User interface for an aerosol delivery device

• US 10,729,185 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• 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:
  US16/233,402
• Publication Number:
  US 20190124995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 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 communication interface configured to enable wireless communication with an external device; and

a control component contained within the at least one housing and coupled to the communication 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 communicate with the external device that is configured to present a plurality of menu items selectable at the external device, each menu item of the plurality of menu items being associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and

wherein the control component is configured to control the respective functional element in response to navigation of the plurality of menu items, and selection of a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items, at the external device.

2. 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.

3. 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 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 airflow being combinable with a thereby formed vapor to form an aerosol, and

wherein the control component is configured to effect an alteration of a power level of the heating element in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is a Bluetooth communication interface, and

wherein in at least one instance, the respective functional element with which the currently-presented menu item is associated is the Bluetooth communication interface, and the control component is configured to effect a reset of the Bluetooth communication interface in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising a user input interface, wherein the control component and communication interface are configured, in response to an input to the user input interface to send a signal to the external device to cause one or more of navigation of the plurality of menu items and selection of the currently presented menu item of the plurality of menu items.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5, wherein the user input interface comprises a pushbutton, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select the currently presented menu item, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 6, 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 select the currently presented menu item includes being configured to send a signal via the communication interface to the external device such that external device is caused to display to present a progress bar to visually indicate progression of a press of the pushbutton up to the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the control component is configured to send the signal via the communication interface to the external device such that the progress par is automatically updated with progression of the press of the pushbutton, and the progress bar is reset in at least one instance in which the pushbutton is released before the duration of the second type of press.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5, further comprising a display on the at least one housing, the display being configured to present a corresponding plurality of menu items, each menu item of the plurality of menu items and corresponding plurality of menu items being associated with the respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and

wherein the control component is further configured to navigate the corresponding plurality of menu items, and select a corresponding menu item of the corresponding plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to simultaneous navigation of the plurality of menu items, and selection of the currently-presented menu item, at the external device.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9, wherein the control component is further configured to turn off the display after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without user input via the external device or the user input interface.

11. A method for controlling operation of an aerosol delivery device including at least one housing, a communication interface that enables wireless communication with an external device, and a control component contained within the at least one housing and coupled to the communication 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;

communicating with the external device that presents a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable at the external device, each menu item of the plurality of menu items being associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device; and

controlling the respective functional element in response to navigation of the plurality of menu items, and selection of a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items, at the external device.

12. 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.

13. 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 airflow being combinable with a thereby formed vapor to form an aerosol; and

effecting an alteration of a power level of the heating element in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

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

effecting a reset of the Bluetooth communication interface in response to selection of the currently-presented menu item.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein aerosol delivery device further comprises a user input interface, and the method further comprising at the control component:

in response to an input to the user input interface, sending a signal via the communication interface to the external device to cause one or more of navigation of the plurality of menu items and selection of the currently presented menu item of the plurality of menu items.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the user input interface comprises a pushbutton, and the method further comprising at the control component:

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

17. The method of claim 16, 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 selecting the currently presented menu item includes sending a signal via the communication interface to the external device such that external device is caused to display to present a progress bar to visually indicate progression of a press of the pushbutton up to the duration of the second type of press of the pushbutton.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein sending the signal via the communication interface to the external device includes sending the signal via the communication interface to the external device such that the progress par is automatically updated with progression of the press of the pushbutton, and the progress bar is reset in at least one instance in which the pushbutton is released before the duration of the second type of press.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the aerosol delivery device further comprises a display on the at least one housing, and the method further comprising at the control component:

controlling the display to present a corresponding plurality of menu items, each menu item of the plurality of menu items and corresponding plurality of menu items being associated with the respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device; and

navigating the corresponding plurality of menu items, and selecting a corresponding menu item of the corresponding plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to simultaneous navigation of the plurality of menu items, and selection of the currently-presented menu item, at the external device.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising at the control component:

turning off the display after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without user input via the external device or the user input interface.