WO2025158166A1

WO2025158166A1 - Aerosol provision systems, devices and methods

Info

Publication number: WO2025158166A1
Application number: PCT/GB2025/050143
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vic ZHOU; Tianyi Wang
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2024-01-25
Filing date: 2025-01-27
Publication date: 2025-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 2026-07-25

Abstract

An aerosol provision device comprising: a power controller for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material; error detection circuitry for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override circuitry operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator; wherein the power controller is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems, devices and methods.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol provision systems, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and tobacco-heating products, generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco or a source liquid, which may contain an active substance and / or a flavour, from which an aerosol or vapour is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation or other means. Thus, an aerosol provision system will typically comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, arranged to vaporise or aerosolise the aerosol-generating material to generate a vapour or aerosol in an aerosol generation region. When a user inhales on the system, air is drawn into the system into the aerosol generation region where the air mixes with vaporised aerosol-generating material to form a condensation aerosol that is then drawn out of the system for user inhalation.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising: a power controller for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material; error detection circuitry for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override circuitry operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator; wherein the power controller is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of the first aspect of the disclosure and the aerosolforming material.

According to a third aspect of the disclosure there is provided a method of controlling a supply of power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material, the method comprising: determining if a predefined error condition exists; determining, at a power controller for controlling when to supply power to the aerosol generator, not to supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and determining, at override circuitry for preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator, to prevent the supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists

According to a fourth aspect of the disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision means comprising: power controller means for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator means for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material means; error detection means for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override means operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means; wherein the power controller means is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override means is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by interrupting a power control signalling from the power controller.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the power control signalling from the power controller is carried on a power control signalling line and the override circuitry is configured to interrupting the power control signalling from the power controller by opening a switch in the power control signalling line.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the override circuitry comprises a logic circuitry with a first input for the power control signalling from the power controller and a second input for the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry, and wherein the logic circuitry is configured so that a change in the state of the error detection signalling at the second input causes a change in whether the power control signalling at the first input is output by the logic circuitry.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by sending a signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a reset signal to cause the power controller to reset. In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a shut-down signal to cause the power controller to turn off.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the error detection circuitry is configured to determine a predefined error condition in response to detecting one or more of: a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper voltage threshold; a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower voltage threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is above a predefined upper current threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is below a predefined lower current threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is above a predefined upper aerosol generator temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is below a predefined lower aerosol generator temperature threshold; a duration for which the power controller has supplied power to the to the aerosol generator, and a number of instances that the power controller has supplied power to the aerosol generator.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the error detection circuitry comprises: a first portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the power controller; and a second portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the override circuitry.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the first portion of error detection circuitry and the power controller are provided together by an integrated circuit.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the integrated circuit comprises a microcontroller for the aerosol provision device.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the first portion of error detection circuitry and second portion of error detection circuitry are provided by different circuitry components. In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the aerosol provision system comprises a consumable component which is received by the aerosol provision device for use, and wherein the consumable component includes at least one of the aerosol-forming material and the aerosol generator.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the consumable component includes both the aerosol-forming material and the aerosol generator.

In accordance with some examples of any of the aspects of the disclosure, the aerosol forming material comprises a liquid aerosol forming material, a solid aerosol forming material and / or a gelatinous aerosol forming material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

Figure 1 schematically represents an aerosol provision system according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

Figure 2 schematically represents a first example of operating circuitry for the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;

Figure 3 schematically represents a second example of operating circuitry for the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;

Figure 4 schematically represents a third example of operating circuitry for the aerosol provision system of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 schematically represents a fourth example of operating circuitry for the aerosol provision system of Figure 1.

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.

As used herein, the term “provision system” (which may also sometimes be referred to as a "delivery system") is intended to encompass systems that deliver I provide at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol- generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.

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

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not necessary. In some embodiments, the non- combustible aerosol provision system is a system for heating an aerosol-generating material, 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, gel and I or amorphous solid, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, a hybrid system may, for example, comprise a liquid or gel aerosolgenerating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles, cartridges, or cartomisers, and these terms should be understood to be interchangeable herein. The "consumable" terminology reflects that this component will include material that is consumed during use. The consumable may be fully disposable and discarded in its entirety once the consumable material in the consumable has been consumed, or in other cases, the consumable material may be replenished after it has been consumed and the consumable otherwise retained for further use.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non- combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and operating circuitry. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosolgenerating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavourants, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may comprise 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, and I or 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.

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 is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

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

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

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

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

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

The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3- butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

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

Thus, a consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component (e.g. a wicking element), an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosolmodifying 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 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-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 aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosolmodifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material. An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased or decreased pressure, or electrostatic energy. As is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and "vapour", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

Aerosol provision systems often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable/consumable) cartridge part. For systems that have a liquid aerosol-generating material, the consumable I cartridge will sometimes comprise a reservoir of the liquid aerosol-generating material and the aerosol generator (although the aerosol generator can in other examples be in the device), and for systems that have a solid aerosol-generating material, the consumable/cartridge will sometimes comprise a cigarette-like tobacco rod which is heated by a heater (aerosol generator) in the device (although the aerosol generator can in other examples be, at least in part, in the consumable, such as in the form of a susceptor (heating element) in a tobacco rod).

