WO2024189212A1

WO2024189212A1 - Aerosol delivery controllers, systems and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2024189212A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/057001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Howard ROTHWELL; Ugurhan Yilmaz; Nishath MOHAMED NAWAZ
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-03-16
Filing date: 2024-03-15
Publication date: 2024-09-19
Anticipated expiration: 2025-09-16

Abstract

The invention provides a controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being switchable between an adaptive mode and a default mode, wherein in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user; and in the default mode, the controller is configured to control the aerosol delivery system based on predetermined operational parameters for the aerosol delivery system.

Description

AEROSOL DELIVERY CONTROLLERS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Field

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems such as, but not exclusively, nicotine delivery systems (e.g. e-cigarettes).

Background

Aerosol delivery systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain an aerosol generating material, such as a chamber of a source solid or liquid, which may contain an active substance and / or a flavour, from which an aerosol or vapour is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol delivery system will typically comprise an aerosol generation area containing an aerosol generator, e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporise or aerosolise a portion of precursor material to generate a vapour or aerosol in the aerosol generation area. As a user inhales on the device and electrical power is supplied to the vaporiser, air is drawn into the device through an inlet hole and along an inlet air channel connecting to the aerosol generation area, where the air mixes with vaporised precursor material to form a condensation aerosol. There is an outlet channel connecting the aerosol generation area to an outlet in the mouthpiece and the air drawn into the aerosol generation area 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 electronic cigarettes may also include a flavour element in the air flow path through the device to impart additional flavours. Such devices may sometimes be referred to as hybrid devices, and the flavour element may, for example, include a portion of tobacco arranged in the air flow path between the aerosol generation area and the mouthpiece such that aerosol I condensation aerosol drawn through the device passes through the portion of tobacco before exiting the mouthpiece for user inhalation.

User experiences with electronic aerosol delivery systems are continually improving as such systems become more refined in respect of the nature of the vapour they provide for user inhalation, for example in terms of deep lung delivery, mouth feel and consistency in performance. Nonetheless, approaches for improving further still on these aspects remain of interest. In particular, it is of interest to develop approaches in which an aerosol delivery system comprises functionality enabling operating/operational characteristics of the system to be adjusted, in order to target certain characteristics which may be desirable to a user and/or providing consistent performance.

Various approaches are described herein which seek to help address or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above. W02021/074580, incorporated herein by reference, is a prior application by the same applicant and discloses a computer configured to obtain user behaviour data relating to an interaction by a user with an aerosol provision system, determine default user behaviour with respect to the interaction on the basis of the obtained user behaviour data, monitor a current interaction by the user with the aerosol provision system, and when the current user interaction deviates from the default user behaviour by a pre-determined amount, adjust the operational parameters of the aerosol provision system on the basis of the current user interaction.

WO2021/105674, incorporated herein by reference, is a prior application by the same applicant and discloses an aerosol delivery device comprising a controller and a power source, wherein the device is configured to receive an article for aerosolisable material, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate generation of a first aerosol and one or more subsequent aerosols from the aerosolisable material, to determine a usage characteristic of the device and, based on said determined usage characteristic, to generate the subsequent aerosol such that it contains a pre-configured change in one or more aerosol characteristics relative to the first aerosol.

W02020/095019, incorporated herein by reference, is a prior application by the same applicant and discloses a temperature regulating system for an electronic vapour provision system (EVPS) comprises a sensor to detect at least one parameter of the airflow within the EVPS; a user interface adapted to receive an indication from a user that a puff of the EVPS was too hot; and a processor adapted to change at least a first aspect of a vapour generation process to reduce the vapour temperature at the mouthpiece, based upon sensor data from the at least one parameter of the airflow, in response to the received indication.

Protection may be sought for any features disclosed herein in combination with these and any other referenced documents.

Brief summary of the invention

The present invention provides controllers, methods and systems as set out in the claims.

The claimed invention generally provides a sub-assembly or sub-system suitable for use in an aerosol delivery system, or configured for use in an aerosol delivery system. The sub-system may generally form part of an aerosol delivery system and in particular may form part of the reusable device and/or the consumable cartridge.

Brief description of the figures

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-section view of an aerosol delivery system in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;

Figure 2a is a schematic cross-section view of the aerosol delivery system of figure 1 comprising flow modifiers, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure;

Figure 2b is a schematic cross-section view of the aerosol delivery system of figure 2a showing fluid flow paths therethrough;

Figure 3 is a statistical representation of the temperature of an aerosol generator against time for a user’s prior puffs;

Figure 4 is a graph showing mean temperature versus time for an aerosol generator during a user’s prior puffs, minimum and maximum operating temperatures for an aerosol-generating material component C1 and aerosol production volume q of active ingredients 1 and 2 against temperature;

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating possible inputs to a controller for an aerosol delivery system; and

Figure 6 is a schematic, simplified diagram illustrating puff strength (pressure) versus aerosol generator power for a user’s puff profile.

Detailed description of the disclosure

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

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through an example aerosol delivery system 1 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure, providing an introduction to two-part aerosol delivery systems, the components therein and their functionality.

The aerosol delivery system 1 comprises two main parts, namely a reusable part 2 and a replaceable I disposable consumable cartridge part 4. In normal use, the reusable part 2 and the cartridge part 4 are releasably coupled together at an interface 6. When the cartridge part 4 is exhausted or the user simply wishes to switch to a different cartridge part 4, the cartridge part 4 may be removed from the reusable part 2 and a replacement cartridge part 4 attached to the reusable part 2 in its place. The interface 6 provides a structural, electrical and airflow path connection between the two parts 2, 4 and may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, magnetic or bayonet fixing with appropriately arranged electrical contacts and openings for establishing the electrical connection and airflow path between the two parts 2, 4 as appropriate. The specific manner by which the cartridge part 4 mechanically mounts to the reusable part 2 is not significant to the principles described herein, but for the sake of a concrete example is assumed here to comprise a magnetic coupling (not represented in figure 1). It will also be appreciated the interface 6 in some implementations may not support an electrical and I or airflow path connection between the respective parts 2, 4. For example, in some implementations an aerosol generator may be provided in the reusable part 2 rather than in the cartridge part 4, or the transfer of electrical power from the reusable part 2 to the cartridge part 4 may be wireless (e.g. based on electromagnetic induction), so that an electrical connection between the reusable part 2 and the cartridge part 4 is not needed. Furthermore, in some implementations the airflow through the electronic cigarette might not go through the reusable part 2, so that an airflow path connection between the reusable part 2 and the cartridge part 4 is not needed. In some instances, a portion of the airflow path may be defined at the interface between portions of the reusable part 2 and cartridge part 4 when these are coupled together for use.

The cartridge I consumable part 4 may in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure be broadly conventional. In figure 1 , the cartridge part 4 comprises a cartridge housing 42 formed of a plastics material. The cartridge housing 42 supports other components of the cartridge part 4 and provides the mechanical interface 6 with the reusable part 2. The cartridge housing 42 is generally circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis along which the cartridge part 4 couples to the reusable part 2. In this example, the cartridge part 4 has a length of around 4 cm and a diameter of around 1 .5 cm. However, it will be appreciated the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shapes and materials used, may be different in different implementations.

Within the cartridge housing 42 is a chamber or reservoir 44 that contains aerosol-generating material. In the example shown schematically in figure 1 , the reservoir 44 stores a supply of liquid aerosol generating material. In this example, the liquid reservoir 44 has an annular shape with an outer wall defined by the cartridge housing 42 and an inner wall that defines an airflow path 52 through the cartridge part 4. The reservoir 44 is closed at each end with end walls to contain the aerosol generating material. The reservoir 44 may be formed in accordance with conventional techniques, for example it may comprise a plastics material and be integrally moulded with the cartridge housing 42.

The cartridge I consumable part 4 further comprises an aerosol generator 48 located towards an end of the reservoir 44 opposite to a mouthpiece outlet 50. It will be appreciated that in a two-part system such as shown in figure 1 , the aerosol generator 48 may be in either of the reusable part 2 or the cartridge part 4. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 (e.g. a heater, which may be in the form of a wick and coil arrangement as shown, a distiller, which may be formed from a sintered metal fibre material or other porous conducting material, or any suitable alternative aerosol generator) may be comprised in the reusable part 2, and is brought into proximity with a portion of aerosol generating material in the cartridge part 4 when the cartridge part 4 is engaged with the reusable part 2. In such embodiments, the cartridge part 4 may comprise a portion of aerosol generating material, and an aerosol generator 48 comprising a heater is at least partially inserted into or at least partially surrounds the portion of aerosol generating material as the cartridge part 4 is engaged with the reusable part 2.

In the example of figure 1 , a wick 46 in contact with the aerosol generator 48 extends transversely across the cartridge airflow path 52 with its ends extending into the reservoir 44 of the liquid aerosol generating material through openings in the inner wall of the reservoir 44. The openings in the inner wall of the reservoir 44 are sized to broadly match the dimensions of the wick 46 to provide a reasonable seal against leakage from the liquid reservoir 44 into the cartridge airflow path without unduly compressing the wick 46, which may be detrimental to its fluid transfer performance.

