WO2025224192A1

WO2025224192A1 - Aerosol provision system and control method for aerosol provision system

Info

Publication number: WO2025224192A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/061115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dean Cowan; Ying Liu; Ronghui Li
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2024-04-24
Filing date: 2025-04-23
Publication date: 2025-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-24
Also published as: CN120836821A

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol provision system and a method for controlling an aerosol provision system. The system comprises a housing provided with an opening, a cap configured to move between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, a user interface arrangement at least partially arranged on the cap and configured to receive a user input, and a controller configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system or to allow the system to initiate heating based on the user input.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of aerosol provision technology, particularly to an aerosol provision system and a control method for an aerosol provision system.

Background

Heat-not-burn aerosol provision devices are electronic products designed to mimic traditional cigarettes in terms of smoke, taste, and sensation. These products, also known as "heat-not-burn" products or tobacco heating devices, generate aerosols by heating — rather than combusting — an aerosol generating material, such as a tobacco substrate, which is then inhaled by the user.

An aerosol provision system refers to a system that contains aerosol generating materials and generates aerosols by heating for user to puff.

Summary

In some embodiments of any of the above, there is provided an aerosol provision system, the system comprises a shell provided with an opening, a cap configured to move between an open position for opening the opening and a closed position for closing the opening, a human-machine interaction module at least partially arranged on the cap and configured to receive a user’s operation, and a controller configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system or to allow the system to initiate heating based on the user’s operation.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the human-machine interaction module is a user interface arrangement. In some embodiments of any of the above, the user’s operation is a user input. In some embodiments of any of the above, the shell is a housing. In some embodiments of any of the above, the aerosol provision system comprises an aerosol provision device comprising the shell, opening, cap, human-machine interaction module and controller.

In embodiments, by arranging a human-machine interaction module on the shell to receive user operation section, the initiation of heating can be carried out based on the user's precise heating intentions, avoiding accidental heating caused by simply opening the cap to initiate heating. At the same time, the human-machine interaction module is arranged on the shell, so that the user can operate the shell and the humanmachine interaction module without moving the hand between the positions of the shell and the human-machine interaction module, which may simplify operation. The usage of the thickness and area of the cap can reduce the requirements for the thickness and area of the system shell, which may be more spatially efficient. The user operation section may be a user operation arrangement.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the system may further comprise a first component and a second component. The first component connected to the cap and configured to move between the open position and the closed position under the driving of the cap, the second component configured to output a first signal based on the position of the first component, and the controller configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on the first signal and the user's operation.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the controller is configured to determine to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating when the user's operation indicates the intention to initiate heating and the first signal indicates that the opening is opened.

When the opening is not opened, the user cannot puff, and heating is generally not required at this time. Additionally, when the opening is not opened, initiating heating in a closed space may lead to dry burning and excessive temperature. Initiating heating based on a first signal and a user operation may avoid this. The heating is based on the user's intention and is initiated only when the opening is opened, which may avoid accidental heating and heating hazards caused by the opening not being opened.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the human-machine interaction module may comprise a sensor, the sensor may comprise a user operation section arranged on the cap and configured to perceive the physical characteristic of the user's operation, a signal processing section configured to convert the physical characteristic into a second signal. The controller may be configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating based on the second signal.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor and a biometric sensor.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the human-machine interaction module may comprise a switch module, the switch module may comprise a user operation section arranged on the cap and configured to receive the user's operation, a switch circuit, a detachable electrical contact configured to detach or make contact based on the user's operation to open or close the switch circuit. The controller may be connected to the switch circuit and configured to monitor the open or close status of the switch circuit to determine whether to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating based on the status of the switch circuit.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the user operation section is a pressing section, the detachable electrical contact may comprise a first contact and a second contact arranged on the switch circuit. The pressing section may be configured to move the first contact closer to the second contact to make contact and close the switch circuit after receiving the user’s pressing operation.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the first contact may be arranged on the pressing section, moving along with the pressing section and making contact with the second contact to close the switch circuit after approaching the second contact. Or, the first contact may be arranged between the second contact and the pressing section, the pressing section may contact and press the first contact after being pressed to make the first contact to move and make contact with the second contact to close the switch circuit. Or, the first contact may be arranged on one side of the second contact away from the pressing section, the pressing section may contact and press the second contact after being pressed to make the second contact to move and make contact with the first contact to close the switch circuit.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the first contact may be arranged on one side of the second contact away from the pressing section. The system may further comprise a support component configured to provide support to the first contact.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the first contact may be arranged on the support component.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the first contact may be connected to the switch circuit through an elastic component. So that after the pressing operation is completed, the first contact can return to a position separated from the second contact based on the elastic force of the elastic component.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the detachable electrical contact may be configured to be connected to and move synchronously with the cap to ensure that the detachable electrical contact is always within the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation. In the embodiment, no matter where the user operation section moves with the cap, the user does not need to consider the alignment issue between the detachable electrical contact and the user operation section. In some embodiments of any of the above, the switch circuit may be a flexible circuit that can bend or unfold under the driving of the cap to enable the synchronous movement of the detachable electrical contact with the cap.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the cap may comprise an upper cap and a lower cap connected to the upper cap, a containment chamber may be defined between the upper cap and the lower cap, the detachable electrical contact may be arranged in the containment chamber.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the detachable electrical contact may be detachably arranged from the cap, and the position of the detachable electrical contacts may be configured such that when the cap moves to the open position, the detachable electrical contact may be within the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation, when the cap moves to the closed position, the detachable electrical contact may be outside the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation. In embodiments, the detachable electrical contact can be triggered only when the gap moves to the position where the opening is open, thereby avoiding issues such as accidental heating and dry burning caused by the opening not being opened. In embodiments, the detachable electrical contact is positioned such that when the cap moves to the open position, the detachable electrical contact is configured to open or close the switch circuit based on the user input, and when the cap moves to the closed position, detachable electrical contact is not configured to open or close the switch circuit based on the user input.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the user operation section may be at least one of a pressing section, a rotating section, a sliding section and a touching section.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the system may further comprise a damping component configured to provide a damping force when the cap moves between the open position and closed position. Users can identify the approximate current movement position of the cap by feeling the damping force.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the cap may have a first stroke and a second stroke occurring successively when moving between the open position and the closed position. The damping component may be configured to provide a damping force during the first stroke and a driving force during the second stroke.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the damping component may comprise at least one of an elastic component and a repulsive magnetic component. In some embodiments of any of the above, the opening may be an air inlet port of the system or an article insertion port of the system.

