WO2025022087A1

WO2025022087A1 - Aerosol provision system with air flow sensor protection

Info

Publication number: WO2025022087A1
Application number: PCT/GB2024/051846
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joe MESNARD; Scott BOHAM; David LEADLEY; Steve Hughes
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2023-07-24
Filing date: 2024-07-15
Publication date: 2025-01-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-01-24
Also published as: GB202311312D0

Abstract

A component of an aerosol provision system comprises :a sensor configured to detect air flow in an airflow channel of the aerosol provision system; an aperture between the sensor and at least a portion of the airflow channel; and a textured surface configured to inhibit the passage of liquid across the textured surface, the textured surface disposed adjacent to the aperture to inhibit the passage of liquid through the aperture towards the sensor.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM WITH AIR FLOW SENSOR PROTECTION Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a component of an aerosol provision system having features providing protection of an air flow sensor, and an aerosol provision system comprising such a component.

Background

Aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems that deliver nicotine via vaporised liquids, comprise an airflow channel that passes through the aerosol provision system from one or more air inlets in an outer wall of the aerosol provision system to an outlet in a mouthpiece. A reservoir of liquid to be vaporised is also provided, and an atomiser is arranged to receive a supply of liquid from the reservoir and to operate in order to vaporise the received liquid. The atomiser is located within the airflow channel or otherwise in air flow communication with the airflow channel. When using the aerosol provision system, a user inhales through the mouthpiece outlet. This draws a flow of air in though the air inlet and along the airflow channel to the atomiser where the air collects vapour generated by the atomiser and an aerosol is created. The aerosol passes along the remainder of the airflow channel downstream of the atomiser and exits the aerosol provision system through the mouthpiece outlet for inhalation by the user.

Vapour generation is required only when the user wishes to obtain an inhalable aerosol, so the atomiser is configured to be operable on demand. The atomiser operation may be initiated by a user control such as a button or switch on the exterior of the aerosol provision system which the user operates when aerosol is desired. In other designs, the atomiser operation is initiated automatically by a sensor within the aerosol provision system that detects an inhalation by the user and outputs a signal in response to which the atomiser is switched on. To achieve this, the sensor can be configured to detect the flow of air in the airflow channel that arises when the user inhales or “puffs” on the aerosol provision system via the mouthpiece outlet. The sensor is therefore sometimes referred to as a “puff sensor”.

A puff sensor is an electrical component such as a microphone or an air pressure sensor. In order to detect air flow in the airflow channel, the puff sensor is in air flow communication with the airflow channel. Arrangement of the puff sensor to achieve this air flow communication can also place the puff sensor in liquid flow communication with the airflow channel. While intended for the passage of air, the air flow channel may in some circumstances also come to contain liquid, which can move to or towards the puff sensor. Liquid may collect such that its presence near the puff sensor may interfere with air flow detection. Alternatively or additionally, liquid may come into contact with the puff sensor and cause an electrical short circuit and/or corrosion or other damage. Liquid in the airflow channel may originate from the reservoir. Delivery of liquid from the reservoir to the atomiser is commonly achieved by a porous wick that absorbs liquid from the reservoir and transports it by capillary action to the atomiser, which may be an electrical heating element. Liquid may escape from the reservoir without being vaporised by the atomiser (such as via an outlet of the reservoir through which the porous wick extends, or by dripping from a saturated wick), or vaporised liquid may recondense from the inhalable aerosol. This occurrences can produce liquid within the airflow channel. Another source of liquid in the airflow channel is condensation of water vapour from the air drawn through airflow channel by the user inhaling in order to obtain the aerosol. Liquid from these or other events may move within the airflow channel and undesirably approach or reach the puff sensor.

Approaches for protecting a puff sensor in an aerosol provision system from liquid exposure are therefore of interest.

Summary

According to a first aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a component of an aerosol provision system, comprising: a sensor configured to detect air flow in an airflow channel of the aerosol provision system; an aperture between the sensor and at least a portion of the airflow channel; and a textured surface configured to inhibit the passage of liquid across the textured surface, the textured surface disposed adjacent to the aperture to inhibit the passage of liquid through the aperture towards the sensor.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising a component according to the first aspect.

These and further aspects of the certain embodiments are set out in the appended independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with each other and features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Furthermore, the approach described herein is not restricted to specific embodiments such as set out below, but includes and contemplates any appropriate combinations of features presented herein. For example, a component or an aerosol provision system comprising a component may be provided in accordance with approaches described herein which includes any one or more of the various features described below as appropriate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic longitudinal cross-section through an example aerosol provision system to which aspects of the disclosure can be applied; Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic longitudinal cross-section through another example aerosol provision system to which aspects of the disclosure can be applied, the system comprising a cartridge component and a device component;

Figure 3 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a first example;

Figure 4 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a second example;

Figure 5A shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a third example;

Figure 5B shows a simplified schematic plan view of the air flow sensor of the Figure 5A example;

Figure 6 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a fourth example;

Figure 7 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a fifth example;

Figure 8 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-section through a component having an air flow sensor with liquid protection in accordance with aspects of the disclosure, according to a sixth example;

Figures 9A-9E show highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representations of parts of various examples of textured surfaces;

Figures 10 and 11 show highly schematic and not-to scale cross-sectional views through parts of two example textured surfaces; and

Figures 12 and 13 show photographic images of parts of two example textured surfaces.

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 discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features. As described above, the present disclosure relates to electronic aerosol or vapour provision systems, such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the terms “e- cigarette” and “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used; however, it will be appreciated these terms may be used interchangeably with aerosol (vapour) provision system or device. The systems are intended to generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporisation of an aerosolforming substrate in the form of a liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. Additionally, hybrid systems may comprise a liquid or gel substrate plus a solid substrate which is also heated. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. The term “aerosolisable substrate material” as used herein is intended to refer to substrate materials which can form an aerosol, either through the application of heat or some other means. The term “aerosol” may be used interchangeably with “vapour”.