The wick 46 and aerosol generator 48 are arranged in the cartridge airflow path 52 such that a region of the cartridge airflow path 52 around the wick 46 and heater 48 in effect defines a vaporisation region for the cartridge part 4. Aerosol generating material in the reservoir 44 infiltrates the wick 46 through the ends of the wick extending into the reservoir 44 and is drawn along the wick by surface tension I capillary action (i.e. wicking). The aerosol generator 48 in this example comprises an electrically resistive wire coiled around the wick 46. In the example of figure 1 , the heater 48 comprises a nickel chrome alloy (Cr20Ni80) wire and the wick 46 comprises a glass fibre bundle, but it will be appreciated the specific aerosol generator configuration is not significant to the principles described herein. In use, electrical power may be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 to vaporise an amount of aerosol generating material (aerosol generating material) drawn to the vicinity of the aerosol generator 48 by the wick 46. Vaporised aerosol generating material may then become entrained in air drawn along the cartridge airflow path from the vaporisation region towards the mouthpiece outlet 50 for user inhalation.

As noted above, the rate at which aerosol generating material is vaporised by the aerosol generator 48 will depend on the amount (level) of power supplied to the aerosol generator 48. Thus electrical power can be applied to the aerosol generator 48 to selectively generate aerosol from the aerosol generating material in the cartridge part 4, and furthermore, the rate of aerosol generation can be changed by changing the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 48, for example through pulse width and/or frequency modulation techniques.

The reusable part 2 comprises an outer housing 12 having with an opening that defines an air inlet 28 for the e-cigarette, a power source 26 (for example a battery) for providing operating power for the electronic cigarette, control circuitry / controller 22 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a first user input button 14, a second user input button 16, and a visual display 24.

The outer housing 12 may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metallic material and in this example has a circular cross section generally conforming to the shape and size of the cartridge part 4 so as to provide a smooth transition between the two parts 2, 4 at the interface 6. In this example, the reusable part 2 has a length of around 8 cm so the overall length of the e-cigarette when the cartridge part 4 and the reusable part 2 are coupled together is around 12 cm. However, and as already noted, it will be appreciated that the overall shape and scale of an electronic cigarette implementing an embodiment of the disclosure is not significant to the principles described herein.

The air inlet 28 connects to an airflow path 51 through the reusable part 2. The reusable part airflow path 51 in turn connects to the cartridge airflow path 52 across the interface 6 when the reusable part 2 and cartridge part 4 are connected together. Thus, when a user inhales on the mouthpiece opening 50, air is drawn in through the air inlet 28, along the reusable part airflow path 51 , across the interface 6, through the aerosol generation area in the vicinity of the aerosol generator 48 (where vaporised aerosol generating material becomes entrained in the air flow), along the cartridge airflow path 52, and out through the mouthpiece opening 50 for user inhalation.

The power source 26 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The power source 26 may be recharged through a charging connector in the reusable part housing 12, for example a USB connector.

First and/or second user input buttons 14, 16 may be provided, which in this example are conventional mechanical buttons, for example comprising a spring mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact. In this regard, the input buttons may be considered input devices for detecting user input and the specific manner in which the buttons are implemented is not significant. The buttons may be assigned to functions such as switching the aerosol delivery system 1 on and off, and adjusting user settings such as a power to be supplied from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48. However, the inclusion of user input buttons is optional, and in some embodiments buttons may not be included.

A display 24 may be provided to give a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the aerosol delivery system, for example current power setting information, remaining power source power, and so forth. The display may be implemented in various ways. In this example the display 24 comprises a conventional pixilated LCD screen that may be driven to display the desired information in accordance with conventional techniques. In other implementations, the display may comprise one or more discrete indicators, for example LEDs, that are arranged to display the desired information, for example through particular colours and / or flash sequences. More generally, the manner in which the display 24 is provided and information is displayed to a user using the display is not significant to the principles described herein. For example, some embodiments may not include a visual display and/or may include other means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the aerosol delivery system, for example using audio signalling, or may not include any means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the aerosol delivery system.

A controller 22 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system 1 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 delivery system 1 in line with the established techniques for controlling such devices. The controller (processor circuitry) 22 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the operation of the aerosol delivery 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 aerosol generator 48 in response to user input, user programming circuitry 20 for establishing configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user input, as well as other functional units I circuitry associated functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and conventional operating aspects of electronic cigarettes, such as display driving circuitry and user input detection circuitry. It will be appreciated that 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 I or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) I circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.

The functionality of the controller 22 is described further herein. For example, the controller 22 may comprise an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or microcontroller, for controlling the aerosol delivery device. The microcontroller or ASIC may include a CPU or micro-processor. The operations of a CPU and other electronic components are generally controlled at least in part by software programs running on the CPU (or other component). Such software programs may be stored in nonvolatile memory, such as ROM, which can be integrated into the microcontroller itself, or provided as a separate component. The CPU may access the ROM to load and execute individual software programs as and when required.

The reusable part 2 comprises an airflow sensor 30 which is electrically connected to the controller 22. In most embodiments, the airflow sensor 30 comprises a so-called “puff sensor”, in that the airflow sensor 30 is used to detect when a user is puffing on the device. In some embodiments, the airflow sensor 30 comprises a switch in an electrical path providing electrical power from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48. In such embodiments, the airflow sensor 30 generally comprises a pressure sensor configured to close the switch when subjected to a particular range of pressures, enabling current to flow from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 once the pressure in the vicinity of the airflow sensor 30 drops below a threshold value. The threshold value can be set to a value determined by experimentation to correspond to a characteristic value associated with the initiation of a user puff. In other embodiments, the airflow sensor 30 is connected to the controller 22, and the controller distributes electrical power from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 in dependence of 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 aerosol generator 48 can be carried out in accordance with any approach known to the skilled person.

In the example shown in figure 1 , the airflow sensor 30 is mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) 31 , but this is not essential. The airflow sensor 30 may comprise any sensor which is configured to determine a characteristic of airflow in an airflow path 51 disposed between air inlet 28 and mouthpiece opening 50, for example a pressure sensor or transducer (for example a membrane or solid-state pressure sensor), a combined temperature and pressure sensor, or a microphone (for example an electret-type microphone), which is sensitive to changes in air pressure, including acoustical signals. The airflow sensor 30 is situated within a sensor cavity or chamber 32, which comprises the interior space defined by one or more chamber walls 34. The sensor cavity 32 comprises a region internal to one or more chamber walls 34 in which an airflow sensor 30 can be fully or partially situated. In some embodiments, the PCB 31 comprises one of the chamber walls of a sensor housing comprising the sensor chamber I cavity 32.

A deformable membrane is disposed across an opening communicating between the sensor cavity 32 containing the sensor 30, and a portion of the airflow path disposed between air inlet 28 and mouthpiece opening 50. The deformable membrane covers the opening, and is attached to one or more of the chamber walls according to approaches described further herein.

As described further herein, the aerosol delivery system 1 comprises communication circuitry configured to enable a connection to be established with one or more further electronic devices (for example, a storage I charging case, and / or a refill I charging dock) to enable data transfer between the aerosol delivery system 1 and further electronic device(s). In some embodiments, the communication circuitry is integrated into controller 22, and in other embodiments it is implemented separately (comprising, for example, separate application-specific integrated circuit(s) I circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s)). For example, the communication circuitry may comprise a separate module to the controller 22 which, while connected to controller 22, provides dedicated data transfer functionality for the aerosol delivery device. In some embodiments, the communication circuitry is configured to support communication between the aerosol delivery system 1 and one or more further electronic devices over a wireless interface. The communication circuitry may be configured to support wireless communications between the aerosol delivery system 1 and other electronic devices such as a case, a dock, a computing device such as a smartphone or PC, a base station supporting cellular communications, a relay node providing an onward connection to a base station, a wearable device, or any other portable or fixed device which supports wireless communications.

Wireless communications between the aerosol delivery system 1 and a further electronic device may be configured according to data transfer protocols such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee, WiFi®, Wifi Direct, GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, NFC, RFID, or generally any other wireless, and/or wired, network protocol or interface. The communication circuitry may comprise any suitable interface for wired data connection, such as USB-C, micro-USB or Thunderbolt interfaces, and may comprise pin or contact pad arrangements configured to engage cooperating pins or contact pads on a dock, case, cable, or other external device which can be connected to the aerosol delivery system 1 . The various subassemblies may comprise one or more processors and data processing steps may be performed on any of these processors or on a remote processor, the data communicated by wire or wirelessly.

The present disclosure particularly relates to generating and using a ‘puff signature’, which is now described in more detail.

Puff signature

Individual smokers have what can be called a ‘puff signature’. The user’s ‘puff signature’ is preferably a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour and defines their smoking profile. The signature may take any suitable form and may be established by statistical analysis such as identifying patterns and/or correlating puff-based parameters e.g. to derive one or multiple formulae defining a user’s puff-based interaction behaviour. The statistical analysis may involve mean/median/modal averages, establishing variance or standard deviations, k-means clustering and/or regression analysis.

The signature may be based on, derived from or comprise (these terms are used interchangeably) one or more parameters, such as puff profile parameters including the frequency of inhalation actions (which may comprise regularity I irregularity I distribution I interval of inhalation actions), shallowness I depth I volume and duration of inhalation. Typically these are detected using an air pressure or other puff sensor (typically having a primary use of detecting inhalation to trigger the delivery of aerosol), and a timekeeping means such as a clock associated with the computer. The puff signature may also be based on or comprise other parameters such as the type/active ingredient of the consumable, a thermal profile of the generated vapour/aerosol, puff pressure, temperature, flow rate. These parameters may be determined at specific points, e.g. the start and end of a puff, or temporally, forming a profile overtime. The puff signature may also comprise sub-signatures defining different signatures for different scenarios e.g. based on time, location, aerosol-generating material, such as day and night or work and home sub-signatures.

