US 12,433,343 B2
MEMS-based sensor for an aerosol delivery device
Wilson Christopher Lamb, Hillsborough, NC (US); Frederic Philippe Ampolini, Sr., Winston-Salem, NC (US); and Raymond Charles Henry, Jr., Green Cove Springs, FL (US)
Assigned to RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed by RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc., Winston-Salem, NC (US)
Filed on Jul. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/768,936.
Application 17/336,784 is a division of application No. 14/539,215, filed on Nov. 12, 2014, granted, now 11,051,554, issued on Jul. 6, 2021.
Application 18/768,936 is a continuation of application No. 17/336,784, filed on Jun. 2, 2021, granted, now 12,059,039.
Prior Publication US 2024/0358084 A1, Oct. 31, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A24F 40/51 (2020.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01); G01L 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC A24F 40/51 (2020.01) [G01L 9/0072 (2013.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/485 (2020.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aerosol delivery device comprising:
a housing;
a MEMS-based sensor within the housing and configured to detect a pressure on the MEMS-based sensor caused by airflow through at least a portion of the housing, the MEMS-based sensor being configured to convert the pressure to an electrical signal, and output the electrical signal; and
a microprocessor configured to receive the electrical signal from the MEMS-based sensor, and control operation of at least one functional element of the aerosol delivery device based thereon,
wherein the microprocessor and the MEMS-based sensor are combined as an electronic circuit board with the MEMS-based sensor attached directly thereto, the electronic circuit board being positioned lengthwise parallel to a central axis of the housing,
wherein the MEMS-based sensor is a MEMS microphone including a die with a micromachined, pressure-sensitive diaphragm and a backplate that form a variable capacitor, or the MEMS-based sensor is a MEMS pressure sensor including a die with a micromachined, pressure-sensitive diaphragm and one or more piezoresistors disposed on the diaphragm, and
wherein in an instance in which an input voltage is applied to the variable capacitor or the one or more piezoresistors, the pressure causes movement of the diaphragm and thereby a change in respectively a capacitance or a resistance of the variable capacitor or the one or more piezoresistors, the change in the capacitance or the resistance causing a change in an output voltage across the variable capacitor or the one or more piezoresistors, the output voltage or a digital representation thereof being output by the MEMS microphone or the MEMS pressure sensor as the electrical signal.