As used herein, the term “component” is used to refer to a part, section, unit, module, assembly or similar of an electronic cigarette or similar device that incorporates several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an exterior housing or wall. An electronic cigarette may be formed or built from one or more such components, and the components may be removably or separably connectable to one another, or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the whole electronic cigarette. The present disclosure is applicable to systems comprising (at least) two components permanently joined together to form a unitary aerosol provision system, and also to systems comprising (at least) two components separably connectable to one another and configured, for example, as an aerosolisable substrate material carrying component holding liquid or another aerosolisable substrate material (a cartridge, cartomiser or consumable), and a control unit or device component having a battery for providing electrical power to operate an element for generating vapour from the substrate material. For the sake of providing a concrete example, in the present disclosure, a cartridge or cartomiser (cartridge component or consumable) is described as an example of the aerosolisable substrate material carrying portion or component, but the disclosure is not limited in this regard and is applicable to any configuration of aerosolisable substrate material carrying portion or component. Also, such a component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples. This is true also of the device component.

The present disclosure is particularly but not exclusively relevant to aerosol provision systems and components thereof that utilise aerosolisable substrate material in the form of a liquid or a gel which is held in a reservoir, tank, container or other receptacle comprised in the system. In such systems an arrangement for delivering the substrate material from the reservoir for the purpose of providing it for vapour I aerosol generation is included. The terms “liquid”, “gel”, “fluid”, “source liquid”, “source gel”, “source fluid” and the like may be used interchangeably with “aerosolisable substrate material” and “substrate material” to refer to aerosolisable substrate material that has a form capable of being stored and delivered in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

Figure 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of a generic example aerosol/vapour provision system such as an e-cigarette 10, presented for the purpose of showing the relationship between the various parts of a typical system and explaining the general principles of operation. The e-cigarette 10 has a generally elongate shape in this example, extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dashed line, and comprises two main components, namely a control or power component, section or unit (device component) 20, and a cartridge component, assembly or section 30 (sometimes referred to as a cartomiser or clearomiser) carrying aerosolisable substrate material and operating as a vapour-generating component.

The cartridge component 30 includes a reservoir 3 containing a source liquid or other aerosolisable substrate material comprising a formulation such as liquid or gel from which an aerosol is to be generated, for example containing nicotine. As an example, the source liquid may comprise around 1 to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerol, with the remainder comprising roughly equal measures of water and propylene glycol, and possibly also comprising other components, such as flavourings. Nicotine-free source liquid may also be used, such as to deliver flavouring. A solid substrate (not illustrated), such as a portion of tobacco or other flavour element through which vapour generated from the liquid is passed, may also be included. The reservoir 3 has the form of a storage tank, being a container or receptacle in which source liquid can be stored such that the liquid is free to move and flow within the confines of the tank. For a consumable cartridge component 30, the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture so as to be disposable after the source liquid is consumed, otherwise, it may have an inlet port or other opening through which new source liquid can be added by the user. The cartridge component 30 also comprises an electrically powered heating element or heater 4 located externally of the reservoir tank 3 for generating the aerosol by vaporisation of the source liquid by heating. Note that in other examples, source liquid may be generated by an alternative powered means such as a vibrating mesh . A liquid transfer or delivery arrangement (liquid transport element) such as a wick or other porous element 6 may be provided to deliver source liquid from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4 or other vapour generator. A wick 6 may have one or more parts located inside the reservoir 3, or otherwise be in fluid communication with the liquid in the reservoir 3, so as to be able to absorb source liquid and transfer it by wicking or capillary action to other parts of the wick 6 that are adjacent or in contact with the heater 4. This liquid is thereby heated and vaporised, to be replaced by new source liquid from the reservoir for transfer to the heater 4 by the wick 6. The wick may be thought of as a bridge, path or conduit between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4 that delivers or transfers liquid from the reservoir to the heater. Terms including conduit, liquid conduit, liquid transfer path, liquid delivery path, liquid transfer mechanism or element, and liquid delivery mechanism or element may all be used interchangeably herein to refer to a wick or corresponding component or structure.

A heater and wick (or similar) combination is sometimes referred to as an atomiser or atomiser assembly 7, and the reservoir 3 with its source liquid plus the atomiser 7 may be collectively referred to as an aerosol source. Other terminology may include a liquid delivery assembly or a liquid transfer assembly, where in the present context these terms may be used interchangeably to refer to a vapour-generating element (vapour generator) plus a wicking or similar component or structure (liquid transport element) that delivers or transfers liquid obtained from a reservoir to the vapour generator for vapour I aerosol generation. Various designs are possible, in which the parts may be differently arranged compared with the highly schematic representation of Figure 1. For example, the wick 6 may be an entirely separate element from the heater 4, or the heater 4 may be configured to be porous and able to perform at least part of the wicking function directly (a conductive mesh, such as a metallic mesh, for example). In an electrical or electronic device, the vapour generating element may be an electrical heating element that operates by ohmic/resistive (Joule) heating or by inductive heating. In general, therefore, an atomiser can be considered as one or more elements that implement the functionality of a vapour-generating or vaporising element able to generate vapour from source liquid delivered to it, and a liquid transport or delivery element able to deliver or transport liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid store to the vapour generator by a wicking action I capillary force. An atomiser is typically housed in a cartridge component of an aerosol generating system. In some designs, liquid may be dispensed from a reservoir directly onto a vapour generator with no need for a distinct wicking or capillary element. Embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to all and any such configurations which are consistent with the examples and description herein.

Returning to Figure 1, the cartridge component 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or aerosol outlet through which a user may inhale the aerosol generated by the atomiser 7. In other designs, a mouthpiece may be provided as a separate component which may be permanently or separably connectable to the cartridge component 30.

The power component or control unit or, simply, device or device component 20 includes a cell or battery 5 (referred to hereinafter as a battery, and which may be rechargeable) to provide power for electrical components of the e-cigarette 10, in particular to operate the heater 4. Additionally, there is a controller 28 such as a printed circuit board and/or other electronics or circuitry for generally controlling the e-cigarette. The control electronics/circuitry 28 operates the heater 4 using power from the battery 5 when vapour is required. In the context of the present disclosure, this is in response to a signal from a sensor (“puff sensor”, not shown in Figure 1) that detects an inhalation on the system 10 during which air enters through one or more air inlets 26 in the wall of the device component 20. When the heating element 4 is operated, the heating element 4 vaporises source liquid delivered from the reservoir 3 by the liquid delivery element 6 to generate the aerosol, and this is then inhaled by a user through the opening in the mouthpiece 35. The aerosol is carried from the aerosol source to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air flow channels (not shown in Figure 1) that connect the air inlet(s) 26 to the aerosol source to the aerosol outlet when a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35. Since in this example the air inlets 26 to the system are located in the device component 20, the cartridge component 30 has its own air inlet(s) in air flow communication with the device component 20 so that air drawn in through the device component air inlet(s) 26 can reach the interior of the cartridge component 30, and the atomiser 7. In other designs, air inlets may be located in the outer wall of the cartridge component 30 so that air enters directly into the cartridge component 30 instead of arriving there via the device component 20.

