Satellite navigation for an aerosol delivery device

• US 11,103,012 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Issued: 08/31/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2016
• 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, Hunt, Eric T., Sears, Stephen B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Galt, Cassi J
• Application Number:
  US15/354,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20180136338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/10 Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• CPC Class Codes: A24F 40/53 Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
• 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: B65D 83/72 with heating or cooling devices , e.g. heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/75 Aerosol containers not provided for in groups B65D83/16 - B65D83/74
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/52 Determining velocity
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes at least one housing enclosing a reservoir configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition and a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes an antenna configured to receive radio signals from satellites of a satellite navigation system, and convert the radio signals to corresponding electronic signals and a satellite navigation receiver module configured to receive the corresponding electronic signals and determine a position of the aerosol delivery device based thereon, and output a message that indicates the position so determined. And the aerosol delivery device includes a microprocessor configured to receive the message and control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based on the position indicated thereby.

Claims

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:

at least one housing configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition;

an antenna configured to receive radio signals from satellites of a satellite navigation system, and convert the radio signals to corresponding electronic signals;

a satellite navigation receiver module configured to receive the corresponding electronic signals and determine a position of the aerosol delivery device based thereon, and output a message that indicates the position so determined;

a communication interface configured to enable establishment of or connection to a wireless network that includes a computing device; and

a control component configured to control the aerosol delivery device to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition;

wherein the control component comprises a microprocessor configured to receive the message and cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position of the aerosol delivery device to the computing device, the microprocessor remotely controllable by the computing device to control operation of the aerosol delivery device based on the position as wirelessly communicated to the computing device.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the satellite navigation receiver module configured to determine the position of the aerosol delivery device includes the satellite navigation receiver module configured to determine the position, a velocity, and a time at the aerosol delivery device, and

wherein the message output by the satellite navigation receiver module and received by the microprocessor indicates the position, the velocity and the time, and the microprocessor is configured to cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position, the velocity and the time to the computing device.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery device further comprises an indicator, and the satellite navigation receiver module is further configured to output a position available signal that is distinct from the message, the position available signal output to the indicator to cause the indicator to provide a user-perceptible feedback that indicates availability of the position of the aerosol delivery device.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery device further comprises an indicator, and the control component is configured to control the indicator to provide a user-perceptible feedback that indicates the position of the aerosol delivery device.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the communication interface is configured to enable establishment of or connection to the WPAN that includes the computing device.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, further comprising power harvesting circuitry configured to receive and harvest power from the corresponding electronic signals to power or charge a power source configured to power at least the satellite navigation receiver module and microprocessor.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position of the aerosol delivery device to the computing device to enable the computing device to control operation of the computing device based on the position of the aerosol delivery device.

14. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is remotely controllable by the computing device to alter a power state of the aerosol delivery device.

17. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the satellite navigation receiver module and microprocessor are embodied by distinct integrated circuits coupled by at least one conductor onto which the message is output by the satellite navigation receiver module and from which the message is received by the microprocessor.

7. A control body coupled or coupleable with a cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device, the cartridge configured to retain an aerosol precursor composition, the control body comprising:

a housing; and

within the housing,

an antenna configured to receive radio signals from satellites of a satellite navigation system, and convert the radio signals to corresponding electronic signals;

a satellite navigation receiver module configured to receive the corresponding electronic signals and determine a position of the control body based thereon, and output a message that indicates the position so determined;

a communication interface configured to enable establishment of or connection to a wireless network that includes a computing device; and

a control component configured to control the aerosol delivery device to produce an aerosol from the aerosol precursor composition;

wherein the control component comprises a microprocessor configured to receive the message and cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position of the aerosol delivery device to the computing device, the microprocessor remotely controllable by the computing device to control operation of the aerosol delivery device based on the position as wirelessly communicated to the computing device.

8. The control body of claim 7, wherein the satellite navigation receiver module configured to determine the position of the control body includes the satellite navigation receiver module configured to determine the position, a velocity and a time at the control body, and

wherein the message output by the satellite navigation receiver module and received by the microprocessor indicates the position, the velocity and the time, and the microprocessor is configured to cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position, the velocity and the time to the computing device.

9. The control body of claim 7, wherein the control body further comprises an indicator, and the satellite navigation receiver module is further configured to output a position available signal that is distinct from the message, the position available signal output to the indicator to cause the indicator to provide a user-perceptible feedback that indicates availability of the position of the control body.

10. The control body of claim 7, wherein the control body further comprises an indicator, and the control component is further configured to control the indicator to provide a user-perceptible feedback that indicates the position of the control body.

11. The control body of claim 7, wherein the wireless network is a wireless personal area network (WPAN), and the communication interface is configured to enable establishment of or connection to the WPAN that includes the computing device.

12. The control body of claim 7, further comprising power harvesting circuitry configured to receive and harvest power from the corresponding electronic signals to power or charge a power source configured to power at least the satellite navigation receiver module and microprocessor.

15. The control body of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor is configured to cause the communication interface to wirelessly communicate the position of the control body to the computing device to enable the computing device to control operation of the computing device based on the position of the control body.

16. The control body of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor is remotely controllable by the computing device to alter a power state of the control body.

18. The control body of claim 7, wherein the satellite navigation receiver module and microprocessor are embodied by distinct integrated circuits coupled by at least one conductor onto which the message is output by the satellite navigation receiver module and from which the message is received by the microprocessor.