EP4510860A1

EP4510860A1 - Aerosol provision device

Info

Publication number: EP4510860A1
Application number: EP23720943.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nejat ERGUVEN; Joseph Peter Sutton
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2022-04-22
Filing date: 2023-04-21
Publication date: 2025-02-26
Also published as: WO2023203336A1; US20250288014A1; CA3250185A1; GB202205857D0

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol provision device (100), for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control circuitry (120) for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector (130) arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector (132).

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device, an aerosol provision system, a method of providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, and aerosol provision means.

Aerosol provision systems are known. Common systems use heaters which are activated by a user to create an aerosol by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol generating material which is then inhaled by the user. The device may be activated by a user at the push of a button or merely by the act of inhalation. Modern systems can use consumable elements containing the aerosol generating material. It can be desirable for the manufacturer to enable control over the activation of the systems. This may avoid the activation of the system in undesirable circumstances.

The present invention is directed toward solving some of the above problems.

Summary

Aspects of the invention are defined in the accompanying claims.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control circuitry for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector. Such an arrangement is able to identify a potential user of the aerosol provision device and allow authorised users to operate the device. In particular, the arrangement uses a biometric detector that utilises distinctive puff detection to identify a user. Such an arrangement is particularly effective in detecting inhalation or exhalation that are characteristic of a user. In particular, the device allows for high confidence recognition of users based on breath behaviour.

The aerosol provision device of the present invention is able to operate in “offline” or “online” mode when identifying potential users. In this way, a valid user may operate the device in offline environment provided the user satisfies the criteria for operation. The user experience of the device is thereby improved.

The arrangement is also able to provide a “plug-and-play” approach. In that, the user may activate the device on first usage and the information from the biometric detector can be used to alter the activation state of the device. In this way, a valid user may have a full range of operational capabilities provided while an invalid user may have only a reduced subset or indeed no operational capabilities provided.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosolgenerating system, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: an aerosol provision device, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising control circuitry for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method of providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the method comprising: detecting, by a biometric detector, a first property associated with a user of an aerosol provision device; providing, by the biometric detector, a signal associated with a user of an aerosol provision device to control circuitry of the aerosol provision device; updating, by the control circuitry, an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided aerosol provision means, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control means for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision means; biometric detecting means arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision means and provide a signal to the control means; and, wherein the control means is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision means in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detecting means associated with a user, wherein the biometric detecting means comprises biometric puff detecting means.

Description of Drawings

The present teachings will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures:

Figure l is a schematic view of an aerosol provision device according to an example;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of an aerosol provision device according to an example;

Figure 3 is a schematic view of an aerosol provision system according to an example; and, Figure 4 is a flow diagram according to an example.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description of the specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the invention covers all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Detailed

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed / described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems, which may also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system / device and electronic aerosol provision system / device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and "vapour", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an example of an aerosol provision device 100 according to the present invention. The aerosol provision device 100 has an aerosol provision device housing 110. The aerosol provision device 100 has control circuitry 120. The control circuitry 120 is arranged to control an activation state of the aerosol provision device 100. The aerosol provision device 100 comprises a biometric detector 130 arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device 100 and provide a signal to the control circuitry 120. The control circuitry 120 is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device 100 in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector 130 associated with a user. The biometric detector 130 comprises a biometric puff detector 132.

In an example, the first property may be one relating to recognition of an inhalation or exhalation of the user. The first property may be relating to lung capacity or the like that can be detected by the amplitude of an inhalation. The property can be recognised and a user identified accordingly.

The first property may be used to recognise an authorised user. Authorised user may be a user that has previously registered the device and allows the device to recognise that user (or users that have registered themselves with the device). An authorised user may be a user that is of a suitable age to use the device or system disclosed herein. Recognition of such a user may be achieved by any of the methods described below. The user may provide a series of inhalations and exhalations prior to use of the device 100 to provide a nominal set of background readings against which future uses can be compared. This will allow for high reliability in the use of the user verification system disclosed herein.

The device 100 may have one or more mouthpieces.