The device component (control unit) 20 and the cartridge component (cartomiser, consumable) 30 are, in this example, separate connectable parts detachable from and reattachable to one another by movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the double-headed arrows in Figure 1. Each component 20, 30 has a connecting portion 21, 31 at an end facing towards the corresponding end of the other component, and the components 20, 30 are joined together when the aerosol provision system 10 is ready for use or in use by cooperating engagement elements at the connecting portions 21, 31 (for example, a screw or bayonet fitting, or a push-fit, snap-fit or magnetic connection) which provide mechanical and in the present example electrical connectivity between the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30. Electrical connectivity is required if the heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, or where a vibrating mesh vapour generator or other electrically powered vapour generator is used, so that current can be passed through the heater 4 or otherwise supplied to the vapour generator, and/or to any other electrically powered parts in the cartridge component, when these parts in the cartridge component 30 are connected to the battery 5 in the power component. In systems that use inductive heating, electrical connectivity for vapour generation can be omitted if no vapour generating parts requiring electrical power are located in the cartridge component 30, although electrical power may still need to be supplied to other electrical parts in the cartridge component. For inductive heating, an inductive work coil can be housed in the device component 20 and supplied with power from the battery 5, and the cartridge component 30 and the device component 20 shaped so that when they are connected, there is an appropriate exposure of the heater 4 to flux generated by the coil for the purpose of generating current flow in the material of the heater 4. Apertures for air flow from the device component 20 to the cartridge component 30 are included at the connecting portions 21 , 31 of the two components 20, 30 in designs having one or more air inlets 26 in the outer wall(s) of the device component 20. The connecting portions 21 , 31 therefore provide an interface between the cartridge component 30 and the device component 20. The Figure 1 design is merely an example arrangement, and the various parts and features may be differently distributed between the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30, and other undepicted elements may be included. The two components 20, 30 may connect together end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration as in Figure 1 , or in a different configuration such as a parallel, side-by-side arrangement. The system may or may not be generally cylindrical and/or have a generally longitudinal shape. Either or both components 20, 30 may be intended to be disposed of and replaced when exhausted (the reservoir 3 is empty or the battery 5 is flat, for example), or be intended for multiple uses enabled by actions such as refilling the reservoir 3 and recharging the battery 5. In other examples, the aerosol provision system 10 may be unitary, in that the parts of the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30 are comprised in a single housing and cannot be, or are not intended to be, separated. Embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are applicable to any of these configurations and other configurations of which the skilled person will be aware.

The presence of liquid aerosolisable substrate material in the reservoir 3 can lead to the presence of unwanted free “escaped” liquid within the aerosol provision system. Liquid may be leak out of the reservoir 3 through an aperture or apertures through which the porous wick 6 extends into the reservoir interior for the purpose of absorbing liquid, for example if the wick 6 does not fit tightly in the aperture. Any weak joins between parts of the reservoir 3 may also allow leakage, for example due to damage or manufacturing flaws. Liquid may be able to seep gradually from such holes, or may be forced out of the reservoir 3 owing to a pressure differential arising from changes in atmospheric pressure or to a pressure wave within the reservoir 3 caused by an impact. Other causes of free liquid outside of the reservoir 3 may be a high wicking rate that delivers liquid to the heater 4 more quickly than the liquid can be converted into vapour, and condensation of already-vaporised liquid back from the aerosol form. Any such escaped liquid can freely move along channels and gaps within the internal structure of the cartridge component 30, and in particular may reach, or originate in, the main airflow channel through the aerosol provision system. The puff sensor will be in airflow communication with the airflow channel so as to be able to detect air flow in the airflow channel when a user inhales, and is therefore at risk of damage, malfunction or inaccurate operation from any liquid in the airflow channel.

Figure 2 shows a highly schematic simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol provision system with a depicted airflow channel. The airflow channel 8 begins at an air inlet 26 in the outer side wall of the device component 20, and extends through the aerosol provision system 10 to an outlet 35a in the mouthpiece 35. After the air inlet 26, the airflow channel 8 becomes a central channel or passage running longitudinally along the central axis of the aerosol provision system 10. The air flow channel 8 reaches the connecting portion 21 of the device component 20, which has an opening in its end face that opposes a corresponding end face of the connecting portion 31 of the cartridge component 30 having a corresponding opening by which the air flow channel 8 continues into the cartridge component 30. Once within the cartridge component 30, the airflow channel 8 increases in width to define a chamber 9 within which the atomiser 7 is located, so that air A flowing along the airflow channel 8 can pass over and/or through the atomiser 7 to collect vapour generated by the atomiser 7 and create an aerosol. After the chamber 9 the airflow channel 8 narrows in width and extends to the mouthpiece outlet 35a, upon which a user inhales to draw air A into the air inlet 26 and along the airflow channel 8. Air/aerosol A thereby exits the mouthpiece outlet 35s and enters the user’s mouth for inhalation.

A puff sensor or air flow sensor 40 is provided near the air inlet 26 (or further downstream from the air inlet in other designs), and arranged to be able to detect the flow of air A along the airflow channel 8. The puff sensor 40 is shown schematically only; example configurations will be described in more detail later. The puff sensor 40 may take any form of a sensor able to detect the flow of air, where air flow creates a range of detectable events and parameters including the movement of air, changes in air pressure and sound. Any sensor operable to detect or measure the flow of air in, along or through the airflow channel of an aerosol provision system may be used; the disclosure is not limited in any way in this respect, and various suitable sensors and detectors will be apparent to the skilled person. Examples employed in known aerosol provision systems include a microphone, an air pressure sensor, an air flow sensor and an air speed sensor. The puff sensor 40 is configured to produce an output indicative of detected airflow in the airflow channel that corresponds to the start of a puff (inhalation) by the user, and a signal representing the output is communicated to the controller 28. In response to receiving the output signal, the controller 28 operates the atomiser 5 by controlling the battery 5 to supply electrical power to the atomiser 7 so that vapour is generated. When the user ceases inhaling (end of the puff), the air flow along the air flow channel 8 slows or stops, which is detected by the puff sensor 40 and communicated to the controller 28, which turns off the electrical power from the battery to the atomiser. Vapour generation is hence stopped. In other arrangements, the controller 28 may be configured to operate the atomiser 7 for a predetermined time period after the start of a puff, in order to remove the need to detect and communicate the end of the puff. Many regimes and protocols for initiating and stopping the delivery of electrical power to the atomiser is response to detection of inhalation, and for controlling the delivery of electrical power over the course of a puff, are known and/or will be apparent to the skilled person, and are beyond the present disclosure, which is concerned with the presence of the puff sensor and its protection from liquid exposure, rather than the operation of the puff sensor.