In some embodiments of any of the above, the first component may be a magnetic component and the second component may be a Hall sensor.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a control method for an aerosol provision system, the method comprising: utilizing a human-machine interaction module that at least partially arranged on the cap to receive a user’s operation, and determining whether to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating based on the user’s operation.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a computer device, which comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can run on the processor, and when executed by the processor, the computer program implements the or any of the methods as described above or below.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium, with a computer program stored therein, the computer program, when executed, implements the or any of the methods as described above or below.

In embodiments, by arranging a human-machine interaction module on the shell to receive user operation section, the initiation of heating can be carried out based on the user's precise heating intentions. This may avoid or reduce the chance of accidental heating caused by simply opening the cap to initiate heating. The human-machine interaction module is arranged on the shell. This may enable the user to operate the shell and the human-machine interaction module without moving their hand between the positions of the shell and the human-machine interaction module. This may simplify the operation. Additionally, the usage of the thickness and area of the cap can reduce the requirements for the thickness and area of the system shell, which may be more spatially efficient.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising: a housing, defining an opening; a cap, configured to move between an open position in which the opening is uncovered and a closed position in which the opening is at least partially covered by the cap; a user interface arrangement, at least partially arranged on the cap, configured to receive a user input; a controller, configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on the user input or to determine whether to allow the system to initiate heating based on the user input. In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a control method for the aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 21 , the method comprising: utilizing the user interface arrangement to receive a user input; based on the user input, determining whether to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating.

In accordance with an aspect, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of claims 1 to 21 and an article comprising aerosol generating material.

Additional aspects and advantages will be described in the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

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

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the composition of an aerosol provision system;

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of the composition of an aerosol provision system;

Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the composition of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a sensor;

Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of the composition of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a switch module;

Figure 7 is an exploded diagram of another structure of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a switch module;

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 7 from a viewing direction; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of part B in the structure shown in Figure 8.

Description of Reference Numerals:

(10,20): aerosol provision system; (100,200): shell; 201 : internal cavity; 202: end cap; 210: controller; 220: power supply ; 230: heater ; 110: heating control button (120,240): opening; 130: aerosol article; (140,250): cap; 251 : upper cap; 252: lower cap; 253: containment chamber; 260: human-machine interaction module; 260': sensor; 261 ': user operation section; 262': signal processing section; 260': switch module; 26T: user operation section; 262': switch circuit; 263": detachable electrical contact; 2631": first contact; 2632": second contact; 271 : first magnetic element; 272: second magnetic element; 270: damping component; 280: bracket; 291 : support component; 292: switch circuit fixture; 310: first component; 320: second component.

Detailed Description

The following describes some embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of protection.

As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); 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; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

According to the present disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar. In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

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 a requirement.

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

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid 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 aerosolgenerating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

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

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

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 aerosol-generating 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 delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolgenerating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.

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

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12. As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

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

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

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 eucolyptol, 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 or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating 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.

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, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically- conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosolmodifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

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 pressure, or electrostatic energy. The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapour delivery systems) such as nebulisers or e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system / device and electronic aerosol delivery system I device. Furthermore, and 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 delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable/consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol-generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a "cartomizer" ) and the reusable device part will comprise the power provision (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control 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 cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are 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. When the aerosol-generating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosolgenerating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems/devices.