If a consumable comprises the aerosol-generating material and the vaporiser I atomizer I aerosol generator, it may sometimes be referred to as a ‘cartomizer’. The reusable device part may comprise the power supply (e.g. rechargeable power source) and operating circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable consumable device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Consumables are often electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts, but in other examples a consumable may not include a mechanical coupling (e.g. it may simply be located in a predefined position for use - such as for a tobacco rod consumable) and I or may not include an electrical coupling (e.g. power may be transferred wirelessly, such as with induction heating, or by thermal conduction, or the aerosol generator might not be powered electrically or it might be located in the reusable device part). When the aerosol-generating material in a consumable is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different consumable having a different aerosol- generating material, the consumable may be removed from the reusable part (device) and a replacement consumable (cartridge) attached in its place. Systems conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems. Aerosol provision systems may alternatively comprise a single unit which does not comprise a consumable part and separate reusable device part configured to be detachably coupled together by a user. Such an aerosol provision system may be referred to as a ‘single part’ aerosol provision system or device. In such a system I device, which may be intended to be disposed of after a supply of electrical power in a battery and / or a supply of aerosolgenerating material supplied with the system I device is exhausted, without refilling or recharging the device, components including a reservoir of aerosol-generating material, an aerosol generator, a power supply (e.g. a battery), and operating circuitry, may all be housed within a single housing. Such an aerosol provision system or device may be referred to as ‘disposable’.

It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable consumables, which might, for example, be a liquid-containing cartridge or a paper-wrapped tobacco rod. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol provision systems which are operationally configured to provide new functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and other constructional aspects of the systems are not of primary significance.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through an example aerosol provision system 100 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure. The system 100 comprises two main components, namely a device 2 and a consumable 4. In this example the consumable 4 comprises a solid aerosol forming material 44, e.g. comprising tobacco in this example, and a mouthpiece part 46, e.g., comprising a filter, through which a user can inhale aerosol generated from the aerosol forming material 44 during use. The consumable 4 can be of any type conventionally used in an aerosol delivery system. That is to say, the specific nature of the consumable 4 is not of primary significance to the principles of the systems disclosed herein. The device 2 and consumable 4 together may be referred to as a system (e.g. an aerosol provision system / aerosol delivery system). The device 2 part of the system may also be referred to as a reusable part, control unit, aerosol provision device, and so on, and the consumable 4 part of the system may also be referred to as an article I replaceable part I disposable part I cartridge, and so on. However, the fact this example is a two-part device is not in itself directly significant to the system's functionality as described further herein.

During normal use, the consumable 4 is inserted into a receptacle 28 defined by the housing 12 of the device 2, as indicated in Figure 1 , and when the consumable 4 is exhausted, it may be removed from the device 2, and replaced with another when a user next wishes use the system.

The device 2 comprises the outer housing 12, a battery 26 for providing operating power, operating circuitry 20 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the system, an aerosol generator 48, which in this example is based on heating, a user input button 14, and a visual display 24.

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

The aerosol generator 48 is arranged so that it heats the chamber 28 containing the consumable 4 during use so as to thermally liberate vapour from the aerosol forming material 44 for user inhalation. In the example of Figure 1 the heater I aerosol generator 48 is schematically represented as a resistive heater arranged within the housing 12 of the device that is positioned around the chamber 28 to heat it. However, the specific nature of the aerosol generator 48, for example the type of heater technology used when the aerosol generator comprises a heater, is not of primary significance. For example, instead of employing a resistive heater, the aerosol generator 48 might comprise a susceptor arranged around the chamber 28 and a drive coil arranged to inductively heat the susceptor, which in turn heats the aerosol generating material (i.e. tobacco in this example) in the consumable 4 to generate the aerosol. In another example, the aerosol generator may be in effect split across the device 4 and the consumable article 2. For example the aerosol generator may comprise an inductive drive coil in the device 4 that is configured to electromagnetically couple with a susceptor (heating element) within the consumable article 2.

The user input button 14 in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for example comprising a spring mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact. In this regard, the input button may be considered to provide a manual input mechanism for the terminal device, but the specific manner in which the button is implemented is not significant. For example, different forms of mechanical button or touch- sensitive button (e.g. based on capacitive or optical sensing techniques) may be used in other implementations. The specific manner in which the button is implemented may, for example, be selected having regard to a desired aesthetic appearance.

The display 24 is provided to provide a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the system, for example current power setting information, remaining battery power, and so forth. The display may be implemented in various ways. In this example the display 24 comprises a conventional active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) screen that may be driven to display the desired information in accordance with conventional techniques. In other implementations the display may comprise one or more discrete indicators, for example LEDs, that are arranged to display the desired information, for example through particular colours and I or flash sequences. More generally, the manner in which the display is provided and information is displayed to a user using the display is not significant to the principles described herein. Some embodiments may not include a visual display and may include other means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the system, for example using audio signalling or haptic feedback, or may not include any means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the system.

The operating circuitry 20 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the system to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure as described further herein, as well as for providing conventional operating functions of the system in line with the established techniques for controlling such devices. The operating circuitry (processor circuitry) 20 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the system's operation in accordance with the principles described herein and as discussed further below, as well as other conventional operating aspects of the system, such as display driving circuitry and user input detection circuitry. It will be appreciated the functionality of the operating circuitry 20 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and I or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) I circuitry I chip(s) I chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. For example, in some cases a single integrated component can provide multiple ones of the functional sub-units of the operating circuitry 20, and in some cases one functional sub-unit of the operating circuitry 20 may be implemented across multiple different components.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram representing the operating circuitry 20 of the aerosol provision device 2 shown in Figure 1 in accordance with a first example of the disclosure. In the example of Figure 2, operating circuitry 20 comprises a microcontroller unit, MCU, 100, error detection circuitry 102, and override circuitry 104. The MCU 100 is programmed to control various operating aspects of the aerosol provision device 2. In this regard the principles underlying the programming of the MCU 100 can be generally in accordance with established principles. For example, the MCU 100 may be programmed to provide the desired functionality associated with the user input button 14 and the display 24 in the usual way. In common with many such systems, the microcontroller 100 includes a power controller 106 for controlling when to supply power to the aerosol generator 48 for generating aerosol from the aerosol-forming material 44 during use. For example, the power controller 106 may output a pulse width modulation, PWM, signal (which may be referred to as power control signalling) that drives a switch, such as a MOSFET switch, to connect a power supply from the battery to the aerosol generator. In this regard, it will be appreciated the power controller controls rather than directly supplies the power to the aerosol generator itself. Nonetheless, this behaviour may be referred to herein as the power supply supplying power to the aerosol generator. That is to say references to the power supply supplying power to the aerosol generator should be interpreted to include the power controller not only directly powering the aerosol generator itself, but also to include the power controller controlling the supplying power to the aerosol generator by controlling a switch for connecting the aerosol generator a supply of power. Similarly, the signalling from the power controller that causes the aerosol generator to be activated (i.e. what may be referred to as power control signalling) may for convenience be referred to as being provided to the aerosol generator, even if the signalling is not provided directly to the aerosol generator, but is provided to a switch, such as a MOSFET. In one sense, in such implementations the switch might be considered to be functionally a part of the aerosol generator.

