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WO2025073594A1 - Dispositif de génération d'aérosol utilisable en mode de libération d'aérosol et en mode pause - Google Patents

Dispositif de génération d'aérosol utilisable en mode de libération d'aérosol et en mode pause Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2025073594A1
WO2025073594A1 PCT/EP2024/077198 EP2024077198W WO2025073594A1 WO 2025073594 A1 WO2025073594 A1 WO 2025073594A1 EP 2024077198 W EP2024077198 W EP 2024077198W WO 2025073594 A1 WO2025073594 A1 WO 2025073594A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
temperature
aerosol
mode
heater
pause mode
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/EP2024/077198
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yannick BUTIN
Farhang MOHSENI
Paola ORSOLINI
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
Publication of WO2025073594A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025073594A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—Temperature control
    • 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
    • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
    • 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
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating

Definitions

  • Aerosol-generating device operable in an aerosol-releasing mode and in a pause mode
  • Aerosol-generating systems for generating an inhalable aerosol by heating an aerosolforming substrate capable to form an aerosol when heated are generally known from prior art.
  • Such systems comprise, on the one hand, the aerosol-forming substrate and, on the other hand, an aerosol-generating device enabling the substrate to be heated by means of a heater.
  • the substrate is heated up to an operating temperature sufficient to allow volatile compounds to be released from the substrate.
  • a user experience typically is continued without ceasing until the aerosol-forming substrate is depleted. Nevertheless, a user may wish to interrupt a user experience and to resume the experience at a later stage with the same article, preferably until fully depleting the substrate.
  • a user experience - once having been interrupted - may be resumed only with degraded quality of the aerosol generated from the non-depleted substrate.
  • the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile are chosen such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode, wherein a temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode is less than 150 °C or at most 145 °C.
  • the "pause mode” refers to an operational mode in which a user experience is paused and aerosol generation does not take place, or at least is reduced to a lower or minimum level. That is, in the pause mode the aerosol-generating device is in a pause operation. In the pause mode, the aerosol-forming substrate may be heated continuously to not generate aerosol, or to generate a lower amount of aerosol than in the heating mode. Likewise, in the pause mode, the heater may be powered continually to not generate aerosol or to generate a lower amount of aerosol than in the heating mode. In particular, in the pause mode, the aerosol-forming substrate may be heated to a lower temperature than in the heating mode. That is, the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile may be chosen such that an operation temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode.
  • a “temperature profile” may be defined as one or more target temperatures (or maximum temperatures) for the heater to be applied with respect to the duration of a user experience, number of puffs taken during a user experience and/or aerosol produced during a user experience.
  • the target or maximum temperatures may be defined as a measured temperature of the heater, e g., measured by a thermistor attached to or in proximity to the heater.
  • the target or maximum temperatures may be defined as an electrical parameter indicative of the resistance, conductance, inductance or susceptance of the heater and/or a heating arrangement comprising the heater.
  • the controller may further be configured to interrupt the heat up of the heater when the monitored property reaches the characteristic feature, e.g. an extremal value, wherein the monitored parameter at the characteristic feature (e.g. extremal value) corresponds to a predefined temperature of the heater.
  • the controller may control the heater such that an operation temperature of the heater passes through one or more reference points at which the controller measures one or more calibration values of a temperature dependent property of the heater, i.e. one or more calibration values of a parameter that is indicative of an operation temperature of the heater.
  • operation in the heating mode or in the pause mode may be interrupted by operation in the preparation mode.
  • WO 2023/2854458 A1 the content of which is hereby incorporated entirely into the present specification by reference - describes such a calibration process for an inductively heating aerosol-generating system.
  • the temperature during the pause mode to a certain level which is chosen such that it enables, on the one hand, to reduce depletion of the substrate during the pause mode as well as the overall energy consumption but, on the other hand, still enables to return to an operation in the heating mode within a reasonable time in order to resume a paused user experience.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode may in particular dependent on the substrate type.
  • a temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode may be less than 150 °C, in particular equal or less than 145 °C.
  • a temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode may be at most 145 °C, in particular at most 140 °C, more particularly at most 135 °C.
  • Non-tobacco substrates typically have a different chemical composition and physical behavior as compared to tobacco containing substrates, in particular a lower thermal stability and higher thermal mass.
  • the pause mode temperature for substrates comprising no tobacco material may be generally lower than for aerosol-forming substrates containing tobacco material.
  • tobacco containing aerosol-forming substrates typically may comprise a total aerosolformer content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight
  • aerosol-forming substrates comprising no tobacco material i.e. non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrates may comprise a total aerosolformer content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight.
  • the aforementioned values and ranges for the temperature level in the pause mode may be in general (i.e.
  • the substrate contains tobacco or not
  • aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight.
  • Aerosol-forming substrates comprising no tobacco material may have a higher thermal mass as compared to tobacco containing substrates.
  • One reason is that non-tobacco aerosolforming substrates and tobacco containing aerosol-forming substrates may have different grammages and different thicknesses. Therefore, the aforementioned temperature values and ranges for the temperature level in the pause mode may be particularly applicable for aerosolforming substrates having a higher thermal mass.
  • a higher thermal mass may require a larger surface of the heater used for heating the substrate.
  • a larger surface of surface area of the heater in contact with the substrate also ensures a sufficient heat diffusion across the substrate in the article.
  • the aforementioned temperature values and ranges for the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile may also be the result of a compromise between - on the one hand - a temperature level that is sufficiently low to reduce depletion of the substrate during the pause mode but still sufficiently high to increase the deliveries of the first puff after resumption of the user experience, and - on the other hand - a temperature level that is within a technically feasible regulation range of the controller.
  • the latter may be determined by the physical properties of the heater, as will be discussed in more detail further below.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode may be higher, for instance in a range between 240 °C and 280 °C, in particular in a range between 250 °C and 270 °C, more particularly 260 °C.
  • tobacco-containing aerosol-forming substrates are also given further below.
  • the aforementioned values may also be applicable for other substrate types.
  • the aforementioned higher temperature values and ranges for the pause mode temperature may also be particularly applicable for aerosol-forming substrates having a lower thermal mass.
  • these higher temperature values and ranges may be particularly applicable for aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight (in particular irrespective of whether the substrate contains tobacco or not). Also, these higher temperature values and ranges may be particularly applicable when using a heater that has a surface area in contact with the substrate smaller than 50 square millimeters.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the heating mode may be in a range between 200 °C and 300 °C, in particular between 220 °C and 280 °C, more particularly between 250 °C and 260 °C, preferably around 255 °C.
  • non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrates and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a higher thermal mass
  • aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight, and/or when using a heater that has a surface area in contact with the substrate greater than 50 square millimeters.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in operation in the heating mode may be in a range between 300 °C and 400 °C, in particular between 320 °C and 380 °C, more particularly between 340 °C and 380 °C.
  • All values mentioned before may refer to a temperature of the heater as measured at a single point on a surface of the heater, or as measured at and averaged over a plurality of points on a surface of the heater.
  • all values mentioned before may refer to a temperature of the heater as measured at a geometrical center point of a main surface of the heater or as averaged along a geometrical center line on a main surface of the heater.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode may be at least 20 °C, at least 50 °C, at least 100°C, at least 120°C, at least 125 °C or at least 130 °C (preferably around 125 °C or 130 °C) lower than a temperature of level of the heating mode temperature profile, in particular a temperature of level of the heating mode temperature profile before, more particularly immediately before initiating operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be able to differentiate between different substrate types, for instance, between aerosol-forming substrates containing no tobacco material and aerosol-forming substrates containing tobacco material or a combination of tobacco material and other botanical material(s).
  • the controller may be further configured to select a respective pause mode temperature profile and/or heating mode temperature profile associated with a specific substrate type based on the identified substrate type.
  • the second specific temperature is the Curie temperature of the second susceptor material that is associated with a second extremal value, in particular a maximum in the conductance (hill). Further details are described in WO 2023/285458 A1 , the content of which is hereby incorporated entirely into the present specification by reference.
  • the controller may be configured to monitor the conductance and regulate the power provided to the susceptor such that the conductance is at a specific value between the minimum (valley) and the maximum (hill), where the conductance is a strictly monotonic function of the temperature.
  • the specific value for the temperature regulation during the heating mode should be chosen such that it is sufficiently distanced from the minimum (valley) and the maximum (hill) in order to ensure appropriate regulation.
  • the same issue applies to the specific value for regulation at lower temperatures during the pause mode, in particular at temperatures below the minimum.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating the operation in the pause mode preferably is chosen such that it is as high as possible in order to resume to the paused user experience within a reasonable time, but still sufficiently distanced from the first specific temperature to ensure appropriate regulation.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode may be at least 20 °C, at least 50 °C, at least 100 °C, at least 120 °C, at least 125 °C or at least 130 °C (preferably around 125 °C or 130 °C) below the first specific temperature.
  • the choice to adapt or not adapt the pause mode temperature profile may be also depend on the thermal stability of the substrate, the total aerosol-former content, the grammage of the substrate, the surface area of the heater in contact with the substrate, a desired aerosol intensity of the first puff after operation in the pause mode, and/or the availability of a technically feasible regulation range of the controller.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode may also be kept constant when using any other substrate type or heater.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode may also be kept constant if there is no technically feasible regulation range of the controller in the lower pause mode temperature regime that would allow a reasonable adaption of the pause mode temperature profile.
