Aerosol delivery device and operating method for the aerosol delivery device
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Publication Number
US-11547822-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
The invention relates to an aerosol delivery device (10) comprising an aerosol generator (3) for generating an aerosol in the aerosol delivery device (10), a sensor (5) configured to detect a use of the aerosol delivery device (10) for aerosol treatment, and a controller (7) configured to deactivate the aerosol generator (3) if no use of the aerosol delivery device (10) for aerosol treatment is detected by the sensor (5). Further, the invention relates to a method for operating an aerosol delivery device (10), comprising the steps of operating an aerosol generator (3) for generating an aerosol in the aerosol delivery device (10), detecting a use of the aerosol delivery device (10) for aerosol treatment by means of a sensor (5), and deactivating the aerosol generator (3) by means of a controller (7) if no use of the aerosol delivery device (10) for aerosol treatment is detected by the sensor (5).
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an aerosol delivery device comprising an aerosol generator, a sensor configured to detect a use of the aerosol delivery device for aerosol treatment, and a controller configured to deactivate the aerosol generator only if no use is detected. The sensor detects that the aerosol delivery device is not being used for aerosol treatment only if no respiration of a user, including no inhalation and no exhalation, is sensed through the aerosol delivery device. During detected use, the controller activates the aerosol generator for continuous aerosol generation, including during inhalation and exhalation, and responds to detecting no use by stopping aerosol generation.
The controller is configured to control the aerosol generator to generate the aerosol for a first period of time after no respiration is detected, and to deactivate the aerosol generator after the first period of time has lapsed. The control logic thus differentiates between periods of user respiration and interruptions of use for aerosol treatment.
The described system supports sensor configurations suitable for detecting use of the aerosol delivery device, including sensor types that monitor respiration or contact through the device, and controller behavior that can include post-deactivation operation in a pulsed mode. Example structural implementations discussed in the description include a vibrating membrane nebuliser with a mixing chamber/aerosol chamber, a flow passage, and a monitoring unit with flow, pressure, temperature, acoustic, and contact/force/pressure sensing.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims, directed respectively to an aerosol delivery device and to a method of operating the aerosol delivery device. Both claims share the same core structure of a sensor detecting use for aerosol treatment and a controller deactivating the aerosol generator only if no use is detected, with continuous generation during detected inhalation and exhalation, and a time-delayed deactivation after no respiration is detected.
Sensor detects respiration-based non-use
The sensor is configured to detect that the aerosol delivery device is not being used for aerosol treatment only if no respiration of a user, including no inhalation and no exhalation, is sensed by the sensor through the aerosol delivery device.
Controller deactivates aerosol generator only if no use detected
The controller is configured to deactivate the aerosol generator only if no use of the aerosol delivery device for aerosol treatment is detected by the sensor.
Continuous aerosol generation during inhalation and exhalation
The controller is configured to activate the aerosol generator for continuous aerosol generation during use, including during inhalation and exhalation, and to stop aerosol generation in response to detecting no use of the aerosol delivery device.
Time-lapsed deactivation after no respiration
The controller is configured to control the aerosol generator to generate the aerosol for a first period of time after no respiration of the user is detected by the sensor and to deactivate the aerosol generator after the first period of time has lapsed.
Method with sensor-based non-use deactivation
A method for operating an aerosol delivery device, operating an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol in the aerosol delivery device, detecting a use of the aerosol delivery device for aerosol treatment by a sensor, and deactivating the aerosol generator by a controller only if no use of the aerosol delivery device for aerosol treatment is detected by the sensor.
Continuous generation during use including inhalation and exhalation in method
The controller is configured to activate the aerosol generator for continuous aerosol generation during use, including during inhalation and exhalation, and to stop aerosol generation in response to detecting no use of the aerosol delivery device.
Predetermined period aerosol generation after no respiration in method
The aerosol generator is controlled to generate the aerosol for a predetermined period of time after no respiration of the user is detected by the sensor and is deactivated after the period of time has lapsed.
Across both independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on sensor-based detection of absence of respiration (no inhalation and no exhalation) through the aerosol delivery device and controller logic that deactivates the aerosol generator only in response to such non-use detection, while maintaining continuous aerosol generation during detected use and implementing a first predetermined time period after respiration ceases before deactivation.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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