U.S. patent application number 17/160154 was filed with the patent office on 2021-06-17 for electronic smoking device and capsule system.
The applicant listed for this patent is FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V.. Invention is credited to Roland ZITZKE.
Application Number | 20210177054 17/160154 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005417426 |
Filed Date | 2021-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210177054 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZITZKE; Roland |
June 17, 2021 |
ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE AND CAPSULE SYSTEM
Abstract
In an electronic smoking system, a capsule (6) contains a liquid
(28) to be supplied to an atomizer (20) and is mounted on an
electronic smoking device (1). The capsule (6) may have a
controller (40), which receives data from and transmits data to
control electronics (14) of the electronic smoking device (1). The
control electronics (14) of the electronic smoking device (1) and
the controller (40) of the capsule (6) are adapted to execute a
challenge response authentication.
Inventors: |
ZITZKE; Roland;
(Bienenbuttel, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
FONTEM HOLDINGS 1 B.V. |
Amsterdam |
|
NL |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005417426 |
Appl. No.: |
17/160154 |
Filed: |
January 27, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15321947 |
Dec 23, 2016 |
10912335 |
|
|
PCT/EP2015/001206 |
Jun 12, 2015 |
|
|
|
17160154 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 1/0244 20130101;
H05B 2203/021 20130101; A24F 40/50 20200101; A24F 40/42 20200101;
H04L 9/0643 20130101; H04L 9/3236 20130101; A24F 40/10 20200101;
A24F 40/65 20200101 |
International
Class: |
A24F 40/42 20060101
A24F040/42; A24F 40/65 20060101 A24F040/65; A24F 40/50 20060101
A24F040/50; H04L 9/06 20060101 H04L009/06; H04L 9/32 20060101
H04L009/32; H05B 1/02 20060101 H05B001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2014 |
EP |
14002222.9 |
Claims
1. A system comprising: an electronic smoking device comprising: an
electric power source for powering an atomizer adapted to atomize a
liquid supplied from a capsule mounted to the device, control
electronics adapted to control the atomizer, and a puff detector
adapted to indicate an aerosol inhaling puff to the control
electronics; and a capsule containing liquid to be supplied to an
atomizer, the capsule adapted to be mounted to the electronic
smoking device, wherein the capsule comprises: a controller, which
is responsive when mounted to the electronic smoking device to
receive data from and to transmit data to the control electronics
of the electronic smoking device, the control electronics of the
electronic smoking device and the controller of the capsule being
adapted to execute a challenge response authentication when the
capsule is mounted to the device, based on the use of a secret
key.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control electronics of the
electronic smoking device and the controller of the capsule contain
the same secret key, and wherein upon authentication, one of the
control electronics of the electronic smoking device and the
controller of the capsule creates a random number, which is stored
and also transmitted to the other one of the control electronics of
the electronic smoking device and the controller of the
capsule.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein upon authentication, one of the
control electronics of the electronic smoking device and the
controller of the capsule is adapted to encrypt the random number,
applying the secret key, and to transmit the encrypted random
number to the other one of the control electronics of the
electronic smoking device and the controller of the capsule.
4. The system of claim 4 wherein upon authentication, one of the
control electronics of the electronic smoking device and the
controller of the capsule receiving the encrypted random number is
adapted to compare the received encrypted random number with a
computed encrypted random number, the computation applying the
known random number and the known encryption including the secret
key.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the electric power source
comprises a battery and the controller of the capsule is
electrically connected to and powered by the battery of the
electronic smoking device.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the control electronics and the
controller store the same secret key.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the encryption includes
application of a hash function.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is located in an
inner space of the capsule separate from a reservoir of the capsule
holding the liquid.
9. A capsule containing liquid for use with an electronic smoking
device, comprising; a controller adapted to receive data from and
to transmit data to control electronics of the electronic smoking
device; the controller adapted to respond to a challenge response
authentication from the control electronics when the capsule is
mounted to the device; the controller adapted to apply a predefined
secret key to a random number provided by the control electronics,
to add a hash key to the random number, and to transmit the
encrypted random number to the control electronics.
10. The capsule of claim 9 further including an atomizer and
electrical contacts for electrically connecting the atomizer to the
electronic smoking device.