In general, during normal operation, the power controller 106 may determine when to supply power the aerosol generator 48, and to output corresponding power control signalling, in accordance with broadly conventional techniques, for example it may determine to supply power in response to a user pressing the input button 14.

The power controller 106 is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in certain circumstances even if the user indicates a desire to use the device. This can be for safety reasons, for example, the power controller may be configured to not supply power if it receives an indication of an over temperature in the device, or it may be for other reasons. For example, the power controller may be configured to not supply power if it receives an indication the battery is in a low state of charge in order to protect the battery from damage.

The condition(s) that define the circumstance(s) in which the power controller is configured to not supply power when a user tries to use the device may be generally referred to herein as error conditions. In that sense the term "error" is used here broadly to refer to a condition for which the power controller is configured to not supply power when a user might wish to use the device even though in some circumstances the condition might not represent a fault, but may represent an aspect of the normal and expected operation of the device. For example a reduction in the state of charge of the battery is a normal and expected aspect of the operation of the device, but a low-state of charge for the battery may nonetheless be referred to herein as an error condition.

The inventors have recognised that it can be possible for the power controller in a device such as that represented in Figure 1 to erroneously allow power to be supplied to the aerosol generator even when a pre-defined error condition exists. This may be, for example, because of a processing error within the microcontroller, for example because the microcontroller is operating at, or potentially above, the nominal clock speed at which it can reliably process data. For example, the power controller may be configured to sample a signal that is driven to a high logic state to indicate when an error condition exists, but because of timing mismatches in the processing in the microcontroller or other parts of the operating circuitry, the power controller may sample the signal before it has transitioned to the high logic state, thereby erroneously determining that the signal is in a low logic state. Thus the power controller may erroneously conclude the error condition does not exist, and so allow power to be supplied to the aerosol generator. In another example, the power controller may erroneously allow power to be supplied to the aerosol generator not because of any processing errors within the microcontroller, but simply as a result of a flaw in the programming of the microcontroller, for example because the operating circuitry has gotten into a state that was not conceived when the operating circuitry I microcontroller was initially configured I programmed. In another example, the power controller may erroneously allow power to be supplied to the aerosol generator because of a fault in the microcontroller, for example a faulty transistor might be "stuck" in a particular state.

Regardless of the particular reason why the power controller might supply power to the aerosol generator even when a predefined error condition exists, it is undesirable for the power controller to do this. Approaches in accordance with the present disclosure are this provided to seek to help reduce the risk of the power controller erroneously allowing power to be supplied to the aerosol generator.

Thus, the operating circuitry 20 of the aerosol provision device 2 includes in addition to the power controller 106, error detection circuitry 102 and override circuitry 104.

The error detection circuitry 102 is for determining if a predefined error condition exists. The error detection circuitry 102 within the operating circuitry 20 is schematically shown in Figure 2 as being a component that is separate from (i.e. what might be referred to as "outside") the MCU 100, but in other examples at least part of all of the error detection circuitry may be integrated with (i.e. provided as a function of) the MCU 100.

The error detection circuitry 102 is configured to determine if any condition(s) exists from among one or more predefined conditions for which it is intended the power controller 106 should not supply power to the aerosol generator according to the intended operating functionality of the system. The specific nature and number of these error condition(s) that are defined for a given system, and hence the specific condition or conditions the error detection circuitry 102 is configured to detect, is not of primary significance to the principles disclosed herein and will be based on the design criteria for the specific system at hand.

For example, the error detection circuitry 102 may be configured to detect when one or more of the following conditions exists:

• a voltage associated with the power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper voltage threshold (e.g. because the battery or battery charger has developed a fault or the wrong type of batter has been used);

• a voltage associated with the power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower voltage threshold (e.g. because the battery is in a low state of charge so that it is unable to supply enough power to operate the aerosol generator or is at risk of becoming damaged);

• a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is above a predefined upper current threshold (e.g. because of a potential short-circuit);

• a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is below a predefined lower current threshold (e.g. because of a potential open-circuit);

• a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper device temperature threshold (e.g. because of overheating somewhere in the device);

• a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower device temperature threshold (e.g. because ambient conditions are too cold for the device to reliably operate);

• a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper power supply temperature threshold (e.g. because of a flaw with the battery or how it has been charged);

• a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower power supply temperature threshold (e.g. because ambient conditions are too cold for the battery to operate without risking being damage); • a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is above a predefined upper aerosol generator temperature threshold (e.g. because of a fault in the operation of the aerosol generator);

• a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is below a predefined lower aerosol generator temperature threshold (e.g. because a fault in the operation of the aerosol generator means it is net working);

• a duration for which the power controller has supplied power to the to the aerosol generator (e.g. to determine if the aerosol generator has been used for a maximum designed lifetime of operation, or to determine if the user is seeking to use the device for longer than is intended, which might be over single session of use or over a given time period); and

• a number of times that the power controller has supplied power to the aerosol generator (e.g. to determine if the aerosol generator has been used for a maximum designed number of times, or to determine if the user is seeking to use the device more times than is intended in a given time period).

