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WO2025162912A1 - Systèmes de génération d'aérosol et procédés de commande de systèmes de génération d'aérosol - Google Patents

Systèmes de génération d'aérosol et procédés de commande de systèmes de génération d'aérosol

Info

Publication number
WO2025162912A1
WO2025162912A1 PCT/EP2025/052080 EP2025052080W WO2025162912A1 WO 2025162912 A1 WO2025162912 A1 WO 2025162912A1 EP 2025052080 W EP2025052080 W EP 2025052080W WO 2025162912 A1 WO2025162912 A1 WO 2025162912A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aerosol generating
integral
user
inhalation
pressure
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
PCT/EP2025/052080
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bernhard Groiss
Tilen CEGLAR
Jaakko MCEVOY
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JT International SA
Original Assignee
JT International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JT International SA filed Critical JT International SA
Publication of WO2025162912A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025162912A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to aerosol generating systems.
  • the invention relates particularly, but not exclusively, to cartridges for aerosol generating systems that comprise a base part and a separable cartridge.
  • Aerosol generating systems also commonly termed electronic cigarettes, are an alternative to conventional cigarettes. Instead of generating a combustion smoke, they vaporise a liquid aerosol generating substrate which can be inhaled by a user.
  • the liquid typically comprises an aerosol generating substance, such as glycerine or propylene glycol, that creates the vapour when heated.
  • Other common substances in the liquid are nicotine and various flavourings.
  • An aerosol generating system is a hand-held inhaler system, typically comprising a mouthpiece section, a reservoir configured to hold liquid aerosol generating substrate in a reservoir chamber, and a power supply unit.
  • Vaporisation is achieved in a vaporisation region, such as a vaporisation chamber, by a vaporiser or heater unit which typically comprises a heating element in the form of a heating coil and a fluid transfer medium such as a wick. Vaporisation occurs when the heater heats the liquid in the wick until the liquid is transformed into vapour.
  • the vapour is conveyed from the vaporisation region to an outlet in the mouthpiece section by means of a vapour outlet pathway.
  • vapour is a substance in the gas phase at a temperature lower than its critical temperature, which means that the vapour can be condensed to a liquid by increasing its pressure without reducing the temperature
  • aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets, in air or another gas.
  • Conventional cigarette smoke comprises nicotine as well as a multitude of other chemical compounds generated as the products of partial combustion and/or pyrolysis of the plant material.
  • Electronic cigarettes deliver primarily an aerosolised version of an initial starting e-liquid composition comprising nicotine and various food safe substances such as propylene glycol and glycerine, etc., but are also efficient in delivering a desired nicotine dose to the user.
  • Electronic cigarettes need to deliver a satisfying amount of vapour for an optimum user experience whilst at the same time maximising energy efficiency.
  • liquid aerosol generating substrate can leak from an aerosol generating system. Such leakage is undesirable, and can be unpleasant for the user.
  • Current systems typically leak through two mechanisms. Firstly, liquid aerosol generating substrate can leak from the reservoir via the wick into the inlet and outlets of the system, for example due to pressure difference and capillary force. Such leakage occurs mostly in storage and during transport. Secondly, during aerosol production vapour that is generated in the system can condense on the inner walls of the system, particularly in the vapour outlet pathway. After several cycles of use the condensed vapour can accumulate to a degree where drops of liquid leak out of the outlet. This second type of leakage is typically more short term, and occurs while the user uses the system. Currently, aerosol generating systems are not typically designed to mitigate leakage of this second type.
  • a method of controlling an aerosol generating system comprising: heating a liquid aerosol generating substrate during a first user inhalation to generate an inhalable aerosol, measuring a pressure in a flow path of the aerosol generating system during the first user inhalation to obtain a signal representative of pressure, cumulatively integrating said signal representative of pressure during the first user inhalation, and terminating the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate during a user inhalation based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure.
  • the method is preferably carried out during a usage session.
  • usage session refers to a continuous time period during which an aerosol generating system is operated by a user to generate an inhalable aerosol.
  • a user may inhale aerosol generated by the aerosol generating system in a plurality of user inhalations (commonly referred to as “puffs”).
  • a typical usage session may last 2-4 minutes, and may contain approximately 10-20 puffs (although these numbers may vary between individual users and different types of system).
  • Each user inhalation typically has a distinct start time and end time.
  • Liquid-based systems of the type described herein commonly include a mechanism for detecting user inhalations within a usage session.
