WO2022268807A1

WO2022268807A1 - Aerosol generating device comprising a switch portion, and associated removable cartridge and aerosol generating set

Info

Publication number: WO2022268807A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/066870
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dalibor PURKOVIC
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2021-06-22
Filing date: 2022-06-21
Publication date: 2022-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-22

Abstract

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a removable cartridge and comprising a cavity configured to receive the removable cartridge, a battery (35), a heater circuit (42), a control module (32) configured to be powered by the battery (35) and to control the powering of the heater circuit (42) to heat a vaporizable material, and a power circuit (41) connecting the battery (35) to the control module (32). The power circuit (41) comprises a switch portion (47) configured to disconnect the control module (32) from the battery (35) when the removable cartridge (14) is not received in the cavity (23), and connect the control module (32) to the battery (35) when the removable cartridge (14) is received at least partially in the cavity (23).

Description

Aerosol generating device comprising a switch portion, and associated removable cartridge and aerosol generating set

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating device comprising a switch portion.

The present invention also concerns a removable cartridge configured to operate with such an aerosol generating device, and an aerosol generating set comprising such an aerosol generating device and such a removable cartridge.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of aerosol generating devices are already known in the art. Generally, such devices comprise a storage portion for storing an aerosol forming precursor, which can comprise for example a liquid or a solid. A heating system is formed of one or more electrically activated resistive heating elements arranged to heat said precursor to generate the aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the device. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece, through which a user inhales for delivery of the aerosol.

In some aerosol generating devices, the precursor is stored in a removable cartridge. Thus, when the precursor is consumed, the cartridge can be easily removed and replaced. In order to attach the removable cartridge to the device body, a screw-threaded or magnetic connection or any other type of connection can for example be used.

The aerosol generating devices comprise generally a battery able to power the heating system. The powering may be controlled by a control module connecting the heating system to the battery via an electric circuit. Generally, the control module is connected permanently to the battery. This leads to a permanent battery consumption even when the aerosol generating device is not used to generate aerosol and is put into an OFF- state. This state corresponds thus to a sleep mode of the device. When the aerosol generating device is not used for long periods, this battery consumption in the sleep mode can exhaust the battery and reduce the battery life. In some cases, it can even damage the battery and/or the device. For this purpose, some aerosol generating devices are provided with a special shipping mode making it possible to disconnect the battery from the control module. However, this mode is not always suitable for the user since it requires some additional manipulations to activate the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the present invention is to propose an aerosol generating device making it possible to avoid power consumption when the device is not used. This can save the battery charge even for long periods, prolong the battery life and improve overall device safety.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol generating device configured to operate with a removable cartridge comprising a vaporizable material, the aerosol generating device comprising:

- a cavity configured to receive the removable cartridge;

- a battery;

- a heater circuit;

- a control module configured to be powered by the battery and to control the powering of the heater circuit to heat the vaporizable material;

- a power circuit connecting the battery to the control module; the aerosol generating device being characterized in that the power circuit comprises a switch portion configured to:

- disconnect the control module from the battery when the removable cartridge is not received in the cavity;

- connect the control module to the battery when the removable cartridge is received at least partially in the cavity.

Particularly, provided with these features, the battery can be physically disconnected from the control module when the aerosol generating device is not used. In other words, in this case, the device is not in the sleep mode but rather completely shut down. Additionally, battery connection/disconnection can be performed by the user by inserting/removing the cartridge. The cartridge acts thus like a “car key” and gives to the user a very simple and intuitive way to connect/disconnect the battery. Additionally, there is no need to provide a special shipping mode since the aerosol generating device is usually already shipped or packed separately from the cartridge.

According to some embodiments, the switch portion comprises a pair of device power contacts configured to be short circuited by a by-pass conductor comprised in the removable cartridge.

According to some embodiments, the pair of device power contacts is designed to be in contact with a pair of cartridge power contacts of the removable cartridge connected to opposite ends of the by-pass conductor.

Thanks to these features, the switch portion can be carried out in a simple way since it is sufficient to connect the device power contacts by the by-pass conductor to connect the battery and the control module.