The puff signature may also be based on I comprise pre-puff parameters still forming part of a puffbased interaction, such as preconditioning time, which is the time between activation of the system for a puff (normally triggered by the user or the system in anticipation of a puff), and the start of puffing by the user. Activation may be manual (e.g. via a button press or other user interface on the system) and/or automatic by the controller/system (e.g. using sensor data analysed by the controller/system indicating that the device is about to be used, such as detecting movement of the system towards the user’s mouth using an accelerometer or gyroscope, detecting a known puffing location using a location sensor or detecting stress/anxiety based on biometric data).

Further still, the puff signature may comprise pre-puff parameters relating to handling/manual interactions, as further outlined in WO2021074580, and may include one or more of motion-based behaviours, such as leaving the aerosol provision system alone (static), in a pocket or bag (typically a mixture of low-frequency motions), holding the device passively (typically again a mixture of low- frequency motions, in conjunction with touch detection), fiddling or toying with the device (typically a mixture of high-frequency motions, optionally in conjunction with touch detection, and/or repeated interaction with user interface components associated with the aerosol provision system that do not directly trigger delivery of aerosol themselves), and placing the device in the user’s mouth either as a preamble to inhalation, or as a separate act. Typically these are detected by a mix of accelerometer I gyroscopic sensors, touch sensors, pressure sensors, stress sensors, Ul inputs, and the like. Like the inhalation based interactions, handling/manual interactions may also be characterised by one or more of frequency of interaction, regularity/irregularity/distribution of the interaction, intensity of the interaction (for example in terms of continuous variables such as degree of motion or amount of pressure) and duration of interaction.

The present disclosure outlines various systems and methods directed to determining and utilising a user’s puff signature, e.g. to adjust one or more operational parameters of the system. Any suitable operational parameters may be adjusted and particular, non-limiting examples are described.

In some examples, the operational parameter comprises any one or more of:

• an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator;

• a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol;

• a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system;

• a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system;

• a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol;

• a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol;

• an air flow path to the aerosol generator;

• an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and

• air flow downstream of the aerosol generator.

The morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol generally relates to the form, shape and/or structure thereof, and thus may include the flow form (e.g. laminar/turbulent), particle shape, size and composition. Of course, many of these parameters may be interlinked, e.g. adjusting the temperature at the air inlet might also adjust e.g. the pressure delta across the air inlet; a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol; a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; the aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol; and an air flow path to the aerosol generator. In particular, the aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol can be adjusted e.g. by temperature, rate of change of temperature, altering/diverting flow of aerosol-generating materials) from the cartridge (e.g. using and variably mixing multiple different aerosol-generating materials such as low aroma and high aroma liquids), or activating an aroma pad e.g. by diverting inlet or outlet air/vapour/aerosol flow.

In some examples, the adjustment comprises any one or more of:

• pre-heating or cooling a mouthpiece;

• pre-heating or cooling the aerosol generator;

• pre-heating or cooling an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; and

• pre-heating or cooling an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system.

Furthermore, the puff signature and/or the adjustment may be dependent on one or more of:

• the aerosol-generating materials);

• a remaining volume of the aerosol-generating materials);

• a pre-conditioning time;

• an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or

• sensed data (e.g. accelerometer, gyroscope, environmental, biometric and/or location data).

The system (e.g. a controller thereof) may be configured to repeatedly or continuously adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system during puffing, responsive to the user’s puff signature.

Multiple aerosol-generating materials may be provided (e.g. in a system comprising multiple reservoirs or cartridges) and as an operational parameter, a mixture of the materials may be adjustable, e.g. to alter active ingredient content, as discussed further in WO2021/105674. Other operational parameters as outlined above may also be adjusted in combination. The adjustments) may be dependent on the puff signature and other factors (e.g. sensed data) as outlined above. The puff signature may be dependent on or associated with the aerosol-generating material(s) or components thereof.

Optionally, in recognition that a user can slowly change their behaviour (for example due to a change in personal circumstance, a change of work, or as part of a behaviour cessation plan), then such statistical representations of typical/default user behaviour may be rolling representations (for example based on the last N days, M weeks or 0 months of data; or a fixed number of puffs such as 10, 25, 50, 100 most recent puffs providing a moving-point average), or multiple representations of the same data may be maintained; for example statistical representation of the typical/default user behaviour for a particular interaction may be based on a month’s data, but a separate measure behaviour may be based on the last week’s data; accordingly, if the variance in the separate measure exceeds a threshold indicative that the user’s behaviour is changing, and/or if the average diverges from the longer term average, then this may indicate the need to build or start to build a new statistical representation based on more recent data.

Deviation from the puff signature may be determined as outlined in WO2021074580, e.g. based on mean/mode/median parameters of the puff signature (such as puff length, puff interval), using absolute or relative thresholds, optionally +/- variation, such as 0.01-3.00 x standard deviations, and may further be categorised and the operational parameter adjusted according to the categorisation. Where multiple parameters are being assessed and/or multiple adjustments made, then these can be combined using any suitable logical relationship such as AND, OR, XOR and may be weighted for preference. In some embodiments, the degree of change in the function of the aerosol provision system may be linearly or nonlinearly proportional to the degree of deviation from the user’s puff signature, once the deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold.

The puff signature user behaviour "algorithm" may be a machine-learning algorithm (e.g. utilising a feedback loop that automatically adapts (modifies) the stored puff signature in response to use of the device), and/or may be dependent on factors such as the cartridge/consumable being used, the environment used in or biometric data such as the user’s body temperature, heart rate etc., as discussed further below.

Flow modifiers

In some examples of the present disclosure, the operational parameter is related to flow or properties of air, vapour and/or aerosol to/from the aerosol generator or into/out of the wider system and these operational parameters may be adjustable using an adjustable flow modifier. In particular, these parameters may be adjustable to emulate the behaviour of a standard (e.g. factory-made) cigarette, as well as providing a bespoke experience for the user based on their puff signature.

The flow modifier may take any suitable form to adjust the operational parameter, such as a heater/cooler, a baffle (e.g. comprising a flap, valve, membrane, polymer or mesh to restrain, divert or regulate flow), motor, pump or pressurised fluid (e.g. compressed gas which can provide cooling). In some examples, the flow modifier is configured to vibrate, e.g. ultrasonically. Vibration can beneficially assist aerosol generation and/or modify the aerosol after it has been generated.

Figures 2a and 2b illustrate the system 1 of figure 1 with multiple flow modifiers 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 for adjusting various operational parameters. In contrast to figure 1 , the system 1 of figures 2a, 2b also comprises bypass air inlets 128 on the sides of the reusable part 4 of the system 1 . The bypass inlets 128 provide air inlets to the system 1 that bypass the aerosol generator 48, providing air flow into the system 1 downstream of the aerosol generator 48. The outlet path 52 from the aerosol generator 48 comprises three parts 52a, 52b, 52c, where the bypass air inlet paths join the outer outlet paths 52a, 52c (but not 52b in this example), in which vapour/aerosol flows from the aerosol generator 48 in use.

Figure 2b illustrates the system of figure 2a with flow paths superimposed and flow modifier labels removed, for clarity.

The system of figures 2a and 2b illustrate the temperature T and pressure P of fluid flow (which may comprise air, vapour and/or aerosol) at various points:

• the ambient temperature and pressure upstream of the air inlets 28, 128 and downstream of the mouthpiece 50 are To, Po respectively;

• the temperature and pressure downstream of both the first air inlet 28 and first flow modifier 61 are Ti, Pi respectively;

• the temperature and pressure downstream of the second set of flow modifiers 62 and upstream of the aerosol generator 48 are T2, P2 respectively;

• the temperature and pressure downstream of the aerosol generator 48 and upstream of the third flow modifier 63 are T3, P3 respectively;

• the temperature and pressure downstream of both the third and fourth flow modifiers 63, 64 are T4, P respectively;

• the temperature and pressure downstream of the fifth set of flow modifiers 65 and upstream of the sixth set of flow modifiers 66 are Ts, P5 respectively; and

• the temperature and pressure downstream of the sixth set of flow modifiers 66 and upstream of the mouthpiece 50 are Te, Pe respectively.

The flow modifiers 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65 and 66 shown in the example of figures 2a and 2b are now described in more detail.

The first flow modifier 61 is a baffle in the form of a flap. The flap 61 is movable (e.g. motor-driven) to adjust air flow (speed/volume/pressure/path) through the air inlet 28. Accordingly, the flap 61 is operable to adjust the air flow path to the aerosol generator 48 as well as a pressure delta (P1-P0) across the air inlet 28 to the aerosol generator 48 and system 1.

The second set of flow modifiers 62 comprise a heater in the form of a wire. The heater wire 62 generates heat by resistance to adjust a temperature at the air inlet 28 to the aerosol generator 48 or system 1. Such adjustments can make the produced aerosol/vapour feel more like smoke from a normal cigarette.

The third and fourth flow modifiers 63, 64 are downstream from the aerosol generator 48 and comprise a micropump 63 and a set of 3 microvalves 64 across the flow outlet path 52. The micropump 63 can provide flow speed/volume/pressure/temperature adjustment at the outlet of the aerosol generator 48, whilst the valves 64 can restrict/divert fluid flow and alter pressure I flow rate. These and other (e.g. inlet air flow) adjustments can alter the particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol: generally, active ingredient particles (e.g. nicotine) are bigger and are "harsher" in flavour/mouthfeel. A user will notice bigger particles being deposited which may provide "good" flavour, but are not “good” for nicotine efficiency, whilst small particles are good for inhalation, but less “good” flavour. The particle size can be adjusted to suit the user’s preference based on their puff signature.

