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WO2024223318A1 - Amélioration de l'accès de la jeunesse à la prévention pour dispositifs de génération d'aérosol - Google Patents

Amélioration de l'accès de la jeunesse à la prévention pour dispositifs de génération d'aérosol Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2024223318A1
WO2024223318A1 PCT/EP2024/059861 EP2024059861W WO2024223318A1 WO 2024223318 A1 WO2024223318 A1 WO 2024223318A1 EP 2024059861 W EP2024059861 W EP 2024059861W WO 2024223318 A1 WO2024223318 A1 WO 2024223318A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aerosol
generating device
sound
series
sensor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/EP2024/059861
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Loic SAMSON
Andrew James MCLAUCHLAN
Rehouven Walter LIBINE
Karl Baumgartner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Philip Morris Products SA
Original Assignee
Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Philip Morris Products SA filed Critical Philip Morris Products SA
Priority to CN202480022123.7A priority Critical patent/CN121013661A/zh
Priority to KR1020257038382A priority patent/KR20250172954A/ko
Publication of WO2024223318A1 publication Critical patent/WO2024223318A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/49—Child proofing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/65—Devices with integrated communication means, e.g. wireless communication means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/90—Arrangements or methods specially adapted for charging batteries thereof

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device, a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, a computing device configured to provide an unlocking instruction to one of an aerosol-generating device and a companion device and a server device configured to provide unlocking data for one of an aerosolgenerating device and a companion device.
  • the present disclosure also relates to a system for youth access prevention for an aerosol-generating device, a computer implemented method for youth access prevention for an aerosol-generating device and a use of a sound sensor comprised by an aerosol-generating device or a companion device.
  • Aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating substrate or an aerosol-generating article, for example by heating.
  • the aerosol-generating devices the present disclosure pertains to are commonly referred to as heated tobacco products (HTP), heat-not-burn devices, electronic cigarettes and/or vaporisers.
  • HTP heated tobacco products
  • heat-not-burn devices electronic cigarettes and/or vaporisers.
  • Exemplary aerosol-generating substrates can comprise solid substrate material, such as tobacco material or tobacco cast leaves (TCL) material.
  • the substrate material can, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially stick-shaped aerosol-generating article.
  • Such a stick or aerosol-generating article can be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosolgenerating device may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the aerosolgenerating article and/or the aerosol-generating substrate.
  • the heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosol-generating article and/or the aerosol-generating device.
  • aerosol-generating substrates can comprise one or more liquids and/or solids, which can, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-generating device in the form of a cartridge or container.
  • aerosol-generating articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and/or solid substrate, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and/or liquid.
  • cartridge or container can be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosolgenerating device.
  • the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol -generating device and refilled by inserting liquid and/or solid into the cartridge.
  • the aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may comprise or include one or more of nicotine, aroma, sugar, moisturising agent, preservative, flavouring, for example cocoa, liquorice, menthol and lactic acid or other additives.
  • heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol -generating substrate.
  • the heating element, heater device or heat source can be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-generating device.
  • At least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source can be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-generating article, for instance in the form of a stick or cartridge, which can be attached to and/or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosol - generating device.
  • Exemplary heating elements or heater devices can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in battery of the aerosol-generating device.
  • a battery of the aerosolgenerating device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-generating device configured to store electrical energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.
  • aerosol-generating devices comprise an energy storage, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-generating device and especially for heating the aerosol-generating substrate and/or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-generating articles.
  • the battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery.
  • a usage session may refer to a period of time, during which a user may use the device to generate, consume, experience or inhale aerosol using the aerosol -generating device.
  • a usage session may be finite.
  • a usage session may have a start, an end and a duration.
  • the duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session.
  • the duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the usage session.
  • the duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum time if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session.
  • the one or more monitored parameters may comprise one or more of: i) a cumulative puff count of a series of puffs drawn by a user since the start of the usage session, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol evolved from the aerosol-forming substrate since the start of the usage session.
  • aerosol-generating devices may comprise youth access prevention (YAP) systems.
  • YAP youth access prevention
  • Such systems may require a user to undergo an age verification test before being able to use the aerosol-generating device.
  • Such aerosolgenerating devices may therefore be in a locked state when produced or sold.
  • a YAP system may require the user to connect the locked aerosol-generating device to a smartphone via a data connection, for example Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
  • BLE Bluetooth Low Energy
  • the smartphone can then be used to conduct the age verification test, for example by connection of the smartphone to an internet server providing the age verification test. If the age verification test is passed, the aerosolgenerating device is unlocked and the user may use it to produce and consume aerosol.
  • YAP systems may be that a device with the capability of establishing a data connection, for example a BLE connection, with the aerosol-generating device is necessary.
  • the aerosol-generating device may also be more expensive because it too may need to be capable of establishing this connection.
  • the data connections may not be as reliable as necessary, possibly leading to a failure of unlocking the aerosol-generating device despite the user being of legal age and having passed the age verification test. For example, for BLE connections, consumer tests have shown failure rates in unlocking procedures of up to approximately 15%. This may reduce the quality of a user’s experience and may induce user dissatisfaction.
  • an aerosol-generating device comprising: control circuitry comprising a controller configured to operate the aerosolgenerating device in either one of a locked state, in which generation of aerosol by the aerosol - generating device is prohibited, and an unlocked state, in which generation of aerosol by the aerosol-generating device is allowed, and a sound sensor operably coupled to the controller, wherein the sound sensor is configured to receive a series of sound signals, and wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state based on the series of sound signals.
  • the generation of aerosol may be prohibited even when production of aerosol is demanded by the user, for example by inputting command signals to the aerosol-generating device, for example by pressing a button.
  • the locked state may be implemented, for example, by disabling the heater or heating element or other device configured to produce aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate or article. This may be achieved by a software installed on the aerosol-generating device and for example being executed by the controller. This software may, for example, be part of a firmware of the aerosol- generating device. In the locked state, the software may therefore prevent the use or activation of the heater or heating element or other device for the production of aerosol from the aerosolgenerating substrate or article.
  • the generation of aerosol may be allowed.
  • the heater or heating element or other device configured to produce aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may therefore be enabled in the unlocked state. This may also be achieved by the software executed by the controller, for example the firmware. A user may therefore be provided with aerosol when the user inputs a command signal to the aerosol-generating device, for example by pressing a button.
  • the aerosol-generating device in the locked state of the aerosol-generating device, no aerosol may be generated, whereas aerosol may be generated in the unlocked state of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may be in the locked state, e.g., provided and/or sold to a user in the locked state.
  • the aerosol-generating device may be produced in or put into the locked state by the manufacturer of the aerosol-generating device. Every factory-new aerosolgenerating device may therefore be in the locked state.
  • a user therefore has to unlock the aerosolgenerating device by transitioning the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state.
  • an aerosolgenerating device may only be unlocked when it has been ensured that the user is of legal age. Therefore, the aerosol-generating device may need to be able to receive a signal signifying that an age verification has been passed by the user and that the aerosol-generating device may transition from the locked state to the unlocked state.
  • this function may be implemented by the sound sensor.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect sound signals and/or different sounds.
  • the sound sensor may, for example, be configured to detect sound signals and/or sounds in the human hearing range.
  • the “human hearing range” may also be referred to herein as “audible frequency range”, and may for example comprise frequencies from about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect changes of sounds in the vicinity of the sound sensor.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect and/or distinguish between periods of time in which one sound, for example a sound of one frequency, is present in the immediate surrounding of the sound sensor and periods of time in which there is another sound, for example a sound of another frequency, present in the immediate surrounding of the sound sensor.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect and/or distinguish between sound and no sound, for example silence.
  • Silence may mean relative silence in the sense that the surroundings of the sound sensor are more silent than during periods of time a sound is present.
  • Sound waves may cause local pressure deviations from the (average or equilibrium) atmospheric pressure. These pressure deviations may be called sound pressure or acoustic pressure.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect sound pressure and/or changes in sound pressure.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect ambient pressure and/or pressure changes, for example the ambient air pressure and/or changes of the ambient air pressure.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect sound pressure and/or distinguish between periods of time in which there is high sound pressure, for example an increase in air pressure from the ambient atmospheric pressure, and periods of time in which there is low sound pressure, for example no increase or a decrease in air pressure from the ambient atmospheric pressure.
  • Pressure and sound pressure may be measured in the Sl-unit Pascal (Pa).
  • the values of pressure given in this disclosure may be relative to a reference pressure, for example atmospheric pressure or barometric pressure, which may be defined as 101325 Pa. A given value of pressure may therefore represent a difference in pressure from this reference pressure.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect sound pressures or ambient pressures or pressure changes in the range from +/- 0.005 Pa to +/- 2 Pa, preferably in the range from +/- 0.01 Pa to +/- 1 Pa.
  • the plus sign may indicate a pressure increase in relation to the reference pressure, wherein the minus sign may indicate a pressure decrease in relation to the reference pressure.
  • both increased and decreased pressures follow upon one another in accordance with the waveform and the frequency of the sound.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to detect and/or distinguish between periods of time of increased ambient pressure levels and/or periods of time of decreased ambient pressure levels and/or periods of time of ambient pressure levels that do not differ from the reference pressure.
  • different sounds or sound signals may be associated with different signal or numerical values, for example bit values.
  • the duration of periods of increased, decreased or reference ambient pressure may be associated with different signal or numerical values, for example bit values.
  • This may then be used to encode a series of numbers or other data in a series of sound signals.
  • periods of different pressure levels and/or the duration or length of periods of different pressure levels may be used to represent a different value each so that a series of sound signals may be used to encode a signal, for example a binary signal, a sound frequency modulated signal, a sound pressure modulated signal, and/or a sound intensity modulated signal.
  • the signal itself for example the binary signal, may then be used to encode an arbitrary string of characters, for example numbers, letters or other symbols.
  • the series of sound signals may therefore be a sequence or succession of periods of time of different or the same pressure levels or sound pressure at the sound sensor.
  • the series of sound levels received by the sound sensor may convey the information to the aerosol- generating device that the user has passed the age verification test and that the aerosolgenerating device may be transitioned from the locked state into the unlocked state.
  • This information may be processed by the controller of the aerosol-generating device, for example through the software or firmware running on the aerosol-generating device, and may lead to unlocking of the aerosol-generating device. Receipt of the correct series of sound signals may be the only way of unlocking the aerosol-generating device.
  • a YAP system may be implemented in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the series of sound signals may comprise or encode an unlock signal.