According to some embodiments, the pair of device power contacts protrudes from a wall of the cavity configured to be in contact with a contact surface of the removable cartridge.

Thanks to these features, it possible to connect/disconnect the battery from the control module only by inserting/extracting action of the cartridge in the cavity.

According to some embodiments, the device comprises a pair of device heater contacts connected to the control module via the heater circuit and configured to power a heating element comprised in the removable cartridge.

Thanks to these features, the cartridge can be provided with a heating element which is powered by the battery of the device.

According to some embodiments, the pair of device heater contacts is different from the pair of device power contacts.

Thanks to these features, the power circuit can be separated from the heater circuit so as to not affect the operation of this heater circuit. According to some embodiments, the pair of device heater contacts protrudes from said wall of the cavity.

Thanks to these features, both device heater and power pairs of contacts can be arranged on the same wall of the cavity of the device.

The invention also relates to a removable cartridge configured to operate with the aerosol generating device as defined above and comprising connection means configured to cause the switch portion of the power circuit of the aerosol generating device to connect the control module to the battery when the removable cartridge is received at least partially in the cavity.

According to some embodiments, the connection means comprise a by-pass conductor extending between a pair of cartridge power contacts.

The connection/disconnection of the switch portion can be easily performed by connection/disconnection of the device power contacts.

According to some embodiments, the pair of cartridge power contacts protrudes from a contact surface of the cartridge.

Thanks to these features, it possible to connect/disconnect the battery and the control module only by inserting/extracting action of the cartridge in the cavity.

According to some embodiments, the removable cartridge comprises a heating element and a pair of cartridge heater contacts configured to connect the heating element to the heater circuit of the aerosol generating device.

According to some embodiments, the pair of cartridge heater contacts is different from the pair of cartridge power contacts.

Thanks to these features, the power circuit can be separated from the heater circuit so as to not affect the operation of this heater circuit.

According to some embodiments, the pair of cartridge heater contacts protrudes from the contact surface of the cartridge. Thanks to these features, both cartridge heater and power pairs of contacts can be arranged on the same contact surface of the cartridge.

The invention also relates to an aerosol generating set, comprising an aerosol generating device and a removable cartridge, as defined above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing an aerosol generating set according to the invention; and

- Figure 2 is an example of electrical connection inside the aerosol generating set of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generation device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of aerosol generating unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapor which condenses into an aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heating system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapor to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.)· The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of precursor as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapor. Aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

As used herein, the term “vaporizable material” or “aerosol-forming precursor” may refer to one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; mousse; foam or other substances. The vaporizable material may be processable by the heating system of the device to form an aerosol as defined herein. The vaporizable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine; caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin. A flavoring may also be present. The flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar. A solid aerosol forming substance may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips or shreds of reconstituted tobacco (RTB).

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating set 10 according to the invention. This aerosol generating set 10 comprises an aerosol generating device 12 and a removable cartridge 14 configured to operate with the aerosol generating device 12.

As it is shown on Figure 1 , the aerosol generating device 12 extends along a device axis X and comprises a housing 21 delimiting a cavity 23 configured to receive, at least partially, the removable cartridge 14. The cavity 23 extends for example according to the device axis X and is delimited by a bottom wall 25 perpendicular to the device axis X and at least one side wall 27 extending along the device axis X.

The housing 21 delimits an internal space of the device 12 receiving various elements designed to carry out different functionalities of the device 12. This internal space can for example receive a power block 31 for powering the device 12, a control module 32 for controlling the operation of the device 12 and at least a device part 33 of a heating system configured to heat a vaporizable material contained in the removable cartridge 14 as it will be explained in further detail below. The internal space of the housing 21 may further comprise other internal components performing different functionalities of the device 12 known perse. These internal components will not be explained in detail below.

It should also be noted that Figure 1 presents only a schematic diagram of different components of the aerosol generating device 12 and does not necessarily show the real physical arrangement and dimensions of these components. Particularly, such an arrangement can be chosen according to the design of the aerosol generating device 12 and technical features of its components.