11. A capsule containing liquid for atomization to be supplied to
an atomizer of an electronic smoking system comprising the capsule
and an electronic smoking device, the capsule adapted to be mounted
to the electronic smoking device; the capsule comprising a
controller which is responsive when mounted to the electronic
smoking device to receive data from and to transmit data to control
electronics of the electronic smoking device, the capsule
comprising an atomizer and electrical contacts electrically
connecting the atomizer to a battery in the electronic smoking
device; the controller and the control electronics adapted to
execute a challenge response authentication when the capsule is
mounted to the electronic smoking device, wherein the challenge
response authentication uses a master and a slave; either the
controller is configured to be operated as the master and the
control electronics is configured to be operated as the slave, or
vice versa, and wherein the challenge response authentication
comprises the steps of: a) the master creating a random number,
wherein the random number is stored by the master and transmitted
to the slave; b) the slave encrypting the random number using a
secret key and transmitting the encrypted random number to the
master; c) the master decrypting the encrypted random number
received from the slave in step b) using the secret key, and
comparing the decrypted random number with the random number
created and stored by the master in step a).
12. The capsule of claim 11 wherein the encryption includes
application of a hash function.
13. The capsule of claim 11 wherein the controller is located in an
inner space of the capsule separate from a reservoir of the capsule
holding the liquid.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/321,947 filed Dec. 23, 2016 and now
pending, which is a Section 371 U.S. National Phase Application of
International Patent Application No. PCT/EP2015/001206, filed Dec.
6, 2015, which claims priority of European Patent Application No.
14002222.9, filed on Jun. 27, 2014. These applications are
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An electronic smoking device, such as an electronic
cigarette, usually includes a housing accommodating an electric
power source (e.g., a battery or a rechargeable battery), an
electrically heatable atomizer including an electric heater adapted
to atomize a liquid supplied from a reservoir (capsule) in order to
provide an aerosol exiting from the atomizer. Control electronics
control activation of the heater of the atomizer. A puff detector
provided within the electronic smoking device is arranged to detect
a user puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or
an air flow pattern through the device) and signals the puff to the
control electronics. When a signal is detected the control
electronics activate the atomizer, which creates an aerosol,
referred to here as "atomizing". The aerosol created may include
vapor as well as gaseous and smoke constituents.
[0003] In many electronic smoking devices the liquid container,
such as a capsule or cartridge) containing liquid to be atomized is
disposable and the user simply replaces the container as a whole
when it is empty or when a different type of liquid is to be
atomized.
[0004] However, this allows users to use a replacement container
that may not meet the quality and technical specifications of
device manufacturer. Accordingly there is a need for an electronic
smoking device and a capsule system in which the authenticity of a
liquid container or capsule can be confirmed.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one aspect an electronic smoking device may include a
housing, control electronics, and a puff detector. The housing may
hold a battery for powering an atomizer (e.g., an electrically
heatable atomizer), which atomizes a liquid supplied from the
capsule to provide an aerosol. The control electronics controls the
atomizer (e.g., by controlling its heater). The puff detector
indicates an aerosol inhaling puff to the control electronics.
[0006] A container or capsule contains the liquid to be supplied to
the atomizer. The capsule may include a controller which receives
data from the control electronics of the electronic smoking device
and to transmit data to the control electronics. Moreover, the
capsule may have a wired or wireless communication device which is
adapted to transfer the data.
[0007] The control electronics of the electronic smoking device and
the controller of the capsule may be adapted to execute a challenge
response authentication. If the capsule is not able to
authenticate, it can be disregarded by the electronic smoking
device, for example by not operating a heater of the atomizer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In the drawings the same element number indicates the same
element in each of the views:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic longitudinal section view of an
electronic smoking device and a capsule.
[0010] FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic longitudinal section of the
capsule of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a schematic longitudinal section of another
embodiment of the capsule, in which an atomizer is integrated,
[0012] FIG. 4 is a top view of a support plate used for holding
part of the atomizer of the capsule according to FIG. 3, and
[0013] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating challenge response
authentication.
[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial longitudinal section of
another capsule embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, an electronic smoking device 1 may have
a cylinder-like housing 2 and a mouthpiece 4, which is designed as
a detachable cap. Removing the mouthpiece 4 provides access to a
replaceable capsule 6, which serves as a reservoir for a liquid and
also contains an electronic controller.