In the example wherein the device 100 has one mouthpiece, the user may inhale on the mouthpiece and, in response to recognition of the user as authorised, the control circuitry 120 may activate the device 100 to provide an aerosol to the user. In this instance, the default state of the device 100 is non-operating and recognition is required prior to operation.

In the example wherein the device 100 has two mouthpieces, the user has inhale and exhale into a first mouthpiece for recognition prior to use of the device 100. If the user is recognised as authorised, the device 100 may be activated and the user may receive an aerosol via a second mouthpiece. In this instance, the default state of the device 100 is non-operating and recognition is required prior to operation.

In other examples, the device 100 may be in an operating state as default and in response to recognition of an unauthorised user (e.g. due to unrecognised or uncharacteristic inhalations and exhalations) the device 100 may be updated to a non-operating state.

The device 100 can therefore be set up so as to provide no barrier to authorised users (default state as operating state), with a slight use risk of unauthorised users prior to recognition and prevention of further activation of the device. The device 100 can be set up to provide a barrier to authorised users (default state as non-operating state), but with total prevention for use by unauthorised users.

In an example, the control circuitry 120 is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device 100 to a non-operating state in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector 130 associated with a non-authorised user. In an example, the control circuitry 120 is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device 100 to an operating state in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector 130 associated with an authorised user.

The full range of operating states of the aerosol provision device 100 may be very wide ranging such that the aerosol provision device 100 can be used with a correspondingly wide range of consumables. In this way, the user need not be limited to only certain types of consumable for use with the aerosol provision device 100. The identification of the user may enable all operating states to be active or may allow a partial range of operating states to be available to the user. This may occur on a user-by-user basis according to access levels to the device 100 for the specific user.

The aerosol provision device 100 may comprise heating arrangements or the like for providing an aerosol from a consumable - the consumable may contain some aerosol generating material or the like. The control circuitry 120 may control the heating arrangement (or the like) according to the signal received from the biometric detector 130. The detector 130 enables the control circuitry 120 to ascertain whether the user is a valid user of the aerosol provision device 100. In an example, the biometric detector 130 may provide a signal to the control circuitry 120, the control circuitry 120 may recognise the signal as belonging to a valid user and enable any operational mode of the device 100. In another example, the biometric detector 130 may provide a signal to the control circuitry 120, the control circuitry 120 may recognise the signal as belonging to an invalid user and prevent any operational mode of the device 100. In this way, protection over the use of the aerosol provision device 100 is provided. This protection is not user intensive; the protection does not rely on the user taking several actions to provide the protection, rather the protection is provided for the user via the biometric detector 130, increasing the user experience of the device 100.

The present invention involves updating or changing an activation state of the aerosol provision device. In an “operating state”, elements of the aerosol provision device used to generate an aerosol (such as an atomiser, heater or the like) may be activated. The specific activation of the device may require an additional input which may be inhalation on the device (or a specific mouthpiece of the device), pressing a button on the device or the like. Alternatively, the device may automatically generate aerosol by a heater in response to receiving a signal associated with an authorised or valid user from the biometric detector. The control circuitry may receive such a signal from the biometric detector and send a signal to the heater arrangement or the like to provide an aerosol from an aerosol generating material that may contained within, or separate to, the aerosol provision device.

The term “operating state” refers to a state in which the device may be used to provide an aerosol. The device can provide a large number of “operating states”. Specific aerosol generating materials or aerosol generating material consumables may provide a suitable aerosol for a user under a suitable heating profile (fast, slow, high temperature, low temperature, etc.) or via a suitable heating mechanism (heater element, atomiser, vibrating plate, etc.). As such specific, operating states may dictate the performance of the system, such as selecting the heating mechanisms used and the heating profile used based on the identified user - one user may be able to store a preferred heating profile to be associated with their biometric data. In this way, in response to identification of user 1, corresponding heating mechanism 1 is offered to provide heating profile 1 on the aerosol generating material. In response to identification of user 2, corresponding heating mechanism 2 may be offered to provide heating profile 2 on the aerosol generating material. In this way, different users are provided a bespoke aerosol, in response to recognition of that user. This improves the ease of use, and the use experience, of a device for a user.

