CN117545386A

CN117545386A - Aerosol generating device with progress indication

Info

Publication number: CN117545386A
Application number: CN202280044540.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: S·潘缇埃; E·斯图拉; T·R·M·廷斯特罗姆; E·M·瓦尔迪兹·罗哈斯; V·奥利亚纳
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2021-06-30
Filing date: 2022-06-27
Publication date: 2024-02-09
Also published as: KR20240027737A; WO2023274973A1

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate is configured to indicate progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device. An example of such an event is a use procedure during which an aerosol is generated. The aerosol-generating device comprises: an indicator configured to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7; and a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control the indicator to indicate being in an indication state representing the progress of the event. The progress of the event is determined and displayed to the user.

Description

Aerosol generating device with progress indication

The present invention relates to aerosol-generating devices configured to generate aerosols and methods of using such devices. In particular, the invention relates to aerosol-generating devices in which data concerning the progress of the operational phase of the device is visually conveyed to a user of the device.

Aerosol-generating devices configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco-containing substrate, are known in the art. Generally, the inhalable aerosol is generated by transferring heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-forming substrate or material, which may be located within, around or downstream of the heat source. The aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid substrate contained in the reservoir. The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of a separate aerosol-generating article configured to be engaged with an aerosol-generating device to form an aerosol. During consumption, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer.

Some aerosol-generating devices are configured to have at least one operational stage. This stage of operation may be referred to as an event. For example, some aerosol-generating devices may be configured to provide a user experience having a limited duration. For example, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to operate for a predetermined period of time during any single use. An aerosol-generating device configured for use with a separate aerosol-generating article may be configured to operate in a discrete use process that does not last longer than the time it takes to deplete an aerosol-forming substrate within a single aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may be configured to undergo a pre-heat stage, which may have a fixed or variable duration.

An aerosol-generating device configured to monitor and indicate the progress of an event such as an operational phase may improve the user experience.

According to an aspect of the invention, an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate is configured to indicate progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise an indicator configured to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7 (e.g. equal to or greater than 10). A controller is configured to control the indicator to indicate being in an indication state representing progress of the event. The controller is preferably configured to monitor the progress of the event and to control the indicator to indicate that it is in an indication state representing the progress of the event.

Thus, an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate may be configured to indicate progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising: an indicator configured to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7; and a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control the indicator to indicate being in an indication state representing the progress of the event.

It may be convenient for a user to be able to accurately determine how long any particular event must run. For example, the user may wish to know how far they have progressed through the use process, or until the end of the use process. Traditional combustible cigarettes have a burn line that moves along the cigarette as it is consumed, and thus provide a constant visual indication to the user of the progress of the user experience. Thus, the user can determine how many cigarettes are available for consumption at any point in time. In many aerosol-generating devices, this determination is more difficult. Some devices provide an indication that the use procedure will end shortly before the end of the procedure, but this does not provide the user with information about the progress of the use procedure during the use procedure. Information about progress may be particularly useful to the user, where the duration of the use procedure is controlled by more than one parameter.

The number of indication states is preferably greater than 7. That is, the number n is preferably greater than 7, for example greater than 8, or greater than 9, or greater than 10. For example, n may be 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12. For example, the number n may be between 7 and 144. The higher the number, the greater the resolution at which the progress of the event can be presented. However, if the number of states is too high, meaningful differentiation between adjacent states in the sequence may be more difficult to achieve.

The indicators of the device may comprise one or more indicators selected from the group consisting of visual indicators, audio indicators, and tactile indicators. Preferably, the indicator is a light emitting indicator. The illuminated indicators may be conveniently controlled to display in 7 or more successive indication states. Preferably, the light emitting indicator comprises three or more discrete light emitting units. Each of the light emitting units is individually controllable to deliver a sequence of indication states.

Preferably, the indicator is a visual indicator comprising a predetermined number (i) of discrete light emitting units, each light emitting unit being controllable to emit a predetermined number (j) of different states of light, the different indication states being different intensities or static luminance levels, i being a number between 3 and 24 or between 4 and 24, and j being a number between 2 and 5. Preferably, each of said predetermined number j of indication states represents a light intensity level between 0% and 100% of the possible emission intensity. By controlling each of the discrete light emitting units to emit a predetermined number of different intensities or static brightness levels of light, it is possible to configure the device to display a relatively large number of sequential indication states without requiring a corresponding large number of different light emitting units.

Each of the discrete light emitting units may be controlled to emit light of 2 different intensities (e.g., an intensity of about 50% of the possible emission intensity and about 100% of the possible emission intensity).

Each of the discrete light emitting units may be controlled to emit light of 3 different intensities (e.g., an intensity of about 33% of the possible emission intensity, about 66% of the possible emission intensity, and about 100% of the possible emission intensity).

Each of the discrete light emitting units is controlled to emit light of 4 different intensities (e.g., about 25% of the possible emission intensity, about 50% of the possible emission intensity, about 75% of the possible emission intensity, and about 100% of the possible emission intensity).

The controller of the apparatus is preferably configured to interact with one or more drivers to control the indicators to indicate progress in a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states. For example, the controller may interact with one or more LED drivers. The apparatus may include a visual indicator comprising a plurality of light emitting units, and wherein the controller is configured to interact with one or more drivers to control the visual indicator to indicate progress in a sequence of 1 st to n th different visual indication states.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise control electronics and at least one visual indicator, for example an illumination array, comprising a plurality of lighting units. The control electronics are preferably configured to control each of the plurality of light emitting units independently in at least the following states:

i) An "off state" in which the light emitting unit does not emit light;

ii) "first illumination state", wherein the light emitting unit emits light of a first intensity or static luminance level; and

iii) A "second illumination state" in which the light emitting unit emits light of a second intensity or static luminance level different from the first static luminance level. The control electronics are preferably configured to control each of the light emitting units to be in at least one of the off state, the first illumination state and the second illumination state, so as to indicate the progress of the event to a user as a sequence of 1 st to nth different visual indication states. The lighting unit may also be controlled in a "third lighting state", wherein the lighting unit emits light of a third intensity or static luminance level different from the first or second static luminance level. The lighting unit may also be controlled in a "fourth lighting state", wherein the lighting unit emits light of a fourth intensity or static luminance level different from the first, second or third static luminance level.

In a preferred example, the device comprises a plurality of light emitting units, the light emitting units being LEDs. Each of the plurality of lighting units is preferably configured to be independently controlled at a different static brightness level to indicate progress of the event, and at least one of the lighting units is controllable to display different colored light to indicate a status, such as a low power level or approaching the end of the event.

The control electronics may be configured to independently control each of the plurality of light emitting units in a plurality of indication states, wherein in each of the plurality of indication states the respective light emitting unit emits light of a different static intensity/static luminance level. The use of different static brightness levels for each of the plurality of lighting states facilitates the transfer of data relating to a large number of incremental changes in an event to a user. The greater the number of indication states, the more data about the change of events that can be transferred to the user. In this way, a high degree of granularity in the data about the state of the event can be communicated to the user.

Where the apparatus comprises a visual indicator, the visual indicator may comprise a plurality of windows for transmitting light to a user, and may further comprise one or more waveguides.

The discrete light emitting units may be configured as a linear matrix on or extending through the housing of the device. For example, the linear matrix may be a 1×3 matrix, or a 1×4 matrix, or a 1×5 matrix, or a 1×6 matrix, or a 2×3 matrix, or a 2×4 matrix, or a 2×5 matrix, or a 2×6 matrix, or a 3×3 matrix, or a 3×4 matrix, or a 3×5 matrix, or a 3×6 matrix. The linear matrix may conveniently display the progress as a linear progress of varying light intensity or brightness.

The discrete light emitting units may be configured as an annular matrix on or extending through the housing of the device. For example, the annular matrix may comprise a single ring formed by 3 to 12 light emitting units (e.g. 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 light emitting units). The annular matrix may comprise 2 concentric rings, each ring being formed of 3 to 12 light emitting units (e.g. 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 light emitting units).

The indicator may be a visual indicator comprising an LCD display screen or an OLED display screen.

The progress of the event may be displayed by the visual indicator such that the progress through the first to nth indication states involves a corresponding increase in the intensity or brightness of the light displayed by the visual indicator.

The progress of the event may be displayed by the visual indicator such that the progress through the first to nth indication states involves a corresponding decrease in the intensity or brightness of the light displayed by the visual indicator.

An event may be any operational phase of the device having a duration. The duration of an event may be measured by time or by one or more other parameters. The duration of the event may depend on more than one parameter. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to perform a function during an event. The event may be a heating event, such as a warm-up event, during which the heater or heating element is heated to a temperature required to generate an aerosol. The event may be a calibration event, for example, in which the response of the monitored parameter to heating of the heating element is determined. The event may be a charging event during which a battery in the device is charged. The event may be a pause event during which a process or heating mode is used to pause for a period of time. The event may be a use process during which the aerosol-forming substrate is heated to form an aerosol. An event may be defined as having an event start and an event end, a duration of the event defined by the event start and the event end.

Typically, the use process is a limited use process; i.e. a use procedure with a start and an end. The duration of the use procedure by time measurement may be affected by the use during the use procedure. The duration of the use procedure may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the use procedure. The duration of the use procedure may be less than the maximum time if the one or more monitored parameters reach a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the use procedure. The use process may include a warm-up period and/or a calibration period. For example, the one or more monitored parameters may include one or more of the following: i) A cumulative puff count of a series of puffs from the beginning of the use process, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol released from the aerosol-forming substrate from the beginning of the use process.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating device" is used to describe a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol. Preferably, the aerosol-generating device is a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user's lungs through a user's mouth. The aerosol-generating device may be a holder for an aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into the user's lungs through the user's mouth. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article is an article that generates a nicotine-containing aerosol that is directly inhalable into the user's lungs through the user's mouth. The aerosol-generating article may be an article that generates a nicotine-free aerosol that is directly inhalable into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating article" refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating article may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that may form an aerosol upon heating.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" refers to a substrate that is composed of or includes an aerosol-forming material that is capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating to generate an aerosol. The aerosol may comprise nicotine. The aerosol may be a nicotine-free aerosol comprising one or more inhalable substances but no nicotine.

As used herein, the term "usage" refers to an operational cycle of an aerosol-generating device having a finite duration. The use process may be initiated by an action of the user. The use procedure may be terminated after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the initiation of the use procedure. During the use process, the use process may be terminated after the monitored parameter has reached the threshold value. Typically, the usage process has a duration that allows the user to enjoy a single user experience. For example, in certain aerosol-generating devices, the use process may have a duration that allows a user to consume a single disposable aerosol-generating article. After the use process has terminated, the user needs further action to initiate a subsequent use process.