[0016] A battery 10 in the housing may be a re-chargeable lithium
ion battery and may include its own circuitry. The battery 10 is
connected, via leads 12 and 13, to control electronics 14, which
typically includes integrated circuits mounted on a printed circuit
board 15. The printed circuit board 15 may also support a plurality
of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 16, which are assembled behind
respective windows provided in the housing 2 and indicate the
current status of the electronic smoking device 1.
[0017] A puff detector 18 is connected to the control electronics
14. The puff detector 18 may be an inhalation sensor, which detects
the vacuum generated inside the housing 2 when a user inhales at
the mouthpiece 4.
[0018] An atomizer 20 has a heater 22 connected via leads 23 to the
control electronics 14. The heater 22 includes a heating wire
optionally mounted at a ceramics shell which also supports a wick
24 made of braided metal or sponge-like material, fibers, sintered
metal, or similar liquid conveying element. A piercing tip 25 at
the distant end of the wick 24 is able to penetrate a membrane 26
used for sealing the capsule 6 so that liquid 28 contained in the
capsule 6 can be guided out of the capsule 6 and through the wick
24 to the area of the heater 22.
[0019] At its free end, the mouthpiece 4 has an inhalation aperture
30. At the opposite end of the electronic smoking device 1, a
charging port 32 is provided which permits re-charging of the
battery 10, e.g. via a USB port.
[0020] To use the electronic smoking device 1, a consumer inserts a
fresh capsule 6 into the housing 2 so that the capsule membrane 26
is pierced and liquid is supplied from the capsule 6 via the wick
24 to the area of the heater 22. When the consumer inhales at the
inhalation aperture 30, the puff detector 18 senses the resulting
vacuum inside the housing 2 and sends a puff signal to the control
electronics 14. In response, the control electronics turns on the
heater 22 which atomizes nearby liquid and creates an aerosol,
which is inhaled by the consumer. The heater 22 may remain switched
on for a predetermined period of time.
[0021] The heater 22 may be provided in various other forms of
direct heating and indirect heating of the liquid, each having
advantages. In direct heating designs, the liquid directly contacts
the heating element, which may be a wire coil, rod or other heater
surface. In indirect heating designs, the liquid contacts a surface
heated by a separate heating element, which does not come into
direct contact with the liquid. Other types of atomizers or
vaporizers may alternatively be used. Various ultrasonic atomizers
are effective in creating vapor without heating. For example, an
ultrasonic atomizer using a free-running Colpitts oscillator
generates high-frequency energy in the range between 800 kHz and
2000 kHz driving a piezoelectric vibrator converting liquid into
vapor. Atomizers having electrostatic, electromagnetic or pneumatic
elements have also been proposed.
[0022] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates
a capsule 6 containing an electronic controller 40 including a
processor. The capsule 6 has a housing formed as a shell 42
optionally made of plastic material, and the controller 40 is
accommodated in a cavity of the shell 42 preferably separated from
the liquid 28 by an intermediate wall 44. The controller 40 is
electrically connected to the control electronics 14 of the
electronic smoking device 1 by means of three electrical contacts
50, 51 and 52 at an outer face of the shell, three related
counter-contacts arranged in the electronic smoking device 1
opposite to the contacts 50, 51, 52, and three leads 54, 55 and 56
connecting these counter-contacts to the control electronics 14. In
the example shown, the contact 50 and lead 54 designates a common
ground, the contact 51 and the lead 55 provide a line for
permanently powering the controller 40, and the contact 52 and the
lead 56 provide a signal line for data transfer.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows an alternative capsule 60 referred to as a
"cartomizer" (from "cartridge" and "atomizer") because an atomizer
is integrated into the cartridge or capsule.
[0024] In this embodiment, the cartomizer 60 has a cylindrical
casing 62 optionally made of plastic material and including an end
wall 64 having a center opening 65. The casing 62 contains an
internal cavity 66 filled in its peripheral (but nevertheless
major) area with a liquid holding material such as polyester fleece
that is soaked with the liquid to be atomized. Thus, this material
forms a reservoir 68 for the liquid. For guiding the liquid out of
the reservoir 68, a wick bracket 70 made of porous Si0.sub.2 is
used, which touches the reservoir 68 at its ends. A heating wire 72
is wound about the wick bracket 70. Referring also to FIG. 4, the
wick bracket 70 including the heating wire 72 is mounted on a
support plate 74 of e.g. a ceramics material, which has two
ventilation holes 76 and two small holes 77 through which the ends
of the heating wire 72 are guided.
