User interface for an aerosol delivery device

• US 10,201,187 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2015
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Henry, Jr., Raymond Charles, Kimsey, Glen Joseph, Ampolini, Frederic Philippe, Rogers, James William
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasaki, Shogo
• Application Number:
  US14/930,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20170119053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/50 Control or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/60 Devices with integrated user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/65 Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/00 Inhalators drug delivery in endotracheal tubes A61M16/04

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

at least one housing;

a user interface including a pushbutton and a display on the at least one housing; and

a control component contained within the at least one housing and coupled to the user interface, the control component being configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in response to detection of airflow through at least a portion of the at least one housing,

wherein the control component is configured to control the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton, each menu item of the plurality of menu items being associated with a respective functional element of the at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and

wherein the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton is substantially longer than the duration of the first type of press of the pushbutton, and

wherein the control component being configured to control the display to present the menu includes being configured to control the display to present a progress bar associated with the currently-presented menu item and configured to visually indicate progression of a press of the pushbutton up to the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the progress bar is automatically updated with progression of the press of the pushbutton, and reset in at least one instance in which the pushbutton is released before the duration of the second type of press.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is a power source of the aerosol delivery device, and selection of the currently-presented menu item causes the aerosol delivery device to power off.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising:

a heating element controllable by the control component to activate and vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition in response to the detection of airflow, the air being combinable with a thereby formed vapor to form an aerosol,

wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is the heating element, and the control component is configured to effect an alteration of the power level of the heating element, and control the display to present a confirmation of the alteration, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is a Bluetooth communication interface, and the control component is configured to effect a reset of the Bluetooth communication interface, and control the display to present a confirmation of the reset, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is the display, and the presently-presented menu item is further associated with an audio component, and

wherein in the at least one instance, the control component is configured to effect a dimming of the display and a muting of the audio component, and control the display to present a confirmation of the dimming and muting, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 further comprising a power source, and a cartridge containing an aerosol precursor composition,

wherein the control component being configured to navigate the plurality of menu items includes being configured to control the display to present a current power level of the power source and a current level of the aerosol precursor composition within the cartridge.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the control component is further configured to turn off the display after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without a press of the pushbutton of either the first type or second type.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the control component is configured to detect an alert event associated with the aerosol delivery device, and control the display to present an alert corresponding thereto in response to a separate display trigger, including at least one of the detection of airflow through at least a portion of the at least one housing, first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, and the connection of a charging component to the aerosol delivery device.

11. A method for controlling operation of an aerosol delivery device including at least one housing containing a user interface including a pushbutton and a display on the at least one housing, and a control component contained within the at least one housing and coupled to the user interface, the method comprising at the control component:

controlling operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device in response to detection of airflow through at least a portion of the at least one housing;

controlling the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton, each menu item of the plurality of menu items being associated with a respective functional element of the at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device; and

navigating the plurality of menu items, and selecting a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton is substantially longer than the duration of the first type of press of the pushbutton, and

wherein controlling the display to present the menu includes controlling the display to present a progress bar associated with the currently-presented menu item and configured to visually indicate progression of a press of the pushbutton up to the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the progress bar is automatically updated with progression of the press of the pushbutton, and reset in at least one instance in which the pushbutton is released before the duration of the second type of press.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is a power source of the aerosol delivery device, and selection of the currently-presented menu item causes the aerosol delivery device to power off.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the aerosol delivery device further includes a heating element controllable by the control component, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is the heating element, and the method further comprising at the control component:

activating the heating element to vaporize components of an aerosol precursor composition in response to the detection of airflow, the air being combinable with a thereby formed vapor to form an aerosol;

effecting an alteration of the power level of the heating element; and

controlling the display to present a confirmation of the alteration, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is a Bluetooth communication interface, and the method further comprising at the control component:

effecting a reset of the Bluetooth communication interface, and controlling the display to present a confirmation of the reset, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is the display, and the presently-presented menu item is further associated with an audio component, and wherein in the at least one instance, the method further comprising at the control component:

effecting a dimming of the display and a muting of the audio component, and contrling the display to present a confirmation of the dimming and muting, in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the aerosol delivery device further includes a power source, and a cartridge containing an aerosol precursor composition, and wherein navigating the plurality of menu items includes being controlling the display to present a current power level of the power source and a current level of the aerosol precursor composition within the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 11 further comprising at the control component turing off the display after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without a press of the pushbutton of either the first type or second type.

20. The method of claim 11 further comprising at the control component:

detecting an alert event associated with the aerosol delivery device; and

controlling the display to present an alert corresponding thereto in response to a separate display trigger, including at least one of the detection of airflow through at least a portion of the at least one housing, first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, and the connection of a charging component to the aerosol delivery device.