From Figure 2, it can be appreciated that any liquid L originating within the aerosol provision system 10 may travel towards the puff sensor 40 via the airflow channel 8. Liquid aerosolisable substrate material that has leaked from the reservoir 3 (which in this example has an annular shape surrounding the airflow channel 8 and the chamber 9) via wick apertures (not shown), dripped from an oversaturated wick, and/or condensed from its vaporised form can be in the chamber 9 and/or some other part of the airflow channel 8, and can travel directly along the airflow channel 8 to the puff sensor 40.

Another source of liquid originating within the aerosol provision system 10 that can reach the puff sensor 40 is condensate from any water vapour carried by the air drawn into the airflow channel as the user inhales, and/or present in any user exhalation into the mouthpiece outlet 35a that may arise. Air will also be present in the airflow channel at times when the aerosol provision system is not use. Water vapour in the air may condense on the inwardly facing wall of the airflow channel 8 when temperature conditions favour this, to create liquid water which can travel along the airflow channel 8 towards the airflow sensor.

While the appearance of liquid aerosolisable substrate material outside the reservoir and possible subsequent exposure of the puff sensor may be an occasional problem arising from particular conditions such as damage or pressure changes, the formation of water condensate is more likely to be a frequent or ongoing occurrence somewhat inherent in a regularly used aerosol provision system. Therefore, while prevention or mitigation of puff sensor exposure to all and any liquid originating within an aerosol provision system is of interest, puff sensor protection from water condensate may be particularly important.

Condensate formation can also occur in the type of aerosol provision system sometimes known as a tobacco heated product (THP) or a heat-not-burn system. These systems generate aerosol by heating a portion of tobacco, typically in the form of a tobacco rod inserted into a chamber in the system at below its combustion temperature, which causes vapour/aerosol to be driven off, which is made available for inhalation. Heating is achieved by one or more heating elements surrounding the chamber or formed as blades that penetrate the tobacco portion. In common with a liquid-based aerosol provision system, a heated tobacco system includes an air flow channel which connects an air inlet to the interior of the chamber. The user inhales on a protruding end of an inserted tobacco rod (where the tobacco rod may be configured similarly to a conventional combustible cigarette), and air is drawn in through the air inlet, along the airflow channel and through the tobacco rod where it collects the vapour/aerosol and delivers it to the inhaling user. Again in common with a liquid-based system, vapour generation is only required during a puff, so the system may include a puff sensor, and a controller to activate the heating element in response to detection of a puff. Since air is being drawn through the airflow channel, condensation of water vapour out of the air to form liquid water condensate in the airflow channel can arise exactly as in a liquidbased system. It is therefore similarly relevant to protect the puff sensor of a heated tobacco system. Disclosure herein of the proposed concept for protecting air flow sensors in aerosol provision systems is applicable equally to liquid-based aerosol provision systems and heated tobacco aerosol provision systems unless the context excludes this. Description in the context of liquid-based aerosol provision systems is purely exemplary and for conciseness, and the skilled person will readily understand that features relating to the protection of a puff sensor from liquid exposure in such examples is equally applicable to heated tobacco aerosol provision systems.

The present disclosure seeks to address the issue of air flow sensor exposure to liquid in an aerosol provision system by providing a textured surface disposed adjacent to or around the air flow sensor. Conveniently, there may be some form of aperture by which the sensor is in air flow communication with the airflow channel (where the sensor may be in the airflow channel so that the aperture is part of the airflow channel, or may be offset from the airflow channel so that the aperture gives access to the sensor), so that the textured surface can be provided adjacent to the aperture. The aperture may a physically defined opening or passage, or may be notionally defined as a region or area via which the air flow communication occurs, in other words within or through which the air flow sensor is able to sense or detect air flowing in the airflow channel. It has been determined that an appropriately configured texture formed or provided on a surface can inhibit the flow or passage of liquid across the textured area. When present on a surface adjacent to the air flow sensor or adjacent to an aperture by which the air flow sensor is accessed, the texture can interrupt the movement of liquid towards the air flow sensor and thereby inhibit any liquid originating within the aerosol provision system from reaching or coming into direct contact with the air flow sensor. The aerosol provision system is thereby protected from liquid exposure of its air flow sensor, including liquid aerosolisable substrate material and water condensate. The air flow sensor is therefore protected from damage that may arise from contact with liquid, and is also protected from inaccuracies in the detection of air flow that may arise from liquid in the vicinity of the air flow sensor that may disrupt the flow of air near the sensor.

Examples of suitable textured surfaces are described in more detail below. In broad terms, however, the textured surface comprises an area or region over which there is defined a plurality of protruding and/or recessed or pitted surface features with dimensions on the micrometre scale. These features can be thought of as texture features comprising protrusions/recesses, pits/lands, or peaks/troughs, for example. In the context of the small volumes of free or escaped liquid arising internally in the aerosol provision system, surface features of this size present a barrier to the free movement or flow of the liquid over the surface owing to the surface tension forces in the liquid. Small quantities of liquid are prevented or inhibited from moving over or across the textured surface along at least one direction (depending on the configuration of the protrusions and recesses), so can be stopped, slowed or generally inhibited from reaching an air flow sensor if the textured surface is disposed near the air flow sensor, over an area that liquid would have to cross to reach the air flow sensor, such as adjacent to an aperture by which the sensor is in air flow communication with the airflow channel of the aerosol provision system. For example, the textured surface may be located on an internal face of a component of the aerosol provision system housing the air flow sensor, and in which the aperture is defined, in the vicinity of the aperture, in order to block or catch any liquid approaching the aperture so that the liquid does not reach the air flow sensor..