[0025] The support plate 74 provides for sufficient heat shielding
so that an intermediate wall 78 does not overheat during operation
of the heating wire 72. The intermediate wall 78 separates the
atomizer area of the cartomizer 60 from an additional compartment
housing a controller 80 as well as a small battery for powering the
controller 80 and a wireless communication device. In a variant of
the embodiment, some electrical contacts are provided at the
lateral wall of the compartment, which permit the transfer of
electrical power from the battery of the electronic smoking device
to the controller 80 and the transfer of data between the
controller 80 and the control electronics of the electronic smoking
device. The controller 80 may be used for challenge response
authentication, like controller 40 of capsule 6.
[0026] The leads of the heating wire 72 are guided through the
compartment of the controller 80 and are soldered to a central
inner contact 82 and an annular outer contact 84, respectively,
arranged in a coaxial way, with insulation material 86 in
between.
[0027] The cartomizer 60 can be mounted at an electronic smoking
device adapted to this type of capsule so that the contacts 82 and
84 electrically connect with corresponding contacts of the
electronic smoking device, which are connected to control
electronics similar to the control electronics 14. When a puff
detector similar to puff detector 18 senses a puff, the control
electronics provides electrical current to the heating wire 72 via
a battery in the electronic smoking device. The heating wire 72
heats the wick bracket 70, and the liquid entering the porous wick
bracket 70 from the porous reservoir 68 by capillary forces is
atomized into the cavity 66. The aero-sol thus created leaves the
cavity 66 via the opening 65. Ventilation holes of the capsule 60
in the vicinity of the heating wire 72 may be provided to improve
the flow of the aerosol.
[0028] Similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
control electronics of the electronic smoking device of FIGS. 3-4
may be adapted to perform a challenge response authentication with
the controller 80 of the cartomizer 60.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows another embodiment with the heating wire 72 in
the form of a coil at a generally central position of the reservoir
68. The heating wire 72 is wound around a bundle of fibers 71 that
project into or otherwise contact the reservoir. In use liquid is
carried via the bundle of fibers to the heating wire 72 where the
liquid is heated to form a vapor.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram illustrating the course of a
challenge response authentication, as executed by capsule 6 when
mounted at the electronic smoking device 1 or by cartomizer 60 when
mounted at a corresponding electronic smoking device.
[0031] The left or master side of FIG. 5 displays the steps
executed by the control electronics of the electronic smoking
device, and the right or servant side displays the steps executed
by the controller of the capsule. In this embodiment, the capsule
is connected to the electronic smoking device by means of a
bidirectional electrical communication which allows the
transmission of sequences of digital "1" and "0" values.
[0032] Both the electronic smoking device and the capsule contain a
shared digital token (or key) which is kept secret and which is
never transmitted. This token may be a sequence of "1" and "0"
values.
[0033] Communication is then established by creating a random
number (RND Nr.) which is sent from the master side to the servant
side of the system. The random number is created by the control
electronics of the electronic smoking device, i.e. by the master
side.
[0034] The servant side applies its known secret key to the random
number using a standard cryptographic algorithm (e.g., AES or
similar) and uses a standard hash algorithm to add a hash key. This
information is then sent back to the master side.
[0035] The master side uses the same cryptographic algorithm and
the same hash algorithm as the servant side and is therefore able
to check the hash value and to decrypt the transmitted value again.
If the result is the random number originally sent, the master side
can be reasonably sure that the servant side or capsule is
authentic as it has the common secret key and that communication is
secure and can continue. Alternatively, the master side may compare
the transmitted value to the encrypted original random number.
[0036] The comparison of the received encrypted random number with
the computed encrypted random number (applying the known random
number and the known encryption including the secret key) can also
be expressed as a comparison of the received encrypted random
number after decryption (involving the known encryption including
the secret key) with the original random number. Both approaches
are to be covered by the invention as defined in the claims.
[0037] Thus, the control electronics of the electronic smoking
device and the controller of the capsule share a common secret key
which, however, cannot be read out of the electronic components. On
the other hand, all data transferred via electrical contacts (or
wireless) a third party could interfere with are encrypted.
[0038] In a variant, the original random number is produced in the
capsule so that the master and servant functions are reversed.
[0039] In a more complex embodiment, all parts of the communication
can be encrypted to prevent external equipment from being used to
interfere with or analyze the communication between the electronic
smoking device and the capsule.
