US 10,206,431 B2 · Charger for an aerosol delivery device

Abstract

A charger for an aerosol delivery device is provided. The aerosol delivery device includes a control body equipped with a power source, and a cartridge equipped with a heating element and containing an aerosol precursor composition. The control body is coupled or coupleable with the cartridge to form the aerosol delivery device. The charger comprises a housing, a connector and a power supply from which the power source is rechargeable when the charger is engaged with the control body. The connector is coupled to the housing and configured to engage the charger with the control body. The power supply comprises a photovoltaic cell configured to convert light energy to electrical energy and generate a corresponding voltage output, and a buck converter configured to step down the corresponding voltage output to a lower voltage from which the power source is rechargeable.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A charger for an aerosol delivery device including a control body equipped with a power source, and a cartridge equipped with a heating element and containing an aerosol precursor composition, the charger comprising:

a housing;
a connector coupled to the housing and configured to engage the charger with the control body coupled or coupleable with the cartridge to form the aerosol delivery device;
a power supply from which the power source is rechargeable when the charger is engaged with the control body, the power supply comprising:
a photovoltaic cell configured to convert light energy to electrical energy and generate a corresponding voltage output;
and
a buck converter configured to step down the corresponding voltage output to a lower voltage from which the power source is rechargeable;
and
an input device including a capacitive sensor configured to detect a user input indicating a selected voltage, the power supply being configured to adjust the corresponding voltage output to the selected voltage in response to the user input so detected.

5 more elements

A method of charging an aerosol delivery device including a control body equipped with a power source, and a cartridge equipped with a heating element and containing an aerosol precursor composition, a charger including a housing, a connector coupled to the housing, and a power supply from which the power source is rechargeable when the charger is engaged with the control body, the method comprising at the charger:

engaging, using the connector, the charger with the control body coupled or coupleable with the cartridge to form the aerosol delivery device;
converting, using a photovoltaic cell of the power supply, light energy to electrical energy and generating a corresponding voltage output;
and
stepping down, using a buck converter of the power supply, the corresponding voltage output to a lower voltage from which the power source is rechargeable, and thereby providing power to recharge the power source, wherein the charger further includes an input device comprising a capacitive sensor, and the method further comprises;
detecting, using the capacitive sensor, a user input indicating a selected voltage, and adjusting using the power supply, the corresponding voltage output to the selected voltage in response to the user input so detected.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Charger for an aerosol delivery device

Life of this patent

Charger for an aerosol delivery device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16