  • the controller may be configured to translate the series of sound signals into the unlock signal.
  • the unlock signal may be a command or control signal causing the controller to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state to the unlocked state. In this case, the receipt of the unlock signal by the controller directly leads to unlocking of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the unlock signal may be the same signal for more than one aerosol-generating device, which may be useful for users operating more than one aerosol-generating device in parallel.
  • the series of sound signals may comprise or encode an unlock code.
  • the controller may be configured to translate the series of sound signals into the unlock code.
  • the unlock code may be unique for the aerosolgenerating device. The unlock code may therefore only work for one single aerosol -generating device, providing the system with heightened security.
  • the series of sound signals may comprise one or more sound signals in the human auditory range or audible frequency range of about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz, wherein the controller may be configured to convert or translate said one or more sound signals in the audible frequency range or human auditory range into the unlock code.
  • the aerosol-generating device may be provided with or comprise a device identifier.
  • the device identifier may be a unique identification of the aerosol-generating device. It may, for example, comprise a string of numbers and/or letters or other symbols.
  • the device identifier may, for example, be a Codentify or a manufacturing information block (MIB) or similar.
  • the controller may be configured to check whether or not the unlock code provided through the series of sound signals is the correct unlock code for the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller may be configured to only unlock the aerosol-generating device if the unlock code is the correct one for the device identifier.
  • the controller may be configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state upon determining that the unlock code is associated with and/or matches the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device. In cases in which the unlock code is not associated with and/or does not match the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device, the controller is configured to keep the aerosol-generating device in the locked state.
  • the device identifier and/or the unlock code may be stored at the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a memory or data storage in which the device identifier and/or the unlock code may be stored.
  • a pair of a device identifier and an unlock code may be produced during production of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the device identifier may be stored at the aerosol-generating device in a way that it is readily accessible by a user, for example by arranging the device identifier on the outside of the device and/or by reproducing the device identifier on packaging and/or documentation delivered with the aerosol-generating device.
  • the device identifier may for example be reproduced as an optically readable code, for example a barcode or QR-code to make the device identifier easily accessible by a user using a computing device with a camera like a smart phone or similar.
  • the unlock code may be stored in an internal memory of the aerosol-generating device so as to be accessible for the controller of the aerosol-generating device but inaccessible from the outside, for example by the user. In this way, a user may retrieve an unlock code matching the device identifier (as explained in more detail below) and provide it to the aerosol-generating device by the series of sound signals. The controller may then check whether the unlock code matches the unlock code in its internal memory and, if the unlock codes match, unlock the aerosol-generating device.
  • the unlock code may be derivable from the device identifier (as explained in more detail below).
  • the device identifier is stored in the memory of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller can then check whether or not the received unlock code matches the device identifier by deriving the unlock code from the device identifier and comparing the derived unlock code with the received unlock code.
  • the aerosol-generating device may only be unlocked when the unlock codes match.
  • the aerosolgenerating device may therefore be configured to re-lock itself after a predetermined period of time or after a predetermined number of uses, for example usage sessions, provided. There may also be a command signal, which, when input by a user, re-locks the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller may be configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the unlocked state into the locked state upon determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed or that a predetermined number of uses of the aerosol-generating device has been reached or that a specific control signal is received.
  • the predetermined period of time may, for example, be one month, three months, six months, twelve months, or longer.
  • the predetermined number of uses may, for example, be 10 uses, 50 uses, 100 uses, 250 uses, 500 uses, 750 uses, 1000 uses, 1500 uses, 2000 uses, 5000 uses, or more. These values are merely exemplary and any other period of time and/or number of uses may be used.
  • the aerosol-generating device may then be re-unlocked in accordance with the disclosure described herein. However, it may be provided that the aerosol-generating device may only be re-unlocked by an unlock signal or unlock code that is different from the unlock signal or unlock code previously used to unlock the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller may be configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state only if an unlock code that is associated with or matches the device identifier, and preferably differs from the previous unlock code, is received. To implement this, there may be a plurality of different unlock codes stored in the memory of the aerosol-generating device.
  • different unlock codes may be derivable from the device identifier in combination with a serial number associated with the number of re-unlocks.
  • the aerosol-generating device may also be configured to provide a random number which can then be used along with the device identifier to provide a unique unlock code for this pair of random number and device identifier. By changing the unlock code, misuse of the aerosol-generating device by a user not of legal age may be prevented.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further comprise an aerosol-generating article and/or substrate.
  • the aerosol-generating device may be, preferably in the unlocked state, configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article and/or substrate.
  • the aerosol-generating article and/or substrate may be configured as described above.
  • the aerosol-generating article and/or substrate may be at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further comprise an energy storage for storing electrical energy.
  • the electrical energy stored in the energy storage may, for example, be used to power the controller and/or the heater or heating element configured to heat the aerosol-generating article or substrate.
  • the energy storage may be non-rechargeable, for example a non- rechargeable battery. Such non-rechargeable energy storages may, for example, be used in oneway or disposable aerosol-generating devices.
  • the present disclosure may be especially useful in such devices, because it may be easier to use than conventional systems and has very low cost and may therefore be implemented in cheap devices as well. Simultaneously, it may be easier for underage users I users below the legal age to obtain disposable aerosol-generating devices, underlining the need for YAP.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a puff sensor.
  • a puff as used herein may describe the act of a user drawing air and/or aerosol through or from the aerosol-generating device and into their mouth and/or lungs.
  • the puff sensor may be configured to detect the puff, for example by detecting the gas flow and/or the pressure change caused by the puff. Detection of the puff by the puff sensor may cause the controller to activate the heating element or to otherwise commence the production of aerosol by the aerosol-generating device from the aerosol-generating substrate or article. Conversely, the controller may deactivate the heating element and/or the production of aerosol when the puff sensor detects the end of the puff. In this way, activation of the production of aerosol may be limited to the actual duration of the puff.
  • the puff by a user may cause pressure changes and the puff sensor may be configured to detect these pressure changes to detect the puff. Therefore, as the puff sensor detects pressure changes and the series of sound signals according to the present disclosure may also be detected by pressure changes, the puff sensor may, in principle, be used to detect the series of sound signals. In other words, it may be provided that the sound sensor is or is comprised by the puff sensor.
  • the aerosol-generating device may be provided with a combined sound and puff sensor.
  • the sound sensor may be a combined sound and puff sensor. In the present disclosure, explanations with regard to the sound sensor therefore are also applicable to the combined sound and puff sensor and vice versa. However, it is important to note that a puff sensor is not automatically also a sound sensor.
  • the pressure changes caused by a puff and the pressure changes caused by sounds, especially the series of sound signals of the present disclosure differ from one another by several orders of magnitude.
  • the pressure changes (in relation to the reference pressure, for example atmospheric pressure) caused by a puff may typically be in the range of from -300 Pa to -600 Pa, for example -450 Pa, the negative values implying that the puff results in a decrease in pressure in the aerosol - generating device, where the puff sensor is located.
  • the pressure changes, for example sound pressure, caused by sound for example the series of sound signals according to the present disclosure, may typically be in the range of from +/- 0.005 Pa to +/- 2 Pa.
  • the relevant pressures for sound and the series of sound signals may therefore lie far below the threshold of the puff sensor for detecting a puff.
  • a puff sensor is therefore not automatically a sound sensor according to the present disclosure.
  • the puff sensor is or comprises the sound sensor, or that there is a combined sound and puff sensor, this means that the puff sensor is specially configured to be able to sense both puffs and sound signals.
  • the puff sensor may therefore be configured to be able to sense pressure changes of a magnitude corresponding to sounds or sound signals, for example in the range of from +/- 0.005 Pa to +/- 2 Pa, preferably in the range of from +/- 0.01 Pa to +/- 1 Pa. This is something not achieved by conventional puff sensors. In fact, conventional puff sensors may actively suppress signals of this magnitude so as not to lead to false activation of the production of aerosol.
  • the sound sensor according to the present disclosure may have no bit depth, meaning that the sound sensor may have a binary output of only two signal or numerical values. Bit depth may be the number of digital values used to scale the amplitude and/or the frequency of the sound waves.
  • the sound sensor may have a bit depth of less than 8 bits or less than 24 bits. Other bit depths, however, are conceivable, for example bit depths between about 8 bits and about 24 bits, which may be used in more complex transducers, commonly referred to as microphones.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a sound channel in the housing or casing of the aerosol-generating device through which sounds or sound signals from the outside of the housing or casing can travel for receipt by the sound sensor.
  • the sound channel may be at least partly arranged outside of the interior space of the aerosol-generating device configured to receive the aerosol-generating substrate or article.
  • the sound channel may be at least partly arranged outside of the airflow channel or pathway through which air and/or aerosol is transported during a puff.
  • the controller may be configured to put the sound sensor or the puff sensor or the combined sound and puff sensor into a sound reception mode upon receiving a corresponding control signal from a user, a companion device or a computing device.
  • the threshold of detection for pressure changes detected by the sensor may be different than outside of sound reception mode, for example, when puffs may be detected by the sensor.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may be used to detect puffs outside of sound reception mode and may be used to detect sounds or sound signals in sound reception mode.
  • the controller and/or the sensor may be configured to exclusively detect sounds or sound signals or puffs or pressure changes related to a puff.
  • the controller and/or the sensor may be configured to not simultaneously detect sounds, sound signals and puffs or pressure changes related to a puff.
  • the controller may be configured to translate the series of sound signals into and unlock code or unlock signal independent of whether the user is puffing on the aerosol-generating device and/or without processing flow rate measurements, for example flow rate measurements taken by the puff sensor.
  • the controller may be configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state based on the series of sound signals without processing flow rate measurements.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may be provided as one component.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise one component that is both the puff sensor and the sound sensor.
  • the puff sensor and the sound sensor may each comprise at least one element or component that is used by both the puff sensor and the sound sensor and may each comprise at least one element or component that is used only by the puff sensor or the sound sensor.
  • the puff sensor and the sound sensor may comprise at least one shared component that is used by both the puff sensor and the sound sensor.
  • the puff sensor and the sound sensor may comprise at least one non-shared component each that is used only by either the puff sensor or the sound sensor.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may comprise a flexible charged membrane.
  • the flexible charged membrane may comprise at least one electret or electret film.
  • the flexible charged membrane may be a shared component that is used both by the puff sensor and the sound sensor.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may comprise a first electrically conductive backplate and a second electrically conductive backplate, wherein the flexible charged membrane and the first backplate may form a first capacitor and wherein the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate may form a second capacitor.
