circuit coupled to the flow sensor and the switch.

[0058] In one embodiment, the indicator (526) may include one or more LEDs, quantum dot-based LEDs, etc. The indicator may communicate with the control component (522) and may be illuminated, for example, when a user inhales from the aerosol source member (304), when coupled to the control body (302), or when detected by the flow sensor (520).

[0059] The control body (302) of the illustrated embodiment comprises one or more heating assemblies (528) (individually or collectively referred to as heating assemblies) configured to heat an aerosol precursor composition (410) of an aerosol source member (304). While heating assemblies of various embodiments of the present invention may take various forms, in the specific embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heating assembly comprises an outer cylinder (530) and a heating element (532) (aerosol generating component), and the heating element comprises a plurality of heater branches extending from a receiving base (534) in this embodiment (in various configurations, the heating assembly or, more specifically, the heater branches may be referred to as heaters). In the illustrated embodiment, the outer cylinder comprises a double-walled vacuum tube made of stainless steel to retain heat generated by the heater branches within the outer cylinder, more specifically to retain heat generated by the heater branches within the aerosol precursor composition. In various embodiments, the heater branch may be composed of one or more conductive materials including, but not limited to, copper, aluminum, platinum, gold, silver, iron, steel, brass, bronze, graphite, or any combination thereof.

[0060] As illustrated, the heating assembly (528) may extend near the interlocking end of the housing (516) and may be configured to substantially surround a portion of the heating end (406) of the aerosol source member (304) containing the aerosol precursor composition (410). In this way, the heating assembly may generally form a tubular configuration. As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heating element (532) (e.g., a plurality of heater branches) is surrounded by an outer cylinder (530) to form a receiving chamber (536). In this way, in various embodiments, the outer cylinder may include non-conductive insulating materials and / or configurations comprising, but not limited to, insulating polymers (e.g., plastic or cellulose), glass, rubber, ceramics, porcelain, double-walled vacuum structures, or any combination thereof.

[0061] In some embodiments, one or more parts or components of the heating assembly (528) may be combined with, packaged with, or integrated with the aerosol precursor composition (410) (e.g., embedded within the aerosol precursor composition). For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol precursor composition may be formed from the material described above and may include one or more conductive materials mixed therein. In some of these embodiments, the contact may be directly connected to the aerosol precursor composition so that the contact forms an electrical connection with an electric energy source when the aerosol source member is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control body. Alternatively, the contact may be integrated with the electric energy source, and the contact may extend into the receiving chamber so that the contact forms an electrical connection with the aerosol precursor composition when the aerosol source member is inserted into the receiving chamber of the control body. Because a conductive material is present in the aerosol precursor composition, when power is applied to the aerosol precursor composition from an electric energy source, current flows and heat is generated from the conductive material. Therefore, in some embodiments, the heating element may be described as being integrated with the aerosol precursor composition. As a non-limiting example, graphite or other suitable conductive material may be mixed with the material forming the aerosol precursor composition, embedded within the material, or present directly on or within the material to integrate the heating element with the medium.

[0062] As mentioned above, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer cylinder (530) may also serve to properly position the aerosol source member (304) when the aerosol source member is inserted into the housing (516). In various embodiments, the outer cylinder of the heating assembly (528) may engage with the inner surface of the housing to provide alignment of the heating assembly with respect to the housing. As a result of the fixed coupling between the heating assemblies, the longitudinal axis of the heating assembly may extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing. In particular, the supporting cylinder may extend from the opening (518) of the housing to the receiving base (534) to create a receiving chamber (536).

[0063] The heating end (406) of the aerosol source member (304) has a size and shape for insertion into the control body (302). In various embodiments, the receiving chamber (536) of the control body may be characterized by being formed by a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, and the inner surface forms the internal volume of the receiving chamber. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the outer cylinder (530) forms the inner surface that defines the internal volume of the receiving chamber. In the illustrated embodiment, the inner diameter of the outer cylinder may be slightly larger or approximately equal to the outer diameter of the corresponding aerosol source member (e.g., to create a sliding fit) so that the outer cylinder is configured to guide the aerosol source member to a suitable position (e.g., a lateral position) relative to the control body. Thus, the maximum outer diameter of the aerosol source member (or other dimension depending on the specific cross-sectional shape of the embodiment) may have a size smaller than the inner diameter (or other dimension) at the inner surface of the wall of the open end of the receiving chamber of the control body. In some embodiments, the difference in diameter of each may be small enough so that the aerosol source member fits snugly into the receiving chamber, and the frictional force prevents the aerosol source member from moving without applied force. On the other hand, the difference may be sufficient to allow the aerosol source member to slide into or out of the receiving chamber without requiring excessive force.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, the control body (302) is configured such that when the aerosol source member (304) is inserted into the control body, the heating element (532) (e.g., heater branch) is positioned at the approximate radial center of at least a portion of the aerosol precursor composition (410) at the heating end (406) of the aerosol source member. In this way, when used with a solid or semi-solid aerosol precursor composition, the heater branch may come into direct contact with the aerosol precursor composition. In another embodiment, for example, when used with an extruded aerosol precursor composition forming a tube structure, the heater branch may be positioned inside a cavity formed by the inner surface of the extruded tube structure and will not come into contact with the inner surface of the extruded tube structure.

[0065] During use, the consumer initiates heating of a heating assembly (528), particularly a heating element (532), adjacent to an aerosol precursor composition (410) (or a specific layer thereof). Heating the aerosol precursor composition causes the inhalable material within the aerosol source member (304) to be released, thereby generating inhalable material. When the consumer inhales from the mouth end (408) of the aerosol source member, air is drawn into the aerosol source member through an air intake (538), such as an opening or hole in the control body (302). The combination of the inhaled air and the released inhalable material is inhaled by the consumer as the inhaled material exits the mouth end of the aerosol source member. In some embodiments, to initiate heating, the consumer may manually operate a push button or similar component that causes the heating element of the heating assembly to receive electrical energy from a battery or other energy source. The electrical energy may be supplied for a predetermined time period or manually controlled.