As used herein, the term "light emitting indicator" refers to an element of an aerosol-generating device capable of emitting an indication in the form of light visible to a user of the device.

As used herein, the term "light emitting unit" refers to a discrete component of a light emitting indicator capable of emitting light. Each light emitting unit provides a single display area of the light emitting indicator. For example, the light emitting unit may comprise or may be a single bulb or a single LED. The lighting unit may comprise more than one bulb or LED. The light emitted by the light emitting unit is visible to a user of the aerosol-generating device. The lighting unit may be mounted such that it protrudes through the housing of the aerosol-generating device. The lighting unit may be enclosed within a housing of the aerosol-generating device such that light emitted from the lighting unit is visible through a window of the aerosol-generating device. The light emitted from the light emitting unit may be transmitted along the waveguide structure such that it is visible to a user of the device.

Where the apparatus comprises LEDs (e.g. a plurality of LEDs), the light emitting diode control driver may be configured to control the supply of power from the power source to one or more of the LEDs by a pulse width modulation scheme having a predetermined resolution, so as to control the brightness or intensity of one or more of the plurality of light emitting diodes. For example, the resolution of the pulse width modulation scheme may be 8 bits (with 256 levels), 10 bits (with 1024 levels), 12 bits (with 4096 levels). The higher the predetermined resolution, the greater the number of discrete indication states each of the plurality of light emitting diodes is capable of producing. In this way, the granularity or level of detail of the data transmitted to the user through the different indication states can be controlled by a predetermined resolution selected for the led control driver.

As used herein, the term "light" refers to the emission of electromagnetic radiation in the visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum is generally understood to cover wavelengths in the range of about 380 nanometers to about 750 nanometers.

As used herein, the term "waveguide" refers to a structure of electromagnetic waves suitable for guiding light. The waveguide may conveniently be in the form of one or more optical fibres or light pipes. Conveniently, each light emitting unit is associated with a corresponding waveguide such that light emitted from each light emitting unit is conveyed to one or more display windows via the corresponding waveguide.

The aerosol-generating device is preferably configured to monitor a parameter related to the progress of the event. The parameters may have an initial value at the initiation or start of the event and a final value different from the initial value. The monitored value of the parameter may then be used to calculate the progress of the parameter between the initial value and the final value, the progress of the parameter used to determine the progress of the event. Such parameters related to the progress of the event may be referred to as first parameters.

In some configurations, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to monitor both a first parameter related to the progress of the event and a second parameter related to the progress of the event, the second parameter being a different parameter than the first parameter. The apparatus may then be configured to determine progress of the event with respect to both the first parameter and the second parameter. It becomes increasingly difficult for a user to determine the progress of an event as it relates to the duration of more than one parameter control event. Thus, the detailed indication of progress improves the user experience.

The duration of the use process may depend on the manner in which the user interacts with the device during the use process. Thus, the parameter or one or both of the first and second parameters may be user interaction parameters indicative of the use of the aerosol-generating device during an event. Such one or more parameters may be monitored parameters. One or both of the parameters or the first and second parameters may be cumulative parameters, for example cumulative values of the monitored parameters over the duration of the event. The progress of the event may be determined by the progress of the parameter or the progress of one or both of the first and second parameters between their initial and final values.

The progress of the event can be conveniently determined as a percentage. For example, the progress of a parameter (which may be the first parameter or the second parameter) may be determined by the formula { (monitored value of parameter-initial value of parameter)/(final value of parameter-initial value of parameter) x 100 }. It should be noted that for some parameters, the initial value of the parameter may be zero.

In the case where the progress of the event is determined using more than one parameter, the real-time progress may be determined by the forefront of the progress of all the parameters. For example, the progress of the first parameter may be determined during the event, the progress of the second parameter may be determined during the event, and then the progress of the event may be determined by the forefront of the progress of the first parameter and the progress of the second parameter.

In a preferred example, the aerosol-generating device may comprise: a visual indicator configured to display progress of an event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different visual indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7; and a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control the visual indicator display to be in a visual indication state representing the progress of the event. The aerosol-generating device may be further configured to monitor a first parameter related to the progress of an event and to monitor a second parameter related to the progress of an event, the progress of the event at a time instant being determined with respect to both the value of the first parameter at the time instant and the value of the second parameter at the time instant during the event.

In general, time may be used as a convenient parameter for monitoring, and the aerosol-generating device may comprise a timer in communication with or comprised in the controller. For example, the parameter, the first parameter or the second parameter may be time. Time is a useful parameter to monitor many events (e.g., usage of a process) that may benefit from a maximum time limit or time threshold.

In some preferred examples, the parameter, the first parameter, or the second parameter may be a parameter selected from the group consisting of: time, number of user puffs (e.g., cumulative number of user puffs taken during an event), volume of aerosol delivered (e.g., cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during an event), energy consumed (e.g., cumulative amount of energy consumed during an event), current consumed (e.g., cumulative amount of current consumed during an event), temperature (e.g., temperature of a heating element, or temperature of a susceptor), resistance of a heating element, and any other monitorable or derivable parameter related to user interaction (e.g., user interaction during a use process).

Some parameters may require that the aerosol-generating device comprises a specific monitoring device. For example, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a temperature sensor for monitoring the actual temperature of the heating element, or a puff sensor for detecting and recording user puffs. The apparatus may also be configured to monitor changes in power supplied by the battery, for example to monitor current and voltage. The apparatus may also be configured to derive parameters from other monitored parameters. For example, the controller of the device may be configured to determine the resistance of the heating element or the apparent resistance of the inductor/susceptor pair by monitoring the current and voltage supplied by the battery. The apparatus may be configured to run one or more algorithms to determine parameters such as the volume of aerosol generated.

The progress of the event may be determined with reference to the first parameter and the second parameter, wherein the indication status displayed by the indicator reflects the progress of the first parameter or the progress of the second parameter if the progress of the second parameter is greater than the progress of the first monitored parameter.

In a preferred example, the event may be a use procedure, and the use procedure may extend between a start of the use procedure and a stop of the use procedure. The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that the use procedure has a maximum duration determined by the timer, e.g. the maximum possible duration of the use procedure is set by the time threshold. For example, the apparatus may be configured to monitor a first parameter related to the progress of the usage process and a second parameter related to the progress of the usage process, the first parameter being time and the second parameter being a user interaction parameter selected from: the number of user puffs (the cumulative number of user puffs taken during an event), the volume of aerosol delivered (the cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during an event), the energy consumed (the cumulative amount of energy consumed during an event), and the current consumed (the cumulative amount of current consumed during an event).

Preferably, the usage procedure is configured to terminate when the monitored user interaction parameter reaches a predetermined threshold. The user interaction parameter may be indicative of user suction performed during the use process, or may be indicative of the volume of aerosol released or delivered to the user by the aerosol-forming substrate during the use process. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a puff counting mechanism to determine a number of puffs of the user taken, for example during an event, for example during a use procedure. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to terminate the use process when the number of user puffs taken during the use process reaches a predetermined threshold.

An exemplary aerosol-generating device may be configured to perform the steps of: monitoring a parameter indicative of the progress of the usage process, e.g. monitoring a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during operation of the aerosol-generating device; analyzing the monitored parameters to identify a user puff defined by a puff start and a puff end; analyzing parameters monitored during user puffs to calculate a puffs volume, which is the volume of aerosol generated during user puffs; and using the volume of suction as a user interaction parameter.

Preferably, the event (e.g. use procedure) comprises or may be divided into at least 7 consecutive phases. Advantageously, the controller may be configured to control the indicator to indicate a different indication state in the sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states during each of the at least 7 consecutive phases. For example, the controller may be configured to control the light-emitting indicator to display a different indication state in the sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states during each of at least 7 consecutive phases. Preferably, the light emitting indicator comprises 3 or more discrete lighting units, e.g. 4 lighting units, or 5 lighting units, or 6 lighting units.

The event (e.g., using a procedure) may be divided into n consecutive phases, n being a number greater than 7, e.g., between 12 and 144 consecutive phases, or e.g., between 18 and 72 consecutive phases. Thus, the number of consecutive stages may be equal to the number of consecutive indication states.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that any one or each of the n successive phases has a phase duration defined by a phase start and a phase end. The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that any one or each of the n successive phases has a maximum phase duration determined by a timer. If any or each of the n successive phases has not ended early, the phase may end when the monitored time period reaches a predetermined threshold for the phase.

The exemplary aerosol-generating device is configured such that a first phase of the n consecutive phases has a first phase duration defined by a first phase start and a first phase end, wherein the first phase starts at the beginning of the event, e.g. at the beginning of the use procedure. A second phase of the n successive phases may have a second phase duration defined by a second phase start and a second phase end, wherein the second phase starts at the first phase end. n successive phases may be defined as a first phase and n-1 subsequent phases, each of the subsequent phases being subsequent to the previous phase, wherein each of the n-1 subsequent phases has a phase duration defined by a phase start and a phase end, and wherein the phase starts at the end of the previous phase. The event (e.g. use procedure) preferably ends at the end of the nth phase.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to monitor a user interaction parameter indicative of use of the aerosol-generating device during the event (e.g. during a use procedure). Advantageously, the duration of any one or each of the n successive phases may be controlled with reference to a user interaction parameter. The duration of any one or each of the n successive phases may be controlled with reference to the user interaction parameter and at least one further parameter.

Preferably, the event (e.g., use procedure) has a maximum duration of between 60 seconds and 600 seconds, such as between 300 seconds and 400 seconds, such as about 360 seconds. This maximum duration may replicate the length of a typical smoking process using a conventional cigarette.

Advantageously, an event (e.g., a use procedure) may have a maximum duration of x seconds, x being a number between 100 and 600. For example, an event may be divided into n consecutive phases, where each of the n consecutive phases has a maximum duration of about x/n seconds.

The event may be controlled with respect to the number of user puffs monitored (e.g., a use procedure) having a threshold number of user puffs between 10 and 14, e.g., about 12.

In some examples, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to: monitoring a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during operation of the aerosol-generating device; analyzing the monitored parameters to identify a user puff defined by a puff start and a puff end; analyzing parameters monitored during the user puff to calculate a puff volume, the puff volume being a volume of aerosol generated during the user puff; and using the volume of suction as a parameter related to the progress of the event (e.g., the progress of the use process). The parameter indicative of aerosol generation may be indicative of the power supplied by the power supply, for example, current or both current and voltage. Advantageously, the aspiration volume may be used as a parameter indicating the progress of the use procedure. In particular, the usage procedure may have a threshold value of aerosol that may be delivered, and the cumulative volume of aerosol generated may be used as a parameter indicating the progress of the usage procedure.