In an example, the biometric detector 130 is arranged to detect a property relating to at least one of: an exhalation associated with a user; an inhalation associated with a user; mechanical aspects of use of the aerosol provision device by a user; and, physical aspects of the user. This may relate to the puff detector 132 of the biometric detector 130 or additional aspects that may be part of the biometric detector 130.

For example, the biometric detector 130 may further comprise a pressure sensor arranged to detect where and how the user is handling the device 100, the location of the user’s fingers on the device 100, pressure from user’s lips against the mouthpiece, etc, and compare this to typical behaviour of the user. The biometric detector 130 may further comprise a chemical detector to detect chemical compositions of the user’s inhalate and exhalate, these may further indicate the identity of the user. Use of multiple sensors in the biometric detector 130 increases the robustness of any identification decision made by the control circuitry 120 in light of the information provided by the biometric detector 130. The biometric detector 130 may comprise a IR detector for recognition of a user’s face or mouth or a SONAR-like detector for examining the cavity of a user’s mouth.

In an example, the biometric detector 130 is arranged to detect at least one of: exhalate pressure; exhalate speed; exhalate volume; exhalate chemical composition; time period between exhalations; inhalate pressure; inhalate speed; inhalate volume; inhalate chemical composition; time period between inhalations; mechanical pressure applied to the device by user during use; and, size of the user’s hands; size of user’s mouth; structural arrangement within a user’s mouth. Any suitable sensors, alongside the puff detector 132, may be used to detect the above characteristic properties of a user to identify the user as authorised to use the device 100. Therefore, the biometric detector 130 may comprise a plurality of detectors each arranged to detect a property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device 100 and provide a signal to the control circuitry 120 for processing. The control circuitry 120 may process each signal and update the activation state of the aerosol provision device 100 accordingly: to active if the user is recognised, or to non-active if the user is not recognised. Such a multi-sensor arrangement provides resilience against an inaccurate reading from other sensors.

The control circuitry 120 is linked to the biometric detector 130 either wirelessly or wired (as shown in Figure 1). Prior to operation of the aerosol provision device 100, the biometric detector 130 may detect a property of the user and process a signal and/or provide the signal accordingly to the control circuitry 120. The biometric detector 130 may provide more than one signal to the control circuitry 120 to increase the reliability of detection of an authorised user.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is a shown a similar device 200 to the device 100 of Figure 1. Similar features, to those features used in Figure 1, are shown with the reference numerals increased by 100. For example, the device 100 of Figure 1 is similar to the device 200 of Figure 2. Similar or identical features may not be discussed for conciseness. The device 200 of Figure 2 has an aerosol provision device housing 210 comprising control circuitry 220. The device 200 also has a biometric detector 230. The biometric detector 230 is arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device 210 and provide a signal to the control circuitry 220. The biometric detector 230 has puff detector 232. The biometric detector 230 may be linked to the control circuitry 220 either wirelessly (as shown in Figure 2) or wired via a USB connection or the like. The device 200 also has a communication module 240 for communicating with at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement. The communication module 240 is arranged to send a signal to at least one of a remote database, a remote computing arrangement, an onboard database, and, an onboard computing arrangement in response to receipt of a signal from the biometric detector 230 associated with a user of the aerosol provision device 200.

In use therefore the biometric detector 230 detects a property associated with a user and provides this to the control circuitry 220. The control circuitry 220 may provide a corresponding signal to the communication module 240 (via wireless or wired means). The communication module 240 may communicate with an on board or remote database to compare the signal provided by the user to signals previously recorded for the user. This can provide a broader collection of results against which to compare the present signal. This increases the reliability of the arrangement in detecting the user. This also accounts better for gradual changes in e.g. the inhalation or exhalation of a user - rather than comparing against a set of inhalations and exhalations provided in a setup phase, which may have occurred a relatively long time prior to the present use request.