The manner in which the error detection circuitry 102 is designed and configured to detect one or more of the predefined error conditions may be conventional. For example, the detection of error conditions based on temperature measurements may rely on comparing signalling received from one or more temperature sensors with a relevant threshold, the detection of error conditions based on voltage may rely on comparing signalling received from one or more voltage sensors with a relevant threshold, the detection of error conditions based on current may rely on comparing signalling received from one or more current sensors with a relevant threshold, and the detection of error conditions based on an extent of use of the device may be based on an analysis of usage data saved in a usage log for the device. It will, of course, be appreciated that in a given implementation the device may be configured to determine any one of, or any selection of, these error conditions, or indeed any other error conditions that may be defined to provide the desired functionality of the operating circuitry in this regard (i.e. to define the conditions in which the system designer intends for the power controller 106 to avoid supplying power to the aerosol generator even when a user might have indicated a desire to generate vapour).

As indicated in Figure 2 by the connecting arrow between the error detection circuitry 102 and the MCU 100, the error detection circuitry is configured to provide error detection signalling to the MCU 100, and more particularly to the power controller 106 within the MCU, to indicate if one or more predefined error conditions exists (or at least are determined to exist). The power controller 106 is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator 48 in response to this error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 indicating the predefined error condition exists. The power controller 106 may be configured to take account of the error detection signalling when determining whether or not to activate the supply of power to the aerosol generator in accordance with conventional approaches for controller programming.

Thus, when the operating circuitry 20 is functioning as intended, the power controller 106 will output power control signalling, for example a PWM signal, to cause power to be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 if it is determined a user wishes to generate aerosol and there is no error condition currently detected by the error detection circuitry 102. However, the power controller 106 will not output power control signalling to cause power to be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 if the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 indicates an error condition currently exists even if it is determined a user wishes to generate aerosol.

However, as noted above, it has been recognised that despite this being the intended functionality, in certain circumstances the power controller 106 might erroneously indicate power should be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 even when the error detection circuitry 102 has detected that an error condition exists. In order to help mitigate against this potential issue, the operating circuitry 20 includes override circuitry 104.

As indicated in Figure 2 by the connecting arrow between the error detection circuitry 102 and the override circuitry 104, the error detection circuitry 102 is configured to provide its error detection signalling to the override circuitry 104, as well as to the MCU 100 as discussed above. Furthermore, as indicated in Figure 2 by the connecting arrow between the MCU 100 and the override circuitry 104, the MCU 100 is configured to provide its power control signalling to the override circuitry 104 (as opposed to providing it directly to the aerosol generator 48).

The override circuitry 104 is configured to forward power control signalling received from the power controller 106 to the aerosol generator 48 when the error detection signalling received from the error detection circuitry 102 indicates no error condition has been detected. However, the override circuitry 104 is configured to suppress (i.e. interrupt) any power control signalling received from the power controller 106 that indicates power should be supplied to the aerosol generator if the error detection signalling received by the override circuitry 104 indicates an error condition has been detected by the error detection circuitry 102.

Thus, in the event the power control circuitry erroneously outputs power control signalling to indicate power should be supplied to the aerosol generator when the error detection circuitry has detected an error condition exists, the override circuitry will, in response to receiving the error detection signalling indicating the existence of the error condition from the error detection circuitry, in effect interrupt the power control signalling from the power controller 106 so that it does not cause the aerosol generator to be provided with power.

Thus, the override circuitry 20 is operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator such that in addition to the power controller being configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling received from the error detection circuitry indicating a predefined error condition exists, the override circuitry is also configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists. By providing a level of redundancy in this regard, the override circuitry provides a second way to prevent power from being supplied to the aerosol generator when an error condition exists in case the power control circuitry fails to properly respond to the detection of the error condition.

In one example implementation of the arrangement of Figure 2, the override circuitry 20 comprises a logical AND gate.

The output from the logical AND gate is connected to a MOSFET switch arranged so that when the output from the logical AND gate is high, the MOSFET switch closes to allow current to flow from the battery to the aerosol generator, and when the output from the logical AND gate is low, the MOSFET switch remains open so that current does not flow from the battery to the aerosol generator.

The first input to the logical AND gate is the power control signalling from the power controller 106, which in this example is provided in the form of a PWM logic signal which is driven high by the power controller to indicate when the power controller considers power should be supplied to the aerosol generator, and is driven low by the power controller to indicate when the power controller considers power should not be supplied to the aerosol generator (which may be between PWM pulses or during longer period of non-use).

The second input to the logical AND gate is the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102, which in this example is provided in the form of a logic signal which is driven high by the error detection circuitry to indicate when the error detection circuitry has not determined an error condition currently exists, and is driven low by the error detection circuitry to indicate when the error detection circuitry has determined an error condition currently exists.

Thus the output of the logical AND gate is driven high (and hence power supplied to the aerosol generator) only when both the power control signalling from the power controller is high and the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry is high. If, however, the power control signalling from the power controller is high and the error detection signalling is low (indicting the error detection circuitry has determined an error condition currently exists but the power controller is erroneously indicating that power should be supplied to the aerosol generator), the output from the logical AND gate will be low, and power will not be supplied to the aerosol generator despite the power control signalling indicating otherwise.

Thus, the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by suppressing the power control signalling from the power controller if the override circuitry receives signalling from the error detection circuitry which indicate the existence of a fault condition. It will be appreciated that references to preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator are meant in the sense of temporarily preventing, for example for as long as the error condition continued to exist, and are not intended to suggest the ability to supply power to the aerosol generator should be permanently disabled.

