CN117677314A

CN117677314A - Aerosol generating device providing pumping information

Info

Publication number: CN117677314A
Application number: CN202280030425.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: L·S·博丘贵尔
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2021-04-29
Filing date: 2022-04-26
Publication date: 2024-03-08
Also published as: US20240188640A1; EP4329542A1; KR20240004512A; JP2024515461A; WO2022229200A1; TW202306501A

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device (1) comprises: -an aerosol-generating unit (2) arranged for converting an aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol, which aerosol may be inhaled by a user by successive puffs during a inhalation vapor session; -a notification unit (3) arranged for notifying information about the device (1); -a control unit (4) arranged for causing the notification unit (3) to notify the user when the aerosol-generating unit (2) reaches a suitable state for the next puff during the vapor-inhaling session.

Description

Aerosol generating device providing pumping information

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device and more precisely to information notification during vapor-absorbing sessions.

Background

Some aerosol-generating devices comprise an aerosol-generating unit arranged to convert an aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol, which can be inhaled by a user during a vapor-inhaling session by successive puffs (or inhalation phases), and a notification unit arranged to notify information about these puffs.

When an aerosol-generating device of this type is portable (i.e. usable when held by a user), the aerosol-generating device further comprises a battery (or power source), which may be rechargeable and store electrical energy for use by the aerosol-generating unit to generate the aerosol. In this case, the aerosol generating device may be a vaporizer or an electronic cigarette.

In the following description, the term "aerosol-forming substance" is used to denote any substance that can be aerosolized in air to form an aerosol. For example, it may be in liquid form, solid form or semi-liquid form. Thus, it may be a liquid, gel, paste or wax, or the like, or any combination of these.

The aerosol-forming substance may comprise one or more of the following: nicotine, polyols, caffeine or other active ingredients. The active ingredient may be carried by a carrier, which may include, for example, propylene glycol or glycerin. Flavoring agents may also be present in the aerosol-forming substance. Such flavoring agents may include, for example, ethyl vanillin (vanilla), menthol, isoamyl acetate (banana oil), or the like.

Furthermore, in the following description, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of a substance that is one or more of the following: solid particles, droplets and gases. Such a suspension may be in a gas comprising air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to or include a vapor, and may include one or more components of an aerosol-forming substance.

The amount of aerosol-forming material available is limited (typically less than twenty inhalation phases (or puffs) during an inhalation vapor session), and aerosol generation is not permanent during an inhalation vapor session. In fact, the heater of the aerosol-generating unit is supplied with electrical power suitable for aerosol generation only after the preheating phase and once the start of the inhalation phase (or inhalation) is detected (i.e. each time the user starts inhaling).

During each inhalation phase, the electrical power supplied to the heater remains substantially constant, while the amount of aerosol-forming substance available after each inhalation phase is reduced. Thus, as the time interval between successive puffs typically varies, the aerosol temperature and/or aerosol flavor and/or percentage of aerosol constituents and/or undesired aerosol constituent levels and/or amounts of aerosol may vary, and may even vary significantly, between puffs of the same vapor-absorbing session with one another. In other words, one or more aerosol parameters are often not optimal during the vapor-absorbing session, as the user does not spend enough time or spends too much time allowing aerosol to be properly generated between two successive puffs. Thus, output inconsistencies may cause discomfort to the user.

As described in patent document US-A1 2020/0000143, when a user starts to use the aerosol generating device, information about the time interval between puffs can be provided to him on his smartphone screen once his smartphone and his aerosol generating device have been previously paired. But such a solution requires that the user's smartphone be within communication range of the aerosol-generating device and cannot accurately indicate to the user when his aerosol-generating device is effectively ready for the next puff. In other words, such a solution cannot avoid output inconsistencies during the vapor-absorbing session.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve this situation.

Disclosure of Invention

The proposed invention provides, inter alia, an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device comprising: an aerosol-generating unit arranged for converting an aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol, which aerosol may be inhaled by a user by successive puffs during a inhalation vapor session; and a notification unit arranged to notify information about the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device is characterized in that it further comprises a control unit arranged for causing the notification unit to notify the user when the aerosol-generating unit reaches a suitable state for the next puff during the vapor-inhaling session.

That is, the control unit causes the notifying unit to notify the user when the aerosol-generating unit reaches the appropriate state for performing each subsequent inhalation during the vapor-absorbing session, in addition to notifying the user when the aerosol-generating device reaches the appropriate state for performing the first inhalation of the vapor-absorbing session. Thus, during the vapor-sucking session, the user always knows when his aerosol-generating device is ready for the next puff, which may significantly reduce or even prevent output inconsistencies.