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 cartridges. 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 delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

To initiate heating, the existing aerosol provision system either requires a heating control button on the side of the shell, which is cumbersome and not conducive to system miniaturization. Or use a Hall effect sensor to detect the movement of the cap to initiate heating, which carries the risk of accidental heating. Therefore, the present application creatively provides a new aerosol provision system by arranging a human-machine interaction module on the cap that opens or closes the opening to obtain the operation of the user to initiate heating. Compared to existing technologies, the present application can initiate heating based on the user's precise heating intention, thereby reducing the possibility of accidental heating. At the same time, the user can operate the cap and the human-machine interaction module without moving his hand between the positions of the cap and the human-machine interaction module, which simplifies the user input, and reuses the thickness and area of the cap, which is conducive to the miniaturization design of the system.

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic diagrams of an aerosol provision system. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a sensor. The human machine interaction module is a user interface arrangement. Figures 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a switch module. Figure 7 is an exploded diagram of another structure of an aerosol provision system comprising a human-machine interaction module as a switch module. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the structure shown in Figure 7 from a viewing direction. Figure 9 is an enlarged view of section B in the structure shown in Figure 8. Figures 2 to 9 show the aerosol provision system 20 and its partial structure in a simplified manner, where each part is not necessarily drawn to scale, and the parts that are not relevant to the understanding of present application are omitted.

The various aerosol provision systems described in the following each comprise an aerosol provision device.

As shown in Figure 1, an aerosol provision system 10 includes a shell 100 provided with an opening 120 at one end of the height direction of the shell 100. The opening 120 can be used to insert an aerosol article 130. For hygiene inside the shell, the aerosol provision system 10 is also provided with a cap 140 that can move between an open position and a closed position of the opening 120. The opening 120 is generally configured as an insertion port for aerosol articles or an air inlet. One side of the shell 100 is provided with a heating control button 110. When using the system, the user first moves the cap 140 to open the opening 120 using the hand, and then turns the hand to the side of the shell 100 to operate the heating control button 110 to initiate heating of the system.

A magnet is arranged on the cap 140 which moves together with the cap 140. Inside the shell 100, a Hall effect sensor is provided to collect the magnetic field intensity of the magnet and output a corresponding electric signal. As the magnet moves to different positions, the collected magnetic field intensities are different, and the output electrical signal are different. Thus, the position of the magnet and the cap 140 can be identified, thereby determining whether the opening 120 is opened. When it is determined that the opening 120 is open, the heating is initiated.

When users open the opening 120, they may intend to insert a cigarette or clean the interior of the shell, rather than to initiate heating. This may result in heating being initiated that is not intended by the user.

As shown in Figure 2, the aerosol provision system 20 comprises a shell 200 forming an internal cavity 201. The shell 200 is a housing. The aerosol provision device comprises the shell.

The aerosol provision system 20 comprises a controller 210, a power supply 220, and a heater 230. The controller 210, power supply 220 and heater 230 are arranged in the internal cavity 201. The aerosol provision device comprises the controller.

The controller 210 is usable to control the power supply 220, thereby controlling the heating of the system. The controller 210 may have multiple possible configurations. The controller 210 may be programmable.

The power supply 220 may be any suitable power source, such as a DC voltage source. In embodiments, the power supply is a lithium-ion battery. In embodiments, the power supply is a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or a lithium- based battery, such as a lithium cobalt, a lithium iron phosphate, or a lithium polymer battery. The aerosol provision device comprises the power source.

The heater 230 may adopt a variety of possible configurations. In embodiments, the heater is a central heater such as a heating needle. In embodiments, the heater is in the form of a heating mesh, heating coil, etc. The aerosol provision device comprises the heater. As shown in Figure 2, the shell 200 defines an opening 240 at the top end in the height direction. The opening 240 may be configured for different functional requirements. In embodiments, the opening 240 is configured to communicate with an internal cavity 201 for the insertion of an aerosol article. The aerosol article may specifically be either a cigarette or a cartridge. They are consumables and may be replaced when needed. During replacement, the cigarette or cartridge is inserted into the internal cavity 201 through the opening 240 to be heated inside the internal cavity 201. In embodiments, the opening 240 is configured to communicate with the outside, serving as an air inlet for air into the internal cavity 201.

The function, position, shape, size, etc. of the opening 240 in embodiments may vary. The illustration in Figure 2 and the above description are only partial examples. In embodiments, the opening 240 is configured as other functional openings or arranged at other positions on the shell 200. In embodiments, the opening is configured as an air inlet arranged on the side of the shell 200 or at the bottom end in the height direction of the shell 200.

