WO2025093850A1

WO2025093850A1 - Electronic aerosol provision system

Info

Publication number: WO2025093850A1
Application number: PCT/GB2024/052620
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sally BELL; Joseph Peter Sutton
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-11-01
Filing date: 2024-10-11
Publication date: 2025-05-08
Anticipated expiration: 2026-05-01
Also published as: GB202316750D0

Abstract

Described is an aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system including a housing, a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator, a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator, and an airflow control mechanism. The first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively. The airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and the total inlet open area is fixed. Also described is an aerosol provision device, a method of configuring an aerosol provision system for use and aerosol provision means.

Description

ELECTRONIC AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

Field

The present disclosure relates to electronic aerosol provision systems such as nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).

Background

Electronic aerosol provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain an aerosol (or vapour) precursor I forming material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically comprising a base liquid with additives such as nicotine and often flavourants, and / or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated, e.g. through heat vaporisation. Thus, an aerosol provision system will typically comprise an aerosol generation chamber containing an atomiser (or vaporiser), e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporise a portion of precursor material to generate an aerosol in the aerosol generation chamber. As a user inhales on the device and electrical power is supplied to the heating element, air is drawn into the device through inlet holes and into the aerosol generation chamber where the air mixes with the vaporised precursor material to form an aerosol. There is a flow path connecting the aerosol generation chamber with an opening in the mouthpiece so the incoming air drawn through the aerosol generation chamber continues along the flow path to the mouthpiece opening, carrying some of the vapour with it, and out through the mouthpiece opening for inhalation by the user.

Aerosol provision systems may comprise a modular assembly including both reusable and replaceable cartridge parts. Typically a cartridge part will comprise the consumable aerosol precursor material and I or the vaporiser, while a reusable device part will comprise longer- life items, such as a rechargeable battery, device control circuitry, activation sensors and user interface features. The reusable part may also be referred to as a control unit or battery section and replaceable cartridge parts that include both a vaporiser and precursor material may also be referred to as cartomisers.

Users of such aerosol provision systems sometimes wish to customise their user experience, particularly in the context of the aerosol that is received and perceived by the users. Some aerosol provision systems utilise a single aerosol generator to vaporise a single aerosol generating material, and while control of the aerosol provision system may provide customisation of the aerosol that is delivered to some extent, it may be unsatisfactory for a number of users. Other aerosol provision systems may utilise multiple aerosol generating materials which may offer some degree of customisation of the aerosol delivered. Various approaches are described which seek to help address some of these issues.

Summary

According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system including a housing, a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator, a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosolgenerating material, a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator, and an airflow control mechanism. The first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively. The airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and the total inlet open area is fixed.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the first air inlet defines a first air inlet open area and the second air inlet define a second inlet open area, and wherein the airflow control mechanism is configured to vary the size of the first inlet open area and the second inlet open area.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism is configured to increase the size of the first inlet open area by an amount and to decrease the size of the second inlet open area by the same amount.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism includes a moveable fin or diverter fixedly coupled at one end and moveable at the other, opposite end, wherein the moveable fin is arranged to move at the moveable end to vary the proportion of the total inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar having a plurality of openings extending through the collar from a first surface to a second surface, the housing defining an opening of the first airflow pathway and an opening of the second airflow pathway, wherein the collar is configured to move relative to the housing such that at least one of the plurality of openings defines the first air inlet along with the opening of the first airflow pathway and at least another of the plurality of openings defines the second air inlet along with the opening of the second airflow pathway.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the plurality of openings comprise openings of different open area, and wherein the plurality of openings are arranged such that when at least a first opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and at least a second opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet, the total inlet open area of the first air inlet and of the second air inlet is the same as when at least a third opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and at least a fourth opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar having rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of the collar, a first opening and a second opening of the same total area, and wherein the collar is configured to rotate relative to the housing of the aerosol provision system such that the first opening is capable of overlapping with the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and the second opening is capable of overlapping with the opening of second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet, and wherein the relative radial position of the first opening and the second opening is different to the relative radial position of the opening of the first airflow pathway and the opening of the second airflow pathway .

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism comprises a movable array of passages, each passage capable of being selectively coupled to one of the first airflow pathway or the second airflow pathway to form at least a part of the first section and third section of the airflow pathways respectively, wherein at least a part of a first passage has a different cross-sectional area to at least a part of a second passage.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the first air inlet is defined by the opening of the passage of the moveable array of passages coupled to the first airflow pathway, and the second air inlet is defined by the opening of the passage of the moveable array of passages coupled to the second airflow pathway.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the airflow control mechanism comprises a rotatable disc configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the disc, wherein the rotatable disc is the moveable array of passages. In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, the aerosol provision system comprises control circuitry for controlling the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator, and wherein the control circuitry is capable of controlling the first and second aerosol generators on the basis of the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway.

In accordance with some examples of the first aspect, when the control circuitry determines that there proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway is zero, or less than 5% of the inlet open area, the control circuitry is configured to prevent activation of the first aerosol generator.

According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device for forming an aerosol provision system together with an article comprising aerosolgenerating material, the aerosol provision device including: a housing; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing, the first airflow pathway comprises a first section extending from the first air inlet and arranged to communicate with a first aerosol generator; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing, the second airflow pathway comprises a third section extending from the second air inlet and arranged to communicate with a second aerosol generator; and an airflow control mechanism. The first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively. The airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and the total inlet open area is fixed.

According to a third aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a method of configuring an aerosol provision system for use for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system including a housing; a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator; a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator; and an airflow control mechanism. The method includes using the airflow mechanism to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway. The first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, and the total inlet open area is fixed.

According to a fourth aspect of certain embodiments there is provided aerosol provision means for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision means including housing means, first aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet means of the housing means to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the first aerosol generator means is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator means and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator means, a second aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet means of the housing means to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the second aerosol generator means is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator means and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator means, and an airflow control means. The first air inlet means and the second air inlet means define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively. The airflow control means is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and the total inlet open area is fixed.

It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described above in relation to the first and other aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be combined with, embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as appropriate, and not just in the specific combinations described above.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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

Figure 1 schematically shows an aerosol provision system in accordance with a first implementation in cross-section, the aerosol provision system including a control or device part, a mouthpiece part, and two removable cartomisers, and configured to deliver aerosol to a user from one or more of the cartomisers, and in accordance with the first implementation, an airflow control mechanism in the form of a collar;

Figure 2 schematically shows, in perspective view, the collar of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 schematically shows a modification of the collar of Figure 1 ;

Figures 4a and 4b shows two first scenarios in which an opening in the collar of Figure 3 overlaps an opening of an air channel in the aerosol provision device; Figure 4a shows a scenario in which there is a relatively smaller degree of overlap while Figure 4b shows a scenario in which there is a relatively larger degree of overlap;

Figure 5 schematically shows an aerosol provision system in accordance with a second implementation in cross-section, the aerosol provision system including a control or device part, a mouthpiece part, and two removable cartomisers, and configured to deliver aerosol to a user from one or more of the cartomisers, and in accordance with the second implementation, an airflow control mechanism in the form of a rotatable disc;

Figure 6 schematically shows, in top-down view, the rotatable disc of Figure 5;

Figure 7 schematically shows an aerosol provision system in accordance with a third implementation in cross-section, the aerosol provision system including a control or device part, a mouthpiece part, and two removable cartomisers, and configured to deliver aerosol to a user from one or more of the cartomisers, and in accordance with the second implementation, an airflow control mechanism in the form of a diverter fin;

Figure 8 schematically shows, in perspective view, the diverter fin of Figure 7 positioned in a common air inlet opening; and

Figure 9 illustrates an example method for configuring and, optionally, operating an aerosol provision system, such as the aerosol provision system of Figures 1 , 5 or 7.

Detailed Description

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

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device, electronic cigarette or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement. Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” is sometimes used but this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol (vapour) provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosolgenerating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosolgenerating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, a liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some implementations, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some implementations, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

In some embodiments, the or each aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

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

As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v..Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

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

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

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

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

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

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerine, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

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

An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent.

The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosolmodifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

In some implementations, the aerosol provision systems comprise a modular assembly including an aerosol provision device (sometimes referred to as a reusable part) and an article comprising aerosol-generating material (sometimes referred to as a consumable or a replaceable part). However, in other implementations, the aerosol provision systems may comprise a one-piece arrangement where the article and aerosol provision device are integrally formed.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a noncombustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area (or storage portion), an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor. A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some implementations, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some implementations, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol provision system having a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system and in which a first aerosol generator is provided, and a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system and in which a second aerosol generator is provided. Aerosol that is to be delivered to the user via the mouthpiece is formed from a combination of the aerosol generated by the first aerosol generator and the aerosol that is generated by the second aerosol generator. In order to provide control over the proportions of the aerosol generated by the first aerosol generator and the aerosol that is generated by the second aerosol generator in the aerosol to be delivered, the aerosol provision system is provided with an airflow control mechanism. The airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway. By varying the proportion of the inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first airflow pathway and the second airflow pathway, the proportions of the aerosol generated by the first aerosol generator and the aerosol that is generated by the second aerosol generator in the aerosol to be delivered can also be proportionally varied. In addition, a total inlet open area (i.e., the sum of the individual inlet open areas) is fixed, such that the total amount of aerosol delivered to the user for a given inhalation remains constant, thereby improving consistency of user experience in terms of the amount of aerosol provided.

Figure 1 highly schematically shows, in cross-section, an aerosol provision system 1 in accordance with a first implementation of the disclosure. Figure 1 shows the aerosol provision system 1 in an assembled state, however, as will be discussed below, parts of the aerosol provision system 1 are provided as removable I detachable from other parts of the aerosol provision system 1.

With reference to Figure 1 , the aerosol provision system 1 comprises an aerosol provision device 2 (sometimes referred to as a control, battery or reusable part) and, in this example, two consumable or disposable parts, referred to herein as cartomisers 4a and 4b, and collectively referred to herein as cartomisers 4. The aerosol provision device 2 further comprises a detachable lid or mouthpiece 3, which can allow access to receptacles within the aerosol provision device 2 for receiving the respective cartomisers 4.

