Radio-frequency identification (RFID) authentication system for aerosol delivery devices

• US 11,033,054 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2015
• Issued: 06/15/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Original Assignee: RAI STRATEGIC HOLDINGS, INC. (British American Tobacco PLC)
• Inventors: Lamb, Wilson Christopher, Henry, Jr., Raymond Charles, Rogers, Terrence E., Ampolini, Frederic Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoang, Tu B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rosario-Aponte, Alba T
• Application Number:
  US14/808,466
• Publication Number:
  US 20170020191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,153 Days
• Field of Search: 392386, 392387, 392390
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/40 Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 11/042 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/008 Electronic counters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0081 Locking means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/0083 Timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 15/06 Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0024 with an on-off output signal, e.g. from a switch
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2016/0039 in the inspiratory circuit
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/127 with provisions for heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/14 Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/27 preventing use
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3368 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3653 by Joule effect, i.e. electric resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6018 providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/6054 Magnetic identification systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/8212 with means or measures taken for minimising energy consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/77 for interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 : for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A control body and cartridge that are coupleable with one another to form an aerosol delivery device are provided. The control body comprises a control component and an RFID reader contained within at least one housing. The cartridge comprises at least one heating element and an RFID tag contained within at least one housing. The RFID reader of the control body is coupled to the control component of the control body and configured to communicate with the RFID tag of the cartridge upon coupling of the control body with the cartridge. The control component of the control body is configured to authorize the cartridge for use with the control body based at least in part on communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A control body coupleable with a cartridge that is equipped with a heating element and contains an aerosol precursor composition, and that is further equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, the control body being coupleable with the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device in which the heating element is configured to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, the control body comprising:

at least one housing including a coupler having a cavity, the cartridge adapted to engage the coupler when the control body is coupled with the cartridge; and

contained within the at least one housing,

a control component configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on a detected flow of air through at least a portion of the aerosol delivery device; and

an RFID reader coupled to the control component and configured to communicate with the RFID tag of the cartridge upon coupling of the control body with the cartridge, the control component being configured to authorize the cartridge for use with the control body based at least in part on communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag,

wherein the RFID reader includes an antenna positioned in the cavity of the coupler such that upon coupling of the control body with the cartridge, the antenna is located proximate a corresponding antenna of the RFID tag to enable the communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag, and

wherein the antenna of the RFID reader is configured to render the RFID reader substantially incapable of communication with any device external to the control body other than the RFID tag.

2. The control body of claim 1, wherein the antenna of the RFID reader is at most two millimeters in length to render the RFID reader substantially incapable of communication with any device external to the control body other than the RFID tag.

3. The control body of claim 1, wherein the communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag includes an authentication indicia communicated from the RFID tag to the RFID reader, and the control component being configured to authorize the cartridge includes being configured to automatically:

receive the authentication indicia from the RFID tag via the RFID reader upon coupling the control body with the cartridge; and

evaluate the authentication indicia to determine whether the cartridge is authorized for use with the control body, the cartridge in at least one instance being authorized for use with the control body.

4. The control body of claim 3, wherein the control component is configured to enable current flow and thereby activation of the heating element in the at least one instance in which the cartridge is authorized for use with the control body, and prohibit the current flow and thereby activation of the heating element in at least one other instance in which the cartridge is unauthorized for use with the control body.

5. The control body of claim 1, wherein the RFID reader includes an antenna and a radio-frequency amplifier configured to drive the antenna, the radio-frequency amplifier being configured to operate at a power level of at least one-hundred milliwatts to enable an emission of energy sufficient to at least partially power the RFID tag.

6. The control body of claim 1, wherein the cartridge has a base adapted to engage the coupler and includes a projection adapted to fit within the cavity when the control body is coupled with the cartridge, and the corresponding antenna is positioned on the projection of the base of the cartridge, the antenna and the corresponding antenna being coaxially aligned when the control body is coupled with the cartridge.

7. A control body coupleable with a cartridge that is equipped with an atomizer and contains an aerosol precursor composition, and that is further equipped with a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag, the control body being coupleable with the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device in which the atomizer is configured to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, the control body comprising:

at least one housing including a coupler having a cavity, the cartridge adapted to engage the coupler when the control body is coupled with the cartridge; and

contained within the at least one housing,

a control component configured to control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on a detected flow of air through at least a portion of the aerosol delivery device; and

an RFID reader coupled to the control component and configured to communicate with the RFID tag of the cartridge upon coupling of the control body with the cartridge, the control component being configured to authorize the cartridge for use with the control body based at least in part on communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag,

wherein the RFID reader includes an antenna positioned in the cavity of the coupler such that upon coupling of the control body with the cartridge, the antenna is located proximate a corresponding antenna of the RFID tag to enable the communication between the RFID reader and the RFID tag, and

wherein the antenna of the RFID reader is configured to render the RFID reader substantially incapable of communication with any device external to the control body other than the RFID tag.