The power block 31 comprises a battery 35 and a battery charger 36. The battery 35 is for example a known battery designed to be charged using the power supply furnished by an external source and to provide a direct current of a predetermined voltage. The battery charger 36 is able to connect the battery 35 to the external source and comprises for this purpose a power connector (like for example a mini-USB or USB-C connector) or wireless charging connector. The battery charger 36 is also able to control the power delivered from the external source to the battery 35 according for example to a predetermined charging profile. Such a charging profile can for example define a charging voltage of the battery 35 depending on its level of charge.

The control module 32 is configured to control the operation of the aerosol generating device 12 and notably, of the heating system to generate aerosol by controlling the powering of this heating system by the battery 35. For this purpose, the control module 32 is connected to the battery 35 by a power circuit 41 and to at least the device part 33 of the heating system by a heater circuit 42. Both circuits 41 , 42 are shown on Figure 2 and will be explained in more detail with reference to this Figure 2. According to different embodiments of the invention, the control module 32 may comprise a controller and/or a printed circuit board (PCB). In this last case, at least one of the circuits 41 and 42 can be at least partially integrated in the PCB.

In the embodiment of the Figures, the heating system operates using a heating element comprised in the removable cartridge 14 and connected by wire to the device part 33 of the heating system. In this case, the device part 33 of the heating system comprises a pair of contacts, called hereinafter device heater contacts 45A, 45B. As shown on Figure 2, each device heater contact 45A, 45B can be connected via the heater circuit 42 to the control module 32. According to another example, one the device heater contacts 45A, 45B is connected to the control module 32 via the heater circuit 42 and the other device heater contact 45A, 45B is connected directly to the battery 35. The device heater contacts 45A, 45B are designed to be in contact with corresponding contacts of the removable cartridge 14 as it will be explained below. For this purpose, the device heater contacts 45A, 45B protrude from at last a wall delimiting the cavity 23 as for example the bottom wall 25.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the device part 33 of the heating system can be formed by any other component, depending on the type of the heating system. For example, in case of a heating system operating by magnetic induction, the device part 33 can comprise a magnetic coil able to create a magnetic field around the removable cartridge 14. According to still other embodiments, the entire heating system is comprised in the aerosol generating device 12. In this case, it can comprise a heating plate or wall designed to be in contact with at least one external surface of the removable cartridge 14 or a heating blade designed to penetrate at least a part of the removable cartridge 14.

As shown on Figure 2, the power circuit 41 comprises a switch portion 47 configured to connect the control module 32 to the battery 35 upon insertion of the cartridge 14 at least partially in the cavity 23, and to disconnect it from the battery upon extraction of the cartridge 14 from the cavity 23.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the switch portion 47 is formed by a disconnection in this circuit 41 . Particularly, this switch portion 47 comprises a pair of contacts, called hereinafter device power contacts 49A, 49B. These device power contacts 49A, 49B are isolated one from the other and are designed to be short circuited by an external by-pass conductor in order to close the power circuit 41 . According to this embodiment, this external by-pass conductor is comprised in the removable cartridge 14 as it will be explained in further detail below. The device power contacts 49A, 49B can protrude from a wall delimiting the cavity 23 and notably, from the bottom wall 25. In this last case, according to one example of the invention, the device power contacts 49A, 49B may be arranged on this bottom wall 25 between the device heater contacts 45A, 45B. According to another example, the device heater contacts 45A, 45B are arranged between the device power contacts 49A, 49B. In these two examples, the contacts 45A, 49A and 45B, 49B can be arranged symmetrically in respect with a centre of the bottom wall 25 and the cartridge 14 can be inserted into the cavity 23 according to at least two opposite orientations. According to another example, the contacts 45A, 45B, 49A, 49B are arranged asymmetrically on the bottom wall 25. For example, the pair of contacts 45A, 45B and the pair of contacts 49A, 49B can be arranged on opposite sides of the bottom wall 25. In this case, the cavity 23 and/or the removable cartridge 14 can be provided with a key element making it possible to receive the cartridge 14 inside the cavity 23 according to a unique orientation. This key element prevents against a wrong insertion orientation of the cartridge 14. Other examples of respective arrangements of the contacts 45A, 45B, 49A, 49B on at least one wall or different walls of the cavity 23 are still possible.