  • keeping the temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode constant offers a simpler mechanism for temperature regulation.
  • the controller may be configured such that the temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is kept constant at the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode.
  • the pause mode temperature profile in particular the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode may be independent from an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or independent from a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the temperature profile used during the pause mode may be adaptable depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode. That is, the pause mode temperature profile may be dynamically adjusted depending on the stage of the user experience at which the pause mode was launched and/or the duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to determine and/or record the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. Likewise, the controller may be configured to determine and/or record the duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to detect a puff and thus to determine the number of puffs by detecting a change of power/energy delivered to the heater that is indictive of the occurrence of a user's puff. Accordingly, the controller may be configured to detect a change of power/energy delivered to the heater that is indictive of the occurrence of a user's puff.
  • an aerosol-generating device comprising a controller configured to control a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol.
  • the controller is configured to selectively operate in a heating mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode.
  • the controller is further configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the temperature profile used during the pause mode should be a compromise between, on the one hand, reducing the overall energy consumption and depletion of the substrate during the pause mode and, on the other hand, an optimal first user experience when operation in the heating mode is resumed. While the first two aspects can be achieved by reducing the temperature during the pause mode, the latter aspect requires that the temperature during the pause mode be high enough to return to temperatures at or above the volatilization temperature of the aerosol forming substrate within a reasonable time to meet user requirements.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an operation temperature of the heater is progressively decreased as the duration of operation in the pause mode progresses.
  • the substrate comprises tobacco material or a combination of tobacco material and other botanical material(s), and/or for aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight, and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a lower thermal mass, and/or when using a heater that has a surface area in contact with the substrate smaller than 50 square millimeters.
  • the controller advantageously may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that a decrease of the operation temperature of the heater is less progressive with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller is configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an operation temperature of the heater is decreased in successive temperature steps as the duration of operation in the pause mode progresses.
  • successive temperature steps are technically easy to implement and allow the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to follow the pause mode temperature profile.
  • a respective time period of the successive temperature steps during the decrease may be in a range between 1 minute and 6 minutes, in particular between 2 minutes and 3 minutes.
  • the respective time period of the successive temperature steps may depend - inter alia - on the number of sequence of a respective temperature step.
  • the longer the pause mode has been active the longer the respective time period of a temperature step can be.
  • the respective time period of the successive temperature steps during the decrease may increase from temperature step to temperature step. Increasing the time period from temperature step to temperature step effectively makes the decrease of the operation temperature of the heater less progressive, which facilitates resumption of the user experience within a reasonable time.
  • the respective time period of the successive temperature steps may also depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. Accordingly, the controller may be configured to adapt a respective time period of the successive temperature steps depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. In particular, the controller may be configured to adapt a respective time period of the successive temperature steps such that a respective time period of the successive temperature steps is/gets longer with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the temperature decrease can be made less progressive in favor of a faster resumption of the user experience, the further the user experience has progressed prior to pausing it. This is because more and more aerosol-forming substrate is depleted as the user experience progress. The more of the aerosol-forming substrate has already been used up, the less need to avoid or minimize depletion of the non-depleted substrate. Accordingly, for larger numbers of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, for example greater than 3, the pause mode temperature profile may comprise only two or even a single temperature step.
  • the pause mode temperature profile may be such that the decrease of the operation temperature of the heater stops after a pre-defined time of operation in the pause mode, in particular a pre-defined decrease time period, and/or a predefined number of temperature steps, and that subsequently the operation temperature of the heater is kept constant until the end of operation in the pause mode.
  • the pre-defined time of operation in the pause mode, in particular the pre-defined decrease time period, and/or the predefined number of temperature steps may depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, in particular on the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the predefined time of operation in the pause mode, in particular the pre-defined decrease time period, and/or the predefined number of temperature steps depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the decrease time period may be fixed.
  • the decrease time period may depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, in particular on the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the decrease time period depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the decrease time period may be in a range, in particular may be adapted/adaptable in a range between range between 15 seconds and 6 minutes, in particular 3 minutes and 6 minutes, more particularly between 3.5 minutes and 4 minutes.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an increase of the operation temperature of the heater is less progressive with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the increase of the operation temperature may be step-wise, too.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that after decreasing the operation temperature over a pre-defined decrease time period an operation temperature of the heater is increased in successive temperature steps as the duration of operation in the pause mode progresses.
  • an increment of the operation temperature of the heater between successive temperature steps may be in a range between 2 °C and 25 °C, in particular between 5 °C and 20 °C, more particularly between 7 °C and 15 °C, for example 10 °C. Increments in these ranges have proven advantageous to adequately prepare the aerosol-forming substrate such as to ensure proper quality of the first puff after resumption of the user experience.
  • a respective time period of the successive temperature steps during the increase may be either fixed or adaptable, in particular adaptable depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt a respective time period of the successive temperature steps during the increase depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, especially on the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an operation temperature of the heater is kept constant depending on the operation history, for instance, if the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold number and/or if the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold time.
  • the pre-defined threshold number of puffs may be in a range between 4 and 8, for instance 6.
  • the pre-defined threshold time of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode may be in a range between 2 minutes and 8 minutes, in particular 3 minutes and 4 minutes, for instance 3.5 minutes.
  • the heating mode refers to an operational mode in which a user experience is paused and aerosol generation does not take place, or at least is reduced to a lower or minimum level. That is, in the pause mode the aerosol-generating device is in pause operation. In particular, in the pause mode, the aerosol-forming substrate may be heated to a lower temperature than in the heating mode.
  • the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile may generally be chosen such that an operation temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode. This may also apply to the case where the operation temperature of the heater is kept constant depending on the operation history, in particular if the pause mode is initiated at an advanced stage of the user experience. That is, the constant operation temperature of the heater pause mode temperature profile preferably is lower than an operation temperature during operation in the heating mode immediately prior to pausing it.
  • operation in the pause mode may have a defined total duration, which may be referred to as a defined maximum total duration.
  • the defined total duration of operation in the pause mode may be in a range between 1 minute and 15 minutes, in particular between 2 minutes and 10 minutes, preferably between 6 minutes and 9 minutes, for example 8 minutes.
  • the defined total duration may be fixed, e g., at a fixed duration in the range between 1 minute and 15 minutes, in particular between 2 minutes and 10 minutes, preferably between 6 minutes and 9 minutes, for example 8 minutes, irrespective of the operation history of the device prior to initiating a pause.
  • the defined total duration may be fixed at around 8 minutes.
  • the controller may be configured to cease providing power to the heater after operation in the pause mode is ended, for instance after the defined total duration of operation in the pause mode has elapsed.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further comprise an indicator.
  • the indicator may comprise at least one of a visual indicator, for example a display or a light signal, such as, one or more LEDs, a haptic indicator (haptic output unit), an audio indicator (audio output unit), and an audiovisual indicator.
  • the indicator may be operatively coupled to the controller.
  • the controller may be configured to indicate to a user, via the indicator, a remaining time before operation in the pause mode is ended.
  • Operation in the pause mode may be user-terminable. That is, the user may be able to determine the end of the pause mode and to initiate the resumption of the heating mode to continue the user experience. The same applies may apply for initiating the pause mode. That is, operation in the pause mode may be user-initiable.
  • the user interface may comprise a user switch or a user button enabling a user of the device to initiate and/or terminate operation in the pause mode, and/or to initiate and/or resume and/or terminate operation in the heating mode.
  • the user interface may comprise a touch screen.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise at least one sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of the device being in operation by a user or in an operation pause.
  • a sensor may facilitate to automatically detect whether operation of the controller can be switched into the pause mode since the device is currently not in use, but in an operation pause.
  • aerosol generation may be stopped in a timely manner in order to avoid an ongoing but undesired depletion of the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • a sensor may facilitate to automatically detect whether aerosol generation, in particular the heating mode is to be started or resumed.
  • the at least one sensor may comprise at least one of a puff sensor for detecting a user's puff, a motion sensor for detecting a movement of the device, and an orientation sensor for detecting an orientation of the device.
  • a puff sensor advantageously allows for detecting whether a user intends to start or resume a user experience, that is, aerosol generation.
  • a motion sensor advantageously may enable to monitor the device for movements and thus, for example, to detect a user handling the device. That is, if the motion sensor detects any movements of the aerosolgenerating device, this may indicate that a user is holding the device and therefore that a user probably is currently having a user experience or about to start or resume a user experience.
  • the motion sensor may detect movements of the aerosol-generating device when the device is picked up again after lying on a table. If no movements are detected, this typically means that the aerosol-generating device is in an idle phase. This might be the case, when the aerosolgenerating device is placed in a power charging unit or is lying idle on a table. Consequently, operation may be switched into the pause mode in order to avoid degradation of the non-depleted substrate.
  • the motion sensor may comprise at least one of an accelerometer for measuring accelerations or a gyroscope for measuring an angular orientation or an angular velocity of the device.
