TW202439997A - Aerosol provision device - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising: a user input element configured to receive a grip input from a user; and a processor configured to determine grip information of the grip input, the processor configured to unlock the aerosol provision device from a locked state in response to the grip information indicating that the user is of an age greater than an age threshold.

Description

Aerosol supply device

Invention Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device and an aerosol supply system.

Invention Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars, etc. burn tobacco during use, producing tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to burning tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning them. Examples of such products are heating devices, which release compounds by heating rather than burning a material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect, an aerosol supply device for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material is provided, the aerosol supply device comprising: a user input element configured to receive a grip input from a user; and a processor configured to determine grip information of the grip input, the processor configured to unlock the aerosol supply device from a locked state in response to the grip information indicating that the user's age is greater than a one-year age threshold.

The gripping information may include a gripping strength parameter. The gripping strength parameter may include a gripping force.

The gripping information may include a gripping size parameter. The gripping size parameter may include a hand distance.

The gripping information may include a gripping temperature parameter.

The user input element may include a pressure sensor.

The user input element may include a capacitive sensor.

The user input element may include a first touch sensor and a second touch sensor. The first touch sensors and the second touch sensors may be separated by a finger distance threshold. A user whose finger separation distance exceeds the finger distance threshold (e.g., the distance between the pinky and the thumb or the pinky and the index finger) is likely to be older than one year of age threshold.

The user input element may include a temperature sensor.

The processor may be configured to execute an age algorithm to determine an age or an approximate age of the user based on the grip information.

The age algorithm may include using a lookup table to determine the age or approximate age of the user based on the grip information.

The age algorithm may include a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithm may be configured to learn in response to the grasp information.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol supply device in an unlocked state for a predetermined period of time in response to the unlock user input being received by the user input element. The processor may be configured to restore the aerosol supply device to the locked state after the predetermined period of time.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol supply device in an unlocked state for a predetermined number of uses in response to the unlock user input being received by the user input element. The processor may be configured to restore the aerosol supply device to the locked state after the predetermined number of uses.

The predetermined number of uses may be a predetermined number of puffs.

The predetermined number of uses may be a predetermined number of use periods. The predetermined number of use periods may be one use period. The processor may be configured to restore the aerosol supply device to the locked state in response to the end of the use period.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol supply device indefinitely in an unlocked state in response to the unlock user input being received by the user input element.

The processor may be configured to initiate a usage period of the aerosol supply device after unlocking the aerosol supply device from the locked state.

The processor may be configured to prevent an aerosol generator from being activated when the aerosol supply device is in the locked state.

According to a second aspect, an aerosol supply system is provided, which includes the aerosol supply device described above and an object, wherein the object includes the aerosol generating material. The system may include any of the features described in relation to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect, a method of operating an aerosol supply device is provided, the method comprising: receiving a grip input from a user; determining a grip characteristic of the grip input; and unlocking the aerosol supply device from a locked state in response to the grip characteristic indicating that the user's age is greater than a one-year age threshold. The method may include any of the features and/or functional steps described with respect to the first aspect.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the term "aerosol generating material" is a material that is capable of generating an aerosol, for example, when heated, irradiated, or stimulated in any other way. The aerosol generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, a liquid, or a gel, which may or may not contain active substances and/or flavorings. The aerosol generating material may include any plant-based material, such as a tobacco-containing material, and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol generating material may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. The aerosol generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax, etc. The aerosol generating material may also be, for example, a combination or blend of materials. The aerosol generating material may also be referred to as a "smokable material".

The aerosol generating material may include a binder and an aerosol forming agent. Optionally, an active agent and/or a filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water is also present, and one or more other components of the aerosol generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is substantially free of plant material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

The aerosol generating material may include or may be an "amorphous solid". The amorphous solid may be a "bulk solid". In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a xerogel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can retain some fluid, such as a liquid, inside. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may, for example, include about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

The aerosol generating material may comprise an aerosol generating film. The aerosol generating film may comprise or may be a sheet, which may optionally be shredded to form shredded sheets. The aerosol generating sheet or shredded sheet may be substantially free of tobacco.

According to the present disclosure, a "non-flammable" aerosol delivery system is an aerosol delivery system in which the component aerosol generating materials of the aerosol delivery system (or its components) do not burn or ignite in order to deliver at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.

In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also referred to as an electronic vaping device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not required.

In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of aerosol generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol generating materials may, for example, be in solid, liquid, or gel form, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and a solid aerosol generating material. The solid aerosol generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to consumables that include aerosol generating materials and are configured to be used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. Throughout the present disclosure, these consumables are sometimes referred to as objects.

In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a non-flammable aerosol supply device thereof, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source includes a carbon matrix that can be excited to distribute energy in the form of heat to an aerosol generating material or a heat transfer material close to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a nozzle, a filter, and/or an aerosol modifier.

In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include an aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer assembly, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a covering, a filter, a nozzle and/or an aerosol modifier.

The aerosol generating device may receive an object comprising an aerosol generating material for heating. In this context, an "object" is an assembly that includes or contains an aerosol generating material in use and optionally includes or contains other components in use, which assembly is heated to volatilize the aerosol generating material. A user may insert the object into the aerosol generating device, which is then heated to generate an aerosol, which the user then inhales. For example, the object may have a predetermined or specific size configured to be placed within a heated chamber of the device, which is sized to receive the object.

1 , an aerosol supply system 10 includes an aerosol supply device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The aerosol supply system 10 further includes a replaceable object 110, which includes an aerosol generating material. In general, the aerosol generating device 100 can be used to heat the object 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium that is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The aerosol generating device 100 includes a main body 102. A housing is configured to surround and contain various components of the main body 102. An object opening 104 is formed at one end of the main body 102, and an object 110 can be inserted through the object opening to be heated by an aerosol generator 116.

The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or a switch, which, when pressed, operates the device 100. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 150.

Aerosol generator 116 defines a longitudinal axis that is aligned with the axis of object 110 .

In use, the object 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 116 , where the object may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 116 .

The device 100 comprises an apparatus for heating an aerosol generating material. The apparatus comprises an aerosol generating assembly, a controller (control circuit) and an energy source. The apparatus forms part of a body 102. The aerosol generating assembly is configured to heat an aerosol generating material of an object 110 inserted through an object orifice 104 so that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating material. The energy source supplies electrical power to the aerosol generating assembly, and the aerosol generating assembly converts the supplied electrical energy into thermal energy for heating the aerosol generating material. The energy source may be, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries.

The energy source may be electrically coupled to the aerosol generating assembly to supply power when needed and under the control of the controller to heat the aerosol generating material. The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate the aerosol generating assembly based on user input. The user input may be via a button press or opening a door of the device (e.g., a door covering a consumable storage container). The control circuit may be configured to automatically activate and deactivate, for example, upon insertion of an object.

The aerosol generating assembly may include various components that heat the aerosol generating material via an induction heating process. Induction heating is the process of heating a conductive heating element (e.g., a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. The induction heating assembly may include an induction element, such as one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a varying current, such as an alternating current, through the induction element. The varying current in the induction element generates a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) appropriately positioned relative to the induction element and generates eddy currents within the susceptor. The susceptor has a resistance to the eddy current, and therefore the flow of the eddy current against this resistance causes the susceptor to heat by Joule heating. In the case of susceptors comprising ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat can also be generated by hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the changing orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material due to their alignment with the moving magnetic field. In induction heating, the heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating, compared to, for example, conduction heating. In addition, there does not need to be any physical contact between the sensing element and the susceptor, allowing for increased freedom of construction and application.

2, an aerosol supply device 100 includes a user input element 106, a processor 108, an energy storage device 110 (such as an energy source described above), and an aerosol generator 116. The user input element 106 allows the user to provide a grip input. Exemplary user input elements 106a-c are described below with respect to FIGS. 4a to 4c.

3 , a method 200 for operating the aerosol supply device 100 is shown. The method includes a user input step 202 , an unlocking step 204 , an aerosol generating step 206 , and a locking step 208 .

The aerosol supply device 100 starts in a locked state. In the locked state, the device processor 108 does not transfer energy from the device energy storage 114 to the aerosol generator 116. The aerosol generator 116 does not generate aerosol.