The measurement of the actual volume of aerosol generated can be complex to implement. Thus, the function of the monitored parameter can be calculated in real time and evaluated to determine the aspiration volume. Analyzing the monitored parameter may include the steps of calculating a first characteristic of the monitored parameter and analyzing the first characteristic to determine a start of aspiration and a stop of aspiration. Analyzing the monitored parameter may include the steps of calculating a second characteristic of the monitored parameter and analyzing both the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine a start of aspiration and a stop of aspiration. The start of suction may be determined when the first characteristic and the second characteristic meet one or more predetermined conditions. Also, the end of the suction may be determined when the first characteristic and the second characteristic satisfy one or more predetermined conditions. Preferably, the first characteristic may be a first moving average of the monitored parameter calculated over a first time window having a first time window duration. The second characteristic may be a second moving average of the monitored parameter calculated over a second time window having a second time window duration, the second time window duration being different from the first time window duration.

In some examples, the event may be a first event, the apparatus being further configured to monitor progress of a second event and display information such as about progress of the second event, the second event being different from the first event. For example, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to display the progress of the first event and also the status or progress of the second event during use of the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a visual indicator configured to display the progress of the first event as a first sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states and to display the state and/or progress of the second event as a second sequence of different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7. The apparatus may further comprise a controller configured to monitor the progress of the first event and control the visual indicator to display in an indicated state representing the progress of the first event, and also monitor the second event and control the visual indicator to display in an indicated state representing the state and/or progress of the second event. Although the term "controller" is used, if more than one separate controller is used to control the operation of the aerosol-generating device, the term is intended to cover more than one controller.

The progress of the second event is preferably displayed as a second sequence of 1 st to nth different indication states, the second sequence of indication states being different from the first sequence of indication states. By changing the sequence of indication states, a user can easily determine what type of event the device is experiencing and how much progress has been made through the event.

The first event may be an event type selected from the group consisting of: the usage process, the heating period (e.g., the warm-up period), the calibration period, the charging period, and the pause period, and the second event may be an event type selected from the group consisting of: the second event has a different event type than the first event, using a process, a heating period (e.g., a warm-up period), a calibration period, a charging period, and a pause period.

The controller may be configured to determine initiation of a first event, determine an event type of the first event, monitor progress of the first event, and control the visual indicator to display a predetermined sequence of indication states representing the progress of the first event. The controller may be further configured to determine initiation of a second event, determine an event type of the second event, monitor a status and/or progress of the second event, and control the visual indicator to display a predetermined sequence of indication status representing the status and/or progress of the second event.

The second event may occur after the first event has terminated. For example, the first event may be a warm-up period and the second event may be a use process that occurs after the warm-up period is completed or terminated. For example, the first event may be a calibration period and the second event may be a use process that occurs after the calibration period is completed or terminated.

The second event may occur during an interval in the first event. For example, the first event may be a use process and the second event may be a pause period that occurs during an intermittent period of the use process. For example, the first event may be a use process and the second event may be a recalibration period occurring during an intermittent period of the use process.

The apparatus may be further configured to monitor progress of a third event and display progress regarding the third event, the third event being different from the first event and the second event. In this case, the third event may be an event type selected from: a use process, a heating period (e.g., a warm-up period), a calibration period, a charging period, and a pause period. For example, the first event may be a warm-up event, the second event may be a use process, and the third event may be a pause event.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to allow a user to pause an event (e.g. a first event) during the progress of the event and enter a pause period. Thus, the apparatus may include a memory configured to store the progress of the event such that the display of the progress may be restored upon reinitiation of the event.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a user interaction interface, for example an interface selected from: buttons, touch-sensitive buttons, strain-sensitive buttons, gesture recognition interfaces, haptic interfaces, and accelerometers. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply for supplying energy to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate, for example a power supply such as a battery.

An aerosol-generating device as described herein may comprise a heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater, for heating an aerosol-forming substrate. The device may be configured to operate with a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The device may be configured to operate with a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Advantageously, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a sensor, for example a sensor for detecting a parameter indicative of the progress of the event, for example a sensor for detecting a user interaction parameter.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heater for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. The heater may be an induction heater. The induction heater may include an inductor configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field designed to heat the susceptor. The heater may be a resistive heater.

The heater may comprise a heating element for heating the consumable aerosol-generating article. The heating element may be an internal heater designed to be inserted into a consumable aerosol-generating article, for example, a resistive heating element or susceptor in the form of a pin or blade that may be inserted into an aerosol-forming substrate located within the consumable aerosol-generating article. The heating element may be an external heater designed to heat the outer surface of the consumable aerosol-generating article, such as a resistive heating element or susceptor located at or around the periphery of a substrate receiving cavity for receiving the consumable aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a replaceable matrix portion comprising an aerosol-forming matrix. The replaceable matrix portion may form part of the body of the aerosol-generating device and may itself locate or house a portion of the aerosol-forming substrate in the device for consumption. The replaceable matrix portion may be located remotely from the proximal end of the device, e.g., remotely from the mouthpiece. The replaceable matrix portion may be positioned near the distal end of the device. The replaceable matrix part may be coupled to one or more other parts forming the body of the aerosol-generating device by coupling means such as a screw or bayonet fitting or a magnetic connection, or mechanical latching means such as a snap fit or interference fit.

The replaceable substrate portion may include a reservoir of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the replaceable matrix portion may include a reservoir of liquid including nicotine and an aerosol former, such as propylene glycol or glycerin. Alternatively, the replaceable matrix portion may comprise a container of a solid aerosol-forming matrix, or a container of a colloidal aerosol-forming matrix (e.g., a gel matrix).

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a replaceable matrix portion comprising two or more components that when combined form an aerosol.

The replaceable matrix portion may include a nebulizer, for example, a heating element for heating the aerosol-forming substrate or for heating at least one of the two or more components that form an aerosol when combined. Thus, the replaceable substrate portion may be in the form of a cartomizer and include both an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosolized component. In such an embodiment, the replaceable matrix portion will preferably comprise electrical contacts configured to contact corresponding electrical contacts on the battery portion of the aerosol-generating device to provide electrical power for actuating the atomizer.

In an example, the atomizer may be a resistive heater, such as a resistive wire, or a resistive trace on a substrate. In other examples, the atomizer may be an induction susceptor capable of generating heat within a fluctuating magnetic field generated by an induction coil.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that power is supplied to the heater during the use process to maintain the heater at a predetermined temperature.

The heater may be powered to increase the temperature of the heater element to an operating temperature range in which the aerosol is generated, the heater element remaining within the operating temperature range until the end of the use process. The heater may be powered during the use process when the user is drawing and when the user is not drawing. In this configuration, the power supplied during user puffs may be greater than the power supplied when the user is not making puffs, as less power will be required to maintain the temperature of the heater between puffs.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device may comprise, for example, a substrate receiving cavity for receiving a consumable aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. Examples of aerosol-generating articles include pouches filled with a solid aerosol-forming substrate, cigarettes and smoking articles comprising an aerosol-forming substrate contained within a wrapper such as cigarette paper, capsules or containers of a liquid aerosol-forming substrate or a colloidal aerosol-forming substrate. The consumable aerosol-generating article may comprise a replaceable matrix portion comprising two or more components that when combined form an aerosol.

The consumable aerosol-generating article may comprise a nebulizer, for example a heating element, for heating the aerosol-forming substrate or for heating at least one of the two or more components that form an aerosol when combined. Thus, the consumable aerosol-generating article may be in the form of a cartomizer and comprise both an aerosol-forming substrate and an aerosolized component. In such an embodiment, the consumable aerosol-generating article will preferably comprise an electrical contact configured to contact a corresponding electrical contact on the battery portion of the aerosol-generating device to provide electrical power for actuating the atomizer.

In an example, the atomizer may be a resistive heater, such as a resistive wire, or a resistive trace on a substrate. In other embodiments, the atomizer may be an induction susceptor capable of generating heat within a fluctuating magnetic field generated by an induction coil.

The preferred consumable aerosol-generating article may be in the form of a cigarette or a smoking article comprising a solid aerosol-forming substrate contained within a wrapper. Preferably, such an article comprises a mouth end for insertion into a mouth of a user to consume the article. Preferably, the mouth end includes a filter to simulate a conventional custom cigarette. Preferably, the consumable aerosol-generating article is configured to interact with an atomizer (preferably a heater) located in the body of the aerosol-generating device. Thus, a heating means, such as a resistive heating element, may be located in or around the substrate receiving cavity for receiving the consumable aerosol-generating article. The matrix-receiving cavity may be located at the proximal end of the device. For example, the opening of the matrix-receiving chamber may be located at the proximal end of the device.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article is a solid aerosol-forming substrate. However, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both a solid component and a liquid component. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises nicotine. More preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol-forming material that is free of tobacco.

If the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise, for example, one or more of a powder, a granule, a pellet, a chip, a strand, a ribbon or a sheet containing one or more of herbal leaves, tobacco ribs, expanded tobacco and homogenized tobacco.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco volatile flavour compound or a non-tobacco volatile flavour compound which is released upon heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also comprise one or more capsules, for example comprising a further tobacco volatile flavour compound or a non-tobacco volatile flavour compound, and such capsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed on or embedded in a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of a powder, granules, pellets, chips, strands, ribbons, or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the surface of the support in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, gel or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the entire surface of the carrier or, alternatively, may be deposited in a pattern so as to provide non-uniform flavour delivery during use.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises homogenized tobacco material. As used herein, the term "homogenized tobacco material" refers to a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an agglomerated sheet of homogenised tobacco material. As used herein, the term "sheet" refers to a layered element having a width and length that are significantly greater than its thickness. As used herein, the term "gathered" is used to describe a sheet that is wrapped, folded, or otherwise compressed or tightened substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an aerosol-former. As used herein, the term "aerosol-former" is used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, promotes the formation of an aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article.

Suitable aerosol formers are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 3-butanediol, and glycerol; esters of polyols, such as glycerol mono-, di-, or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol formers are polyols or mixtures thereof such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 3-butanediol and most preferably glycerol.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a single aerosol-former. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-formers.

The aerosol-generating system may comprise an aerosol-generating device as described above and an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate configured to be received by the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating system may further comprise charging means for charging the aerosol-generating device. The charging device may comprise a mains power supply and may have a docking device configured to engage with the aerosol-generating device.

In one aspect, the present invention may provide a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) Monitoring progress of an event or operation performed by the aerosol-generating device, and

(b) The indicator is controlled to indicate the progress of the event or operation as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a light-emitting indicator and a controller configured to control the light-emitting indicator to indicate the progress of the event, wherein the light-emitting indicator indicates the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

The present invention may provide a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the steps of:

(b) The visual indicator is controlled to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different visual indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

The apparatus may include a plurality of light emitting units controlled at a plurality of light intensity or brightness levels so as to display a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states.