The use of a textured surface to safeguard an airflow sensor from liquid exposure enables protection in a simple, compact and durable way that does not require the provision and accommodation of additional parts, such as the pads of absorbent material which are utilised in some aerosol provision systems to catch free liquid. The textured surface can be provided on an already-present face of an existing part of the aerosol provision system so does not occupy space within the aerosol provision system.

A sensor configured to detect air flow in the airflow channel of an aerosol provision system, conveniently referred to as a puff sensor, can be located and arranged for such detection in a variety of ways, and the concept of the present disclosure is applicable to all and any such arrangements. A range of examples will now be discussed but the disclosure is not limited in this respect, and covers all such arrangements in which a textured surface is provided that enables the inhibition of the passage of liquid towards the sensor, in order to protect the sensor from exposure to the liquid and/or to protect the sensing ability of the sensor from disruption caused by the presence of liquid in the pathway via which the sensor is exposed to the flow of air to be detected.

Figure 3 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a first example. The component 20, 30 may be a cartridge component, a device component, or some other component from which an aerosol provision system may be separably or permanent assembled. The component 20, 30 has an outer wall or housing 42, which may or may not provide an exterior wall or surface of the assembled aerosol provision system, and an airflow channel 8 passing through it (note that parts of the system that may lie between the outer wall 42 and the airflow channel 8 are omitted for clarity). Air A flows along the airflow channel 8 when a user inhales (puffs) on the mouthpiece (not shown) of the system to draw air in through an air inlet (not shown). Liquid L may also be present in the airflow channel 8 for reasons including those discussed above.

An airflow sensor 40 is located within the airflow channel 8, for example by being mounted or supported on the inner (inwardly facing) face 11 of the airflow channel 8, the airflow sensor 40 being configured to detect air flow in the airflow channel 8. Any liquid L may approach the airflow sensor 40 by moving along the airflow channel 8, such as by passing across the inner face 11. Typically this may be in a direction opposite to the direction of the airflow indicated by the arrow A, since the airflow sensor 40 may be located in a relatively upstream portion of the airflow channel (with respect to the direction of air flow), and liquid L is therefore likely to originate and approach from a relatively downstream portion of the airflow channel 8. One can therefore consider that a part of the airflow channel 8 defines an aperture 12 downstream of the air flow sensor 40 through which liquid L will have to pass when flowing along the airflow channel 8 in order to reach the air flow sensor 40. In order to address this and protect the air flow sensor 40, a textured surface 25 is provided adjacent to the aperture 12, on the inner face 11 of the airflow channel 8. The textured surface 25 therefore faces inwardly, into the interior of the airflow channel 8, and provides a barrier to liquid that could otherwise pass through the aperture 12 by moving over the inner face 11 towards the air flow sensor 40. The aperture 12 is downstream of the air flow sensor 40 and the textured surface 25 is adjacent to the aperture 12 on its downstream side, so the textured surface 25 is a barrier to liquid moving in the upstream direction. The textured surface 25 may extend fully around the inner face 11 (represented by the dotted lines), as a closed ring or band in order to capture liquid passing over any point around the perimeter of the inner surface 11. Alternatively, the textured surface 25 may extend only partially around one or more parts of the perimeter of the inner surface 11 , for example to cover areas where the approach of liquid is most likely, or to avoid other features on the inner face 11.

Figure 4 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a second example, which is similar to the example of Figure 3 and includes all features described with respect to Figure 3. Additionally, in this example a second textured surface 25a is provided around the inner face 11 of the airflow channel 8 on the upstream side of the air flow sensor 40, upstream of an aperture 12a formed by the part of the airflow channel 8 immediately upstream of the air flow sensor 40. The second textured surface 25a may extend fully or partly around the inner face as a continuous or a broken band, and may correspond with or be different from the location(s) of the first textured surface 25 around the inner face’s perimeter. The second textured surface provides protection for the air flow sensor 40 from liquid L approaching from the upstream direction. This arrangement may be useful in designs in which the air flow sensor 40 occupies a relatively central location along the airflow channel 8, so that there is risk of liquid approaching from either or both of the upstream and downstream directions. While the textured surfaces 25, 25a are shown immediately next to the apertures 12, 12a and the apertures 12, 12a are defined as being immediately next to the air flow sensor 40, the various elements may be spaced further apart. However, a textured surface close to the air flow sensor can provide better protection from liquid since it can also capture liquid that may form or originate, such as by condensation on the inner face 11 , very close to the air flow sensor.

Figure 5A shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a third example. As in Figure 3, the component 20, 30 may be a cartridge component, a device component, or some other component from which an aerosol provision system may be separably or permanent assembled. Again, the component 20, 30 has an outer wall or housing 42, which may or may not provide an exterior wall or surface of the assembled aerosol provision system, and an airflow channel 8 passing through it (note that parts of the system that may lie between the outer wall 42 and the airflow channel 8 are omitted for clarity). Air A flows along the airflow channel 8 when a user inhales (puffs) on the mouthpiece (not shown) of the system to draw air in through an air inlet (not shown). Liquid L may also be present in the airflow channel 8 for reasons including those discussed above.

Also as in the Figure 3 example, an air flow sensor 40 is located within the airflow channel 8 itself, such as being mounted or supported on the inner face 11 of the airflow channel 8. In this example, a more notional aperture 12 is defined as a boundary on the inner face 11 around the air flow sensor 40. A textured surface 25 is provided on the inner face 11 adjacent to the aperture or boundary 12, and therefore around the air flow sensor 40. By locating the textured surface 25 on the inner face 11 around the air flow sensor 40, extending outwardly from the location of the air flow sensor 40, rather than around the perimeter of the inner face 11 as in the Figures 3 and 4 examples, the air flow sensor 40 can be protected from the approach of liquid across the inner face 11 from all directions with a single textured surface. However, liquid on an opposite side of the airflow channel 8, in other words, facing the air flow sensor, cannot be captured, unlike in the Figures 3 and 4 examples.