  • the first backplate may be a non-shared component that is exclusively used in the puff sensor, wherein the second backplate may be a non-shared component that is exclusively used in the sound sensor.
  • the flexible charged membrane on the other hand, may be a shared component and may be a component of both the first and the second capacitor.
  • the capacitance of the first and second capacitors may be adjustable by a movement of the flexible charged membrane, for example a movement of the flexible charged membrane relative to the first and/or the second backplate.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may be configured so that pressure changes in the ambient pressure, for example sound pressure and/or pressure changes due to a puff, lead to a movement of the flexible charged membrane and thereby lead to a change in capacitance of the first and/or second capacitors.
  • the backplates may be configured, designed and/or arranged differently to account for the different sensitivity needed to detect sound pressure or changes in ambient pressure due to sounds or sound signals in contrast to pressure changes due to a puff.
  • the second backplate used in the sound sensor may be arranged closer to the flexible charged membrane than the first backplate used in the puff sensor.
  • the change in capacitance of the first and second capacitor may be used to detect a signal by the respective sensor.
  • the sound sensor preferably the combined sound and puff sensor, may be configured to monitor the capacitance of the first capacitor to detect puffs and may be configured to monitor the capacitance of the second capacitor to detect the series of sound signals.
  • a puff may lead to an ambient pressure at the combined sound and puff sensor that is below the atmospheric pressure.
  • Sound pressure may alternate between increased and decreased pressure in relation to the atmospheric pressure in accordance with the frequency of the sound.
  • the signals caused by a puff and by a sound or a sound signal may therefore be differentiated from one another by arranging the first backplate and the second backplate on opposite sides of the flexible charged membrane.
  • the flexible charged membrane may be configured and/or arranged so that it bends or curves in different directions in response to pressure increases or pressure decreases in relation to atmospheric pressure.
  • the flexible charged membrane may be configured and/or arranged so that it bends or curves towards the first backplate in response to pressure increases.
  • the flexible charged membrane may be configured and/or arranged so that it bends or curves towards the second backplate in response to pressure decreases. That the flexible charged membrane bends or curves towards a backplate may mean that the distance between at least part of the flexible charged membrane and the respective backplate is decreased so that the capacitance of the capacitor formed by the flexible charged membrane and the backplate changes.
  • the first and second backplate on opposite sides of the flexible charged membrane, the signals of the sound sensor and the puff sensor may be separated from one another. Also, this arrangement allows for implementing the different sensitivities or pressure thresholds necessary for the respective detection.
  • the sound sensor preferably the combined sound and puff sensor, comprises two capacitance sensors, one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the first backplate and the other capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate.
  • one capacitance sensor is connected to the first capacitor and another capacitance sensor is connected to the second capacitor.
  • the capacitance sensors may be, for example, junction-gate field-effect transistors (JFETs).
  • JFETs junction-gate field-effect transistors
  • the respective backplate may be connected to the gate of the JFET and/or the flexible charged membrane may be connected to the source of the JFET. Additionally, the source may be grounded.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor may comprise one capacitance sensor for each capacitor.
  • This arrangement is especially useful in cases in which the flexible charged membrane is polarized in a way that leads to a change of the capacitance of the two capacitors of opposite signs, which in turn leads to different voltages being applied to the gates of the JFETs.
  • the JFETs need to be selected to work with these different voltages, for example by using one JFET of n-type and one JFET of p-type.
  • the sound sensor preferably the combined sound and puff sensor
  • the sound sensor comprises exclusively one capacitance sensor, the one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane, the first backplate, and the second backplate.
  • the capacitance sensor may be a JFET.
  • both backplates may be connected to the gate of the JFET, while the flexible charged membrane is connected to the source.
  • the first and the second capacitor need to be designed and/or configured and/or arranged so that the signals relevant for the respective sensors have the same sign. This may, for example, be achieved by placing the first and the second backplates on the same side of the flexible charged membrane, preferably in a way so that the flexible charged membrane bends or curves towards the backplates when the pressure at the combined sound and puff sensor decreases below the atmospheric pressure.
  • the flexible charged membrane is arranged between the first backplate and the second backplate, and that the flexible charged membrane is similarly polarized or charged in the direction of the first backplate and in the direction of the second backplate.
  • the flexible charged membrane may be symmetrically charged or polarized with regard to the midplane or the middle layer of the membrane.
  • the midplane of the flexible charged membrane may extend in the direction in which the flexible charged membrane has its biggest extension when not being bent or curved and may lie in the middle of the thickness of the membrane.
  • the flexible charged membrane may comprise a conductive metal layer and may further comprise an electret film on both sides of the metal film, wherein the electret films are inversely polarized.
  • the flexible charged membrane may therefore comprise a sandwich structure with the conductive metal layer being sandwiched between the two electret films of inverse polarization.
  • the change in capacitance of the capacitors formed by the flexible charged membrane and the first and the second backplate may have the same sign even when the backplates are arranged on opposite sides of the flexible charged membrane.
  • only one JFET may be used as capacitance sensor for both capacitors.
  • the sound sensor is a different component than the puff sensor.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise both a sound sensor and a puff sensor, especially wherein the sound sensor and the puff sensor are separate from one another. In this case, the sound sensor and the puff sensor may not have shared components.
  • a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, comprising: control circuitry comprising a controller, a sound sensor, and a communications arrangement, wherein the sound sensor is configured to receive a series of sound signals, and wherein the controller is configured to provide an unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device via the communications arrangement.
  • Companion devices may be configured to be electrically connected to the aerosolgenerating device.
  • companion devices may be configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating device in a cavity of the companion device.
  • the electrical connection between the companion device and the aerosol-generating device may be established.
  • the companion device may charge the aerosol-generating device with electrical energy.
  • the companion device may therefore comprise an energy storage, for example a battery or a battery pack, which may have a capacity that is larger than the capacity of the energy storage of the aerosol-generating device itself.
  • a companion device may therefore be used to store the aerosol-generating device between uses and simultaneously recharge the aerosol-generating device, in particular fully recharge the aerosol-generating device several times in a row before the companion device itself needs to be recharged.
  • the companion device may also comprise a communications arrangement configured to establish a data connection with the aerosol-generating device.
  • This data connection may, for example, also be established through a physical connection to the aerosol-generating device that is in turn established when the aerosol-generating device is at least partially inserted into the companion device for recharging.
  • the communications arrangement may also comprise a wireless communications device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may also comprise a corresponding wireless communications device.
  • the wireless communications device may be configured to establish a data connection between the companion device and the aerosol - generating device.
  • the companion device may, as an alternative to the aerosol-generating device or in addition to the aerosol-generating device, be configured to receive the series of sound signals via a sound sensor as described herein. If the companion device comprises the sound sensor and is configured to receive the series of sound signals, the sound sensor of the aerosol-generating device may be dispensed with and vice versa. To implement unlocking of the aerosol-generating device when the correct series of sound signals is received by the companion device, the controller of the companion device may be configured to send an unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device by the communications arrangement.
  • the unlocking instruction may comprise an unlock code or an unlock signal as described above.
  • the controller may be configured to translate the series of sound signals into an unlock code.
  • the controller may then be configured to provide the unlock code to the aerosolgenerating device via the communications arrangement.
  • the aerosol-generating device may then proceed similar to the case in which the unlock code is extracted from the series of sound signals by the controller of the aerosol-generating device itself.
  • the aerosol-generating device may itself check whether or not the unlock code is the correct unlock code and matches either an unlock code stored in the aerosol-generating device or a device identifier of the aerosolgenerating device as described above.
  • the companion device may also be configured to check whether or not the unlock code is the correct unlock code and matches either an unlock code stored in the aerosol-generating device or a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the companion device may be configured to read the unlock code or the device identifier from the data storage or memory of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller of the companion device may be configured to provide the unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device upon determining that the unlock code is associated with a device identifier of the aerosol -generating device or an unlock code that is stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the unlocking instruction may comprise an unlock signal that directly leads to unlocking of the aerosol-generating device as described above.
  • both the aerosol-generating device and the companion device are configured to check whether or not the unlock code is the correct unlock code and matches either an unlock code stored in the aerosol-generating device or a device identifier of the aerosolgenerating device. In this case, this check may be performed twice as an additional security layer against misuse.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to differentiate between sound pressures above or below a predetermined threshold.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to exclusively produce two different signals, wherein a first signal is produced when a sound pressure above the predetermined threshold is detected by the sound sensor and a second signal is produced when a sound pressure below the predetermined threshold is detected by the sound sensor. Sound pressures above or below the threshold may therefore be used as bits in a binary signal.
  • the duration of a period of time in which the sensor detects a pressure above the threshold may be used to encode a signal, for example a binary signal. For example, different frequencies of sound may be used to produce different durations of the period of time that the pressure is elevated relative to the atmospheric pressure.
  • the series of sound signals may comprise a first frequency that results in a periodic increase of the ambient pressure for a first period of time and a second frequency that results in a periodic increase of the ambient pressure for a second period of time.
  • the first period of time may be longer than the second period of time or vice versa, and by the length of these periods of time, data may be encoded.
  • the predetermined threshold may be in a range of from 0.01 Pa to 1 Pa, preferably in a range of from 0.05 Pa to 0.5 Pa. Such a threshold may be suitable for sound signals, especially for sound signals in the human auditory range or audible frequency range, which are preferably used for the series of sound signals of the present disclosure. Instead of a fixed value, the predetermined threshold may also be defined as a fraction of the amplitude of the sound pressure of the series of sound signals. The amplitude of the sound pressure may describe the range from a peak increase in pressure to a peak decrease in pressure in comparison to atmospheric pressure. For example, if a sound wave periodically causes pressure increases of 1 Pa and pressure decreases of -1 Pa, the amplitude of the sound pressure may be 2 Pa.
  • the predetermined threshold may be in a range of from 10% to 50%, preferably in a range of from 15% to 40% or from 20% to 30%, of the amplitude of sound pressure of the series of sound signals.
  • the predetermined threshold may be 25% .
  • the amplitude of sound pressure of the series of sound signals may be, for example, measured at the sound sensor or the combined sound and puff sensor.
  • the threshold may be selected so that the transmission of information is sufficiently safe from interference of background noises but is not unpleasantly loud for a user.
  • the sound sensor has a sampling rate of at least 2 kHz, preferably at least 3 kHz or at least 4 kHz or at least 5 kHz or at least 6 kHz.