Embodiments of the aerosol-generating device may include other aspects or features considered alone or in combination, as defined below:

the control unit may be operable to determine that the aerosol-generating unit has reached a suitable state for the next puff using the selected parameter. The selected parameter changes, e.g., increases, as the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-adsorbing session increases.

In a first example of embodiment, the selected parameter may be the time since last puff, and the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the aerosol generating unit of the waiting time before reaching the appropriate state;

in this first example of embodiment, the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify a waiting time that gradually increases according to an elapsed time since the start of the vapor-sucking session (i.e., a time since the last suction may increase as the vapor-sucking session proceeds, so a time between the first suction and the second suction is shorter than a time between the second suction and the third suction). For example, the control unit may be arranged for determining an increase in a type depending on the suitable state, the type being selected from the group comprising a suitable flavour and a suitable aerosol volume produced;

in a second example of embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a measurement unit arranged for determining a value representative of the temperature of the aerosol-generating unit. In this case, the selected parameter may be a selected value, and the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the user when the determined value satisfies a predetermined condition;

in this second example of embodiment, the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the user when the determined value reaches the selected value since the last suction. For example, this selected value may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session;

in a first variant, the selected parameter may be a selected duration since the selected value has been reached, and the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the user when the selected duration has elapsed since the determined value has reached the selected value since the last suction. For example, this selected duration may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session;

in a second variant, the selected parameter may be an increase in the selected value, and the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the user when the determined value corresponds to the increase in the selected value since the last puff. For example, this selected value increase may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-adsorbing session;

the notification unit may be arranged for notifying the user by means of a displayed message and/or an audio message and/or a tactile feedback;

the control unit may cause the notification unit to continue notifying the user for a predetermined period of time. For example, this predetermined period of time may vary depending on the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-adsorbing session;

the aerosol-forming substance may comprise a tobacco material or at least one polyol;

the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a rechargeable power source storing electrical energy;

the aerosol generating device may constitute an electronic cigarette.

Drawings

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given by way of non-limiting example only, and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

fig. 1 (fig. 1) schematically and functionally shows an example of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device according to the invention, and

fig. 2 (fig. 2) schematically and functionally shows an example of an embodiment of a control unit belonging to an aerosol-generating device according to the invention.

Detailed Description

In particular, the present invention aims to provide an aerosol-generating device 1 that is capable of informing its user when it is effectively ready for the next inhalation during an inhalation vapor session.

In the following description, the aerosol-generating device 1 is an electronic cigarette. The aerosol-generating device 1 according to the invention may be of another type as long as it is arranged for converting an aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol, which can be inhaled by a user by successive puffs during a steaming session. Thus, for example, the aerosol-generating device 1 may be an inhaler.

Recall that an "aerosol-forming substance" may be a liquid, gel, paste, wax, or the like, or any combination of these, and may include one or more components, such as nicotine, polyols, or caffeine, and/or flavoring agents. For example, the aerosol-forming substance may comprise tobacco material. For another example, the polyol as an aerosol precursor may be glycerol or propylene glycol. When the aerosol-forming substance is a liquid, it may remain in the absorbent material having a porous or sponge structure. Such absorbent materials may include, for example, porous ceramics, heat resistant polymer foam or porous cellulose beads.

It is also recalled that the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of a substance, such as one or more of (very small) solid particles, droplets, vapor and gas, and that such a suspension may be in a gas comprising air.

As shown in fig. 1, an aerosol-generating device 1 according to the present invention includes at least an aerosol-generating unit 2, a notification unit 3, and a control unit (or controller) 4.

The aerosol-generating unit 2 is arranged for converting an aerosol-forming substance 5 into an aerosol, which aerosol may be inhaled by a user during a vapor-inhaling session by successive puffs.

For example, the aerosol-forming substance 5 may be contained in a consumable 6, which must be manually replaced by a user when there is no aerosol-forming substance 5 in the consumable anymore. Such a consumable 6 may be manually mounted in a dedicated cavity 7 of the aerosol-generating unit 2.

For example, as shown in fig. 1, this dedicated cavity 7 may be defined by a heating chamber 15 of the aerosol-generating unit 2.

The aerosol-forming substance 5 is arranged to generate an aerosol when it is heated (not combusted) and mixed with air. This heating is performed by a heater 8 which is supplied with electrical energy from a power supply 9. Such a heater 8 is attributed to the aerosol-generating unit 2.