The method of operating an aerosol-generating device may be a method of operating any of the devices described herein.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples is provided below. Any one or more features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Exi an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate,

the aerosol-generating device is configured to perform a function during an event,

the aerosol-generating device comprises:

a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control an indicator to indicate the progress of the event, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

Exii an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate,

the aerosol-generating device comprises:

luminous indicator

A controller configured to control the light-emitting indicator to indicate progress of the event, wherein the light-emitting indicator is configured to indicate progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

Ex1 an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device being configured to indicate progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

an indicator configured to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7,

and a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control the indicator to indicate being in an indication state representing the progress of the event.

Ex2 the aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the indicator comprises one or more indicators selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator, an audio indicator, and a tactile indicator.

Ex3 an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device being configured to display progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

a visual indicator configured to display the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different visual indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7,

And a controller configured to monitor progress of the event and control the visual indicator to display in a visually indicated state representing the progress of the event.

Ex4 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein,

the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor a parameter related to the progress of the event.

Ex5 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex4, the parameter having an initial value at the initiation or start of the event and a final value different from the initial value.

Ex6 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex5, the monitored value of the parameter is used to calculate a progression of the parameter between the initial value and the final value, the progression of the parameter being used to determine the progression of the event.

Ex7 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex6, wherein the parameter related to the progress of the event is a first parameter.

Ex8 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex7, wherein,

the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor both a first parameter related to the progress of the event and a second parameter related to the progress of the event, the second parameter being a different parameter than the first parameter.

Ex9 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex8, wherein the device is configured to determine the progress of the event with respect to both the first parameter and the second parameter.

Ex10 the aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event has an event start and an event end, a duration of the event defined by the event start and the event end.

Ex11 the aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex4 to Ex10, wherein the parameter or one or both of the first parameter and the second parameter is a user interaction parameter indicative of the use of the aerosol-generating device during the event.

Ex12 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex11, wherein the parameter or one or both of the first parameter and the second parameter is a monitored parameter.

The aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex4 to Ex12, wherein the parameter or one or both of the first parameter and the second parameter is a cumulative parameter, e.g. a cumulative value of a monitored parameter over the duration of the event.

Ex14 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex13, wherein the progress of the event is determined by the progress of the parameter or the progress of one or both of the first and second parameters between their initial and final values.

Ex15 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex14, wherein the progression of the event is determined as a percentage.

Ex16 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex15, wherein the progress of the parameter is determined by the formula { (monitored value of the parameter-initial value of the parameter)/(final value of the parameter-initial value of the parameter) x 100 }.

Ex17 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex16, wherein the progress of the first parameter is determined by the formula { (monitored value of the first parameter-initial value of the first parameter)/(final value of the first parameter-initial value of the first parameter) ×100 }.

Ex18 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex17, wherein the progress of the second parameter is determined by the formula { (monitored value of the second parameter-initial value of the second parameter)/(final value of the second parameter-initial value of the second parameter) ×100 }.

The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex17, wherein the progress of the first parameter is determined during the event, the progress of the second parameter is determined during the event, and the progress of the event is determined by the foremost of the progress of the first parameter and the progress of the second parameter.

Ex20 an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate according to any preceding example, the aerosol-generating device being configured to display progress of the event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

and a controller configured to monitor the progress of the event and to control the visual indicator to display in a visually indicated state representing the progress of the event, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor a first parameter related to the progress of the event and to monitor a second parameter related to the progress of the event, the progress of the event at a time being determined with respect to both the value of the first parameter at the time and the value of the second parameter at the time during the event.

Ex21 the aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex20, wherein the parameter, the first parameter or the second parameter is time.

The aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex4 to Ex21, wherein the parameter, the first parameter or the second parameter is selected from the group consisting of: time, number of user puffs, cumulative number of user puffs made during the event, volume of aerosol delivered, cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during the event, energy consumed, cumulative amount of energy consumed during the event, and current consumed, cumulative amount of current consumed during the event, temperature of heating element, temperature of susceptor, resistance of heating element, and user interaction.

Ex23 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the progress of the event is determined with reference to a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein one of the first parameter and the second parameter is time and the other of the first parameter and the second parameter is selected from: the number of user puffs, the cumulative number of user puffs made during the event, the volume of aerosol delivered, the cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during the event, the energy consumed, the cumulative amount of energy consumed during the event, and the current consumed, the cumulative amount of current consumed during the event, the temperature of the heating element, the temperature of the susceptor, the resistance of the heating element, and the user interaction.

Ex24 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the progress of the event is determined with reference to a first parameter and a second parameter, wherein the indication state displayed by the indicator reflects the progress of the first parameter or the progress of the second parameter if the progress of the second parameter is greater than the progress of the first monitored parameter.

Ex25 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event is an operational phase of the aerosol-generating device, for example wherein the event is an event selected from the group consisting of a use procedure, a heating cycle and a pause cycle.

Ex26 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event is a use procedure and the use procedure continues between the start of the use procedure and the stop of the use procedure.

Ex27 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex26, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured such that the use has a maximum duration determined by a timer and/or a maximum duration determined by a time threshold.

An aerosol-generating device according to example Ex26 or Ex27, wherein the device is configured to monitor a first parameter related to the progress of the usage process and a second parameter related to the progress of the usage process, the first parameter being time and the second parameter being a user interaction parameter selected from the group consisting of: the number of user puffs, the cumulative number of user puffs made during the event, the volume of aerosol delivered, the cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during the event, the energy consumed, the cumulative amount of energy consumed during the event, and the cumulative amount of current consumed during the event.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex26 to Ex28, wherein the use procedure is configured to terminate when the monitored user interaction parameter reaches a predetermined threshold.

The aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex28 to Ex29, wherein the user interaction parameter is indicative of user suction performed during the use process, or wherein the user interaction parameter is indicative of a volume of aerosol released by the aerosol-forming substrate or a volume of aerosol delivered to the user during the use process.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a puff counting mechanism to determine a number of puffs performed by a user, for example, during the event, for example, during the use.

Ex32 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex31, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to terminate the use procedure when the number of user puffs performed during the use procedure reaches a predetermined threshold.

Ex33 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex28 to Ex32, comprising the steps of:

Monitoring a parameter indicative of the progress of the usage process, for example monitoring a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during operation of the aerosol-generating device,

analyzing the monitored parameters to identify a user puff defined by a puff start and a puff end,

analyzing parameters monitored during the user puff to calculate a puff volume, the puff volume being a volume of aerosol generated during the user puff, and

the pumping volume is used as the user interaction parameter.

Ex34 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event, e.g. the use procedure, comprises at least 7 consecutive phases, e.g. at least 10 consecutive phases.

Ex35. the aerosol-generating device of example Ex34, wherein the controller is configured to control the indicator to indicate a different indication state in the sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states during each of the at least 7 consecutive phases.

Ex36 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex34 or Ex35, wherein the controller is configured to control the light-emitting indicator to display a different indication state of the sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states during each of the at least 7 consecutive phases.

Ex37 an aerosol-generating device according to any of the examples Ex34 to Ex36, wherein the event, e.g. the use procedure, is divided into n consecutive phases, n being a number greater than 7, e.g. a number equal to or greater than 10, e.g. between 7 and 144 consecutive phases, or e.g. between 18 and 72 consecutive phases.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex37, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured such that any or each of the n consecutive phases has a phase duration defined by a phase start and a phase end.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex38, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured such that any or each of the n consecutive phases has a maximum phase duration determined by a timer.

Ex40 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex39, wherein if any or each of the n consecutive phases has not ended early, the phase ends when the monitored period of time reaches a predetermined threshold for the phase.

Ex41 an aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex34 to Ex40, wherein,

A first phase of the n consecutive phases has a first phase duration defined by a first phase start and a first phase end, wherein the first phase starts at the start of the event, e.g. at the start of the use procedure.

Ex42 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex41, wherein,

a second phase of the n successive phases has a second phase duration defined by a second phase start and a second phase end, wherein the second phase starts at the first phase end.

Ex43 an aerosol-generating device according to any one of examples Ex34 to Ex42, wherein the n successive phases may be defined as a first phase and n-1 subsequent phases, each of the subsequent phases being subsequent to the previous phase, wherein

Each of the n-1 subsequent phases has a phase duration defined by a phase start and a phase end, wherein the phase starts at the end of the previous phase.

Ex44 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex42, wherein the event, e.g. the use process, ends at the end of the nth phase.

Ex45 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor a user interaction parameter indicative of use of the aerosol-generating device during the event, for example during the use procedure.

Ex46 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex46, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor a user interaction parameter indicative of use of the aerosol-generating device during the event, for example during the use procedure.

Ex47 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex46, wherein the duration of any or each of the n successive phases is controlled with reference to the user interaction parameter.

Ex48 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex46 or Ex47, wherein the duration of any or each of the n successive phases is controlled with reference to the user interaction parameter and at least one further parameter.

Ex49 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex48, wherein the at least one further parameter is an elapsed time determined by a timer.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex45 to Ex49, wherein the user interaction parameter is indicative of user puffs taken during the use session.

Ex51 the aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex45 to Ex49, wherein the user interaction parameter is indicative of the power supplied to the heating element during the use session.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex51, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a puff counting mechanism to determine the number of user puffs taken during the use procedure, and wherein the duration of any one or each of the n successive phases is controlled with reference to the number of user puffs taken during the use procedure.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex34 to Ex52, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured such that each of n consecutive phases of the use procedure has a maximum phase duration determined by a timer, and wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to record at least one user interaction parameter during the use procedure, the phase duration of any or each of the n consecutive phases having a duration less than the maximum phase duration if the value of the user interaction parameter reaches a predetermined threshold.

Ex54 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event, e.g. the use process, has a maximum duration of between 60 seconds and 600 seconds, e.g. between 300 seconds and 400 seconds, e.g. about 360 seconds.

Ex55 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event, for example the use procedure, has a maximum duration of x seconds, x being a number between 100 and 600, wherein the event is divided into n successive phases, the maximum duration of each of the n successive phases being about x/n seconds.

Ex56 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event, such as the use process, is controlled with respect to the number of monitored user puffs, the use process having a threshold number of user puffs between 10 and 14, such as about 12.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to: monitoring a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during operation of the aerosol-generating device; analyzing the monitored parameters to identify a user puff defined by a puff start and a puff end; analyzing parameters monitored during the user puff to calculate a puff volume, the puff volume being a volume of aerosol generated during the user puff; and using the volume of suction as a parameter related to the progress of the event, e.g. the progress of the usage process.