  • the sound sensor preferably the combined sound and puff sensor, may be configured to monitor the capacitance of the second capacitor with a sampling rate of at least 2 kHz, preferably at least 3 kHz or at least 4 kHz or at least 5 kHz or at least 6 kHz.
  • the sound sensor has a sampling rate in the range of from 2 kHz to 6 kHz or in the range of from 3 kHz to 5 kHz, preferably the sound sensor has a sampling rate of 4 kHz.
  • the controller may be configured to provide and/or support this sampling rate. The sampling rate is important to accurately detect the duration of the period of time that the ambient pressure is increased or decreased, for example by the sound pressure.
  • a computing device configured to provide an unlocking instruction to one of an aerosol-generating device and a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, comprising: a sound emitter, preferably a loudspeaker, and a data connection to a server device, wherein the computing device is configured to receive unlocking data from the server device, wherein the computing device is configured to provide the unlocking instruction by emitting the unlocking data as a series of sound signals via the sound emitter.
  • the sound emitter of the computing device may be any kind of sound emitter or electroacoustic transducer suitable for emitting sounds, sound waves or acoustic waves, music or audio information, for example a loudspeaker or speaker device.
  • the sound emitter may be configured to emit data acoustically and may especially be configured to emit the series of sound signals.
  • the sound emitter may be configured to emit data using a sound signal outside or inside the human auditory spectrum.
  • the data connection to the server device may be any kind of data connection, either physical or wireless.
  • the data connection to the server may be configured as telecommunications, for example a mobile internet connection.
  • the data connection may, for example, be based on any of the standards developed and/or maintained by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), for example GSM, UMTS, LTE, 5G or any other suitable telecommunications means.
  • 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
  • the computing device may be configured to receive the device identifier from the user, for example via an input device.
  • the input device may, for example, be a touchscreen or a keyboard or any other suitable means for inputting information into the computing device.
  • the computing device may be configured to transfer the device identifier to the server device, for example via the data connection.
  • the computing device may be configured to enable the user of the aerosol-generating device to perform or complete an age verification test on the server.
  • the computing device may be configured to receive age verification information from the user, for example via the input device, and transfer this information to the server device via the data connection. If the age verification test is passed, the computing device may be configured to receive unlocking data from the server device and provide the companion device or the aerosol-generating device with this unlocking data or an unlocking instruction by providing the series of sound signals by the sound emitter, for example via the loudspeaker.
  • the series of sound signals presented via the sound emitter may therefore comprise or encode an unlocking instruction and/or the unlocking data received from the server.
  • the series of sound signals may encode or be derived from the unlock code.
  • the unlock code may therefore be comprised in the unlocking instruction and/or the unlocking data.
  • the companion device and/or the aerosolgenerating device may therefore proceed as described above.
  • the computing device may be configured to check whether or not the unlock code is the correct unlock code and matches or is correct for either an unlock code stored in the aerosolgenerating device or a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device. For this, the computing device may be configured to read the unlock code or the device identifier from the data storage or memory of the aerosol-generating device and/or the companion device. Thus, the computing device may be “offline” (e.g., not connected to the internet and/or not connected to a further computing device) when it is used to unlock the aerosol-generating device.
  • the controller of the computing device may be configured to provide the unlocking instruction to the aerosolgenerating device or the companion device upon determining that the unlock code is associated with a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device or an unlock code that is stored in the aerosol-generating device.
  • the unlocking instruction may comprise an unlock signal that directly leads to unlocking of the aerosol-generating device as described above.
  • the computing device may be one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, a smart watch, an on-board computer, for example in a car or a work machine, and a smart television.
  • the computing device may be any kind of device able to receive age verification information from the user and transmit this information to the server device, then receive unlocking data from the server device and provide the series of sound signals via a sound emitter.
  • An existing loudspeaker or speaker device of the computing device may be used as sound emitter. This type of speaker device may already be present on a plurality of different devices, may be sufficient to provide the series of sound signals. The user therefore may not need a specific computing device to be able to unlock the aerosol-generating device.
  • the sound emitter may also be an external device coupleable with the computing device.
  • the sound emitter may be an external audio system coupleable to the computing device, so that the computing device may cause the sound emitter to emit sound, for example to play an audio file.
  • the sound emitter may be a sound system installed in a user’s home, car, place of recreation or place of work.
  • the sound emitter may also be a portable sound system like a portable music player.
  • the external device may be coupleable to the computing device via wired or wireless communications, for example via audio jack, USB, WLAN or Bluetooth.
  • a server device configured to provide unlocking data for one of an aerosol-generating device and a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy to a computing device, wherein the server device is configured to: perform an age verification test on a user of the aerosol-generating device through the computing device, provide the unlocking data to the computing device upon determining the age verification test has been passed, and provide the unlocking data as instructions for the computing device to emit a series of sound signals.
  • the server device may, for example, be a web or internet server, for instance maintained by the manufacturer of the companion device and/or aerosol-generating device.
  • the server device may be configured to receive age verification information about the user from the computing device.
  • the server may be configured to use this age verification information to perform the age verification test.
  • the server may be configured to only proceed in the case that the age verification test is successfully passed and to not proceed and display a message informing the user of the failure to pass the age verification test otherwise.
  • the server may be configured to provide unlocking data for the aerosol-generating device to the computing device.
  • the unlocking data may comprise an unlocking instruction, for example an unlock code or an unlock signal.
  • the unlocking data may be provided to the computing device as instructions or other means for the computing device to emit the series of sound signals as explained above.
  • the server device provides unlocking data that is specific for an aerosol-generating device.
  • the server device may be configured to receive, from the computing device, a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the unlocking data may be associated with or may correspond to the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the server device may comprise a data storage in which all the device identifiers of every aerosol-generating device produced and/or sold by the manufacturer are stored.
  • the data storage of the server device may also comprise a specific unlock code for every device identifier.
  • the server device may be configured to retrieve the specific unlock code for the aerosol-generating device from the data storage in accordance with the device identifier received from the computing device. Alternatively, it may also be provided to derive the unlock code from the device identifier, as will be further explained below.
  • the series of sound signals may be derived from the unlock code as described above.
  • the series of sound signals may, for example, be provided as an audio file.
  • the unlocking data provided by the server to the computing device may be the audio file or audio data, for example provided in a common audio format like .wav, .mp3, ,m4a, .wma or .mp4.
  • the series of sound signals may be provided as a series of tones or sounds of different frequencies.
  • the succession or sequence of the series of tones or sounds may constitute the audio file or the audio data.
  • the sounds or the series of sound signals may be provided as a series of sounds with constant frequencies and/or amplitude.
  • the series of sound signals contains a plurality of sounds of exclusively two different frequencies, for example first sounds of high frequency and second sounds of low frequency.
  • the series of sound signals exclusively includes sounds of two different frequencies, it may be provided that the first frequency is at least two times the second frequency (with regard to its value in Hz). In this way, differentiation between the two by the controller receiving the signals from the sound sensor is facilitated.
  • One sound of a specific length and/or frequency used in the series of sound signals may constitute one bit of information.
  • Each frequency may represent a bit value encoded in the series of sound signals. In this way, the series of sound signals may be used to encode at least one of the unlocking data, the unlocking instruction, the unlock code and the unlock signal.
  • the sampling rate of the sound sensor may be important to accurately determine the length of the period of time of increased or decreased pressure caused by a sound wave.
  • the length of the period of time of increased or decreased pressure caused by the sound wave may be dependent upon the frequency of the sound wave.
  • the duration of the period of time of increased or decreased pressure may be used to encode the data to be transmitted. It is therefore important that the frequency of the sounds used in the series of sound signals and the sampling rate of the sound sensor are selected so that the controller may accurately distinguish between signals of the sound sensor representing a longer period of time of increased or decreased pressure from signals of the sound sensor representing a shorter period of time with increased or decreased pressure.
  • the frequencies of the sounds are selected so that a sampling rate of the sound sensor divided by the first frequency results in a number that is different from a number resulting from the sampling rate of the sound sensor being divided by the second frequency by at least 1 , preferably by at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 6 or at least 7 or at least 8 or at least 9 or at least 10.
  • the difference in these numbers may be indicative of a difference in the number of samplings of a period of time of increased or decreased pressure caused by a sound of the respective frequency.
  • the difference in the number of samplings may therefore be used by the controller to differentiate between the frequencies of the sounds in the series of sound signals.
  • a first frequency used in the series of sound signals may be 800 Hz
  • a second frequency used in the series of sound signals may be 2 kHz
  • the sampling rate of the sound sensor may be 4 kHz.
  • These numbers mean that a period of time of increased or decreased pressure caused by a sound of the first frequency will be sampled around 5 times, while a period of time of increased or decreased pressure caused by a sound of the second frequency will be sampled around 2 times. This difference in samplings may be used by the controller to differentiate between the frequencies of the sounds in the series of sound signals.
  • the frequencies of the sounds of the series of sound signals may be between 20 Hz and 20 kHz, preferably between 50 Hz and 10 kHz or between 500 Hz and 5 kHz.
  • the series of sound signals may produce a sound pressure in a range of from 0.01 Pa to 1 Pa, preferably in a range of from 0.05 Pa to 0.5 Pa. This may be achieved by a corresponding configuration of the audio file and/or the sound emitter.
  • the sound sensor may be configured to receive a series of sound signals with these attributes.
  • the series of sound signals may also encode further information. For instance, at least one of a begin signature, an end signature, and an error checking number may be additionally encoded in the series of sound signals.
  • the begin signature and the end signature may be fixed strings of data that are the same for every series of sound signals, regardless of the device identifier of the specific aerosol-generating device. They may therefore be used to ensure that the device receiving the series of sound signals may automatically realize whether or not the full sequence in the series of sound signals has been received or not.
  • the begin signature and the end signature may be used by the device receiving the series of sound signals to detect the bit rate and therefore correctly interpret the part of the series of sound signals encoding the relevant data.
  • An error checking number may additionally be used to prevent or identify losses or inconsistencies during data transfer.
  • any kind of suitable encoding may be used to translate the data to be transmitted into a series of sound signals and back.
  • the sequence of short and long periods of time of increased or decreased pressure may be used to directly represent bit values.
  • the system as described in the present disclosure may also be used with more complex codes or encoding techniques.
  • the series of sound signals may comprise information encoded using a Manchester code.
  • a Manchester code is a line code with a selfclocking signal, which may provide higher data integrity while transmitting the series of sound signals.
  • Such a Manchester code may also be formed by a succession of longer and shorter periods of time of increased and decreased pressure.