It will of course be appreciated that other arrangements are possible, for example, the logical AND gate could be replaced with a logical NAND gate with the logic for one of the two inputs being inverted - e.g. a logical high from the error detection circuitry being used to indicate an error condition is detected instead of indicating no error condition is detected. More generally, the override circuitry may comprises logic circuitry with a first input for the power control signalling from the power controller and a second input for the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry, and the logic circuitry may be configured so that a change in the state of the error detection signalling at the second input causes a change in whether the power control signalling at the first input is output by the logic circuitry.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram representing operating circuitry 30 which can be used instead of the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2 in the aerosol provision device 2 shown in Figure 1 in accordance with a second example of the disclosure. Elements and features of the operating circuitry 30 represented in Figure 3 which are functionally similar to, and will be understood from, corresponding elements and features of the operating circuitry 20 represented in Figure 2 are identified with corresponding reference numerals and are not discussed again in detail in the interests of brevity. The operating circuitry 30 of Figure 3 differs from the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2 by the manner in which the error detection circuitry is incorporated in the operating circuitry. Whereas in the example of Figure 2, the error detection circuitry 102 is provided as a single functional block outside of the MCU and provides common error detection signalling to both the MCU and the override circuitry, in the example of Figure 3, the error detection circuitry is instead split into a first portion of error detection circuitry 102a within the MCU and a second portion of error detection circuitry 102b outside the MCU. The first portion of error detection circuitry 102a and the second portion of error detection circuitry 102b are each configured to provide the functionality of the error detection circuitry 102 discussed above with reference to Figure 2 in terms of detecting when error conditions exist. In that sense, the arrangement of Figure 3 differs from the arrangement of Figure 2 in that for the arrangement in Figure 3, each of the power controller 106 and the override circuitry 104 are associated with their own independent portions of error detection circuitry 102. Thus for the arrangement of Figure 3, the first portion of error detection circuitry 102a in the MCU 100 is configured to determine when error conditions exist as discussed above for the error detection circuitry 102 of Figure 2, and to provide the power controller 106 with error detection signalling to indicate whether or not an error condition is considered to exist, similarly to as discussed above for Figure 2. The second portion of the error detection circuitry 102b outside the MCU is also configured to determine when error conditions exist as discussed above for the error detection circuitry 102 of Figure 2, and to provide the override circuitry with error detection signalling to indicate whether or not an error condition is considered to exist, again similarly to as discussed above for Figure 2.

Apart from each of the override circuitry 104 power control circuitry 106 being provided with their own independent source of error detection signalling in Figure 3, as opposed to sharing a common source of error detection signalling in Figure 2, the operating circuitry 30 of Figure 3 can otherwise operate in the same manner as discussed above for the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2.

As schematically shown in Figure 3, the first portion of error detection circuitry 102a and the power controller 106 are provided together by an integrated circuit, which in this example is in the form of a microcontroller. However, in other implementations, the first portion of error detection circuitry 128 responsible providing the power controller 106 with the error detection signalling and the power controller 106 itself may be provided by separate (i.e. different) circuitry components.

The modification adopted for Figure 3 as compared to Figure 2 means that the override circuitry 104 and the power control circuitry 106 receive their own independently determined error detection signalling. This further helps to mitigate against the operating circuity 30 erroneously supplying power to the aerosol generator 48 when a predefined error condition exists. This is because it is in principle possible the error detection circuitry 102 in the arrangement of Figure 2 fails to work correctly to detect an error condition, and in this case neither the power controller nor the override circuitry will receive error detection signalling to indicate that power should not be supplied to the aerosol generator. However, if there is a fault in one of the portions of the error detection circuitry 102a, 102b, in Figure s, so long as the other portion of the error detection circuitry 102a, 102b remains operational, the supply of power to the aerosol generator when there is an error condition can still be prevented. In some cases the two portions of error detection circuitry 102a, 102b in Figure 3 may receive their inputs from a common source, for example a common temperature sensor where an error condition relates to a temperature, whereas to further reduce the risk of erroneously supplying power when an error condition exists, the two portions of error detection circuitry 102a, 102b in Figure 3 may receive inputs from independent sensors (for example there may be two sensors arranged to measure the same parameter that is indicative of a fault condition, with one sensor providing input for the first portion of the error detection circuitry, and the other sensor providing input for the second portion of the error detection circuitry).

It will be appreciated that various aspects of both of the approaches represented in Figures 2 and 3, and indeed the other approaches discussed herein, can be modified in other implementations. For example, instead of the override circuitry comprising a logic gate, or arrangement of logic gates I logic circuitry, to provide the desired functionality, in another example the override circuitry may comprise a switch arranged in the signalling line which carries the power control signalling from the power controller and the signalling from the error detection circuitry may control the state of the switch. For example, the switch could be a mechanical switch in the form of a solenoid relay arranged so that when the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicates an error condition has been detected, the error detection signalling drives the solenoid relay so as to open the switch to disconnect the power control signalling from the aerosol generator.

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram representing operating circuitry 40 which can be used instead of the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2 or the operating circuitry 30 of Figure 3 in the aerosol provision device 2 shown in Figure 1 in accordance with a third example of the disclosure. Elements and features of the operating circuitry 40 represented in Figure 4 which are functionally similar to, and will be understood from, corresponding elements and features of the operating circuitry 20 represented in Figure 2 are identified with corresponding reference numerals and are not discussed again in detail in the interests of brevity. The operating circuitry 40 of Figure 4 differs from the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2 by the manner in which the override circuitry operates to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator when the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 indicate a predefined error condition exists. Whereas in the examples of Figures 2 and 3, the override circuitry 104 is configured to interrupt I suppress the power control signalling from the power controller 106 to stop it reaching the aerosol generator when an error condition is detected, in the operating circuitry 40 of Figure 4 a different implementation of override circuitry 204 is used and configured to in effect temporarily disable the power control circuitry 106, and in particular for this example to temporarily disable the MCU 100 comprising the power control circuitry 106, in response to receiving error detection signalling indicating an error condition exists.