As shown in Figure 2, the aerosol provision system 20 comprises a cap 250, configured to move between an open position for opening the opening 240 and a closed position for closing the opening 240. Through the cap 250, it can be moved to the open position to open the opening 240 during use. When not in use, the cap 250 can be moved to the closed position to close the opening 240 to prevent dust from falling into the internal cavity 201. The open position may include a position where the opening 240 is at least partially opened. The aerosol provision device comprises the cap.

As shown in Figure 2, the aerosol provision system 20 comprises a humanmachine interaction module 260, configured to receive a user’s operation. The user’s operation is a user input. At least part of the structure of the human-machine interaction module 260 may be arranged on the cap 250 to be exposed to a user for direct operation. The structure of the human-machine interaction module 260 arranged on the cap 250 may be a structure independent of the cap 250 or integrated with the cap 250, that is, formed by a part of the cap 250. As shown in Figure 7, the structure of the humanmachine interaction module 260 arranged on the cap 250 may be formed by a finger- shaped recess of the cap 250 itself. The aerosol provision device comprises the humanmachine interaction module.

The user’s operation received by the human-machine interaction module 260 refers to the operation directly received from the user, as distinct from the operation indirectly received due to the user's action on the cap 250. For example, in the structure shown in Figure 2, when a user operates the cap, the magnetic component arranged on the cap 250 is also indirectly operated. Such user’s operation received indirectly through the cap 250 are not within the scope of the user’s operation received by the humanmachine interaction module 260 as described in the present application. The user’s operation received by the human-machine interaction module 260 may reflect the user's heating intention, so that the controller 210 may determine whether to initiate heating of the system 20 based on the user’s operation. In some embodiments of present application, the controller 210 may also be configured to determine whether to allow the system 20 to initiate heating based on the user’s operation, and the heating may be initiated based on further operations such as puffing by the user. This may result in energy-saving.

The following is a typical scenario in which users use the aerosol provision system described above:

The user holds the system 20 in the right hand and uses the right finger of the right hand to move the cap 250 to open the opening 240, and inserts the cigarette through the opening 240 with the left hand. If heating needs to be initiated, the right finger placed on the cap 250 can trigger the human-machine interaction module 260 on the cap 250. Throughout the process, the right finger, such as the thumb, can be placed on the cap 250 without moving to other positions of the system. Heating may be initiated based on the accurate heating intention of the user, user operations may be simplified.

The part of the human-machine interaction module 260 arranged on the cap 250 may be flush with the outer surface of the cap 250, such as by slotting on the cap 250 and installing the human-machine interaction module 260 in the slot. This may be more spatially efficient. To avoid misoperation, in some embodiments, the part of the humanmachine interaction module 260 arranged on the cap 250 may be slightly below the outer surface of the cap 250.

The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise a damping component 270 configured to provide a damping force when the cap 250 moves between the open position and the closed position. The damping force may be convenient for the user to feel the movement of the cap, providing a better operation experience. The damping force may reduce the chance of misoperation caused by overly easy movement.

The form of the damping component is not specifically limited and may include any suitable damping component. As an exemplary rather than restrictive description, as shown in Figure 2, the damping component 270 in the embodiment of the present application comprises a first magnetic element 271 and a second magnetic element 272 that repel each other. The first magnetic element 271 is arranged on the cap 250. The second magnetic element 272 is arranged within the internal cavity 201. The first magnetic element 271 moves together with the cap 250 and generates different damping forces or driving forces with the second magnetic element 272 when moving to different positions.

In embodiments, the cap 250 has a first stroke and a second stroke occurring successively when moving between the open position and the closed position. That is, the cap moves through a first range of motion and through a second range of motion when moving between the open position and the closed position. As shown in Figure 2, the movement from A1 to A2 is the first stroke, and the movement from A2 to A3 is the second stroke. The damping component 270 may be configured to provide a damping force for the movement of the cap 250 during the first stroke and a driving force for the movement of the cap 250 during the second stroke. Taking the first magnetic element 271 and the second magnetic element 272 as an example, when the user moves the cap 250 causing the first magnetic element 271 to gradually approach the second magnetic element 272, the user can feel an increasing damping force. The damping force is at its maximum when the first magnetic component 271 is closest to the second magnetic component 272. As the cap 250 continues moving from the position where the magnetic elements are closest to each other, the first magnetic element 271 gradually moves away from the second magnetic element 272, and the user can feel a gradually decreasing driving force. According to the change in force, the user can make a judgment about the moving position of the cap 250. For example, when the damping force is at its maximum, the cap 250 may be moved to a fully open position of the opening 240 or to a position where the opening 240 is about to be opened. In an alternative embodiment, the damping component 270 may be configured as an elastic component or other possible components.