[0066] In some embodiments, the flow of electrical energy does not substantially proceed between puffs of the device (300) (however, the energy flow may proceed to maintain a temperature that promotes rapid heating to a reference temperature higher than the ambient temperature, e.g., an active heating temperature). However, in the illustrated embodiments, heating is initiated by the consumer's puffing action through the use of one or more sensors, such as a flow sensor (520). When the puff is stopped, heating is stopped or reduced. When the consumer has taken a sufficient number of puffs to release a sufficient amount of inhalable material (e.g., an amount sufficient to correspond to a typical smoking experience), the aerosol source member (304) may be removed from the control body (302) and discarded. In some embodiments, additional sensing elements, e.g., a capacity sensing element and other sensors may be used as discussed in U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 707,461 (Phillips et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0067] In various embodiments, the aerosol source member (304) may be formed of any material suitable for forming and maintaining a suitable shape, such as a tubular shape, and for holding the aerosol precursor composition (410) inside. In some embodiments, the aerosol source member may be formed with a single wall or, in other embodiments, with multiple walls, and may be formed of a heat-resistant, for example, non-degrading (natural or synthetic) material to maintain structural integrity above a temperature, which is the heating temperature provided by an electric heating element as further discussed herein. In some embodiments, a heat-resistant polymer may be used, but in other embodiments, the aerosol source member may be formed of paper, such as paper, which is substantially in the shape of a straw. As further discussed herein, the aerosol source member may have one or more associated layers that function to substantially prevent the movement of vapor through it. In one exemplary embodiment, an aluminum foil layer may be laminated on one surface of the aerosol source member. Ceramic materials may also be used. In additional embodiments, an insulating material may be used to avoid unnecessarily transferring heat away from the aerosol precursor composition. Additional exemplary types of components and materials that may be used to provide the function described above or as alternatives to the materials and components mentioned above may be of the type presented in U.S. Patent Application Publications No. 2010 / 00186757 (Crooks et al.), 2010 / 00186757 (Crooks et al.), and 2011 / 0041861 (Sebastian et al.) (all contents incorporated herein).

[0068] In the illustrated embodiment, the control body (302) includes a control component (522) that controls various functions of the aerosol delivery device (300), including providing power to an electric heating element (532). For example, the control component may include a processing circuit (which may be connected to additional components further described herein) connected to a power source (524) by an electrically conductive wire (not illustrated). In various embodiments, the processing circuit may control when and how the heating assembly (528), in particular the heater branch, receives electrical energy to heat the aerosol precursor composition (410) to release an inhalable substance for a consumer to inhale. In some embodiments, this control may be enabled by a flow sensor (520) described in more detail above.

[0069] As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the heating assembly (528) of the illustrated embodiment comprises an outer cylinder (530) and a heating element (532) (e.g., a plurality of heater branches) extending from a receiving base (534). In some embodiments, such as when the aerosol precursor composition (410) comprises a tube structure, the heater branches may be configured to extend into a cavity formed by the inner surface of the aerosol precursor composition. In other embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment where the aerosol precursor composition comprises a solid or semi-solid, the plurality of heater branches are configured to penetrate into the aerosol precursor composition contained in the heating end (406) of the aerosol source member (304) when the aerosol source member is inserted into the control body (302). In these embodiments, one or more components of a heating assembly comprising a heater branch and / or a receiving base may be composed of a non-stick or sticky material, for example, certain aluminum, copper, stainless steel, carbon steel, and ceramic materials. In other embodiments, one or more components of a heating assembly comprising a heater branch and / or a receiving base may include, for example, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating such as Teflon® or other coatings such as an anti-stick enamel coating, or a ceramic coating such as Greblon® or Thermolon™, or a non-stick coating including a ceramic coating such as Greblon® or Thermolon™.

[0070] Additionally, it should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, there are a number of heater branches (532) substantially evenly distributed around the receiving base (534), but in other embodiments, any number of heater branches may be used, including as few as 1 in any other suitable spatial configuration. Furthermore, in various embodiments, the length of the heater branches may vary. For example, in some embodiments, the heater branches may include small protrusions, whereas in other embodiments, the heater branches may extend to any portion of the length of the receiving chamber (536), including up to about 25%, up to about 50%, up to about 75% of the total length of the receiving chamber, and may extend to about the entire length of the receiving chamber. In yet another embodiment, the heating assembly (528) may take a different configuration. Examples of other heater configurations that may be configured for use in the present invention in accordance with the discussion provided above include U.S. Patent Nos. 5,060,671 (Counts et al.), 5,093,894 (Deevi et al.), 5,224,498 (Deevi et al.), 5,228,460 (Sprinkel Jr., et al.), 5,322,075 (Deevi et al.), 5,353,813 (Deevi et al.), 5,468,936 (Deevi et al.), 5,498,850 (Das), 5,659,656 (Das), 5,498,855 (Deevi et al.), 5,530,225 (Hajaligol), 5,665,262 (Hajaligol), and 5,573,692 (Das et al.); It can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,591,368 (Fleischhauer et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0071] In various embodiments, the control body (302) may include an air intake (538) (e.g., one or more openings or holes) inside to allow ambient air to enter the interior of the receiving chamber (536). In this way, in some embodiments, the receiving base (534) may also include an air intake. Thus, in some embodiments, when a consumer inhales from the mouse end of the aerosol source member (304), air is drawn into the receiving chamber through the air intakes of the control body and the receiving base, passes into the aerosol source member, and can be inhaled through the aerosol precursor composition (410) of the aerosol source member for the consumer to inhale. In some embodiments, the inhaled air carries an inhalable material out of the opening at the mouse end (408) of the aerosol source member through an optional filter (414). With the heating element (532) positioned inside the aerosol precursor composition, the heater branch can be activated to heat the aerosol precursor composition and release an inhalable substance through the aerosol source member.

[0072] In particular, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, various embodiments of the present invention use a conductive heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition (410). Also, as mentioned above, various other embodiments use an induction heater to heat the aerosol precursor composition. In some of these embodiments, the heating assembly (528) may be configured as an induction heater comprising a transformer having an induction transmitter and an induction receiver. In an embodiment where the heating assembly is configured as an induction heater, the outer cylinder (530) may be configured as an induction transmitter, and a heating element (532) (e.g., a plurality of heater branches) extending from a receiving base (534) may be configured as an induction receiver. In various embodiments, one or both of the induction transmitter and the induction receiver may be located in the control body (302) and / or the aerosol source member (304).

[0073] In various embodiments, the outer cylinder (530) and the heating element (532) as the induction transmitter and induction receiver may be composed of one or more conductive materials, and in additional embodiments, the induction receiver may be composed of a ferromagnetic material including but not limited to cobalt, iron, nickel, and combinations thereof. In one exemplary embodiment, the foil material is composed of a conductive material, and the heater branch is composed of a ferromagnetic material. In various embodiments, the receiving base may be composed of a non-conductive and / or insulating material.

[0074] As an induction transmitter, the outer cylinder (530) may comprise a laminate having a foil material surrounding the support cylinder. In some embodiments, the foil material may include an electrical trace printed thereon, and, for example, in some embodiments, the foil material may include one or more electrical traces that can form a spiral coil pattern when positioned around the heating element (532) as an induction receiver. The foil material and the support cylinder may each form a tubular configuration. The support cylinder may be configured to support the foil material so as not to move into contact with the heater branch and short-circuit it. In this way, the support cylinder may comprise a non-conductive material that may be substantially transparent to the oscillating magnetic field generated by the foil material. In various embodiments, the foil material may be embedded in the support cylinder or coupled to the support cylinder. In the illustrated embodiment, the foil material is engaged with the outer surface of the supporting cylinder, but in other embodiments, the foil material may be located on the inner surface of the supporting cylinder or completely embedded in the supporting cylinder.