In use, the aerosol provision system 1 is configured to generate aerosol from the cartomisers 4 (by vaporising an aerosol generating material therein) and deliver / provide the aerosol to a user through one or more openings provided in the mouthpiece 3 as the user inhales on the mouthpiece 3.

By way of reference only, the following discussion will refer to top, bottom, left and right sides of the aerosol provision system 1 or components thereof. This will generally refer to the corresponding directions in the associated figures; that is, the natural directions in the plane of the figures. However, these directions are not meant to confer a particular orientation of the system 1 during normal use. For example, the top of the assembled system refers to a part of the system that contacts the user’s mouth in use, while the bottom refers to the opposite end of the system. The choice of directions is only meant to illustrate the relative locations of the various features described herein.

The aerosol provision device 2 includes an outer housing 20 which is configured to house a power source 21 for providing operating power for the aerosol provision device 1 and control circuitry 22 for controlling the operation of the aerosol provision system 1.

The outer housing 20 may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metal material and in this example has a generally cylindrical shape (that is, the outer housing 20 is formed as a cylinder with a longitudinal axis parallel to the axis L1 shown in Figure 1. The housing 20 may therefore define a width I diameter (for example, around 3 cm) and a length (for example, around 8 cm). It should be appreciated, however, that the aerosol provision device 2 may take other shapes as desired, for example a box or cuboidal shape. The shape of the aerosol provision device 2 is not particularly limited.

The power source 21 in this example is a battery 21. The battery 21 may be rechargeable and may be of the kind normally used in aerosol provision systems and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The battery 21 may be, for example, a lithium ion battery. The battery 21 may be recharged through a suitable charging connector provided at or in the outer housing 20, for example a USB connector (not shown). Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol provision device 2 may comprise suitable circuitry to facilitate wireless charging of the battery 21.

The control circuitry 22 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the aerosol provision system 1. The control circuitry 22 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the aerosol provision system's operation and may be implemented by provision of a (micro)controller, processor, ASIC or similar form of control chip. The control circuitry 22 may be arranged to control any functionality associated with the aerosol provision system 1. By way of nonlimiting examples only, the functionality may include the charging or re-charging of the battery 21 , the discharging of the battery 21 (e.g., for providing power to one or more aerosol generators), in addition to other functionality such as controlling any visual indicators (e.g., LEDs) I displays provided as part of the aerosol provision device 2, any communication functionality for communicating with external devices, etc. The control circuitry 22 may be mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB). Note also that the functionality provided by the control circuitry 22 may be split across multiple circuit boards and I or across components which are not mounted to a PCB, and these additional components and I or PCBs can be located as appropriate within the aerosol provision device 2. For example, functionality of the control circuit 22 for controlling the (re)charging functionality of the battery 21 may be provided separately (e.g. on a different PCB) from the functionality for controlling the discharge of the battery 21.

The aerosol provision device 2 further comprises a plurality of air inlets 23a, 23b (collectively referred to as air inlets 23) provided on I in the outer surface of the outer housing 20. Each of the air inlets 23a, 23b is coupled to a respective air channel 26a, 26b (collectively referred to as air channels 26) which extends into the housing 20 and fluidly connect the respective air inlet 23a, 23b with receptacles 24a and 24b. As will be appreciated in the following, these features form part of air or aerosol pathways through the aerosol provision system 1 in which air is passed from outside the aerosol provision system 1 via the air inlets 23, through the aerosol provision system 1 and into the user’s mouth.

The receptacles 24a and 24b (collectively referred to as receptacles 24) are configured to respectively receive a cartomiser 4a, 4b and are suitably sized to receive a cartomiser 4. In the present implementation, the receptacles 24 have a cylindrical shape configured to receive broadly cylindrical shaped cartomisers 4. However, it should be appreciated that the cartomisers 4 may take different shapes in other implementations, and correspondingly the receptacles 24 may be suitably adapted accordingly.

The receptacles 24 may be sized so as to receive a part or all of the cartomisers 4. For example, in Figure 1, the top of the cartomiser 4a and 4b protrudes slightly from the receptacle 24a and 24b. Correspondingly, the receptacles 24 may only be sized to receive the corresponding part of the cartomiser 4a, 4b. The depth of the receptacles (that is a dimension along the longitudinal axis of the receptacles 24) is slightly less than the length of the cartomisers 4 such that, when the cartomisers 4 are received in the receptacles 24, the exposed ends of the cartomisers 4 slightly protrude from the surface of the housing 20. The outer diameter of the cartomisers 4 is slightly smaller (e.g., about 1 mm or less) than the diameter of the receptacles 24 to allow the cartomisers 4 to slide into the receptacles 24 with relative ease, but to fit reasonably well within the receptacles 24 to reduce or prevent movement in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the cartomiser 4. Although not shown in Figure 1, the receptacles 24 may comprise suitable engagement mechanisms for engaging with the cartomisers 4 which may be established in accordance with broadly conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism, bayonet fixing or magnetic coupling. In the described implementation, the receptacles 24 also provide an electrical coupling between the receptacles 24 of the aerosol provision device 2 and the cartomisers 4 using suitable electrical contacts, for example through sprung I pogo pin connectors, or any other configuration of electrical contacts which engage when the cartomisers 4 are received in I connected to the receptacles 24 of the aerosol provision device 2. The electrical coupling may allow for power and I or data to be supplied to I from the cartomisers 4. However, it should be appreciated that in other implementations, the respective heating elements 43a, 43b could be supplied with energy via other means, such as via induction, in which case electrical contacts between the receptacles 24 and the cartomisers 4 may not be required.

In this implementation, the cartomisers 4 are mounted in a generally side-by-side configuration in the body of the aerosol provision device 2. Additionally, each receptacle 24 is fluidly coupled to a respective air channel 26a, 26b via an opening. The openings permit air to flow from the respective air channel 26a, 26b to the receptacles 24. When a cartomiser 4 is installed in the receptacle 24, the openings fluidly couple to a corresponding cartomiser channel 44 (described below), such that air is able to flow along the corresponding cartomiser channel 44.

The cartomisers 4 each comprise an outer housing 40a, 40b that defines an aerosolgenerating material storage area 41a, 41b and a cartomiser channel 44a, 44b. The housing 40 is generally in the form of a hollow tubular cylinder having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, with the walls of the inner diameter defining the limits of the cartomiser channel 44a, 44b. In this example, the cartomiser 4 has a length of around 1 to 1.5 cm, an outer diameter of 6 to 8 mm and an inner diameter of around 2 to 4 mm. However, it will be appreciated the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shapes involved, may be different in different implementations. The volume or cavity between the inner and outer walls defines the aerosol-generating material storage area 41a, 41b.

The outer housing 40a, 40b of the cartomisers 4a, 4b may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metal material and in this example has a generally circular cross-section. However, as should be appreciated, the outer housing 40a, 40b (and thus the cartomiser 4a, 4b) may take any suitable shape.

The aerosol-generating material storage area 41a, 41b is configured to store aerosolgenerating material. In the described example, the aerosol-generating material is a liquid (sometimes referred to as a source liquid). Accordingly, the aerosol-generating material storage area 41a, 41b is adapted for holding such a liquid, and may be referred to as liquid reservoir 41a, 41b or simply reservoir 41a, 41b. A source liquid for an electronic cigarette will typically comprise a base liquid formulation, which makes up the majority of the liquid, with additives for providing desired flavour I smell I nicotine delivery characteristics to the base liquid. For example, a typical base liquid may comprise a mixture of propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerol (VG). The liquid reservoir 41a, 41b in this example comprises the majority of the interior volume of the cartomiser 4a, 4b. The reservoir 41 may be formed in accordance with suitable techniques, for example comprising moulding a plastic material. However, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure are not limited to liquid aerosol-generating material and, in other implementations, the aerosol-generating material may be a solid or a gel, for example, as described above. Accordingly, the aerosolgenerating material storage area 41a, 41b may be correspondingly adapted for the given aerosol-generating material.

The cartomiser 4a, 4b further comprises an aerosol generator. In the described implementation, the aerosol generator is formed of heating element 43a, 43b. Each heating element 43a, 43b is provided in combination with a wicking element 42a, 42b, whereby the heating element 43a, 43b is coiled around the wicking element 42a, 42b. The wicking elements 42a, 42b are configured to wick I transport the source liquid (using capillary motion) from the respective liquid reservoirs 41a, 41b to the respective heating elements 43a, 43b. For example, the wicking element 42a, 42b may be formed from a bundle of cotton or glass fibres, or from a ceramic material. The wicking element 42a, 42b is provided in fluid communication with the source liquid stored in the reservoir 41a, 41b, for example through apertures provided in the inner wall of the cartomiser 4. When supplied with electrical power, the heating elements 43a, 43b generate heat causing the liquid provided by the wicking elements 42a, 42b to vaporise. For example, the heating elements 43a, 43b may comprise a nickel chrome alloy (Cr20Ni80) wire, which is configured to generate heat via the electrical resistance of the wire. However, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure are not limited to such aerosol generators, and in other implementations, any of the aerosol generators described above may be employed. Additionally, the aerosol generator may be adapted or selected for a given aerosol-generating material, as appropriate. Moreover, in some implementations, the wicking elements 42a, 42b (which are an example more generally of aerosol-generating material transport elements) may be omitted.

In the example shown, the aerosol generator (i.e., heating element 43a, 43b) and wicking element 42a, 42b are provided in the respective cartomiser channels 44a, 44b defined by the housing 40a, 40b of the cartomisers 4. That is to say, the aerosol generator extends across the cartomiser channel 44a, 44b. The cartomiser channels 44a and 44b are arranged such that, when the cartomisers 4 are installed in respective receptacles 24a, 24b, the cartomiser channels 44a and 44b are fluidly communicated with the respective air channels 26a, 26b and air inlets 23a, 23b via openings in the receptacles 24, and thus air drawn in through the respective air inlets 23 passes along the respective air channels 26 and along cartomiser channels 44a and 44b of the cartomisers 4. Accordingly, the air drawn into the cartomiser channels 44a, 44b passes by the aerosol generator and any aerosol-generating material (liquid) that has been vaporised by the heating elements 43a, 43b is subsequently entrained in the air flow.