The outlet path 52 comprises three parts 52a, 52b, 52c. Each valve 64 controls a respective part of the path 52, regulating flow therealong and thus is operable to adjust the air/vapour/aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator 48. As shown, there are additional bypass air inlets 128 on the side of the reusable part 4, which provide air flow into the system 1 bypassing the aerosol generator 48. As is best shown in figure 2b, the paths of these air inlets 128 join the outer outlet flow paths 52a, 52c and introduce additional air flow downstream of the aerosol generator 48. Beneficial arrangements introduce air flow that travels around the generated vapour/aerosol (rather than through the generated vapour/aerosol, as is the case with the air flow from air inlet 28). This mixing desirably emulates factory-made cigarettes, where air is brought in around the smoke and heated embers, i.e. there is an ember burning at the end of the cigarette and a layer of air (an "air path") around the tobacco/underneath the paper exists along the full length of the cigarette (and through the filter), whilst the smoke and heat are in the centre of the cigarette. In an alternative arrangement (not shown), a flow modifier may be configured to divert a portion of the air flow from the air inlet 28 such that it bypasses the aerosol generator 48, to mix around the generated vapour/aerosol, without requiring a separate bypass air inlet 128.

The fifth set of flow modifiers 65 are downstream of the aerosol generator 48 and comprise baffles or flaps 65 to regulate and/or divert the bypass air flow from the bypass air inlets 128 (which provide additional inlets to the system 1 which bypass the aerosol generator 48, thus the air flow through the bypass air inlets 128 does not travel through the aerosol generator 48 and does not entrain vapour/aerosol from the aerosol generator 48) and flows into and/or around the aerosol flow path downstream from the aerosol generator 48. Optionally, other flow modifiers (not shown) may also be provided to alter flow parameters such as temperature, pressure, flow rate of the bypass air flow, e.g. in the bypass air inlet paths.

The sixth set of flow modifiers 66 are located downstream of the bypass air flow inlets to the flow path 52 and upstream of the mouthpiece 50 and comprise two heaters/coolers 66. These heaters/coolers 66 are thus operable to adjust a temperature at and/or pressure delta (Pe-Po) across the outlet from the system 1 as well as adjust parameters of the (bypass) air flow downstream of the aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator 48. Such adjustments (particularly increasing the air inlet temperature or exhaled vapour/aerosol temperature) can make the produced aerosol/vapour feel more like smoke from a normal cigarette.

As outlined above, the flow modifiers provide a means for adjusting operating parameters of the system to suit the user’s puff signature as conditions change, e.g. in different environments, when using a different cartridge or as the user’s puffing style changes over time. Optional additional flow modifiers may be user to adjust other parameters as desired.

In a further example, the controller is configured to increase the temperature at an air inlet 28, 128 to or an outlet from the aerosol generator 48 or system 1 (e.g. at or near the mouthpiece 50) over time, as the user puffs, emulating the behaviour of a standard cigarette where the heated embers burn closer to the user’s mouth during puffing.

Environmental and biometric parameters

A user’s puff signature may be used to adjust one or more operational parameters of an aerosol delivery system. The adjustment may be dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter, so that it is responsive to ambient conditions e.g. changes in the ambient temperature (such as cold/warm day) or the user’s personal body condition, e.g. body temperature or heart rate. On a cold day (which might be reflected in e.g. low ambient temperature and/or low body temperature), inlet air may be warmed before puffing starts - adapting to ambient/personal conditions as well as to the user’s puff signature - improving flavour and providing better nicotine delivery.

The puff signature itself may be dependent on the environmental or biometric parameter (e.g. depend on, such as a being a function of, the current external ambient temperature), or the puff signature may be adapted in use according to the environmental or biometric parameter, e.g. when the puff signature is used to adjust one or more operational parameters, the adjustment may be based on the user’s puff signature for the user and the environmental or biometric parameter (e.g. based on the current external ambient temperature or user’s lip temperature).

In one example, the user’s puff signature defines an algorithm for pre-heating the aerosol generator temperature to suit that user. The algorithm may itself be defined to be dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter (e.g. as a function of ambient temperature), or the puff signature itself may not be directly dependent, but adapted in use based on the environmental or biometric parameter (e.g. by a weighting factor that is not part of the user’s individual puff signature). In some examples, the controller is configured tocompare the current puff-based interaction to the puff signature for the user; and when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the user’s puff signature, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the deviation. Any relevant environmental or biometric parameter may be used. In particular, the environmental parameter may comprise time of day, pressure, temperature and/or humidity; and the biometric parameter may comprise heart rate and/or body/lip temperature. The system 1 may comprise a sensor configured to sense the parameter, e.g. proximal to the mouthpiece (such as near the user’s lips) to indicate conditions (e.g. ambient or body temperature) at/proximal to the user’s mouth. In some examples, the controller or system is configured to receive data from a remote sensor (e.g. chest or wrist-based heart rate monitor) or another device, such as from a connected mobile telephone or smartwatch, which may sense the parameter and provide data, or retrieve forecast environmental parameters from the internet. Heart rate data in particular is useful to determine stress and/or activity level, e.g. intensity of activity or exercise, and thus adjustments can be made based on this. Further data may be gathered e.g. from other sensors or devices to determine the type of activity and thus adjustments can be made based on this also, e.g. a smartwatch may provide heart rate, blood oxygen, location and activity type data when the user has engaged a particular mode such as a ‘run’ or ‘cycle’ activity.

In some examples, the adjustment is made if the parameter deviates from a default by more than a predetermined relative or absolute threshold as outlined above, e.g. +/- 2.5°C from a standardised ambient temperature. For example, a capacitive temperature sensor may be configured to detect ambient temperature (e.g. moving from outdoor to indoor) as a preparation mode for the device - if the measured temperature does not differ from a default algorithm temperature by more than a threshold then the algorithm is unchanged, if it detects a change then the algorithm is adjusted.

Matching and tailoring aerosol-generating materials

A user’s puff signature may be used to identify/recommend an existing aerosol-generating material (i.e. e-liguid or consumable cartridge) that best suits them, or to derive a formulation for a bespoke, tailored aerosol-generating material composition for the user.

Consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials contain a number of different constituent chemical elements that need to be heated at different temperatures and/or for certain time periods in order to be released effectively, thus different consumables have an ideal heating or "thermal" profile. Accordingly, if a user’s puff signature is based on I comprises a thermal profile of the user’s prior puffs, then a processor can analyse this and identify an existing composition/consumable that has a thermal profile that is suitable for or best matches the user's signature, which helps guard against oil burn and creates a smooth, balanced hit with emphasized flavour providing a repeatable and consistent experience. Furthermore, a processor can compare thermal profiles for aerosol-generating material components to the user’s puff signature and then formulate a bespoke aerosol-generating material composition, tailored to the user’s puff signature. Figure 3 is a graph illustrating a thermal profile for a user’s prior puffs, showing the statistical temperature of the aerosol generator (AG) against time for prior puffs, with three plots: a mean over all prior puffs on which the signature is based, as well as 5^th and 95^th percentiles for the same. Time to represents initial activation of the device (pre-puff), whilst time ti represents the mean start of puffing, and time to the mean end of puffing.

Figure 3 thus shows a statistical representation of a temperature profile for the aerosol generator during puffing, which can be compared to thermal profiles for aerosol-generating materials or components thereof to identify an existing aerosol-generating material suitable for the user’s puff signature and/or to formulate a bespoke aerosol-generating material composition, tailored to the user’s puff signature, based on the temperatures experienced. Alternatively, other thermal profiles may be used, such as the temperature of generated vapour/aerosol itself, (which may be measured by an internal sensor), or the temperature of the vapour/aerosol outlet during puffing (e.g. mouthpiece 50), which might be considered to represent the aerosol temperature. The temperature profile may vary significantly over a puff, e.g. relatively high at the start, low in the middle and high at the end; or relatively low at the start, high in the middle and low at the end. Introducing more or less air dilution can change the profile. Changing the humidity can also assist in adding more air and/or aroma (flavour) with less vapour and thus the thermal profile may optionally comprise humidity.

The thermal profiles for aerosol-generating materials or components may comprise an operating temperature and/or humidity profile for the material or component, e.g. including one or more of: minimum, optimal and maximum operating temperatures and/or operating humidity for the material or component, which may be provided in material data sheets or determined by experimentation. The thermal profiles for the aerosol-generating materials or material components may comprise an operating efficiency or ‘performance’ profile for the material or component, such as aerosol generation volume or particle size versus temperature and/or humidity profile for an active ingredient; or a flavour versus temperature or humidity profile for an aroma/flavour ingredient, where e.g. gentler heating provide certain flavours different to stronger heating (hence aroma may be dependent on temperature, humidity and/or temperature change rate). Thus, these profiles can be matched to the user’s preferred puffing style, via their puff signature.