[0040] In the above embodiment, a system has been described where a
capsule 6 is provided with three electrical contacts 50, 51 and 52
providing for connection to a common ground 50, 54, a line 51, 55
for permanently powering the controller 40, and a signal line 52,
56 for data transfer. In some embodiments only two electrical
contacts may be provided and a capacitor may be provided in the
capsule 6 to store charge and power the electronic controller 40 or
80 in intervals when it is not powered directly by the a battery
10. In such embodiments the capsule 6 may additionally include a
diode to prevent discharging of the capacitor when the capacitor
powers the electronic controller 40 or 80.
[0041] Generally, two electrical contacts are required to power the
controller in the capsule via the battery of the electronic smoking
device. On the other hand, to transmit digital information, a
signal line has to be put to voltage levels representing two
different states, e.g. ground voltage level for logical "0" and a
distinctly different positive (or negative) voltage level for
logical "1" or for separating ground voltage level signals of
different duration. To achieve the supply of power and the
transmission of data with a total of two electrical contacts only,
the capacitor in the capsule is used. The capacitor is charged by
the electronic smoking device so that it can power the controller
in the capsule during intermediate intervals, e.g. during intervals
when the signal line is at ground voltage level during data
transmission when it is not able to provide power to the
controller.
[0042] Where a capacitor for powering the electronic controller 40
is provided, communication between the electronic controller 40 and
the control electronics 14 of the electronic smoking device may be
initiated by the control electronics 14 of the electronic smoking
device providing a long pulse e.g. 100 ms, which charges the
capacitor in the capsule 6.
[0043] Afterwards, the main unit can send information in a binary
encoded form wherein "1" and "0" are represented by electrical
levels, e.g. a "0" is represented by no power while a "1" is
indicated by supplying power and wherein, e.g., all the pulses have
the same length. The end of communication can be marked with a
power-on pulse of a different duration. Alternatively, information
may be sent by representing "1" and "0" by different power-on
durations, with power-off phases in between for separating these
pulses. In such an embodiment the power-off phases should be kept
short, e.g. no longer than 2 ms, because during these phases the
capacitor is not charged and rather serves as the power supply for
the electronic controller 40 in the capsule 6.
[0044] Other embodiments using alternative data transfer schemes
may be used. It will, however, be appreciated that where a
controller 40 or 80 of a capsule 6 is powered via the dis-charge of
a capacitor, suitable data signaling schemes should be designed
accounting for the limitations of powering a controller 40 or 80 of
a capsule 6 by virtue of the discharge of a capacitor. Thus for
example it is preferable that suitable data transfer schemes use an
initial period of higher voltage when first communicating so that
the initial start signal might be utilized to charge the capacitor.
Further it is preferable that power off phases should be kept short
as during such phases the power needs for the controller 40 are
provided through the discharge of the capacitor.
[0045] The electrical contacts for providing a means of electrical
communication between the electronic controller 40 or 80 of the
capsule 6 and the control electronics 14 of the electronic smoking
device may be provided in a number of different ways.
[0046] For example, a non-conductive base material of the shell 42
of the capsule 6 may be coated with a first conductive layer (or
area) on the inside and a second conductive layer (or area) on the
outside of the shell, providing two electrical contacts which are
isolated from each other. When inserting such a capsule 6 into the
electronic smoking device, the first conductive area of the shell
may be contacted, e.g., by a metal part used for piercing the
membrane in order to open a hole for passing the liquid. The second
conductive area can be connected, e.g., via a support metal part
holding the capsule.
[0047] In some embodiments the complexity of the capsule 6 may be
reduced by utilizing a metal foil enclosing a capsule 6 as one of
the electrical contacts for incorporating the controller 40 within
an electrical circuit and connecting the controller 40 with the
battery 10 and/or the control electronics 14 of the electronic
smoking device 1.
[0048] As described, the challenge response authentication requires
only a few components and does not involve complex arithmetic or
complex algorithms on either part. The control electronics of the
electronic smoking device usually will al-ready include a processor
which is able to perform the authentication or otherwise will be
able to do so at a small amount of extra cost. The controller of
the capsule may also perform other tasks, e.g. for storing
information on the actual amount of liquid in the capsule, so that
it provides additional benefit and need not to be added exclusively
for authentication purposes.
[0049] Thus, novel systems, components and methods have been shown
and described. Various changes and substitutions may of course be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The invention, therefore, should not be limited except by the
following claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *