US20230284682A1

US20230284682A1 - Aerosol provision system

Info

Publication number: US20230284682A1
Application number: US17/691,769
Authority: US
Inventors: Catalin Mihai BALAN; Will ENGLAND; Sean A. Daugherty
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2022-03-10
Filing date: 2022-03-10
Publication date: 2023-09-14
Also published as: WO2023170415A1; EP4489593A1; KR20240144383A; US20250064115A1; JP2025509238A; CN119343068A

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision system including an aerosol-generating material, at least one heater configured to aerosolise the aerosol-generating material, and a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use. A first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems such as nicotine delivery systems, articles for use in aerosol provision systems, and methods of operating aerosol provision systems.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol delivery systems generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such as a portion of a solid, liquid or gel, or a reservoir of a source liquid which may contain an active substance and / or a flavor, from which an aerosol or vapor is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol provision system / electrical smoking system will typically comprise a heating chamber or aerosol generation chamber containing a heater, e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporize or aerosolize a portion of aerosolizable material (e.g. a solid material such as tobacco) to generate a vapor or aerosol in the aerosol generation chamber. As a user inhales on the device, and electrical power is supplied to the heating element, air is drawn into the device through an inlet hole and along an inlet air channel connecting to the aerosol generation chamber where the air mixes with vaporized precursor material to form a condensation aerosol. An outlet air channel connects from the aerosol generation chamber to an outlet in the mouthpiece, and the air drawn into the aerosol generation chamber as a user inhales on the mouthpiece continues along the outlet flow path to the mouthpiece outlet, carrying the aerosol with it, for inhalation by the user. Some aerosol delivery systems may also include a flavor element in the air flow path through the device to impart additional flavors. Such devices may sometimes be referred to as hybrid devices, and the flavor element may, for example, include a portion of solid aerosol-generating and / or flavorant material such as tobacco arranged in the air flow path between the aerosol generation chamber and the mouthpiece such that aerosol / condensation aerosol drawn through the device passes through the portion of solid material before exiting the mouthpiece for user inhalation. In some aerosol delivery systems, the aerosol-generating material is contained in a cartridge or pod which also contains the heating element and aerosol generating chamber, and the cartridge is mechanically and electrically coupled to a control unit for use. The control unit comprises a battery and control circuitry which together supply power to the heating element via the cartridge.
In general, aerosol generating material can comprise various substances which are released upon heating of the aerosol generating material. In some cases the substances can be transferred into a vapor or aerosol early on in a heating cycle such that the substances are not present in a vapor or aerosol later on in a heating cycle. This can lead to a poor user experience.
Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above.

SUMMARY

The disclosure is defined in the appended claims.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision system comprising: the aerosol-generating material; at least one heater configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material; a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use; wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an article for use in an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the article comprising: the aerosol-generating material; a first substance of a plurality of substances encapsulated by a first shell configured to release the first substance at a first time; and a second substance of a plurality of substances encapsulated by a second shell configured to release the second substance at a second time.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling an amount of power supplied to a heater for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the method comprising: providing an aerosol-generating material, a first substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a second shell; supplying an amount of power to the heater in order to release the first substance from the first shell at a first time; and supplying an amount of power to the heater in order to release the second substance from the second shell at a second time, different to the first time.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform a method in accordance with the third aspect.
According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided aerosol provision means for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision means comprising: the aerosol-generating material means; heater means configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material; a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision means and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use; wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell means, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell means.
It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the first and other aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view through an example aerosol provision system 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 schematically represents a method of controlling an aspect of the electronic aerosol provision device in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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.
As will be explained below, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision system comprising: the aerosol-generating material; at least one heater configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material; a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use; wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell. Advantageously an aerosol provision system in accordance with the present invention allows for the selective release of certain substances at different times during a session of use to provide a user with an enhanced sensory experience, for example by releasing particular flavors, active substances or functional materials at different times during the session of use. This can be particularly advantageous if the plurality of substances include particularly volatile substances which may be substantially exhausted early on in a session of use if substance is not encapsulated.
The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems (which may also be referred to as vapor delivery systems or aerosol delivery systems). As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user, and includes non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.
According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.
In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision 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-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.
Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable (i.e. an article) for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.
In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source.
In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolized. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.
Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavorants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% of amorphous solid.
The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.
The active substance as used herein may be a legally permissible physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.
As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof.
The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.
The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, coloring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.
A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.
An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavor, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent
The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavorant, a colorant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.
A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. A heater is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.
A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.
In embodiments, a plurality of substances are arranged to be released at different times during a session of use. By a session of use, it is meant a period of usage of a single consumable or article (e.g. a usage session). For example a consumable or article may be configured with a quantity of aerosol-generating material which is configured to be heated and exhausted over a single heating cycle corresponding to the session of use. As an example, the session of use (e.g. heating period or cycle) may have an activation duration (e.g. the time in which one or more heaters are heated to desired temperatures) of at least 60 seconds, and preferably at least 210 seconds. Generally speaking, by the end of the session of use, the aerosol-generating material will have been substantially exhausted such that no more aerosol or a substantially reduced amount of aerosol will be generated from the aerosol generating material upon further heating.
The plurality of substances may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, and/ or one or more aerosol-modifying agents, as described above. For example the plurality of substances comprise at least a first substance and a second substance selected from one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, and/ or one or more aerosol-modifying agents. In some examples, the first substance and the second substance are the same, whilst in other examples the first substance and the second substance are different (e.g. they may be two different flavors, or a flavor and an active substance).
To enable the plurality of substances to be released at different times during a session of use, the plurality of substances can be encapsulated in shells. For example the first substance can be encapsulated in a first shell and the second substance can be encapsulated in a second shell. In some examples, more than one different substance may be encapsulated in the same shell (e.g. a flavor and an active substance). In some examples, the shell defines a capsule, in that a substance forming a volume (e.g. a liquid droplet, or a solid body) is encapsulated on all sides of the volume (e.g. spherically surrounded) by the shell to form the capsule. The shape of such a capsule is not limited and may be any shape known in the art (for example spherical, and irregular spherical). In some examples, the shell defines a blister in that a substance is partially enclosed by an encapsulating material and partially enclosed by a different material such as a wrapper or housing covering the remaining portion (the different material configured to not release the substance during the session of use), the shape of such a blister is not limited and may be any shape known in the art (e.g. dome shaped).
In order to release the substance at different times, each shell should retain its structure until it is heated to or above a respective temperature for the shell. In some examples, this temperature is typically between about 180 and 350° C., and preferably between 250 and 300° C. In this way, each shell is configured to release the encapsulated substance contained by the shell when the increase in temperature of the shell exceeds or reaches the respective temperature for the shell. In other words, the release of the substances contained by respective shells (e.g. a first substance contained by a first shell and a second substance contained by a second shell) can be triggered by heating each respective shell to or above a threshold temperature for that shell, at which point the material of said shell breaks down (e.g. melts, ruptures, or degrades). By selectively heating different shells and / or by providing different shell configurations (e.g. material, thickness, position) the release of different substances at different times can be achieved.
The mechanism by which a shell releases substance is not limited and may be any mechanism known in the art, including rupture, melting, thermal degradation, thermally activated release, shrinking, expansion or a combination thereof. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the shell encapsulates a substance by being in the form of a substrate, a matrix or the like, and the substrate, shell or matrix material is that which ruptures, degrades, melts etc. to release the substance for volatilisation.
In some examples, a shell is partially or completely formed from a material which melts or thermally degrades in response to the increase in temperature of the shell. The shell may, for example, be partially or completely formed from a material which melts or thermally degrades at the above-mentioned temperatures, e.g. at a temperature of preferably no less than 250° C. (e.g. a temperature between 250 to 300 or 250 to 280° C.).
The person skilled in the art will readily be able to identify materials that meet the above functional definitions in terms of melting and thermally degradation, because melting temperature or the temperature at which a material thermally degrades is readily determined using routine techniques including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Melting point/temperature is also a property which is regularly reported by a manufacturer of a commercially available material.
In the present disclosure, melting point is preferably determined as follows:

a quantity of the substance is heated slowly, while stirring, until it reaches a temperature of 90C° or higher to completely melt the substance;
the source of heat is moved, and the melted (molten) substance allowed to cool to a temperature of 8 to 10° C. above the expected melting point;
the bulb of an ASTM 14C (American Society for Testing and Materials) or equal thermometer is chilled to 5° C., wiped dry and whilst still cold, immersed into the molten substance so that approximately the lower half of the bulb is submerged;
the bulb is withdrawn immediately, and held vertically away from the heat until the wax surface dulls, then dipped for 5 min into a water bath having a temperature not higher than 16° C.;
the thermometer is fixed securely in a test tube so that the lower point is 15 mm above the bottom of the test tube, and the test tube suspended in a water bath adjusted to about 16° C.;
the temperature of the bath is raised at the rate of 2° C. per min to 30° C., then changed to a rate of 1° C. per min and the temperature at which the first drop of melted substance leaves the thermometer is noted.

This method is carried out twice on a freshly melted portion of the substance. If the variation of three determinations is less than 1° C., the mean average of the three is the melting point. If the variation of the three determinations is greater than 1° C., make two additional determinations and take the average of the five.
The encapsulation material of the shell that melts or thermally degrades to release the substances may generally be a solid at room temperature, but undergo a phase change/degradation at a threshold temperature which is reached during the session of use, so as to release the substance encapsulated within the shell.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the material that melts or thermally degrades in response to the increase in temperature may be selected from the group consisting of waxes, polyethers, polysaccharides, gums, fats, cellulose gums, and thermoplastic polymers, or a mixture thereof. In various embodiments, the material is selected from the group consisting of carbohydrates, carbohydrate derivatives, fats, waxes, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan. Examples of suitable materials include a microcrystalline wax, a polyethylene glycol, carboxymethyl cellulose, pullulan, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, shea butter, levan, chitosan or a mixture thereof.
The skilled person will appreciate that mixtures of materials may also be used in order to arrive at a material which will melt or thermally degrade in response to the increase in temperature. Materials such as hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, xanthan gum, tragacanth gum, guar gum, acacia gum, Arabic gum, natural waxes, carbowax, carboxyvinyl polymer, high amylose starch, hydroxypropylated high amylose starch, dextrin, pectin, and chitin may for example, be combined to form mixtures with the desired properties.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the material that melts or thermally degrades in response to the increase in temperature may be selected from the group consisting of a microcrystalline wax, a polyethylene glycol, gums or a mixture thereof, e.g. a mixture of a microcrystalline wax such as 180F or CMP601, both available from HCl Wax, and a gum.
Microcrystalline waxes are a type of wax produced by de-oiling petroleum and can be classified as “laminating” or “hardening” grades. For the purposes of the present disclosure, the microcrystalline wax may be of a hardening grade.
Polyethylene glycols are polyethers often referred to as “PEG”. They are commercially available over a wide range of molecular weights, and are typically named with a number that describes their average molecular weight. PEG 400 would, for example, be a polyethylene glycol having an average molecular weight of approximately 400 Daltons. Commercially available PEGs with suitable melting points are well-known to the person skilled in the art and would be readily identifiable for the reasons already presented above.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the shell is partially or completed formed from an encapsulating material which ruptures in response to the increase in temperature of the heater. Rupture may occur by any mechanism known in the art and generally refers to a change in the shell’s physical or chemical structure such that the substance contained in or by the shell is released. The shell material may, for example, chemically or physically degrade, break or crack due to expansion/shrinkage, shatter or otherwise rupture. The degree of rupture is also not limited; all that is required is for the shell to rupture by enough to release the substance.
In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the shell is partially or completely formed from an encapsulating material which ruptures at the above-mentioned temperatures, e.g.. at a temperature of no less than 250° C. (e.g. 250 to 300 or 250 to 280° C.). The person skilled in the art will readily be able to identify materials that meet such a functional definition. It while be appreciated that in some examples, a heater may be configured to heat an aerosol generating material to a first temperature, and to heat the capsule to a second temperature, less than the first temperature. For example, where the aerosol generating material is provided between the heater and capsule, or is otherwise provided closer to the heater, the aerosol generating material may be heated to a higher temperature in comparison to the capsule which is provided further away, or is at least partially shielded from (e.g. by the aerosol generating material), the heater.
The encapsulating material that ruptures in accordance with the present disclosure may be a material that ruptures by shattering such as a glass. By the term “glass” is meant a solid that has a non-crystalline (amorphous) structure at the atomic scale, and that exhibits a glass transition when heated towards the liquid state. Ceramic materials, silicon-based materials and many thermoplastic polymers are glass materials. Suitable glass materials may have a glass transition temperature of no less than 250° C. (e.g. 250 to 300 or 250 to 280° C.). The person skilled in the art will readily be able to identify materials that meet this definition; for example, using routine techniques such as DSC or from information on commercially available materials.
In various embodiments, the encapsulating material forming the shell may rupture due to shrinkage. Put another way, the shell may be partially or completely formed from an encapsulating material which shrinks and thereby ruptures in response to the increase in temperature. Materials that have such shrink behavior at high temperatures may be plastic materials, e.g. plastics that have a shrink temperature of no less than about 250° C. (e.g. 250 to 300 or 250 to 280° C.).
The plastics that meet the requirements of the present disclosure may be thermoplastics. In various embodiments of the present disclosure, the plastic is a thermoplastic that is known in the art for the purposes of shrink-wrap. Such thermoplastics may include polypropylene (e.g. bi-orientated polypropylene), cellophane, polyethylene (e.g. low density polyethylene), polyether ether ketone, or a mixture thereof.
In various embodiments, the material forming the shell may be an encapsulating material (e.g. a substrate or matrix material) that can absorb and then subsequently release the aerosol precursor material on application of heat. For example, the shell may be formed of a substrate or matrix material which is a plastic film with pores or micro-holes, a sponge-like film, a porous carbon material, a porous ceramic material, or a fibrous element. Possible materials include cellulose acetate, polyurethane, vinyl acetate, polycarbonate, carbon, ceramics, silicon compounds or mixtures thereof.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an example aerosol provision system / heat-not-burn device 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The aerosol provision system 1 comprises two main components, namely a reusable device part 2 and a replaceable consumable / cartridge / cartomizer part 4.
In normal use the reusable part 2 (i.e. aerosol provision device) and the consumable part 4 (i.e. consumable) are releasably coupled / attached together by partially or fully inserting the consumable part 4 into a chamber 50 of the reusable device part 2, comprising a heater chamber region / heating region 53. FIG. 1 schematically shows the reusable device part 2 with a consumable part 4 partially received into a chamber 50. Chamber 50 comprises a cylindrical tube extending into the reusable device part 2 from an outer housing surface of the reusable device part. In this example, the chamber extends into the device from an outer surface of the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2, defined as the uppermost part of the reusable device part as a user holds it in their hand for use, the chamber 50 extending parallel to the long axis of the reusable device part 2. An aperture 51 communicates between the chamber 50 and the exterior of the device.
In broad outline, the reusable device part 2 is configured to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by a user, typically by heating one or more aerosol-generating materials in the consumable part 4, either directly via one or more heating elements associated with the heating region 53 of the chamber 50, or by transmitting electrical energy or a magnetic field into the consumable part 4 to activate a heater such as a heating element in the consumable part 4. In use, a user inserts a consumable part 4 into the chamber 50 of the reusable device part via the aperture 51, and then activates the reusable device part 2, e.g. using a button 14, to cause the reusable device part 2 to supply power from a power supply / battery 26 to an aerosol generating element (i.e. the heater) to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material(s) comprised in the consumable part 4 for inhalation by a user. The user subsequently draws on a mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 which extends out of the aperture 51 at the mouthpiece end of reusable device part 2 to inhale an aerosol generated by the reusable device part 2. As a user draws on the mouthpiece 41 of consumable part 4, air is drawn into an air inlet 24 disposed on an outer surface of reusable part 2, down an air inlet channel 25, and into a heating region 53 of the chamber 50, wherein it enters at least one air inlet 42 of the consumable part 4, entraining vapor / aerosol generated via aerosolisation / heating of a portion of aerosol-generating material 43 comprised in the consumable part 4. For the same of a concrete example, FIG. 1 shows schematically a heating element 48 arranged around the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 as described further herein, which transmits heat into a portion of the consumable part 4 containing aerosol-generating material 43. The entrained vapor / aerosol travels through the consumable part 4 towards a mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2 (from which a mouthpiece 41 of consumable part 4 extends), wherein aerosol droplets condense out or further condense out of the vapor / aerosol, forming a condensation aerosol which exits the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 for inhalation by the user.
The reusable part 2 comprises an outer housing having with an opening that defines an air inlet 24, a power source 26 (for example a battery) for providing operating power for the aerosol provision system, control circuitry 22 (e.g. controller) for controlling and monitoring the operation of the aerosol provision system, an optional user input button 14, an optional display 16, and a visual display / visual feedback indicator 28. The outer housing of the reusable device part 2 may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metallic material, or any other material known to the skilled person. For the sake of providing a concrete example, the reusable device part 2 may in some embodiments have a length of around 80 mm, and the consumable part 4 extends from the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part by approximately 10 to 30 mm when fully inserted into the chamber 50, so the overall length of the aerosol provision system 1 when the consumable part and reusable device part are coupled together is around 90 to 110 mm. The consumable part 4 may have a diameter of approximately 8 mm. However, and as already noted, it will be appreciated that the overall shape and scale of an aerosol provision system implementing an embodiment of the disclosure is not significant to the principles described herein.
The power source 26 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in aerosol provision systems such as heat-not-burn devices, tobacco heating devices, electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods (for example, a lithium ion battery). The power source 26 may be recharged through a charging connector in the reusable part housing, comprising for example a micro-USB or USB-C connector, which may also provide an interface for data transfer between a controller 22 and an external processing device such as a smartphone or a personal computer.
A user input button 14 may optionally be provided, which in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for example comprising a spring mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact. In this regard, the input button 14 may be considered an input devices for detecting user input and the specific manner in which the button is implemented is not significant (e.g. it may comprise a capacitive touch sensor and / or a touch-sensitive display element). A plurality of such buttons may be provided, with one or more buttons being assigned to functions such as switching the aerosol provision system 1 on and off, and adjusting user settings such as a power to be supplied from the power source 26 to a heater 48, and / or selecting one or more device modes. However, the inclusion of user input buttons is optional, and in some embodiments such buttons may not be included, and different user input mechanisms may be provided (e.g., an accelerometer for sensing user motions/gestures, etc.).
An optional display unit 16 may in some instances be provided on an outer surface of the housing of reusable device part 2. The display unit 16, where included, may comprises a pixilated or non-pixilated display unit (for example, comprising a single LED, an array of LEDs, a liquid crystal display (LCD), light-emitting diode (LED) display, organic light emitting-diode (OLED) display, active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, electroluminescent display (ELD), plasma display panel (PDP), e-ink display), connected to controller 22. The skilled person may implement such a display in accordance with any approaches known in the art. Such a display may be used for displaying to a user usage information about the use of the aerosol provision system 1. Exemplary forms of usage information which may be displayed to a user via an optional display unit 16 are described further herein.
At least one visual feedback indicator 28 is provided, with a display region visible on an outer surface of the housing of the reusable device part 2, the visual feedback indicator 28 being configured to provide visual feedback to a user about one or more aspects of the operation or status of the device. Such visual feedback may comprise information about, for example, whether the system is on or off, a selected operating mode, how much charge or aerosol-generating material remains in the aerosol provision system, the temperature of a heating element, or a strength with which a user is inhaling on the device (e.g. derived from an airflow sensor as described further herein). Such information may be shown before, during and / or after a puff or session on the aerosol provision device. The visual feedback indicator used to display such information may comprise a display panel comprising a plurality of pixels, comprising for example an LCD, LED, OLED, AMOLED, ELD, PDP, e-ink display, or any other form of pixilated display panel known to the skilled person. Additionally or alternatively, the visual feedback indicator 28 may comprise one or more non-pixilated display elements, such as one or more LEDs. As set out further herein, the at least one visual feedback indicator 28 may further comprise one or more light guiding elements, such as one or more light pipe, fibre optic or otherwise transparent or translucent light-transmitting elements, configured to guide a visual feedback signal from one or more light-emitting visual feedback elements situated within the housing of the reusable device part 2 to one or more display regions visible on, in or through a housing surface of the reusable device part 2. In some implementations, the functionality of the visual feedback indicator may be implemented using the display unit 16.
A controller 22 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol provision system to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure as described further herein, as well as for providing conventional operating functions of the aerosol provision system in line with the established techniques for controlling such devices. The controller (processor circuitry) 22 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the operation of the aerosol provision system 1. In this example the controller 22 comprises power supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the power source 26 to the heater 48 in response to user input, user programming circuitry for establishing configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user input, as well as other functional units / circuitry associated functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and conventional operating aspects of aerosol provision systems, such as display driving circuitry and user input detection circuitry. It will be appreciated the functionality of the controller 22 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. The controller 22 may comprise a wireless transceiver and associated control circuitry enabling transfer of data between the reusable device part 2 and an external computing device such as a smartphone or personal computer (not shown), via a wireless transfer protocol such as Bluetooth, near-field communication (NFC) or Zigbee. The controller 22 also comprises one or more data storage elements (e.g. a memory element such as a ROM or RAM element) which can be used to store data associated with usage of the aerosol provision system, according to established techniques for data storage and transfer.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, reusable device part 2 may comprise an airflow sensor 30 such as a pressure sensor or flow-rate sensor (for example a hot-wire anemometer) which is electrically connected to the controller 22, and in fluid communication with a portion of the airflow path between air inlet 24 and mouthpiece 41. The airflow sensor 30 may, for example, be disposed in a wall of the air inlet channel 25 or the chamber 50, and / or extend at least partially into or across a portion of an air flow pathway defined by air inlet channel 25 or the chamber 50). In some embodiments, a combined airflow and temperature sensor is used which allows the temperature of airflow in a portion of the airflow path in the device to be determined. In some embodiments, the airflow sensor comprises a so-called “puff sensor”, in that a signal from the airflow sensor 30 is used by the controller 22 to detect when a user is puffing on the device. In some embodiments, detection of a user puff (for example, by the controller 22 detecting a signal from the airflow sensor 30 indicative of pressure and / or flow rate in the airflow path between air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41, and determining it is above or below a predefined threshold) is used by the controller 22 to control the supply of power to the heater 48. Accordingly, the controller 22 may distribute electrical power from the power source 26 to the heater 48 in dependence on at least a signal received from the airflow sensor 30 by the controller 22. The specific manner in which the signal output from the airflow sensor 30 (which may comprise a measure of capacitance, resistance or other characteristic of the airflow sensor, made by the controller 22) is used by the controller 22 to control the supply of power from the power source 26 to the heater 48.
In other embodiments, the supply of power to the heater 48 is controlled via other means (e.g. by button 14), with the delivery of power being modified based on the signal received by the controller 22 from the airflow sensor (e.g. modulated in proportion to an airflow parameter determined based on a signal received from the airflow sensor 30). However, it will be appreciated that the inclusion of an airflow sensor is optional, and in some embodiments no airflow sensor is included. In such embodiments, the supply of power to the heater 48 may be switched on and off by a button 14, or may be switched on by a button 14, with the supply of power to the heater 48 being switched off by the controller 22 after a predetermined or predefined period of time has elapsed. For example, when the controller 22 detects a predetermined or predefined input signal (for example, supplied via a button 14, or comprising detecting via a suitable sensor that a user has inserted a consumable part 4 into the chamber 50).
The rate at which aerosol-generating material in the consumable part is vaporized by the heater 48 will depend on the amount of power supplied to the heater 48 as well as the characteristics of the aerosol-generating material 43. Thus electrical power can be applied to the heater 48 to selectively generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating material in the consumable 4, and furthermore, the rate of aerosol generation can be changed by changing the amount of power supplied to the heater 48, for example through pulse width and/or frequency modulation techniques, under the control of controller 22.
The controller 22 may supply power in accordance with one of a number of predefined aerosol generation profiles. The controller 22 may specify (and implement) one or more aerosol generation profiles for use with a heater; such a profile determines the variation with time in the level of power that is supplied to the heater (or multiple heaters / heating elements). For example, for a heater which is a heater, the controller 22 may supply most power to the heater from the power source 26 at the start of a puff in order to rapidly warm the heater to its operating temperature, after which the controller 22 may supply a reduced level of power to the heater sufficient to maintain this operating temperature. An aerosol generation profile for a heater may be called a heating profile. A particular aerosol generation profile may be associated with a particular consumable 4, and may provide improved aerosol generation from the particular aerosol-generating material of the consumable based on the characteristics of the consumable. It will be appreciated that the terms “activation profile” or “operation profile” may be used instead of “aerosol generation profile”, in that the profiles determine how the aerosol generation is activated or operated during use.
The reusable part 2 typically comprises a heater 48 (e.g. heater) located in the vicinity of the heating region 53 of the consumable chamber 50. A heater is an element or apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 by heating. Accordingly, the heater 48 is configured to subject the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some examples, can be formed as a cylindrical tube, having a hollow interior heating chamber in which the aerosol-generating material 43 is provided; with the system being configured to heater the cylindrical tube either by induction or resistive heating. In some of these examples, the heater 48 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube which comprises, is embedded in, or surrounds the heating region 53 of chamber 50. In some examples the heater 48 comprises at least two heating elements (e.g. each of which may be a hollow cylindrical tube placed at a distinct position with respect to the chamber 50, such that each heating element primarily heats a different segment of the aerosol-generating material 43).
In some examples, the temperature of part of the heater 48, and / or a heating region 53 of the chamber 50, or the consumable part 4, or any part of the reusable device part 2, may be detected by the controller 22 using one or more temperature sensors. For example, heater 48 may comprise a material whose resistance varies with temperature (e.g. the material is selected with a suitable temperature coefficient of resistance). The controller 22 may determine the resistance of the heating element via known approaches and compare this result with a look-up table derived via experimentation or modelling linking heating element resistance to temperature, in order to estimate a temperature of the heater 48 based on the measured resistance. Alternatively or in addition, one or more temperature sensing elements such as thermistors may be positioned in the vicinity of the heating region 53 (for example, attached to or embedded in a tube comprising the heating region 53 of the chamber 50), said thermistors being connected to the controller 22 to enable the controller to monitor the temperature of the consumable part 4 and / or the heating region 53. The temperature of air in the air inlet channel 25 may also be monitored by one or more temperature sensors (for example a combined temperature and pressure sensor or thermistor) in a similar manner.
It will be appreciated that in a two-part device such as shown in FIG. 1 , portions of the heater 48 may be in either of the reusable device part 2 and / or the consumable part 4. It will further be appreciated that in some instances the consumable part 4 may comprise a cartridge containing an electrically operated heater as well as the aerosol generating material 43, and that the reusable device part 2 may comprise an electrical interface comprising electrical contacts disposed in chamber 50 which electrically connect the heater in the consumable part 4 with the power source 26 and controller 22 in the reusable device part 4 when the consumable part 4 is fully received within the chamber 50.
In some embodiments, the consumable part 4 is in the form of a cylindrical rod which has or contains aerosol-generating material 43 at an end distal to the mouthpiece 41, in a section of the consumable part 4 that is within the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 when the consumable part 4 is fully inserted in the reusable device part 2. For the sake of providing a concrete example, in one embodiment the consumable part 4 has a diameter of around 8 mm and a length of around 84 mm. The depth of the chamber 50 of the reusable device portion is sized relative to the length of the consumable part 4 such that a mouthpiece end 41 of the consumable part 4 typically extends from the aperture (for example, by 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm or more than 30 mm) when the consumable part 4 is fully inserted into the chamber 50.
Accordingly, a mouthpiece end of the consumable part 4 typically extends from the reusable device part 2, out of aperture 51. The consumable part 4 may include a filter / cooling element 44 for filtering / cooling aerosol, disposed between the mouthpiece 41 and a region of aerosol-generating material 43. The consumable part 4 is typically circumferentially wrapped in a wrapper / outer layer (not shown) which may comprise a paper material, and / or a metallic foil, and / or a polymer film such as Natureflex (TM). The outer layer of the consumable part 4 may be permeable to allow some heated volatilized components from the aerosol-generating material 43 to escape the consumable part 4 prior to reaching the mouthpiece 41. In some embodiments, the wrapper may comprise a metallic material in the vicinity of the aerosol-generating material 43, which is configured to act as a susceptor, which is heated by induction via one or more magnetic field generators / drive coils (not shown) in the reusable device part 2, so as to heat the aerosol-generating material 43 via inductive heating. For example, in such embodiments, the heater 48 may comprise one or more magnetic field generators / drive coils configured to induce inductive heating of a metallic wrapper of consumable 4, and / or one or more susceptor elements embedded within, or adjacent to, the aerosol-generating material 43 within the consumable part 4, to induce heating of aerosol-generating material 43 in the consumable part 4. It will be appreciated the configuration of the consumable part 4 set out above is illustrative, and the skilled person may modify the overall structure of the consumable part according to approaches known in the art.
Typically, the primary flow path for heated volatilized components produced by heating of the aerosol-generating material 43 by the heater 48 is axially through the consumable part 4, through the filter / cooling element 44 (where included), and into a user’s mouth through the open end of the mouthpiece 41. However, some of the volatilized components may escape from the consumable part 4 through its permeable outer wrapper and into a space surrounding the consumable part 4 in the non-heated chamber region 52 (e.g. a space formed by an optional gap (not shown) between the outer surface of the consumable 4 and the inner surface of the chamber 50 in the flared portion of the non-heating / expansion chamber region 53).
Once all, or substantially all, of the volatilisable component(s) of the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 have / have been exhausted, the user may remove the consumable part 4 from the reusable device part 1 and dispose of the consumable part 4. The user may subsequently re-use the reusable device part 2 with another consumable part 4. However, in other respective embodiments, the consumable part 4 and the reusable device part 2 may be disposed of together once the volatilisable component(s) of the aerosol-generating material has/have been spent. The consumable part 4 may be configured with a quantity of aerosol-generating material 43 which is configured to be heated and exhausted over a single heating cycle (e.g. a session of use). As an example, a single heating cycle may have activation duration (e.g. the time in which one or more heaters are heated to desired temperatures) of at least 60 seconds, and preferably at least 210 seconds.
In addition to the aerosol generating material, in some embodiments in accordance with the present invention the consumable part 4 (e.g. an article for use in the aerosol provision system 1 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material 43 during a session of use) further includes a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use. For example the consumable part 4 may include a first substance 60 and a second substance 70. The first substance 60 is encapsulated in or by a first shell 61 (e.g. contained by or within the first shell) and the second substance 70 is encapsulated in or by a second shell 71 (e.g. contained by or within the second shell). The first and second shell 61,71 are configured to release the first and second substances 60,70, respectively, at different times during the session of use (e.g. during the heating cycle or activation duration). As described above, in some examples, the first substance and the second substance are the same, whilst in other examples the first substance and the second substance are different (e.g. they may be two different flavors, or a flavor and an active substance).
As also described above, each shell 61,71 is configured to release the encapsulated substance 60,70 contained by the respective shell 61,71 when the increase in temperature of the shell 61,71 exceeds or reaches the respective temperature for the shell 61,71. For example, the first shell 61 is partially or completely formed from a first material configured to rupture, degrade or melt in response to an increase in temperature of the first shell 61 to at least a first temperature, and /or the second shell 71 is partially or completely formed from a second material configured to rupture, degrade or melt in response to an increase in temperature of the second shell 71 to at least a second temperature.
In some embodiments, the first temperature at which the first shell 61 is configured to release the encapsulated first substance 60 at a lower temperature than the second temperature at which the second shell 71 is configured to release the encapsulated second substance 70. For example, the first temperature is a temperature at least 10° C. lower than the second temperature, and preferably a temperature at least 20° C. lower than the second temperature. As an example, the first temperature may be between 230° C. and 260° C., and the second temperature may be a temperature that is at least 10° C. higher in the range 240° C. to 300° C. (it will be appreciated that if the first temperature is 260° C., then the second temperature will not be less than 270° C.). By configuring the first and second shells 61, 71 to release at different temperatures, the system can be configured to release the first substance 60 before the second substance 70, particularly where the first shell 61 and second shell 71 are heated substantially equally by the heater 48. For example, if the shells 61,71 are substantially the same and heated equally then both shells 61,71 will reach the first temperature at the same time, and the first substance 60 will be released. Further heat can then be applied to raise the second shell 71 to the second temperature to release the second substance 70.
In some examples, the first material of the first shell 61 is different to the second material of the second shell 71. For example the first material may be selected as a material having a first rupturing/degrading/melting temperature and the second material may be selected as a material having a second rupturing/degrading/melting temperature. Alternatively, the first material may be selected as a material having a low specific heat capacity such that the temperature of the first material responds quickly to the application of heat to the surrounding environment by the heater 48 (e.g. a smaller amount of energy is required to raise the temperature of the shell 61), and the second material may be selected as a material having a high specific heat capacity such that the temperature of the second material responds slowly to the application of heat to the surrounding environment by the heater 48 (e.g. a larger amount of energy is required to raise the temperature of the shell 71). Therefore, in examples where the first temperature and the second temperature are substantially equal the first shell 61 will reach the first temperature before the second shell 71 reaches the second temperature, because the temperature of the first shell 61 is more responsive to the application of heat energy.
In some examples, the first shell 61 may be thinner than the second shell 71. In other words, the width of the material of the first shell 61 encapsulating the first substance 60 is less than the width of the material of the second shell 71 encapsulating the second substance 70. By having a first shell 61 with a reduced thickness in comparison to the second shell 71, the mass of the shell is reduced, and therefore less material needs to degrade or melt in order for the first shell 61 to release the first substance 60, in comparison to the second shell 71; particularly where the first shell 61 and the second shell 71 are made of substantially the same material.
It will be appreciated that appropriate materials, and thicknesses/widths, for the first and second shells 61,71 can be selected to provide release of the first substance 60 and second substance 70 at desired times within the session of use. For example, a first shell may be formed from a thin layer of a material configured to rupture, degrade or melt at a first temperature, which is lower (e.g. less) than a second temperature, to ensure that the first substance 60 is released at an earlier time in the session of use than the second substance 70.
In some examples, as shown in FIG. 1 , the first substance 60 encapsulated by the first shell 61 and the second substance 70 encapsulated by the second shell 71 are provided within the aerosol-generating material 43. In some other examples (not shown), one or both of the first substance 60 encapsulated by the first shell 61 and the second substance 70 encapsulated by the second shell 71 are not provided within the aerosol-generating material 43. For example, one or both of the first substance 60 encapsulated by the first shell 61 and the second substance 70 encapsulated by the second shell 71 may instead be provided in a different portion of the consumable part 4, such as in the filter/cooling element 44, in an inlet 42 end filter (not shown), or on a surface of the wrapper/housing of the consumable part 4. In some other examples, one or both of the first substance 60 encapsulated by the first shell 61 and the second substance 70 encapsulated by the second shell 71 may instead be provided as or in a separate article or consumable (distinct from consumable part 4) within the device part 2 (e.g. as distinct capsules inserted into chamber 50 or a cavity in fluid communication with chamber 50 of the device part 2).
In some examples, the aerosol generating material 43 is not heated equally along its length throughout a session of use. For example, the system 1 (e.g. a controller 22 of the system 1) may be configured to heat the aerosol generating material 43 towards the air inlet 42 of the consumable part 4, before heating the aerosol generating material 43 towards the filter/cooling element 44 (or may initially heat the aerosol generating material 43 towards the air inlet 42 of the consumable part 4 to a higher temperature than the aerosol generating material 43 towards the filter/cooling element 44 (i.e. towards the mouth-end of the consumable part), and may subsequently heat the aerosol generating material 43 towards the filter/cooling element 44 to a higher temperature than the aerosol generating material 43 towards the air inlet 42 of the consumable part 4), or vice versa. In some examples, the first and second shell 61,71 are positioned at different locations within the consumable part 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 1 , the first shell 61 may be positioned towards the filter/cooling element 44 of the aerosol generating material 43, while the second shell 71 may be positioned towards the air inlet 42 end of the aerosol generating material 43.
In some examples, the section of the aerosol generating material 43 having the first shell 61 containing the first substance 60 can be heated to the first temperature, prior to the section of the aerosol generating material 43 having the second shell 71 containing the second substance 70 can be heated to the second temperature, to release the first substance 60 prior to the second substance 70 in the session of use. It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for the first shell 60 to be made of a material that releases the first substance 60 at a lower temperature than the material of the second shell 70, because the (at least one) heater is not configured to heat the second shell 71 to the second temperature until the first shell 61 has already released the first substance 60. Therefore by providing a system 1 having a heater 48 (or multiple heaters) configured to either heat different portions of the aerosol generating material 43 selectively, or to heat a first portion of the aerosol generating material 43 to a greater extent that a second portion (such that the second portion takes longer to heat up), then the construction of the first and second shell 61,71 is less constrained (e.g. there is more design freedom because the heater control scheme or profile primarily causes the first and second substances to be released during the session of use, rather than the material or thickness of each shell).
