US 2026/0216453 A1 · TANK APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC INHALER, AND TO A METHOD OF OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC INHALER

Abstract

A tank apparatus for an electronic inhaler is provided. The tank apparatus includes an electronic heater configured to heat a liquid to be vaporized, an authentication circuit configured to authenticate the tank apparatus, and a first tank terminal and a second tank terminal, wherein the first tank terminal and the second tank terminal are configured for electrically connecting a first inhaler terminal and a second inhaler terminal of the electronic inhaler, wherein the first tank terminal, the electronic heater and the second tank terminal form a first electrical circuit allowing a current flow in a first direction and limiting a current flow in an opposite second direction, and wherein the first tank terminal, the authentication circuit and the second tank terminal form a second electrical circuit allowing a current flow in the second direction and limiting a current flow in the first direction.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A tank apparatus for an electronic inhaler, the tank apparatus comprising:

an electronic heater configured to heat a liquid to be vaporized;
an authentication circuit configured to authenticate the tank apparatus;
and
a first tank terminal and a second tank terminal, wherein the first tank terminal and the second tank terminal are configured for electrically connecting a first inhaler terminal and a second inhaler terminal of the electronic inhaler;
wherein the first tank terminal, the electronic heater and the second tank terminal form a first electrical circuit allowing a current flow in a first direction and limiting a current flow in an opposite second direction;
and
wherein the first tank terminal, the authentication circuit and the second tank terminal form a second electrical circuit allowing a current flow in the second direction and limiting a current flow in the first direction.

4 more elements

An electronic inhaler, comprising:

a controller;
a first inhaler terminal and a second inhaler terminal;
a heater driver circuit that is switchable between:
a first heater configuration in which a higher of two heater voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal and a lower of the two heater voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal;
a second heater configuration in which the higher of the two heater voltages in provided at the second inhaler terminal and the lower of the two heater voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal;
and
a heater-off-configuration in which the higher of the two heater voltages is provided neither at the first inhaler terminal nor at the second inhaler terminal forming high impedance state at the two inhaler terminals;
and
an authenticator detection circuit coupled between the controller, the first inhaler terminal and the second inhaler terminal and switchable between:
a first authenticator configuration in which a higher of two authentication voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal and a lower of the two authentication voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal;
and
a second authenticator configuration in which a higher of two authentication voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal and a lower of the two authentication voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal;
wherein the controller is configured to:
operate the authenticator detection circuit in the first authenticator configuration while the heater driver circuit is set to the heater-off configuration;
and
when an authenticator is detected and an authentication is confirmed, switch the heater driver circuit to the second heater configuration;
else
operate the authenticator detection circuit in the second authenticator configuration while the heater driver circuit is set to the heater-off configuration;
and
when an authenticator is detected and an authentication is confirmed, switch the heater driver circuit to the first heater configuration.

17 more elements

A method of operating an electronic inhaler, wherein the electronic inhaler comprises a first inhaler terminal and a second inhaler terminal for contacting a tank apparatus, a heater driver circuit, and an authentication circuit, the method comprising:

operating the authenticator circuit in a first authenticator configuration, in which a higher of two authentication voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal and a lower of the two authentication voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal while the heater driver circuit is set to a heater-off configuration, in which the higher of two heater voltages is provided neither at the first inhaler terminal nor at the second inhaler terminal;
and
when an authenticator is detected and an authentication is confirmed, switching the heater driver circuit to a second heater configuration, in which the higher of the two heater voltages in provided at the second inhaler terminal and the lower of the two heater voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal;
else
operating the authenticator circuit in a second authenticator configuration, in which the higher of two authentication voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal and a lower of the two authentication voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal, while the heater driver circuit is set to the heater-off configuration;
and
when an authenticator is detected and an authentication is confirmed, switching the heater driver circuit to a first heater configuration in which a higher of two heater voltages is provided at the first inhaler terminal and a lower of the two heater voltages is provided at the second inhaler terminal.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tank apparatus, electronic inhaler, and to a method of operating an electronic inhaler

Life of this patent

Tank apparatus, electronic inhaler, and to a method of operating an electronic inhaler

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19