Alternatively or additionally, the signal may be sent to a remote or on board computing arrangement. The computing arrangement may utilise an artificial intelligence arrangement for assessing the user identity based on the signals received from the control circuitry 220 and those previously provided for authorised users of the device 200. This may also account for discrepancies over time in use from any initial setup phase recording of data of the user.

In the above example, the communication module 240 receives signals from the control circuitry 220 and may compare the signal or signals against a database. The database may be stored in a memory on board the device 200. This memory is on board memory and the database is therefore also on board the device 200. This may be advantageous as the device 200 need not have a communications element in the device 200 to communicate with a remotely held database, and the device 200 need not be connected to a communications network to access a remotely held database prior to each use session.

In a different example, the database of user properties is held remotely, and the device 200 has a communication module 240 to contact the database. The communication module 240 may contact the database with a request for analysis of the signals from the control circuitry 220 (received in turn from the biometric detector 230). The communication module 240 is then provided with an indication as to whether the potential user is recognised as authorised or not. Such a signal is then forwarded to the control circuitry 220. This arrangement may be advantageous as the device 200 need not include a memory element for carrying the database and the database can be remotely updated ensuring the device 200 need not have the on board database regularly updated. In this way recently obtained data on the user may provided to all relevant devices 300 as soon as the amendments are uploaded to the central database. In this way, users can be provided with the updates without each needing to update their own device 200.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is a shown a similar system 300 to the device 100 of Figure 1. Similar features, to those features used in Figure 1, are shown with the reference numerals increased by 200. For example, the device 100 of Figure 1 is similar to the system 300 of Figure 3. Similar or identical features may not be discussed for conciseness.

The system 300 of Figure 3 has an aerosol provision device 310 comprising control circuitry 320. The control circuitry 320 is connected (wirelessly or wired) to a biometric detector 330. The biometric detector 330 comprises a puff detector 332.

The system 300 has a biometric detector 330 separate from the aerosol provision device 310. This enables the manufacturing of the aerosol provision device 310 to be simpler and therefore cheaper. The biometric detector 330 may be carried by a user alongside the aerosol provision device 310 and, prior to use of the aerosol provision device 310, the user may utilise the biometric detector 330, satisfy user authorisation, and then use the aerosol provision device 310. The aerosol provision device 310 may be in a default operating state of non- operation, i.e. the device 310 cannot be used without first satisfying user authentication by the biometric detector 330. This prioritises safety and ensures that unauthorised users are unable to activate the device 310. The biometric detector 330 may be arranged to communicate with the control circuitry 320 over a short distance communication system such as Bluetooth or Infrared or RFID. This ensures that the user near the biometric detector 330 also is near the aerosol provision device 310 and hinders one user accidentally satisfying authorisation with the biometric detector 330 while the aerosol provision device 310 is in the possession of a second unauthorised user.

The biometric detector 330 may be a mobile device or smart device belonging to the user of the aerosol provision device 310, with capability of receiving and processing airflow from the user. This arrangement utilises the operability of a separate component thereby reducing the manufacturing requirements on the aerosol provision device 310. The smart device may be linked to the aerosol provision device 310 via an app or the like.

Figure 4 shows a method 400 of use of an aerosol provision device. In the method 400, the device may start in a default state 402, which may be a non-operating state such that non-valid users cannot use the device. Alternatively, the default operating state may be a restricted operating state where only partial operation of the device is possible.

When a user intends to use the aerosol provision device, the device or system detects a first property of the user 404. The first property is detected using a biometric detector (which may contain a puff detector alongside a number of individual sensors/detectors as explained above). The detector uses puff detection to analyse inhalations and exhalations of the user. The signal from the biometric detector is provided to control circuitry of the device 406. In step 408, there is an update of the activation state of the aerosol provision device.

This may take the form of updating the activation state to an operating state such as fully enabled for use, partially enabled for use or prevented from use. As discussed above, this change is based on the detected property from the user. These properties are used to ascertain a suitability of use for the user. For example, a first authorised user (the owner of the device) may have all functionality unlocked when identified by the biometric detector while a second authorised user (e.g. a friend of the owner borrowing the device) may have only a limited functionality unlocked. This can be checked against the database mentioned above, and functionality provided accordingly.

