Radio frequency to direct current converter for an aerosol delivery device

• US 10,231,485 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Sur, Rajesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell, Thor S
• Application Number:
  US15/205,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20180007969A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/465 specially adapted for induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/90 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8206 battery-operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8237 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8293 Solar
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A radio frequency (RF) to direct current (DC) converter for an aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes a power source, and an antenna configured to receive radio-frequency (RF) energy from an external RF transmitter. The aerosol delivery device also includes a power harvesting circuitry configured to receive radio-frequency RF energy from an external RF transmitter, and harvest power from the RF energy to power or charge at least one electronic component of the aerosol delivery device.

Claims

1. An apparatus embodied as an aerosol delivery device or a cartridge for an aerosol delivery device, the apparatus comprising:

a housing defining a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition;

a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition; and

power harvesting circuitry including an accumulator and a resistor, the power harvesting circuitry being configured to receive radio-frequency (RF) energy from an external RF transmitter, and harvest power from the RF energy to charge the accumulator, the power harvesting circuitry being configured to power or charge at least one electronic component including the accumulator being configured to discharge current through the resistor, the resistor having a variable resistance and thereby the current having a variable amperage that effects a variable wattage, and in at least one instance the resistor being or including a potentiometer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry being configured to harvest power from the RF energy includes being configured to harvest power from the RF energy to power the at least one electronic component including a display or sensor, or the heating element.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry being configured to harvest power from the RF energy includes being configured to harvest power from the RF energy to charge the at least one electronic component including a power source configured to power a display or sensor, or the heating element.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes an antenna configured to receive the RF energy, and a converter configured to harvest the power from the RF energy so received.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry further includes an inverting or non-inverting operational amplifier, and the accumulator being configured to power or charge the at least one electronic component includes being configured to discharge current through the inverting or non-inverting operational amplifier configured to amplify and regulate the current.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes a converter configured to harvest the power from the RF energy, and a photovoltaic cell configured to harvest power from light energy, the at least one electronic component being powered or charged from either the converter or photovoltaic cell, or switchably from both the converter and photovoltaic cell.

7. A control body coupled or coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge containing an aerosol precursor composition and equipped with a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, the control body comprising:

a control component configured to control the heating element to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition; and

power harvesting circuitry including an accumulator and a resistor, the power harvesting circuitry being configured to receive radio-frequency (RF) energy from an external RF transmitter, and harvest power from the RF energy to charge the accumulator, the power harvesting circuitry being configured to power or charge at least one electronic component including the accumulator being configured to discharge current through the resistor, the resistor having a variable resistance and thereby the current having a variable amperage that effects a variable wattage, and in at least one instance the resistor being or including a potentiometer.

8. The control body of claim 7, wherein the power harvesting circuitry being configured to harvest power from the RF energy includes being configured to harvest power from the RF energy to power the at least one electronic component including a display or sensor, or the heating element.

9. The control body of claim 7, wherein the power harvesting circuitry being configured to harvest power from the RF energy includes being configured to harvest power from the RF energy to charge the at least one electronic component including a power source configured to power a display or sensor, or the heating element.

10. The control body of claim 7, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes an antenna configured to receive the RF energy, and a converter configured to harvest the power from the RF energy so received.

11. The control body of claim 7, wherein the power harvesting circuitry further includes an inverting or non-inverting operational amplifier, and the accumulator being configured to power or charge the at least one electronic component includes being configured to discharge current through the inverting or non-inverting operational amplifier configured to amplify and regulate the current.

12. The control body of claim 7, wherein the power harvesting circuitry includes a converter configured to harvest the power from the RF energy, and a photovoltaic cell configured to harvest power from light energy, the at least one electronic component being powered or charged from either the converter or photovoltaic cell, or switchably from both the converter and photovoltaic cell.