Taking the configuration of opening 240 as an air inlet port of the system or an article insertion port of the system as an example, those skilled in the art can understand that it is unreasonable to initiate heating when the opening 240 is not open. If the opening 240 is not opened and the aerosol article is not inserted, initiating heating at this time would cause the system 20 to dry burn. In embodiments, the controller 210 is configured to initiate heating based on user’s operation and the state of the opening 240. It may be configured to determine to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating when the user’s operation indicates the intention to start heating and the opening is in an open state. This can be implemented in various possible ways: In a first mode, the system 20 may also comprise an opening state detection module configured to detect the opening and closing state of the opening 240, which is transmitted to the controller 210. This facilitates the controller 210 to determine whether to initiate heating based on the user’s operation received from the human-computer interaction module 260 and the opening and closing state detected by the opening state detection module.

In embodiments, the opening state detection module can be implemented through direct detection of the opening. For example, within the internal cavity 201 , a light sensor can be arranged at a position corresponding to the position of the opening 240 to detect the light entering the internal cavity 201 through the opening 240. If the preset conditions are met, it can be determined that opening 240 is opened, otherwise the opening 240 is closed.

In embodiments, the state of the opening 240 can also be determined by detecting the movement position of the cap 250. As shown in Figure 3, the opening state detection module may comprise a first component 310 and a second component 320. The first component 310 may be connected to the cap 250 and may be configured to move between the open position and the closed position under the driving of the cap 250. The second component 320 may be configured to output a first signal based on the position of the first component 310. The controller 210 may be configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system 20 or allow the system 20 to initiate heating based on the first signal and user’s operation. As an example, the first component 310 is a magnetic component and the second component 320 is a Hall effect sensor. When the magnetic component moves to different positions with the cap 250, the Hall effect sensor can detect different magnetic field intensities, thereby outputting different electrical signals to the controller 210, so that the controller 210 can determine the position of the magnetic component according to the received electrical signal, further determining whether the cap 250 is in the open position or the closed position, and thus determining the opening and closing state of the opening 240. In embodiments, the first component 310 and the second component 320 may also be configured based on other types of sensors.

In embodiments, the first component may share the same magnet with the first magnetic component.

In a second mode, instead of arranging an opening state detection module, the human-machine interaction module 260 is configured so that the human-machine interaction module 260 can be triggered only when opening 240 is opened. For example, a part of the human-machine interaction module 260 may be arranged at a predetermined position, allowing that part of the structure to be triggered only when the cap 250 is in the open position. The specific details of the second mode will be described in the subsequent description of the composition of the switch module, and will not be elaborated on here. integrating the opening state and the user’s operation through the controller, or restricting the user to effectively trigger the human-machine interaction module only when the opening is open may reduce the chance of initiating heating when the opening is closed.

The human-machine interaction module, in embodiments, may have any suitable form. As an illustrative rather than restrictive description, as shown in Figure 4, the human-machine interaction module is configured as a sensor 260'. In embodiments, the sensor 260' may be configured as at least one of a pressure sensor or a biometric sensor. As illustrated, the sensor 260' may comprise a user operation section 261 ' arranged on the cap 250 and be configured to perceive the physical characteristic of the user's operation such as the pressure exerted by the user. The user operation section is a user operation arrangement. The sensor 260' may also comprise a signal processing section 262' configured to convert the physical characteristics perceived by the user operating section 26T into a second signal, such as converting a pressure signal into an electrical signal. The controller 210 may be configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system 20 or allow the system 20 to initiate heating based on the second signal. In some embodiments of the present application, the signal processing section 262' may be arranged within the internal cavity 201. In embodiments, both the signal processing section 262' and the user operation section 26T may be arranged on the cap 250. The signal processing section part 262' may be arranged on the cap 250 separately from the user operation section 26T, or may be arranged on the cap 250 integrally with the user operation section 26T. The cap 250 may form a containment chamber to accommodate the signal processing section 262', thereby reducing the impact of the external environment on the signal processing section unit 262'.

In embodiments, the human-machine interaction module may be configured as a switch module 260” as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The switch module 260” may comprise a user operation section 261” arranged on the cap 250, configured to receive the user’s operation. The switch module 260” may also comprise a switch circuit 262” and a detachable electrical contact 263”. Wherein the detachable electrical contact 263” may be configured to detach or make contact based on the user's operation to open or close the switch circuit. The controller 210 may be connected to the switch circuit 262” and be configured to monitor the open or close status of the switch circuit 262” to determine whether to initiate heating of the system 20 or allow the system 20 to initiate heating based on the status of the switch circuit. Wherein the user operation section 261 ” may move based on the user’s operation, and based on the movement, and drive the detachable electrical contact 263” to move to a separation position or a contact position to open or close the switch circuit 262”.

As shown in Figure 5, the switch circuit 262”, and the detachable electrical contact 263” are separated from the cap 250 and arranged within the internal cavity 201. In embodiments, the switch circuit 262” and/or the detachable electrical contact 263” may be integrated together with the user operation section 261” on the cap 250. When arranged on the cap 250, the cap 250 may form a containment chamber to accommodate the switch circuit 262” and/or the detachable electrical contact 263”.