Figure 5B shows a plan view of the Figure 5A arrangement. From this, the mounting of the air flow sensor 40 on the inner face 11 can be appreciated, with the aperture 12 defined as a boundary around the air flow sensor 40. The textured surface 25 has the shape of a continuous circular ring adjacent to and around the aperture 12, so can protect the air flow sensor from liquid approaching over the inner face 11 from any direction. However, this configuration is not essential. Other shapes for the textured surface 25 can be employed, depending on available space and other nearby features (not shown). Similarly, the textured surface 25 may not extend fully or completely around the aperture 12, but may surround the air flow device 40 only partially, in one or more regions. Again, this may be governed by available space and other nearby features, and/or a focus on directions along which liquid approach is considered most likely.

Figure 6 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a fourth example, having like-numbered features in common with the preceding examples. As with the Figures 3, 4 and 5A-5B examples, the air flow sensor 50 is disposed directly in the air flow channel 8. In this example, however, there is a narrowed portion of the airflow channel 8, which has a reduced bore size or width compared to adjacent portions on the airflow channel 8, and is defined as providing the aperture 12 with which the air flow sensor 40 is associated. The shape of the narrowing provides a shoulder, step or shelf 13 that protrudes into the airflow passage 8, and offers a face which is orthogonal (or sloped, not shown) with respect to the inner face 11 and the direction of air flow along the airflow channel. The textured surface 25 is provided on the face of the shoulder 13; given that the shoulder 13 surrounds the aperture 12, the textured surface 25 is thereby adjacent to the aperture 12. This locates the textured surface 25 at an angle to the air flow direction A, in contrast to the preceding examples in which the textured surface is defined on the inner face 11 and is therefore parallel to the air flow direction A. This arrangement can aid the textured surface 25 is inhibiting the flow of liquid towards the air flow sensor 40, in that the shoulder 13 provides an additional barrier to the movement of liquid over the inner face 11 so the liquid may be slowed before being captured at the textured surface. The orientation of the textured surface 25 is also more horizontal when the aerosol provision system is maintained in an orientation in which the airflow channel 8 is generally vertical, so that gravity can also assist in holding liquid at the textured surface 25. The air flow sensor 25 is shown as being located on the inner wall 11 in the narrowed portion of the airflow channel but this is not essential, and the air flow sensor 25 may be located beyond the opposite end of the narrowed portion from the textured surface 25 (so, below the narrowed portion in the depicted orientation), or the airflow channel 8 may be continuously narrowed behind the shoulder 13, so that the aperture 12 is the end of a narrow passage leading to the air flow sensor 40.

Figure 7 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a fifth example, having like-numbered features in common with the preceding examples. In this example, however, the air flow sensor 40 is not located directly in the airflow channel 8, but rather is offset to one side of the airflow channel 8. In particular, a chamber 43 is formed at one side of the airflow channel 8, and the air flow sensor 40 is situated within the chamber 43. An aperture 12 is formed in the side wall of the airflow channel 8, giving access from the airflow channel 8 to the interior of the chamber 43, and therefore also to the air flow sensor 40 in the chamber 43. Hence, as in previous example, the aperture 12 places the air flow sensor 40 in airflow communication with the airflow channel 8, so that the air flow sensor 40 is exposed to air A flowing in the airflow channel 8 and can therefore detect the air flow. In order to provide some protection of the air flow sensor 40 from liquid that may be present in the airflow channel 8, a textured surface 25 is provided on the inner face 11 of the airflow channel 8, adjacent to the aperture 12. As before, the textured surface 25 may be disposed so as to completely surround the aperture 12, by being formed as a closed ring or loop, or the texture surface may be discontinuous or broken so that the aperture 12 is only partially surrounded by the textured surface 25. Hence, the textured surface 25 may be disposed around the aperture 12, to either fully or partly surround the aperture 12.

Figure 8 shows a simplified longitudinal cross-sectional view of part of a component with an air flow sensor according to a sixth example, having like-numbered features in common with the preceding examples. In common with the fifth example, in this example the air flow sensor 40 is offset to one side of the airflow channel 8. A recess or cavity 44 is formed in the side wall of the airflow channel 8, and the air flow sensor 40 is located in the recess 44. As depicted the air flow sensor 40 substantially fills the recess 44, but this is not essential, and the recess 44 may be large than the air flow sensor 40. The opening of the recess 44 from the airflow channel 8 provides an aperture 12 by which the air flow sensor 40 is placed in air flow communication with the interior of the airflow channel, for the purpose of exposing the air flow sensor 40 to air A flowing in the airflow channel to enable air flow measurement or detection. A similar configuration (not shown) may be achieved by omitting a dedicated recess, and instead mounting the air flow sensor 40 on the outer face of the side wall of the airflow channel 8, aligned with the aperture so that the sensor 40 is exposed to the flowing air A. As in the Figure 7 example, a textured surface 25 is provided on the inner face 11 of the airflow channel 8, adjacent to the aperture 12 so as to provide a barrier to the movement of liquid across the inner face.11 that could otherwise reach the air flow sensor 40. As before, the textured surface 25 is disposed wholly or partly around the aperture 12 so as to fully or partially surround the aperture 12.

Since it is proposed that the textured surface is associated with an aperture that lies between the air flow sensor and the airflow channel, in that the textured surface is adjacent to the aperture, the textured surface may conveniently have a discrete, limited spatial extent. It need not extend widely over a face of the component to cover areas remote from the aperture, although this may be arranged if preferred. In the case of a limited spatial extent, the textured surface nevertheless preferably has an adequate width or thickness in the “across” direction, that is the direction of movement of liquid over the face or similar on which the textured surface is provided towards the aperture and the air flow sensor, in order to provide a useful level of inhibition to the passage of liquid. The across direction can also be thought of as a radial direction, if the centre of the aperture is considered as a central point around which the textured surface is wholly or partly disposed, movement of liquid towards aperture and hence towards the air flow sensor being along the radial direction. As an example, a minimum thickness or width for the textured surface can be 1 mm, although this may depend on the viscosity and hence surface tension of the liquid of interest, for example, if the trapping of water condensation or of liquid aerosolisable substrate material is of primary interest. Similarly, a maximum width or thickness can be useful in some cases, where it is of interest to reduce the total area of the textured surface while still providing adequate liquid capture. In other words, a maximum thickness might be defined as a width above which additional efficacy of liquid capture provided by a further extent of the textured surface is not of interest or benefit. A maximum thickness might be 10 mm. Hence, a thickness or width for the ring or other area of textured surface along the across direction can be in the range of be 1 mm to 10 mm, for example, although the upper and lower limits of this range can be employed independently, and larger or smaller values are also not excluded, for example a thickness in the range of 2 mm to 5 mm. Also, the width need not be constant, and may vary around the ring or other shape of textured surface, for example to better fit within the available space in the vicinity of the aperture.