This method provides a user-friendly verification process that provides suitable protection against invalid users while not impeding use for valid users. The method offers a balance between overly strict and overly lenient access protection for the device - particularly with flexibility provided by the default activation state that can be selected by a user to be more strict, less user friendly or more lenient, more user friendly.

The technique may not impact the user at all when in the more lenient, more user friendly arrangement wherein the default state is active. The user may be recognised during use and the device not therefore impede the user’s use of the device at all. Such a method is extremely user friendly.

The method and device disclosed herein enable protection over the use of the device without requiring an arduous authorisation process. This improves the user experience of the device and the safety of general use of the device.

The devices and systems disclosed herein have a biometric detector that obtains data from a user. This data may be processed by a number of components able to compare the data against a database (for example) of authorised users. This data may be analysed on-board the device by e.g. control circuitry. The control circuitry then analyses the signal and evaluates whether to allow or prevent use of the aerosol provision system or aerosol provision device. In another example, the data from the biometric detector may be sent to a remote database or server for analysis. In such an example, the device or system may have a communications module for communicating with the remote database or server. The remote database or server may perform the analysis and provide a signal to the communications module. The signal ultimately sent to the control circuitry by the communication module may be one indicating the control circuitry should or should not allow use of the aerosol provision device or aerosol provision system. This allows for more complex analysis to be performed off the device, which may render the aerosol provision devices more cost efficient to produce. The term “in response to” is used herein to indicate a second event (such as a signal or change of state of an aerosol provision device) that occurs subsequent to a first event. The second event may occur at a later time, after a predetermined time, or immediately after the first event.

The device and system herein are described as comprising several components that enable several advantages. The components may be disclosed as on-board the device or within the system. The components may be distributed and therefore not necessarily be located onboard the device. The functionality of the device can be provided by communicatively connected components, and such communication may be wireless, enabling such distribution. At which point it is reasonable to foresee that a distributed array of components will operate in the manner of the devices and systems disclosed herein. Components of the device or system may be contained in a further device such as a smartphone, computer, or remote server or the like.

In a particular example, the device disclosed herein may operate with a flavour pod which is replaceable in the device - this may be referred to as a consumable. The flavour may be any of tobacco and glycol and may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof.

When combined with an aerosol generating medium, the aerosol provision device as disclosed herein may be referred to as an aerosol provision system. Thus there has been described an aerosol provision device, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control circuitry for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

The aerosol provision system may be used in a tobacco industry product, for example a noncombustible aerosol provision system.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product comprises one or more components of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a heater and an aerosolizable substrate.

In one embodiment, the aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette also known as a vaping device.

In one embodiment the electronic cigarette comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a liquid or gel, a housing and optionally a mouthpiece.

In one embodiment the aerosolizable substrate is contained in or on a substrate container. In one embodiment the substrate container is combined with or comprises the heater.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a heating product which releases one or more compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material. The substrate material is an aerosolizable material which may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the heating device product is a tobacco heating product.

In one embodiment, the heating product is an electronic device.

In one embodiment, the tobacco heating product comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material.

In one embodiment the heating product is a non-electronic article. In one embodiment the heating product comprises an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material, and a heat source which is capable of supplying heat energy to the aerosolizable substrate without any electronic means, such as by burning a combustion material, such as charcoal.

In one embodiment the heating product also comprises a filter capable of filtering the aerosol generated by heating the aerosolizable substrate.

In some embodiments the aerosolizable substrate material may comprise an aerosol or aerosol generating agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin or diethylene glycol.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior electronic aerosol provision system. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision device, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control circuitry for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

2. An aerosol provision device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device to a non-operating state in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector associated with a non-authorised user.

3. An aerosol provision device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device to an operating state in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector associated with an authorised user.

4. An aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biometric detector is arranged to detect a property relating to at least one of: an exhalation associated with a user; an inhalation associated with a user; mechanical aspects of use of the aerosol provision device by a user; and, physical aspects of the user.