Ex58 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex57, wherein the parameter indicative of aerosol generation is indicative of the power supplied by the power supply.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex57 to Ex58, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate an aerosol during a use procedure, the device being configured to determine a start of the use procedure, monitor a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during the use procedure, and use the suction volume as a parameter for indicating a progress of the use procedure.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex57 to Ex59, wherein the device is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: analyzing the monitored parameters to identify a plurality of user puffs performed during operation of the device, each user puff of the plurality of user puffs having a puff start and a puff end determined by analyzing the monitored parameters.

Ex61 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex60, wherein the device is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: analyzing parameters monitored during each of a plurality of identified user puffs to calculate a puff volume for each of the plurality of user puffs; determining a cumulative puff volume of aerosol generated during each of the plurality of identified user puffs; and using the cumulative aspiration volume as a parameter for controlling operation of the device and/or indicating progress of the use procedure.

Ex62 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex61, wherein the device is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of: determining the start of a use process; monitoring a parameter indicative of aerosol generation during the use process; and using the cumulative aspiration volume as a parameter for determining the end of the use procedure.

Ex63 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex57 to Ex62, wherein the function of the monitored parameter is calculated and evaluated in real time to determine the puff volume.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex57 to Ex63, wherein analyzing the monitored parameter comprises the steps of: calculating a first characteristic of the monitored parameter; and analyzing the first characteristic to determine a start of suction and a stop of suction.

Ex65 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex64, wherein analyzing the monitored parameter comprises the steps of: calculating a second characteristic of the monitored parameter; and analyzing both the first characteristic and the second characteristic to determine the suction start and the suction stop.

Ex66 the aerosol-generating device of example Ex65, wherein the onset of draw is determined when the first characteristic and the second characteristic meet one or more predetermined conditions.

Ex67 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex65 or Ex66, wherein the end of the puff is determined when the first characteristic and the second characteristic meet one or more predetermined conditions.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex65 to Ex67, wherein the first characteristic is a first moving average of the monitored parameter calculated over a first time window having a first time window duration.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex65 to Ex68, wherein the second characteristic is a second moving average of the monitored parameter calculated over a second time window having a second time window duration, the second time window duration being different from the first time window duration.

Ex70 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex69, wherein the onset of draw is determined when the first moving average and the second moving average satisfy a predetermined relationship relative to each other; for example, wherein the first time window duration is shorter than the second time window duration, and a start of pumping is determined when the first movement average line increases relative to the second movement average line and reaches a start of pumping value, wherein the first movement average line is equal to the second movement average line plus a first predetermined start of pumping constant.

Ex71 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex70, wherein after detecting the start of a puff, the puff is determined to be complete when the first line of movement average decreases relative to the second line of movement average and reaches an end of puff value, wherein the first line of movement average is greater than the second line of movement average minus a first predetermined end of puff constant and the second line of movement average is less than the value of the second line of movement average at the start of the puff plus a second predetermined end of puff constant.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex65 to Ex71, wherein the first characteristic is a first moving median of the monitored parameter calculated over a first time window having a first time window duration; and/or wherein the second characteristic is a second moving median of the monitored parameter calculated over a second time window having a second time window duration, the second time window duration being different from the first time window duration; preferably, wherein the start of suction is determined when the first moving median and the second moving median satisfy a predetermined relationship with respect to each other; for example, wherein the first time window duration is shorter than the second time window duration, and determining a start of a puff when the first moving median increases relative to the second moving median and reaches a puff start value, wherein the first moving median is equal to the second moving median plus a first predetermined puff start constant; for example, wherein after detecting a start of a puff, a puff is determined to be complete when the first median movement value decreases relative to the second median movement value and reaches an end of puff value, wherein the first median movement value is greater than the second median movement value minus a first predetermined end of puff constant and the second median movement value is less than the second median movement value plus a second predetermined end of puff constant at the start of the puff.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator comprising a predetermined number (i) of discrete light emitting units, each light emitting unit being controllable to emit a predetermined number (j) of different intensities of light, i being a number between 4 and 24 and j being a number between 2 and 5.

Ex74 the aerosol-generating device of example Ex73, wherein each of the predetermined number j of indication states represents a light intensity level between 0% and 100% of a possible emission intensity.

Ex75 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex74, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 2 different intensities, e.g. about 50% of the possible emission intensity and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

The Ex76 aerosol-generating device according to example Ex74, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 3 different intensities, e.g. about 33% of the possible emission intensity, about 66% of the possible emission intensity, and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

Ex77 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex74, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 4 different intensities, e.g. about 25% of the possible emission intensity, about 50% of the possible emission intensity, about 75% of the possible emission intensity, and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator comprising a predetermined number (i) of discrete light-emitting units, each light-emitting unit being controllable to emit a predetermined number (j) of different static brightness levels of light, i being a number between 4 and 24 and j being a number between 2 and 5.

X74a the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex73A, wherein each of the predetermined number j of indication states represents a static luminance level between 0% and 100% of a possible static luminance.

Ex75a. An aerosol-generating device according to example Ex74A, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light at 2 different static luminance levels, e.g., a static luminance level of about 50% of the possible luminance and about 100% of the possible luminance.

Exia. The aerosol-generating device of example exi 74A, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light at 3 different static luminance levels, e.g., a static luminance level of about 33% of the possible luminance, about 66% of the possible luminance, and about 100% of the possible luminance.

The aerosol-generating device according to example Ex74A, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 4 different static brightnesses, e.g., about 25% of the possible brightness, about 50% of the possible brightness, about 75% of the possible brightness, and about 100% of the possible brightness.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex73 to Ex77 or Ex73A to Ex77A, wherein the discrete light emitting units are configured as a linear matrix on or extending through the housing of the device.

Ex79 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex78, wherein the linear matrix is a 1 x 4 matrix, or a 1 x 5 matrix, or a 1 x 6 matrix, or a 2 x 4 matrix, or a 2 x 5 matrix, or a 2 x 6 matrix, or a 3 x 4 matrix, or a 3 x 5 matrix, or a 3 x 6 matrix.

Ex80 an aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex73 to Ex77 or Ex73A to Ex77A, wherein the discrete light emitting units are configured as an annular matrix on or extending through the housing of the device.

Ex81 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex80, wherein the annular matrix comprises a single ring of 4 to 12 light-emitting units, e.g. 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11 light-emitting units.

Ex82 the aerosol-generating device according to example Ex80, wherein the annular matrix comprises 2 concentric rings, each ring being formed of 4 to 12 light-emitting units, e.g. 5, or 6, or 7, or 8, or 9, or 10, or 11 light-emitting units.

Ex83 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator comprising an LCD display screen or an OLED display screen.

Ex84 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the progress of the event is determined and displayed by a visual indicator, wherein the progress through the first to nth indication states relates to a corresponding increase in intensity or brightness of light displayed by the visual indicator.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples Exi to Ex83, wherein the progress of the event is determined and displayed by a visual indicator, wherein the progress through the first to nth indication states involves a corresponding decrease in the intensity or brightness of light displayed by the visual indicator.

Ex86 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the event is a first event, the device further configured to monitor progress of a second event and display progress with respect to the second event, the second event being different from the first event.

Ex87 an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device being configured to display a progress of a first event and a status and/or progress of a second event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

A visual indicator configured to display the progress of the first event as a first sequence of 1 st to nth different indication states, and to display the state and/or progress of the second event as a second sequence of different indication states,

n is a number equal to or greater than 7,

and a controller configured to monitor progress of the first event and control the visual indicator to display in an indicated state representing the progress of the first event,

and monitoring the second event and controlling the visual indicator to display in an indication state representing the state and/or progress of the second event.

Ex88 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex86 or Ex87, wherein the progression of the second event is displayed as a second sequence of different indication states from 1 st to n-th, the second sequence of indication states being different from the first sequence of indication states.

Ex89 the aerosol-generating device according to any of examples Ex86 to Ex88, wherein the first event is an event type selected from the group consisting of a use procedure, a heating cycle and a pause cycle, and the second event is an event type selected from the group consisting of a use procedure, a heating cycle and a pause cycle, the event type of the second event being different from the event type of the first event.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 86 to 89, wherein the controller is configured to determine an initiation of the first event, determine an event type of the first event, monitor a progress of the first event, and control the visual indicator to display a predetermined sequence of indication states representing the progress of the first event, and wherein the controller is configured to determine an initiation of the second event, determine an event type of the second event, monitor a state and/or progress of the second event, and control the visual indicator to display a predetermined sequence of indication states representing the state and/or progress of the second event.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-90, wherein the second event occurs after the first event has terminated.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-90, wherein the second event occurs during an interval in the first event.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-90, wherein the second event occurs prior to initiation of the first event.

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 86 to 93, the device further configured to monitor progress of a third event and display progress with respect to the third event, the third event being different from the first event and the second event.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-94, wherein the first event is a warm-up event and the second event is a use procedure.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-94, wherein the first event is a use procedure and the second event is a pause event.

The aerosol-generating device of any of examples 86-94, wherein the first event is a warm-up event, the second event is a use procedure, and the third event is a pause event.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, the aerosol-generating device being configured to allow a user to pause the first event during its progress and enter a pause period, the device comprising a memory configured to store the progress of the first event such that display of progress may be resumed upon reinitiation of the first event.

Ex99 the aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, further comprising a user interaction interface, such as an interface selected from the group consisting of a button, a touch sensitive button, a strain sensitive button, a gesture recognition interface, a haptic interface, and an accelerometer.

Ex100 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, comprising a power source, such as a battery, for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate.

Ex101 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, comprising a heater, such as a resistive heater or an induction heater, for heating the aerosol-forming substrate.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the device is configured to operate with a solid aerosol-forming substrate.

Ex103 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the device is configured to operate with a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Ex104 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, comprising a sensor, for example a sensor for detecting a parameter indicative of the progress of the event, for example a sensor for detecting a user interaction parameter.

Ex105 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the controller is configured to interact with one or more drivers to control the indicators to indicate progress in a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the device comprises a visual indicator comprising a plurality of light emitting units, and wherein the controller is configured to interact with one or more drivers to control the visual indicator to indicate progression in a sequence of 1 st to nth different visual indication states.