  • the motion sensor may be configured to detect at least one of accelerations, an angular orientation and or an angular velocity of the aerosol-generating device, in particular due to a user handling the device.
  • an orientation sensor may be used for detecting an orientation of the device which in turn may be indicative for a specific situation.
  • a horizontal orientation of the device (for example, with respect to a length axis of the aerosol-generating device) may be indicative of the device lying idle on a table.
  • a vertical orientation of the device or an orientation of the device between a vertical orientation and a horizontal orientation may be indicative of the device being in use during a user experience.
  • the boost phase is designed such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is higher than an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile, more particularly an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile subsequent to a possible operation in a preparation mode as described further above; and/or than a temperature level in the heating mode before activation of the pause mode.
  • the first puff after resuming the paused user experience is as high as possible in terms of aerosol delivery, preferably almost as high as or even as high as the first puff at the beginning of the user experience. This is an important aspect in order to the satisfy the user who wants to promptly experience a proper puff as soon as the paused user experience is resumed.
  • the boost phase follows termination of operation in the pause mode, i.e. is not part of the pause mode temperature profile, but may rather form part of the heating mode temperature profile, more particularly an initial part of the heating mode temperature profile after termination of operation in the pause mode when operation I the heating mode is resumed.
  • an aerosol-generating device comprising a controller configured to control a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol.
  • the controller is configured to selectively operate in a heating mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode.
  • the controller is configured to control the heater to resume operation in the heating mode starting with a temperature boost phase.
  • a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase preferably is higher by at least 10 °C, in particular by at least 30 °C, more particularly by at least 40 °C, especially by at least 50 °C, than an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile, more particularly an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile subsequent to a possible operation in a preparation mode; and/or than a temperature level in the heating mode before activation of the pause mode.
  • a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase preferably is higher than during operation in the heating mode immediately before operation in the pause mode.
  • a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase may be higher by at least 10 °C, in particular by at least 30 °C, more particularly by at least 40 °C, especially by at least 50 °C, than during operation in the heating mode immediately before operation in the pause mode.
  • the temperature boost phase primarily may be used to provide a proper first puff after resumption of the user experience, and thus can be followed by operation at lower temperatures. Continuing at a lower temperature after the temperature boost phase may help to avoid excessive depletion of the substrate and to reduce energy consumption. Accordingly, the temperature during operation in the temperature boost phase preferable may be higher than during subsequent operation in the heating mode after the temperature boost phase; or vice versa, the temperature during subsequent operation in the heating mode immediately after the temperature boost phase may be lower than during operation in the temperature boost phase.
  • a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is higher by at least 10 °C, in particular by at least 30 °C, more particularly by at least 40 °C, especially by at least 50 °C, than during subsequent operation in the heating mode immediately after the temperature boost phase.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is substantially the same as the temperature in the subsequent operation in the heating mode immediately after the temperature boost phase.
  • the temperature boost phase has a finite length in terms of time, that is a finite duration.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase may be adaptable.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt a duration of the temperature boost phase, in particular depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt a duration of the temperature boost phase so that the duration is increased with an increasing duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase may be zero, if the duration of operation in the pause mode is below a pre-defined threshold pause mode duration.
  • the controller may be configured to determine the duration of the temperature boost phase to be zero, if the duration of operation in the pause mode is below a pre-defined threshold pause mode duration.
  • the pre-defined threshold pause mode duration may be in a range between 0 seconds and 40 seconds, in particular between 15 seconds and 30 seconds.
  • the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode may be the dominant factor, in particular the only factor, in adapting the duration of the temperature boost phase.
  • the duration of operation in the pause mode may have less or even no influence thereon.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase may be constant, i.e. always the same, for any duration of operation in the pause mode larger than the aforementioned pre-defined threshold pause mode duration.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase may be in or may be adaptable in a range between 1 second and 90 seconds, in particular between 5 seconds and 90 seconds, more particularly between 15 seconds and 60 seconds, even more particularly in a range between 15 seconds and 50 seconds, preferably between 20 seconds and 50 seconds or between 20 seconds and 30 seconds.
  • non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrates and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a higher thermal mass
  • aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosolformer content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight.
  • substrates have a rather high thermal mass and therefore require more energy for resumption of the user experience.
  • any other substrate in particular for aerosol-forming substrates comprising tobacco material or a combination of tobacco material and other botanical material(s), and/or for aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight, and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a lower thermal mass.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase preferably is as high as possible, that is, at a maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode.
  • this may be particularly advantageous for aerosol-forming substrates comprising no tobacco material, i.e. for non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrates, due to their high thermal mass, and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a higher thermal mass, and/or for aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosol-former content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight.
  • temperature regulation during operation in the heating mode which the temperature boost phase belongs to, is based on a monotonic relationship between a property of the heater and its temperature occurring between a first characteristic feature at a first specific temperature and a second characteristic feature at a second specific temperature
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase should be still sufficiently distanced from the second specific temperature - which marks the upper limit of the regulation range - in order to ensure appropriate regulation.
  • the required distance for regulation may thus define a technically feasible regulation range of the controller, and consequently also a maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode.
  • a boost temperature level preferably corresponds to a maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode.
  • the absolute temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase may in particular dependent on the substrate type.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase in particular the boost temperature level, may be in or may be adaptable in a range between 300 °C and 500 °C, in particular between 375 °C and 400 °C, preferably around 390 °C.
  • These values have proven particularly advantageous for aerosol-forming substrates comprising tobacco material or a combination of tobacco material and other botanical material(s), and/or for aerosol-forming substrates comprising a total aerosolformer content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight, and/or for aerosol-forming substrates having a lower thermal mass.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase in particular the boost temperature level, may be in or may be adaptable in a range between 250 °C and 400 °C, in particular between 250 °C and 300 °C, more particularly between 260 °C and 275 °C, for example 270 °C.
  • the aerosol-generating device may generally need some time to thermally prepare the aerosol-forming substrate for a proper first user puff of the resumed user experience. It was found that the time to prepare the substrate may strongly depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on the duration of operation in the pause mode. Accordingly, it is proposed that operation in the heating mode is resumed by activating the heater to reheat the substrate for aerosol generation over a variable reheating time, wherein the controller is configured to determine the reheating time depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • an aerosol-generating device comprising a controller configured to control a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol.
  • the controller is configured to selectively operate in a heating mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode.
  • the controller In response to termination of operation in the pause mode the controller is configured to resume operation in the heating mode by activating the heater to reheat the substrate for aerosol generation over a variable reheating time, wherein the controller is configured to determine the reheating time depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the reheating time generally is defined as the time required by the aerosol-generating device to prepare the aerosol-forming substrate for a proper first user puff after termination of operation in the pause mode.
  • a user experience is or can be resumed. That is, after the variable reheating time the devices resumes aerosol generation, in particular an optimal user experience.
  • the reheating time generally defines the time after which a user experience should be resumed at the earliest, it does not preclude that a user experience can be resumed before the reheating time has ended, in particular that a user takes a puff before the reheating time has ended.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the reheating time so that the reheating time is increased with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to adapt the reheating time so that the reheating time is increased with an increasing duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the reheating time may have a fixed value, for example, in a range between 2 seconds and 10 seconds, in particular between 4 seconds and 8 seconds, preferably 5 seconds.
  • the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode may be the dominant factor, in particular the only factor, in adapting the reheating time.
  • the duration of operation in the pause mode may have less or even no influence thereon.
  • the reheating time may be constant, i.e. always the same, for any duration of operation in the pause mode larger than the aforementioned pre-defined threshold pause mode duration.
  • the reheating time may be or may be adaptable in a range between 1 second and 90 seconds, in particular between 5 seconds and 60 seconds, more particularly in a range between 5 seconds and 50 seconds or between 15 seconds and 50 seconds, preferably between 20 seconds and 50 secs or between 20 seconds and 30 seconds. These values of the reheating time have proven advantageous to provide a satisfying first user puff.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise an indicator for indicating to a user information associated with the reheating time and/or the readiness of the device for a user to resume puffing after termination of operation in the pause mode, in particular for indicating to a user that the variable reheating time has ended and/or for indicating to a user that a user is permitted to resume puffing to generate aerosol from the device and/or for indicating a remaining time before the variable reheating time is ended.
  • the reheating time is dependent from the duration of the temperature boost phase, i.e. coupled to the duration of the temperature boost phase, in particular such that the reheating time is a pre-defined function of the duration of the temperature boost phase, in particular such that the reheating time is always as long as the duration of the temperature boost phase.
  • the latter configuration is particularly advantageous when the temperature during the boost phase is close to or at a maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode in order to avoid overheating.
  • the position in the heating mode temperature profile at which the temperature of the heater restarts after termination of operation in the pause mode (and after an initial temperature boost) may have a significant impact on the quality of the first puff after resumption of the user experience.
  • the temperature of the heater after the pause mode (and after the initial temperature boost) should ideally restart at about the same temperature level as at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode, yet shifted in the heating mode temperature profile by a variable time offset that depends on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode. In general, it is however also possible that there is no shift.
  • an aerosol-generating device comprising a controller configured to control a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol.