  • the frequencies used in the series of sound signals and the predetermined pressure threshold are chosen or configured so that the periods of time of increased and decreased pressure (above or below the threshold) of one frequency are two times as long as the periods of time of increased and decreased pressure (above or below the threshold) of another frequency.
  • At least one of the unlocking data, the unlocking instruction, the unlock code and the unlock signal may be a random string or may be based on a random string, for example a random number.
  • the random string may be stored both in the data storage of the aerosol-generating device and the server device so as to be able to correctly identify the correct string for a specific device identifier.
  • at least one of the unlocking data, the unlocking instruction, the unlock code and the unlock signal may be derived from the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device. This may, for example, be achieved by an algorithm that deterministically derives a string from the device identifier that is different from the device identifier itself.
  • At least one of the unlocking data, the unlocking instruction, the unlock code and the unlock signal may be derived from the device identifier by one of hashing and encrypting the device identifier.
  • the device identifier may be hashed using keyed- hash message authentication code or hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) or encrypted using advanced encryption standard (AES), for example AES 128.
  • HMAC hash message authentication code
  • AES advanced encryption standard
  • the server device may not need to store any information about the aerosol-generating device. The server device may simply use the device identifier provided by the computing device and derive the unlocking data from this device identifier.
  • the device or devices which check the validity of the received data encoded by the series of sound signals may check the validity of the received data by deriving the correct data, for example the correct unlock code, from the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the aerosol-generating device may not need to store for example the unlock code in addition to the device identifier.
  • a system for youth access prevention (YAP) for an aerosol-generating device comprising a server device, a computing device, and at least one of an aerosol-generating device and a companion device according the present disclosure.
  • YAP youth access prevention
  • the system comprises both the aerosol-generating device and the companion device
  • only one of these devices is configured as described in the present disclosure.
  • only one of these devices may comprise a sound sensor to receive the series of sound signals.
  • both the aerosol-generating device and the companion device are configured as described in the present disclosure, for example with both devices comprising a sound sensor to receive the series of sound signals. In this case, this redundancy may further simplify the process of unlocking the aerosol-generating device for the user.
  • a computer implemented method for youth access prevention (YAP) for an aerosol-generating device preferably an aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure, the method comprising: performing, on a server device, an age verification test, retrieving, upon determining that the age verification test is passed, unlocking data, transferring the unlocking data to the aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating device with electrical energy by emitting, on a computing device, a series of sound signals encoding the unlocking data, receiving the series of sound signals by a sound sensor on the aerosol-generating device or the companion device, and unlocking the aerosol-generating device based on the received series of sound signals.
  • YAP youth access prevention
  • the method may further comprise providing the aerosol-generating device with a device identifier, preferably a unique device identifier.
  • the device identifier may be arranged on or with the aerosol-generating device so as to be readily available for a user.
  • the user may therefore input the device identifier into the computing device for transfer to the server device.
  • the method may therefore further comprise transferring the device identifier to the server device via the computing device.
  • the server device may be configured to provide unlocking data specific for the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device to the computing device.
  • the method may comprise translating the series of sound signals into an unlock code. This step may be performed on the aerosol-generating device and/or on the companion device. As described above, the unlock code may be associated with or derived from the device identifier. The method may therefore comprise unlocking the aerosol-generating device upon determining that the unlock code is associated with or derived from the device identifier.
  • a sound sensor comprised by an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy to receive an unlock code for unlocking the aerosol-generating device and allowing aerosol generation.
  • Using a sound sensor of the aerosol-generating device and/or companion device to receive a series of sound signals encoding an unlock code for transitioning the aerosol-generating device from the locked state to the unlock state is a reliable and cost-effective way of implementing YAP in an aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 1 An aerosol-generating device, comprising: control circuitry comprising a controller configured to operate the aerosol-generating device in either one of a locked state, in which generation of aerosol by the aerosol-generating device is prohibited, and an unlocked state, in which generation of aerosol by the aerosol-generating device is allowed, and a sound sensor operably coupled to the controller, wherein the sound sensor is configured to receive a series of sound signals, and wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state based on the series of sound signals.
  • Example 2. The aerosol-generating device according to Example 1, wherein the controller is configured to translate the series of sound signals into an unlock code.
  • Example 3 The aerosol-generating device according to the previous Example, wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state upon determining that the unlock code is associated with a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 4 The aerosol-generating device according to Example 2, wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state upon determining that the unlock code matches or is correct for a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 5 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Examples 3-4, wherein the device identifier and/or the unlock code is stored at the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 6 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the unlocked state into the locked state upon determining that a predetermined period of time has elapsed or that a predetermined number of uses of the aerosol-generating device has been reached or that a specific control signal is received.
  • Example 7 The aerosol-generating device according to the previous Example, wherein the controller is configured to transition the aerosol-generating device from the locked state into the unlocked state only if an unlock code that is associated with or is correct for or matches a device identifier, and preferably differs from the previous unlock code, is received.
  • Example 8 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, further comprising an aerosol-generating article or substrate.
  • Example 9 The aerosol-generating device according to the previous Example, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article or substrate.
  • Example 10 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, further comprising an energy storage for storing electrical energy, wherein the energy storage preferably is non-rechargeable, for example a non-rechargeable battery.
  • Example 11 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the sound sensor is a puff sensor, preferably a combined sound and puff sensor.
  • the sound sensor is a puff sensor, preferably a combined sound and puff sensor.
  • Example 12 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the sound sensor comprises a flexible charged membrane and a first and a second electrically conductive backplate, wherein the flexible charged membrane and the first backplate form a first capacitor and wherein the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate form a second capacitor, wherein a capacitance of the first and second capacitors is adjustable by a movement of the flexible charged membrane.
  • Example 13 The aerosol-generating device according to the previous Example, wherein the sound sensor is configured to monitor the capacitance of the first capacitor to detect puffs and wherein the sound sensor is configured to monitor the capacitance of the second capacitor to detect the series of sound signals.
  • Example 14 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples 12-13, wherein the first backplate and the second backplate are arranged on opposite sides of the flexible charged membrane.
  • Example 15 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples 12-14, wherein the sound sensor comprises two capacitance sensors, preferably JFETs, one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the first backplate and the other capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate.
  • the sound sensor comprises two capacitance sensors, preferably JFETs, one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the first backplate and the other capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate.
  • Example 16 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples 12-15, wherein the sound sensor comprises exclusively one capacitance sensor, preferably a JFET, the one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane, the first backplate, and the second backplate.
  • the sound sensor comprises exclusively one capacitance sensor, preferably a JFET, the one capacitance sensor being connected to the flexible charged membrane, the first backplate, and the second backplate.
  • Example 17 The aerosol-generating device according to the previous Example, wherein the flexible charged membrane is arranged between the first backplate and the second backplate, and wherein the flexible charged membrane is similarly polarized in the direction of the first backplate and in the direction of the second backplate.
  • Example 17A The aerosol-generating device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals comprises one or more sound signals in the human auditory range or audible frequency range of about 20 Hz to about 20 kHz, optionally wherein the controller is configured to convert or translate said one or more signals in the human auditory range or audible frequency range into the unlock code.
  • Example 18 A companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy, comprising: control circuitry comprising a controller, a sound sensor, and a communications arrangement, wherein the sound sensor is configured to receive a series of sound signals, and wherein the controller is configured to provide an unlocking instruction to the aerosol - generating device via the communications arrangement.
  • Example 19 The companion device according to the previous Example, wherein the controller is configured to translate the series of sound signals into an unlock code.
  • Example 20 The companion device according to any of Examples 18-19, wherein the unlocking instruction comprises an unlock code or an unlock signal.
  • Example 21 The companion device according to any of Examples 19-20, wherein the controller is configured to provide the unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device upon determining that the unlock code is associated with a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 22 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the sound sensor is configured to differentiate between sound pressures above or below a predetermined threshold.
  • Example 23 The device according to the previous Example, wherein the sound sensor is configured to exclusively produce two different signals, wherein a first signal is produced when a sound pressure above the predetermined threshold is detected by the sound sensor and a second signal is produced when a sound pressure below the predetermined threshold is detected by the sound sensor.
  • Example 24 The device according to any of the previous Examples 22-23, wherein the predetermined threshold is in a range of from 0.01 Pa to 1 Pa, preferably in a range of from 0.05 Pa to 0.5 Pa.
  • Example 25 The device according to any of the previous Examples 22-24, wherein the predetermined threshold is in a range of from 10% to 50%, preferably in a range of from 15% to 40% or from 20% to 30%, for example the predetermined threshold may be 25%, of an amplitude of sound pressure of the series of sound signals.
  • Example 26 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the sound sensor has a sampling rate in the range of from 2 kHz to 6 kHz or in the range of from 3 kHz to 5 kHz, preferably the sound sensor has a sampling rate of 4 kHz.
  • Example 27 A computing device configured to provide an unlocking instruction to one of an aerosol-generating device and a companion device configured to charge an aerosolgenerating device with electrical energy, comprising: a sound emitter, preferably a loudspeaker, and a data connection to a server device, wherein the computing device is configured to receive unlocking data from the server device, wherein the computing device is configured to provide the unlocking instruction by emitting the unlocking data as a series of sound signals via the sound emitter.
  • Example 28 The computing device according to the previous Example, wherein the series of sound signals is derived from an unlock code.
  • Example 29 The computing device according to any of the previous Examples 27-28, wherein the computing device is one of a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer, a smart watch, an on-board computer and a smart television.
  • Example 30 A server device configured to provide unlocking data for one of an aerosolgenerating device and a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy to a computing device, wherein the server device is configured to: perform an age verification test on a user of the aerosol-generating device through the computing device, provide the unlocking data to the computing device upon determining the age verification test has been passed, and provide the unlocking data as instructions for the computing device to emit a series of sound signals.
  • Example 31 The server device according to the previous Example, wherein the server device is configured to receive, from the computing device, a device identifier of the aerosolgenerating device.
  • Example 32 The server device according to the previous Example, wherein the unlocking data is associated with the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 33 The server device according to any one of Examples 30-32, wherein the unlocking data comprises an unlock code.
  • Example 34 The server device according to the previous Example, wherein the series of sound signals is derived from the unlock code.
  • Example 35 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals is provided as an audio file.
  • Example 36 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals is provided as a series of sounds of different frequencies.
  • Example 37 The device according to the previous Example, wherein each frequency represents a bit value encoded in the series of sound signals.
  • Example 38 The device according to any of the previous Examples 36-37, wherein the series of sound signals exclusively includes sounds of two different frequencies, preferably wherein a first frequency is at least two times the second frequency.