An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the device comprises: control electronics; and

at least one visual indicator comprising a plurality of light emitting units, such as an illumination array;

wherein the control electronics are configured to control each of the plurality of light emitting units independently in at least the following states:

i) An off state in which the light emitting unit does not emit light;

ii) a first illumination state, wherein the light emitting unit emits light at a first static luminance level; and

iii) A second illumination state in which the light emitting unit emits light at a second static luminance level different from the first static luminance level; and is also provided with

Wherein the control electronics are configured to control each of the lighting units to be in one of the off state, the first illumination state, and the second illumination state, so as to indicate the progress of the event to a user as a sequence of 1 st to nth different visual indication states.

Ex108 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, wherein the device comprises a plurality of light-emitting units, the light-emitting units being LEDs.

Ex109 an aerosol-generating device according to example Ex107 or Ex108, wherein each of the plurality of lighting units is configured to be independently controlled at a different static brightness level to indicate progress of the event, and at least one of the lighting units is controllable to display different colored light to indicate a status, e.g. a low power level or near the end of the event.

Ex110 an aerosol-generating device according to any preceding example, comprising a visual indicator, wherein the visual indicator comprises a plurality of windows for transmitting light to a user; and preferably also one or more waveguides.

Ex111 a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the progress of an event or operation performed by the aerosol-generating device, and controlling an indicator to indicate the progress of the event or operation as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

Ex112A method of operating an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

luminous indicator

A controller configured to control the light-emitting indicator to indicate progress of the event, wherein the light-emitting indicator indicates progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

Ex113 a method of operating an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring the progress of an event or operation performed by the aerosol-generating device, and controlling a visual indicator to indicate the progress of the event as a sequence of 1 st to n-th different visual indication states, n being a number equal to or greater than 7.

Ex114 the method according to example Ex113, wherein the plurality of light emitting units are controlled at a plurality of light intensity or brightness levels so as to display a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states.

Ex 115A method according to any of examples Ex111 to Ex114, which is used as a method of operating any of the devices defined in any of examples Exi to Ex 110.

Several examples will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of an aerosol-generating device;

fig. 2 is a schematic upper end view of the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1;

fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1 and an aerosol-generating article for use with the device;

fig. 4 is a block diagram providing a schematic illustration of the various electronic components of the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1 to 3 and their interactions;

fig. 5 shows an example illustrating the operation of the illumination array provided on the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1 to 4 as a function of progress through the use process;

Fig. 6 shows a second example illustrating the operation of the illumination array provided on the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1 to 4 as the process of use progresses;

fig. 7, 8 and 9 show flowcharts illustrating the method steps involved in determining the progress of the usage process and indicating the progress of the usage process to the user, wherein the progress is determined by the time and the suction count.

As shown in fig. 1-3, the exemplary aerosol-generating device 10 is a handheld aerosol-generating device and has an elongated shape defined by a substantially cylindrically shaped housing 20. The aerosol-generating device 10 comprises an open cavity 25 at the proximal end 21 of the housing 20 for receiving an aerosol-generating article 30 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate 31. The aerosol-generating device 10 further comprises a battery (not shown) located within the housing 20 of the device and an electrically operated heater 40 arranged to heat at least the aerosol-forming substrate portion 31 of the aerosol-generating article 30 when the aerosol-generating article 30 is received in the cavity 25.

The aerosol-generating device is configured to receive a consumable aerosol-generating article 30. The aerosol-generating article 30 is in the form of a cylindrical rod and comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 31. The aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco. The aerosol-generating article 30 further comprises a mouthpiece, such as a filter 32, arranged within the cylindrical rod coaxially aligned with the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article 30 has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the cavity 25 of the device 10 and has a length longer than the depth of the cavity 25, such that when the article 30 is received in the cavity 25 of the device 10, the mouthpiece 32 protrudes from the cavity 25 and may be smoked by a user, similar to a conventional cigarette. In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-generating article is 45mm long and 7.2mm in diameter.

In use, a user inserts the article 30 into the cavity 25 of the aerosol-generating device 10 and begins the use process by pressing the user button 50 to turn on the device 10 to activate the heater 40. The heater 40 heats the aerosol-forming substrate of the article 30 such that volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate 31 are released and atomized to form an aerosol. The user draws on the mouthpiece of the article 30 and inhales the aerosol generated from the heated aerosol-forming substrate. After activation, the temperature of the heater 40 is increased from ambient temperature to a predetermined temperature to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. As the user draws on the aerosol-generating article 30, the control electronics of the device 10 supply power from the battery to the heater to maintain the temperature of the heater at a substantially constant level. The heater continues to heat the aerosol-generating article until the end of the use process, at which point the heater is deactivated and cooled.

At the end of the use process, the article 30 is removed from the device 10 for disposal, and the device 10 may be coupled to an external power source to charge the battery of the device 10.

The aerosol-generating device further comprises a light-emitting indicator 60 in the form of an illumination array, which is an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The illumination array 60 is incorporated into the housing 20 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The illumination array 60 is formed by a linear arrangement of six LEDs 61a, 61b, 61c, 61d, 61e, 61f extending between a first end 62 and a second end 63 of the illumination array. The illumination array 60 also has a display window 64 that forms a portion of the outer surface of the housing 20. As will be described in more detail below, in use, the light generated by each of the LEDs 61a-61f is directed towards the display window 64 so as to be visible to a user of the aerosol-generating device 10.

Fig. 4 provides a schematic illustration of the individual electronic components of the aerosol-generating device and their interactions.

A microcontroller or controller 12 located within the housing 20 is connected to the battery 11, the heater 40, the timer 430, the lighting control driver 13, and the light emitting indicator 60. The light-emitting indicator comprises an array of six individual LEDs 61a-61f coupled to six waveguides 65a-65f to emit light 66a-65f visible to a user viewing the device.

The battery 11 supplies power to heat the heater 40 and operate other electrical components. The battery 11 has sufficient energy when fully charged to power two complete use processes of the aerosol-generating device. The battery 11 is a rechargeable battery, and may be connected to an external power source to be recharged.

The heater 40 converts the energy supplied by the battery into heat to heat the aerosol-generating device sufficiently to form an aerosol. During operation, the controller 12 controls the supply of energy from the battery to maintain the heater at a substantially constant aerosol-generating temperature.

Timer 430 provides a timing signal to controller 12. The lighted indicator 60 generates a visual indication to the user. The light emitting indicator 60 is configured to emit a visual indication in response to a control signal from the controller 12. The battery 11 and the controller 12 are coupled to each other and located within the housing 20. The controller 12 also includes a memory module 12a. The controller 12 is in turn coupled to both the heater element 40 and the lighting control driver 13. The controller 12 and the illumination control driver 13 together form the control electronics portion 100 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The lighting control driver 13 is coupled to each of the LEDs 61a-61 f. Waveguides 65a, 65b, 65c, 65d, 65e, 65f are arranged between the LEDs 61a-61f and the display window 64. Each of the waveguides 65a-65f is associated with a respective one of the LEDs 61a-61f such that, in use, each waveguide is used to direct light generated by the associated one of the LEDs to the display window 64. The waveguides 65a-65f are in the form of discrete lengths of optical fiber.

The memory module 12a contains instructions that are executed by the controller 12 during use of the device 10. The instructions stored in the memory module 12a include criteria that determine the duration of the usage process, as well as other data and information related to the control and operation of the aerosol-generating device 10. When activated, the controller 12 accesses the instructions contained in the memory module 12a and controls the supply of energy from the battery 11 to the heater element 40 in accordance with the instructions contained in the memory module 12 a. The controller 12 also controls the supply of energy to the lighting control driver 13. In turn, the lighting control driver 13 individually controls the power to each of the LEDs 61a-61f such that each LED emits light 66a, 66b, 66c, 66d, 66e, 66f at one of a plurality of discrete static luminance levels under the control of the lighting control driver. As shown in fig. 4, three different forms of cross-hatching representing the light 66a-66f produced by different ones of the LEDs 61a-61f represent three different intensities or static brightness levels.

At the point in time represented in fig. 4, the brightness of the illumination array 60 as a whole is symmetrical about the center of the illumination array. Accordingly, the two LEDs 61c, 61d located at the center are independently controlled by the lighting control driver 13 to emit light of a first predetermined static luminance level, the adjacent light emitting diodes 61b, 61e are independently controlled to emit light of a second predetermined static luminance level, and the outermost light emitting diodes 61a, 61f are independently controlled to emit light of a third predetermined static luminance level. Thus, each individual LED in the array 60 may be independently controlled to emit light at a first intensity or static brightness level 66c, 66d, a second intensity or static brightness level 66b, 66e, and a third intensity or static brightness level 66a, 66f.

The aerosol-generating device 10 of this particular embodiment is configured to determine and monitor the progress of the use procedure and to output visual indications of the progress of the use procedure in a sequence of different indication states. Each of the six LEDs may be controlled to have two different intensities or static brightness levels. The two different intensities or static luminance levels may conveniently be set to 50% of the maximum intensity and 100% of the maximum intensity, but different predetermined intensities may be specified. Thus, the progress of the use process can be displayed as a sequence of 13 different indication states by providing a sequence of 12 lit states and 1 unlit state using all six LEDs.

In a simple exemplary sequence shown in fig. 5, the visual indicator may begin to progress in a first fully lit state and indicate progress by sequentially reducing the lighting of six LEDs in another 12 steps, ending when the last LED is fully turned off. Thus, the progress of an event, such as a usage process, may be displayed as a countdown, wherein the overall brightness of the visual indicator gradually decreases as the progress of the event increases.

Fig. 5 shows an array of six LEDs 61a-61 f. Each LED may be turned off (indicated as intensity level=0), lit at 50% of maximum intensity (indicated as intensity level=1), or lit at 100% intensity (indicated as intensity level=2).

As shown in fig. 6 (a), all six LEDs in the visual indicator array are lit at an intensity level of 2. For this sequence, this may be described as the visual indicator being in the first state.

As shown in fig. 6 (b), the uppermost or first LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 1. All other LEDs remain lit at intensity level 2. This may be described as the visual indicator being in the second state.

In a third state, the uppermost or first LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated (i.e., not illuminated) at an intensity level of 0. All other LEDs remain lit at intensity level 2.

In the fourth state shown in fig. 6 (c), the second LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 1. The first LED has an intensity level of 0 and the third to sixth LEDs remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In a fifth state, a second LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 0. The first LED has an intensity level of 0 and the third to sixth LEDs remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the sixth state shown in fig. 6 (d), the third LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 1. The first LED and the second LED have an intensity level of 0, and the fourth LED to the sixth LED remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the seventh state, the third LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 0. The first LED and the second LED have an intensity level of 0, and the fourth LED to the sixth LED remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the eighth state shown in fig. 6 (e), the fourth LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 1. The first LED, the second LED, and the third LED have an intensity level of 0, and the fifth LED and the sixth LED remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the ninth state, the fourth LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 0. The first LED, the second LED, and the third LED have an intensity level of 0, and the fifth LED and the sixth LED remain lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the tenth state shown in fig. 6 (f), the fifth LED in the visual indicator array is lit at an intensity level of 1. The first LED, the second LED, the third LED, and the fourth LED have an intensity level of 0, and the sixth LED remains lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the eleventh state, the fifth LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 0. The first LED, the second LED, the third LED, and the fourth LED have an intensity level of 0, and the sixth LED remains lit at an intensity level of 2.