  • the controller is configured to selectively operate in a heating mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode.
  • the controller In response to termination of operation in the pause mode, the controller is configured to resume operation in the heating mode by resuming operation at a shifted position in the heating mode temperature profile which corresponds to a position in the heating mode temperature profile at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode shifted by a variable time offset.
  • the controller is configured to determine the time offset depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • variable time offset either as independent aspect of the present invention, or in combination with any other aspect of the present invention disclosed herein.
  • the controller may be configured to determine the time offset depending on a number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller may be configured to determine the time offset such as to have an increasing value associated with a time shift forward in the heating mode temperature profile with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the time offset is constant irrespective of a duration of operation in the pause mode, if the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold number and/or if the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold time.
  • the controller may be configured to determine the time offset such as to be constant irrespective of a duration of operation in the pause mode, if the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold number and/or if the time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode is equal to or above a pre-defined threshold time.
  • the pre-defined threshold number of puffs may be in a range between 4 and 8, for instance 6.
  • the pre-defined threshold time of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode may be in a range between 2 minutes and 8 minutes, in particular 3 minutes and 4 minutes, for instance 3.5 minutes.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate is more and more depleted.
  • the substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate
  • depletion of the substrate propagates from areas of the substrate around the heater to areas of the substrate further away from the heater.
  • the heating mode temperature profile may include changes (increase/decrease) of the operation temperature of the heater as the user experience progresses.
  • the heating mode temperature profile may include a plurality of consecutive profile sections, each associated with a change in temperature of the heater as compared to the previous profile section.
  • resumption of the user experience after its pausing may be such that operation in the heating mode is resumed over a remaining time according to the profile section of the heating mode temperature profile being effective at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode, before proceeding operation according to the corresponding subsequent profile section.
  • the controller in response to termination of operation in the pause mode, the controller may be configured to determine the time offset such that operation in the heating mode is resumed over a remaining time according to the profile section of the heating mode temperature profile being effective at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode, before subsequently proceeding operation according to the corresponding subsequent profile section.
  • the remaining time basically corresponds to the realization of the offset time, as will be described in more detail further below.
  • the controller may be configured to determine the remaining time depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode, in particular depending on a number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the remaining time may be in a range between 0% and 100 % percent, in particular 0% and 80%, more particularly between 25% and 75% or between 30% and 50% of a calculative remaining time that is given by a predefined total interval time of the respective profile section of the heating mode temperature profile being effective at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode minus a portion of the predefined total interval time of that profile section already elapsed until pausing operation in the heating mode. For example, if two thirds of the predefined total interval time of a profile section of the heating mode temperature profile already elapsed until pausing operation in the heating mode, the calculative remaining time is one third.
  • the remaining time may be in a range between 0% and 100 % percent, in particular 0% and 80%, more particularly between 25% and 75% or between 30% and 50% of that one third of the predefined total interval time of the profile section that was effective at the time of initiating the pause.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase and the time offset are independent from each other.
  • the temperature boost phase and the operation phase starting at the shifted position in the heating mode temperature profile may be consecutive operation phases.
  • the controller may be configured to control the heater to resume operation in the heating mode by starting with a temperature boost phase before resuming operation at the shifted position in the heating mode temperature profile, in particular before resuming operation over the variable remaining time according to the profile section of the heating mode temperature profile being effective at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating arrangement operatively coupled to the controller.
  • the heating arrangement is used to heat aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol.
  • the heating arrangement may be of any type suitable to heat the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the heating arrangement may be a resistive heating arrangement.
  • the resistive heating arrangement may comprise a resistive heating element as the heater. That is, in this configuration, the resistive heating element corresponds to the heater that is controlled by the controller of the device.
  • the resistive heating element may be, for example, a resistive heating wire or a resistive heating coil or a resistive heating track (in particular a resistive heating track provided on a heating blade), a resistive heating grid or a resistive heating mesh.
  • the resistive heating element may be in thermal contact with or thermal proximity to the aerosol-forming substrate to be heated.
  • the heating arrangement is an induction heating arrangement.
  • the induction heating arrangement may comprise an induction source including an induction coil for generating a varying magnetic field.
  • the varying magnetic field preferably is generated at the place of the aerosol-forming substrate in use of the device.
  • the varying magnetic field may be high-frequency varying magnetic field.
  • the varying magnetic field may be in the range between 500 kHz (kilo-Hertz) to 30 MHz (Mega-Hertz), in particular between 5 MHz to 15 MHz, preferably between 5 MHz and 10 MHz.
  • the varying magnetic field is used to inductively heat a susceptor due to at least one of eddy currents or hysteresis losses, depending on the electrical and magnetic properties of the susceptor material. In use, the susceptor is in thermal contact with or thermal proximity to the aerosol-forming substrate to be heated.
  • the susceptor may be either part of the aerosol-generating device or part of an aerosol-generating article comprising the aerosol-forming substrate to be heated.
  • the induction heating arrangement of the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a susceptor (as the heater) which is inductively heatable by the varying magnetic field. That is, in this configuration, the susceptor corresponds to the heater that is controlled by the controller of the device.
  • the at least one induction coil may be a helical coil or flat planar coil, in particular a pancake coil or a curved planar coil.
  • the at least one induction coil may be held within one of a main body or a housing of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the induction source may comprise an alternating current (AC) generator.
  • the AC generator may be powered by a power supply of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the AC generator is operatively coupled to the at least one induction coil.
  • the at least one induction coil may be integral part of the AC generator.
  • the AC generator is configured to generate a high frequency oscillating current to be passed through the at least one induction coil for generating the varying magnetic field.
  • the AC current may be supplied to the at least one induction coil continuously following activation of the system or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff by puff basis.
  • the induction source comprises a DC/AC converter connected to the DC power supply including an LC network, wherein the LC network comprises a series connection of a capacitor and the inductor.
  • the induction source may comprise a matching network for impedance matching.
  • the induction source comprise may comprise a power amplifier, for example a Class-C power amplifier or a Class-D power amplifier or Class-E power amplifier.
  • the aerosol-generating device is a puffing device for generating an aerosol that is directly inhalable by a user thorough the user's mouth.
  • the aerosol-generating device is a hand-held aerosol-generating device.
  • the present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system which comprises an aerosol-generating device according to the present invention and as described herein and an aerosol-generating article an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate for use with the device.
  • the article be a rodshaped article resembling conventional cigarettes.
  • the article may be a cartridge including a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be heated.
  • the article may be an article including a solid aerosol-forming substrate, in particular a tobacco containing aerosolforming substrate.
  • aerosol-forming substrate relates to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol when heated.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate or a gel-like aerosol-forming substrate or a liquid aerosol-forming substrate or a combination thereof.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be tobacco-containing aerosol-forming substrate. That is, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds, which are released from the substrate upon heating.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco particles, in particular tobacco powder.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may have a total tobacco content of at least 70 percent by weight, in particular at least 75 percent by weight.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise substantially no tobacco material, such as less than 1% by weight tobacco material.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be a non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrate, i.e., the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise no tobacco material or may contain no detectable amount of added tobacco particulate material.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be a cellulose based aerosol-forming substrate as described in W02020/207733 and/or WO2022/074157.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more cellulose based agents.
  • the one or more cellulose based agents may include one or more cellulose based film forming agents, cellulose based strengthening agents, cellulose based binders, and combinations thereof.
  • Suitable cellulose based film forming agents include those selected from the group consisting of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methylcellulose (MC), ethylcellulose (EC), hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose (HEMC), hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) and combinations thereof.
  • the aerosol-generating substrate may also comprise one or more non-cellulose based thickening agents, such as those selected from the group consisting of agar, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginate, and combinations thereof.
  • the one or more cellulose based agents may account for at least about 35% by weight of the substrate. That is, the aerosol-forming substrate may have a total cellulose based agent content of at least 35 percent by weight.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise one or more aerosol formers.
  • suitable aerosol formers are 1,3-butanediol, glycerin, 1,3-propanediol, propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, glycerol monoacetate, glycerol diacetate, glycerol triacetate, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.
  • the aerosol former is glycerine.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a total aerosol-former content that is greater than 10 percent by weight, in particular greater than 20 percent by weight.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, in particular lower than 25 percent by weight, preferably lower than 20 percent by weight. These values are particularly applicable for aerosol-forming substrates containing tobacco material, i.e. tobacco containing aerosol-forming substrates. Vice versa, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a total aerosol-former content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight. The latter values are particularly advantageous for aerosol-forming substrates comprising no tobacco material, i.e. for non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrates.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may be tobacco-containing aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco material, such as tobacco particles, in particular tobacco powder, preferably with a total tobacco content of at least 70 percent by weight, in particular at least 75 percent by weight.
  • the substrate may comprise one or more cellulose based agents, such as cellulose fibers, preferably with a total cellulose based agent content of at most 10 percent by weight, in particular at most 5 percent by weight.
  • the substrate may further comprise one or more aerosol formers, preferably with a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, more particularly lower than 20 percent by weight.
  • the substrate according to this example may be a substrate having a lower thermal mass.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may also be a paste-like material, a sachet of porous material comprising aerosol-forming substrate, or, for example, loose tobacco mixed with a gelling agent or sticky agent, which could include a common aerosol former such as glycerin, and then is compressed or molded into a plug.