Figure 4 illustrates how puff signature and aerosol-generating material/component thermal profiles may be compared and illustrates:

• the mean temperature of the aerosol generator (AG) against time for a user’s prior puffs;

• minimum and maximum operating temperatures TMIN and TMAxfor aerosol-generating material component C1 ; and

• aerosol production volume q of active ingredients 1 and 2 against temperature

As in figure 3, time to represents initial activation of the device (pre-puff), whilst time ti represents the mean start of puffing, and time to the mean end of puffing. It can be seen from figure 4 that:

• the minimum and maximum operating temperatures TMIN and TMAxfor aerosol-generating material component C1 are within the mean operating temperature of the aerosol generator when puffing, i.e. between time ti and time t2, thus C1 is suitable for this user profile

• the efficiency plot of active ingredient 1 generally follows the curvature of the mean temperature of the aerosol generator with a small negative offset - the efficiency q of active ingredient 1 is approximately 40% at time ti and peaks at 80% during puffing temperatures (i.e. temperatures between time ti and time t2), remaining at 80% at TMAX

• the efficiency q of active ingredient 2 is approximately 50% at time ti having a sharper initial gradient than active ingredient 1 and peaks at approximately 70% during puffing temperatures (i.e. temperatures between time ti and time t2), but falls to approximately 60% at TMAX

Comparing the thermal profiles of active ingredients 1 and 2, on a time-basis, ingredient 1 may be considered a better fit for the user, since it has a higher aerosol production efficiency for a greater proportion of puffing time than ingredient 2, particularly at TMAX. By contrast, for a user having a similar puffing signature except for a significantly shorter puff duration (e.g. 1/3 of the duration t2-ti depicted in figure 4), ingredient 2 may be more suitable, since it provides higher aerosol production efficiency for puffing at lower temperatures, i.e. from ti to (t2-ti)/3 (indicated by the dashed line between ti and t2).

In some examples, the thermal profile for comparison may be weighted, e.g. for the user’s thermal profile, pre-puff temperatures may be ignored, whilst the puffing stage before steady-state aerosol generator temperature may have a different weight in the comparison to the steady-state aerosol generator temperature puffing stage. This may be multi-staged (granular), e.g. the last 10% of the steady-state puff duration may be further weighted to provide the optimum ‘finish’ for the user.

In further examples, the comparison of thermal profiles is within one or more relative or absolute thresholds for one or more parameters and can be combined using any suitable logical relationship such as AND, OR, XOR, e.g.:

• the user’s thermal profile is based on the average aerosol generator temperature of recent prior puffs, with a threshold of e.g. +/- 10% or +/- 10°C for comparison (e.g. applying a +/- 10% or 10°C error bar to the plot in figure 4); or

• the operating temperatures of the aerosol generator for a user’s thermal profile must be within/under the maximum operating temperature (optionally less a margin of error of e.g. 5%, 10%, 5°C, 10°C) of the aerosol-generating material components for e.g. 90% or 95% of the time, to minimise poor performance/burning; and/or within e.g. 5%, 10% or 5°C, 10°C, 20°C of the optimal operating temperature for at least e.g. 40%, 50% or 60% of the puffing duration, to optimise aerosol generation, etc. Preconditioning time and puff anticipation

As outlined above, the puff signature may comprise pre-puff parameters such as preconditioning time, which can be useful to adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system and even anticipate puffing by a user. Accordingly, capturing this preconditioning time may improve (reduce) the time to produce aerosol when puffing, and thus improve the user experience and satisfaction.

For example, a controller for an aerosol delivery system may be configured to monitor a current puffbased interaction by the user; and adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on the puff signature. The operational parameter may be any suitable parameter, but in particular might involve preheating/cooling the aerosol generator, an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system, an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system, or the mouthpiece.

In a first simple example, the puff signature may define a typical (e.g. mean/median/modal) preconditioning time of 1 second. The controller can monitor activation of the system and thus be responsive to the typical preconditioning time of 1 second, adjusting an operational parameter of the system accordingly. This may be in anticipation of a puff, e.g. checking the temperature of the aerosol generator and adjusting the initial power or power profile to be supplied, or preheating/cooling a part of the system such as the aerosol generator, an inlet, outlet or the mouthpiece, based on the current temperature and preconditioning time, before puffing begins.

Alternatively or in addition, the controller may be responsive to a deviation from the puff signature, e.g. if the user does not start puffing within the typical 1 second, then the initial power may be adjusted differently, and/or another parameter may be altered. For example, the puff signature may reflect that for preconditioning times >1 second when the user moves the system to their lips slowly, then the user has a different puffing style, and so different parameters may be altered. The puff signature may comprise a standard deviation/variation for the preconditioning time and e.g. deviation outside of the typical standard deviation/variation may result in a different adjustment, e.g. cancelling pre-heating/cooling.

In a second example, the puff signature may reflect that the typical preconditioning time is inversely proportional to desired active ingredient content, e.g. when the user seeks a higher nicotine content, then their puff-based interaction has a shorter preconditioning time; and vice versa. Again, the controller is operable to adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system responsive to the interaction, based on the puff signature, to provide a tailored experience better suiting the user’s circumstances. Reset / break-out mechanism

In some embodiments of the disclosure, the system (e.g. the controller 22 thereof) has a break-out or reset mechanism which resets/switches the system/controller to a baseline, default mode of operation, which is not based on any previous usage. This break-out or reset mechanism is particularly useful if multiple users are using the same system and/or if the learned adjustments are unsuitable.

In some embodiments, the controller 22 is switchable between an adaptive mode and a default mode. In the adaptive mode, the controller 22 provide operation/control adaptive to prior user behaviour/usage and is configured to monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system 1 and adjust one or more operational parameters of the system 1 based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user. As outlined above, this may (optionally) involve comparing the current interaction to prior interaction(s), e.g. as defined by the puffbased parameter or the puff signature, identifying a deviation and then making one or more adjustments based thereon. In some embodiments, the adjustment is made when the deviation exceeds a minimum deviation threshold and/or is below a maximum deviation threshold. The threshold may be an absolute or relative threshold, e.g. based on a statistical measure of prior puffs such as an average (mean/median/mode), optionally taking account of innate variability by the threshold being based on a whole, multiple or fractional standard deviations) from the average, or being a percentile threshold such as 75, 80, 85% or 115, 120, 125% of the average. For minor deviations, it may not be worth making any adjustment, whereas major deviations may suggest a fault has occurred or a new user is using the system.

Accordingly, the adaptive mode adapts one or more operational parameters for a current puff based on previous usage (e.g. a single puff-based parameter for one or more prior puffs, or the user’s puff signature, which may be based on one or more parameters, typically based on multiple puffs). In some adaptive modes, the controller 22 is configured to repeatedly (e.g. periodically) or (substantially) continuously monitor the current puff-based interaction; and repeatedly (e.g. periodically) or (substantially) continuously adjust the one or more operational parameters. In other adaptive modes, the monitoring and/or adjusting steps are performed only during one or more part(s) of the puff, such as when particular conditions are met e.g. only when significant aerosol is being produced, which might be based on particular operating temperatures for the aerosol generator 48, or only for a partial duration of a puff e.g. between particular percentiles of a user’s average puff duration (such as 10%- 80%, equating to 0.5 seconds to 4 seconds for a user having a substantially 5-second puff on average).

By contrast, in the default mode, the controller 33 is configured to control the system 1 based on predetermined (default) operational parameters for the system 1 , which may e.g. be factory- configured and optionally user-customisable. In the default mode, operation/control is not based on prior usage. In other words, no adjustments to operational parameters are made during puffing based on prior puffs or a user’s puff signature, but adjustments may still be made based on other factors or inputs, including sensed data such as environmental or biometric parameters, or settings such as those on the system itself or in a paired application (e.g. a companion application on a smartphone).

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating possible inputs to the controller 22. In summary, the controller 22 may control the aerosol delivery system 1 based on various inputs, including:

• prior puff data (e.g. a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user - used to adjust operational parameters only in adaptive modes);

• current puff data (e.g. parameters based on the current puff-based interaction);

• sensed data (e.g. biometric and/or environmental parameters which may be sensed directly by the system or sensed remotely, such as by a paired smartphone, and communicated to the system/controller); and/or

• app and/or system data (e.g. settings as set by a user interface on a paired smartphone or locally on the system/controller itself).

The system/controller may have multiple default modes and/or multiple adaptive modes. For example, each default mode may have different predetermined operational parameters, thus providing different baseline modes of operation, such as predetermined (e.g. low/medium/high) default power supply/delivery to the aerosol generator 48 (e.g. 70/85/100% max power) for an e- cigarette implementation, or equally low/medium/high operating temperatures (such as 240/250/260°C) for a THP system. THP systems typically operate to provide an average working temperature for the heater, rather than raw power levels for a vapourised liquid system. Accordingly, the adaptive mode for a THP system changes the power level to better control the average temperature in the THP system.

Equally, the system/controller may have multiple adaptive modes, e.g. providing different levels/strengths of adjustment (e.g. low/medium/high/mirror adjustment, where in the highest ‘mirror’ mode, the system/controller adjusts the operational parameters for the current puff to mirror the user’s prior puff or puff signature e.g. based on mapping puff strength to power profile for the current puff compared to the prior puff/puff signature). In other embodiments, the multiple adaptive modes provide e.g. different thresholds for activating an adjustment (e.g. delta between current puff and prior puff/signature > 5, 10 or 15%) and/or different time thresholds for detecting a deviation (e.g. requiring time surpassing threshold > 100, 200 or 500 ms), or time delays before implementing the adjustment. All such example embodiments throughout the disclosure may be used in any combination.

