# US 10,765,146 B2 · Boost converter for an aerosol delivery device

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- Number: US 10,765,146 B2
- Document ID: US10765146B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/231,164
- Filed: 2016-08-08
- Published: 2018-02-08
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-08
- Assignees: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
- Applicants: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
- Inventors: Rajesh Sur; Stephen B. Sears
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765146B2

## CPC

- A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring
- A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means
- H02M 3/04: by static converters
- A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
- A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06)
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)

## Abstract

An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a housing defining a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, and a power source, heating element and boost converter contained within the housing. The power source is configured to generate a voltage output. The heating element is controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. And the boost converter is between the power source and an electrical load that includes the heating element, and configured to step up the voltage output of the power source to a higher voltage from which the heating element is powered to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An aerosol delivery device comprising a housing defining a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, and contained within the housing:
a power source configured to generate a voltage output;
a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition; and
a boost converter between the power source and an electrical load that includes the heating element, the boost converter being configured to step up the voltage output of the power source to a higher voltage from which the heating element is powered to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition,
wherein the boost converter is configured to operate in a switching mode in which the boost converter is automatically switched between a pulse-width modulation (PWM) operation in which the higher voltage is a PWM voltage, and a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) operation in which the higher voltage is a PFM voltage, based on a condition of the electrical load.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the power source is or includes a lithium-ion battery (LiB), and the boost converter is configured to step up the voltage output of the LiB to the higher voltage from which the heating element is powered.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the boost converter is configured to step up the voltage output of the power source to a higher voltage of five volts.

### Claim 4

A control body coupled or coupleable with a cartridge that is equipped with a heating element and contains an aerosol precursor composition, the control body being coupled or coupleable with the cartridge to form an aerosol delivery device in which the heating element is controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, the control body comprising:
a housing; and contained within the housing,
a power source configured to generate a voltage output; and
a boost converter between the power source and an electrical load that includes the heating element when the control body is coupled with the cartridge, the boost converter being configured to step up the voltage output of the power source to a higher voltage from which the heating element is powered to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition,
wherein the boost converter is configured to operate in a switching mode in which the boost converter is automatically switched between a pulse-width modulation (PWM) operation in which the higher voltage is a PWM voltage, and a pulse-frequency modulation (PFM) operation in which the higher voltage is a PFM voltage, based on a condition of the electrical load.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The control body of claim 4, wherein the power source is or includes a lithium-ion battery (LiB), and the boost converter is configured to step up the voltage output of the LiB to the higher voltage from which the heating element is powered.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The control body of claim 4, wherein the boost converter is configured to step up the voltage output of the power source to a higher voltage of five volts.