Referring again to Figure 1 , the cartridge 14 comprises a body 51 having a shape at least partially complementary to the shape of the cavity 23. Thus, the cartridge 14 can be received at least partially inside the cavity 23. In the example of Figure 1 , the body 51 extends between a proximal end 52 designed to be received entirely in the cavity 23 and a distal end 53 designed to be received in the cavity 23 or protrude from it. In this last case, the distal end 53 can form a mouthpiece designed to be in contact with the user’s mouth and/or lips during a vaping session. The proximal end 52 forms a contact surface 55 extending perpendicularly to the device axis X when the cartridge 14 is received in the cavity 23 and designed to be in contact with the bottom wall 25 of the cavity 23.

The body 51 receives internal components of the removable cartridge 14. These internal components include notably a storage portion 56 and connection means designed to cause the switch portion 47 of the power circuit 41 to connect the control module 32 to the battery 35, upon insertion of the cartridge 14 at least partially in the cavity 23. Additionally, in the example of the Figures, the internal components of the body 51 further comprise a cartridge part 63 of the heating system designed to cooperate with the device part 33 of the heating system.

The storage portion 56 is designed to store a vaporizable material, notably a liquid vaporizable material in the example of the Figures. According to other examples, the vaporizable material can be a solid substrate.

The cartridge part 63 of the heating system is designed to cooperate with the device part 33 of the heating system when the cartridge 14 is received at least partially in the cavity 23. The composition of the cartridge part 63 depends on the type of the heating system. Thus, in the example of the Figures, the cartridge part 63 comprises a heating element 64 arranged in a flow channel of the cartridge 14 and connected to the storage portion 56 via for example a wick. In this case, the cartridge part 63 of the heating system further comprises a pair of cartridge heater contacts 65A, 65B designed to be in contact with the device heater contacts 45A, 45B when the cartridge 14 is received at least partially in the cavity 23. Particularly, in this case, the cartridge heater contacts 65A, 65B can protrude from the contact surface 55 of the body 51 to face the device heater contacts 45A, 45B. In case where the heating system operates by magnetic induction, the cartridge part 63 of the heating system may comprise only susceptors arranged for example in the storage portion 56. In this case, no cartridge heater contact is necessary. Additionally, as explained above, in some embodiments, the heating system is arranged entirely in the aerosol generating device 12 so as no cartridge part 63 is necessary to heat the susceptor.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the connection means of the cartridge 14 are formed by a by-pass conductor 57 designed to close the power circuit 41 so as the control module 32 can be powered by the battery 35. For this purpose, the by pass conductor 57 extends between a pair of cartridge power contacts 69A, 69B designed to be in contact with the device power contacts 49A, 49B to short circuit the switch portion 47. The cartridge power contacts 69A, 69B can protrude from the contact surface 55 of the body 51 and face the corresponding device power contacts 49A, 49B. The by-pass conductor 57 can extend on the contact surface 55 or be integrated inside the body 51. Thus, depending on the respective arrangement of device contacts 45A, 45B, 49B, 49B explained above, the cartridge contacts 65A, 65B, 69A, 69B can be arranged symmetrically or asymmetrically in respect with a centre of the contact surface 55.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the connection means may comprise any other mechanical and/or electrical elements designed to cause the switch portion 47 to close the power circuit 41 upon insertion of the cartridge 14 at least partially in the cavity 23. For example, in some embodiments, the connection means may form an actuator configured to actuate the switch portion 47 presenting a push-button upon insertion of the cartridge 14 at least partially in the cavity 23. In some other embodiments, a by-pass conductor, similar to the by-pass conductor 57 mentioned above, can be arranged in the device 12 at distance from the device power contacts 49A, 49B when the cartridge 14 is not inserted in the cavity 23 and can for example be pushed to close the power circuit 41 upon its insertion. This can be performed using for example an elastic element. The operation of the aerosol generating set 10 will now be explained. Initially, it is considered that the cartridge 14 is removed from the cavity 23. In this case, the switch portion 47 of the power circuit 41 disconnects physically the control module 32 from the battery 35. When it is necessary to switch on the aerosol generating device 12 for example for generating aerosol, the user inserts at least partially the cartridge 14 into the cavity 23. In this case, the connection means cause the switch portion 47 to close power circuit 41. Particularly, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the device power contacts 49A, 49B are engaged with the cartridge power contacts 69A, 69B and the by pass conductor 57 closes the power circuit 41 . The control module 32 can thus be powered by the battery 35. Depending on different embodiments of the invention, the control module 32 can activate immediately the heater circuit 42 to power the heating system and generate vapour, or can be in a sleep mode. In this last case, an additional user action, such for example a puff, is required to start vapour generation.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device (12) configured to operate with a removable cartridge (14) comprising a vaporizable material, the aerosol generating device (12) comprising:

