Methods, apparatuses and systems for waking a device prior to device activation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12178258-B2
Application number	US-202117212292-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 25, 2021
Priority date	Mar 26, 2020
Publication date	Dec 31, 2024
Grant date	Dec 31, 2024

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device may include a rechargeable power source configured to provide power to generate an aerosol, device electronics configured to generate the aerosol responsive to application of the power from the power source, and a lock assembly configured to perform either one or both of preventing recharging the power source and preventing the application of the power from the power source to the device electronics in a locked state, and to enable recharging the power source and the application of power from the power source to the device electronics in an unlocked state. The lock assembly may be configured to detect a wake event while the lock assembly is in the locked state, wake the lock assembly in response to the wake event, perform an authentication process, and, in response to completing the authentication process, transition the lock assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:
a rechargeable power source configured to provide power to generate an aerosol;
device electronics configured to generate the aerosol responsive to application of the power from the power source; and
a lock assembly configured to perform either one or both of preventing recharging the power source and preventing the application of the power from the power source to the device electronics in a locked state, and to enable recharging the power source and the application of power from the power source to the device electronics in an unlocked state,
wherein the lock assembly is configured to:
detect a wake event while the lock assembly is in the locked state;
wake the lock assembly in response to the wake event;
perform an authentication process;
in response to completing the authentication process, transition the lock assembly between the locked state and the unlocked state; and
in response to detecting attachment of a charger while the lock assembly is in the locked state, enable charging of the rechargeable power source up to a one time charge limit and then subsequently prevent further charging while in the lock assembly is in the locked state.

2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the lock assembly comprises a wake up manager configured to wake the lock assembly from a low power or sleep mode while in the locked state in response to the wake event.

3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the wake up manager is configured to detect the wake event responsive to operation of an actuator.

4. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the actuator comprises a button or operable member actuated by a user according to an actuation sequence pattern.

5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4 , wherein the actuator is shielded and is actuated responsive to user-initiated contact with an implement.

6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 5 , wherein the implement is integrated into a charging device configured to interface with the power source for recharging of the power source.

7. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is activated responsive to detecting, via an accelerometer of the aerosol delivery device, a pattern of motion of the aerosol delivery device performed by the user.

8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to interface with, or be integrated in, packaging associated with sale of the aerosol delivery device, and
wherein removal of the packaging activates the actuator.

9. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is configured to interface with an interrupt generator to generate an interrupt, and
wherein a microcontroller of the aerosol delivery device is activated from a standby condition in response to the interrupt.

10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 3 , wherein the actuator is activated responsive to removal of a tab from a portion of the aerosol delivery device.

11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the lock assembly comprises an authentication manager configured to perform the authentication process responsive to the wake event, and
wherein the authentication process comprises scanning for an authentication code presented as bar code on a display of host device and transitioning the lock assembly to the unlocked state in response to verification of the authentication code.

12. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1 , further comprising either one or both of:
control switch circuitry operable to close to enable the application of power from the power source to the device electronics, and open to prevent application of power from the power source to the device electronics, and
charge switch circuitry operable to close to enable recharging of the power source, and open to prevent recharging of the power source.

13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the lock assembly is configured to close the control switch circuitry and the charge switch circuitry in response to transitioning to the unlocked state, and open the control switch circuitry and the charge switch circuitry in response to transitioning to the locked state.

14. A method of unlocking an aerosol delivery device from a low power or sleep mode, the method comprising:
detecting a wake event while a lock assembly of the aerosol delivery device is in a locked state in which a charging function or an aerosol generation function is not enabled;
waking the lock assembly of the aerosol delivery device from the low power or sleep mode in response to detecting a wake event;
performing an authentication process via the lock assembly;
in response to completing the authentication process, transitioning the lock assembly to an unlocked state in which the charging function and the aerosol generation function are enabled; and
in response to detecting attachment of a charger while the lock assembly is in the locked state, enable charging of a rechargeable power source of the aerosol delivery device up to a one time charge limit and then subsequently prevent further charging while in the lock assembly is in the locked state.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein waking the lock assembly comprises waking a microcontroller of the aerosol delivery device from a standby mode, and waking an authentication manager to perform the authentication process.

16. The method of claim 14 , detecting the wake event comprises detecting operation of an actuator.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein detecting operation of an actuator comprises detecting actuation of a button or operable member actuated by a user according to an actuation pattern or actuation code.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the actuator is shielded and is actuated responsive to user-initiated contact with an implement operated by a user or integrated into a charging device configured to interface with a battery of the aerosol delivery device.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein performing the authentication process comprises scanning for an authentication code and transitioning the lock assembly to the unlocked state in response to verification of the authentication code.

20. A system for activation of a locked component, the system comprising:
a host device comprising a display and configured to communication with a network; and
an aerosol delivery device;
wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises:
a rechargeable power source configured to provide power to the aerosol delivery device to generate an aerosol and to operate while a lock assembly of the aerosol delivery device is in a locked state;
device electronics configured to generate the aerosol responsive to application of the power from the power source; and
the lock assembly configured to perform either one or both of preventing recharging the power source and preventing the application of the power from the power source to the device electronics in a locked state, and to enable recharging the power source and the application of power from the power source to the device electronics in an unlocked state;
wherein the lock assembly is configured to perform waking, authentication, and unlocking of the aerosol delivery device, wherein an authentication process for the aerosol delivery device comprises scanning, by the aerosol delivery device, an authentication code presented as bar code on the display of host device and transitioning the lock assembly to the unlocked state in response to verification of the authentication

Assignees

• Rai Strategic Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Daugherty Sean
• Lukan Sean
• Ireland Vincent

Classifications

• A61M15/06

  Inhaling appliances shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• G06F21/30

  Authentication, i.e. establishing the identity or authorisation of security principals · CPC title

• A61M2205/8206

  battery-operated · CPC title

• A24F40/60 Primary

  Devices with integrated user interfaces · CPC title