  • the aerosol-generating system may comprise at least one susceptor as the heater (controlled by the controller of the device) for heating the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the susceptor may be integral part of the aerosol-generating article. That is, the aerosol-generating article may comprise a susceptor as the heater. Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article may comprise at least one susceptor as the heater (controlled by the controller of the device).
  • the susceptor may be positioned in thermal proximity to or thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate such that in use the susceptor is inductively heatable by the inductive heating arrangement when the article is engaged with the device.
  • the susceptor is part of the aerosol-generating device (forming the heater controlled by the controller of the device).
  • the susceptor may be arranged in the device such that it is in thermal proximity to or thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate, when the article is engaged with the device.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, in particular an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention, capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein the pause mode temperature profile is adapted depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, in particular an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention, capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein in response to termination of operation in the pause mode, operation in the heating mode is resumed by starting with a temperature boost phase, wherein a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is higher than an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile and/or higher than a temperature level in the heating mode before activation of the pause mode.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, in particular an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention, capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein in response to termination of operation in the pause mode, operation in the heating mode is resumed by activating the heater to reheat the substrate for aerosol generation over a variable reheating time, wherein the reheating time is determined depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, in particular an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention, capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein in response to termination of operation in the pause mode, operation in the heating mode is resumed by resuming operation at a shifted position in the heating mode temperature profile which corresponds to a position in the heating mode temperature profile at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode shifted by a variable time offset, and wherein the time offset is determined depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, in particular an aerosol-generating system according to the present invention, capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile are chosen such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode, and wherein a temperature level, in particular an initial temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered, in particular initially lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode is in a range between 240 °C and 280 °C, in particular between 250 °C and 270 °C, more particularly 260
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of operating an aerosol-generating system capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile are chosen such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode, and wherein a temperature level, in particular an initial temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered, in particular initially lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode is less than 150 °C or at most 145 °C.
  • a temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode may be in a range between 100 °C and 145 °C, in particular between 110 °C and 145°C or between 110 °C and 14 °C or between 120 °C and 145 °C or between 125 °C and 145 °C or between 125°C and 140 °C or between 125°C and 135 °C, preferably around 130 °C.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile may be also higher.
  • the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause is in a range between 100 °C and 250 °C, in particular between 110 °C and 225 °C or between 110 °C and 170 °C or between 120 °C and 170 °C or between 125 °C and 170 °C or between 130 °C and 150 °C, in particular 130 °C.
  • An aerosol-generating device comprising a controller configured to control a heater for heating an aerosol-forming substrate in order to generate an aerosol, wherein the controller is configured to selectively operate in a heating mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the controller controls the heater according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation of the heating mode, wherein the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile are chosen such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode, and wherein a temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode is less than 150 °C or at most 145 °C.
  • Example Ex3 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is at least 20 °C, at least 50 °C, at least 100°C, at least 120°C, at least 125 °C or at least 130 °C lower than a temperature of level of the heating mode temperature profile, in particular a temperature of level of the heating mode temperature profile before, more particularly immediately before initiating operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex4 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the temperature of the heater refers to the temperature of the heater measured at a single point on a surface of the heater or, in particular at a geometrical center point of a main surface of the heater, or as measured at and averaged over a plurality of points on a surface of the heater, in particular as averaged along a geometrical center line on a main surface of the heater.
  • Example Ex5 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the pause mode temperature profile, in particular the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is independent from an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or independent from a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the pause mode temperature profile in particular the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is independent from an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or independent from a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex8 The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex7, wherein the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is below the first specific temperature.
  • Example Ex9 The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex7 or example Ex8, wherein the temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is at least 20 °C, in particular at least 50 °C, more particularly at least 100 °C or at least 125 °C or at least 130 °C, preferably around 125 °C or 130 °C, below the first specific temperature.
  • Example Ex12 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein in response to termination of operation in the pause mode, the controller is configured to control the heater to resume operation in the heating mode starting with a temperature boost phase, wherein a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is higher than an initial temperature level at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile and/or higher than a temperature level in the heating mode before activation of the pause mode.
  • Example Ex13 The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex12, wherein the controller is configured to adapt a duration of the temperature boost phase depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex14 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex12 to Ex13, wherein the controller is configured to adapt a duration of the temperature boost phase so that the duration is increased with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex15 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex12 to Ex14, wherein the controller may be configured to adapt a duration of the temperature boost phase so that the duration is increased with an increasing duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex16 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex12 to Ex15, wherein the duration of the temperature boost phase is or is adaptable in a range between 1 second and 90 seconds, in particular between 5 seconds and 90 seconds, more particularly between 15 seconds and 60 seconds, even more particularly in a range between 15 seconds and 50 seconds, preferably between 20 seconds and 50 seconds or between 20 seconds and 30 seconds.
  • Example Ex17 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex12 to Ex16, wherein the controller is configured to control a temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase at a constant boost temperature level.
  • Example Ex18 The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex17, wherein the constant boost temperature level corresponds to a maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode, wherein the maximum temperature reachable by the heater during the heating mode preferably is one of a maximum allowable temperature defined by the substrate to be heated in order to avoid overheating of the substrate, or a maximum temperature within a predefined, in particular technically feasible regulation range of the controller.
  • Example Ex19 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of example Ex12 to Ex18, wherein the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase, in particular the boost temperature level, may be in or may be adaptable in a range between 250 °C and 400 °C, in particular between 250 °C and 300 °C, more particularly between 260°C and 275 °C, for example 270 °C.
  • Example Ex21 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is configured to generate a signal indicating that the temperature boost phase has ended and/or that a user is permitted to resume puffing to generate aerosol from the device.
  • Example Ex22 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein operation in the pause mode has a defined total duration, in particular for a single user experience and/or for a single pause of operation in the heating mode.
  • Example Ex23 The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex22, wherein the defined total duration of operation in the pause mode is in a range between 1 minute and 15 minutes, in particular between 2 minutes and 10 minutes, preferably between 6 minutes and 9 minutes, for example 8 minutes.
  • Example Ex24 The aerosol-generating device according to any one examples Ex22 to Ex23, wherein the controller is configured to adapt the total duration of operation in the pause mode depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • Example Ex25 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is configured to resume operation in the heating mode after operation in the pause mode is ended, for instance after the defined total duration has elapsed.
  • Example Ex26 The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is configured to cease providing power to the heater after operation in the pause mode is ended, for instance after the defined total duration of operation in the pause mode has elapsed.
  • Example Ex27 An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding examples, and an aerosol-generating article including an aerosol-forming substrate for use with the device.
  • Example Ex28 A method of operating an aerosol-generating system capable of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate, the method comprises selectively operating the system in a heating mode in which the temperature of a heater used for heating the substrate is controlled according to a heating mode temperature profile for generating an aerosol, and in a pause mode in which the temperature of the heater is controlled according to a pause mode temperature profile for pausing operation in the heating mode, wherein the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile are chosen such that a temperature of the heater during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode, and wherein a temperature level, in particular an initial temperature level of the pause mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater is lowered, in particular initially lowered in response to initiating operation in the pause mode is less than 150 °C or at most 145 °C.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an aerosol-generating system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, including an aerosolgenerating device and an aerosol-generating article for use with the device;
  • Fig. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating the aerosolgenerating device according to Fig. 1;
  • Figs. 3-8 include various diagrams showing the evolution of the operation temperature versus time during the sequence of operation in different modes for usage with an aerosol-forming substrate of a first type; and Figs. 9-12 include various diagrams showing the evolution of the operation temperature versus time during the sequence of operation in different modes for usage with an aerosol-forming substrate of a second type.
  • Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an aerosol-generating system 1 according to the present invention that is capable to generate an inhalable aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the system 1 comprises an aerosol-generating article 10 which includes the aerosol-forming substrate 21 to be heated, and an aerosol-generating device 100 for inductively heating the substrate upon engaging the article 10 with the device 100.
  • the substrate element 20 comprises the aerosol-forming substrate 21 to be heated and - as heater 30 - a susceptor 31 which is in direct physical contact with substrate 21 and used to inductively heat the substrate 21.
  • Each one of the first and the second tube element 40, 50 is a hollow cellulose acetate tube having a central air passage, wherein a cross-section of the central air passage of the second tube element 50 is larger than a crosssection of the central air passage of the first tube element 40.
  • the aforementioned five elements have a substantially cylindrical shape with substantially the same diameter.
  • the five elements are circumscribed by one or more outer wrappers such as to keep the elements together and to maintain the desired circular cross-sectional shape of the article 10.
  • the distal front plug element 80, the substrate element 20 and the first tube element 40 are circumscribed by a first wrapper, whereas the second tube element 50 and the filter element 60 are circumscribed by a second wrapper.
  • the second wrapper also circumscribes at least a portion of the first tube element 40 (after being wrapped by the first wrapper) to connect the distal front plug element 80, the substrate element 20 and the first tube element 40 being circumscribed by the first wrapper to the second tube element 50 and the filter element 60.