Thus, and as indicated in Figure 4 by the connecting arrow between the error detection circuitry 102 and the MCU 100, the error detection circuitry is configured to provide error detection signalling to the MCU 100, and more particularly to the power controller 106 within the MCU, to indicate if one or more predefined error conditions exists. The power controller 106 is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator 48 in response to this error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 indicating the predefined error condition exists. This aspect of the operation of the operating circuitry 40 of Figure 4 can be the same as for the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2.

Therefore, and as for the operating circuitry 20 of Figure 2, when the operating circuitry 40 is functioning as intended, the power controller 106 will output power control signalling to cause power to be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 when it is determined a user wishes to generate aerosol and there is not an error condition. However, the power controller 106 will not output power control signalling if the error detection signalling indicates an error condition exists.

However, as noted above, it is nonetheless possible that in certain circumstances the power controller 106 might erroneously indicate power should be supplied to the aerosol generator 48 even when the error detection circuitry 102 has detected that an error condition exists. In order to help mitigate against this potential issue, and similarly to the examples of Figures 2 and 3, the operating circuitry 40 in Figure 4 includes the override circuitry 204.

As indicated in Figure 4 by the connecting arrow between the error detection circuitry 102 and the override circuitry 204, the error detection circuitry 102 is configured to provide its error detection signalling to the override circuitry 204, as well as to the MCU 100 as discussed above. Furthermore, as indicated in Figure 4 by the connecting arrow between the override circuitry 204 and the MCU 100, the override circuitry 204 is configured to provide reset signalling to a reset pin of the MCU 100 if the error detection signalling received by the override circuitry 204 indicates an error condition has been detected by the error detection circuitry 102.

As is common for microcontrollers, the MCU's reset pin is a connection pin which when driven with a predefined logic signal, e.g. a low-to-high or high-to-low transition, or a low- high-low or high-low-high pulse, will cause the microcontroller to reset (i.e. reboot I power cycle). Thus, the override circuitry 204 is configured such that when it receives error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 indicating an error condition has been detected, the override circuitry 204 sends reset signalling to the reset pin of the MCU 100 to cause the MCU to reset. In a variation on this approach, the override circuitry may also receive an indication of the power control signalling from the power controller, and may be configured to only reset the MCU in response to receiving error detection signalling indicating an error condition has been detected if at the same time the power control signalling from the power controller 106 indicates that power should be supplied to the aerosol generator. That is to say, the override circuitry might not be configured to reset the MCU whenever an error condition is detected, but only if an error condition is detected and the power controller is erroneously still indicating that power should be supplied to the aerosol generator.

Thus, the operating circuitry 40 represented in Figure 4 is configured so that the MCU 100 can be reset by the override circuitry 204, and hence the operation of the power controller 106 can be suspended so that it does not provide any power control signalling, in response to the override circuitry 204 receiving signalling indicating the error detection circuitry 102 has detected an error condition is present. In a variation of this approach, the MCU may be configured so that when it receives reset signalling it turns of, rather than resets, for example if there is a desire to avoid the potential for the MCU to keep looping through a reboot while the error detection circuitry continues to indicate the error condition exists.

As with the override circuitry 20, 30 in Figures 2 and 3, the override circuitry 40 in Figure 4 is thus operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator such that in addition to the power controller being configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling received from the error detection circuitry indicating a predefined error condition exists, the override circuitry is also configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists. The approach of Figure 4 thus provides another way of seeking to help to mitigate the potential issues discussed herein. As already noted, it will be appreciated that preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator is meant in the sense of temporarily preventing, is not intended to suggest the ability to supply power to the aerosol generator should be permanently disabled.

Figure 5 is a schematic diagram representing operating circuitry 50 which can be used instead of the operating circuitry 20, 30, 40 of Figures 2, 3 and 4 in the aerosol provision device 2 shown in Figure 1 in accordance with a fourth example of the disclosure. Elements and features of the operating circuitry 50 represented in Figure 5 which are functionally similar to, and will be understood from, corresponding elements and features of the operating circuitry 40 represented in Figure 4 are identified with corresponding reference numerals and are not discussed again in detail in the interests of brevity. The operating circuitry 50 of Figure 5 differs from the operating circuitry 40 of Figure 4 by the manner in which the error detection circuitry is incorporated in the operating circuitry. Whereas in the example of Figure 4, the error detection circuitry 102 is provided as a single functional block outside of the MCU and provides common error detection signalling to both the MCU and the override circuitry, in the example of Figure 5, the error detection circuitry is instead split into a first portion of error detection circuitry 102a within the MCU and a second portion of error detection circuitry 102b outside the MCU.

The first portion of error detection circuitry 102a and the second portion of error detection circuitry 102b are each configured to provide the functionality of the error detection circuitry 102 discussed above with reference to Figures 2 and 4 in terms of detecting when error conditions exist. In that sense, the arrangement of Figure 5 differs from the arrangement of Figure 4 in that for the arrangement in Figure 5, each of the power controller 106 and the override circuitry 204 are associated with their own independent portions of error detection circuitry 102. Thus for the arrangement of Figure 5, the first portion of error detection circuitry 102a in the MCU 100 is configured to determine when error conditions exist as discussed above for the error detection circuitry 102 of Figure 4, and to provide the power controller 106 with error detection signalling to indicate whether or not an error condition is considered to exist, similarly to as discussed above for Figure 4. The second portion of the error detection circuitry 102b outside the MCU is also configured to determine when error conditions exist as discussed above for the error detection circuitry 102 of Figure 4, and to provide the override circuitry with error detection signalling to indicate whether or not an error condition is considered to exist, again similarly to as discussed above for Figure 4.

