Abstract: The present invention describes articles, such as smoking articles, that can provide an inhalable substance in a form suitable for inhalation by a consumer. The article comprises a cartridge with an inhalable substance medium therein, control housing that includes an electrical energy source and an electrical power source, and a heating member that may be located in either the cartridge or the control housing. The control housing further may include puff-actuated current actuation components and current regulation components.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for testing components of an aerosol delivery device. For example, a system for testing a control board for an aerosol delivery device may include a control board for an aerosol delivery device and a test apparatus. The test apparatus may provide a test initiation signal to the control board. The control board may execute an onboard diagnostic test to test operation of the control board in response to the test initiation signal. The control board may provide diagnostic information generated based on execution of the onboard diagnostic test to the test apparatus. The test apparatus may determine, based on the diagnostic information, whether the control board is faulty.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: Electronic smoking articles, and methods are provided. An exemplary article comprises a control body portion having a first control component therein. A cartridge body portion is removably engaged with the control body portion. The cartridge body portion includes a consumable arrangement having an aerosol precursor composition, a heating element, and a second control component. The consumable arrangement is configured to communicate with the first control component upon engagement between the cartridge body and control body portions. The first control component is configured to send a challenge to the second control component, and to receive a response to the challenge therefrom. The first control component is further configured to authorize the consumable arrangement for use with the control body portion, if the response corresponds to the challenge.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control body adapted for use in an electronic smoking article. The control body includes a shell and a coupler that is adapted to connect the control body to a cartridge of an electronic smoking article. The coupler further is adapted to communicate a pressure reduction within the coupler to a pressure reduction space in the shell. Also positioned within the shell is an electronic circuit board having a pressure sensor attached thereto. The electronic circuit board can be positioned to be parallel to a central axis of the shell. A first end of the pressure sensor can be isolated within the pressure reduction space, and a second end of the pressure sensor can be in communication with a normal pressure space within the shell. One or more light emitting diodes can be attached to the electronic circuit board. At least a portion of the coupler can be light transmissive so that light from the LED is visible through the coupler.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for assembling cartridges for aerosol delivery devices. The cartridges may be assembled by transporting carriages between various substations at which parts are added to a base. In another assembly method, the base may be moved between a plurality of robots which direct the base downwardly into contact with components to couple the components therewith. An inspection system may inspect the cartridges at various stages of completion.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery device accessory. The accessory may include a housing defining a cavity. An electrical power source and a connector may be engaged with a drawer assembly. The drawer assembly may be moveable with respect to the housing between extended and retracted configurations. In the extended configuration an aerosol delivery device may be engaged with the connector. In the retracted configuration the aerosol delivery device may be protected by the housing and recharged by the electrical power source. The drawer assembly may include a storage compartment configured to receive cartridges for the aerosol delivery device. Further, a slider may engage and move a cartridge between recessed and extended positions to store and provide access thereto. A related assembly method is also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes at least one housing equipped with a heating element and containing an aerosol precursor composition, the heating element being configured to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition. The aerosol delivery device also includes a flexible, emissive or electronic paper display on and contoured to the at least one housing, and controllable to present information of the aerosol delivery device, such as an amount of remaining aerosol precursor composition or charge of a power source of the heating element.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and related methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for testing components of an aerosol delivery device. For example, a system for testing a control board for an aerosol delivery device may include a control board for an aerosol delivery device and a test apparatus. The test apparatus may provide a test initiation signal to the control board. The control board may execute an onboard diagnostic test to test operation of the control board in response to the test initiation signal. The control board may provide diagnostic information generated based on execution of the onboard diagnostic test to the test apparatus. The test apparatus may determine, based on the diagnostic information, whether the control board is faulty.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices including a cartridge and a control body. The control body may include a coupler and the cartridge may include a base. The base may be configured to releasably engage the cartridge. Further the base and the coupler may include anti-rotation mechanisms configured to prevent rotation of the cartridge relative to the base when engaged with one another. The anti-rotation mechanisms may include alternating protrusions and recesses in some embodiments. Related methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising system blocks designed to implement respective functions of the aerosol delivery device. The system blocks may include at least a battery management block configured to manage a battery configured to power the aerosol delivery device, a flow sensor interface block configured to detect the flow of air through at least the portion of the housing, and an excitation block configured to cause activation of the heating element in response to an input from the flow sensor interface block that indicates the detection of the airflow through at least the portion of the housing.

Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a user interface including a pushbutton and a display. A control component contained coupled to the user interface controls operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device. The control component controls the display to present a menu including a plurality of menu items selectable using only the pushbutton. Each menu item of the plurality of menu items is associated with a respective functional element of the aerosol delivery device, and the control component is configured to navigate the plurality of menu items, and select a currently-presented menu item of the plurality of menu items for control of the respective functional element, in response to respective first and second types of presses of the pushbutton, the first and second types of presses being of different durations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices. The aerosol delivery devices may include a housing and a cartridge including an atomizer and a reservoir configured to contain an aerosol precursor composition. The cartridge may be configured to move relative to at least a portion of the housing between a retracted configuration and an extended configuration. Related assembly methods are also provided.