[0075] The foil material of the outer cylinder (530) may be configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field (e.g., a magnetic field that changes periodically over time) when an alternating current passes through it. The heater branch of the heating element (532) may be at least partially located or housed within the outer cylinder and may include a conductive material. By inducing an alternating current through the foil material, eddy currents may be generated in the heater branch through induction. The eddy currents flowing through the resistance of the material forming the heater branch may be heated by Joule heating (i.e., through the Joule effect). The heater branch may be heated wirelessly to form an aerosol from an aerosol precursor composition (410) located in close proximity to the heater branch.

[0076] Other embodiments of the aerosol delivery device, control body, and aerosol source member are described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 916,834 (Sur et al.); U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 916,696 (Sur); and U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 836,086 (Sur).

[0077] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate embodiments of an aerosol delivery device comprising a control body and a cartridge in the case of a non-heating, non-combustion type device. In this regard, FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an aerosol delivery device (700) comprising a control body (702) and a cartridge (704) according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates a control body and a cartridge coupled to each other. The control body and the cartridge may be separated in a functional relationship.

[0078] FIG. 8 illustrates an aerosol delivery device (700) according to some exemplary embodiments in more detail. As illustrated in the cutaway view shown herein, the aerosol delivery device may again include a control body (702) and a cartridge (704), each comprising a plurality of individual components. The components illustrated in FIG. 8 represent components that may be present in the control body and the cartridge and are not intended to limit the scope of components included in the present invention. As illustrated, for example, the control body may be formed into a control body housing or shell (806) that may include a control component (808) (e.g., a processing circuit, etc.), an input device (810), a power source (812), and an indicator (814) (e.g., an LED, a quantum dot-based LED), and these components may be variably aligned. Here, specific examples of suitable control components include the PIC16(L)F1713 / 6 microcontroller of Microchip Technology Inc. (described in Microchip Technology, AN2265, Vibrating Mesh Nebulizer Reference Design (2016)) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0079] The cartridge (704) may be formed of a housing (sometimes referred to as a cartridge shell (816)) comprising a nozzle (820) having a piezoelectric / inflatable mesh (aerosol generating component) surrounding a reservoir (818) configured to hold an aerosol precursor composition. Similarly to the above, in various configurations, this structure may be referred to as a tank.

[0080] The reservoir (818) illustrated in FIG. 8 may be a container or a fiber reservoir as described above. The reservoir may be in fluid communication with a nozzle (820) to transport an aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir housing to the nozzle. An opening (822) may be present in the cartridge shell (816) (e.g., at the end of the mouse) to discharge the aerosol formed from the cartridge (704).

[0081] In some examples, a transport element may be positioned between a reservoir (818) and a nozzle (820) and may be configured to control the amount of aerosol precursor composition passed from the reservoir to the nozzle. In some examples, a microfluidic chip may be embedded in a cartridge (704), and the amount and / or mass of the aerosol precursor composition delivered from the reservoir may be controlled by one or more microfluidic components. An example of a microfluidic component is a micropump (824) such as one based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Examples of suitable micropumps include the Model MDP2205 micropump and others from thinXXS Microtechnology AG, the Model mp5 and mp6 micropumps and others from Bartels Mikrotechnik GmbH, and piezoelectric micropumps from Takasago Fluidic Systems.

[0082] Also, as illustrated, in some examples, a microfilter (826) may be positioned between the micropump (824) and the nozzle (820) to filter the aerosol precursor composition delivered to the nozzle. Like the micropump, the microfilter is a microfluidic component. Examples of suitable microfilters include through-type microfilters, such as those manufactured using lab-on-a-chip (LOC) technology.

[0083] When in use, when the input device (810) detects user input to activate the aerosol delivery device, the piezoelectric / magnetic mesh is activated and vibrates, thereby drawing in an aerosol precursor composition through the mesh. This forms a droplet of the aerosol precursor composition that combines with air to form an aerosol. The aerosol is stirred, drawn out, or moved away from the mesh and drawn out of the opening (822) at the mouth end of the aerosol delivery device.

[0084] The aerosol delivery device (700) may incorporate an input device (810), such as a switch, sensor, or detector, for controlling the power supply to the piezoelectric / inductive mesh of the nozzle (820) when aerosol generation is required (e.g., during aspiration in use). Thus, a manner or method is provided for, for example, to turn off power to the mesh when the aerosol delivery device is not being aspirated in use, and to turn on power to operate or trigger the generation and distribution of aerosol from the nozzle during aspiration. Further representative types of sensing or detection mechanisms, their structure and configuration, their components, and general methods of operation are described above and are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,261,424 (Sprinkel, Jr.), U.S. Patent No. 5,372,148 (McCafferty et al.), and PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 2010 / 003480 (Flick) (all in their entirety incorporated herein).

[0085] For details regarding the above embodiments and other embodiments of the aerosol delivery device for non-heating, non-combustion devices, see U.S. Patent Application No. 15 / 651,548 (Sur) (filed July 17, 2017) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0086] As described above, an aerosol delivery device of an exemplary embodiment may include various electronic components in the context of an electronic cigarette, a heated non-combustion device, or a non-heated non-combustion device, or even in the case of a device that includes one or more functions of an electronic cigarette, a heated non-combustion device, or a non-heated non-combustion device. FIG. 9 illustrates a circuit diagram of an aerosol delivery device (900) that may incorporate any one or more of the aerosol delivery devices (100, 300, 700) according to various exemplary embodiments of the present invention, or any one or more functions.

[0087] As illustrated in FIG. 9, the aerosol delivery device (900) includes a control body (902) having a power source (904) and a control component (906) that correspond to or include the respective functions of a control body (102, 302, 702), a power source (212, 524, 812), and a control component (208, 522, 808). The aerosol delivery device also includes an aerosol generating component (916) that corresponds to or includes the function of a piezoelectric / inpressor magnetometer mesh of a heating element (220, 532) or a nozzle (820). The control body (902) may include the aerosol generating component (916) or a terminal (918) configured to connect the aerosol generating component to the control body.

[0088] In some embodiments, the control body (902) includes a sensor (908) configured to generate a measurement of air flow. The sensor (908) may correspond to or include the function of a flow sensor (210, 520) or an input device (810). In such embodiments, the control component (906) is coupled to a power source (904) and an aerosol generating component (916) and includes a switch (910) between the power source and the aerosol generating component. The control component also includes a processing circuit (912) coupled to the sensor and the switch. The switch may be a metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) switch. The sensor may be connected to the integrated circuit (I2C), Vcc and / or ground of the processing circuit. The processing circuit (912) is configured to verify the age of the user and output a signal (indicated by arrow (922)) to supply power to the aerosol generating component during the aerosol generating time period by switchingly connecting and disconnecting the output voltage from the power source (904) to the aerosol generating component (916) via the switch (910). In some embodiments, the processing circuit is configured to output a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. The duty cycle of the PWM signal can be adjusted to switchably connect and disconnect the output voltage to the aerosol generating component via the switch.