  • Example 39 The device according to the previous Example, wherein the frequencies of the sounds are selected so that a sampling rate of the sound sensor divided by the first frequency results in a number that is different from a number resulting from the sampling rate of the sound sensor being divided by the second frequency by at least 1 , preferably by at least 2 or at least 3 or at least 4 or at least 5 or at least 6 or at least 7 or at least 8 or at least 9 or at least 10.
  • Example 40 The device according to any of the previous Examples 36-39, wherein the frequencies of the sounds are between 10 Hz and 20 kHz, preferably between 50 Hz and 10 kHz.
  • Example 41 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals produces a sound pressure in a range of from 0.01 Pa to 1 Pa, preferably in a range of from 0.05 Pa to 0.5 Pa.
  • Example 42 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals encodes, in addition to an unlock code, at least one of a begin signature, an end signature, and an error checking number.
  • Example 43 The device according to any of the previous Examples, wherein the series of sound signals comprises information encoded using a Manchester code.
  • Example 44 The device according to any of the previous Examples 2-5, 19-21 , 28, and 33-34, wherein the unlock code is derived from a device identifier of the aerosol-generating device.
  • Example 45 The device according to the previous Example, wherein the unlock code is derived from the device identifier by one of hashing and encrypting the device identifier.
  • Example 46 The device according to the previous Example, wherein the device identifier is hashed using HMAC or encrypted using AES.
  • Example 47 A system for youth access prevention for an aerosol-generating device, the system comprising a server device according to any one of Examples 30-46, a computing device according to any one of Examples 27-29 and 35-46, and at least one of an aerosol-generating device according to any one of Examples 1-17A, 22-26 and 35-46 and a companion device according to any one of Examples 18-26 and 35-46.
  • Example 48 A computer implemented method for youth access prevention for an aerosol-generating device, preferably an aerosol-generating device according to any one of Examples 1-17A, 22-26 and 35-46, the method comprising: performing, on a server device, an age verification test, retrieving, upon determining that the age verification test is passed, unlocking data, transferring the unlocking data to the aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating device with electrical energy by emitting, on a computing device, a series of sound signals encoding the unlocking data, receiving the series of sound signals by a sound sensor on the aerosol-generating device or the companion device, and unlocking the aerosol-generating device based on the received series of sound signals.
  • Example 49 The method according to the previous Example, further comprising providing the aerosol-generating device with a device identifier.
  • Example 50 The method according to the previous Example, further comprising transferring the device identifier to the server device via the computing device.
  • Example 51 The method according to any one of Examples 48-50, further comprising translating the series of sound signals into an unlock code.
  • Example 52 The method according to the previous Example, wherein the unlock code is associated with the device identifier.
  • Example 53 The method according to the previous Example, comprising unlocking the aerosol-generating device upon determining that the unlock code is associated with the device identifier.
  • Example 54 Use of a sound sensor comprised by an aerosol-generating device or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating device with electrical energy to receive an unlock code for unlocking the aerosol-generating device and allowing aerosol generation.
  • Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating device and a companion device
  • Figure 2 shows a system for youth access prevention in an aerosol-generating device
  • Figure 3 shows a diagram of the pressure changes due to a sound wave in a series of sound signals and a possible translation into binary data
  • Figure 4 shows an example of a puff sensor
  • Figure 5 shows a combined sound and puff sensor with two capacitance sensors
  • Figure 6 shows a combined sound and puff sensor with only one capacitance sensor
  • Figure 7 shows a flowchart of a computer implemented method for youth access prevention in an aerosol-generating device.
  • Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating system 1 for generating aerosol, for example for consumption by a user in one or more usage sessions.
  • the system 1 may comprise an aerosolgenerating device 2 for generating aerosol and a companion device 3 for at least partially receiving the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the companion device 3 may be a charging device for charging the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or an energy storage or battery thereof.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise an insertion opening 4 for at least partially inserting an aerosol-generating article 17.
  • the aerosol-generating article 17 may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco containing substrate, and/or a cartridge comprising a liquid.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may further include processing circuitry 23 or control circuitry 23 with at least one controller 5 and one or more processors 6.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise at least one heating element 7 or heater device for applying heat to at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 17.
  • an ultrasonic device (not shown) may also be used to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article 17.
  • the processing circuitry 23 and/or the controller 5 may be configured to control actuation, activation and/or deactivation of at least one heating element 7 or ultrasonic device.
  • the aerosolgenerating device 2 may further comprise at least one energy storage 15, for example in the form of a battery, for storing electrical energy or power.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise at least one electrical connector 12 for coupling to a corresponding at least one electrical connector 13 of the companion device 3 and/or an electrical connector of an external power supply (not shown), e.g., a USB charger.
  • an external power supply not shown
  • the one or more electrical connectors 12 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may be coupled with the one or more electrical connectors 13 of the companion device 3 to charge the at least one energy storage 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-generating device 2 with the companion device 3, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a 3G/4G/5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, a radio connection, a near field connection, and/or an loT connection.
  • a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-generating device 2 with the companion device 3, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a 3G/4G/5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, a radio connection, a near field connection, and/or an
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a data storage 11 for storing information, program code or data.
  • One or more sensors 16 may be arranged on, at or in the aerosol-generating device 2 to collect data.
  • One or more of the sensors 16 may for example be temperature sensors, strain sensors, accelerometers or any other suitable sensors.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise user interface components, for example comprising an input element or input device 8, for example in the form of a pushbutton.
  • the input device 8 may be used as a power button to activate or deactivate the heating element 7 or ultrasonic device for aerosol generation thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosolgenerating device 2.
  • the heating element 7 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosol-generating article 17, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption by the user, for example in a usage session.
  • the aerosol generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3 may each comprise a user interface comprising one or more output elements, such as an LED, for outputting a signal to a user.
  • the output element may be used to signal to the user whether or not the transmittal of the series of sound signals works in the current conditions. For example, the output element may signal to the user whether or not the series of sound signals is not loud enough to be received properly by the sound sensor 21 . The user may then replay the series of sound signals and may also try to improve the conditions, for example by reducing the distance between the sound emitter and the sound sensor 21 and/or by reducing background noise.
  • the aerosol generating device 2 and/or the companion device 3 may further comprise a sound sensor 21.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be configured as a combined sound and puff sensor, preferably in the case in which the sound sensor 21 is arranged on the aerosol generating device 2.
  • the user may input a command signal, for example via the input device 8, which causes the controller 5 to put the sound sensor 21 into a sound sensing mode in which the sound sensor 21 is configured to receive the series of sound signals.
  • the sound sensor 21 may therefore be configured to receive a series of sound signals and provide controller 5 with signals representing the information comprised or encoded in the series of sound signals.
  • the series of sound signals may encode data in a binary code of increased and decreased pressure or of different durations of periods of time of increased and decreased pressure.
  • the controller 5 may therefore receive signals representing this encoded data and enabling the controller 5 to derive the encoded data from the signals.
  • Figure 2 shows a system for youth access prevention in an aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the system may comprise a server device 22, for example an internet or web server, a computing device 19, for example a smart phone or a personal computer, and at least one of the devices of the aerosol-generating system 1 , for example an aerosol-generating device 2 and/or a companion device 3.
  • a user wishing to unlock the aerosol-generating device 2 i.e. wishing to transition the aerosol-generating device 2 from the locked state into the unlocked state, may input the unique device identifier of the aerosol-generating device 2 into the computing device 19.
  • the user may read the device identifier, which may be arranged on the outside of the aerosol-generating device 2 or its packaging or documentation and may type the device identifier into the computing device 19.
  • the computing device 19 comprises a camera, for example like a smart phone
  • the user may scan an optically readable code, like a QR-code or a barcode, containing the device identifier and provided on the aerosol-generating device 2 or its packaging or documentation.
  • the device identifier may then be transmitted from the computing device 19 to the server device 22.
  • the user may input age verification information into the computing device 19 which may then also be transmitted to the server device 22.
  • the data connection between the computing device 19 and the server device 22 may be established through an internet connection, preferably a mobile internet connection, of the computing device 19.
  • the server device 22 may then perform an age verification test on the age verification information provided by the user.
  • the age verification test may be a legal age user (LAU)-test to determine whether or not the user is allowed to operate the aerosol-generating device 2 in their jurisdiction.
  • the server device 22 may only proceed in the case that the age verification test is successfully passed and when it is therefore determined that the user is indeed allowed to operate the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the server device 22 may retrieve an unlock code that is associated with or derived from the device identifier.
  • the server device 22 may have access to a data storage in which a specific unlock code for each device identifier is stored. Retrieving the unlock code may therefore comprise looking up the device identifier in the data storage and reading the corresponding unlock code.
  • the unlock code may be derived from the device identifier by the server device 22 by an algorithm.
  • the unlock code may be produced from the device identifier by hashing or encrypting the device identifier. This may also lead to a unique unlock code for each unique device identifier.
  • the server device 22 may transmit unlocking data to the computing device 19.
  • the unlocking data may comprise or encode the unlock code.
  • the unlocking data may be in the form of instructions for the computing device 19 to display the series of sound signals, wherein the series of sound signals also comprises or encodes the unlock code.
  • the unlocking data provided by the server device may be in the form of an audio file.
  • the audio file may comprise a series of sounds or sound signals of different frequencies encoding the data.
  • the computing device 19 may receive the unlocking data from the server device 22, for example via the same data connection used for transmitting the device identifier and the age verification information from the computing device 19 to the server device 22.
  • the computing device 19 may comprise a sound emitter, for example a speaker device 20 configured to present acoustic information, sounds or sound signals.
  • the speaker device 20 may be a loudspeaker.
  • the computing device 19 may be configured to present the unlocking data received from the server device 22 on the speaker device 20 as a series of sound signals.
  • the computing device 19 may play the audio file constituting the unlocking data on the speaker device 20.
  • the computing device 19 may provide an unlocking instruction to the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the computing device 19 may comprise a software, for example an app, which may check whether the unlocking data received from the server device 22 and particularly the unlock code is correct for the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device 2. In the case that the unlock code is correct for the device identifier, the unlocking instruction provided by the computing device
  • 19 may comprise an unlock signal that directly leads to the unlocking of the aerosol -generating device 2.
  • the computing device 19 it is not necessary for the computing device 19 to have such a software because the checking of the validity of the unlocking data received from the server device 22 may also be performed on the level of the aerosol-generating system 1. In this case, no special software or app may be needed on the computing device 19 and all of the steps necessary to be performed on the computing device 19 may, for example, be performed using a web browser or similar software which may already be installed on the computing device 19.