  • the vaporiser or heater unit of such a system is typically operated when an inhalation is detected, and is not operated when an inhalation is not detected, in order to prevent waste of the aerosol generating substrate.
  • vapour produced in the vaporisation region is guided along a vapour outlet pathway via a vapour outlet channel toward a user’s mouth.
  • vapour contacts the inner surface of the vapour outlet channel it may condense when a saturation pressure point is reached.
  • the majority of the vapourised liquid is inhaled by the user before significant condensation occurs.
  • some aerosol is typically left in the vapour outlet pathway. This is because in traditional liquid-based aerosol generating systems heating typically occurs for the entire duration of a user inhalation (i.e. from detection of a start of a puff to detection of an end of the same puff).
  • heating is terminated during a user inhalation based on a cumulative integral obtained from a signal representative of a measured pressure during a first user inhalation. Because heating is terminated during a user inhalation, rather than at the end of a user inhalation, condensation in the vapour outlet pathway due to uninhaled aerosol may be minimised.
  • the cumulative integral of the pressure signal is mathematically related to the volume of aerosol which has been inhaled by a user over a given time.
  • the cumulative integral can thus be used as a predictor of the likely total duration of a user inhalation.
  • the cumulative integral increases overtime at a steady rate, meaning that it can be easier to distinguish between user inhalations having differing total durations by monitoring the cumulative integral than by monitoring other parameters of a user inhalation.
  • heating may be terminated during any user inhalation of a usage session.
  • the user inhalation during which heating is terminated may occur prior to the end of the usage session (i.e. prior to the final inhalation of the usage session).
  • heating is terminated before the end of a puff that occurs during (i.e. prior to the end of) the usage session. This may help to prevent the build up of condensation within the vapour outlet pathway of the system during the usage session.
  • heating may be terminated during (i.e. prior to the end time of) a final user inhalation of the usage session as well as during (i.e. prior to an end time of) the user inhalation occurring prior to that final user inhalation.
  • the method may comprise terminating the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure during (i.e. prior to an end time of) a plurality of user inhalations of a usage session. For example, heating may be terminated during (i.e. prior to an end time of) each user inhalation in the usage session, or during (i.e. prior to an end time of) selected user inhalations of the usage session.
  • the plurality of user inhalations may be selected according to a predefined sequence or schedule, for example, every second inhalation, every third inhalation, every fourth inhalation, or every fifth inhalation, etc.
  • Terminating the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure may comprise: selecting a first threshold value using the cumulative integral, and terminating heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate when the first threshold value is reached.
  • Utilizing a threshold value may simplify the control of the heating. Because the threshold value is selected using the cumulative integral (as opposed to being predetermined) the threshold value is bespoke to the user’s inhalation style, resulting in an improved user experience.
  • Heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate may be terminated when the first threshold value is reached during the first user inhalation. That is, the first threshold value may be determined in the first user inhalation and also applied to the first user inhalation. In this way, heating may be terminated prior to an end time of the first inhalation, meaning that condensation is minimised in the first inhalation.
  • the first threshold value may be determined in the first inhalation, and applied to one or more subsequent inhalations.
  • the method may further comprise: heating the liquid aerosol generating substrate during a second user inhalation subsequent to the first, and terminating the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate during the second user inhalation when the first threshold value is reached.
  • heating may be terminated prior to an end time of the second inhalation, meaning that condensation is minimised in the second inhalation.
  • Heating may be terminated prior to an end time of the second inhalation in addition to being terminated prior to an end time of the first inhalation.
  • heating may not be terminated prior to the end of the first inhalation, which may be used solely for selecting the first threshold value.
  • the first threshold value may be applied to one or more further inhalations subsequent to the second inhalation, such that heating may be terminated prior to an end time of a plurality of inhalations in a usage session, and preferably prior to an end time of each inhalation in a usage session.
  • the cumulative integral may be based on the entire duration of the first inhalation, which may allow for a more accurate threshold value to be determined for use in the second (and subsequent) inhalations.
  • the first threshold value may be a threshold time. Selecting the threshold time may comprise: cumulatively integrating the signal representative of pressure for a first duration to obtain a first cumulative value; comparing the first cumulative value with one or more stored cumulative values; and selecting the threshold time based on a result of the comparison. In this way, heating may be terminated in subsequent inhalations based on the threshold time without the need to cumulatively integrate the signal representative of pressure in those subsequent inhalations.
  • the first duration may be an average inhalation duration, and may be approximately 3 seconds.
  • the threshold integral may comprise a selected percentage of the first puff integral.