In the foregoing description and the appended claims, the textured surface may be present in the cartridge component, the device component, or in both the cartridge component and the device component. Hence, any reference to a component applies equally to the cartridge component or to the device component, except where specific details indicate that only one or the other component is referred to. In the context of an entire aerosol provision, the two components can be considered as a component and a second component, a component and a further component, a component and another component, or a first component and a second component. The component or the first component may be the cartridge component or the device component. The second, further or another component may be the device component or the cartridge component. Alternatively, the textured surface may be present in a unitary aerosol provision system comprising components permanently assembled for use. Alternatively, the term “component” may refer to a component comprising a smaller subset of parts than might conventionally be considered as a cartridge component or a device component but which can nevertheless be assembled with other components to form an aerosol provision system.

The textured surfaces or surfaces comprise a plurality of texture features having dimensions on the micrometre scale. The features are distributed over a two-dimensional area or region of the face on which the textured surface is provided. Within that area, the texture features comprise a plurality of protrusions/recesses, pits/lands, peaks/troughs, or similar, spread over the area. With respect to the level of the plane of the face around the area, the texture features can comprise protrusions/lands/peaks standing proud of the level of the plane of the face (so that spaces between the features are at the level of the plane), or may comprise recesses/pits/troughs reaching below the level of the plane of the face (so that spaces between the features are at the level of the plane), or both (so that the level of the plane of the face is intermediate between the height of a protrusions/land/peak and the depth of a recess/pit/trough). The textured surface may be provided on the face by being fabricated directly on or as part of the face, that is, formed in the material from which the component having the face is made, or by being applied to the face as a surface coating or layer (of the same or a different material).

It has been determined that different configurations of the texture features act to inhibit the flow or movement of liquid across the textured surface in different ways, caused by different interactions of the liquid’s surface tension with different feature shapes, sizes, configurations, etc. In particular, by different selection of texture features, the surface texture can be configured to inhibit the passage of liquid by causing liquid which is incident on the surface to cling to the textured surface, or by causing liquid which is incident on the surface to flow or move along one direction at the expense of limited or prohibited movement in a substantially orthogonal direction.

Figure 9A shows a highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representation of a first example of part of a textured surface which is configured for the cling of liquid. In order to enable liquid to cling, the texture surfaces have the form of a plurality of discrete texture features 100 on the face 101 on which the textured surface is provided. The texture features 100 are arranged so as to be spaced apart from one another over the area occupied by the textured surface, over both dimensions of the plane of the face 101. In this example, the texture features 100 are arranged with regular or periodic spacing, in the form of a triangular array. Since the texture features 100 are discrete and separated from one another, each feature may comprise a protrusion or peak extending from the plane of the face 101 , or may comprise a recess or pit “dug” below the plane of the face 100, or a combination of the two. The texture features 100 are depicted as having a roughly round cross-section parallel to the plane of the face 101 , but this is not essential, and the features may have any cross-sectional shape, dictated for example by the method of forming or providing the textured surface.

Figure 9B shows a highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representation of a second example of part of a textured surface which is configured for the cling of liquid. This is similar to the example of Figure 9A, but in this case texture features 100 are arranged with regular spacing in the form of a square array. Other periodic distributions conforming to other regular arrays may also be used if desired. Alternatively, an irregular or non-periodic distribution may be used.

Figure 9C shows a highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representation of a third example of part of a textured surface which is configured for the cling of liquid. In this example, the texture features 100 are randomly distributed over the face 101 , with irregular and non-constant spacing, lacking any intended periodicity. The choice between a regular or an irregular distribution of texture features may be dictated by the method of forming the texture features. Alternatively, a regular arrangement with constant spacing may be most suitable for enabling the cling of a liquid with a specified viscosity, so that the spacing and regularity may be selected accordingly so as to target a particular liquid, such as water or a chosen type of aerosolisable substrate material. Conversely, a non-periodic arrangement with a range of spacings between the texture features could be used to provide some cling for liquids with viscosities within a range, so that a single textured surface can manage different liquids.

Figure 9D shows a highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representation of a first example of part of a textured surface which is configured for the direction or control of the direction of movement of flow of liquid incident on the textured surface. In order to enable manage liquid movement direction in this way, a texture surface can have the form of a plurality of continuous texture features 100 on the face 101 on which the textured surface is provided. The texture features 100 comprise a plurality of substantially parallel ridges 102 extending from the plane of the face 101 , and/or grooves/troughs/channels “dug” below the plane of the face 100, or a combination of the two. The ridges/grooves are substantially straight in this example. Hence the texture features 102 are continuous along one direction (the length direction along which the ridges/grooves extend), and spaced apart from one another (by a substantially constant spacing) in the orthogonal direction. The effect of this configuration of the texture features 102 is to interrupt or impede the movement of any incident liquid in the orthogonal direction, indicated by the arrow X, while enabling or promoting the movement of any incident liquid in the length direction, indicated by the arrow Y. In the context of the functionality desired by the concept proposed herein, the orthogonal direction is considered as the “across” direction, along which it is desired to inhibit the passage of liquid, so that liquid is inhibited by the textured surface from reaching the far side of the textured surface. Hence, a location on the far side of the textured surface can be protected from exposure to any liquid passing over the face on which the textured surface is provided. Conversely, the movement of incident liquid is encouraged along the length direction of the ridges/grooves, so can be directed away from the across direction, or intentionally encouraged along the length direction, or both.

Figure 9E shows a highly schematic and not-to-scale plan view representation of a second example of a textured surface which is configured for the control of the direction of liquid movement. The texture features 102 again comprise a plurality of substantially parallel ridges/grooves, but in this example, the ridges/grooves are formed in ring shapes and arranged substantially concentrically. The depicted example shows the ring shapes as circular, but this is not essential, and other shapes may be used in configurations where the grooves/ridges are not defined as straight over the extent of the textured surface. The concentric arrangement defines the across direction X of the textured surface as being between the centre and the outer edge of the area covered by the textured surface. In this way, liquid may be inhibited from moving from a point near the centre of the textured surface outwardly, or from a point beyond the textured surface inwards towards the centre. The direction Y along which the textured surface allows liquid movement is the circumferential direction.