In the user input step 202, the user input element receives a grip input from the user. The processor determines grip information of the grip input. The grip information includes a grip strength parameter (e.g., force), a grip size parameter (e.g., hand distance), and/or a grip temperature parameter.

In some examples, the processor 108 may determine the age or approximate age of the user based on the grip information. The processor 108 may execute an age algorithm to determine the age or approximate age of the user based on the grip information. The age algorithm may include using a lookup table (e.g., based on grip information including several parameters) to determine the age or approximate age of the user. The age algorithm may include a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithm may learn the grip information. Therefore, the machine learning algorithm can be customized for a specific user. In response to the grip information not indicating that the age of the user is greater than the age threshold, the processor 108 maintains the aerosol supply device 100 in a locked state. In the case of determining an approximate age, the grasp information may indicate that the user's age is unlikely to be older than the age threshold or is significantly younger than the age threshold.

In response to the grip information indicating that the user's age is greater than the age threshold, the processor 108 is configured to unlock the aerosol delivery device 100 in an unlocking step 204. The aerosol delivery device 100 enters an unlocked state in which activation of the aerosol generator 116 is permitted.

In some examples, the processor 108 does not determine the user's age based on the grip information. Alternatively, the parameters of the grip information can be directly compared with the threshold value to determine whether the user's age is greater than the age threshold value.

In the aerosol generating step 206, the processor 108 controls the aerosol generator 116 to generate aerosol. The processor 108 controls the energy storage 110 to provide power to the aerosol generator 116 to generate aerosol.

In this example, the processor 108 is configured to initiate a use period (wherein the aerosol generating material is heated and the user can inhale multiple times) in response to the aerosol supply device 100 entering an unlocked state. In other examples, another user input (e.g., a button press) is required to cause aerosol generation.

In the locking step 208, the processor 108 returns the aerosol supply device 100 to the locked state. In this example, the processor 108 returns the aerosol supply device 100 to the locked state after a predetermined number of uses, which is when the use period ends (i.e., the predetermined number of uses is a single use period). In other examples, the device processor may return the aerosol supply device to the locked state after the predetermined period of time has expired. In other examples, the locking step 210 may not occur, and the aerosol supply device 100 may remain in the unlocked state.

4a, an aerosol supply device 100 having a first user input element 106a is shown. The first user input element 106a includes a pressure sensor 120.

The pressure sensor 120 is configured to receive a grip input, from which a grip strength parameter can be determined. The grip strength parameter is a grip force. The pressure sensor 120 is positioned on one side of the aerosol supply device 100.

The processor 108 determines the gripping force based on the signal from the pressure sensor 120. As described above, the processor 108 can determine the user's age or approximate age based on the gripping force, or can directly compare the gripping force with a threshold value to determine whether the user's age is greater than the age threshold value.

Referring to Figure 4b, an aerosol supply device 100 is shown having a second user input element 106b. The second user input element 106b includes a pressure sensor 120 as described above.

The second user input element 106b further includes a temperature sensor 122. The temperature sensor 122 is located on one side of the aerosol supply device 100. The temperature sensor 122 is located on a side of the aerosol supply device 100 opposite to the pressure sensor 120.

The temperature sensor 122 is configured to receive a grip input from which a grip strength parameter can be determined. The grip strength parameter is grip temperature.

The processor 108 determines the grip temperature based on the signal from the temperature sensor 122. The processor 108 executes an age algorithm to determine the user's age based on the grip force and the grip temperature. The age algorithm includes using a lookup table to determine the user's age based on the grip information.

4c, an aerosol supply device 100 having a third user input element 106c is shown. The third user input element 106c includes a first touch sensor 124a and a second touch sensor 124b. The third user input element 106c is configured to receive a gripping input, from which a gripping size parameter can be determined.

The first touch sensor 124a is on one side of the aerosol supply device 100. The second touch sensor 124b is on one end of the aerosol supply device 100. The first touch sensor 124a and the second touch sensor 124b are separated from each other by a finger distance threshold (in this example, the finger distance threshold is the distance between the pinky and the thumb when one touch sensor is on the side and the other touch sensor is on the end).