  • the selected percentage is preferably in the range 80%-98%, e.g. 90%-95%.
  • the method may further comprise: measuring a pressure in a flow path of the aerosol generating system during the second user inhalation to obtain a signal representative of pressure, cumulatively integrating said signal representative of pressure during the second user inhalation, and terminating the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate during the second user inhalation when the threshold integral is reached.
  • Selecting the threshold integral may comprise: cumulatively integrating the signal representative of pressure for a full duration of a plurality of user inhalations to obtain a puff integral for each of the plurality of user inhalations; and selecting the threshold integral using the plurality of puff integrals.
  • the plurality of inhalations may all occur during the same usage session. In this way, an average threshold integral may be obtained, which may provide for a more consistent user experience.
  • the threshold integral may comprise a selected percentage of an average of the plurality of puff integrals, wherein the selected percentage is preferably in the range 80%-95%, e.g. 90%- 95%.
  • the method may further comprise: during a third user inhalation subsequent to the first user inhalation, selecting a second threshold value using the cumulative integral, and replacing the first threshold value with the second threshold value such that for one or more subsequent user inhalations heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate is terminated when the second threshold value is reached rather than when the first threshold value is reached.
  • the threshold value may be dynamically adjusted during a usage session, which may be advantageous in the event that the user does not have a consistent inhalation duration or volume.
  • the signal representative of pressure may be cumulatively integrated from a start time of a user inhalation. This may improve accuracy.
  • the method may further comprise detecting a user inhalation, and initiating heating in response to the detection.
  • an aerosol generating system comprising: a controller; a reservoir having a reservoir chamber for containing a liquid aerosol generating substrate and in fluid communication with a vaporisation region; a heater in thermal communication with the vaporisation region; and a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an air flow pathway through the aerosol generating system; wherein the controller is operable to cause the aerosol generating system to: cause the heater to heat a liquid aerosol generating substrate during a first user inhalation to generate an inhalable aerosol, utilise the pressure sensor to measure a pressure in the air flow pathway during the first user inhalation to obtain a signal representative of pressure, cumulatively integrate said signal representative of pressure during the first user inhalation, and cause the heater to terminate the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate during a user inhalation based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure.
  • the controller may be operable to cause the aerosol generating system to carry out the steps of the method of the first aspect of the invention.
  • an aerosol generating system may comprise an electronic cigarette, which may include a cartridge removably connected to a base part.
  • the features described above may be included in the cartridge of the aerosol generating system, or in the base part of the system, or shared between the cartridge and the base part.
  • a base part for an aerosol generating system the base part being operable to connect, in use, to a cartridge comprising a reservoir having a reservoir chamber for containing a liquid aerosol generating substrate and in fluid communication with a vaporisation region, wherein the base part comprises: a controller operable to cause the aerosol generating system to carry out the steps of the method of the first aspect of the invention when the base part is connected to a cartridge.
  • a heater in thermal communication with the vaporisation region may be included in either the base part or the cartridge.
  • a pressure sensor in fluid communication with an air flow pathway through the aerosol generating system may be included in either the base part or the cartridge.
  • the term “electronic cigarette” may include an electronic cigarette configured to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for inhalation/vaping.
  • An aerosol for inhalation/vaping may refer to an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.01 to 20 pm. The particle size may be between approximately 0.015 pm and 20 pm.
  • the electronic cigarette may be portable. It is to be appreciated that the cartridge and/or the base part of the system may include any one or more components conventionally included in these parts of an aerosol generating system, as discussed in the description below.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows an aerosol generating system including a base part and disposable cartridge
  • Figure 2 illustrates a method of operating an aerosol generating system
  • Figure 3 graphically illustrates the application of a threshold value
  • Figure 4 graphically illustrates a signal representative of pressure measured overtime for an example user inhalation
  • Figure 5 graphically illustrates a cumulative integral of the signal illustrated in Figure 4.
  • FIG 1 schematically shows one example of an aerosol generating system 10, such as an electronic cigarette.
  • the aerosol generating system 10 includes a base part 12 and a cartridge 14 (also referred to in the art as a “capsule” or “pod”).
  • the cartridge 14 is removably connectable to the base part 12, and may be disposable.
  • the base part 12 is thus the main body of the electronic cigarette and is generally re-usable.
  • the base part 12 comprises a housing 16 accommodating therein a power supply unit in the form of a rechargeable battery 18.
  • the aerosol generating system 10 further includes a controller 20, and may further include a user interface (not shown) for permitting a user to control the operation of the aerosol generating system 10 via the controller 20.