In the non-limiting example shown in fig. 1, the heater 8 surrounds the heating chamber 15 and thus the dedicated cavity 7 in the region comprising the aerosol-forming substance 5. For example, the heater 8 may be a thin film heater wrapped around the outer surface of the heating chamber 15 to heat at least a portion of the side walls of the heating chamber and its interior volume (i.e., the dedicated cavity 7). For example, such a heater 8 may heat the aerosol-forming substance 5 at a temperature between 150 ℃ and 350 ℃.

In a variant, however, the heater 8 may be located within the heating chamber 15 and thus within the dedicated cavity 7.

For example, the power supply 9 is assigned to an electrical and control device 10 which also comprises the notification unit 3 and the control unit 4.

Further, the power supply 9 may be a rechargeable battery, for example. In this case, the body of the electrical and control device 10 may comprise an electrical connector to which the charger cable may be connected during the charging session of the rechargeable battery 9. Such charger cable may be coupled to An (AC) adapter or a wall outlet. The charger cable and/or the (AC) adapter may be attributed to the aerosol generating device 1.

The aerosol-generating unit 2 is either coupled to the electrical and control device 10 or is comprised in the electrical and control device 10 (as shown in the non-limiting example of fig. 1).

During the suction of the vapor-sucking session, the generated aerosol may be sucked (and sucked) by the user through the outlet 11 of the aerosol-generating unit 2. In the non-limiting example of fig. 1, this outlet 11 is defined in the consumable 6. But this is not mandatory. More precisely, in the example, the consumable 6 comprises an example aerosol-cooling region 12 and a filter 13. The aerosol-cooling region 12 extends over a portion of the length of the consumable 6 and includes a hollow tubular portion 14 of the consumable 6. This hollow tubular portion 14 allows aerosol (generated by heating the aerosol-forming substance 5) to pass through the consumable 6 without leaking through the sides of the hollow tubular portion 14. The aerosol-cooling region 12 does not overlap the heating region, so the aerosol does not continue to be heated within the aerosol-cooling region 12. Furthermore, the hollow tubular portion 14 may be configured to further accelerate heat loss within the aerosol-cooling region 12. For example by conducting heat from the aerosol to other areas of the consumable 6. The length of the aerosol-cooling region 12 and the dimensions of the hollow tubular portion 14 are configured such that, in use, the aerosol produced can be consistently provided for inhalation by a user over a desired temperature range. Furthermore, the consumable 6 including the aerosol-cooling region 12 may be provided with a shorter length than the consumable 6 without the aerosol-cooling region, as the generated aerosol is cooled to a desired temperature that is otherwise achievable. Thus, smaller heating chambers 15 are required to accommodate shorter consumables 6. The aerosol-forming substance 5 is arranged at the end of the consumable 6 located within the heating chamber 15 furthest from the outlet 11. A filter 13 is arranged at the opposite end of the consumable 6, including the outlet 11. The aerosol-cooling region 12 extends along the length of the consumable 30 between the aerosol-forming substance 5 and the filter 13. This ensures that in use the aerosol produced can be sufficiently cooled before being inhaled by the user. In other examples, consumable 6 may not include filter 13, or may further include additional components disposed throughout consumable 6.

The consumable 6 and the heating chamber 15 are configured to define an air channel 25 between the consumable 6 and the heating chamber 15. In use, i.e. when a user inhales an aerosol generated from the consumable 6, this allows air to enter the heating chamber 15 through the opening 26 and pass through the air channel 25 to the aerosol-forming substance 5. The air passage 25 passes through the heating zone and thus provides a preheating effect to the incoming air before it enters the consumable 6. This further increases the heating efficiency of the aerosol-generating device 1, reducing the power required for operation.

The notification unit 3 is arranged for notifying information about the aerosol-generating device 1.

The control unit 4 is arranged for causing the notification unit 3 to notify the user when the aerosol-generating unit 2 reaches a suitable state for the next puff during the vapor-absorbing session.

Thus, thanks to the invention, during a vapor-sucking session, the user receives a sucking information indicating when (or about to) his aerosol-generating device 1 is ready for the next sucking, which allows to significantly reduce or even prevent output inconsistencies.

The term "suitable state" here refers to a state of the aerosol-generating device 1 in which all puffs of the vapor-adsorbing session are allowed to be unchanged significantly.