The mouthpiece 3 includes a housing 30 which comprises a mouthpiece opening 31 at one end (a top end). The mouthpiece 3 also includes receptacles 32a, 32b at the opposite end (a bottom end), and respective mouthpiece channels 33a, 33b extending between the receptacles 32a, 32b and the opening 31. In the present example, the mouthpiece channels 33a, 33b share a common channel in the vicinity of the opening 31; however, in other implementations, a plurality of discrete mouthpiece openings 31 may be provided with each mouthpiece channel 33a, 33b arranged to couple to a respective mouthpiece opening.

The mouthpiece 3 has a generally tapered or conical outer profile which tapers towards the top end of the mouthpiece 3. This top end forms the part of the aerosol provision system 1 that is received in the user’s mouth (in other words, this is the end the user would, in normal use, put their lips around and inhale through). The bottom end of the mouthpiece 3 is where the mouthpiece 3 meets the outer housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2 and is sized to have dimensions in the width I diameter direction that broadly corresponds to the equivalent dimension of the outer housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2 in order to provide a flush outer profile when the mouthpiece 3 is attached to the aerosol provision device 2.

The mouthpiece 3 in this example is formed as a separate and removable component from the outer housing 20 and is provided with any suitable coupling I mounting mechanism that allows the mouthpiece 3 to couple to the outer housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2, e.g., snap-fitting, screw thread, etc. However, it should be appreciated in other implementations, the mouthpiece 3 is movably attached to the outer housing 20, for example, via a hinge provided at one side of the mouthpiece 3 or the mouthpiece 3 may be attached to the outer housing 20 via ribbon or cable or the like. Regardless, when the mouthpiece 3 is coupled to the outer housing 20 to form the assembled aerosol provision system 1 (e.g., as generally shown in Figure 1), the length of the assembled aerosol provision system 1 is around 10 cm. However, it will be appreciated that the overall shape and scale of an aerosol provision device 1 implementing the present disclosure is not significant to the principles described herein.

The receptacles 32a, 32b in the mouthpiece 3 are arranged to receive ends of the cartomisers 4 and fluidly connect to the respective cartomiser channels 44a and 44b in the cartomisers 4 (specifically at an end of the cartomiser 4 opposite the end that connects to and is received in receptacles 24a, 24b). The receptacles 32a, 32b are additionally fluidly connected to mouthpiece channels 33a and 33b, which in turn are fluidly connected to the mouthpiece opening 31.

Therefore, it should be appreciated that when the aerosol provision system 1 is fully assembled (e.g., as shown in Figure 1), the aerosol provision system 1 is considered to form a first air I aerosol pathway and a second air I aerosol pathway. For example, a first air I aerosol pathway starts from the first air inlet 23a, passes along the first air channel 26a and into the first receptacle 24a, and then through the cartomiser channel 44a of the first cartomiser 4a, into the first receptacle 32a, along the first mouthpiece channel 33a of the mouthpiece 3 to the mouthpiece opening 31. Equally, a second air / aerosol pathway starts from the second air inlet 23b, passes along the second air channel 26b and into the second receptacle 24b, and then through the cartomiser channel 44b of the second cartomiser 4b, into the second receptacle 32b, along the second mouthpiece channel 33b of the mouthpiece 3 to the mouthpiece opening 31.

The first and second air I aerosol pathways can be considered to be comprised of two sections that are defined by the aerosol generating region I the aerosol generator. During use of the aerosol provision system 1, air flows in the direction from the air inlets 23a, 23b to the mouthpiece opening 31. For the first air I aerosol pathway, the first air I aerosol pathway can be considered to comprise a first section that is downstream of the first aerosol generator I heating element 43a (relative to the direction of air flow in use) and a second section that is upstream of the first aerosol generator I heating element 43a. The first section may therefore be understood to predominately be a pathway for air, while the second section may therefore be understood to predominantly be a pathway for aerosol (formed of air with entrained vaporised aerosol-generating material). The first section is understood to be comprised of the first air inlet 23a, the first air channel 26a, and the region of the first cartomiser channel 44a up to the first heating element 43a. The second section is understood to be comprised of the region of the first cartomiser channel 44a beyond the first heating element 43a, the first mouthpiece channel 33a and the mouthpiece opening 31. Equally, for the second air I aerosol pathway, the second air I aerosol pathway can be considered to comprise a third section that is downstream of the second aerosol generator I heating element 43b (relative to the direction of air flow in use) and a fourth section that is upstream of the second aerosol generator I heating element 43b. Similarly, the third section may therefore be understood to predominately be a pathway for air, while the fourth section may therefore be understood to predominantly be a pathway for aerosol (formed of air with entrained vaporised aerosol-generating material). The third section is understood to be comprised of the second air inlet 23b, the second air channel 26b, and the region of the second cartomiser channel 44b up to the second heating element 43b. The fourth section is understood to be comprised of the region of the second cartomiser channel 44b beyond the second heating element 43b, the second mouthpiece channel 33b and the mouthpiece opening 31.

In use, a user inhales on the mouthpiece 3 of the example aerosol provision system 1 (and specifically through opening 31) to cause air to pass from outside the outer housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2, along the respective first and second air I aerosol pathways through the system 1 as described above and into the user’s mouth. During use, the heating elements 43a, 43b are activated (e.g., supplied with electrical energy) in order to vaporise the source liquid contained in the wicking elements 42a, 42b such that air passing over I around the heating elements 43a, 43b collects or mixes with the vaporised source liquid to form an aerosol. In this regard, the region around the heating elements 43a, 43b (or more generally the aerosol generator) may be referred to as the aerosol (or vapour) generating area (or region).

Electrical power is supplied to the heating elements 43a, 43b from power source 21, controlled I regulated by control circuitry 22. The control circuitry 22 is configured to control the supply of electrical power from the power source 21 to the heating elements 43a, 43b in the respective cartom isers 4 so as to generate a vapour from the cartom isers 4 for inhalation by a user. Power may be supplied to the heating elements 43a, 43b on the basis of actuation of a button (or equivalent user actuation mechanism) provided on the surface of the housing 20 and which supplies power when the user presses the button (not shown in Figure 1). Alternatively, power may be supplied based on detection of a user inhalation using a sensor, e.g., such as an airflow sensor or pressure sensor, such as a diaphragm microphone (not shown in Figure 1), connected to the control circuitry 22 which sends a signal to the control circuitry 22 when a change in pressure or airflow is detected. Regardless, it should be appreciated that detection of an actuation of the button or detection of an inhalation corresponds to a detection of a user’s intention to generate aerosol. In some implementations, the aerosol provision system 1 may be controlled to generate aerosol, i.e. , supply power to the heating elements 43a, 43b, in response to a detection of both an actuation of the user actuation mechanism and the sensor indicating the presence of an inhalation. Accordingly, it should be understood that any suitable mechanism may be employed to activate the heating elements 43a, 43b (or more generally aerosol generator) in response to determining a user’s intention to generate aerosol and subsequently use the aerosol provision system 1 to generate and deliver an aerosol.

It should also be appreciated that in the described implementation, the cartomisers 4 are releasably connectable with the aerosol provision device 2 (and more particularly, the receptacles 24a, 24b). That is, in the aerosol provision system 1 shown in Figure 1 , the cartomisers 4 are provided separately from the aerosol provision device 2 and the mouthpiece 3 and can therefore be inserted into or removed from the receptacles 24a, 24b. The cartomisers 4 may be replaced I removed for a variety of reasons. For example, a user may insert cartomisers 4 having different source liquids to those currently installed in the aerosol provision device. Alternatively, the cartomisers 4 can be removed I replaced in the event that a cartomiser 4 runs dry (that is, the source liquid in the liquid reservoir 41a, 41b is depleted). In order to insert, replace or remove the cartomisers 4, the user will typically disassemble the system 1. The user may remove the mouthpiece 3 from the outer housing 20 by pulling (or otherwise moving) the mouthpiece 3 in a direction away from the outer housing 20, remove any previous cartomisers 4 located in the receptacles (if applicable) by pulling (or otherwise moving) the cartomisers 4 in a direction away from the aerosol provision device 2, and insert new cartomiser(s) 4 in the receptacle(s) 24. With the cartomiser(s) 4 inserted in the receptacles 24, the user then reassembles the system 1 by coupling the mouthpiece 3 to the outer housing 20. An assembled system 1 is schematically shown in Figure 1 , although it should be noted that certain features are not shown to scale and exaggerated for the purposes of clarity, such as the gap between the mouthpiece 3 and the outer housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2, for example.

The aerosol provision system 1 is generally considered to be provided with respective aerosol generating regions. The aerosol generating regions are regions (or volumes I areas) within the aerosol provision system 1 where aerosol is generated or is capable of being generated. In the present example, aerosol is capable of being generated in the volume surrounding the heating elements 43a, 43b. This is where heat energy (from the heating elements 43a, 43b) is transferred to a source liquid provided within the aerosol generating region to subsequently cause source liquid to vaporise, upon sufficient heat energy being applied, and subsequently form an aerosol. Accordingly, in view of the example aerosol provision system 1 described in Figure 1, it should be appreciated that the aerosol provision system is provided with a first aerosol generating region (e.g., comprising a first heating element 43a, a first wicking element 42a and a part of a first aerosol-generating material stored in the first reservoir 41a and held in the first wicking element 42a proximate to the first heating element 43a) and a second aerosol generating region (e.g., comprising a second heating element 43b, a second wicking element 42b and a part of a second aerosolgenerating material stored in the second reservoir 41b and held in the second wicking element 42b proximate to the second heating element 43b).

In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, the aerosol provision system 1 is provided with an airflow control mechanism. The airflow control mechanism is configured to, in effect, vary the proportion of air that is drawn into the aerosol provision system 1 (e.g., via the air inlets 23a, 23b) that passes along the first air I aerosol pathway and along the second air I aerosol pathway during use. By varying the proportion of the air flow that flows along the respective air I aerosol pathways, the proportion of the air that passes through the first aerosol generating region and the second aerosol generating region may also be varied. The aerosol that exits the aerosol provision system 1 via mouthpiece opening 31 is formed of a combination of the aerosol that is provided by the first aerosol generator (in the first cartomiser 4a) and the aerosol that is provided by the second aerosol generator (in the second cartomiser 4b). Subsequently, by varying the proportion of the total airflow through the first and second aerosol generating regions, the proportion of the aerosol that exits the aerosol provision system 1 via mouthpiece opening 31 formed from the aerosol generated in the first aerosol generating region and from the aerosol generated in the second aerosol generating region may also be varied.