Figure 10 shows a highly schematic and not-to scale cross-sectional view through an example textured surface, in order to indicates some parameters of interest. In this example, the texture features comprise pits or grooves formed in the face on which the textured surface is provided. Three texture features are shown, but in reality many more features may be present along a line through the textured surface. A first parameter of interest is the spacing s, shown as the centre-to-centre distance or separation between adjacent texture features. Purely as an example, the spacing s may be around 20 pm or around 25 pm. More generally, the spacing may be in the range of 15 pm to 30 pm, although larger and smaller spacings are not excluded, for example in the range of 10 pm to 50 pm. Within a textured surface or a region within a textured surface, the spacing may be constant (within manufacturing tolerances, which may depend on the technique used to form the texture features, and might be within 2 pm or within 5 pm, for example), or may be chosen to take a variety of values that vary within a range of up to 10 pm, for example, such as to better manage liquids with different viscosities. A second parameter of interest is the size or dimensions of an individual texture feature, indicated in Figure 10 as a width w in a direction parallel to the plane of the textured surface and the face on which the textured surface is provided, but more generally including the height of protruding features and the depth of recessed or pitted features. These dimensions may or may not be substantially the same within an individual feature, so that the width may be about the same as the height/depth, or the width may be smaller or larger than the height/depth but typically within the same order of magnitude. For example, the individual dimensions may be around 2 pm or around 3 pm, although larger or smaller dimensions are not excluded, and may be, for example, at least 1 pm, or up to 5 pm, or up to 10 pm. For example, in some cases, the texture features may have dimensions in the range of 2 pm to 5 pm, or 1 pm to 10 pm. Within a textured surface or a region within a textured surface, the dimensions for all texture features may be constant (within manufacturing tolerances, which may depend on the technique used to form the texture features, and might be within 0.5 pm or within 1 pm, for example), or may be chosen to take a variety of values that vary within a range, for example, such as to better manage liquids with different viscosities. Since the size of individual features and the spacing between adjacent features can be selected, a further parameter that may be of interest when characterising a textured surface is the density of the texture features within the textured surface. The density can be defined as the number of texture features per unit area, or more usefully so as to cover both discrete texture features and parallel grooves/ridges, the number of texture features per unit length across the surface texture. For example, the density may be selected to be about 3 or 4 or 5 features per 100 pm (so about 9 or 16 or 25 features per 100 pm²), although higher or lower values may also be used as required, such as within a range of about 2 to 10 features per pm. Again, the density may be roughly constant across the whole textured surface, or may be chosen to vary in order to provide a textured surface more capable of handling liquids with a range of viscosities.

Figure 11 shows a highly schematic and not-to scale cross-sectional view through another example textured surface, in which the individual texture features have the form of protrusions or ridges extending outwardly from the face carrying the textured surface.

Figure 12 shows a photographic image of a portion of a non-limiting example of a textured surface comprising a plurality of discrete texture features in the form of spaced apart pits. A 100 pm scale is indicated.

Figure 13 shows a photographic image of a portion of a non-limiting example of a textured surface comprising a plurality of texture features in the form of spaced apart parallel grooves. A 100 pm scale is indicated.

In conclusion, 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. The disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. A component of an aerosol provision system, comprising: a sensor configured to detect air flow in an airflow channel of the aerosol provision system; an aperture between the sensor and at least a portion of the airflow channel; and a textured surface configured to inhibit the passage of liquid across the textured surface, the textured surface disposed adjacent to the aperture to inhibit the passage of liquid through the aperture towards the sensor.

2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the textured surface is located on an internal face of the component in which the aperture is defined.

3. A component according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the sensor is located in the airflow channel, and the aperture forms part of the airflow channel.

4. A component according to claim 3, wherein the aperture is located downstream of the sensor with respect to an air flow direction along the airflow channel when a user inhales on the aerosol provision system.

5. A component according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the textured surface is located on an inwardly facing face of the airflow channel.

6. A component according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the aperture is defined by a narrowed portion of the airflow channel, and the textured surface is located on a shoulder of the narrowed portion.

7. A component according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a chamber in which the sensor is located, the aperture giving access to the chamber from the airflow channel.

8. A component according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a recess in which the sensor is located, the aperture giving access to the recess from the airflow channel.

9. A component according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the textured surface is disposed around the aperture.

10. A component according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the textured surface fully surrounds the aperture.

11. A component according to any preceding claim, wherein the textured surface has a width along the across direction in the range of 1 mm to 10 mm.

12. A component according to any preceding claim, wherein the textured surface is configured to inhibit the passage of liquid in the form of water arising from condensation of air flowing in the airflow channel.

13. A component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the textured surface is configured to inhibit the passage of liquid across the textured surface by causing liquid incident on the textured surface to cling to the texture surface.

14. A component according to claim 13, wherein the textured surface comprises a plurality of discrete texture features in the form of pits and/or protrusions spaced apart over two dimensions.

15. A component according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the textured surface is configured to inhibit the passage of liquid across the textured surface by directing a flow of liquid incident on the textured surface along a direction away from the across direction.

16. A component according to claim 15, wherein the textured surface comprises a plurality of texture features in the form of substantially parallel grooves and/or ridges extending along a direction orthogonal to the across direction.

17. A component according to claim 16, wherein the grooves and/or ridges are arranged substantially concentrically around the aperture.

18. A component according to any one of claims 14, 16 or 17, wherein the texture features have dimensions in the range of 1 pm to 10 pm.

19. A component according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the component is a cartridge component comprising a reservoir for storing aerosol-forming substrate and an atomiser for vaporising the aerosol-forming substrate.

20. A component according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the component is a device component comprising a battery for powering an atomiser of the aerosol provision system.

21. A component according to any preceding claim, further comprising a controller configured to receive an output from the sensor indicating the detection of air flow in the airflow channel.

22. A component according to claim 21 , wherein the controller is further configured to operate an atomiser of the aerosol provision system in response to receiving the output from the sensor.

23. An aerosol provision system comprising a component according to any preceding claim.

24. An aerosol provision system comprising a component according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the aerosol provision system is a heated tobacco system configured to generate aerosol by heating a portion of tobacco received in the aerosol provision system.