The adaptive mode(s) may comprise one or more ‘hybrid’ adaptive mode(s), providing both default and adaptive control in a single puff. Providing multiple such hybrid adaptive modes may be beneficial to provide a variety of baselines that may require only minor adjustment to suit a particular user, and therefore can be adjusted quickly. In one example, control begins based on predetermined operational parameters (akin to a default mode), but is subsequently (in the same puff) adjusted during the puff based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user.

More specifically, a given puff may be divided into multiple phases, e.g. including: i. pre-heat phase (before the aerosol generator 48 is at operating temperature and generating aerosol), ii. core aerosol delivery phase, including peak aerosol generation; and

Hi. tail-off phase (as the puff pressure differential from ambient decreases and the aerosol generator may start to cool).

In some embodiments, the adaptive mode involves providing default control (i.e. based on predetermined operational parameters) for one or more such phases or portions of a puff.

Typically, user puffs may take 200-500 ms to reach maximum pressure and so if a variable/adaptive power profile is activated from the start of the puff (starting when the aerosol generator 48 is cold), it could take longer for the aerosol generator 48 to reach operating temperature. Accordingly, predetermined operational parameters are preferably used initially, for the pre-heat phase, which may comprise e.g. providing full power for 200-500 ms to minimise the pre-heat time and then switching to adaptive control, i.e. monitoring the current interaction and adjusting one or more operational parameters based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user. This default pre-heat phase control profile may be applied regardless of any power profile, other settings set by the user or any puff strength (pressure) measurements.

In another example, predetermined operational parameters are used initially, for the pre-heat phase for 200-500 ms, and thereafter the system/controller is configured to: measure the puff pressure and then select the most appropriate default predetermined operational parameters based on the puff pressure (e.g. high pressure differential {heavy draw} -> high power default operational parameters, etc.); and monitor the current puff-based interaction and then adjust one or more operational parameters of the system, based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user (i.e. adaptive control from here).

In further examples, which may be combined with the above, the adaptive mode comprises the monitoring and adjustment steps for the core aerosol generation phase ii), but thereafter, e.g. once the puffing pressure or puff duration surpasses a threshold, the system/controller provides control based on predetermined operational parameters.

Table 1 below summarises some of the modes which may be available as set out in some of the above examples, which may also be used in any combination, e.g. mode 8 comprises modes 1+4 in combination.

Table 1

The system/controller may be configured to switch between the default and/or the adaptive modes automatically dependent on a condition or trigger, such as any one or more of: • a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user (e.g. switching to the default mode most aligned with the user’s prior puff or puff signature, or switching to a particular default or adaptive mode after entering a particular puff phase, e.g. determined based on a prior puff);

• a puff-based parameter for the current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system (e.g. switching default mode part-way through the current puff to the default mode more/most aligned with the user’s current puff);

• an environmental or biometric parameter (e.g. day, date, time, location, temperature, humidity, pressure, body temperature, heart rate etc. as outlined above); and/or

• sensed data (including all types as outlined above, and which may comprise data relating to the environmental or biometric parameter and/or be sensed by the system 1 or sensed by a remote device and communicated to the system 1 . The sensed data may be used e.g. to switch to a default mode in a first location and switch to an adaptive mode in a second location). In some embodiments, the system/controller is configured to switch between any of the adaptive modes and default modes, whilst in others the system/controller is configured to switch between only a subset of the modes (e.g. only between the default modes or only between the adaptive modes).

In one example, the system/controller is configured to switch between the default modes based on a time of day, day of the week, a location or other environmental parameter of the system, e.g. because the user may seek a weaker puff in the evening or in different climate conditions, or equally a stronger puff when they are stressed, e.g. as evidenced by heart rate or blood pressure. The user may be able to associate/set conditions with one or more of the default modes (e.g. after 20:00 on working days, use low power default mode) via a user interface on the system and/or via a remote interface such as on a mobile device.

The user may be able to selectively disable all adaptive control, any/all particular adaptive modes and/or may be able to set a default mode. Even if all adaptive control I all adaptive modes are disabled, the system/controller may still be able to switch between the default modes, e.g. based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user (e.g. switching mode during a current puff to another default mode more/most aligned with the user’s current puff, or switching mode after a puff ready for the next puff).

Figure 6 is a schematic, simplified diagram illustrating puff strength (pressure drop relative to ambient) versus aerosol generator power for a user’s puff profile (based on prior puffs). In figure 6 there are three stepped power levels: low, medium and high. Based on prior puffs, the system/controller has established three simplified trigger points for each power level dependent on puff strength (pressure). The trigger points (puff strength) for each power level can be adjusted based on a setting on the system itself and/or on a paired interface such as an app on a paired smartphone. This setting can provide an amplifying or dampening override effect on the established trigger points. The power levels may also be adjustable, e.g. based on a setting on the system itself and/or on a paired interface such as an app on a paired smartphone. In other embodiments, there may be different/additional stepped power levels, or a continuous profile (e.g. linear approximation or best-fit trend line based on prior puffs) may be used.

The system/controller may be configured to reset to a default mode based on a particular input (e.g. a reset button being pressed) or based on an event. Accordingly, the system/controller may be configured to detect an event or input and switch to one of the modes (e.g. a baseline such as default mode 2) in response to detecting the event or input.

In some embodiments, the event or input comprises:

• the system or controller being switched on, off and/or reset (thereby limiting the adaptive mode to a particular puffing session); and/or • the power supply being disconnected, removed (e.g. taken out of the device/system after disconnection), drained of charge or recharged (thereby again limiting the adaptive mode to a particular subset of one or more puffing sessions); and/or

• a new user of the system (e.g. as detected by a sensor on the system, detecting a significant deviation (beyond a threshold) from the puff-based parameter for a prior puff or the puff signature for the user, or e.g. data received from a remote device, such as setting up a new user on a companion application); and/or

• an input from a user interface (e.g. a button, switch or sensor); and/or

• data received from a remote device (such as an application or server) or a sensor (e.g. biometric sensor to identify the user uniquely).

Several of the events outlined above may indicate a new puffing session or a new user, thus appropriately reset the system back to a baseline mode. In particular, since a puff signature may comprise a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour, variation from the puff signature beyond a threshold may indicate a new user.

Adaptive modes may also be used to train users towards a particular profile, which may be to provide an optimal experience. For example, if a specific puff duration X is identified as optimal for a user, then if their prior puffs are slightly shorter than X, power can be reduced slightly to promote a longer puff; and if their prior puffs are slightly longer than X, then power can be increased slightly. Similarly, if a specific puff frequency X is desired (e.g. to reduce total puffing time) then if a user is puffing more frequently, power can be increased slightly to generate more aerosol in the same time.

The system/controller may have various inputs to switch between, selectively enable (/disable) or adjust one or more of the modes. In particular, the system/controller may comprise:

• a user interface configured to switch between, selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes; and/or

• a communication module configured to receive instructions from a remote device (such as an app on a paired smartphone) to switch between, selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes; and/or

• a sensor configured to trigger switching between or selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes.

The user interface may take any form, such as one of the buttons 14, 16, a switch, slider, sensor or toggle and may be used e.g. to disable one or more adaptive modes, and/or to adjust or override a parameter for one or more of the modes, such as a threshold, an average or a maximum/minimum value (e.g. the % power caps or % delta adjustments shown in table 1). In one particular embodiment for a THP system, the user interface comprises an actuator in a filter portion of a consumable, which may be detectable/depressible. The system may further comprise a feedback mechanism configured to indicate the operating mode of the controller 22 and particularly whether or not adaptive control (i.e. an adaptive mode) is active. In some embodiments, the feedback mechanism comprises a haptic, audible or visual feedback device (e.g. LED or an icon on a display); and/or a communication module configured to transmit data indicating the operating mode of the controller to a remote device, such as a paired smartphone, which may then provide haptic, audible or visual feedback.

Puff sensor

As set out above, puff parameters may be determined by the puff sensor 30, which may typically be a microphone or a pressure sensor. Preferably, the puff sensor 30 comprises a differential pressure sensor (or equally a pair of absolute pressure sensors 30), since this reduces the occurrence of false triggers and allows the differential for detecting the start of a puff to be much lower, .e.g. generally as low as 10-30 or 10-20 mm water gauge (mmwg), such as substantially 10, 11 , 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 or 20 mmwg for detecting the start and/or end of a puff promptly, after which automatic adjustments may be made in the adaptive mode, e.g. based on the current draw pressure in view of the user’s prior puffs I puff signature (‘autodraw’ functionality). The typical puff pressure differential in use (during puffing) may vary between 40-500 mmwg.

In particular, a threshold for detecting the start of a puff based on a differential pressure of substantially > 15 mmwg (and correspondingly substantially < 15 mmwg, or even < 12 or < 10 mmwg for the end of a puff) increases speed and/or reliability of detection, measurement and adjustments based thereon, hence increases consumer satisfaction.

Equally, the controller/system may be configured to ignore readings beyond extrema such those substantially equating to full vacuum.

For the avoidance of doubt, any and all combinations of features disclosed herein are explicitly contemplated in any and all such combinations.

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. Any functions of a processor (e.g. controller) may be shared between processors on the various devices/systems in the wider system and/or a remote server. 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 utilised 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. Protection may also be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referenced herein in combination with the present disclosure.

Terminology

Delivery System

As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosolgenerating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolgenerating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

Combustible Aerosol Provision System

According to the present disclosure, a “combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

Non-Combustible Aerosol Provision System 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 aerosolgenerating 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, liquid 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 aerosolgenerating 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 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 or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic 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. Aerosol-Free Delivery System

In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.