In order for air to be drawn into the aerosol provision system 1 from the external environment, openings in the housing 20 are provided (e.g., air inlets 23a, 23b). Assuming a given inhalation (e.g., of a defined rate), the rate that air enters the aerosol provision system 1 , for example in terms of mass per second, may be governed by size of the openings I air inlets 23a, 23b in the housing 20. Accordingly, each opening I air inlet 23a, 23b may be considered to define an inlet open area, which is the cross-sectional area of the air inlets having a normal parallel to the direction of air flow through the cross-sectional area of the air inlets 23.

A total inlet open area is defined by the sum of each inlet open areas of the plurality of air inlets 23a, 23b. For example, if the first air inlet 23a defines an inlet open area of 1 cm² and the second air inlet 23b defines an inlet open area of 0.8 cm², then the total inlet open area is 1.8 cm² in this example. The total inlet open area influences the rate that air enters and passes through the aerosol provision system 1. For a defined inhalation (for example a standard inhalation as defined in the Coresta Recommend Method No. 81 , which defines certain standard conditions for an inhalation, such as a standard inhalation as having a puff duration of 3 s ± 0.1 s, a volume of 55 ml ± 0.3 ml, etc.) the total inlet open area governs the rate at which aerosol is provided to the user, and hence the total amount of aerosol that is provided to the user, via the mouthpiece opening 31. For example, it may be expected that a total inlet open area of say 1 cm² provides a lower (total) amount of aerosol to a user at a lower rate than a total inlet open area of say 2 cm², for a given inhalation.

In accordance with the present disclosure, the aerosol provision system 1 is configured to maintain a total inlet open area (that is, the total inlet open area is fixed at a predefined value I area), but by virtue of the airflow control mechanism, the aerosol provision system 1 is capable of selectively varying the proportion of the (total) inlet open area that is communicatively coupled to the first air I aerosol pathway (i.e., the first section of the air pathway) and the second air / aerosol pathway (i.e., the third section of the second air pathway). Thus, while for a given inhalation the total amount of aerosol provided to the user via the opening 31 is the same, the airflow control mechanism is capable of varying the proportion of the air that flows through the first aerosol generating region (e.g., past the first heating element 43a) and the second aerosol generating region (e.g., past the second heating element 43b) to subsequently affect the overall composition of the aerosol that is delivered to the user.

In the implementation of Figure 1, the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar 50. The collar 50 is shown in cross-section in Figure 1 , and is shown in isolation schematically and in perspective view in Figure 2.

In this implementation, the collar 50 is formed as a ring or annulus and comprises a plurality of openings - shown in Figure 2 as openings 51 a to 51 f. The housing 20 of the aerosol provision device 2 comprises an annular recess (extending around the circumference of the cylindrical housing 20) in which the collar 50 is able to be received. In particular, the collar 50 is capable of being received in the recess such that the collar 50 is provided coaxially with the longitudinal axis L1 of the aerosol provision system 1 and such that the collar 50 is capable of rotating about the longitudinal axis relative to the housing 20. Rotating the collar 50 around the longitudinal axis L1 changes the relative position of the collar 50, and hence openings 51a to 51f, to the housing 20. In some implementations, the recess in the housing 20 and/or the collar 50 may be provided with lugs or protrusions capable of engaging with corresponding depressions or the like in the other of the recess in the housing 20 or the collar 50. These may act to define a discrete number of positions that the collar 50 can be placed (and maintained) in relative to the housing 20 (e.g., when a lug engages with a depression). In other implementations, the outer diameter of the recess in the housing 20 may be set to be close to the inner diameter of the collar 50 (for example, by less than 1 mm) such that friction acts between the inner surface of the collar 50 and the surface of the recess to resist rotational movement of the collar 50. The annular collar 50 is capable of being rotated about the longitudinal axis L1 such that ones of the openings 51a to 51 f are capable of being fluidly coupled to the first air channel 26a and second air channel 26b. It should be appreciated that when one of the openings 51a to 51 f is aligned with the air channel 26a or 26b, that opening 51a to 51 f defines the air inlet 23a or 23b for the first section of the first air I aerosol pathway and for the third section of the second air I aerosol pathway respectively.

By way of example, in Figure 1 the collar 50 is provided at a position where the opening 51b is provided in fluid communication with the first air channel 26a, and thereby defines the first air inlet 23a, and where the opening 51 e is provided in fluid communication with the second air channel 26b, and thereby defines the second air inlet 23b. Hence, certain ones of the openings 51a to 51f can selectively define the first and second air inlets 23a, 23b depending on the position of the collar 50 relative to the housing 20 and to the first and second air channels 26a, 26b. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the air channels 26a, 26b define openings in the housing 20 that are present in the recessed portion described above such that the air channels 26a, 26b are capable of being engaged with openings 51a to 51f of the collar 50.

The openings 51 a to 51 f of the collar 50 are arranged circumferentially around the collar 50 so to provide pairs of openings that are provided on opposite sides of the collar 50. With respect to Figure 1 , the first air channel 26a is shown at one side of the aerosol provision device 2 while the second air channel 26b is shown at the opposite side of the aerosol provision device 2. Hence, it should be appreciated that by providing pairs of openings 51a to 51 f that are opposite one another on the collar 50, each pair of the openings 51a to 51 f can be selectively engaged with the air channels 26a, 26b. In particular, as shown by the dashed lines in Figure 2, openings 51a and 51 f form a first pair of openings, openings 51b and 51 e form a second pair of openings, and openings 51c and 51 d form a third pair of openings. While six openings 51a to 51 f, and thus three pairs of openings 51a to 51 f, are shown in Figure 2 it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to this number of openings 51a to 51 f, and a greater or smaller number of pairs of openings 51a to 51f may be provided.

The openings 51a to 51 f are shown as circular openings, however in other implementations, the openings 51a to 51 f may have a different shape. Additionally, as can be seen in Figure 2, the openings 51a to 51f are not of the same size (diameter). In particular, opening 51 b is shown as the smallest opening while opening 51 e is shown as the biggest opening, with the openings increasing in size order from 51a, 51c and 51 d (which are shown as the same size) and 51 f. While the openings 51a to 51f may have different sizes, each pair of openings defines the same total open area. That is, the open area defined by opening 51 e and the open area defined by opening 51b together is the same as the open area defined by openings 51a and 51 f together, or openings 51c and 51 d together. As noted above, providing the same total open area for pairs of openings 51a to 51 f can help ensure the total aerosol delivered to the user regardless of which pair of openings 51a to 51 f is currently coupled to the air channels 26a, 26b.

While the same total open area is realised by pairs of openings 51a to 51 f, the proportion of drawn in air that is permitted to flow along the first air I aerosol pathway (i.e. , along first air channel 26a) and to flow along the second air / aerosol pathway (i.e., along second air channel 26b) varies depending on which ones of the pairs of openings 51 a to 51 f of the collar 50 is coupled to each of the air channels 26a, 26b.

As stated above, in Figure 1 the collar 50 is provided at a position where the opening 51 b is provided in fluid communication with the first air channel 26a and where the opening 51 e is provided in fluid communication with the second air channel 26b. In this configuration, the proportion of air that flows along the first air channel 26a is significantly less than the proportion of air that flows along the second air channel 26b by virtue of the fact that the opening 51 e defines a greater open area than the opening 51b. As a result, when a user inhales on the aerosol provision system 1 with the collar 50 in the described configuration, the aerosol that is delivered to the user is predominately formed from the aerosol that is generated from the second cartomiser 4b (and second heating element 43b). By way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 80% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4b and from approximately 20% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a when the collar 50 is in the configuration described above. Equally, when the collar 50 is rotated such that opening 51a is coupled to the first air channel 26a and opening 51 f is coupled to the second air channel 26b, the relative proportion of air passing along the first air channel 26a is relatively increased (as the opening 51a has a larger open area than opening 51b) while the relative proportion of air passing along the second air channel 26b is relatively decreased (as the opening 51 f has a smaller open area than opening 51 e). By way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 65% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4b and from approximately 35% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a when the collar 50 is in this configuration. Finally, when the collar 50 is rotated such that opening 51c is coupled to the first air channel 26a and opening 51 d is coupled to the second air channel 26b, the relative proportion of air passing along the first air channel 26a is relatively increased (as the opening 51c has a larger open area than openings 51a or 51 b) while the relative proportion of air passing along the second air channel 26b is relatively decreased (as the opening 51 d has a smaller open area than opening 51 e or 51 f). In particular, in this configuration of the collar 50, the proportion of air flowing through the first air channel 26a and the second air channel 26b is approximately equal by virtue of the fact the openings 51c and 51 d each have a similar open area. That is, by way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 50% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4b and from approximately 50% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a when the collar 50 is in this configuration.

In this regard, it can be seen that the collar 50, as an example of the airflow control mechanism, allows the aerosol provision system 1 to be put into different configurations by rotating the collar 50 relative to the housing 20 such that different pairs of openings 51a to 51 f can respectively form the air inlets 23a and 23b for the respective first and second air I aerosol pathways. As at least some of the openings 51a to 51 f are of different sizes (and in particular of different open areas), the rate and/or amount of air capable of flowing through the openings coupled to the air inlets 23a, 23b can be varied. In addition, by providing pairs of openings 51a to 51 f that have different relative sizes (open areas), the proportion of total air drawn into the aerosol provision system 1 flowing through the first aerosol generating region in the cartomiser 4a can be made to differ from the proportion of total air drawn into the aerosol provision system 1 flowing through the second aerosol generating region in the cartomiser 4b, and consequently the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user can be changed in respect of the proportion of the aerosol to be delivered that is formed from the aerosol generated in the first aerosol generating region and from the aerosol generated in the second aerosol generating region. Moreover, by ensuring that the combined total inlet open area for each pair of openings 51a to 51f is fixed, then for a given standard inhalation, the amount of aerosol delivered to the user remains constant regardless of the configuration the collar 50.