  • the first and the second wrapper are made of paper.
  • the second wrapper may comprise perforations around its circumference (not shown).
  • the wrappers may further comprise adhesive that adheres the overlapped free ends of the wrappers to each other.
  • the aerosol-generating device 100 comprises two portions: a proximal portion 102 and a distal portion 101.
  • the device 100 comprises a cavity 103 for removably receiving at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 10.
  • the device 100 comprises a DC power supply 150, such as a rechargeable battery, for powering operation of the device, as well as a controller 160 for controlling operation of the device 100, in particular for controlling the operation temperature of the heater 30, i.e. the susceptor 31 , that is used to heat the substrate 21 in the article 10.
  • the device 100 comprises an inductive heating arrangement 110 operatively coupled to the controller 160.
  • the aerosol-generating device may alternatively comprise a resistive heating arrangement including - as the heater - a resistive heating element.
  • the resistive heating element may be, for example, a resistive heating track provided on a heating blade), which in use is arranged in thermal contact with or thermal proximity to the aerosol-forming substrate to be heated.
  • the aerosol-generation device 100 is configured to pause a user experience by changing operation of the controller 160 from an operation in a heating mode to an operation in a pause mode.
  • the "heating mode” refers to the normal operation of the device for aerosol generation in which the controller controls the heater 30 according to a heating mode temperature profile in order to heat the aerosol-forming substrate 21 at a temperature at or above the volatilization temperature of aerosol-forming material included in the substrate 21.
  • the "pause mode” refers to an operational mode of the controller 160 for pausing operation in the heating mode, in which the controller 160 controls the heater 30 according to a pause mode temperature profile that is associated with temperatures at which aerosol generation does not take place, or at least is reduced to a lower or minimum level.
  • the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile may be chosen such that an operation temperature of the heater 30 during operation in the pause mode is lower than during operation in the heating mode in order to minimize depletion of the substrate 21 , but still high enough to avoid condensation of vapor in the cavity 103 which otherwise might adversely affect the substrate 21.
  • the heating arrangement 110 is in active operation in order to heat the heater 30, yet at different temperature regimes according the temperature profiles of the respective modes. While the temperatures of the heating mode temperature profile are generally chosen to be sufficiently high in order to generate an aerosol, and the temperatures of the pause mode temperature profile level are chosen to be sufficiently low in order to minimize depletion of the substrate, whilst avoiding degradation.
  • the controller 160 may be also configured to operate in a preparation mode in which the controller 160 controls the heater 30 according to a preparation mode temperature profile.
  • the preparation mode temperature profile may comprise a pre-heating phase and/or a calibration phase.
  • the controller may control the heater to heat up, thus enabling heat to spread within the substrate 21.
  • the controller 160 may control the heater 30 such that an operation temperature of the heater 30 passes through one or more reference points at which the controller measures one or more calibration values of a parameter that is indicative of an operation temperature of the heater. Based on the one or more calibration values, the controller 160 may adjust the temperature of the heater 30.
  • Fig. 2 shows the evolution of the operation temperature T of the heater 30 over time t across the different modes.
  • a user experience is initiated at time t 0 .
  • the user experience can be initiated by a user input via a user interface, for instance by pressing a user button 165 (see Fig. 1), or by detecting the insertion of the aerosolgenerating article 10 into the device 100.
  • the controller 160 starts to operate in a preparation mode PCM in which it controls the heater 30 according to a preparation mode temperature profile including a pre-heating phase followed by a calibration phase.
  • the preparation mode PCM the aerosol-forming substrate 21 in the article 10 is heated from room temperature T3 until reaching a first temperature level T1 at time t-i.
  • operation of the controller 160 changes from operation in the preparation mode PCM into operation in the heating mode HM in which the temperature T of the heater 30 is controlled according to the heating mode temperature profile.
  • the system is ready for the user experience to by started with the fresh article 10, and a user can take the first puff.
  • the heating mode temperature profile can have different patterns.
  • the heating mode temperature profile includes a plurality of consecutive profile sections, each associated with a change, in particular an increase of the temperature of the heater 30 as compared to the previous profile section.
  • the step-wise increase of the temperature is chosen such that to provide more and more heat to non-depleted areas of the substrate 21 further away from the heater 30, as with increasing progress of the user experience, depletion of the substrate 21 propagates from areas of the substrate 21 closer to the heater 30 to areas of the substrate 21 further away from the heater 30. Further details of that heating mode temperature profile with the step-wise increase of the temperature of the heater 30 are described, for example, in WO 2022/136661 A1.
  • the first temperature level T1 reached after operation in the preparation mode PCM corresponds to the initial temperature level of the heater 30 at the beginning of the heating mode temperature profile.
  • the initial temperature level is chosen sufficient to vaporize the aerosol-forming substrate 21 in order to form an aerosol.
  • the initial temperature level may be in a range between 325 °C and 385 °C, particularly between 340 °C and 370 °C, more particularly between 350 °C and 360 °C.
  • the aerosol-generating device 100 may comprise a motion sensor 166 for detecting a movement of the device 100.
  • the motion sensor 166 may, for example, detect that the aerosol-generating device 100 is not moved for certain time which might be indicative of the device 100 being unused, for example, since the device 100 is lying idle on a table. As a consequence, the motion sensor 166 may output a sensor signal indicative of the user experience to be paused.
  • the controller 160 changes from operating in the heating mode HM to operation in the pause mode PM according to the pause mode temperature profile.
  • the pause mode temperature profile is associated with temperatures at which aerosol generation does not take place, or at least is reduced to a lower or minimum level.
  • the temperatures of the heater 30 during operation in the pause mode PM may be in a range between 160 °C and 280 °C.
  • the initial temperature level T2 is about 260 °C (measured the center of main surface of the strip-shaped susceptor 31 as indicated by cross 34). This temperature is sufficiently low to minimize depletion of the substrate 21 , but still high enough to prevent vaporized substances in the cavity 103 from condensation.
  • the pause mode temperature profile in general may be pre-defined and thus fixed, it was found advantageous that the temperature profile used during operation in the pause mode PM is not fixed, but adaptable in order to be able, on the one hand, to minimize the substrate depletion during the user experience pause and, on the other hand, to return to temperatures at or above the volatilization temperature of the aerosol forming substrate within a reasonable time.
  • the pause mode temperature profile advantageously is adaptable depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on the duration PD of operation in the pause mode.
  • the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode is two
  • the time period thpp of operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM corresponds to the time span between time ti (end of operation in preparation mode PCM/initial start of operation in the heating mode HM) and time tz (initiation of operation in the pause mode PM).
  • the parameters belonging to the operation history in particular the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, and the time period t hpp of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, as well as the duration PD of operation in the pause mode may be determined and/or recorded by the controller 160, as described further above.
  • the controller 160 of the aerosol-generating device 100 is configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an operation temperature of the heater 30 is progressively decreased as the duration PD of operation in the pause mode progresses.
  • progressively lowering the operation temperature of the heater 30 during operation in the pause mode PM also helps to reduce the overall energy consumption of the system.
  • the progression of the decrease of the operation temperature is not fixed, but also adaptable depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the controller 160 is further configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that a decrease of the operation temperature of the heater 30 is less progressive with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode or with an increasing time period t hpp of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, respectively.
  • Exemplary embodiments of the dynamic adaptability of the pause mode temperature profile depending on the stage of the user experience at which the pause mode was launched and/or the duration of operation in the pause mode is shown in Fig. 3 - Fig. 6. Similar to Fig. 2, each of the diagrams in Fig. 3 - Fig. 6 shows the evolution of the operation temperature T of the heater 30 versus time t (upper curve in each diagram) during the sequence of operation in the different modes: Starting with operation in the heating mode HM (first section of step-wise increasing profile), the user experience is interrupted after a certain number of puffs by changing to operation in the pause mode PM.
  • HM first section of step-wise increasing profile
  • upper curve shows the temperature T of the susceptor 31 versus time t as measured on one of the main surfaces of the stripe-shaped susceptor 31 at the center of the distal end edge of the main surface (position marked by cross 33 in Fig. 1), i.e. a temperature profile following the heating mode temperature profile and the pause mode temperature profile.
  • the temperature values given further above with respect to the operation temperature of the heater refer to the temperature as measured at a geometrical center point of a main surface of the heater, marked by cross 34 in Fig. 1, or as averaged along a geometrical center line on a main surface of the heater. In general, these temperature values are slightly higher than the one measured at an edge of the same main surface.
  • the lower curve in each diagram of Fig. 3 - Fig. 6 represents the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 21 versus time as measured at half of the radius of the circular cylindrical substrate element 20 of the article 10 shown in Fig. 1 (position marked by cross 23 in Fig. 1).
  • the diagrams of Fig. 3 show the time evolution of the operation temperature T during sequential operation in the different modes for a user experience that is paused after 2 puffs in each diagram, but resumed after different durations PD of operation in the pause mode, as indicated at the top of each diagram.
  • the diagrams in each of Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 show the time evolution of the operation temperature T for different durations PD of operation in the pause mode, wherein the diagrams of Fig. 4 refer to a user experience that is paused after 4 puffs, the diagrams of Fig. 5 refer to a user experience that is paused after 6 puffs, and the diagrams of Fig. 6 refer to a user experience that is paused after 7 puffs.
