# US 11,992,603 B2 · Controller for an aerosol generator

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- Number: US 11,992,603 B2
- Document ID: US11992603B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/048,782
- Filed: 2019-04-18
- Published: 2021-04-22
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-04-20
- Assignees: PARI Pharma GmbH
- Applicants: PARI Pharma GmbH
- Inventors: Thomas Gallem; Markus Reinhart
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992603B2

## CPC

- A61M 11/005: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- B05B 12/004: {comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm (B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00)}
- B05B 12/08: responsive to condition of liquid or other fluent material {to be} discharged, of ambient medium or of target {; responsive to condition of spray devices or of supply means, e.g. pipes, pumps or their drive means}
- B05B 17/0646: {Vibrating plates, i.e. plates being directly subjected to the vibrations, e.g. having a piezoelectric transducer attached thereto}
- B05B 17/0653: {Details}
- G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence)
- A61M 15/0085: {using ultrasonics (spraying or atomising liquids using ultrasonic vibrations in general B05B17/06)}
- A61M 2205/14: Detection of the presence or absence of a tube, a connector or a container in an apparatus
- A61M 2205/276: preventing unwanted use
- A61M 2205/3317: Electromagnetic, inductive or dielectric measuring means
- A61M 2205/3368: Temperature
- A61M 2205/581: by audible feedback
- A61M 2205/582: by tactile feedback
- A61M 2205/583: by visual feedback
- A61M 2205/6018: providing set-up signals for the apparatus configuration
- A61M 2205/6027: Electric-conductive bridges closing detection circuits, with or without identifying elements, e.g. resistances, zener-diodes
- A61M 2205/70: with testing or calibration facilities
- A61M 2205/8262: connectable to external power source, e.g. connecting to automobile battery through the cigarette lighter
- A61M 2209/01: Remote controllers for specific apparatus
- G05B 2219/25257: Microcontroller
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a controller for an aerosol generator having a vibration head for generating an aerosol, the controller comprising: a connection unit (110) for connecting an electric contacting element (300), the electric contacting element being connectable with the vibration head (210); a detection unit (120) for detecting an electric energy storage capacity parameter related to the connected electric contacting element (300); and a determination unit (130) for determining whether the vibration head (210) is connected with the electric contacting element (300) based on the determined electric energy storage capacity parameter.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Controller for an aerosol generator having a vibration head for generating an aerosol, the controller comprising:
a connection unit for connecting an electric contacting element, the electric contacting element being connectable with the vibration head;
a detection unit for detecting an electric energy storage capacity parameter related to the connected electric contacting element, the electric energy storage capacity parameter being related to at least one of an electric capacity and inductance storable in the vibration head and the electric contacting element; and
a determination unit for determining whether the vibration head is connected with the electric contacting element based on the determined electric energy storage capacity parameter.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine that the vibration head is connected with the electric contacting element when the detected electric energy storage capacity parameter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine a vibration head type.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The controller according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the vibration head type by comparing the detected electric energy storage capacity parameter with a plurality of electric energy storage capacity parameter ranges.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The controller according to claim 3, wherein the electric contacting element is provided with a plurality of electric contacting sub-elements and the vibration head type is identified by using a specific combination of the plurality of electric contacting sub-elements.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The controller according to claim 5, wherein
the detection unit is further configured to detect an electric energy storage capacity parameter related to the connected electric contacting element for a plurality of the specific combinations of the electric contacting sub-elements; and
the determination unit is further configured to determine the vibration head type based on the detection of the electric energy storage capacity parameters of the plurality of the specific combinations of the electric contacting sub-elements.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The controller according to claim 3, further comprising:
a storage unit for storing a plurality of vibration head type dependent configuration parameters;
a controlling unit for selecting, based on the determined vibration head type, one of the stored vibration head type dependent configuration parameters, and for controlling the vibration head of the aerosol generator to generate aerosol based on the selected vibration head type dependent configuration parameter.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the electric energy storage capacity parameter is detected based on a detected discharge profile responsive to a mono-polar or bi-polar electric pulse.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, further comprising:
a notification unit for notifying a user, via at least one of a visual, audio, or a haptic feedback, of a determination result of the determination unit.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine water ingress into the vibration head.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is further configured to determine a temperature of the vibration head based on the detected electric energy storage capacity parameter.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the electric contacting element comprises at least one of an electronic cable, a connector, a print circuit, a circuit path, a conductive polymer, an electric wire, a pin, and/or a plug.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is configured to detect the electric energy storage capacity parameter in a standby operation mode of the vibration head.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The controller according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit is configured to detect the electric energy storage capacity parameter in an activation operation mode of the vibration head.