In the abovementioned example, the openings of the air channels 26a, 26b have a circular cross-section and have an open area that is equal to or greater than the open area of the largest opening 51e in the collar 50. In this way, it is the openings 51a to 51 f that restrict the rate or air flow along the respective air I aerosol pathways in the aerosol provision system 1. Equally, the cross-section having a normal to the direction of air flow at any position along the first and second air I aerosol pathways is set to be equal to or greater than the open area of the largest opening 51 e in the collar 50 for similar reasons. It should be appreciated, however, that the cross-section of the air channels 26a, 26b and/or the cross-section having a normal to the direction of air flow at any position along the first and second air I aerosol pathways is may take any suitable shape.

It should also be appreciated that while the collar 50 is shown as being provided in the recess of the housing 20, in other implementations, the collar 50 may be movably coupled to the aerosol provision system 1 using other mechanisms. For example, the aerosol provision device 2 may comprise a number of protrusions spaced circumferentially above and below an annular region on the outer housing 20, where the annular collar 50 is located between these protrusions. In such an example, the collar 50 may be arranged to stand proud from the surface of the outer housing 20 (as opposed to the arrangement in Figure 1 where the outer surface of the collar 50 is arranged to be flush with the outer housing 20, excluding the regions of the recess).

In addition, while the collar 50 has been shown as being an annulus in the above example, the collar 50 may in other implementations take different forms. For example, in some implementations, the collar 50 may be provided around only a part of the circumference of the aerosol provision device 2, e.g., taking the form of an arc as opposed to an annulus. In other implementations, particularly where the outer housing 20 includes a flat surface, the collar 50 may be provided in the form of a rectangular strip or the like. In each case, the arc or rectangular strip is capable of moving relative to the housing 20, although it should be appreciated that the housing 20 may be provided with suitable retaining structure to couple the arc or strip to the outer housing 20. In addition, it should be appreciated that a plurality of arcs or strips may be provided, for example where each arc or strip is provided in conjunction with the first section or third section of the air I aerosol pathways. In such implementations, the plurality of arcs I strips are arranged such that movement of one arc or strip causes movement in another arc or strip - for example, two arcs or strips may be physically coupled together. Alternatively, the first section and third section may be arranged such that the openings are adjacent each other (e.g., as opposed to on opposite sides of the device 2 as shown in Figure 1). In such implementations, it may be possible to employ a single arc or strip that is capable of servicing both the first and third sections.

In the above described example, the airflow control mechanism comprises the collar 50 having a plurality of openings 51a to 51 f extending through the collar 50 from a first surface or side to a second surface or side. The collar 50 is configured to move relative to the housing 20 such that at least one of the plurality of openings 51a to 51 f defines the first air inlet 23a and at least another of the plurality of openings 51a to 51 f defines the second air inlet 23b.

However, the collar 50 may be configured differently. Figure 3 shows a modification to the collar 50 in accordance with the first implementation. Figure 3 shows the collar 50’, in isolation, schematically and in perspective view in Figure 3. The collar 50’ may be used with the aerosol provision system 1 of Figure 1 in place of collar 50 of Figure 2. In the modification to the collar 50’, the collar 50’ includes two openings 51a’ and 51b’ that are of the same size (e.g., same open area). In this example, the openings 51a’ 51b’ have a square cross-sectional area, for ease of explanation, but it should be appreciated that the openings 51a’ 51b’ may take different shapes in other implementations. As can be seen, however, the two openings 51a’, 51b’ are offset from each other relative to a central axis I diameter of the collar 50’ (indicated by the dashed line in Figure 3). In use, the collar 50’ is capable of rotational movement about the longitudinal axis L1 of the aerosol provision system 1 but, in this implementation, the collar 50’ is arranged to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first air channel 26a (or more generally the first section of the first air I aerosol pathway) and to the second air channel 26b (or more generally the third section of the second air I aerosol pathway).

In this regard, the air inlets 23a, 23b are defined by the degree of overlap between the opening 51a’ or 51b’ with the respective opening of the air channels 26a, 26b. Figures 4a and 4b schematically show two example scenarios where the degree of overlap between the opening 51a’ and the opening to air channel 26a is varied. Figures 4a and 4b show a part of the housing 20 including the opening to air channel 26a and a part of the collar 50’ including the opening 51a’. Other features of the aerosol provision system 1 and collar 50’ are omitted for clarity. In addition, for ease of explanation, the openings to the air channels 26a, 26b are shown as having a square cross-section (with a corresponding width and height).

Figure 4a shows the collar 50’ in a first position relative to the housing 20. As can be seen, the opening 51a’ of the collar 50’ overlaps the opening to the air channel 26a by a small amount. In this regard, the part of the opening to the air channel 26a that is obscured by the collar 50’ (i.e., the part not comprising opening 51a’ or 51b’) is shown by a dashed-line denoting that this part of the opening to the air channel 26a lies beneath the inner surface of the collar 50’. The part of the opening 51a’ that overlaps the opening to the air channel 26a defines the air inlet 23a in this configuration.

Figure 4b shows the collar 50’ in a second position relative to the housing 20. The second position may be achieved by rotating the collar 50’ about the longitudinal axis L1. As can be seen, the opening 51a’ of the collar 50’ overlaps the opening to the air channel 26a by a larger amount in Figure 4b. As before, the part of the opening to the air channel 26a that is obscured by the collar 50’ (i.e., the part not comprising opening 51a’ or 51b’) is shown by a dashed-line denoting that this part of the opening to the air channel 26a lies beneath the inner surface of the collar 50’. The part of the opening 51a’ that overlaps the opening to the air channel 26a again defines the air inlet 23a in this configuration. As can be seen in Figures 4a and 4b, the degree of overlap between the opening 51a’ and the opening to the air channel 26a defines the air inlet 23a (and particularly the inlet open area). In a similar manner to that described above, the greater the inlet open area of the air inlet 23a, the greater the rate and/or total amount of air that can pass through the inlet 23a and along the air channel 26a.

While Figures 4a and 4b show the first air inlet 23a, it should be appreciated that a second air inlet 23b is similarly formed by overlap of the opening 51 b’ and the opening to the second air channel 26b. However, as noted above, it is advantageous to maintain a fixed total inlet open area (formed by the sum of the open area of the inlet 23a and inlet 23b). In the example aerosol provision system of Figure 1 , the openings to the air channels 26a, 26b are provided on opposite sides of the aerosol provision device 2 (e.g., they are arranged 180° apart with respect to the circumference of the cylindrical housing 20). In the collar 50’, the openings 51a’ and 51b’ are offset from one another in the radial or circumferential direction of the collar 50’. For example, the centres of the openings 51a’ and 51b’ are not 180° apart with respect to the circumference of the annular collar 50. In this example, the centre of opening 51b’ is spaced apart from a line running through the centre of the opening 51a’ and the central axis of the collar 50’ by a distance that equal to the width of the square open area of the opening 51a’. Hence, it can be understood that in this configuration, if the opening 51a’ completely overlaps the opening to the first air channel 26a (thus the air inlet 23a is equal to the open area of the first opening 51a’), the second opening 51 b’ does not overlap the opening of the second channel 26b at all. In other words, 100% of the drawn in air flows along the first air channel 26a. Therefore, it should be understood that as the inlet open area for the first open air inlet 23a decreases (e.g., by rotating the collar 50’ in a clockwise direction for the example shown in Figure 3), the inlet open area for the second air inlet 23b increases by the same amount by virtue of offset openings 51a’ 51 b. It should be noted that this only applies when at least one opening 51a’, 51 b’ overlaps with one of the openings to the air channels 26a, 26b. (That is, there are multiple positions of the collar 50’ where the collar 50’ blocks both openings to the air channels 26a, 26b in this implementation.) In some implementations, the collar 50’ and/or the aerosol provision system 1 may be provided with rotational limiters that limit the rotation of the collar 50’ to a certain angular range (e.g., such that at least one opening 51a’, 51b’ overlaps one of the openings to the air channels 26a, 26b.

Hence, broadly, in the modification of the first implementation, the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar 50’ having rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of the collar 50’, and a first opening 51a’ and a second opening 51b’ of the same total open area, where the collar 50’ is capable of being positioned relative to the housing 20 such that the first opening 51a’ overlaps the opening to the first air channel 26a and/or such that the second opening 51b’ overlaps the opening to the second air channel 26b. The relative radial position of the first opening 51a’ and the second opening 51b’ is different to the relative radial position of openings for the first air channel 26a and the second air channel 26b.

Figure 5 highly schematically shows, in cross-section, an aerosol provision system 100 in accordance with a second implementation of the disclosure.

The aerosol provision system 100 comprises an aerosol provision device 102, a mouthpiece 3 and two cartomisers 4a and 4b. The mouthpiece 3 and the cartomisers 4a, 4b are the same as those discussed in the aerosol provision system 1 of Figure 1 , and a discussion thereof is omitted for conciseness. Figure 5 shows the aerosol provision system 100 in an assembled state and will generally be understood from Figure 1.

The aerosol provision device 102 of the second implementation is largely similar to the aerosol provision device 2 of the first implementation described above. For example, the aerosol provision device 102 comprises a power source 21, control circuitry 22 and receptacles 24a, 24b that are the same as their counterparts in Figure 1.

The aerosol provision device 102 differs from the aerosol provision device 2 of the first implementation in that the aerosol provision device 102 comprises a rotatable disc 121 coupled to the housing 120 via a spindle 122 that allows relative rotation of the disc 121 about the longitudinal axis L1 of the aerosol provision system 100. The rotatable disc 121 is schematically shown in Figure 6 as a top-down view along the line A-A in Figure 5.

The housing 120 of the second implementation differs from the housing 20 of the first implementation in that, in place of the recess that receives the collar 50, 50’, the housing 120 defines a region where the rotatable disc 121 is coupled to the housing 120. The rotatable disc 121 may be considered to form a part of the overall device housing 120 when the disc 121 is installed in the aerosol provision device 102, whereby the outer surface of the disc 121 is arranged so as to be flush with the outer surface of the housing 120. In some implementations, the outer surface of the disc 121 may comprise a gripping portion, such as a knurling or similar protrusions, to facilitate gripping of the disc 121 by a user, particularly in implementations where rotational movement of the disc 121 is effected through the user. Otherwise, the housing 120 is the same as housing 20 of the first implementation.