  • the unlocking instruction provided by the computing device 19 may therefore comprise the unlock code.
  • the unlocking instruction provided by the computing device 19 comprising the unlock signal or the unlock code may be received by the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2. This may be achieved by the sound sensor 21 of the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2 acting as sound sensor and receiving the series of sound signals emitted from the speaker device 20 of the computing device 19. For this transmission to be as accurate as possible, it may be helpful if the user places the sound sensor 21 of the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2 in close proximity or next to the speaker device
  • the unlocking instruction is transferred from the computing device 19 to the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol - generating device 2.
  • the companion device 3 may in turn transfer the unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device 2 via the communications arrangement 9. This is indicated by the arrow 28.
  • the unlocking instruction transferred from the companion device 3 to the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise the unlock signal (especially in case the companion device 3 checks the validity of the unlock code) and/or the unlock code (especially in case the companion device 3 does not check the validity of the unlock code).
  • the companion device 3 may be configured to read the device identifier and/or the unlock code stored in the data storage 11 of the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the companion device 3 may be configured to check whether the unlock code received in the unlocking instruction from the computing device 19 matches or is correct for the unlock code and/or the device identifier stored in the aerosol-generating device 2. If the unlock code in the unlocking instruction received from the computing device 19 is valid, the companion device 3 may be configured to transmit an unlock signal as unlocking instruction to the aerosol-generating device 2 which then directly leads to the unlocking of the aerosol-generating device 2. On the other hand, the companion device 3 may simply transmit the unlocking instruction as received through the series of sound signals from the computing device 19 to the aerosol-generating device 2 via the communications arrangement 9 without checking the validity of the unlock code. In this case, the unlocking instruction transmitted by the companion device 3 to the aerosol -generating device 2 comprises the unlock code.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may receive an unlocking instruction either from the computing device 19 via the series of sound signals as indicated by arrow 27 or from the companion device 3 via the communications arrangement 9 as indicated by arrow 28.
  • the unlocking instruction received by the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise the unlock code and/or the unlock signal.
  • the unlocking instruction comprises the unlock signal
  • the validity of the unlock code may already have been checked by the companion device 3 and/or the computing device 19. Therefore, the aerosol-generating device 2 may immediately unlock upon receipt of the unlock signal.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may transition the aerosol-generating device 2 from the locked state into the unlocked state upon receipt of the unlock signal.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may check the validity of the unlock code itself. For this, the controller 5 may check whether the unlock code matches or is correct for an unlock code stored in the data storage 11 of the aerosol-generating device 2. Alternatively, if the unlock code is derived from the device identifier by an algorithm, the controller 5 may execute the algorithm on the device identifier and check whether the unlock code received from the companion device
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may transition from the locked state to the unlocked state. Unlocking of the aerosol-generating device 2 may therefore be tied to successfully passing an age verification or LAU-test.
  • Figure 3 shows a diagram explaining how the sound sensor 21 may translate the series of sound signals into a binary signal.
  • the upper part according to the diagram of Figure 3 shows a sound wave 18 representing a series of sound signals.
  • the sound wave 18 representing the series of sound signals may comprise sounds of two different frequencies.
  • a total of six sounds or sound signals are comprised.
  • Each sound or sound signal may comprise at least half a period or at least one full period of the sound wave 18.
  • the first three sounds or sound signals of the series of sound signals as represented in Figure 3 have a lower frequency than the following three sounds or sound signals of the series of sound signals as represented in Figure 3.
  • the frequency of the first three sounds or sound signals of the series of sound signals as represented in Figure 3 may be half of the frequency of the following three sounds or sound signals.
  • the upper part of the diagram according to Figure 3 shows how the ambient pressure changes due to the sound wave 18.
  • the ordinate or y-axis represents pressure P.
  • the abscissa or x-axis represents time t and is located at the value of atmospheric pressure, so that the representation of the sound wave 18 shows increases and decreases of ambient pressure P in relation to atmospheric pressure.
  • the pressure and pressure changes as shown in the upper part of Figure 3 therefore represent the sound pressure of the sound wave 18.
  • the sound wave 18 may cause the ambient pressure P to oscillate around the atmospheric pressure.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be configured to produce different signals depending on the ambient pressure P.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be configured to produce two different signals in response to the ambient pressure P being above or below a predetermined threshold T.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be configured to produce a signal S+ when the ambient pressure P is above the predetermined threshold T and a signal S- when the ambient pressure P is below the predetermined threshold T.
  • the predetermined threshold T may be around or exactly one fourth of the total amplitude of the sound wave 18, which may be constant throughout the series of sound signals.
  • the different frequencies used in the series of sound signals may result in the ambient pressure P rising above the threshold T for different durations of time.
  • the first, lower frequency as shown in Figure 3 may result in the ambient pressure P rising above the threshold T for a duration D1 of time. This may mean that the period of time of increased pressure resulting from the sound or sound signal of this frequency corresponds to the duration D1.
  • the second, higher frequency as shown in Figure 3 may result in the ambient pressure P rising above the threshold T for a duration DO of time. This may mean that the period of time of increased pressure resulting from the sound or sound signal of this frequency corresponds to the duration DO.
  • higher frequencies may result in shorter durations or periods of time of increased pressure.
  • the lower part of Figure 3 shows how the pressure or pressure changes due to the sound wave 18 may be converted to data, for example binary data.
  • the sound sensor 21 and/or the controller 5 may monitor the durations D1 , DO or the length of the periods of time of increased pressure above threshold T. This may exemplarily be accomplished by counting and comparing how often the pressure above threshold T is sampled by the sound sensor 21 and/or the controller 5.
  • the sampling rate may be configured such that during the duration D1 , a greater amount of samplings of signal S+, for example about five samplings, are taken than during the duration DO, which may for example only comprise about two samplings of signal S+ before switching back to signal S-.
  • the series of sound signals may therefore result in a sequence of long periods 29 of S+ samplings and short periods 30 of S+ samplings, each separated by periods of S- sampling.
  • the sound sensor 21 and/or the controller 5 may distinguish between the durations D1 and DO and therefore the long periods 29 and the short periods 30 of S+ sampling.
  • the sound sensor 21 and/or the controller 5 may therefore distinguish between sounds or sound signals of the respective frequencies. For instance, a very simple conversion into data may be used, in which sounds or sound signals corresponding to a duration D1 are converted to a bit value or signal value or numerical value of 1 whereas sounds or sound signals corresponding to a duration DO are converted to a bit value or signal value or numerical value of 0.
  • the resulting string of binary data encoded by the sound wave 18 or series of sound signals as shown in Figure 3 is therefore 111000.
  • the data encoding used by the series of sound signals as shown in Figure 3 is merely an exemplary embodiment and other types of encoding may also be used.
  • the long and short durations D1 and DO may be used to form a Manchester code or any other suitable or desirable encoding scheme.
  • FIG. 4 shows a puff sensor, which may be implemented as a sound sensor in any one of the embodiments of this disclosure, and a corresponding circuit diagram.
  • the puff sensor may comprise a casing 31 with an opening 32.
  • the opening 32 may connect the interior of the puff sensor to the airflow channel of the aerosol-generating device 2 so that when a user puffs on the aerosol-generating device 2, the ambient pressure inside the casing 31 of the puff sensor may be decreased.
  • the puff sensor may comprise a flexible charged membrane 33 and an electrically conductive backplate 34, for example a metal backplate.
  • the flexible charged membrane 33 may curve or bend in the direction of the backplate 34.
  • the flexible charged membrane 33 and the backplate 34 may therefore form a capacitor 39, wherein the capacitance of the capacitor 39 is variable and depends on the distance between the flexible charged membrane 33 and the backplate 34. As this distance may vary in accordance with the pressure inside the casing 31 , the capacitance of the capacitor 39 may vary with pressure changes in the ambient pressure inside the aerosol-generating device 2. The changes in the capacitance of the capacitor 39 may be sensed by a capacitance sensor 35 , which may, for example, be a JFET.
  • the backplate 34 may be connected to the gate 36 of the JFET, while the flexible charged membrane 33 may be connected to the source 37 of the JFET.
  • the voltage applied between the gate 36 and the source 37 of the JFET may change corresponding to a change in capacitance of the capacitor 39 formed by the flexible charged membrane 33 and the backplate 34. This in turn leads to a change of the electrical conductivity of the JFET between the source 37 and a drain 38. This change in conductivity may then be used as a sensor signal indicating the pressure or pressure changes inside of the casing 31 of the puff sensor.
  • the puff sensor according to prior art is configured to detect puffs. This means that the puff sensor is configured to detect pressures or pressure changes corresponding to a user puffing on the aerosol-generating device 2. For example, a puff sensor may detect pressure changes of -300 Pa to -600 Pa, for example -450 Pa. Therefore, conventional puff sensors according to the prior art have no relevant sensitivity to detect sound signals, which cause much smaller pressure changes.
  • Figure 5 shows a sound sensor 21 according to the present disclosure.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be a combined sound and puff sensor using two capacitance sensors 35, for example JFETs.
  • the principle of detection may be the same as in the puff sensor according to Figure 4, however, there may be some decisive differences.
  • the combined sound and puff sensor according to Figure 5 may comprise a first backplate 40 and a second backplate 41 , the backplates 40, 41 arranged on opposite sides of the flexible charged membrane 33.
  • Each of the backplates 40, 41 may form a capacitor together with the flexible charged membrane 33.
  • each of these capacitors may be connected with a capacitance sensor 35.
  • the first backplate 40 may be connected to the gate 36 of a first JFET while the flexible charged membrane 33 is connected to the source 37 of the first JFET.
  • the second backplate 41 may be connected to the gate 36 of a second JFET while the flexible charged membrane 33 is connected to the source 37 of the second JFET.
  • the electrical conductivity between the source 37 and the drain 38 of the first JFET may be used to sense changes in the capacitance of the first capacitor formed by the first backplate 40 and the flexible charged membrane 33.
  • the electrical conductivity between the source 37 and the drain 38 of the second JFET may be used to sense changes in the capacitance of the second capacitor formed by the second backplate 40 and the flexible charged membrane 33.