Apart from each of the override circuitry 204 power control circuitry 106 being provided with their own independent source of error detection signalling in Figure 5, as opposed to sharing a common source of error detection signalling in Figure 4, the operating circuitry 50 of Figure 5 can otherwise operate in the same manner as discussed above for the operating circuitry 40 of Figure 4.

As schematically shown in Figure 5, the first portion of error detection circuitry 102a and the power controller 106 are provided together by an integrated circuit, which in this example is in the form of a microcontroller. However, in other implementations, the first portion of error detection circuitry 128 responsible providing the power controller 106 with the error detection signalling and the power controller 106 itself may be provided by separate (i.e. different) circuitry components.

The modification adopted for Figure 5 as compared to Figure 4 means that the override circuitry 204 and the power control circuitry 106 receive their own independently determined error detection signalling. This further helps to mitigate against the operating circuity 30 erroneously supplying power to the aerosol generator 48 when a predefined error condition exists. This is because it is in principle possible the error detection circuitry 102 in the arrangement of Figure 4 fails to work correctly to detect an error condition, and in this case neither the power controller nor the override circuitry will receive error detection signalling to indicate that power should not be supplied to the aerosol generator. However, if there is a fault in one of the portions of the error detection circuitry 102a, 102b, in Figure s, so long as the other portion of the error detection circuitry 102a, 102b remains operational, the supply of power to the aerosol generator when there is an error condition can still be prevented. In some cases the two portions of error detection circuitry 102a, 102b in Figure 5 may receive their inputs from a common source, for example a common temperature sensor where an error condition relates to a temperature, whereas to further reduce the risk of erroneously supplying power when an error condition exists, the two portions of error detection circuitry 102a, 102b in Figure 5 may receive inputs from independent sensors (for example there may be two sensors arranged to measure the same parameter that is indicative of a fault condition, with one sensor providing input for the first portion of the error detection circuitry, and the other sensor providing input for the second portion of the error detection circuitry).

As has already been noted, it is possible that the functionality of different aspects of the operating circuitry can be combined. For example, whereas the override circuitry 204 and error detection circuitry 102 in the operating circuitry 50 represented in Figure 5 are shown separately, in some implementations the functionality of these circuitry elements may be provided by the same circuitry components. It is also noted that in some implementations the override circuitry might be relatively simple. For example, in the operating circuitry 50 of Figure 5 in which the override circuitry 204 is configured to provide reset signalling to a reset pin on the MCU, the override circuitry 204 might simply comprise signal conditioning circuitry to convert the signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 which indicates an error condition exists to the signalling format that should be applied to the reset pin of the MCU in order to reset the MCU. Indeed, it is possible the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry 102 is already configured so that the format of the error detection signalling which indicate there is an error matches the formal of the reset signalling that is applied to the MCU reset pin in order to reset the MCU. In this case, the override circuitry may simply comprise wiring that applies the error detection signalling directly to the reset pin of the MCU.

It will be appreciated that various aspects of both of the approaches represented in Figures 4 and 5, and indeed the other approaches discussed herein, can be modified in other implementations. For example, instead of the override circuity 204 providing reset signalling to a reset pin on the MCU 100, the override circuity 204 may instead be configured to reset the MCU by interrupting the power supply for the MCU. For example, the override circuitry may comprise a switch arranged in a power supply line for the MCU and the signalling from the error detection circuitry may control the state of the switch. For example, the switch could be a mechanical switch in the form of a solenoid relay arranged so that when the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicates an error condition has been detected, the error detection signalling drives the solenoid relay so as to open the switch to disconnect the power supply for the MCU, thereby causing the MCU, and the power control circuitry within it, to stop operating. Depending on the configuration, the switch may be held open briefly to cause the MCU to reboot, or maybe held open for as long as the error condition is determined to exist.

Thus there has been described an aerosol provision device comprising: a controller for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material; error detection circuitry for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override circuitry operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator; wherein the controller is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

There has also been described a method of controlling a supply of power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material, the method comprising: determining if a predefined error condition exists; determining, at a controller for controlling when to supply power to the aerosol generator, not to supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and determining, at override circuitry for preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator, to prevent the supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

There has also been described aerosol provision means, such as the aerosol provision device 4 represented in Figure 1, comprising: controller means, such as the power control circuitry 106 represented in Figures 2 to 5, for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator means, such as the heater-based aerosol generator 48 represented in Figurel , for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material means, such as the solid aerosolforming material 44 represented in Figure 1 ; error detection means, such as the error detection circuitry 102 represented in Figures 2 to 5, for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override means, such as the override circuitry 104 represented in Figures 2 and 3 or the override circuitry 204 represented in Figures 4 and 5, operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means; wherein the power controller means is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override means is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future. The delivery system described herein can be implemented as a combustible aerosol provision system, a non-combustible aerosol provision system or an aerosol-free delivery system.

Certain aspects of the disclosure are defined in the following numbered paragraphs:

Paragraph 1. An aerosol provision device comprising: a power controller for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material; error detection circuitry for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override circuitry operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator; wherein the power controller is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists. Paragraph 2. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 1, wherein the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by interrupting power control signalling from the power controller.

Paragraph 3. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 2, wherein the power control signalling from the power controller is carried on a power control signalling line and the override circuitry is configured to interrupt the power control signalling from the power controller by opening a switch in the power control signalling line.

Paragraph 4. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 2, wherein the override circuitry comprises a logic circuitry with a first input for the power control signalling from the power controller and a second input for the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry, and wherein the logic circuitry is configured so that a change in the state of the error detection signalling at the second input causes a change in whether the power control signalling at the first input is output by the logic circuitry.