In this second implementation, the airflow control mechanism is embodied as the rotatable disc 121. As seen in Figure 6, the rotatable disc 121 comprises a plurality of passages 126a to 126f arranged at different radial positions of the disc 121. In particular, the disc 121 of Figure 6 includes six radial passages 126a to 126f arranged at 60° intervals around the rotatable disc 121. The passages 126a to 126f have at one end (i.e., on the outer surface of the disc 121) an opening and at the other end are shaped so as to facilitate fluid coupling to the openings of the receptacle 24a and/or 24b. In particular, with reference to Figure 5, in cross-section, the passages 126a to 126f are considered to have an approximate L-shape configuration. In use, the disc 121 is arranged to be rotated such that pairs of the passages 126a to 126f fluidly couple to the openings of the receptacles 24a, 24b and therefore, by virtue of the openings of the passages 126a to 126f at the outer surface of the disc 121 , air from external to the aerosol provision device 102 is capable of being drawn into the aerosol provision device 102 and through the respective aerosol generating regions (e.g., in the cartomisers 4a, 4b).

Hence, in a broadly similar manner to the annular collar 50 described above, the rotatable disc 121 is capable of being rotated about the longitudinal axis L1 such that ones of the passages 126a to 126f comprise the first air inlet 23a, at least a part of the first air channel 26a and the second air inlet 23b and at least a part of the second air channel 26b. That is to say, while the collar 50 allows selection of the air inlet 23a, 23b for use with fixed air channels 26a, 26b, the disc 121 allows selection of an air channel (having an associated air inlet). Thus, different ones of the passages 126a to 126f selectively form the air inlet 23a, 23b and air channels 26a, 26b of the aerosol provision device 102.

In a similar manner to the collar 50 of the first implementation, the disc 121 is arranged such that pairs of passages 126a to 126f are provided. Hence, it should be appreciated that by providing pairs of passages 126a to 126f that are arranged broadly opposite one another in the disc 121, each pair of the passages 126a to 126f can be selectively engaged with the openings of the receptacles 24a, 24b. In the particular arrangement of Figure 6, passages 126a and 126b form a first pair of passages, passages 126c and 126d form a second pair of passages, and passages 126e and 126f form a third pair of passages. While six passages 126a to 126f, and thus three pairs of passages 126a to 126f, are shown in Figure 6 it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to this number of passages 126a to 126f, and a greater or smaller number of pairs of passages 126a to 126f may be provided.

Additionally, as can be seen in Figure 5 and 6, the passages 126a to 126f are not of the same cross-sectional area (e.g., diameter for cylindrical passages). In particular, passage 126b is shown as having the smallest cross-sectional area while passage 126a is shown as the biggest cross-sectional area, with the passages increasing in cross-sectional size order from 126e, 126c and 126d (which are shown as the same size) and 126f. In a similar manner to the collar 50, each pair of passages defines the same total open area (in respect of the cross-sectional area normal to the direction of the flow of air). That is, the cross- sectional open area of the passage 126a and the cross-sectional open area of the passage 126b together is the same as the cross-sectional open area of the passage 126c and 126d together, or passages 126e and 126f together. In a similar manner, providing the same total cross-sectional open area for pairs of passages 126a to 126f can help ensure the total aerosol delivered to the user regardless of which pair of passages 126a to 126f currently forms the air channels 26a, 26b.

By way of example, in Figure 5, the disc 121 is provided at a position where the passage 126a forms the first air inlet 23a and first air channel 26a, and the passage 126b forms the second air inlet 23b and second air channel 26b.

As can be seen with reference to Figures 5 and 6, the cross-sectional area normal to the direction of airflow in the passage 126a is greater that the cross-sectional area normal to the direction of airflow in the passage 126b. In this configuration, the proportion of air that flows along the first air channel 26a I passage 126a is significantly more than the proportion of air that flows along the second air channel 26b I passage 126b by virtue of the fact that the passage 126a has a greater cross-sectional open area than the passage 126b. As a result, when a user inhales on the aerosol provision system 100 with the disc 121 in the described configuration, the aerosol that is delivered to the user is predominately formed from the aerosol that is generated from the first cartomiser 4a (and first heating element 43a). By way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 80% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a and from approximately 20% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4b when the disc 121 is in the configuration described above. Equally, when the disc 121 is rotated such that passage 126f forms the first air inlet 23a and first air channel 26a and passage 126e forms the second air inlet 23b and second air channel 26b, the relative proportion of air passing along the first air channel 26a is relatively decreased (as the passage 126f has a smaller cross-sectional open area than passage 126a) while the relative proportion of air passing along the second air channel 26b is relatively increased (as the passage 126e has a greater cross-sectional open area than passage 126b). By way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 65% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a and from approximately 35% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4b when the disc 121 is in this configuration. Finally, when the disc 121 is rotated such that passage 126c forms the first air inlet 23a and first air channel 26a and passage 126d forms the second air inlet 23b and second air channel 26b, the relative proportion of air passing along the first air channel 26a is relatively decreased (as the passage 126c has a smaller cross-sectional open area than passages 126a or 126f) while the relative proportion of air passing along the second air channel 26b is relatively increased (as the passage 126d has a larger cross- sectional open area than passage 126b or 126e). In particular, in this configuration of the disc 121, the proportion of air flowing through the first air channel 26a and the second air channel 26b is approximately equal by virtue of the fact the passages 126c and 126d each have a similar cross-sectional open area. That is, by way of example only, the aerosol to be delivered to the user may be formed from approximately 50% of the aerosol generated by the first cartomiser 4a and from approximately 50% of the aerosol generated by the second cartomiser 4a when the disc 121 is in this configuration.

In this regard, it can be seen that the disc 121 , as an example of the airflow control mechanism, similarly allows the aerosol provision system 100 to be put into different configurations by rotating the disc 121 relative to the housing 120 such that different pairs of passages 126a to 126f can respectively form the air inlets 23a, 23b and air channels 26a, 26b for the respective first and second air I aerosol pathways. As at least some of the passages 126a to 126f are of different cross-sectional areas (and in particular open areas), the rate and/or amount of air capable of flowing through the air inlets 23a, 23b and air channels 26a, 26b can be varied. In addition, by providing pairs of passages 126a to 126f that have different relative sizes (cross-sectional open areas), the proportion of total air drawn into the aerosol provision system 100 flowing through the first aerosol generating region in the cartomiser 4a can be made to differ from the proportion of total air drawn into the aerosol provision system 1 flowing through the second aerosol generating region in the cartomiser 4b, and consequently the composition of the aerosol delivered to the user can be changed in respect of the proportion of the aerosol to be delivered that is formed from the aerosol generated in the first aerosol generating region and from the aerosol generated in the second aerosol generating region. Moreover, by ensuring that the combined total inlet open area for each pair of passages 126a to 126f is fixed, then for a given standard inhalation, the amount of aerosol delivered to the user remains constant regardless of the configuration the disc 121.

In the example described above, the passages 126a to 126f are shows as being tubular / cylindrical, however it should be appreciated that in other implementations, the shapes of the passages 126a to 126f may be different. Additionally, the walls of the passages 126a to 126f are show as following a straight line parallel to the radius of the disc 121. However, in other implementations, the walls defining the passages 126a to 126f may taper in one or more directions. For example, the walls may taper towards the openings on the outer surface of the disc 121, or in other implementations, away from the openings. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the smallest cross-sectional open area for a given passage 126a to 126f influences the proportion of the drawn in air that passes through the passage 126a to 126f.

In Figure 6, the disc 121 is shown as being a solid cylinder with a spindle 122 through the centre thereof. However, it should be appreciated that the disc 121 may be, e.g., ring shaped with a somewhat larger opening in the centre. Regardless of whether the disc 121 is a solid cylinder or a ring-shape, the way in which the moveable disc 121 is coupled to the housing 120 is not limited to that shown above. For example, in other implementations, the disc 121 may be rotatably coupled through one or more bearings provided in tracks on the upper and lower circular surfaces of the disc 121 or of the corresponding interface in the housing 120.

In addition, the rotatable disc 121 is shown as comprising a section that allows relative movement of the passages 126a to 126f to both upper and lower parts of the housing 120. However, in other implementations, the disc 121 may instead be configured as the section of the housing comprising the receptacles 24a, 24b. For example, the plurality of passages 126a to 126f may be provided in a rigid configuration with respect to the lower part of the housing (the part comprising the circuitry 22 and power source 21), while the upper part comprising the receptacles 24 and cartomisers 4 (in addition to the mouthpiece 3 fixed thereto) is capable of rotating relative to the lower part of the housing 120.

In the first and second implementations described above, the airflow control mechanism is a rotatable element (e.g., collar 50, 50’ or rotatable disc 121) that rotates about the longitudinal axis of the aerosol provision device to couple different openings or channels to the air I aerosol pathways. However, the airflow control mechanism may take other forms.

Figure 7 highly schematically shows, in cross-section, an aerosol provision system 200 in accordance with a third implementation of the disclosure.

The aerosol provision system 200 comprises an aerosol provision device 202, a mouthpiece 3 and two cartomisers 4a and 4b. The mouthpiece 3 and the cartomisers 4a, 4b are the same as those discussed in the aerosol provision system 1 of Figure 1 , and a discussion thereof is omitted for conciseness. Figure 7 shows the aerosol provision system 200 in an assembled state and will generally be understood from Figure 1.

The aerosol provision device 202 of the third implementation is largely similar to the aerosol provision device 2 of the first implementation described above. For example, the aerosol provision device 102 comprises a power source 21 , control circuitry 22 and receptacles 24a, 24b that are the same as their counterparts in Figure 1.

The aerosol provision device 202 differs from the aerosol provision device 2 of the first implementation in that the aerosol provision device 202 comprises a diverter fin 250 as the airflow control mechanism. In this example, the diverter fin 250 is capable of being moved to alter the relative size of the air inlets 23a, 23b, and to thereby alter the proportion of drawn in air that flows along the first air I aerosol pathway (and through the first aerosol generating region) and along the second air I aerosol pathway (and through the second aerosol generating region). In Figure 7, it can be seen that the arrangement of the second air I aerosol pathway is different to that described in Figures 1 and 5. In particular, it can be seen the first air inlet 23a and second air inlet 23b are positioned adjacent one another and are separated only by the diverter fin 250. Specifically, it can be seen that the air channel 26b extends a greater distance from the receptacle 24b to the same side of the aerosol provision device 202 that comprises the first air inlet 23a. Put another way, the first air channel 26a and second air channel 26b may be considered to fluidly couple a common air inlet to the respective receptacles 24a, 24b.