  • the cartridge 14 includes a liquid storage reservoir 22 defining a reservoir chamber 24 configured for containing therein a liquid to be vaporised.
  • the liquid may comprise an aerosol generating substrate such as propylene glycol and/or glycerine and may contain other substances such as nicotine and acids.
  • the liquid may also comprise flavourings such as e.g. tobacco, menthol or fruit flavour.
  • the cartridge 14 further includes a vaporising unit 26.
  • the vaporising unit 26 comprises a heating element 28, such as a resistive heating wire, and a fluid transfer element 30, such as a ceramic or fibrous wick.
  • the fluid transfer element 30 is located in fluid communication with the reservoir chamber 24, and is configured to draw vaporisable liquid from the reservoir chamber 24 towards the heating element 28 in a vaporisation zone 32.
  • the vaporisation zone 32 is in fluid communication with an air flow pathway 34 through the aerosol generating system.
  • a vapour transfer channel 36 extends from one or more air inlets 38 through and/or past the vaporisation zone 32, to one or more aerosol outlets 40 provided in a mouthpiece region 42 of the cartridge.
  • the vapour transfer channel 36 includes a vapour outlet channel 36a, being the portion ofthe vapour transfer channel 36 which is downstream of the vaporisation zone 32, and a vapour inlet channel 36b, being the portion of the vapour transfer channel 36 which is upstream of the vaporisation zone 32.
  • the vapour outlet channel 36a has an inner surface 44 defining a vapour outlet pathway.
  • the vapour inlet channel 36b has an inner surface defining an air inlet pathway. Together the air inlet pathway and the vapour outlet pathway define the air flow path 34 through the cartridge.
  • a sensor 46 is located in fluid communication with the air flow path, and is operable in use to output signal representative of the pressure within the air flow path.
  • the sensor 46 may be any sensor which can detect airflow, and should be able to deliver an analogue electrical signal or digital information that is representative ofthe amplitude ofthe air flow.
  • the sensor 46 is a microphone, but another type of pressure sensor may be used if preferred.
  • the base part 12 When the base part 12 is attached to the cartridge 14, power may be supplied to the vaporisation unit 26 from the battery 18 via heater contacts 48 to heat up liquid in the vaporisation zone 32, thereby generating a vapour.
  • a user of the system may draw on the mouthpiece to encourage air to flow along the air flow pathway 34 defined by the vapour transfer channel 36; that is, to encourage air to flow from the inlet 38, through the vaporisation zone 32, and towards the outlet 40.
  • the pressure within the vapour transfer channel 36 changes during the user inhalation due to the airflow, and may be measured by the pressure sensor 46. Vapour entrained in the airflow cools and condenses in the vapour outlet channel 36a to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user through the outlet 40.
  • condensation of the vapour is an inherent part of aerosol generation. Such condensation is not problematic when the resulting liquid droplets remain entrained in the airflow for inhalation by the user. However, condensation can be more problematic when it occurs on the inner surface 44 of the vapour outlet channel 36a. This is because condensed droplets can accumulate on the inner surface 44. Over time such condensed droplets may combine into droplets which are large enough to flow along the vapour outlet channel 36a. If the condensed liquid reaches the outlet 40 it may escape the cartridge. This can cause an unpleasant taste for the user and/or may result in liquid escaping onto other of the user’s belongings.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a method of operating an aerosol generating system which aims to mitigate the above-described problem of condensation within the vapour outlet channel.
  • a liquid aerosol generating substrate is heated during a first user inhalation to generate an inhalable aerosol.
  • the controller 20 is operable to cause the heater 28 to generate an amount of heat sufficient to vaporise liquid aerosol generating substrate held in the fluid transfer medium 30.
  • the first user inhalation is detected by the controller, which is operable to monitor the output of the pressure sensor 46 for airflow changes indicative of a user inhalation (e.g. a sharp increase in airflow). Heating is then initiated by the controller in response to the detection. It will be appreciated, however, that heating may be initiated in response to another input if required, such as a user activating a button on a user interface of the aerosol generating system.
  • the pressure in the flow path 34 of the aerosol generating system is measured during the first user inhalation to obtain a signal representative of pressure.
  • the signal representative of pressure may be any analogue or digital signal representative of the pressure within the flow path resulting from the airflow due to the user inhalation.
  • FIG 4 An example of a signal 53 representative of a pressure measured during a user inhalation is shown in Figure 4, which graphically illustrates a change in flow rate over time, as measured by sensor 46 during a user inhalation.