In the twelfth state shown in fig. 6 (g), the sixth LED in the visual indicator array is illuminated at an intensity level of 1. The first LED, the second LED, the third LED, the fourth LED, and the fifth LED have an intensity level of 0.

In the thirteenth state shown in fig. 6 (h), all six LEDs in the visual indicator array are lit at an intensity level of 0. That is, the visual indicator is not illuminated.

The same information may be represented in tabular form as shown in table 1 below.

Table 1: progress was shown in a 1 x 6 array (2=100% intensity, 1=50% intensity, 0=0% intensity)

In another example of a simple sequence of indicating progress, each of the six LEDs may be sequentially illuminated, each LED stepping through a first intensity and a second intensity. In this way, the overall brightness provided by the visual indicator 60 increases gradually over a series of 13 steps, as shown in table 2 below.

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Table 2: progress was shown in a 1 x 6 array (2=100% intensity, 1=50% intensity, 0=0% intensity)

In another simple sequence of indicating progress, each of the six LEDs may step sequentially through the first intensity, the second intensity, and the third intensity. The first intensity may be 33.3% of the maximum intensity, the second intensity may be 66.6% of the maximum intensity, and the third intensity may be 100% of the maximum intensity. In this way, the overall brightness provided by the visual indicator 60 gradually increases or decreases over a series of 19 steps. An example of the progress increased over 19 states (18 different lit states and 1 state where all LEDs are not lit) is shown in table 3 below.

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Table 3: progress was shown in a 1×6 array (3=100% intensity, 2=66.6% intensity, 1=33.3% intensity, 0= 0% strength)

Progress through an event such as a use procedure may be indicated without using all six LEDs. For example, progress of the use process may be indicated by using the upper three of the six LEDs or the lower three of the six LEDs. For example, each of the three LEDs may be controlled with 2, 3, or 4 different intensities or static brightness levels. Thus, the progress of the usage process can be displayed as a sequence of 7 different indication states by using three of the LEDs. This sequence is shown in fig. 5.

For the embodiment of FIG. 6, three LEDs 61a-61c form the upper half of the illumination array 60, and three LEDs 61d-61f form the lower half of the illumination array. The lighting control driver 13 is configured to control the supply of energy from the battery 11 so as to gradually decrease the static luminance level of the light emitted by each of the light emitting diodes 61a-61c in the upper half of the lighting array 60 starting from the uppermost first light emitting diode 61a during the course of the use. The light emitting diodes 61a-61c are controlled by the lighting control driver 13 to emit light having one of three predetermined static luminance levels or to be in a deactivated state in which no light is emitted. The predetermined static luminance level is designated as a sequence of levels 3, 2 and 1 of reduced luminance, with the disabled state numbered level 0. At the beginning of the use process, all light emitting diodes 61a-61c in the upper half of the illumination array 60 are controlled to emit light with a maximum static luminance level, i.e. level 3. During use, the lighting control driver 13 adjusts the power supply to each of the light emitting diodes 61a-61c to gradually decrease the static luminance level of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes 61a-61c from level 3 to level 2, to level 1 and finally to level 0. The effect of the lighting control driver 13 is to gradually deactivate the light emitting diodes 61a-61c in the upper half of the lighting array 60 as the progress through the use process so as to gradually decrease the activation length of the upper half of the lighting array. At the end of the use process, all the leds 61a-61c of the upper half of the lighting array are deactivated, i.e. at level 0 (see fig. 6 (e)). During the duration of this use, the light emitting diodes 61d … … f in the lower half of the illumination array 60 remain deactivated, with a brightness level of 0.

When the user starts the second use procedure, the light emitting diodes 61d-61f forming the lower half of the lighting array 60 may be controlled by the lighting control driver 13 in a similar manner as the light emitting diodes 61a-61c of the upper half of the lighting array for the earlier use procedure. In this case, the second use procedure follows the earlier use procedure and is powered by the energy remaining in the battery 11 after the earlier use procedure. The battery 11 is not recharged between the earlier use and the second use. Thus, at the beginning of the second use procedure, all light emitting diodes 61d-61f in the lower half of the illumination array 60 are controlled to emit light with a maximum static luminance level, i.e. level 3. During the course of the use, the lighting control driver 13 adjusts the power supply to each of the light emitting diodes 61d-61f to gradually decrease the static luminance level of the light emitted by the light emitting diodes 61d-61f from level 3 to level 0 starting from the light emitting diode 61 d. At the end of the second use procedure, all leds 61d-61f of the lower half of the lighting array are deactivated, i.e. at level 0. During this second use, the light emitting diodes 61a-61c in the upper half of the illumination array remain deactivated, wherein the brightness level is 0.

When fully charged, the battery may provide sufficient energy for at least one complete use. The battery may provide sufficient energy for two or more usage procedures (e.g., twenty usage procedures).

As described above, the first three LEDs are selected to indicate the progress of the first use procedure and the last three LEDs are selected to indicate the progress of the second use procedure may be represented by table 4 below. In this table, each of the individual LEDs is controlled at a first intensity level and a second intensity level. During a first use procedure, the first, second and third LEDs 61a-61c are used to indicate progress, and during a second use procedure, the fourth, fifth and sixth LEDs 61d-61f are used to indicate progress.

Table 4: two consecutive advances were represented using a 1 x 6 array (2=100% intensity, 1=50% intensity, 0=0% intensity)

Aerosol-generating articles for use with the device have a limited amount of aerosol-forming substrate and, therefore, the use process needs to have a limited duration to prevent a user from attempting to generate an aerosol when the aerosol-forming substrate has been exhausted. The usage procedure is configured to have a maximum duration determined by a time period from a start of the usage procedure. The usage procedure is further configured to have a duration less than the maximum duration if the user interaction parameter recorded during the usage procedure reaches a threshold before the maximum duration determined by the timer.

In a particular embodiment, the user interaction parameter is the number of puffs a user makes during the use process. Thus, in a specific embodiment, the aerosol-generating device is configured such that each use has a duration of 6.5 minutes (390 seconds) from initiation of the use, or if 14 puffs are taken within 6.5 minutes from initiation of the use, each use has 14 puffs taken by the user. The exact time or number of puffs may be changed to any suitable value. For example, the duration of the process may be limited to 6 minutes or 5.5 minutes. As another example, the number of allowed puffs may be limited to 13 or 12.

During the use process, the user may wish to have an indication of progress through the use process. For example, the user may wish to know how many puffs he has about left, or how much time remains in use.

The controller includes a suction counter to monitor the number of suction made during the use process. The number of puffs made by the user is determined by monitoring the power supplied to the heater during the use process. When the user draws, the airflow cools the heater, and therefore, the battery provides a greater amount of energy to maintain the temperature of the heater at its operating temperature. Thus, by monitoring the power supplied by the heater, the controller is able to determine the number of puffs made during the course of use.

For monitoring the progress, the use procedure is divided into a number of successive phases starting with a first phase starting at the beginning of the use procedure and ending with a last phase of the end of the use procedure, the progress from one phase to the next being determined by the time and the number of puffs in the same way as the use procedure. When the criteria for each phase meet a predetermined threshold, the phase is deemed to have ended. As the process of use progresses through its successive phases, the controller instructs the illuminated indicator to emit a signal indicating each successive phase. Thus, the user is roughly aware of the progress of the use process.

In a specific example, the use process may be divided into thirteen consecutive stages for indicating purposes. Fig. 7, 8 and 9 show flowcharts illustrating the method steps involved in indicating the progress of the usage process to the user.

Step 600: the user inserts the aerosol-generating article 30 into the cavity 25 of the device 10 and initiates the use process by pressing the user button 50.

Step 605: a timer is started to record the time elapsed during the use procedure and a suction counter is started to record the number of suction made during the use procedure.

Step 607: the first phase of the usage process is considered to have started at the beginning of the usage process. The controller instructs the lighted indicator 60 to output an indication of the first or initial progress state of the use.

Step 610: after 30 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 1 puff has been made by the user since the start of the use process, if the puff is made before 30 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the first phase ends and the second phase begins.

Step 615: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the second progress status of the use procedure.

Step 620: after 60 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 2 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 60 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the second phase ends and the third phase begins.

Step 625: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the third state of progress of the use.

Step 630: after 90 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, or after 3 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use procedure, if these puffs were made before 90 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, the third phase ends and the fourth phase begins.

Step 635: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of a fourth state of progress of the use.

Step 640: after 120 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, or after 4 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use procedure, if these puffs were made before 120 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, the fourth phase ends and the fifth phase begins.

Step 645: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the fifth state of progress of the use.

Step 650: after 150 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 5 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 150 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the fifth phase ends and the sixth phase begins.

Step 655: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the sixth state of progress of the use.

Step 660: after 180 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 6 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 180 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the sixth phase ends and the seventh phase begins.

Step 665: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the seventh state of progress of the use.

Step 670: after 210 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, or after 7 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use procedure, if these puffs were made before 210 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use procedure, the seventh phase ends and the eighth phase begins.

Step 675: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the eighth state of progress of the use.

Step 680: after 240 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 8 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 240 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the eighth phase ends and the ninth phase begins.

Step 685: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the ninth state of progress of the use.

Step 690: after 270 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 9 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 270 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the ninth stage ends and the tenth stage begins.

Step 695: the controller instructs the lighted indicator 60 to output an indication of the tenth, in-progress, state of use.

Step 700: after 300 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 10 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 300 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the tenth stage ends and the eleventh stage begins.

Step 705: the controller instructs the light emitting indicator 60 to output an indication of the eleventh progress state of the usage process.

Step 710: after 330 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 11 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 330 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the eleventh stage ends and the twelfth stage begins.

Step 715: the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to output an indication of the twelfth state of progress of the use.

Step 720: after 360 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 11 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 360 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the twelfth stage ends and the thirteenth or last stage begins.

Step 725: the controller instructs the lighted indicator 60 to output an indication of the thirteen progress status of the use process.

Step 730: thirteen phases are the last phases of the usage process. During the final phase, the user may make two puffs, with a total number of puffs during the use process of 14. The indication of the thirteenth progress state may comprise a further indication that the thirteenth stage is the last stage. For example, the output indication may include a change in color and a change in overall intensity representing progress. The thirteenth stage ends after 390 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after 14 puffs have been made by the user since the start of the use process, if these puffs were made before 390 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process.