[0089] The aerosol generating component (916) may be controlled in a number of different ways, for example, through the power supplied to the aerosol generating component during the aerosol generating time period. In some embodiments, the processing circuit (912) is configured to determine a sample window of measurements of the instantaneous actual power supplied to the aerosol generating component at a periodic rate during the aerosol generating time period. Each measurement of the sample window of measurements may be determined as the product of the current and voltage passing through the aerosol generating component. The processing circuit of such an embodiment may be further configured to calculate the moving average power supplied to the aerosol generating component based on the sample window of measurements of the instantaneous actual power. In such an embodiment, the processing circuit may be further configured to compare the moving average power with a power setpoint and output a signal to separate and connect the output voltage through a switch in each case where the moving average power is higher or lower than the power setpoint, respectively.

[0090] In one example, the processing circuit (912) can determine the actual current (I) and voltage passing through the aerosol generating component (916). The processing circuit can read the voltage and current values ​​determined from the input of the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) of the processing circuit and determine the instantaneous "actual" power (I*V) delivered to the aerosol generating component. In some cases, this "instantaneous" power measurement can be added to a sample window or moving window of values ​​(i.e., other instantaneous power measurements), and then the moving average power of the sample window is, for example, by the following formula, i.e., P 평균 = P 샘플 + P 평균 1 / Window size It can be calculated according to. In some embodiments, for example, the window size may be about 20 to about 256 samples.

[0091] In some examples, the processing circuit (912) may then compare the calculated moving average power with a power setpoint. The power setpoint may be a selected power setpoint associated with the power source (904) (e.g., a power level or current output from the power source regulated by the processing circuit (912), or a power level or current output from another regulating component associated therewith and positioned to be electrically connected between the power source and the aerosol generating component (916)).

[0092] In some examples, (1) P 평균 If (the actual output determined in the aerosol generating component (916)) is less than the selected output setpoint (average output), the switch (910) is turned on to allow current flow from the power source (904) to the aerosol generating component; (2) P 평균 If it is higher than this selected power setpoint, the switch is turned off to prevent current flow from the power source to the aerosol generating component; (3) Steps 1 and 2 are repeated until the aerosol generating time period expires or is interrupted. More specifically, during the aerosol generating time period, the determination and calculation of the actual power in the aerosol generating component, the comparison of the actual power with a preset power setpoint, and the determination of the ON / OFF of the switch to adjust the preset power setpoint can be performed substantially continuously by the processing circuit (912) at a periodic rate of, for example, about 20 to 50 times per second to ensure a more stable and accurate average power delivered to the aerosol generating component. Aerosol generating component (P 평균 Various examples of controlling a switch based on actual power determined in ) are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,423,152 (Ampolini et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0093] In some embodiments, the control component (906) further includes a signal conditioning circuit (914) coupled to the sensor (908) and the processing circuit (912). The signal conditioning circuit of such embodiments may be configured to operate the operation of the switch (910). The signal conditioning circuit will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 10.

[0094] FIG. 10 illustrates a circuit diagram of a signal conditioning circuit (1000) that corresponds to a signal conditioning circuit (914) according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated, in some embodiments, the signal conditioning circuit (1000) includes a signal conditioning chip (1001) and a bidirectional voltage level converter (1002). An example of a suitable signal conditioning chip is the ZAP 3456 model from Zap-Tech Corporation. An example of a suitable bidirectional voltage level converter is the NVT 2003 bidirectional voltage level converter from NXP Semiconductors.

[0095] In one example, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the signal conditioning chip (1001) may be connected to a bidirectional voltage level converter (1002), and the bidirectional voltage level converter may be connected to the 5V input and ground of the processing circuit (912). It should be noted that the values ​​illustrated in FIG. 10 (e.g., voltage, resistance, and capacitance) are for illustrative purposes only and, unless otherwise stated, should not be interpreted as being limited in the present invention.

[0096] FIG. 11 is an exemplary security tag (1104) on a device (1102). The device (1102) may be any electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device including an aerosol delivery device as described above. In an alternative embodiment, the security tag (1104) may be applied to a device other than an ENDS device. The security tag (1104) shown in FIG. 11 is attached to the control body (e.g., control body (102)) of the device (1102). The security tag (1104) can prevent the control body (102) from being connected to the cartridge (104) without altering the device or the control body. In other words, the security tag (1104) prevents the cartridge from being coupled to the device (1102). The device (1102) cannot operate without being connected to the cartridge. The security tag (1104) can be considered as a lock for the device (1102), which requires to be unlocked (by authentication) in order to use the device (1102).

[0097] In an alternative embodiment, a security tag (1104) may be applied to the opposite end of the device (1102) to prevent charging of the device (1102). The opposite end may include a port or other contact point for connecting a code or pin to contact a power source to supply power to the device (1102). The security tag (1104) at this end of the device prevents operation by preventing the device from being charged. In an embodiment where the charging contact is located at a different location from the distal end of the device, it is understood that the security tag (1104) may be placed at this different location. For example, if there is a wireless contact on one side of the device, the security tag may be placed at the wireless contact to prevent operation unless properly removed.

[0098] FIG. 12 is another exemplary security tag (1204) on the device (1202). While the exemplary security tag (1104) of FIG. 11 may be placed at one end of the device (1102), the security tag (1204) of FIG. 12 is placed across the entire device (1202). The security tag (1204) may cover or disable both the cartridge end (1204a) and / or the charging end (1204b) of the device (1202). The cartridge end (1204a) may be coupled to a cartridge that is prevented by the security tag (1204), while the charging end (1204b) may be coupled to a power source that is prevented by the security tag (1204). As in the embodiment of FIG. 11, the operation of the device (1202) is prevented by the security tag (1204), and if an attempt to remove the security tag (1204) is improper, the device (1202) is damaged and the operation of the device becomes impossible. During authentication (e.g., age verification), the security tag (1204) can be removed without damaging the device (1202) or rendering the device inoperable. As in FIG. 11, the security tag (1204) can be applied to the device (1202) without changing or altering any aspect of the device (1202). Specifically, even though charging and / or operation may be temporarily prevented by the presence of the security tag (1204), the actual charging or operation is not altered by attaching and removing the security tag (1204).

[0099] The security tag (1104 / 1204) may be removed when authentication is appropriate, such as age verification discussed below in relation to FIGS. 19 through 21. After being properly removed, the device (1102 / 1202) operates as if the security tag (1104 / 1204) is not applied. Not only can the security tag (1104 / 1204) prevent the operation of the device (1102 / 1202), but an attempt to improperly remove the security tag (1104 / 1204) (e.g., without proper authentication) can render the device (1102 / 1202) inoperable. In other words, improperly removing the security tag (1104 / 1204) can disable the device (1102 / 1202) as described below in relation to FIG. 14. Appropriate authentication to unlock the security tag (1104 / 1204) can be performed through the communication described below in relation to FIG. 13.