In the case where the user covers both the first touch sensor 124a and the second touch sensor 124b with a hand, the third user input element 106c provides a signal to the processor 108, wherein the hand completes the circuit between the first touch sensor 124a and the second touch sensor 124b. Due to the distance between the first touch sensor 124a and the second touch sensor 124b, the hand can only complete the circuit between the sensors when it has a sufficient size. This means that the signal sent to the processor 108 provides grip information about the grip size parameter, thereby indicating that the user's age is likely to be greater than the age threshold.

In the embodiments described above, the aerosol supply device includes a heating configuration that is an inductive heating configuration. In embodiments, other types of heating configurations are used, such as resistive heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above and therefore a detailed description will be omitted. In such configurations, the aerosol generation assembly includes a resistive heating generator, which includes an assembly for heating the heating element through a resistive heating process. In this case, the current is directly applied to the resistive heating assembly, and the resulting current flow in the heating assembly causes the heating assembly to be heated by Joule heating. The resistive heating assembly includes a resistive material that is configured to generate heat when a suitable current passes through it, and the heating assembly includes an electrical contact for supplying current to the resistive material.

In an embodiment, the heating element itself forms a resistive heating assembly. In an embodiment, the resistive heating assembly transfers heat to the heating element, for example, by conduction.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative samples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the scope of the claims, and other embodiments may be utilized and may be modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The various embodiments of the present invention may suitably include, consist of, or consist essentially of appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, components, etc. other than those specifically described herein. In addition, the present disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

10: Aerosol supply system 100: Aerosol supply device/aerosol forming device 102: Main body 104: Object opening 106: User input element 106a: First user input element 106b: Second user input element 106c: Third user input element 108: Device processor 110: Replaceable object/object/energy storage device 114: Device energy storage device 116: Aerosol generator 120: Pressure sensor 122: Temperature sensor 124a: First contact sensor 124b: Second contact sensor 150: User operable control element/switch 200: Method 202: User input step 204: Unlocking step 206: Aerosol generation step 208: Locking step

Embodiments will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a front view of an aerosol supply system; FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an aerosol supply device; FIG. 3 shows a method of operating an aerosol supply device; and FIGS. 4a to 4c show front views of an aerosol supply device.

10:Aerosol supply system

100: Aerosol supply device/aerosol forming device

102: Subject

104: Object opening

110:Replaceable objects/objects

150: User operable control elements/switches

Claims (18)

An aerosol supply device for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply device comprising: a user input element configured to receive a grip input from a user; and a processor configured to determine grip information of the grip input, the processor configured to unlock the aerosol supply device from a locked state in response to the grip information indicating that the user's age is greater than a one-year age threshold. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gripping information includes a gripping strength parameter. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gripping strength parameter is a force. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 1 to 4, wherein the gripping information includes a gripping size parameter. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the grip size parameter is one hand distance. An aerosol supply device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gripping information includes a gripping temperature parameter. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the user input element comprises a pressure sensor. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the user input element comprises a capacitive sensor. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the user input element comprises a temperature sensor. An aerosol delivery device as in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the processor is configured to execute an age algorithm to determine an age of the user from the grip information. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the age algorithm comprises using a lookup table to determine the age of the user from the grip information. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the aging algorithm comprises a machine learning algorithm. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the processor is configured to maintain the aerosol delivery device in an unlocked state for a predetermined period of time or a predetermined number of uses in response to an unlock user input being received by the user input element. An aerosol supply device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to restore the aerosol supply device to the locked state after the predetermined period of time or the predetermined number of uses. An aerosol delivery device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the processor is configured to maintain the aerosol delivery device in an unlocked state indefinitely in response to an unlock user input being received by the user input element. An aerosol supply device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the processor is further configured to start a usage period of the aerosol supply device after unlocking the aerosol supply device from the locked state. An aerosol supply system comprises an aerosol supply device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16 and an object comprising the aerosol generating material. A method of operating an aerosol supply device, the method comprising: receiving a grip input from a user; determining a grip characteristic of the grip input; and unlocking the aerosol supply device from a locked state in response to the grip characteristic indicating that an age of the user is greater than a one-year age threshold.