5. An aerosol provision device according to claim 4, wherein the biometric detector is arranged to detect at least one of: exhalate pressure; exhalate speed; exhalate volume; exhalate chemical composition; time period between exhalations; inhalate pressure; inhalate speed; inhalate volume; inhalate chemical composition; time period between inhalations; mechanical pressure applied to the device by user during use; and, size of the user’ s hands; size of user’ s mouth; structural arrangement within a user’ s mouth.

6. An aerosol provision device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the biometric detector comprises a plurality of detectors each arranged to detect a property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry.

7. An aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a communication module for communicating with at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, the communication module arranged to send a signal to at least one of a remote database, a remote computing arrangement, an onboard database, and, an onboard computing arrangement in response to receipt of a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user of the aerosol provision device.

8. An aerosol provision device according to claim 7, wherein the communication module is arranged to send a message to the control circuitry in response to receipt of a signal from the at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, wherein the signal from the at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, is associated with a ranking of the user.

9. An aerosol-generating system, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: an aerosol provision device, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising control circuitry for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision device; a biometric detector arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry; and, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

10. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 9, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device to a non-operating state in response to receiving signals from the detector associated with a non-authorised user.

11. An aerosol -generating system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision device to an operating state in response to receiving signals from the detector associated with an authorised user.

12. An aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 11, wherein the biometric detector is arranged to detect a property relating to at least one of: an exhalation associated with a user; an inhalation associated with a user; mechanical aspects of use of the aerosol provision device by a user; and, physical aspects of the user.

13. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the biometric detector is arranged to detect at least one of: exhalate pressure; exhalate speed; exhalate volume; exhalate chemical composition; time period between exhalations; inhalate pressure; inhalate speed; inhalate volume; inhalate chemical composition; time period between inhalations; mechanical pressure applied to the device by user during use; and, size of the user’ s hands; size of user’ s mouth; structural arrangement within a user’ s mouth.

14. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the biometric detector comprises a plurality of detectors each arranged to detect a property associated with a user of the aerosol provision device and provide a signal to the control circuitry.

15. An aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 14, further comprising a communication module for communicating with at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, the communication module arranged to send a signal to at least one of a remote database, a remote computing arrangement, an onboard database, and, an onboard computing arrangement in response to receipt of a signal from the biometric detector associated with a user of the aerosol provision device.

16. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the communication module is arranged to send a message to the control circuitry in response to receipt of a signal from the at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, wherein the signal from the at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, is associated with a ranking of the user.

17. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the communication module is integral with the biometric detector.

18. An aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein at least one of the biometric detector and the communication module is not integral with the aerosol provision device.

19. A method of providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the method comprising: detecting, by a biometric detector, a first property associated with a user of an aerosol provision device; providing, by the biometric detector, a signal associated with a user of an aerosol provision device to control circuitry of the aerosol provision device; updating, by the control circuitry, an activation state of the aerosol provision device in response to receiving signals from the biometric detector associated with a user, wherein the biometric detector comprises a biometric puff detector.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein providing, by the biometric detector, a signal associated with a user of an aerosol provision device to control circuitry of the aerosol provision device comprises at least one of:

(i) providing, by the biometric detector, a signal associated with a user of an aerosol provision device direct to the control circuitry; and,

(ii) providing, by the biometric detector, a signal associated with a user of an aerosol provision device direct to a communication module, sending, by the communication module, the signal to at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, receiving, by a communication module, a signal from the at least one of: a remote database; a remote computing arrangement; an onboard database; and, an onboard computing arrangement, and sending a signal, by a communication module, to the control circuitry.

21. Aerosol provision means, for providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: control means for controlling an activation state of the aerosol provision means; biometric detecting means arranged to detect a first property associated with a user of the aerosol provision means and provide a signal to the control means; and, wherein the control means is arranged to update an activation state of the aerosol provision means in response to receiving a signal from the biometric detecting means associated with a user, wherein the biometric detecting means comprises biometric puff detecting means.