Active Substance

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. The active substance as used herein may be a 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.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes. As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

Flavours

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour. As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" 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 (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, Wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

Aerosol-generating material

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, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. 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 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

Aerosol-former material

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. Functional material

The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

Substrate

The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

Consumable

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. 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. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

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.

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, flavour, 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 aerosolmodifying 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 flavourant, a colourant, 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.

Aerosol generator

An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosolgenerating 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 aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

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

Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable/consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a ‘cartomizer’) and the reusable device part will comprise the power supply (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems/devices. It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

Index to reference numerals

1 aerosol delivery system

2 reusable part

4 cartridge part

6 interface between reusable part and cartridge part

12 reusable part housing

14, 16 user input buttons

20 user programming circuitry

22 controller

24 display

26 power source

28 air inlet

30 airflow sensor

31 printed circuit board (PCB)

32 sensor cavity or chamber

34 chamber wall

42 cartridge housing

44 chamber or reservoir

46 wick

48 aerosol generator

50 mouthpiece outlet

52 airflow path through the reusable part

61-66 flow modifiers 128 bypass air inlet Particular features

Particular features are set out below and may be isolated and/or combined, in any permutation, with any one or more features disclosed anywhere in the text and/or accompanying drawings. Such combinations are explicitly contemplated to provide further preferable embodiments.

Particular features 1

1 . A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor puff-based interactions by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. determine a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions.

2. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions.

3. The controller of clause 2, wherein the controller is configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; b. compare the current puff-based interaction to the puff signature for the user; and c. when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the user’s puff signature, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the deviation.

4. A method for controlling for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the method comprising: a. monitoring puff-based interactions by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. determining a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions.

5. A method for controlling an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosolgenerating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring a current puff-based interaction by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions.

6. The controller or method of any preceding clause, wherein the deviation from the user’s puff signature is categorised and the adjustment of the operational parameters) of the aerosol delivery system depends on the categorisation.

7. The controller or method of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is based on a rolling representation of the user’s prior puff-based interactions.

8. The controller or method of any preceding clause, wherein the operational parameter comprises any one or more of: a. an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator; b. a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol; c. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; d. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system; e. a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol; f. a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; g. an air flow path to the aerosol generator; h. an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and i. air flow downstream of the aerosol generator.

9. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising multiple aerosol-generating materials and an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating materials for user inhalation, the controller configured to: a. monitor a current puff by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust a supply of the multiple aerosol-generating materials to the aerosol generator based on a puff signature for the user, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puffs.

10. The controller of clause 9, wherein when the current puff deviates from the puff signature for the user by a pre-determined amount, adjust the supply of the multiple aerosol-generating materials to the aerosol generator, based on the deviation.

11 . The controller of clause 9 or 10, further comprising: a. multiple aerosol-generating materials having different active ingredient contents; and/or b. separate chambers for the multiple aerosol-generating materials.

Particular features 2

1 . A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puffs and the one or more operational parameters comprise one or more of: i. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; ii. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system;

Hi. a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; iv. an air flow path to the aerosol generator; v. an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and vi. air flow downstream of the aerosol generator.

2. The controller of clause 1 , wherein the controller is configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; b. compare the current puff-based interaction to the puff signature for the user; and c. when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the user’s puff signature, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the deviation.

3. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on the puff signature comprises any one or more of: a. pre-heating or cooling a mouthpiece of the system; b. pre-heating or cooling the aerosol generator; c. pre-heating or cooling an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; and d. pre-heating or cooling an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system. 4. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to increase the temperature at an air inlet to or outlet from the aerosol generator or system over time, as the user puffs.

5. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol by adjusting a flow speed, rate or pressure of air flow into the aerosol generator or system, or of vapour/aerosol out of the aerosol generator or system.

6. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to adjust bypass air flow that is downstream of the aerosol generator and bypasses the aerosol generator.

7. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a temperature, speed, flow rate, pressure or path of the bypass air flow.

8. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the operational parameter further comprises any one or more of: a. an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator; and b. a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol.

9. An aerosol delivery system comprising the controller of any preceding clause, further comprising: a. an aerosol generator; and/or b. a cartridge or cartomizer housing an aerosol-generating material for generating aerosol for inhalation by a user; and/or c. a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters of the user’s puffs; and/or d. a power source.

10. The system or controller of any preceding clause, comprising an adjustable flow modifier configured to adjust flow through the air inlet, aerosol generator and/or aerosol outlet.

11 . The system or controller of any preceding clause, comprising an adjustable flow modifier configured to adjust bypass air flow around the vapour/aerosol flow from the aerosol generator to the aerosol outlet.

12. The system or controller of any preceding clause, comprising an adjustable flow modifier configured to adjust vapour/aerosol flow from the aerosol generator and/or through the aerosol outlet. The system or controller of any of clauses 10 to 12, wherein the flow modifier comprises a heater or cooler. The system or controller of any of clauses 10 to 13, wherein the flow modifier comprises a baffle, motor, pump and/or compressed fluid configured to adjust the flow through the air inlet, aerosol generator and/or aerosol outlet. The system or controller of clause 14, wherein the baffle comprises a valve, membrane, polymer or mesh. The system or controller of any of clauses 10-15, wherein the flow modifier is configured to vibrate. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature comprises a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is based on one or more of: a. prior puff duration; b. prior puff frequency; c. prior puff flow rate; d. prior puff temperature; e. prior puff pressure; f. prior puff flow rate; g. prior puff thermal profile; and/or h. a rolling number of prior puff-based interactions. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature and/or the adjustment is dependent on one or more of: a. the aerosol-generating material; b. a remaining volume of the aerosol-generating material; c. a pre-conditioning time, wherein the pre-conditioning time is the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing by the user; d. an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or e. sensed data. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein: a. the environmental or biometric parameter comprises time of day, pressure, temperature, humidity, body temperature and/or heart rate; and/or b. the sensed data comprises accelerometer, gyroscope, biometric and/or location data. 21 . A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puffs and the one or more operational parameters comprise one or more of: i. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; ii. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system;

22. A computer program product or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to carry out the method of clause 21.

Particular features 3

1 . A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions and dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter.

2. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user and an environmental or biometric parameter, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; b. compare the current puff-based interaction to the puff signature for the user; and c. when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the user’s puff signature, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the deviation. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the environmental parameter comprises time of day, pressure, temperature and/or humidity. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the biometric parameter comprises body temperature and/or heart rate. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the adjustment is made if the environmental or biometric parameter deviates from a default by more than a predetermined threshold. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on the puff signature comprises any one or more of: a. pre-heating or cooling a mouthpiece of the system; b. pre-heating or cooling the aerosol generator; c. pre-heating or cooling an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; and d. pre-heating or cooling an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system. An aerosol delivery system comprising the controller of any preceding clause, further comprising: a. an aerosol generator; and/or b. a cartridge or cartomizer housing an aerosol-generating material for generating aerosol for inhalation by a user; and/or c. a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters of the user’s puffs; and/or d. a power source. The system or controller of any preceding clause, comprising a sensor configured to sense the environmental or biometric parameter. The system or controller of any preceding clause, comprising a pressure, temperature, humidity and/or heart rate sensor proximal to a mouthpiece. The system or controller of any preceding clause, configured to receive pressure, temperature, humidity and/or heart rate data. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the operational parameter comprises any one or more of: a. an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator; b. a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol; c. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; d. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system; e. a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol; f. a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; g. an air flow path to the aerosol generator; h. an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and i. air flow downstream of the aerosol generator. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature comprises a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is further based on one or more of: a. prior puff duration; b. prior puff frequency; c. prior puff volume; d. prior puff temperature; e. prior puff pressure; f. prior puff flow rate; g. prior puff thermal profile; and/or h. a rolling number of prior puff-based interactions. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature and/or the adjustment is dependent on one or more of: a. the aerosol-generating material; b. a remaining volume of the aerosol-generating material; c. a pre-conditioning time, wherein the pre-conditioning time is the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing by the user; and/or d. sensed data. The system or controller of clause 15, wherein the sensed data comprises accelerometer, gyroscope, biometric and/or location data. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions and dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user and an environmental or biometric parameter, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor puff-based interactions by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. determine a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions and dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring puff-based interactions by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. determining a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions and dependent on an environmental or biometric parameter. 21 . A computer program product or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to carry out the method of clauses 17, 18 or 20.

Particular features 4

1 . A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions, including a preconditioning time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing.

3. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff-based interaction comprises the user activating the system for a puff.

4. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to receive input from a user interface and/or sensed data from a sensor to trigger activation of the system.

5. The controller of clause 4, wherein the sensed data comprises accelerometer, gyroscope, biometric and/or location data.

6. The controller of clause 4 or 5, wherein the sensed data comprises data indicating movement of the aerosol delivery system to the user’s mouth.

7. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein the controller is configured to anticipate a puff by the user and adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the puff signature, in anticipation of the puff.

8. The controller of any preceding clause, wherein adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on the puff signature comprises any one or more of: a. pre-heating or cooling a mouthpiece of the system; b. pre-heating or cooling the aerosol generator; c. pre-heating or cooling an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; and d. pre-heating or cooling an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system.

10. The system or controller of any preceding clause, further comprising: a. a user interface configured to trigger activation of the system prior to a puff; and/or b. a sensor configured to trigger activation of the system prior to a puff.