  • the sound sensor 21 may be configured so that a decrease in pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure leads to a bending or curving of the flexible charged membrane 33 towards the second backplate 41 , as shown in figure 5. Accordingly, changes in the capacitance of the second capacitor and therefore changes in the electrical conductivity between the source 37 and the drain 38 of the second capacitance sensor 35 or JFET may be used to sense pressure decreases occurring in puffs. Accordingly, the flexible charged membrane 33 and the second backplate 41 may be configured and/or designed and/or arranged so that pressure changes in the magnitude occurring during a puff may be dependably detected. Additionally, the sound sensor 21 may be configured so that an increase in pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure leads to a bending or curving of the flexible charged membrane 33 towards the first backplate 40.
  • changes in the capacitance of the first capacitor and therefore changes in the electrical conductivity between the source 37 and the drain 38 of the first capacitance sensor 35 or JFET may be used to sense pressure increases occurring due to sound, i.e. sound pressure.
  • the flexible charged membrane 33 and the first backplate 40 may be configured and/or designed and/or arranged so that pressure changes in the magnitude typically caused by sound pressure may be dependably detected.
  • the distance between the first backplate 40 and the flexible charged membrane 33 may be smaller than between the flexible charged membrane and the second backplate 41 .
  • the material of the first backplate 40 may be different than the material of the second backplate 41 .
  • the reference sign of the voltage applied to the gates 36 of the capacitance sensors 35 may be the same or may be different from one another between the first and the second capacitor.
  • the capacitance sensor 35 or JFET used with the respective capacitor may be selected so that the voltage supplied by the capacitor works with the specific capacitance sensor 35 or JFET.
  • Figure 6 shows a sound sensor 21 , specifically a combined sound and puff sensor, which may be realized using only one capacitance sensor 35 or JFET.
  • the embodiment shown may correspond to the embodiment shown in Figure 5 so that only the differences will be explained.
  • both the first backplate 40 and the second backplate 41 may be connected to the gate 36 of the one, single capacitance sensor 35 or JFET being used.
  • the flexible charged membrane 33 may comprise a conductive and/or metallic middle layer 42 which may be sandwiched between a first charged layer 43 and a second charged layer 44, for example electret layers or films.
  • the first and second charged layers 43, 44 may be inversely polarized to each other so that the polarization of the flexible charged membrane 33 may be symmetrical in relation to the middle layer 42, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 6.
  • approaching the first backplate 40 by the flexible charged membrane 33 may have the same electrical effect as approaching the second backplate 41 by the flexible charged membrane 33.
  • the changes of the capacitances of the first and the second capacitors may lead to a voltage of the same reference sign being applied to the gate 36 of the capacitance sensor 35 or JFET.
  • One single capacitance sensor 35 or JFET may therefore be used for sensing both sounds or sound signals through the first capacitor and puffs through the second capacitor.
  • FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of the computer implemented method 50 for youth access prevention for an aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the method 50 may start with step 51 , in which the aerosol-generating device 2 may be provided with a unique device identifier.
  • the aerosolgenerating device 2 may also be provided with a separate unique unlock code. However, this may not be necessary in cases where the unlock code is derivable from the device identifier.
  • the device identifier is entered into the computing device 19 by a user.
  • the user may accomplish this by typing the device identifier into the computing device 19 or by scanning the device identifier with the computing device 19.
  • the user may also enter age verification information into the computing device 19.
  • the device identifier and the age verification information may be transmitted from the computing device 19 to the server device 22, for example via an internet connection.
  • step 54 the user may have to pass an age verification or LAU-test performed by the server device 22 on the age verification information transmitted by the computing device 19.
  • the method 50 stops in case the age verification or LAU-test is not passed by the user. Conversely, the method 50 only proceeds to step 55 if the age verification or LAU-test is successfully passed and it has been determined that the user is of legal age.
  • the server device 22 transfers an unlock code specific for the aerosol-generating device 2 to the computing device 19.
  • the unlock code may be part of or be encoded in unlocking data transmitted from the server device 22 to the computing device 19.
  • the server device 22 may retrieve the specific unlock code from a database in which all unlock codes for all device identifiers are stored.
  • the server device 22 may produce the unlock code from the device identifier via the algorithm.
  • the unlock code and/or the unlocking data may be presented or emitted by the computing device 19 on a speaker device 20 of the computing device 19 via the series of sound signals.
  • the computing device 19 may transmit an unlocking instruction to the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2 via the series of sound signals.
  • the computing device 19 may not need any bi-directional data connection to the companion device 3 or the aerosol-generating device 2. It may be sufficient for the computing device 19 to present or emit the series of sound signals via the speaker device 20.
  • the series of sound signals may be received at the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2. Specifically, the series of sound signals is received by the sound sensor 21 of the companion device 3 and/or the aerosol-generating device 2. In the case that the series of sound signals comprising or encoding the unlocking instruction is received at the companion device 3, the companion device 3 may translate the series of sound signals into the unlock code or the unlock signal (see step 58). The companion device 3 may then check the validity of the unlock code by comparing the unlock code to an unlock code stored in the data storage 11 of the aerosol-generating device 2 or by deriving the unlock code from the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device 2 by an algorithm and comparing this derived unlock code to the unlock code received from the computing device 19.
  • the companion device 3 may transmit the unlock code and/or the unlock signal to the aerosol-generating device 2 in step 60. In cases in which the companion device 3 only receives an unlock signal from the computing device 19, the companion device 3 may directly transmit the unlock signal to the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the communication between the computing device 3 and the aerosol-generating device 2 may be established through the communications arrangement 9.
  • the aerosol-generating device 2 may translate the series of sound signals into the unlock code or the unlock signal (see step 58). The aerosol-generating device 2 may then check the validity of the unlock code by comparing the unlock code to an unlock code stored in the data storage 11 of the aerosol-generating device 2 or by deriving the unlock code from the device identifier of the aerosol-generating device 2 by an algorithm and comparing this derived unlock code to the unlock code received from the computing device 19.
  • the controller 5 of the aerosolgenerating device 2 may transition the aerosol-generating device 2 from the locked state into the unlocked state, thereby unlocking the aerosol-generating device 2 to allow aerosol generation in step 59. In cases in which the aerosol-generating device 2 only receives an unlock signal from the computing device 19 or the companion device 3, the controller 5 may directly proceed to unlock the aerosol-generating device 2.
  • the series of sound signals may contain sounds or sound signals with a frequency of 100 Hz, which may be the lowest frequency used. This means that at least 100 bits per secondmay be transferred by this series of sound signals.
  • the unlocking instruction may contain the unlock code as a hashed value of the device identifier.
  • the resulting string containing the unlock code may, for example, be 32 bytes long, which would result in a very secure unlock code. This string may then be 256 bits long.
  • the unlocking instruction may contain additional information, such as a begin signature, and end signature or an error checking number as explained above.
  • the total length of the unlocking instruction may, for example, be about 500 bits long, meaning a series of 500 sound signals or sounds.
  • the time needed to read this series of sound signals or this audio file by the sound sensor 21 would then be about 5 seconds, which is an acceptable duration.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprenant : un circuit de commande comprenant un dispositif de commande conçu pour faire fonctionner le dispositif de génération d'aérosol dans un état verrouillé, dans lequel la génération d'aérosol par le dispositif de génération d'aérosol est empêchée ou un état déverrouillé dans lequel la génération d'aérosol par le dispositif de génération d'aérosol est autorisée, ainsi qu'un capteur de son accouplé de manière fonctionnelle au dispositif de commande, le capteur de son étant conçu pour recevoir une série de signaux sonores et le dispositif de commande étant conçu pour faire passer le dispositif de génération d'aérosol de l'état verrouillé à l'état déverrouillé sur la base de la série de signaux sonores.
PCT/EP2024/059861 2023-04-24 2024-04-11 Amélioration de l'accès de la jeunesse à la prévention pour dispositifs de génération d'aérosol Pending WO2024223318A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN202480022123.7A CN121013661A (zh) 2023-04-24 2024-04-11 用于气溶胶生成装置的改进的青少年访问预防
KR1020257038382A KR20250172954A (ko) 2023-04-24 2024-04-11 에어로졸 발생 장치에 대한 개선된 청소년 접근 방지

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23169617 2023-04-24
EP23169617.0 2023-04-24

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WO2024223318A1 true WO2024223318A1 (fr) 2024-10-31

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PCT/EP2024/059861 Pending WO2024223318A1 (fr) 2023-04-24 2024-04-11 Amélioration de l'accès de la jeunesse à la prévention pour dispositifs de génération d'aérosol

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KR (1) KR20250172954A (fr)
CN (1) CN121013661A (fr)
WO (1) WO2024223318A1 (fr)

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180176693A1 (en) * 2011-01-07 2018-06-21 Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. Acoustic transducer
WO2019104223A1 (fr) * 2017-11-22 2019-05-31 Juul Labs, Inc. Session de vaporisateur électronique
WO2020205971A1 (fr) * 2019-04-02 2020-10-08 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Commande fonctionnelle et vérification de l'âge de dispositifs électroniques par l'intermédiaire d'une communication de haut-parleur
WO2021225689A1 (fr) * 2020-05-07 2021-11-11 Altria Client Services Llc Système de vérification d'âge et d'identité
WO2022081785A1 (fr) * 2020-10-16 2022-04-21 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Module de vérification d'âge/d'identification séparé pour dispositif de distribution d'aérosol
WO2022081787A1 (fr) * 2020-10-16 2022-04-21 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Éléments de sécurité pour dispositif de génération d'aérosol
EP3334183B1 (fr) * 2016-12-08 2023-04-19 MMI Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Système transducteur capacitif, transducteur capacitif et capteur acoustique

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180176693A1 (en) * 2011-01-07 2018-06-21 Stmicroelectronics S.R.L. Acoustic transducer
EP3334183B1 (fr) * 2016-12-08 2023-04-19 MMI Semiconductor Co., Ltd. Système transducteur capacitif, transducteur capacitif et capteur acoustique
WO2019104223A1 (fr) * 2017-11-22 2019-05-31 Juul Labs, Inc. Session de vaporisateur électronique
WO2020205971A1 (fr) * 2019-04-02 2020-10-08 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Commande fonctionnelle et vérification de l'âge de dispositifs électroniques par l'intermédiaire d'une communication de haut-parleur
WO2021225689A1 (fr) * 2020-05-07 2021-11-11 Altria Client Services Llc Système de vérification d'âge et d'identité
WO2022081785A1 (fr) * 2020-10-16 2022-04-21 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Module de vérification d'âge/d'identification séparé pour dispositif de distribution d'aérosol
WO2022081787A1 (fr) * 2020-10-16 2022-04-21 Rai Strategic Holdings, Inc. Éléments de sécurité pour dispositif de génération d'aérosol

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