[0100] A security tag (1104 / 1204) may be applied to a cartridge (e.g., cartridge (104)) instead of or in addition to the device (1102 / 1202). The security tag (1104 / 1204) may prevent the cartridge from being used unless the cartridge is properly authenticated. This may provide additional circuitry, or it may be unnecessary if the device (1102 / 1202) (e.g., control body (102)) already has a security tag.

[0101] FIG. 13 illustrates a communication example (1301). There are some forms of communication that communicate with a security tag to unlock or authenticate a security tag, or to initiate unlocking. There are many different ways in which a security tag can be unlocked, and FIG. 13 is provided as an exemplary example of some examples of communication mechanisms for unlocking a security tag. The process for authentication may include a process of communicating over a network. For example, the age verification process described below may include online age verification based on information provided by the user. In response to online authentication, the user may communicate with the security tag to properly remove the security tag without disabling the device.

[0102] Each security tag may include a unique serial number that can serve as a code for unlocking. The unique serial number may also be used as an input or output of a mathematical function used to unlock the security tag, a hash, or an encoding of the serial number. The serial number of a security tag may be unique. The serial number may include any combination of one or more character types that can be used to generate a unique set of serial numbers, such as numbers, letters, characters, or combinations thereof (e.g., alphanumeric strings). Cartridges or consumables may have serial numbers. Such serial numbers may be registered as described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 415,444 (Title of invention: "AGE VERIFICATION WITH REGISTERED CARTRIDGES FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE", Filing date: May 17, 2019) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0103] Some communication formats that communicate with the security tag may require a power source for the security tag to communicate. In one embodiment, a charging cable or charging mechanism for the device may also be combined with the security tag to provide sufficient communication power.

[0104] One communication example (1301) includes Bluetooth (1302) communication with a security tag. The security tag may include a function for Bluetooth communication with a computing device, such as a smartphone (e.g., a Bluetooth transceiver).

[0105] Another communication example (1301) includes a barcode (1304). The barcode (1304) may be a scannable tag / code. In one embodiment, the security tag (1304) may include a scanning function for scanning the barcode. An exemplary barcode 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) code, two-dimensional (2D) code, three-dimensional (3D) code, or other types of code. A user may complete an authentication process and receive the barcode on a computing device (e.g., a smartphone), and the security tag scans the barcode. For this example, the scannable tag / code may be a QR code, and the user may have an application or app on a mobile phone that receives the serial number of the security tag or the scanned QR code.

[0106] Another communication example (1301) includes a radio frequency identifier (RFID) (1306). A security tag can communicate via RFID. For example, a security tag can receive an unlock command via RFID. Examples of communication and authentication via RFID are described in U.S. Patent No. 10,015,987 (Henry et al.) and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2017 / 0020191 (Lamb et al.) (each in its entirety incorporated herein).

[0107] Another communication example (1301) includes near-field communication (NFC) (1308). A security tag can communicate via NFC. For example, a security tag can receive an unlock command via NFC. Exemplary communication and authentication via NFC are described in U.S. Patent No. 9,864,947 (Sur et al.) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0108] Another communication example (1301) includes an audio signal (1310). FIG. 15 illustrates an example (1502) of a method for communicating the audio signal (1310) through an audio detector. The audio signal (1310) may be detected by a security tag having a pressure sensor (1507) and / or a microphone (1508). Additionally, an example of an audio detector (1502) is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 441,903 (Title of invention: "Functional Control and Age Verification of Electronic Devices through Speaker Communication"; Filing date: June 14, 2019) (the entire contents incorporated herein). In some embodiments where the device is a puff-activated aerosol delivery device, the pressure sensor (1507) may include an existing pressure sensor of the device (e.g., sensor (908)) that can be used to measure pressure changes when a user puffs or inhales from the device, for example, when the user activates the device (e.g., by turning on a heater). There may be a separate pressure sensor to measure inhalation to activate the device, or there may be only a single pressure sensor used to activate the device and detect an audio signal upon inhalation. The security tag may have its own sensor or utilize the device's sensor.

[0109] The audio signal (1310) may be referred to as an authentication tone and may be a low-frequency pressure wave. In one embodiment, the pressure wave may be located at the lower end of the function for the basic phone speaker used in most smartphones or cell phones. In one example, the frequency may be about 10 Hz to 20 Hz for the pressure sensor (1507) to detect a tone with a reduced signal-to-noise ratio. There may be many different embodiments of the pressure sensor (1507) capable of detecting the audio signal (1310). One example is a sealed differential pressure sensor capable of comparing changes in ambient pressure (due to pressure or sound waves) to a standard reference pressure. A sealed differential pressure sensor can detect sound waves emitted from a speaker. Alternatively, the pressure sensor (1507) may be an unsealed differential pressure sensor comprising a flow sensor that compares pressures generated from fluid streams passing through two holes of different diameters. An unsealed differential pressure sensor may be used to better detect sound waves.

[0110] In another embodiment, the audio signal (1310) may be detected by a microphone (1508). The microphone (1508) may detect a wider range of tones (e.g., inaudible in addition to audible) that may be emitted by a cell phone speaker, but this would be an additional component. Specifically, while the audible tones may be a frequency range that humans can hear, the tones may further include a wider range that includes inaudible tones. The microphone (1508) may be used to detect puffs and activate a heater, or there may be a secondary microphone for detecting only the audio signal (1310) or authentication tones. In this embodiment, the frequency may be at the upper end of the function of a smartphone, cell phone, tablet, or other general speaker, for example, in the range of 20 kHz to 25 kHz. These frequencies cannot be heard by the user or the device buyer, but can still be detected by the microphone (1508). The microphone (1508) can detect tones based on the limits of its function, including any audible frequency in the range of approximately 20 Hz to 20 kHz. There may be many different embodiments of the microphone (1508) capable of detecting the audio signal (1310). One example is a MEMS electret microphone using a PTFE-based film diaphragm. This example may be of a size suitable for longevity. In other examples, other electret microphones may be used. Additionally, there are other microphones in the condenser microphone family. Other examples include crystal or piezoelectric microphones. These examples can detect noise or vibration through a solid object and may be placed inside the outer shell of the device, thereby eliminating the need for an orifice, kernel, or port that allows sound waves to travel to the device.

[0111] Referring again to FIG. 13, another communication example (1301) includes an optical signal (1312). FIG. 16 illustrates an example of a method for communicating an optical / visual signal (1312) through an optical detector. The optical signal (1312) may also be referred to as a visual signal or a light signal. Additionally, an example of a visual / optical detector (1602) is described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 441,937 (Title of invention: "Functional Control and Age Verification of Electronic Devices through Visual Communication", filing date: June 14, 2019) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0112] A security tag may include a function for receiving an optical signal (1312) that can unlock the device upon authentication / verification. FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary detector for the optical signal (1312) and includes a light sensor (1607), a photodiode (1608), a reader (1609), and / or an infrared detector (1610). The light sensor (1607) may include any light-dependent resistive element. The resistance of this sensor may change depending on the presence or absence of light. This may require a current flowing through the resistive element when the optical signal (1312) (i.e., an authentication light sequence) is transmitted. The photodiode (1608) may include a sensor that generates a small current when exposed to a light source. The photodiode may act as a switch and may have a fast response time.