  • the pause mode temperature profile is adapted such that with increasing duration PD of operation in the pause mode PM the operation temperature of the heater 30 is progressively decreased, in particular in successive temperature steps.
  • successive temperature steps are technically easy to implement.
  • the decrement of the operation temperature of the heater between successive temperature steps may be in a range between 2 °C and 25 °C, in particular between 5 °C and 20 °C, more particularly between 7 °C and 15 °C, for example 10 °C.
  • the respective time period of the successive temperature steps may depend - inter alia - on the number of sequence of a respective temperature step. In general, the longer the pause mode has been active, the longer the respective time period of a temperature step can be. Increasing the respective time period of the successive temperature steps from temperature step to temperature step effectively makes the decrease of the operation temperature of the heater less progressive which facilitates resumption of the user experience within a reasonable time.
  • the respective time period of the successive temperature steps may also depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM. Accordingly, the controller 160 according to the present embodiment is also configured to adapt a respective time period of the successive temperature steps depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. In particular, the controller 160 is configured to adapt a respective time period of the successive temperature steps such that the time period gets longer with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. This can be seen from a comparison of the different diagrams in Fig. 3 - Fig. 6 for equal duration PD of operation in the pause mode PM.
  • the adaptable pause mode temperature profile according to the present embodiment is in general such that the decrease of the operation temperature of the heater 30 is continued until the end of operation in the pause mode PM (unless - due to the operation history - the progression of the decrease is not retarded to such an extent that hardly or no decrease of the operation temperature of the heater takes place during operation in the heating mode, as in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6).
  • the pause mode temperature profile may be such that the decrease of the operation temperature of the heater stops after a pre-defined time of operation in the pause mode, in particular a pre-defined decrease time period, and/or a predefined number of temperature steps, and that subsequently the operation temperature of the heater is kept constant until the end of operation in the pause mode.
  • Fig. 7 - Fig. 8 show alternative pause mode temperature profiles, where the diagrams for different pause durations PD in Fig. 7 refer to a user experience that is paused after 4 puffs, and the diagrams for different pause durations PD in Fig. 8 refer to a user experience that is paused after 6 puffs.
  • the pause mode temperature profiles in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 are such that after decreasing the operation temperature over a pre-defined decrease time period DT an operation temperature T of the heater 30 is progressively increased in successive temperature steps as the duration of operation in the pause mode PM further progresses. Accordingly, the pause mode temperature profiles in Fig. 7 and Fig.
  • the increment of the operation temperature between successive temperature steps may be similar or identical to the decrement of the operation temperature during the decrease.
  • the decrement and the increment may be in a range between 2 °C and 25 °C, in particular between 5 °C and 20 °C, more particularly between 7 °C and 15 °C, for example 10 °C.
  • the decrease time period DT may be fixed. Alternatively, as follows from a comparison of the diagrams in Fig. 7 - Fig.
  • a respective time period of the successive ascending temperature steps may be either fixed or adaptable, especially adaptable depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. For instance, a progression of the (re-)increase of the operation temperature T of the heater 30 may depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode. Accordingly, the controller 160 may be configured to adapt the pause mode temperature profile such that an increase of the operation temperature of the heater is less progressive with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period t hpp of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the operation temperature T during operation in the pause mode PM is still reduced in one temperature step, when pausing the user experience after 6 puffs.
  • a change from operation in the pause mode PM back into the heating mode may be initiated, for example, by a user input, preferably via the user button 165.
  • the motion sensor 166 may be used to re-initiate operation in the heating mode, for instance by detecting a movement of the device 100 which might indicate that the user is (again) holding the device 100 and therefore probably about to resume the user experience. Accordingly, the motion sensor 166 may output a sensor signal indicative of the device 100 being or being intended to be in operation again.
  • the controller 160 may be switch from operation in the pause mode PM back into the heating mode HM. It is also possible that the controller 160 resumes operation in the heating mode HM after elapse of defined total duration of operation in the pause mode. In particular, this may happen irrespective of whether a user has actively initiated the resumption of the user experience. Advantageously, this avoids keeping the device 100 excessively long in the pause mode PM which in turn prevents the aerosol-forming substrate 21 from eventually becoming depleted without being used. In addition, having a predetermined maximum pause time may help preventing the device 100 from running out of electrical power. In principle, the total duration of operation in the pause mode may be either pre-defined, i.e. fixed, or adaptable depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • aerosol delivery of the first puff after resuming the paused user experience should be as high as the first puff at the beginning of the user experience. This is an important aspect in order to the satisfy the user who wants to promptly experience a proper. For this, it was found advantageous to provide an energy boost to the heater 30 when resuming the paused user experience. Accordingly, as shown in each diagram of Fig. 2 - Fig. 8, operation in the heating mode HM is resumed by starting with a temperature boost phase BP.
  • the temperature boost phase BP can be followed by an operation at lower temperatures in order to reduce energy consumption and to avoid excessive depletion of the substrate 21.
  • the temperature boost phase BP may be equal to the temperature during subsequent operation in the heating mode immediately after the temperature boost phase BP.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase BP may advantageously be adaptable by the controller, in particular depending on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on a duration PD of operation in the pause mode.
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase BP is increased with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM and/or with an increasing time period t hpp of operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing duration PD of operation in the pause mode PM.
  • the duration of the temperature boost BP phase may be adaptable in a range between 1 second and 90 seconds, in particular between 5 seconds and 90 seconds, more particularly between 15 seconds and 60 seconds, even more particularly in a range between 15 seconds and 50 seconds, preferably between 20 seconds and 50 seconds or between 20 seconds and 30 seconds.
  • the reheating time RHT generally defines the time after which a user experience should be resumed at the earliest, it does not preclude that a user experience can be resumed before the reheating time has ended, in particular that a user takes a puff before the reheating time RHT has ended.
  • the reheating time RHT is variable, and as such preferably determined by the controller 160 depending on an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or a duration of operation in the pause mode PM. In general, the further the user experience has progressed prior to pausing it, in particular the greater the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM, the longer the reheating time RHT should be made.
  • the reheating time RHT is increased the longer the duration PD of operation in the pause mode has been.
  • the reheating time may be or may be adaptable in a range between 1 second and 90 seconds, in particular between 5 seconds and 60 seconds, more particular in a range between 5 seconds and 50 seconds. These values of the reheating time have proven advantageous to provide a satisfying first user puff.
  • the controller 160 is further configured to generate a signal indicating that the variable reheating time RHT has ended and/or that a user is permitted to resume puffing to generate aerosol from the device. This may be indicated to the user of the device 100 via an indicator, for instance via a visual indicator, such as a display or a light signal, e.g. a LEDs 169 as shown in Fig. 1 , via a haptic indicator (haptic output unit), via an audio indicator (audio output unit), or via an audiovisual indicator.
  • a visual indicator such as a display or a light signal, e.g. a LEDs 169 as shown in Fig. 1
  • a haptic indicator haptic output unit
  • audio indicator audio output unit
  • the duration of the temperature boost phase BP and the reheating time RHT are independent from each other. Accordingly, the duration of the temperature boost phase BP may be shorter than the reheating time RHT.
  • the reheating time RHT may be shorter than a duration of the temperature boost phase BP, in which case the user would take a first puff after termination of operation in the pause mode PM during the temperature boost phase BP.
  • the position in the heating mode temperature profile to which the temperature of the heater 30 re-connects after termination of operation in the pause mode PM may have a significant impact on the quality of the first puff after resumption of the user experience.
  • the temperature of the heater 30 after operation in the pause mode PM should ideally re-connect to about the same temperature level as at the time of pausing operation in the heating mode HM, yet possibly shifted in the heating mode temperature profile by a variable time offset toffset that depends on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or on the duration PD of operation in the pause mode.
  • the offset time toffset is associated with a time shift forward in the heating mode temperature profile.
  • the longer the duration PD of operation in the pause mode the greater the time shift forward in the heating mode temperature profile preferably is. Accordingly, as can be seen from a comparison of the various diagrams in Fig. 3 - Fig.
  • the controller 160 determines the time offset toffset such as to have an increasing value associated with a time shift forward in the heating mode temperature profile with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and/or with an increasing duration PD of operation in the pause mode.
  • the time offset toffset may be in a range between 0 seconds and 180 seconds or between 1 second and 180 seconds, in particular between 1 second and 100 seconds, more particularly in a range between 1 second and 70 seconds or between 10 seconds and 80 seconds or between 20 seconds and 70 seconds or between 30 seconds and 70 seconds backwards and/or forward in the heating mode temperature profile.
  • the substrate may be tobacco-containing aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco material, such as tobacco particles, in particular tobacco powder, preferably with a total tobacco content of at least 70 percent by weight, in particular at least 75 percent by weight.
  • the substrate may comprise one or more cellulose based agents, such as cellulose fibers, preferably with a total cellulose based agent content of at most 10 percent by weight, in particular at most 5 percent by weight.
  • the substrate may further comprise one or more aerosol formers, preferably with a total aerosol-former content that is lower than 30 percent by weight, more particularly lower than 20 percent by weight.