The user operation section 261” may have a plurality of possible forms, such as at least one of pressing section, a rotating section, a sliding section and a touching section.

As shown in Figure 5, the detachable electrical contact 263” may comprise a first contact 2631” and a second contact 2632” arranged on the switch circuit 262”. The user operation section 261” may be configured to receive the user’s operation and move accordingly, and drive the first contact 2631” and the second contact 2632” to make contact and close the switch circuit 262”. The user operation section 261” may be a pressing section, and configured to move after receiving the user’s pressing operation, and to move the first contact 2631 ” closer to the second contact 2632” to make contact and close the switch circuit.

The first contact 2631” and the second contact 2632” may have a plurality of possible forms. For example, the first contact 2631” may be arranged on the user operating section 261”, moving along with the user operating section 261“, and making contact with the second contact 2632” to close the switch circuit 262” after approaching the second contact 2632”.

In embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first contact 2631” may be arranged between the second contact 2632” and the user operation section 261”, the user operation section 261” contacts and presses the first contact 2631” after being pressed to make the first contact 2631” to move and make contact with the second contact 2632” to close the switch circuit 262”. In embodiments, the first contact 2631” may be arranged on one side of the second contact 2632” away from the user operation section 261”, the user operation section 261” contacts and presses the second contact 2632” after being pressed to make the second contact 2632” to move and make contact with the first contact 2631” to close the switch circuit 262”. Further, the aerosol provision system 20 may also be provided with a support component configured to provide support for the first contact 2631 ” oriented toward the user operation section 261”. More specifically, the first contact 2631” may be integrated on the support component.

To reset the first contact 2631”, the switch module 260” may also comprise an elastic component. The first contact 2631” may be connected to the switch circuit 262” through the elastic component, allowing the first contact 2631” to move between positions near and away from the second contact 2632” and to reset to its initial position.

In the structure described above, the first contact 2631 ” and the second contact 2632” are far apart from each other in their initial positions, and the switch circuit 262” is open. When the user operation section 261” receives the user’s operation, the contacts come close together, closing the switch circuit 262”. The controller 210 initiates heating when the switch circuit 262” is closed. When the user’s operation is removed, the contacts return to their initial positions under the action of the elastic component. In embodiments, the first contact 2631” and the second contact 2632” are close together in their initial position, and the switch circuit 262” is closed. When the user operation section 261” receives the user’s operation, the contacts move apart to open the switch circuit 262”. The controller 210 initiates heating when the switch circuit 262” is opened. When the user’s operation is removed, the contacts return to their initial positions under the action of the elastic component.

To ensure initiate heating of the system only when the opening is open, the human-machine interaction module may be configured so that it can only be triggered when the opening is open. Corresponding to this implementation method, the detachable electric contact 263” may be configured to be detachably arranged from the cap 250, and the position of the detachable electrical contact 263” is configured such that when the cap 250 moves to the open position 240, the detachable electrical contact 263” is within the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation, when the cap 250 moves to the closed position, the detachable electrical contact 263” is outside the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the detachable electrical contact 263” may be fully detachably arranged from the cap 250. And as shown in Figure 5, when the cap 250 moves to the open position, the position of the user operating section 261” corresponds to the position of the detachable electrical contact 263”. Pressing the user operating section 261” may trigger detachable electrical contact 263”. As shown in Figure 6, when the cap 250 moves to the closed position, the position of the user operating section 261” is misaligned with the position of the detachable electrical contact 263”. Even if the user operation section 261” is pressed, the user operation section 261” cannot make contact with the detachable electrical contacts 263”, that is. the detachable electrical contact 263” cannot be triggered.

This can make it more likely that the human-machine interaction module can be effectively triggered to initiate heating when the opening is opened. And when the opening is closed, the human-machine interaction module is less likely to be effectively triggered, so that the heating is less likely to be initiated.

In addition to the structures shown in Figures 5 and 6, only the first contact 2631” or the second contact 2632” of the detachable electrical contact 263” may be configured such that when the cap 250 moves to the position where the opening 240 is open, it is within the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation, and when the cap 250 moves to the closed position, it is outside the range of position that can be triggered by the user’s operation.

The structure shown in Figures 5 and 6 requires the user to align the user's operating section 261 ” and the detachable electrical contact 263”. In order to facilitate the user to identify the position that can be aligned, a feature position that is easy to identify can be provided in the present application. For example, when the cap 250 is moved to the maximum open position, it can effectively trigger the detachable electric contact 263”.