  • a user inhalation typically comprises a well defined start time ti, preceding which the flow rate is negligible or zero and after which the flow rate rises rapidly to a maximum value at t 2 . From this maximum the flow rate typically fluctuates, and often falls gradually, until the user ceases inhaling at an end time t 3 , at which the flow rate returns to negligible or zero.
  • the length of time between the start time ti and the end time t 3 represents a total duration of the inhalation.
  • the signal representative of pressure is cumulatively integrated during the first user inhalation.
  • An example of a cumulatively integrated signal representative of a pressure is shown in Figure 5, which graphically illustrates a cumulative integral of the flow rate shown in Figure 4.
  • the cumulative integral rises in a substantially linear manner over the total duration of the inhalation, between the start time ti and the end time t 3 , after which the cumulative integral remains constant (since there is no more flow).
  • the signal output by the pressure sensor 46 (i.e. the signal representative of pressure) is supplied to the controller 20, which integrates that signal cumulatively, as discussed above.
  • the integration could be performed by the pressure sensor itself, and the cumulative integral provided to the controller.
  • the heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate is terminated during a user inhalation based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure.
  • the controller 20 is operable to cause the heater 28 to cease generating heat based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure, such that vapour generation also ceases based on the cumulative integral of the measured pressure.
  • vapour generation ceases during a user inhalation, rather than at the end of a user inhalation, condensation in the vapour outlet pathway 36a due to uninhaled aerosol may be minimised.
  • FIG. 3 shows an exemplary signal 53 representative of pressure measured over time during a user inhalation, together with an exemplary heating profile 55.
  • the signal 53 representative of pressure comprises a start time ti and an end time t 3 .
  • the heating profile 55 comprises a start time t H .
  • the heating start time t H is similar to ti, but does not coincide with ti in this example, because heating is initiated following detection of the start of the user inhalation - t H is thus a few microseconds after ti.
  • Heat is applied according to the heating profile 55 so as to maintain the heater 28 at a substantially constant temperature until a termination time tr.
  • the termination time h is prior to the end time t 3 of the user inhalation, and may be for example 0.1 -0.5s prior to the end time, such as 0.3s prior to the end time t 3 .
  • end time of a user inhalation is dependent on a number of unknown and user-specific factors, such that in order to terminate heating prior to the end time t 3 , that end time must be estimated by the controller of the aerosol generating system.
  • the controller of the aerosol generating system For any given inhalation, once the inhalation has been completed it is straightforward to determine when would have been a preferred time to cease heating prior to the end of the inhalation in order to avoid uninhaled vapour being left in the outlet pathway. Based on this observation, it can be understood that it is theoretically possible to compare the profile of an initial portion of a current user inhalation (i.e.
  • the signal representative of pressure to a plurality of stored inhalation profiles, in order to find a stored profile which most closely matches that of the current inhalation.
  • the current inhalation profile may be matched to a closest one of the plurality of stored inhalation profiles whilst the current inhalation is ongoing, and an estimate of the end time of the current inhalation may be made.
  • this method is hard to carry out accurately, because inhalation profiles typically rise very steeply from zero in the first few milliseconds of the inhalation. This makes it hard to discriminate between different inhalation profiles until after an inhalation is complete.
  • the method described herein uses the cumulative integral of the signal 53 representative of pressure to make an estimation of the end time of the user inhalation.
  • a first threshold value 57 is selected using the cumulative integral, and heating is terminated when that first threshold value is reached.
  • the first threshold value 57 is a threshold time.
  • heating is terminated when the threshold time (i.e. termination time t T ) is reached, prior to the end of the user inhalation.
  • the signal 53 representative of pressure is cumulatively integrated for a first duration to obtain a first cumulative value.
  • the first cumulative value is then compared with one or more stored cumulative values, and the threshold time is selected based on a result of the comparison.
  • each of the stored cumulative values represents a cumulative integral of a different historical inhalation signal for the first duration. Since each historical inhalation has a known end time, a threshold time may be selected to be a predefined duration prior to that known end time (e.g. 0.3s prior to the known end time). Thus, for each historical inhalation profile, a threshold time is stored (e.g. in a memory accessible to the controller 20) together with a cumulative value derived from the historical inhalation profile.
  • the threshold time t T for a current inhalation may thus be selected from the plurality of stored threshold times by choosing the stored threshold time which corresponds to the stored cumulative value that is closest to the first cumulative value obtained from the measured signal 53.