  • the lower diagrams in each of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12 show various heating and pause mode temperature profiles which are preferably designed for a user experience with an aerosol-forming substrate containing no tobacco material, i.e. for a non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrate, and/or an aerosol-forming substrate having a higher thermal mass, and/or an aerosolforming substrate comprising a total aerosol-former content that is greater than or equal 30 percent by weight, in particular greater than 35 percent by weight, more particularly greater than 40 percent by weight or greater than 45 percent by weight,.
  • the non-tobacco aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more cellulose based agents, preferably with a total cellulose based agent content of at least 35 percent by weight.
  • the lower diagrams in each one of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12 show the time evolution of the operation temperature T of the heater for different durations PD of operation in the pause mode, wherein the lower diagrams of Fig. 9 (Fig. 9-1 - Fig. 9-4) refer to a user experience that is paused after 2 puffs, the lower diagrams of Fig. 10 (Fig. 10-1 - Fig. 10-4) refer to a user experience that is paused after 4 puffs, the lower diagrams of Fig. 11 (Fig. 11-1 - Fig. 11-4) refer to a user experience that is paused after 6 puffs and the lower diagrams of Fig. 12 (Fig. 12-1 - Fig. 12-4) refer to a user experience that is paused after 7 puffs.
  • aerosol-forming substrates containing no tobacco material may typically have a higher total aerosol-former content than tobacco-containing substrates. In general, this requires lower temperatures during the heating mode and the pause mode. As can be seen from the lower diagrams in each one of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12, the temperature of the heater during operation in the "normal" heating mode, i. e. during any phase of the heating mode except for the temperature boost phase, is in a range around 255 °C. Vice versa, during operation in the pause mode, the temperature of the heater is in a range around 130 °C.
  • the latter value is a compromise between - on the one hand - a temperature level that is sufficiently low to reduce depletion of the substrate during the pause mode but still sufficiently high to increase the deliveries of the first puff after resumption of the user experience, and - on the other hand - a temperature level that is within a technically feasible regulation range of the controller.
  • the technically feasible regulation range is given by the inherent magnetic and electrical properties of the susceptor 31 which are associated with inherent calibration/reference values identical or similar to those described in WO 2023/285458 A1.
  • the temperature of the heater level during operation in the pause mode is chosen such that is slightly below, but not too close to the minimum (valley) in the conductance of the susceptor as described in WO 2023/285458 A1. Otherwise, calibration could be become an issue.
  • the temperature level to which the temperature of the heater is lowered upon initiating operation in the pause mode is always the same, regardless of the operation history prior to operation in the pause mode, i.e. independent from an operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the temperature level during operation in the pause is constant over time, i.e. independent from a duration of operation in the pause mode.
  • the profiles shown in in the lower diagrams of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12 deviate from the profiles shown in Fig. 2 - Fig. 8 with respect to the heating mode temperature profile. While in Fig. 2 - Fig. 8, the heating mode temperature profiles include a plurality of profile sections at different temperature levels, the heating mode temperature profile in the lower diagrams of Fig. 9 - Fig. 12 is flat (except for the temperature boost), i.e. the substrate is heated at a constant temperature level over the entire user experience.
  • a temperature boost phase at a temperature level high than during "normal" heating operation may prove beneficial to suitably prepare the substrate for the first puff after the pause.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase in particular the boost temperature level, may be in or may be adaptable in a range between 250 °C and 400 °C, in particular between 250 °C and 300 °C, more particularly between 260 °C and 275 °C, for example 270 °C.
  • the temperature of the heater during operation in the temperature boost phase is chosen such that is slightly below, but not too close to the maximum (hill) in the conductance of the susceptor as described in WO 2023/285458 A1. To this extend, this temperature corresponds to the maximum temperature reachable by the heater. Further in contrast to the profiles shown in Fig. 2 - Fig. 8, the duration of the temperature boost phase BP always equals the reheating time RHT, i.e.
  • the reheating time RHT/the duration of the temperature boost phase BP may in general depend on the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode and the duration of operation in the pause mode PM.
  • the reheating time RHT can be short, e.g. around 5 seconds.
  • the reheating time RHT may also be constant irrespective of the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode, in particular irrespective of the number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM.
  • the reheating time RHT/the duration of the temperature boost phase BP is adaptable by the controller 160 such that the reheating time RHT/ the duration of the temperature boost phase BP increases with an increasing number of puffs during operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode PM and/or with an increasing time period of operation in the heating mode HM prior to operation in the pause mode.
  • the reheating time RHT/the duration of the temperature boost phase BP may increase from 22 seconds (for zero or one puff being take before the pause) up to 30 seconds (for four or more puffs being taken before the pause).
  • the operation history during operation in the heating mode prior to operation in the pause mode may be the dominant factor, in particular the only factor, in adapting of the reheating time RHT/the duration of the temperature boost phase BP, whilst the duration of operation in the pause mode PM may have less or even no influence thereon.
  • the reheating time RHT/the duration of the temperature boost phase BP may be constant, i.e. always the same, for any duration of operation in the pause mode PM larger than, for example, 30 seconds.

Landscapes

  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

La présente divulgation concerne un dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprenant un dispositif de commande conçu pour commander un dispositif de chauffage pour chauffer un substrat de formation d'aérosol afin de générer un aérosol. Le dispositif de commande est conçu pour fonctionner sélectivement dans un mode de chauffage dans lequel le dispositif de commande commande le dispositif de chauffage selon un profil de température de mode de chauffage pour générer un aérosol, et dans un mode de pause dans lequel le dispositif de commande commande le dispositif de chauffage selon un profil de température de mode de pause pour mettre en pause le fonctionnement du mode de chauffage. Le profil de température de mode de chauffage et le profil de température de mode de pause sont choisis de façon qu'une température du dispositif de chauffage pendant le fonctionnement dans le mode de pause soit inférieure à celle pendant le fonctionnement dans le mode de chauffage, un niveau de température du profil de température de mode de pause auquel la température du dispositif de chauffage est abaissée en réponse à l'initiation d'une opération dans le mode de pause étant inférieur à 150 °C ou d'au plus 145 °C. La divulgation concerne en outre un procédé de fonctionnement d'un système de génération d'aérosol permettant de générer un aérosol par chauffage d'un substrat de formation d'aérosol.
PCT/EP2024/077198 2023-10-03 2024-09-27 Dispositif de génération d'aérosol utilisable en mode de libération d'aérosol et en mode pause Pending WO2025073594A1 (fr)

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EP23201362.3 2023-10-03
EP23201362 2023-10-03

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Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020207733A1 (fr) 2019-04-08 2020-10-15 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de génération d'aérosol comprenant un film de génération d'aérosol
WO2022049019A1 (fr) * 2020-09-01 2022-03-10 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol utilisable en mode de libération d'aérosol et en mode pause
WO2022069582A1 (fr) 2020-09-30 2022-04-07 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol doté d'un moyen d'identification du type d'un article de génération d'aérosol utilisé avec le dispositif
WO2022074157A1 (fr) 2020-10-07 2022-04-14 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de formation d'aérosol
WO2022136661A1 (fr) 2020-12-23 2022-06-30 Philip Morris Products S.A. Système et dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprenant un dispositif de chauffage par induction et procédé de fonctinoneent associé
US20220395028A1 (en) * 2020-02-07 2022-12-15 Kt&G Corporation Aerosol generating device
WO2023285458A1 (fr) 2021-07-12 2023-01-19 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol et système comprenant un dispositif chauffant inductif et son procédé de fonctionnement
WO2023062788A1 (fr) * 2021-10-14 2023-04-20 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Dispositif d'inhalation, matériau de base et procédé de commande
KR20230089881A (ko) * 2021-12-14 2023-06-21 주식회사 이노아이티 에어로졸 발생 장치에서의 가열 제어 방법

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020207733A1 (fr) 2019-04-08 2020-10-15 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de génération d'aérosol comprenant un film de génération d'aérosol
US20220395028A1 (en) * 2020-02-07 2022-12-15 Kt&G Corporation Aerosol generating device
WO2022049019A1 (fr) * 2020-09-01 2022-03-10 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol utilisable en mode de libération d'aérosol et en mode pause
WO2022069582A1 (fr) 2020-09-30 2022-04-07 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol doté d'un moyen d'identification du type d'un article de génération d'aérosol utilisé avec le dispositif
WO2022074157A1 (fr) 2020-10-07 2022-04-14 Philip Morris Products S.A. Substrat de formation d'aérosol
WO2022136661A1 (fr) 2020-12-23 2022-06-30 Philip Morris Products S.A. Système et dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprenant un dispositif de chauffage par induction et procédé de fonctinoneent associé
WO2023285458A1 (fr) 2021-07-12 2023-01-19 Philip Morris Products S.A. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol et système comprenant un dispositif chauffant inductif et son procédé de fonctionnement
WO2023062788A1 (fr) * 2021-10-14 2023-04-20 日本たばこ産業株式会社 Dispositif d'inhalation, matériau de base et procédé de commande
KR20230089881A (ko) * 2021-12-14 2023-06-21 주식회사 이노아이티 에어로졸 발생 장치에서의 가열 제어 방법

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