Another structure of an aerosol provision system is provided, which can trigger the human-machine interaction module when the cap moves to any position. As shown in Figures 7 to 9, the aerosol provision system 20 may comprise a shell 200 forming an internal cavity 201 , and a controller 210, a power supply 220, and a heater 230 arranged within the internal cavity 201 . The internal cavity 201 may also be provided with a bracket 280 for installing the power supply 220, the heater 230, the controller 210, etc. The top of the shell 200 may be provided with an end cap 202, and an opening 240 may be arranged on the end cap 202. The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise a cap 250 that can move on the end cap 202 to open or close the opening 240. The cap 250 may specifically comprise an upper cap 251 and a lower cap 252 arranged adjacent to the end cap 202, and a containment chamber 253 may be defined between the upper cap 251 and the lower cap 252.

The aerosol provision system 20 may also comprise a human-machine interaction module in the form of a switch module, which specifically comprises a user operation section 261” (illustrated in the Figure as a finger-shaped pressing section), a switch circuit 262”, and a detachable electrical contact 263”. The switch circuit 262” may also be connected to the controller 210 for the controller 210 to obtain the open/close status of the switch circuit 262”.

The detachable electrical contact 263” and the switch circuit 262” may be integrated into a flexible circuit board FPCBA, and the first contact and the second contact of the detachable electrical contact 263” are arranged with a gap on the flexible circuit board. The detachable electrical contact 263” and the part of the switch circuit 262” that is equipped with the detachable electrical contact 263” may be arranged in containment chamber 253 to move synchronously with the cap 250. The synchronous movement aligns the detachable electrical contact 263” with the user operation section 261”. The detachable electrical contact 263” remains within the range of positions that can be triggered by the user’s operation. The flexible circuit board can bend or unfold under the driving of the cap 250without breaking.

The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise a damping component 270, specifically a first magnetic element 271 and a second magnetic element 272.

The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise a support component 291 , arranged within a containment space, and configured to provide support for the detachable electrical contact 263” oriented toward the user operation section 261”.

The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise a switch circuit fixture 292, configured to secure a switch circuit 262” extending from the containment space through the end cap 202 to the controller 210, to prevent the switch circuit 262” from shaking within the internal cavity 201.

The aerosol provision system 20 may further comprise an opening state detection module, which may specifically comprise a magnet and a Hall effect sensor, wherein the magnet may share the first magnetic element 271 mentioned above.

Compared to the structures shown in Figures 5 and 6, the structures shown in Figures 7 to 9 may allow users to trigger the switch module when the cap moves to any position. By combining the first signal of the opening state detection module, precise control of heating can also be achieved. A control method for an aerosol provision system comprises: utilizing a humanmachine interaction module that is at least partially arranged on the cap to receive a user’s operation; and based on the user’s operation, determining whether to initiate heating of the system or allow the system to initiate heating.

The aerosol provision system may specifically be the aerosol provision system described in reference to Figures 2 to 9. The method may be applied in the controller described above.

When the aerosol provision system further comprises a first component and a second component for detecting an opening state, the method may comprise: utilizing a human-computer interaction module, at least partially arranged on the cap, to receive a user’s operation; receiving a first signal of the second component; and determining whether to initiate heating of the system or to allow the system to initiate heating based on the user’s operation and the first signal.

When the user's operation indicates a heating intention and the first signal indicates that the opening is opened, initiating heating of the system or allowing the system to initiate heating.

When the human-computer interaction module is a switch module, the user's heating intention may be represented by the open/close status of the switch circuit.

When the human-machine interaction module is a sensor, the user's heating intention is represented by the second signal of the sensor.

A computer device comprises a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program that can run on the processor, and when executed by the processor, the computer program implements the control method for an aerosol provision system as described above.

A computer-readable storage medium has a computer program stored therein, and the computer program, when executed, implements the control method for an aerosol provision system as described above.

Each part of the present application may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or combinations thereof. In the above implementations, multiple steps or methods may be implemented with software or firmware stored in memory and executed by an appropriate instruction execution system. For example, if it is implemented by hardware, as in another implementation, it can be implemented by any one of the following technologies known in the art or combinations thereof: discrete logic circuits with logic gate circuits for implementing logic functions for data signal, special integrated circuits with appropriate combined logic gate circuits, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

In the description of this specification, the referential terminology "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are comprised in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the indicative expression of the above-mentioned terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in any one or more embodiments or examples.

Moreover, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the characteristics defined as "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly comprise at least one such characteristic. In the description of the present application, the term "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

In the present application, unless explicitly defined and limited, terms such as "mounting," "connecting," "connection," "fixing," etc., should be understood broadly. For instance, the connection may be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated; it may be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it may be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium, it may be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of these terms in the context of the application based on the circumstances.

Although the embodiments of the application have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the application. Those skilled in the art within the scope of the application can make variations, modifications, replacements, and variations to the above-described embodiments.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision device comprising: a housing, defining an opening; a cap, configured to move between an open position in which the opening is uncovered and a closed position in which the opening is at least partially covered by the cap; a user interface arrangement, at least partially arranged on the cap, configured to receive a user input; a controller, configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on the user input or to determine whether to allow the system to initiate heating based on the user input.