- a cavity (23) configured to receive the removable cartridge (14);

- a battery (35);

- a heater circuit (42);

- a control module (32) configured to be powered by the battery (35) and to control the powering of the heater circuit (42) to heat the vaporizable material;

- a power circuit (41) connecting the battery (35) to the control module (32); the aerosol generating device (12) being characterized in that the power circuit (41) comprises a switch portion (47) configured to:

- disconnect the control module (32) from the battery (35) when the removable cartridge (14) is not received in the cavity (23);

- connect the control module (32) to the battery (35) when the removable cartridge (14) is received at least partially in the cavity (23).

2. The aerosol generating device (12) according to claim 1 , wherein the switch portion (47) comprises a pair of device power contacts (49A, 49B) configured to be short circuited by a by-pass conductor (57) comprised in the removable cartridge (14).

3. The aerosol generating device (12) according to claim 2, wherein the pair of device power contacts (49A, 49B) is designed to be in contact with a pair of cartridge power contacts (69A, 69B) of the removable cartridge (14) connected to opposite ends of the by pass conductor (57).

4. The aerosol generating device (12) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the pair of device power contacts (49A, 49B) protrudes from a wall (25) of the cavity (23) configured to be in contact with a contact surface (55) of the removable cartridge (14).

5. The aerosol generating device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pair of device heater contacts (45A, 45B) connected to the control module (32) via the heater circuit (42) and configured to power a heating element (64) comprised in the removable cartridge (14).

6. The aerosol generating device (12) according to claim 5 taken in combination with claim 2, wherein the pair of device heater contacts (45A, 45B) is different from the pair of device power contacts (49A, 49B).

7. The aerosol generating device (12) according to claims 6 and 4, wherein the pair of device heater contacts (45A, 45B) protrudes from said wall (25) of the cavity (23).

8. A removable cartridge (14) configured to operate with an aerosol generating device (12) according to any one of the preceding claims and comprising connection means configured to cause the switch portion (47) of the power circuit (41 ) of the aerosol generating device (12) to connect the control module (32) to the battery (35) when the removable cartridge (14) is received at least partially in the cavity (23).

9. The removable cartridge (14) according to claim 8, wherein the connection means comprise a by-pass conductor (57) extending between a pair of cartridge power contacts (69A, 69 B).

10. The removable cartridge (14) according to claim 9, wherein the pair of cartridge power contacts (69A, 69B) protrudes from a contact surface (55) of the cartridge (14).

11. The removable cartridge (14) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, further comprising a heating element (64) and a pair of cartridge heater contacts (65A, 65B) configured to connect the heating element (64) to the heater circuit (42) of the aerosol generating device (12).

12. The removable cartridge (14) according to claim 11 taken in combination with claim 9, wherein the pair of cartridge heater contacts (65A, 65B) is different from the pair of cartridge power contacts (69A, 69B).

13. The removable cartridge (14) according to claim 12 and 10, wherein the pair of cartridge heater contacts (65A, 65B) protrudes from the contact surface (55) of the cartridge (14).

14. An aerosol generating set (10), comprising:

- an aerosol generating device (12) according to any one of claims 1 to 7;

- a removable cartridge (14) according to any one of claims 8 to 13.