Paragraph 5. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 1, wherein the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by sending a signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller.

Paragraph 6. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 5, wherein the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a reset signal to cause the power controller to reset.

Paragraph 7. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 5, wherein the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a shut-down signal to cause the power controller to turn off.

Paragraph 8. The aerosol provision device of any of paragraphs 1 to 7, wherein the error detection circuitry is configured to determine a predefined error condition in response to detecting one or more of: a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper voltage threshold; a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower voltage threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is above a predefined upper current threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is below a predefined lower current threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is above a predefined upper aerosol generator temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is below a predefined lower aerosol generator temperature threshold; a duration for which the power controller has supplied power to the to the aerosol generator; and a number of times that the power controller has supplied power to the aerosol generator.

Paragraph 9. The aerosol provision device of any of paragraphs 1 to 7, wherein the error detection circuitry comprises: a first portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the power controller; and a second portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the override circuitry.

Paragraph 10. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 9, wherein the first portion of error detection circuitry and the power controller are provided together by an integrated circuit.

Paragraph 11. The aerosol provision device of paragraph 10, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a microcontroller for the aerosol provision device.

Paragraph 12. The aerosol provision device of any of paragraphs 9 to 11, wherein the first portion of error detection circuitry and second portion of error detection circuitry are provided by different circuitry components. Paragraph 13. An aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of paragraphs 1 to 12, the aerosol generator and the aerosol-forming material.

Paragraph 14. The aerosol provision system of paragraph 13, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a consumable component which is received by the aerosol provision device for use, and wherein the consumable component includes at least one of the aerosolforming material and the aerosol generator.

Paragraph 15. The aerosol provision system of paragraph 14, wherein the consumable component includes both the aerosol-forming material and the aerosol generator.

Paragraph 16. The aerosol provision device of any of paragraphs 1 to 12 or the aerosol provision system of any of paragraphs 13 to 15, wherein the aerosol forming material comprises a liquid aerosol forming material, a solid aerosol forming material and / or a gelatinous aerosol forming material.

Paragraph 17. An aerosol provision means comprising: power controller means for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator means for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material means; error detection means for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override means operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means; wherein the power controller means is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override means is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists.

Paragraph 18. A method of controlling a supply of power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material, the method comprising: determining if a predefined error condition exists; determining, at a power controller for controlling when to supply power to the aerosol generator, not to supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and determining, at override circuitry for preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator, to prevent the supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision device comprising: a power controller for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material; error detection circuitry for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override circuitry operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator; wherein the power controller is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.

2. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 , wherein the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by interrupting power control signalling from the power controller.

3. The aerosol provision device of claim 2, wherein the power control signalling from the power controller is carried on a power control signalling line and the override circuitry is configured to interrupt the power control signalling from the power controller by opening a switch in the power control signalling line.

4. The aerosol provision device of claim 2, wherein the override circuitry comprises a logic circuitry with a first input for the power control signalling from the power controller and a second input for the error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry, and wherein the logic circuitry is configured so that a change in the state of the error detection signalling at the second input causes a change in whether the power control signalling at the first input is output by the logic circuitry.

5. The aerosol provision device of claim 1 , wherein the override circuitry is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator by sending a signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller.

6. The aerosol provision device of claim 5, wherein the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a reset signal to cause the power controller to reset or wherein the signal to interrupt the operation of the power controller is a shut-down signal to cause the power controller to turn off.

7. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the error detection circuitry is configured to determine a predefined error condition in response to detecting one or more of: a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper voltage threshold; a voltage associated with a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower voltage threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is above a predefined upper current threshold; a current supplied to the aerosol generator during use is below a predefined lower current threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower device temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is above a predefined upper power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of a power supply for the aerosol provision device is below a predefined lower power supply temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is above a predefined upper aerosol generator temperature threshold; a measure of a temperature of the aerosol generator is below a predefined lower aerosol generator temperature threshold; a duration for which the power controller has supplied power to the to the aerosol generator; and a number of times that the power controller has supplied power to the aerosol generator.

8. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the error detection circuitry comprises: a first portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the power controller; and a second portion of error detection circuitry for determining if the predefined error condition exists and providing the error detection signalling to the override circuitry.

9. The aerosol provision device of claim 8, wherein the first portion of error detection circuitry and the power controller are provided together by an integrated circuit, and optionally, wherein the integrated circuit comprises a microcontroller for the aerosol provision device.

10. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 8 to 9, wherein the first portion of error detection circuitry and second portion of error detection circuitry are provided by different circuitry components.

11. An aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 10, the aerosol generator and the aerosol-forming material.

12. The aerosol provision system of claim 11, wherein the aerosol provision system comprises a consumable component which is received by the aerosol provision device for use, and wherein the consumable component includes at least one of the aerosol-forming material and the aerosol generator, and optionally, wherein the consumable component includes both the aerosol-forming material and the aerosol generator.

13. The aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 10 or the aerosol provision system of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein the aerosol forming material comprises a liquid aerosol forming material, a solid aerosol forming material and / or a gelatinous aerosol forming material.

14. An aerosol provision means comprising: power controller means for controlling when to supply power to an aerosol generator means for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material means; error detection means for determining if a predefined error condition exists; and override means operable to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means; wherein the power controller means is configured to not supply power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists; and the override means is configured to prevent the supply of power to the aerosol generator means in response to error detection signalling from the error detection means indicating the predefined error condition exists.

15. A method of controlling a supply of power to an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming material, the method comprising: determining if a predefined error condition exists; determining, at a power controller for controlling when to supply power to the aerosol generator, not to supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists; and determining, at override circuitry for preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator, to prevent the supply power to the aerosol generator in response to error detection signalling from the error detection circuitry indicating the predefined error condition exists.