As stated above, the device part 2 includes a controller 22 comprising power supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the power source 26 to the heater 48. In line with the embodiment above, the controller 22 may be responsible for controlling the supply of power from the power source 26 to the heater 48 to ensure that a first portion of the aerosol generating material 43 is heated prior to, or to a greater extent, than a second portion of the aerosol generating material 43. In some examples where there are two or more heaters, or where heater 48 comprises a plurality of selectively controllable heating elements, the controller 22 is configured to control each of the heaters/heating elements independently to provide the desired level of heating for each portion of the aerosol generating material 43. It will be appreciated that the terms heater and heating element are used somewhat interchangeably to refer to a controllable unit or element configured to generate heat upon the application of power (e.g. current).
For example, an aerosol provision system 1 comprises at least two heaters (or a heater 48 having two heating elements) may have a first heater (or heating element) which is used to heat the first shell 61 and a second heater (or heating element) which is used to heat the second shell 71. For example, the first heater, or heating element, and the first shell 61 may be positioned such that the first shell 61 is substantially adjacent to the first heater, or heating element (e.g. when a consumable part 4 containing the first shell 61 is received by a device part 2 containing the first heater). Similarly, the second heater, or heating element, and the second shell 71 may be positioned, respectively, such that the second shell 71 is substantially adjacent to the second heater, or heating element (e.g. when a consumable part 4 containing the second shell 71 is received by a device part 2 containing the second heater). In other words, the first shell is primarily heated by a first heater of the at least two heaters and the second shell is primarily heated by a second heater of the at least two heaters. In some examples, the controller 22 may selectively heat the first shell 61 by supplying power to the first heater and not the second heater, and selectively heat the second shell 71 by supplying power to the second heater and not the first heater. In some other examples, the controller 22 may selectively heat the first shell 61 by supplying power to the first heater at a first, relatively high, level and to the second heater at a second, relatively low, level; and selectively heat the second shell 71 by supplying power to the second heater at a second, relatively high, level and to the first heater at a first, relatively low, level.
In some examples, the controller 22 is configured to supply power to the at least one heater 48 in accordance with a heating profile. For example, a heating profile may indicate or determine the variation in the amount or level of power to be supplied to the heater 48 (or each of a plurality of heaters) during the session of usage. Alternatively or additionally, the heating profile may indicate the variation in a target temperature during the session of usage, and the controller 22 may be configured to receive a measurement indicative of the actual temperature and cause an amount or level of power to be supplied to the heater(s) dependent on the difference between the target and actual temperature (e.g. if the actual temperature is too low, the level of power supplied may be increased, whereas if the actual temperature is too high the level of power supplied may be decreased or set to zero).
In some examples the controller 22 is configured to select a heating profile from a plurality of predetermined heating profiles, the selected heating profile configured to release the first substance at a different time to the second substance during the session of use. In some examples, a first heating profile will cause the first substance 60 and /or the second substance 70 to be released at a different time to a second heating profile. In some examples, the controller 22 is configured to select a heating profile from the plurality of heating profiles based on information contained in (e.g. internal memory) or printed on (e.g. barcode, QR code or color selection) the consumable part 4. In some examples, the controller 22 receives a user input, e.g. via button 14, and selects a heating profile from the plurality of heating profiles based on the user input (the selection or an indication of the selection may be displayed to the user via display 16).
In some embodiments, the consumable part 4 may be sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the reusable device part 2 with which the consumable part 4 is usable. However, in some embodiments, the reusable device part 2 and one or more of the consumable parts 4 may be provided together as a system such as a kit or an assembly, possibly with additional components, such as cleaning utensil.
FIG. 2 schematically represents a method 200 of controlling an aspect of the electronic aerosol provision system / device 1 for generating aerosol in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The method may be performed by suitable electronics as described above (e.g. controller 22).
The first step 210 of the method 200 is to provide an aerosol-generating material, a first substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a second shell. When the method is performed by a controller 22, the provision of the aerosol-generating material 43, first substance 60 encapsulated by a first shell 61 and second substance 70 encapsulated by a second shell 71, may be facilitated by detection circuitry for detecting the presence of aerosol generating material 43 or a consumable part 4 (e.g. an article) and / or a user input (e.g. via button 14) indicating that the aerosol-generating material 43, first substance 60 encapsulated by a first shell 61 and second substance 70 encapsulated by a second shell 71 have been provided.
The second step 220 of the method 200 is to supply an amount of power to the heater in order to release the first substance from the first shell at a first time. The step 220 is carried out by the controller 22 which is configured to cause power to be supplied to the heater 48 from the power supply 26. The first shell 61 is configured (e.g. constructed, or manufactured) to release the first substance 60 once the first shell 61 has been heated to a first temperature In some examples, the controller 22 may supply power in accordance with a selected heating profile. In some examples, the controller 22 may cause power to be supplied to a first heater configured to heat the first shell 61 more than the second shell 71.
The third step 230 of the method 200 is to supply an amount of power to the heater in order to release the second substance from the second shell at a second time, different to the first time. The step 230 is carried out by the controller 22 which is configured to cause power to be supplied to the heater 48 from the power supply 26. The second shell 71 is configured (e.g. constructed, or manufactured) to release the second substance 70 once the second shell has been heated to a second temperature. In some examples, the controller 22 may supply power in accordance with a selected heating profile. In some examples, the controller 22 may cause power to be supplied to a second heater configured to heat the second shell 71 more than the first shell 61.
The method 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 may be stored as instructions on a computer readable storage medium, such that when the instructions are executed by a processor, the methods 200 described above are performed. The computer readable storage medium may be non-transitory.
Thus, there has been described an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision system comprising: the aerosol-generating material; at least one heater configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material; a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use; wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell.
The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision system comprising:

the aerosol-generating material;

at least one heater configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material;

a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision system and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use;

wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell.

2. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the first substance encapsulated by the first shell and the second substance encapsulated by the second shell are provided within the aerosol-generating material.

3. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the first shell is partially or completely formed from a first material configured to rupture, degrade or melt in response to an increase in temperature of the first shell to at least a first temperature; and

wherein the second shell is partially or completely formed from a second material configured to rupture, degrade or melt in response to an increase in temperature of the second shell to at least a second temperature.

4. The aerosol provision system of claim 3, wherein the first temperature is less than the second temperature.

5. The aerosol provision system of claim 4, wherein the first temperature is at least 10° C. lower than the second temperature.

6. The aerosol provision system of claim 3, wherein the first material is different to the second material.

7. The aerosol provision system of claim 3, wherein the first shell is thinner than the second shell.

8. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of substances comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, and / or one or more aerosol-modifying agents.

9. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the first substance is different to the second substance.

10. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a controller configured to select a heating profile from a plurality of predetermined heating profiles, the selected heating profile configured to release the first substance at a different time to the second substance during the session of use.

11. The aerosol provision system of claim 1, wherein aerosol provision system comprises at least two heaters configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material, wherein the first shell is primarily heated by a first heater of the at least two heaters and the second shell is primarily heated by a second heater of the at least two heaters.

12. An article for use in an aerosol provision system for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the article comprising:

the aerosol-generating material;

a first substance of a plurality of substances encapsulated by a first shell configured to release the first substance at a first time; and a second substance of a plurality of substances encapsulated by a second shell configured to release the second substance at a second time.

13. A method of controlling an amount of power supplied to a heater for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the method comprising:

providing an aerosol-generating material, a first substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a first shell, and a second substance of the plurality of substances encapsulated by a second shell;

supplying an amount of power to the heater in order to release the first substance from the first shell at a first time; and

supplying an amount of power to the heater in order to release the second substance from the second shell at a second time, different to the first time.

14. A computer readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, perform the method of claim 13.

15. Aerosol provision means for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material during a session of use, the aerosol provision means comprising:

the aerosol-generating material means;

heater means configured to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material;

a plurality of substances disposed within the aerosol provision means and arranged to be released at different times during the session of use;

wherein a first substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a first shell means, and a second substance of the plurality of substances is encapsulated by a second shell means.