[0113] A reader (1609), such as a camera, a barcode reader, or other detector, may be used for the optical signal (1312). In one example, the user may capture a photograph of a unique serial number or code (e.g., a barcode) associated with a specific security tag. In an alternative example, the reader (1609) may be a magnetic strip reader, a chip reader (e.g., similar to a credit card reader), a wired communication, or a wireless communication.

[0114] The optical signal (1312) may include an infrared (IR) signal detected by an IR sensor (1610) in one embodiment. In some embodiments, there may be a combination of the visible light spectrum and IR depending on different optical detectors (e.g., the optical sensor (1607) and the IR (1610)), or a single sensor may measure both. Having a combination of optical types may provide a larger set of code combinations for the optical signal (1312). The user may be able to see the visible light spectrum while not detecting IR, which may also enhance security by preventing the regeneration of the optical signal. In the case of the IR or non-visible light signal, the user may be provided with an indication (e.g., a visual spectrum pulse) or confirmation that the optical signal (1312) for unlocking the device is being communicated.

[0115] Referring again to FIG. 13, another communication example (1301) includes a manual button (1314). The authentication process may provide a code or a series of inputs to be entered into the security tag to unlock it. The security tag may include manual buttons that must be pressed in a specific order to unlock the tag. The buttons may be numbers, letters, or any other symbols. The authentication process provides an indication of the appropriate buttons to be entered into the security tag to be unlocked. In an alternative embodiment, the manual button may include a combination lock or other style of lock that requires physical or manual input for unlocking. For example, there may be a series of rotatable mechanisms, such as those found in combination locks that can be used to enter an unlock code.

[0116] Another communication example (1301) includes a key (1316). Instead of a manual button, there may be a key that is entered into or used on a security tag. The key may be electronic or may be a physical key used to unlock the device.

[0117] FIG. 14 illustrates an example (1401) in which the device may be disabled when removing the security tag is inappropriate. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of communicating the unlocking of the security tag. Unlocking the security tag is also referred to as authentication and may include age verification as described below. If the security tag is not authenticated or unlocked, an attempt to remove the security tag may disable or damage the device, as exemplified in example (1401). In some embodiments, the user may be allowed a certain number of attempts to unlock the security tag before the security tag disables the device. In one embodiment, an incorrect attempt to unlock the security tag is allowed only once, whereas in another embodiment, the user may be allowed to attempt to unlock the security tag multiple times.

[0118] An example (1401) of disabling the device involves pulling the connection pin (1402). In one embodiment, the security tag is placed in a connection port for receiving a cartridge. If an attempt is made to remove the security tag without unlocking it, various connection pins are bent, broken, or removed. In one example, the device has power pins (e.g., pogo pins) to transmit power, and one or more of these pins are attached to the security tag unless the security tag is unlocked. The connection pin (1402) may also include a pin for receiving a charger (e.g., at the end opposite the cartridge receiving end). If an attempt is made to remove the security tag, the pins are damaged and the device does not charge.

[0119] Another example (1402) of disabling the device includes depositing a material (1404) on or within the device. The material (1404) may coat any connection to prevent proper connection. The material (1404) may be a corrosive material that destroys components of the device but is harmless to the human body. Another example of the material may be a jelly or e-liquid that prevents operation by covering connections or destroying other components. Another example may include a non-conductive ink or other non-conductive coating that can be applied to one or more power contacts to inhibit the flow of current (e.g., from the control body (102) to the cartridge (104).

[0120] Another example (1402) of disabling the device involves blocking the airflow (1406). The security tag may include a member or component that blocks the airflow and / or pressure drop communication within the device (e.g., in some embodiments, a channel that allows fluid communication between a pressure sensor and a device airflow channel to prevent the pressure sensor from detecting a pressure drop that could cause activation of the device). If the security tag is removed without unlocking, the member or component may block the airflow. Alternatively, if an attempt is made to remove the security tag, the air channel may collapse. In another embodiment, a material (1404) may be released to block the airflow (1406).

[0121] Another example (1402) of disabling the device involves causing a system short circuit (1408). Improper removal may result in a system short circuit. A system short circuit (1408) may be detected by the main controller, and the main controller may disable operation due to the presence of the system short circuit. Adding a substance that causes a short circuit or physically adjusting a component may result in a short circuit. Another example (1402) of disabling the device involves causing a failure (1410). The failure (1410) may include a blockage of an air channel or obstruction of liquid delivery in the device. In another example, the mouthpiece or other component may be crimped or closed when the security tag is improperly removed.

[0122] FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a security tag process according to one embodiment. In block (1702), the purchase of a device is made. In block (1704), the device includes a security tag with a serial number AB123. The serial number may be unique to the security tag, and the serial number is required to authorize the removal of the security tag. In block (1706), the security tag is connected to a power cable or a power source is provided. As discussed above, there are various communication mechanisms for communicating with the security tag, which may require power. In block (1708), the user can go online for the authorization process. In block (1710), the user's age is verified. The age verification process of various embodiments is discussed further below in connection with FIGS. 19 through 21 and is additionally described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 415,460 (Title of invention: "AUTHENTICATION AND AGE VERIFICATION FOR AN AEROSOL DELIVERY DEVICE", filing date: May 17, 2019) (the entire contents incorporated herein).

[0123] The age verification process may include visiting a website in block (1712) and providing a security tag serial number and identification information (e.g., a phone number). As a result, a code or other form of communication (e.g., communication (1301)) may be provided to the user in block (1714). The provided communication may be used to communicate with the security tag in block (1716). If the security tag receives the correct communication, the security tag may be unlocked and removed in block (1718). If communication with the security tag is incorrect or if the user attempts to remove the security tag without authentication or unlocking, the device is deactivated as shown in block (1720). In some embodiments, the security tag may be reusable. For example, a retail store may have a kiosk or an employee capable of performing age verification through the method described below. Based on this verification, the security tag may be removed and retained in the retail store, where the security tag may be applied to other products.

[0124] FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating security tag processing according to another embodiment. FIG. 18 is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 17, but differs in that the security tag of FIG. 18 covers the entire device or both ends, whereas the security tag of FIG. 17 covers only one end of the device. In block (1802), the purchase of the device takes place. In block (1804), the device includes a security tag with the serial number AB123. The serial number may be unique to the security tag, and the serial number is required to authorize the removal of the security tag. In block (1806), the security tag is connected to a power cable or a power source is provided. As discussed above, there are various communication mechanisms for communicating with the security tag, which may require power. In block (1808), the user can go online for the authorization process. In block (1810), the user's age is verified. The age verification process is discussed further below in relation to FIG. 19 through 21. The age verification process may include visiting a website in block (1812) and providing a security tag serial number and identification information (e.g., a phone number). As a result, a code or other form of communication (e.g., communication (1301)) may be provided to the user in block (1814). The provided communication may be used to communicate with the security tag in block (1816). When the security tag receives the correct communication, the security tag may be unlocked and removed in block (1818). If communication with the security tag is incorrect or the user attempts to remove the security tag without authentication or unlocking, the device is deactivated as shown in block (1820). In some embodiments, a threshold number of attempts to communicate with the security tag may be allowed, in which case the deactivation of the device occurs only after the threshold number of failed attempts is reached.In another embodiment, if the number of attempts can be within a set time period, other attempts at a later time are not counted as the threshold number of attempts.