The diverter fin 250 is provided to, in effect, divide the common air inlet into the first air inlet 23a and the second air inlet 23b. The diverter fin 250 is coupled to the aerosol provision device 202 at a point where the first and second air channels 26a, 26b divert from one another (that is, the point at which these air channels 26a, 26b can be considered separate air channels). For instance, in Figure 7, the diverter fin 250 is coupled to the aerosol provision device 202 at a location where the first air channel 26a passes upwards (in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis L1) while the second air channel 26b continues to follow a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L1. Thus, the diverter fin 250 acts, in effect, to separate the common air inlet and to form at least a part of a wall of the air channels 26a, 26b. The diverter fin 250 is coupled to the aerosol provision device 202 such that it is capable of movement. In the example of Figure 7, the diverter fine 250 is coupled to the device via a rotational hinge 251 ; however, the diverter fin 250 may instead be coupled in any other suitable manner. Figure 8 schematically shows a part of the housing 220 including the common air inlet and the diverter fin 250. Other features of the aerosol provision system 200 are omitted for clarity. As can be seen in Figure 8, the diverter fin 250 separates the common inlet into the first and second air inlets 23a, 23b.

In use, the diverter fin 250 is able to be moved (e.g., in the direction shown by the double headed arrow in Figure 7) to relatively increase or decrease the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a and second air inlet 23b. The diverter fin 250 may protrude from the common air inlet and the surface of the outer housing 220 of the aerosol provision device 202 to provide a tab 252, formed by the free end of the diverter fin 250, that is capable of being interacted with by a user’s finger, for example, to position the diverter fin 250 in a suitable and desired position. In this regard, the hinge 251 may have a degree of inertia to prevent the diverter fin 250 from altering its position during normal use of the device 202 (i.e., when the user is inhaling on the system 200 as opposed to moving the diverter fin 250). With reference to Figure 8, it can be seen that as the diverter fin 250 is moved downwards (i.e., towards the bottom of Figure 8), the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a relatively increases as compared to the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b. Conversely, as the diverter fin 250 is moved downwards (i.e., towards the top of Figure 8), the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a relatively decreases as compared to the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b.

In this way, the diverter fin 250, as an example of the airflow control mechanism, is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first air channel 26a (e.g., first section of the first air I aerosol pathway) and to the second air channel 26b (e.g., third section of the second air / aerosol pathway). Thus, similar advantages may be realised as discussed in relation to the airflow control mechanism of the first and second implementations above. Namely, when the diverter fin 250 is set such that the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a is greater than the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b, when a user inhales on the aerosol provision system 200 with the diverter fin 250 in the described configuration, the aerosol that is delivered to the user is predominately formed from the aerosol that is generated from the first cartomiser 4a (and first heating element 43a). Equally, when the diverter fin 250 is set such that the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b is greater than the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a, when a user inhales on the aerosol provision system 200 with the diverter fin 250 in the described configuration, the aerosol that is delivered to the user is predominately formed from the aerosol that is generated from the second cartomiser 4b (and second heating element 43b).

As is the case with the collar 50 and rotatable disc 121 above, the total inlet open area remains fixed, and as such the total rate and/or amount of aerosol delivered to a user is constant for a given inhalation. In the case of the diverter fin 250, it can be readily seen that this is the case, as the diverter fin 250 simply divides the total inlet open area.

Therefore, it has been described that the aerosol provision systems 1 , 100, 200 are provided with an airflow control mechanism in the form of a collar 50, 50’, rotatable disc 121 or diverter fin 250, that is capable of selectively varying the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway of the aerosol provision systems 1 , 100, 200. In particular, for a given fixed total inlet open area, the airflow control mechanism is capable of varying the size of a first inlet open area of air inlet 23a and a second inlet open area of air inlet 23b, and in particular, where an increase in the size of the first inlet open area is by an amount and a decrease in the size of the second inlet open area is by the same amount.

Figure 9 depicts an example method of configuring and optionally operating an aerosol provision system with an airflow control mechanism, such as aerosol provision system 1, 100, or 200 described above.

The method begins at step S1 by providing an aerosol provision system with an airflow control mechanism, such as aerosol provision system 1 , 100, or 200 described above. At step S2, the airflow control mechanism is set according to the desired proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first air channel 26a (first section of the first air I aerosol pathway) and the second air channel 26b (third section of the second air I aerosol pathway). As described above, this may involve rotating the collar 50, 50’ such that ether the desired pair of openings 51a to 51 f are coupled with the first and second air channels 26a, 26b, or the desired overlap of the openings 51 a’, 51 b’ with the openings to the air channels 26a, 26b is achieved. Alternatively, this may involve rotating the rotatable disc 121 such that the desired pair of passages 126a to 126f are fluidly coupled to the receptacles 24a, 24b. Further alternatively, this may involve adjusting the position of the free end of the diverter fin 250.

It should be appreciated that in each of the implementations above, the airflow control mechanism is manually actuated (e.g., rotated or pushed) by a user to set the desired amount of inlet open area for the first air inlet 23a and second air inlet 23b. In some implementations, however, the movement of the airflow control mechanism may be performed though electronic means, for example such as an electric motor and suitable linkage. In such implementations, either the aerosol provision system 1 , 100, 200 is provided with a suitable user actuatable input mechanism, such as one or more buttons or a touch sensitive input, or the aerosol provision system 1 , 100, 200 is configured to receive communications including suitable input from a connected remote device (e.g., such as a smartphone).

Regardless, once the airflow control mechanism is suitably set at step S2, the aerosol provision system 1 , 100, 200 is ready for use. As noted above, during use, the aerosol that is generated and delivered to a user can be varied in terms of the proportion of the aerosol to be delivered that is formed from aerosol generated in the first aerosol generating region and aerosol generated in the second aerosol generating region.

It should be appreciated that, in some instances, in use, the amount of airflow past one of the aerosol generating regions may fall below a certain amount if the airflow control mechanism reduces the size of the inlet open area. For example, if the diverter fin 250 is set such that the open area of the first air inlet 23a is say 5% to 1 % of the total open inlet area, then during use only a small proportion of the drawn in air passes through the first cartomiser 4a I first aerosol generation region. Additionally, there may be instances where all of the drawn in air passes to one aerosol generation region as opposed to the other. For instance, if the diverter fin 250 is set such that the first air inlet 23a is set to 0% of the total open inlet area (or in other words, the diverter fin 250 is set to block the first air inlet 23a), then during use no air may pass through the first cartomiser 4a I first aerosol generation region. Accordingly, in some implementations, the control circuitry 22 is configured to control the first aerosol generator (e.g., first heating element 43a) and the second aerosol generator (e.g., second heating element 43b) on the basis of the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway.

In some implementations, the aerosol provision system 1, 100, 200 may comprise a suitable sensor for detecting the position of the airflow mechanism (e.g., the collar 50, 50’, rotating disc 121 or diverter fin 250). By way of a non-limiting example, the aerosol provision system 1 , 100, 200 may comprise a Hall effect sensor and the collar 50, 50’ rotating disc 121 or diverter fin 250 comprises a magnet that generates a magnetic field detectable by the Hall effect sensor, whereby variations in the magnetic field as a result of movement of the collar 50, 50’, rotating disc 121 or diverter fin 250 are detectable by the Hall effect sensor. The output of the sensor is provided to the control circuitry 22 which uses the output to control the first and second aerosol generators. The control of the aerosol generators in such implementations may be determined in advance of an inhalation on the aerosol provision system 1, 100, 200 or on the fly during an inhalation.

Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol provision system 1, 100, 200 may be provided with air flow sensors (or sensors suitable for detecting or inferring the strength of air flow) capable of individually sensing the magnitude of the airflow along the first air I aerosol pathway and the second air I aerosol pathway. For example, an airflow sensor may be provided in the air channels 26a, 26b. On the basis of the sensed airflow during an inhalation, the control circuitry 22 is adapted to control the aerosol generators. In this regard, it should be appreciated that the sensed airflow, and in particular the ratio between the airflow along the first air I aerosol pathway and the second air I aerosol pathway, is indicative of the relative inlet open areas of the first air inlet 23a and the second air inlet 23b.

In some implementations, the control circuitry 22 may be configured to control the power supplied to the aerosol generators in proportion to the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a and the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b.

Whether the control circuitry 22 controls the power supplied to the aerosol generators in proportion to the inlet open area of the first air inlet 23a and the inlet open area of the second air inlet 23b or not, in some implementations, in order to reduce energy consumption and/or to reduce instances where excessive aerosol is generated, when the control circuitry 22 determines that there proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first air / aerosol pathway is zero, or less than 5% of the total inlet open area, the control circuitry 22 is configured to prevent activation of the first aerosol generator (and vice versa for the second aerosol generator). Such an implementation is shown in Figure 9.

Hence, in Figure 9, optionally after step S2, the method proceeds to step S3. At step S3, the control circuitry 22 determines whether the first inlet open area (e.g., the open area of the first air inlet 23a) is greater than a threshold. In this case, the control circuitry 22 may determine, either from the sensors for sensing the position of the airflow control mechanism or the sensors for sensing airflow, whether the first inlet open area is greater than a threshold. As described above, the threshold may be set to correspond to 5% of the total inlet open area (e.g., through suitable mapping of the measured parameter to the total inlet open area). If at step S3, the first inlet open area is greater than the threshold, the method proceeds to step S5 where the first aerosol generator is activated (or continues to be activated if it is already active). If, on the other hand, at step S3, the first inlet open area is not greater than the threshold, the method proceeds to step S5 where the first aerosol generator is prevented from being activated.