11 . The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the operational parameter comprises any one or more of: a. an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator; b. a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol; c. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; d. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system; e. a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol; f. a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; g. an air flow path to the aerosol generator; h. an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and i. air flow downstream of the aerosol generator.

12. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature comprises a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour.

13. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is further based on one or more of: a. prior puff duration; b. prior puff frequency; c. prior puff volume; d. prior puff temperature; e. prior puff pressure; f. prior puff flow rate; g. prior puff thermal profile; and/or h. a rolling number of prior puff-based interactions.

14. The system or controller of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature and/or the adjustment is dependent on one or more of: a. the aerosol-generating material; b. a remaining volume of the aerosol-generating material; c. prior pre-conditioning times; d. an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or e. sensed data.

15. The system or controller of clause 14, wherein: a. the environmental or biometric parameter comprises time of day, pressure, temperature, humidity, body temperature and/or heart rate; and/or b. the sensed data comprises accelerometer, gyroscope, biometric and/or location data.

16. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff signature for the user, wherein the puff signature is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions, including a preconditioning time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing.

17. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor puff-based interactions by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. determine a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions, including the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing.

18. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, comprising: a. monitoring puff-based interactions by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and b. determining a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions, including the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing.

19. A computer program product or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to carry out the method of clauses 16 or 18.

Particular features 5

1 . A system configured to compare a user’s puff signature to an aerosol-generating material, wherein the system is configured to: a. receive a puff signature for a user, the puff signature based on a thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs; and b. compare thermal profiles for aerosol-generating materials to the user’s puff signature and identify an aerosol-generating material suitable for the user’s puff signature.

2. A system configured to formulate a bespoke aerosol-generating material composition for a user, wherein the system is configured to: a. receive a puff signature for a user, the puff signature based on a thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs; and b. compare thermal profiles for aerosol-generating material components to the user’s puff signature and formulate a bespoke aerosol-generating material composition, tailored to the user’s puff signature.

3. The system of clause 1 or 2, wherein the thermal profile of the user’s prior puffs comprises a statistical representation of a temperature and/or humidity profile for the aerosol generator, for generated vapour/aerosol or for a vapour/aerosol outlet, during puffing.

4. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the thermal profiles for the aerosol-generating materials or material components comprise an operating temperature and/or humidity profile for the materials or components.

5. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the thermal profiles for the aerosol-generating materials or material components comprise one or more of: minimum, optimal and maximum operating temperatures and/or humidity for the materials or components.

6. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the thermal profiles for the aerosol-generating materials or material components comprise an operating efficiency or performance profile for the materials or components. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs is weighted. The system of any preceding clause, wherein comparing the thermal profiles comprises comparing the user’s thermal puff profile to thermal profiles for aerosol-generating materials or components within a threshold. The system of any preceding clause, comprising identifying a best match for the user’s puff signature. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature comprises a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is further based on one or more of: a. prior puff duration; b. prior puff frequency; c. prior puff volume; d. prior puff temperature; e. prior puff pressure; f. prior puff flow rate; and/or g. a rolling number of prior puff-based interactions. The system of any preceding clause, wherein the puff signature is dependent on one or more of: a. the aerosol-generating material; b. a remaining volume of the aerosol-generating material; c. a pre-conditioning time, wherein the pre-conditioning time is the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing by the user; d. an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or e. sensed data. The system or controller of clause 12, wherein the environmental or biometric parameter comprises time of day, pressure, temperature, humidity, body temperature and/or heart rate. A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being configured to: a. monitor puff-based interactions by the user on the aerosol delivery system; and b. determine a user’s puff signature, the puff signature based on a thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs. A method comprising: a. receiving a puff signature for a user, the puff signature based on a thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs; and b. comparing thermal profiles for aerosol-generating materials to the user’s puff signature and identifying an aerosol-generating material suitable for the user’s puff signature. A method comprising: a. receiving a puff signature for a user, the puff signature based on a thermal puff profile of the user’s prior puffs; and b. comparing thermal profiles for aerosol-generating material components to the user’s puff signature and formulate a bespoke aerosol-generating material composition, tailored to the user’s puff signature. A computer program product or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to carry out the method of clauses 15 or 16.

Claims

1 . A controller for an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being switchable between an adaptive mode and a default mode, wherein: a. in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user; and b. in the default mode, the controller is configured to control the aerosol delivery system based on predetermined operational parameters for the aerosol delivery system.

2. The controller of claim 1 , wherein, in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to: a. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; b. compare the current puff-based interaction to the puff-based parameter for a prior puff or to the puff signature for the user; and c. when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the puff-based parameter for a prior puff or the puff signature for the user, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system, based on the deviation.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein the controller adjusts the one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system when the deviation: a. exceeds a minimum deviation threshold; and/or b. is below a maximum deviation threshold.

4. An aerosol delivery system, such as an electronic cigarette or tobacco heating system, comprising one or more of: a. the controller of any preceding claim; and/or b. an aerosol generator; and/or c. a cartridge or cartomizer housing an aerosol-generating material for generating aerosol for inhalation by a user; and/or d. a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters of the user’s puffs; and/or e. a power source.

5. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is switchable between one or more adaptive modes and multiple default modes having different predetermined operational parameters for the aerosol delivery system.

6. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is switchable between one or more default modes and multiple adaptive modes.

7. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to: a. initially control the aerosol delivery system based on predetermined operational parameters for the aerosol delivery system; b. monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and c. adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user.

8. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to switch between the default and/or the adaptive modes dependent on: a. a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user; b. a puff-based parameter for the current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and/or c. an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or d. sensed data.

9. The system or controller of claim 8, wherein: a. the environmental or biometric parameter comprises time of day, day of week, pressure, temperature, humidity, body temperature and/or heart rate; and/or b. the sensed data comprises accelerometer, gyroscope, biometric and/or location data.

10. The system or controller of claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the controller is switchable between multiple default modes having different predetermined power delivery or operating temperature parameters.

11 . The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to detect an event or input and switch to one of the modes in response to detecting the event or input.

12. The system or controller of claim 11 , wherein the event or input comprises: a. the system or controller being switched on, off and/or reset; and/or b. the power supply being disconnected, removed, drained of charge and/or recharged; and/or c. a new user of the system; and/or d. an input from a user interface; and/or e. data received from a remote device or a sensor.

13. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the system or controller is configured to monitor the current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system and identify a new user of the system when the current puff-based interaction deviates from the puff-based parameter for a prior puff or the puff signature for the user by more than a threshold.

14. The system or controller of any preceding claim, further comprising: a. a user interface configured to switch between, selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes; and/or b. a communication module configured to receive instructions from a remote device to switch between, selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes; and/or c. a sensor configured to switch between, selectively enable or adjust one or more of the modes.

15. The system or controller of claim 14, wherein the user interface comprises an actuator in a filter portion of a consumable for a tobacco heating system.

16. The system or controller of any preceding claim, further comprising a feedback mechanism configured to indicate the operating mode of the controller.

17. The system or controller of claim 16, wherein the feedback mechanism comprises: a. a haptic, audible or visual feedback device; and/or b. a communication module configured to transmit data indicating the operating mode of the controller to a remote device.

18. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to: a. repeatedly or continuously monitor the current puff-based interaction; and b. repeatedly or continuously adjust the one or more operational parameters.

19. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the puff signature: a. is based on multiple parameters of the user’s prior puff-based interactions; and/or b. comprises a substantially unique representation of user puff-based interaction behaviour.

20. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the puff signature is based on one or more of: a. prior puff duration; b. prior puff frequency; c. prior puff volume; d. prior puff temperature; e. prior puff pressure; f. prior puff flow rate; g. prior puff thermal profile; and/or h. a rolling number of prior puff-based interactions.

21 . The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the operational parameter comprises any one or more of: a. an instantaneous power or power profile for power supplied to the aerosol generator; b. a temperature or aroma of the generated vapour/aerosol; c. a temperature at or pressure delta across an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; d. a temperature at or pressure delta across an outlet from the aerosol generator or system; e. a morphology of the generated vapour/aerosol; f. a particle size of the generated vapour/aerosol; g. an air flow path to the aerosol generator; h. an aerosol flow path from the aerosol generator; and i. air flow downstream of the aerosol generator.

22. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein adjusting one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system comprises any one or more of: a. pre-heating or cooling a mouthpiece of the system; b. pre-heating or cooling the aerosol generator; c. pre-heating or cooling an air inlet to the aerosol generator or system; and d. pre-heating or cooling an aerosol outlet from the aerosol generator or system.

23. The system or controller of any preceding claim, wherein the puff signature and/or the adjustment is dependent on one or more of: a. the aerosol-generating material; b. a remaining mass or volume of the aerosol-generating material; c. a pre-conditioning time, wherein the pre-conditioning time is the time between activation of the system for a puff and the start of puffing by the user; d. an environmental or biometric parameter; and/or e. sensed data.

24. A method for resetting a controller for an aerosol generator configured to generate aerosol from aerosol-generating material for user inhalation, the controller being switchable between an adaptive mode and a default mode, wherein: a. in the adaptive mode, the controller is configured to monitor a current puff-based interaction by the user with the aerosol delivery system; and adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol delivery system based on a puff-based parameter for a prior puff or a puff signature for the user; and b. in the default mode, the controller is configured to control the aerosol delivery system based on predetermined operational parameters for the aerosol delivery system, the method comprising: i. detecting an event or input and switching to a default mode in response to detecting the event or input.

25. A computer program product or computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to carry out the method of claim 24.