2. The aerosol provision device according to claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a first component and a second component, the first component being connected to the cap and configured to be driven by the cap to move between the open position and the closed position; and the second component being configured to output a first signal based on the position of the first component; wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on the first signal and the user input or wherein the controller is configured to allow the system to initiate heating based on the first signal and the user input.

3. The aerosol provision device according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to determine to initiate heating of the system when the user input indicates an intention to start heating and the first signal indicates that the opening is opened; or wherein the controller is configured to determine to allow the system to initiate heating when the user input indicates an intention to start heating and the first signal indicates that the opening is opened.

4. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user interface arrangement comprises a sensor arrangement, the sensor arrangement comprising: a user operation arrangement arranged on the cap, configured to sense a physical characteristic of the user input; and a signal processing arrangement, configured to convert the physical characteristic into a second signal, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on the second signal or wherein the controller is configured to determine whether to allow the system to initiate heating based on the second signal.

5. The aerosol provision device according to claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor and a biometric sensor.

6. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the user interface arrangement comprises a switch module, the switch module comprising: a user operation arrangement arranged on the cap, configured to receive the user input; a switch circuit; a detachable electrical contact, configured to open or close the switch circuit based on the user input, wherein the controller is connected to the switch circuit and configured to monitor whether the switch circuit is open or closed and to determine whether to initiate heating of the system based on whether the switch circuit is open or closed or to determine whether to allow the system to initiate heating based on whether the switch circuit is open or closed.

7. The aerosol provision device according to claim 6, wherein the user operation arrangement is a pressing section, the detachable electrical contact comprises a first contact and a second contact arranged on the switch circuit; and the pressing section is configured to move the first contact closer to the second contact to make contact and close the switch circuit on receiving a user pressing operation.

8. The aerosol provision device according to claim 7, wherein the first contact is arranged on the pressing section and is arranged to move with the pressing section and make contact with the second contact to close the switch circuit after approaching the second contact; or wherein the first contact is arranged between the second contact and the pressing section and the pressing section is arranged to contact and press the first contact to cause the first contact to move and make contact with the second contact to close the switch circuit; or wherein the first contact is arranged on a side of the second contact opposite to the pressing section, and the pressing section is arranged to contact and press the second contact to cause the second contact to move and make contact with the first contact to close the switch circuit.

9. The aerosol provision device according to claim 8, wherein the first contact is arranged on a side of the second contact opposite to the pressing section; and wherein the system comprises a support component configured to provide support to the first contact.

10. The aerosol provision device according to claim 9, wherein the first contact is arranged on the support component.

11. The aerosol provision device according to claim 9, comprising an elastic component and wherein the first contact is connected to the switch circuit through the elastic component.

12. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 6 to 11 , wherein the detachable electrical contact is configured to be connected to and move synchronously with the cap such that the detachable electrical contact remains within a range of positions in which the detachable electrical contact can open or close the switch circuit based on the user input.

13. The aerosol provision device according to claim 12, wherein the switch circuit is a flexible circuit configured to be driven by the cap to bend or unfold to enable the synchronous movement of the detachable electrical contact with the cap.

14. The aerosol provision device according to claim 12, wherein the cap comprises an upper cap, a lower cap connected to the upper cap, and a containment chamber defined between the upper cap and the lower cap, the detachable electrical contact being arranged in the containment chamber.

15. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 6 to 14, wherein the detachable electrical contact is positioned such that when the cap moves to the open position, the detachable electrical contact is configured to open or close the switch circuit based on the user input, and when the cap moves to the closed position, detachable electrical contact is not configured to open or close the switch circuit based on the user input.

16. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 6 to 15, wherein the user operation arrangement comprises at least one of a pressing section, a rotating section, a sliding section and a touching section.

17. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 16, comprising a damping component, configured to provide a damping force to the cap when the cap moves between the open position and closed position.

18. The aerosol provision device according to claim 17, wherein movement of the cap between the open position and the closed position comprises movement through a first range of motion and a second range of motion, and the damping component is configured to provide the damping force to the cap during the first range of motion and to provide a driving force to the cap during the second range of motion.

19. The aerosol provision device according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the damping component comprises at least one of an elastic component and a repulsive magnetic component.

20. The aerosol provision device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the opening defines an air inlet port of the system or an article insertion port of the system.

21. The aerosol provision device according to claim 2, wherein the first component is a magnetic component and the second component is a Hall sensor.

22. A control method for the aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 21 , the method comprising: utilizing the user interface arrangement to receive a user input; based on the user input, determining whether to initiate heating of the system or determining whether to allow the system to initiate heating.

23. An aerosol provision system comprising the aerosol provision device of any of claims

1 to 21 and an article comprising aerosol generating material.