After either of steps S4 or S5, the method proceeds to step S6. At step S6, the control circuitry 22 determines whether the second inlet open area (e.g., the open area of the second air inlet 23b) is greater than a threshold. In this case, the control circuitry 22 may determine, either from the sensors for sensing the position of the airflow control mechanism or the sensors for sensing airflow, whether the second inlet open area is greater than a threshold. As described above, the threshold may be the same as the threshold in step S3 and set to correspond to 5% of the total inlet open area (e.g., through suitable mapping of the measured parameter to the total inlet open area). If at step S6, the second inlet open area is greater than the threshold, the method proceeds to step S8 where the second aerosol generator is activated (or continues to be activated if it is already active). If, on the other hand, at step S6, the second inlet open area is not greater than the threshold, the method proceeds to step S7 where the second aerosol generator is prevented from being activated.

It should be appreciated that the above describes one way in which the aerosol generators are prevented from being activated when the proportion of the total inlet open area is less than a threshold. As noted above, this may improve energy efficiency by preventing aerosol generation from one of the aerosol generators either when no air passes through the aerosol generation region (and hence no aerosol is generated and inhaled) or where the aerosol has a minimal impact on the overall composition of the aerosol to be delivered to a user. However, it should be appreciated that there may be other mechanisms employed in which the control circuitry 22 is capable of controlling the power to the aerosol generators. It has been described above that cartomisers I cartridges include a liquid reservoir containing a source liquid which acts as a vapour I aerosol precursor. However, in other implementations, the cartomisers I cartridges may contain other forms of vapour I aerosol precursor, such as tobacco leaves, ground tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, gels, etc.

The present disclosure has focused on systems where the aerosol generator is a heating element. However, as described above, a heating element is only one example of an aerosol generator. Other aerosol generators, such as a vibrating mesh, may be used to generate aerosol. It should be appreciated that any suitable type of aerosol generator may be selected in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, e.g., a wick and coil, an oven-type heater, an LED type heater, a vibrator, etc.

It has also been described that the aerosol provision device 1 is capable of receiving aerosol generating components, e.g., two cartomisers 4. However, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present disclosure can be applied to a system configured to receive more than two aerosol generating components, e.g., three, four, etc. cartomisers.

In other implementations in accordance with certain aspects of this disclosure, the aerosol generating areas, i.e. , receptacles 24, are instead configured to receive a quantity of aerosol precursor material directly, e.g., a quantity of source liquid. That is, the aerosol generating areas are configured to receive and I or hold the aerosol precursor material. As such, the aerosol generating component is considered to be the aerosol precursor material. In these implementations, the atomisation unit is provided in the control part 2 such that it is able to communicate with the aerosol precursor material in the receptacle 24. For example, the aerosol generating areas, e.g. receptacles 24, may be configured to act as liquid reservoirs 41 and be configured to receive a source liquid (the aerosol generating component). An atomising unit, including a wicking material and a heating element, is provided in or adjacent the receptacle 24 and thus liquid can be transported to the heating element and vaporised in a similar manner to that described above. In these implementations, however, the user is able to re-fill (or re-stock) the receptacles with the corresponding aerosol precursor material. It should also be appreciated that the receptacles may receive a wadding or similar material soaked in a source liquid, with the wadding being placed in contact with I proximal to an atomising unit.

The present example aerosol provision system 1 shows a first aerosol pathway and a second aerosol pathway defined within the device 1. That is, the first aerosol pathway starts from heating element 43a, passes through cartomiser channel 44a of the first cartomiser 4a, into the receptacle 32a and along the mouthpiece channel 33a of the mouthpiece part 3 to the opening 31a. The second aerosol pathway starts from heating element 43b passes through the cartomiser channel 44b of the second cartomiser 4b, into the receptacle 32b and along the mouthpiece channel 33b of the mouthpiece part 3 to the opening 31b. As should be appreciated from Figures 1 and 2, the first and second aerosol pathways are physically isolated from one another downstream of the respective heating elements 43. However, this need not be the case, and in other implementations the mouthpiece channels 33a and 33b may instead be provided as a common chamber into which aerosol generated from the first heating element 43a and aerosol generated from the second heating element 43b are passed before exiting the device via a common mouthpiece opening.

It should also be appreciated that the airflow control mechanisms described above are examples only and any suitable airflow mechanism arranged to perform the same function may be employed in accordance with the present disclosure.

It has also been described above that the mouthpiece part 3 is a separate component to the control part 2. However, it should be appreciated in some implementations, the mouthpiece part 3 may be coupled to the control part 2 in any suitable manner, e.g., via a hinge or via a tether.

In accordance with the principles of the present disclosure, there is also provided aerosol provision means, including the aerosol provision system 1, 100, 200, for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision means comprising housing means, including housing 20, 120, 220; first aerosol generator means, including first heating element 43a, for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet means, including air inlet 23a, of the housing means to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the first aerosol generator means is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator means and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator means; a second aerosol generator means, including heating element 43b, for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet means, including air inlet 23b, of the housing means to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the second aerosol generator means is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator means and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator means; and an airflow control means, including the airflow control mechanism, such as the collar 50, 50’, rotatable disc 121 , or diverter fin 250. The first air inlet means and the second air inlet means define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, wherein the airflow control means is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and wherein the total inlet open area is fixed.

Thus, there has been described an aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system including a housing, a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator, a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator, and an airflow control mechanism. The first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively. The airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and the total inlet open area is fixed. Also described is an aerosol provision device, a method of configuring an aerosol provision system for use and aerosol provision means.

While the above described embodiments have in some respects focussed on some specific example aerosol provision systems, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied for aerosol provision systems using other technologies. That is to say, the specific manner in which various aspects of the aerosol provision system function are not directly relevant to the principles underlying the examples described herein.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system comprising: a housing; a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator; a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator; and an airflow control mechanism, wherein the first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, wherein the airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and wherein the total inlet open area is fixed.

2. The aerosol provision system of claim 1 , wherein the first air inlet defines a first air inlet open area and the second air inlet define a second inlet open area, and wherein the airflow control mechanism is configured to vary the size of the first inlet open area and the second inlet open area.

3. The aerosol provision system of claim 2, wherein the airflow control mechanism is configured to increase the size of the first inlet open area by an amount and to decrease the size of the second inlet open area by the same amount.

4. The aerosol provision system of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airflow control mechanism includes a moveable fin or diverter fixedly coupled at one end and moveable at the other, opposite end, wherein the moveable fin is arranged to move at the moveable end to vary the proportion of the total inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway.

5. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar having a plurality of openings extending through the collar from a first surface to a second surface, the housing defining an opening of the first airflow pathway and an opening of the second airflow pathway, wherein the collar is configured to move relative to the housing such that at least one of the plurality of openings defines the first air inlet along with the opening of the first airflow pathway and at least another of the plurality of openings defines the second air inlet along with the opening of the second airflow pathway.

6. The aerosol provision system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of openings comprise openings of different open area, and wherein the plurality of openings are arranged such that when at least a first opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and at least a second opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet, the total inlet open area of the first air inlet and of the second air inlet is the same as when at least a third opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and at least a fourth opening of the plurality of openings is coupled to the opening of the second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet.

7. The aerosol provision system of claim 5, wherein the airflow control mechanism comprises a collar having rotational symmetry about a longitudinal axis of the collar, a first opening and a second opening of the same total area, and wherein the collar is configured to rotate relative to the housing of the aerosol provision system such that the first opening is capable of overlapping with the opening of the first airflow pathway to define the first air inlet and the second opening is capable of overlapping with the opening of second airflow pathway to define the second air inlet, and wherein the relative radial position of the first opening and the second opening is different to the relative radial position of the opening of the first airflow pathway and the opening of the second airflow pathway .

8. The aerosol provision system of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the airflow control mechanism comprises a movable array of passages, each passage capable of being selectively coupled to one of the first airflow pathway or the second airflow pathway to form at least a part of the first section and third section of the airflow pathways respectively, wherein at least a part of a first passage has a different cross-sectional area to at least a part of a second passage.

9. The aerosol provision system of claim 8, wherein the first air inlet is defined by the opening of the passage of the moveable array of passages coupled to the first airflow pathway, and the second air inlet is defined by the opening of the passage of the moveable array of passages coupled to the second airflow pathway.

10. The aerosol provision system of claims 8 or 9, wherein the airflow control mechanism comprises a rotatable disc configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the disc, wherein the rotatable disc is the moveable array of passages.

11. The aerosol provision system of any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises control circuitry for controlling the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator, and wherein the control circuitry is capable of controlling the first and second aerosol generators on the basis of the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway.

12. The aerosol provision system of claim 11, wherein, when the control circuitry determines that there proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway is zero, or less than 5% of the inlet open area, the control circuitry is configured to prevent activation of the first aerosol generator.

13. An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device for forming an aerosol provision system together with an article comprising aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising: a housing; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing, the first airflow pathway comprises a first section extending from the first air inlet and arranged to communicate with a first aerosol generator; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing, the second airflow pathway comprises a third section extending from the second air inlet and arranged to communicate with a second aerosol generator; and an airflow control mechanism, wherein the first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, wherein the airflow control mechanism is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and wherein the total inlet open area is fixed.

14. A method of configuring an aerosol provision system for use for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision system comprising a housing; a first aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet of the housing to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the first aerosol generator is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator; a second aerosol generator for generating aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet of the housing to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision system, wherein the second aerosol generator is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator; and an airflow control mechanism, the method comprising: using the airflow mechanism to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, wherein the first air inlet and the second air inlet define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, and wherein the total inlet open area is fixed.

15. An aerosol provision means for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision means comprising: housing means; first aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material; a first airflow pathway extending from a first air inlet means of the housing means to a mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the first aerosol generator means is provided in the first airflow pathway, and the first airflow pathway comprises a first section upstream of the first aerosol generator means and second section downstream of the first aerosol generator means; a second aerosol generator means for generating aerosol from a second aerosolgenerating material; a second airflow pathway extending from a second air inlet means of the housing means to the mouthpiece of the aerosol provision means, wherein the second aerosol generator means is provided in the second airflow pathway, and the second airflow pathway comprises a third section upstream of the second aerosol generator means and fourth section downstream of the second aerosol generator means; and an airflow control means, wherein the first air inlet means and the second air inlet means define a total inlet open area of open area coupled to the first and third sections of the first and second airflow pathways respectively, wherein the airflow control means is configured to selectively vary the proportion of inlet open area communicatively coupled to the first section of the first airflow pathway and the third section of the second airflow pathway, and wherein the total inlet open area is fixed.