The control unit 4 may signal the beginning and end of each inhalation phase (or puff) by a signal sent by an inhalation sensor 20, which may be positioned in the air channel 25, for example below the aerosol-forming substance 5, as shown without limitation. The suction sensor 20 may be, for example, a flow or pressure sensor or a microphone or a thermistor that detects a drop in temperature.

In the first example of embodiment, the control unit 4 may, for example, cause the notification unit 3 to notify the waiting time before the aerosol-generating unit 2 reaches the appropriate state. Thus, the control unit 4 estimates after each puff when the aerosol-generating unit 2 will again be in its proper state, and then derives a waiting time from this estimate.

In this first example of embodiment, the control unit 4 may, for example, cause the notification unit 3 to notify a waiting time that gradually increases according to the time elapsed from the start of the vapor-sucking session. In other words, the longer the elapsed time, the smaller the amount of aerosol-forming substance 5 that is available, and therefore the longer the time required to produce a suitable aerosol.

In an example, the control unit 4 may be arranged for determining a latency increase depending on the type of suitable state. This type is a parameter that can be chosen, for example, between a suitable flavour and a suitable volume of aerosol produced.

In a variant or in addition, the waiting time increase may also depend on, for example, the type or physical state of the aerosol-forming substance 5. This type of substance or physical state of the substance is another parameter.

Thus, the control unit 4 may be arranged for determining the waiting time by means of a predetermined equation with one or more parameters.

In a second example of embodiment, the aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise a measurement unit 16 arranged for determining a value representative of the temperature of the aerosol-generating unit 2. In this case, the control unit 4 may cause the notification unit 3 to notify the user when the determined value satisfies the predetermined condition. Thus, in this second example of embodiment, instead of considering the time when the aerosol-generating unit 2 will again be in its proper state (as in the first example of embodiment), the aerosol temperature is considered in determining the suitability of the state of the aerosol-generating unit 2.

For example, the measurement unit 16 may be a temperature sensor that determines a temperature value. Other physical parameters that indirectly represent temperature may be used.

As another example, the measurement unit 16 may determine its value within the dedicated cavity 7 of the aerosol-generating unit 2, e.g. on the inner wall of the heating chamber 15. In a variant, however, the measuring unit 16 may determine its value on the outer surface of the dedicated cavity 7, for example on the outer wall of the heating chamber 15.

In an option of the second example of embodiment, the control unit 4 may cause the notification unit 3 to notify the user when the value determined by the measurement unit 16 reaches the selected value since the last suction. For example, this selected value may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session. It is believed that the longer the elapsed time, the smaller the amount of aerosol-forming substance 5 available and therefore the higher the temperature used to generate a suitable aerosol.

In another option of the second example of embodiment, the control unit 4 may cause the notification unit 3 to notify the user when a selected duration has elapsed since the determined value has reached the selected value since the last suction. For example, this selected duration may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session.

In yet another option of the second example of embodiment, the control unit 4 may cause the notification unit 3 to notify the user when the determined value since the last suction corresponds to the selected value increase. For example, this selected value increase may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorption session.

It should be noted that the notification unit 3 may be arranged for notifying the user by means of a displayed message and/or an audio message and/or a tactile feedback.

Displaying the message requires that the aerosol-generating device 1 comprises a user interface screen for providing the user with any information related to his operation during the vapor-sucking session or possibly the charging session. In this case, the notification unit 3 preferably includes such a user interface screen. For example, the messages displayed may be of the following type: "1 second" or "next puff within 2 seconds" or "can puff" or "ready for next puff".

The broadcast audio message requires that the aerosol generating device 1 comprises a speaker, which may be part of the user interface for providing the user with at least a part of the information related to his operation during the vapor-sucking session or possibly during the charging session, or may be dedicated only to the notification. The notification unit 3 may thus comprise such a user interface speaker or a dedicated speaker. For example, the audio messages broadcast may be of the following type: "1 second" or "next puff within 2 seconds" or "can puff" or "ready for next puff".

The haptic feedback may be dedicated to the notification or may be part of a user interface for providing the user with at least a portion of information related to his/her operation during the vapor-sucking session or possibly during the charging session. Thus, the notification unit 3 may comprise such user interface tactile feedback or dedicated tactile feedback. For example, the tactile feedback may generate a vibration indicating that the aerosol-generating device 1 is ready for the next puff or will be ready within 1 or 2 seconds, or a plurality of sequential vibrations indicating the number of seconds the user has to wait before starting the next puff.