  • the threshold time t T can be applied to the user inhalation from which the first cumulative value is derived (i.e. to the current user inhalation). Alternatively, or additionally, the threshold time t T can be applied to subsequent user inhalations following the user inhalation from which the first cumulative value was derived.
  • the signal representative of pressure need not be integrated for each inhalation, and may only be integrated when it is desired to determine the threshold time, or a new threshold time.
  • the first threshold value 57 is a threshold integral l T .
  • a first user inhalation or a first set of user inhalations
  • selecting the threshold integral may comprise cumulatively integrating the signal representative of pressure for a full duration of the first user inhalation to obtain a first puff integral, and selecting the threshold integral using the first puff integral.
  • a bespoke threshold of this type could be calculated from the first puff of a user’s session and applied to following puffs in that session.
  • the threshold integral l T is selected to be a predefined percentage of the first puff integral.
  • the selected percentage is preferably in the range of 80%-98% of the first puff integral.
  • the first puff integral reaches a maximum value of approximately 53.5, and the threshold integral l T has a value of approximately 50 (approximately 95% of the maximum value).
  • the threshold integral l T in a subsequent (e.g. second) inhalation it is necessary to measure the pressure in the flow path of the aerosol generating system during the second user inhalation to obtain a signal representative of pressure, and to cumulatively integrate the signal representative of pressure during the second user inhalation. Heating of the liquid aerosol generating substrate during the second user inhalation can then be terminated when the threshold integral is reached.
  • the threshold integral l T may be derived from a single user inhalation (e.g. the first user inhalation), as discussed above. Alternatively, the threshold integral l T may be derived from a plurality of user inhalations (e.g. a set of consecutive inhalations) in order to obtain an average threshold integral l T for the user.
  • a new threshold value may be determined part way through a usage session in order to replace the first threshold value. For example, a second threshold value may be selected during a third user inhalation subsequent to the first user inhalation using the cumulative integral of a signal representative of pressure measured during the third user inhalation.
  • the threshold value is an average threshold integral l T
  • the average threshold integral may be adjusted dynamically during a usage session.
  • the methods set out herein make use of a pressure sensor in order to determine when to cut power to a heater of an aerosol generating system, where the output of the sensor is integrated during a user inhalation.
  • the type of sensor 46 that is used is not critical, although in practice a microphone or integrated pressor sensor may provide a simple implementation.
  • the sensor output could be integrated cumulatively over a set period of time (e.g. 1-3 seconds), and the value resulting from that integration compared to a lookup table (e.g. of historical integration data) in order to determine when to cut power to the heater.
  • the integration could be for a variable length of time for each user. In this case the integration may be cumulative over the duration of a puff, and a personalised threshold can be determined for each user in a first puff (or set of puffs), which is then used as a cut off for heating in a future puff.
  • Heating is terminated during (as opposed to at the end of, or after the end of) a user inhalation that occurs during (i.e. prior to the final puff of) a usage session). Heating may be terminated during each inhalation of a usage session, or during a subset of the inhalations according to predefined criteria (e.g. in accordance with a predefined sequence or schedule). In this way, the build up of condensation during a usage session caused by unconsumed vapour remaining in the vapour outlet pathway may be reduced.

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Abstract

Procédé de commande d'un système de génération d'aérosol (10), le procédé consistant à : chauffer (50) un substrat de génération d'aérosol liquide pendant une première inhalation d'utilisateur pour générer un aérosol pouvant être inhalé, mesurer (52) une pression dans un trajet d'écoulement (34) du système de génération d'aérosol (10) pendant la première inhalation d'utilisateur pour obtenir un signal (53) représentant la pression, intégrer de manière cumulée (54) ledit signal (53) représentant la pression pendant la première inhalation d'utilisateur, et arrêter (56) le chauffage du substrat de génération d'aérosol liquide pendant une inhalation d'utilisateur sur la base de l'intégrale cumulée de la pression mesurée.
PCT/EP2025/052080 2024-01-30 2025-01-28 Systèmes de génération d'aérosol et procédés de commande de systèmes de génération d'aérosol Pending WO2025162912A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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EP24154639 2024-01-30
EP24154639.9 2024-01-30

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WO2025162912A1 true WO2025162912A1 (fr) 2025-08-07

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US20230346025A1 (en) * 2019-04-29 2023-11-02 Inno-It Co., Ltd. Complex Heating Type Aerosol Generating Device
EP4305987A1 (fr) * 2022-07-11 2024-01-17 Em-tech. Co., Ltd. Dispositif de génération d'aérosol de mesure de quantité résiduelle

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