Step 735: the use process is ended.

The same information as set forth in fig. 7 to 9 may be presented in table form, as in table 5 below.

Table 5: the phases of the use procedure include the indication status displayed and the number of puffs from the beginning of the use procedure Or a criterion for ending each phase in time.

The above example divides the use process into thirteen consecutive phases, each ending when certain criteria are met regarding the number of puffs made or the time elapsed. Each of the thirteen consecutive phases may be represented by one of the thirteen consecutive indication states. For example, where the aerosol-generating device has an indicator in the form of an array of six LEDs, the thirteen consecutive indication states may be those listed in table 1 or table 2 above.

In another specific embodiment, control of the use process in an aerosol-generating device as shown in fig. 1 to 4 may be determined in relation to the volume of aerosol delivered to a user during the use process. During the use process, the user may wish to have an indication of progress through the use process. For example, the user may wish to know how much potentially deliverable aerosol he has left, or how much time left in use.

Thus, in a specific embodiment, the aerosol-generating device is configured such that each usage procedure has a duration of 6.5 minutes (390 seconds) from the initiation of the usage procedure, or if a predetermined maximum volume of aerosol is delivered to the user within 6.5 minutes from the initiation of the usage procedure, each usage procedure has a predetermined volume of aerosol delivery. The predetermined maximum volume of aerosol may be, for example, 750ml of aerosol. The threshold value of time or aerosol volume may be set to any suitable number.

The controller is configured to detect suction made during a use procedure. The start and end of each detected puff is determined by monitoring the power supplied to the heater during the use process. When the user draws, the airflow cools the heater, and therefore, the battery provides a greater amount of energy to maintain the temperature of the heater at its operating temperature. Thus, by monitoring the power supplied by the heater, the controller is able to determine the start and end points of the suction made during the use process. By integrating the monitored power between the detected onset of aspiration and the detected endpoint of aspiration, a calculated value of the delivered aerosol can be obtained. By summing the calculated values of the aerosol delivered during the use process, a cumulative value of the aerosol delivered during the use process can be obtained.

To monitor the progress, the use procedure is divided into a number of successive phases starting at the beginning of the use procedure and ending at the end of the use procedure, the progress from one phase to the next being determined by the time and the accumulated volume of aerosol delivered. As the process of use progresses through its successive phases, the controller instructs the illuminated indicator to emit a signal indicating each successive phase. Thus, the user is roughly aware of the progress of the use process.

In a specific example, the use process may be divided into nineteen consecutive stages for indicating purposes. The user inserts the aerosol-generating article 30 into the cavity 25 of the device 10 and initiates the use process by pressing the user button 50. A timer is then started to record the time elapsed during the use process, and a controller is started to identify puffs taken during the use process and calculate the volume of aerosol delivered during each puff. The first phase of the usage process is considered to have started at the beginning of the usage process.

When in the first phase, the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to emit a signal indicating that the use is in the first phase. After 20 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after a first predetermined volume of aerosol has been delivered since the start of the use process, if the first predetermined volume of aerosol was delivered before 20 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the first phase ends and the second phase begins. The first predetermined volume of aerosol may be, for example, 40ml.

The second phase of the use process is considered to have started at the end of the first phase. When in the second phase, the controller instructs the illuminated indicator 60 to emit a signal indicating that the use is in the second phase. After 40 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, or after a second predetermined volume of aerosol has been delivered since the start of the use process, if the second predetermined volume of aerosol was delivered before 40 seconds have elapsed since the start of the use process, the second phase ends and the third phase begins. The second predetermined volume of aerosol may be, for example, 80ml.

This process is repeated for each of the third to nineteenth stages. After the nineteenth, i.e. final, phase, the use is ended.

Information about the criteria associated with each phase indicating the status and ending each phase is listed in table 6 below.

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Table 6: the stage of the use process comprises the displayed indication state and the aerosol body from the beginning of the use process The product or time ends the criteria for each stage.

The above example divides the usage process into nineteen consecutive stages, each ending when certain criteria are met regarding the volume of aerosol delivered or the time elapsed. Each of the nineteen consecutive phases may be represented by one of the nineteen consecutive indication states. For example, where the aerosol-generating device has an indicator in the form of an array of six LEDs, the nineteen consecutive indication states may be those listed in table 3 above.

Aerosol-generating devices may undergo many different operational events. It may also be desirable for a user to be able to determine the progress or status of one or more of these events. In another example, the aerosol-generating device is configured to undergo a warm-up operation to increase the temperature of the heater from ambient temperature to an operating temperature prior to the start of the use procedure. This preheating operation or preheating mode may be part of the use process, but may also occur prior to the use process. As described above with respect to the use process, the warm-up operation may be divided into a plurality of successive phases, and the progress through each of these successive phases may be represented by one of a plurality of indication states.

The progress through the warm-up operation may be controlled with respect to temperature. The time may also be a control parameter, but the device may be configured such that if the temperature of the heater does not reach a predetermined operating temperature, it does not operate the use process.

In the specific example of using an aerosol-generating device as shown in fig. 1 to 4, the warm-up operation is controlled by the temperature of the heater and is divided into thirteen successive phases, each phase ending when the temperature of the heater meets a predetermined threshold. The temperature of the heater may be monitored directly, for example, by using a temperature sensor such as a thermistor or thermocouple. Alternatively, the temperature of the heater may be derived by monitoring other parameters, for example by monitoring the current and/or voltage supplied to the heater. When the warm-up operation is started, power is supplied to the heater, and the temperature of the heater increases. In a specific example, the preheating phase may end when the temperature of the heater reaches 390 ℃. The temperature at the end of the preheating stage may be varied to any suitable temperature. It should be noted that the temperature at the end of the pre-heating phase may be higher or lower than the desired operating temperature for generating the aerosol during use.

Table 7 below lists the stages and criteria used to determine and display the progress of the warm-up operation.

Table 7: the phases of the warm-up operation include a displayed indication status and criteria for ending each phase according to temperature.

The above example divides the warm-up operation into thirteen consecutive stages, each ending when certain criteria regarding the temperature of the heater are met. Each of the thirteen consecutive phases may be represented by one of the thirteen consecutive indication states. For example, where the aerosol-generating device has an indicator in the form of an array of six LEDs, the thirteen consecutive indication states may be those listed in table 1 or table 2 above.

In a particular embodiment, an aerosol-generating device as shown in fig. 1 to 4 may be configured to determine progress through more than one event and display progress related to the more than one event. As a specific example, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to undergo a warm-up operation immediately followed by a use procedure. The user inserts the aerosol-generating article 30 into the cavity 25 of the device 10 and initiates the warm-up operation by pressing the user button 50. Power is supplied to the heater of the device and a controller is activated to determine the temperature of the heater. When the warm-up operation starts, the first phase of the warm-up operation is considered to have started. As the temperature of the heater increases, the controller instructs the visual indicator to display the sequence of the indicated states shown in table 7 above. The indication status may conveniently display the progress of the warm-up operation as an increased overall brightness provided by the visual indicator 60, as shown in table 2 above. Thus, at the beginning of the preheating operation, none of the six LEDs are lit, but at the end of the preheating operation, when the temperature of the heater has reached its predetermined level (e.g., 390℃.), all six LEDs are fully lit.

The use process starts immediately after the warm-up operation has ended. The use process may progress, for example, as set forth in table 5 above. The indication status may conveniently display the progress of the use process as a reduced overall brightness provided by the visual indicator 60, as shown in table 1 above. Thus, at the beginning of the use, all six LEDs are lit, but at the end of the use, when the criteria for ending the use have been met, none of the LEDs are lit.

Thus, the apparatus is configured to monitor and determine the progress of more than one different event and to display the progress of these different events as different sequences of indication states.

For the purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, amounts, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Additionally, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intervening ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. Thus, herein, the number "a" is understood to be "a" ±10% of "a". In this context, the number "a" may be considered to include values within the general standard error of measurement of the property modified by the number "a". In some cases, as used in the appended claims, the number "a" may deviate from the percentages recited above, provided that the amount of deviation of "a" does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Additionally, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intervening ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device being configured to indicate progress of an event during use of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to monitor a parameter related to the progress of the event.

3. An aerosol-generating device according to any of claim 2, wherein the parameter is selected from: time, number of user puffs, cumulative number of user puffs made during the event, volume of aerosol delivered, cumulative volume of aerosol delivered during the event, energy consumed, cumulative amount of energy consumed during the event, and current consumed, cumulative amount of current consumed during the event, temperature of heating element, temperature of susceptor, resistance of heating element, and user interaction.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the event is an operational phase of the aerosol-generating device, for example wherein the event is an event selected from a use procedure, a heating period (e.g. a warm-up period), a calibration period, a charging period and a pause period.

5. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the event, for example the use procedure, comprises at least 7 consecutive phases, and wherein the controller is configured to control the indicator to indicate a different indication state in a sequence of 1 st to n-th different indication states during each of the at least 7 consecutive phases.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator comprising a predetermined number (i) of discrete light emitting units, each light emitting unit being controllable to emit a predetermined number (j) of different intensities of light, i being a number between 4 and 24 and j being a number between 2 and 5.

7. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein each of the predetermined number j of indication states represents a light intensity level between 0% and 100% of a possible emission intensity.

8. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, wherein each of the discrete light emitting units is controlled to emit light of 2 different intensities, for example about 50% of the possible emission intensity and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

9. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 3 different intensities, for example an intensity of about 33% of the possible emission intensity, about 66% of the possible emission intensity and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

10. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein each of the discrete light-emitting units is controlled to emit light of 4 different intensities, for example an intensity of about 25% of the possible emission intensity, about 50% of the possible emission intensity, about 75% of the possible emission intensity and about 100% of the possible emission intensity.

11. An aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the discrete lighting units are configured as a linear matrix on or extending through a housing of the device, or wherein the discrete lighting units are configured as an annular matrix on or extending through a housing of the device.

12. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the indicator is a visual indicator comprising an LCD display screen or an OLED display screen.

13. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the progress of the event is determined and displayed by a visual indicator, wherein the progress through the first to nth indication states involves a respective increase in the intensity or brightness of light displayed by the visual indicator, or wherein the progress through the first to nth indication states involves a respective decrease in the intensity or brightness of light displayed by the visual indicator.

14. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the event is a first event, the device being further configured to monitor the progress of a second event and to display progress in respect of a second event, the second event being different to the first event.

15. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device comprises: control electronics; and

i) An off state in which the light emitting unit does not emit light;