[0125] FIG. 19 illustrates a system diagram for age verification via a security tag (1904). The security tag (1904) may be referred to as a security mechanism and protects the device (1906) to prevent use through verification. The device (1906) may be any electronic nicotine delivery system ("ENDS") device including an aerosol delivery device as described above. Verification is performed via an age verification system (1902). To unlock the security tag (1904), verification by the age verification system (1902), which can verify the user's age, may be required. As described, the age verification system (1902) may not only verify age (e.g., in the case of age-restricted products) but may also provide authentication or user identification (e.g., for actual purchase or to prevent theft). There may be other verification mechanisms besides age. For example, in some embodiments, user identification may be performed instead of age verification.

[0126] FIG. 20 illustrates another embodiment of an age verification system (1902) connected to a host (2005) via a network (2003). FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment in which the age verification system (1902) is combined with a security tag (2004) (which may be identical or different from the security tag (1904)) via a host device (2005) via a network (2003). The security tag (2004) may receive power from a power source (2008), and the power source may also provide power to the host (2005) or the device (2006). The power source (2008) may be any power supply mechanism, such as a power outlet, or other device that provides power, such as a computer, laptop, mobile device, phone, tablet, or wireless power source.

[0127] The host (2005) may be any computing device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer. The security tag (2004) may receive communication from the host (2005), and the host may provide the ability to unlock the security tag (2004) when age verification is satisfied. In some embodiments, the host (1605) may act as or be a power source (2008). In other words, since the host (2005) in some exemplary embodiments may provide power to the security tag (2004), there may not be a separate power source (2008).

[0128] The present invention considers a computer-readable medium that includes commands or receives commands and executes them in response to a propagated signal, so that a device connected to a network can communicate voice, video, audio, image, or any other data over the network. An age verification system (1902) may provide commands over the network through one or more communication ports. The communication ports may be created in software or are physical connections in hardware. The connection to the network may be a physical connection, such as a wired Ethernet connection, or may be established wirelessly as discussed below. Likewise, the connection to other components may be a physical connection or established wirelessly. In addition to the age verification system (1902), the device (1906 / 2006) and / or host (2005) may communicate over a network, including but not limited to the network (2003).

[0129] A network (e.g., network (2003)) may combine devices so that communication can be exchanged, for example, between a security tag (2004) and an age verification system (1902), or between other wireless devices combined via a wireless network. As described, a cluster of machines storing data to be analyzed may be connected through one or more networks such as network (2003). The network may also include mass storage media such as, for example, a Network Attached Storage (NAS), a Storage Area Network (SAN), or other forms of computer or machine-readable media. The network may include the Internet, one or more Local Area Networks (LANs), one or more Wide Area Networks (WANs), wired type connections, wireless type connections, or any combination thereof. Likewise, sub-networks may use, for example, different architectures, be compatible or compatible with different protocols, and interact within a larger network. In one example, blockchain technology may be used in the network to distribute data over the network. Examples of blockchain network functions are described in U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 415,477 (Title of invention: "DECENTRALIZED IDENTITY STORAGE FOR TOBACCO PRODUCTS", filing date: May 17, 2019) (the entire contents incorporated herein). Various types of devices may be made available to provide interoperable functions, for example, for different architectures or protocols. As one exemplary example, a router may provide a link between separate, independent LANs.A communication link or channel may include, for example, analog telephone lines such as twisted wire pairs or coaxial cables, wholly or partially digital lines including T1, T2, T3, or T4 type lines, integrated service digital networks (ISDN), digital subscriber lines (DSL), wireless links including satellite links, or other communication links or channels known to those skilled in the art. Additionally, computing devices or other related electronic devices may be remotely coupled to a network, for example, via a telephone line or link.

[0130] The wireless network may connect devices such as security tags (2004) (and / or hosts (2005)) and age verification systems (1902). The network (2003) may include a wireless network and may use a standalone ad-hoc network, a mesh network, a wireless LAN (WLAN) network, a wireless wide area network (WWAN), a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN), a cellular network, etc. The wireless network may further include systems such as terminals, gateways, and routers combined by wireless radio links, etc., and these systems may be freely moved randomly or configured arbitrarily so that the network topology may change from time to time, even rapidly. The wireless network may further use multiple network access technologies, including Long Term Evolution (LTE), WLAN, wireless router (WR) mesh, or 2nd, 3rd, or 4th generation (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G or future iteration) cellular technologies, etc. The network may enable RF or wireless type communication through one or more network access technologies such as Mobile Communication Global System (GSM), Universal Mobile Communication System (UMTS), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced Broadband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Bluetooth, 802.11b / g / n, Zigbee, Z Wave, IEEE 802.16 (e.g., WiMax) and / or other WWAN / WMAN technologies, etc. (including future iterations of any of the aforementioned technologies). The wireless network may include almost any type of wireless communication mechanism capable of communicating signals between devices, such as security tags (2004) (and / or hosts (2005)) and age verification systems (1902), such as between networks or within a network.In some embodiments, the communication protocol listed above may be used for communication between the security tag (2004) and the host (2005), and the host (2005) then communicates with the age verification system (1902) through the same or different communication protocol.

[0131] Signal packets communicated through a network (2003) or a network of participating digital communication networks may be compatible with or compatible with one or more protocols. The signal formats or protocols used may include, for example, TCP / IP, UDP, DECnet, NetBEUI, IPX, Appletalk, etc. Internet Protocol (IP) versions may include IPv4 or IPv6. The Internet refers to a distributed global network. The Internet includes, for example, Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), Wireless Networks, or Long-Range Public Networks that allow signal packets to communicate between LANs. Signal packets may be communicated between nodes of a network to one or more sites using, for example, local network addresses. Signal packets may be communicated from a user site to the Internet, for example, through an access node connected to the Internet. Likewise, signal packets may be delivered through a network node to a target site connected to the network, for example, through a network access node. Signal packets communicated over the Internet may be routed through a path such as a gateway, server, etc., capable of routing the signal packet according to the availability of a network path to the target address and the target address. This signal packet communication can be applied to data communication between any components shown in FIG. 20.

[0132] The age verification system (1902) may include a database that tracks users along with their ages. This may be encrypted with an anonymous identifier (e.g., a number, letter, or any alphanumeric identifier) ​​for each user and / or may use an identifier. FIG. 21 describes how age verification (e.g., identification document (2106)) may occur and how it is stored in a database to verify all future age verification requests by this user. Specifically, when a user is age-verified as confirmed in the age verification system database, future verification (i.e., "authentication") may be a simple call to this database to unlock the device (1906).