It should also be noted that the control unit 4 may cause the notification unit 3 to continue notifying the user for a predetermined period of time. For example, this predetermined period of time may vary according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-sucking session.

As shown in fig. 2, the control unit (or controller) 4 may comprise at least a processor 17 and a memory 18 arranged to perform operations for controlling the notification unit 3 and the aerosol-generating unit 2, in particular the heater 8 thereof, during the vapor-sucking session and also for controlling the operation of the power supply 9 during a possible charging session.

For example, the processor 17 may be a digital signal processor (or DSP), or an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). More generally, the processor 17 may comprise an integrated (or printed) circuit, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected therebetween by a wired or wireless connection. The term "integrated (or printed) circuit" herein refers to any type of device capable of performing at least one electrical or electronic operation.

As another example, the memory 18 may be random access memory (or RAM). But it may be any type of device arranged to store program instructions of the processor 17.

In general, the functions of the control unit (or controller) 4 may be performed by operation of program logic, by dedicated logic, by the interaction of program control with dedicated logic, or even manually (by the user). These functions may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software.

As shown in the non-limiting example of fig. 1, the control unit (or controller) 4, in particular the processor 17 and the memory 18 thereof, may be fixed to a printed circuit board (or PCB) 19, here housed in the body of the electrical and control device 10. The notification unit 3 may also be at least partially fixed to this printed circuit board 19 to facilitate and simplify its connection to the control unit (or controller) 4. The notification unit 3 may have its own printed circuit board and be connected to the printed circuit board 19 by wires of a flexible circuit for placement anywhere.

As shown in fig. 2, the control unit (or controller) 4 may comprise, in addition to its processor 17 and memory 18, an input interface 21, in particular for receiving the signals delivered by the suction sensor 20 and the values determined by the possible measuring unit 16, for using them in the calculation and processing, possibly after having processed and/or demodulated and/or amplified them by means of an additional digital signal processor 22 in a manner known to the person skilled in the art. The control unit 4 may also comprise a mass storage 23, in particular for storing any useful time (in particular the start time of the vapor-sucking session and the start time and end time of each suction) and also intermediate data generated during its calculation and processing. The control unit 4 may further comprise an output interface 24 for delivering messages and instructions for controlling at least the notification unit 3, the aerosol-generating unit 2 (in particular the heater 8 thereof) and electronic components (such as switches) supplying electrical power (stored in the power supply 9) to the aerosol-generating unit 2 and the notification unit 3.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some of the block diagrams of fig. 1 and 2 herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention.

The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements which, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device (1), the aerosol-generating device comprising: an aerosol-generating unit (2) arranged for converting an aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol, the aerosol being inhalable by successive puffs by a user during a inhalation vapor session; and a notification unit (3) arranged for notifying information about the device (1),

wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a control unit (4) arranged for causing the notification unit (3) to notify the user when the aerosol-generating unit (2) reaches a suitable state for a next puff during the vapor-inhaling session.

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 in which the control unit is operable to determine that the aerosol-generating unit has reached a suitable state for the next puff using a selected parameter, wherein the selected parameter varies as the time elapsed since the start of the vapour-inhaling session increases.

3. Aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify the aerosol-generating unit (2) of a waiting time before reaching the suitable state.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify a waiting time that gradually increases according to an elapsed time since the start of the vapor-sucking session.

5. Aerosol-generating device according to claim 4, wherein the control unit (4) is arranged for determining the increase in a type depending on the suitable state, the type being selected from the group comprising a suitable flavour and a suitable aerosol volume produced.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a measurement unit (16) arranged to determine a value representative of the temperature of the aerosol-generating unit (2), and wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify the user when the determined value meets a predetermined condition.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify the user when the determined value reaches a selected value since last suction, wherein the selected value varies according to an elapsed time since the start of the vapor-sucking session.

8. Aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify the user when a selected duration has elapsed since the determined value has reached a selected value since the last suction.

9. The aerosol-generating device of claim 8, wherein the selected duration varies according to a time elapsed since the vapor-absorbing session was started.

10. Aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to notify the user when the determined value corresponds to an increase in a selected value since the last suction.

11. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 10, wherein the selected value increase varies according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session.

12. Aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the notification unit (3) is arranged for notifying the user by means of a displayed message and/or an audio message and/or a haptic feedback.

13. Aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (4) causes the notification unit (3) to continue notifying the user for a predetermined period of time.

14. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time varies according to the time elapsed since the start of the vapor-absorbing session.

15. Aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a rechargeable power source (9) storing electrical energy.