[0133] FIG. 21 illustrates a verification example (2101) of an age verification system (1902). As described, age verification is a process of verifying a user's age. The age verification system (1902) provides a function for verifying a user's age. Age verification can be performed for each security tag even when the user has multiple devices (1906, 2006). The verification example (2101) is an exemplary mechanism for verifying a user's age. The age verification system (1902) may require some identification documents (2106) to establish the user's age. For example, a driver's license or passport may be uploaded to establish the user's age. Images of these documents can be used for future age verification by performing face recognition (2108) using these images. Face recognition (2108) technology can analyze the two images to confirm identity match, reject identity verification, or flag verification to request additional identification information. This authentication may involve comparing this image with a live self-image (“selfie”) or video taken by the user with a mobile device or webcam. This can prevent fraud by simply showing someone’s photo. The selfie image uploaded by the user may also be checked for realism by recording a short video to ensure that the frame is not changed. In an alternative embodiment, the authentication step may include audible input from the user, such as the reading of numbers, sequences, or codes to verify realism.

[0134] In an alternative embodiment, the verification step may include audible input from a user, such as the reading of a number, sequence, or code to verify vitality. Another verification example (2101) includes a call to a help desk (2107) in which the user can verify their identity by providing or confirming user information (e.g., name, date of birth, social security number, phone number, email, address, and / or password, e.g., mother's maiden name). In one embodiment, the help desk (2107) may be used to verify information provided in an identification document (2106). Another verification example (2101) includes a fingerprint (2110), wherein a fingerprint reader is used to verify the user after the user has been age-verified. In one embodiment, the host (2005) of FIG. 20 may receive a fingerprint used to unlock a security tag (2004). In addition to facial recognition (2109) and fingerprints (2110), there may be other biometrics (2112) used to verify the user, such as DNA, blood, or other biological indicators. As an additional example, a PIN code (2114) may be used to authenticate the user. The PIN code may include a password associated with the user and used to unlock the security tag (2004). The PIN code may include a button that requires a specific code to be entered, or other sensors to detect unique interactions. For example, the PIN code may further include a puff code that uses a puff pattern for verification and is measured by a pressure sensor.

[0135] The foregoing description of the use of the article(s) may be applied to various exemplary embodiments described herein with slight modifications that may be obvious to those skilled in the art in light of other disclosures provided herein. However, the above description of use is not intended to limit the use of the article, but is provided to comply with all requirements necessary for the disclosure of the present invention. Any element shown in the article(s) shown in FIGS. 1 through 21 or any element described above may be included in the aerosol delivery device according to the present invention.

[0136] Many modifications and other embodiments of the content set forth in this specification will come to mind to those skilled in the art who benefit from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. Accordingly, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the appended claims. Furthermore, while the foregoing description and accompanying drawings describe 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 in alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, it is considered that combinations of elements and / or functions different from those explicitly described above may also be presented in part of the appended claims. Although specific terms are used in this specification, these terms are to be used only in a general and descriptive sense and are not intended to limit the present invention.

Claims

Claim 1 A secure aerosol delivery device comprising: a control body configured to be coupled with said cartridge to vaporize a substance within said cartridge; and a security tag attached to said control body, wherein said security tag is configured to prevent use of said aerosol delivery device unless said security tag is unlocked and removed from said control body, and said security tag is configured to be unlocked based on user verification. Claim 2 A secure aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the verification of the user includes verifying the age of the user. Claim 3 A secure aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the security tag is unlocked based on receiving an indication of communication from an age verification system. Claim 4 In paragraph 3, the indication of the communication is received by the security tag or the aerosol delivery device as Bluetooth communication, near-field communication (NFC) message, radio frequency identification (RFID) communication, barcode, audio signal, or optical signal. Claim 5 A security aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the security tag is configured to disable the aerosol delivery device when the security tag is removed without being unlocked. Claim 6 A security aerosol delivery device according to claim 5, wherein the deactivation comprises at least one of the opening of an electrical connection, blockage of air flow, coating of the connection, or induction of a short circuit caused by a broken connection pin. Claim 7 A security aerosol delivery device according to claim 5, wherein the deactivation is caused by exceeding a threshold number of attempts to remove the security tag without the security tag being unlocked. Claim 8 In claim 1, the control body is a secure aerosol delivery device that is not altered by the presence of the security tag. Claim 9 A security aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the security tag is configured to be physically fixed to the tag connection portion of the control body, and while the security tag is fixed to the tag connection portion, the cartridge cannot be coupled with the control body to generate an aerosol. Claim 10 A secure aerosol delivery device comprising: a cartridge containing a substance to be vaporized; a control body configured to be coupled to the cartridge to vaporize the substance from the cartridge; and a security tag attached to the cartridge, wherein the security tag is configured to prevent the use of the aerosol delivery device unless the security tag is unlocked and removed from the cartridge, and the security tag is configured to be unlocked based on user verification. Claim 11 A secure aerosol delivery device according to claim 10, wherein the verification of the user includes verifying the age of the user, and the security tag is unlocked based on receiving an indication of communication from an age verification system. Claim 12 In paragraph 11, the indication of the communication is received by the security tag or the aerosol delivery device as Bluetooth communication, near-field communication (NFC) message, radio frequency identification (RFID) communication, barcode, audio signal, or optical signal. Claim 13 In claim 10, the security tag is configured to disable the aerosol delivery device when the security tag is removed without unlocking, and the disabling includes at least one of breaking a connection pin, thereby opening an electrical connection, blocking airflow, coating a connection, or causing a short circuit. Claim 14 A security aerosol delivery device according to claim 10, wherein the security tag is configured to be physically fixed to the tag connection portion of the control body, and while the security tag is fixed to the tag connection portion, the cartridge cannot be coupled with the control body to generate an aerosol. Claim 15 A security tag for an aerosol delivery device, comprising: a body configured to be attached to a component of the aerosol delivery device; a locking mechanism configured to prevent use of the aerosol delivery device while the security tag is attached; and an unlocking mechanism configured to unlock the security tag based on user verification, wherein the security tag is configured to be removed from the component after being unlocked. Claim 16 In paragraph 15, a security tag in which the verification of the above user includes verifying the age of the above user. Claim 17 In paragraph 15, the security tag is a security tag that is unlocked based on receiving an indication of communication from an age verification system. Claim 18 In paragraph 17, the indication of the above communication is received by the security tag or the aerosol delivery device via Bluetooth communication, near-field communication (NFC) message, radio frequency identification (RFID) communication, barcode, audio signal, or optical signal. Claim 19 In paragraph 15, the security tag is configured to disable the aerosol delivery device when the security tag is removed without being unlocked. Claim 20 In paragraph 19, the above deactivation comprises at least one of the opening of an electrical connection, blockage of airflow, coating of the connection, or induction of a short circuit caused by a broken connection pin.

Images