EP3085251B1 - Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif à fumer électronique - Google Patents

Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif à fumer électronique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3085251B1
EP3085251B1 EP16155806.9A EP16155806A EP3085251B1 EP 3085251 B1 EP3085251 B1 EP 3085251B1 EP 16155806 A EP16155806 A EP 16155806A EP 3085251 B1 EP3085251 B1 EP 3085251B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aerosol
detector
measurement device
puff
optical measurement
Prior art date
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EP16155806.9A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3085251A1 (fr
Inventor
Vaclav Borkovec
Diego Gonzales
Joanne Louise Channon
Simon James Smith
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Fontem Ventures BV
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Fontem Holdings 1 BV
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Priority to EP16155806.9A priority Critical patent/EP3085251B1/fr
Priority to PCT/EP2016/057877 priority patent/WO2016169797A1/fr
Publication of EP3085251A1 publication Critical patent/EP3085251A1/fr
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24C—MACHINES FOR MAKING CIGARS OR CIGARETTES
    • A24C5/00—Making cigarettes; Making tipping materials for, or attaching filters or mouthpieces to, cigars or cigarettes
    • A24C5/32—Separating, ordering, counting or examining cigarettes; Regulating the feeding of tobacco according to rod or cigarette condition
    • A24C5/34—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes
    • A24C5/3424—Examining cigarettes or the rod, e.g. for regulating the feeding of tobacco; Removing defective cigarettes by weighing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/80—Testing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a process of testing electronic smoking devices, in particular electronic cigarettes.
  • An electronic smoking device such as an electronic cigarette, usually has a housing accommodating an electric power source (e.g., a battery or a rechargeable battery), an electrically powered atomizer adapted to atomize a liquid supplied from a reservoir in order to provide an aerosol exiting from the atomizer, and control electronics which controls the activation of the atomizer.
  • an electric power source e.g., a battery or a rechargeable battery
  • an electrically powered atomizer adapted to atomize a liquid supplied from a reservoir in order to provide an aerosol exiting from the atomizer
  • control electronics which controls the activation of the atomizer.
  • the requirement to generate an aerosol is indicated or signalled to the control electronics by an aerosol initiation unit, which is typically designed as a puff detector which detects a user puffing on the device (e.g., by sensing an under-pressure or an air flow pattern through the device) or as a simple push button pressed by the user.
  • the atomizer When the requirement to generate a puff is signalled to the control electronics by the aerosol initiation unit, the atomizer is powered, which causes the creation of aerosol.
  • This action of the atomizer is referred to "atomization” or “atomizing” and the related product is called “aerosol", irrespective of its composition, which might include gaseous and smoke constituents.
  • Related disclosures can be found, for example, in document US 2014/0300480 A or EP 1 403 432 A .
  • liquid to be atomized may be contained in a reservoir, which may be designed as a capsule containing the liquid.
  • the reservoir is included in a cartridge which also contains the atomizer.
  • Such combination is sometimes called a "cartomizer”.
  • Weight loss testing is the current standard for a quick evaluation of the performance of an electronic cigarette regarding the quantity of aerosol produced or dosed to the consumer. Weight loss is not synonymous with aerosol density (vapour density) due to the possible distributions of particle sizes in the aerosol in the visible and non-visible range, but the weight loss occurring during the course of aerosol production can be used to distinguish between good and bad performance within the tolerances of a single product.
  • aerosol density vapour density
  • the weight loss due to the aerosol emerging from an electronic smoking device is measured largely manually, which is very time-consuming and labour-intensive.
  • An operator is required to supervise a smoking machine smoking an electronic cigarette while recording the weight (mass) of the electronic cigarette, in the ideal case, after every puff.
  • the electronic cigarette is usually weighed after a certain number of puffs, and the resulting weight loss is then divided by this number.
  • blocks of 10, 25 or 50 puffs are used, depending on the capacity of the set-up and on what resolution the results are required to show.
  • the object of the invention is an improvement in the process of testing electronic smoking devices, in particular electronic cigarettes, according to claim 1.
  • the disclosure further relates to an improvement in the process of testing electronic smoking devices, so that the weight loss of an electronic smoking device in the course of smoking can be monitored in an easy and precise way and can be evaluated with respect to other properties of the electronic smoking device.
  • an electronic smoking device to be tested is mounted at an inlet port of a smoking apparatus.
  • the smoking apparatus repeatedly exerts puffs at the electronic smoking device, wherein each puff is defined by a puff sequence comprising an inhalation period and an exhalation period.
  • optical properties i.e., at least one optical property of aerosol deriving from the electronic smoking device are measured.
  • the actual mass of the electronic smoking device may be repeatedly determined by means of an automatic transport and weighing system, wherein the electronic smoking device is removed from the inlet port after the inhalation period of a puff has ended, is transported to a precision balance, is weighed by means of the precision balance, is transported back to the inlet port, and is mounted back at the inlet port before the inhalation period of the next puff starts.
  • the automatic transport and weighing system allows the quasi continuous monitoring of the mass of the electronic smoking device during the course of smoking.
  • the puff sequence which usually consists of the inhalation period, a hold period, the exhalation period, and a pause, may have a total duration, for one puff, in the range of from 15 s to 60 s, preferably in the range of from 20 s to 40 s or of from 25 s to 35 s. This includes a duration of 30 s, as stipulated in CORESTA guidelines.
  • the automatic transport and weighing system is able to remove the electronic smoking device from the inlet port, transport it to the precision balance, weigh it, and bring it back and mount it at the inlet port.
  • the weighing time also involves some time (typically about 5 s) in order to wait until the precision balance has settled after the electronic smoking device has been placed on the balance and a precise reading is possible. It may totally take about 15 s in order to transport the electronic smoking device back and forth.
  • the total time required for the inhalation period and for transporting and weighing the electronic smoking article may be less than, e.g., 30 s, which permits the determination of mass for each puff and, consequently, a precise testing.
  • a suitable precision balance is commercially available. It may indicate the weighing results, e.g., with four significant figures or with an accuracy of 1 mg or even better.
  • the weighing results may be transmitted, in digital form, to a data processing system.
  • the optical measurement device may be arranged between the inlet port and an intake chamber of the smoking apparatus so that the optical measurement device is passed by the aerosol.
  • the smoking apparatus can be a conventional smoking apparatus, a modified conventional smoking apparatus, or a custom-made smoking apparatus.
  • the volume of the intake chamber may be changed (e.g., by means of a reciprocating piston) in synchronisation with the puff sequence.
  • measured optical properties of aerosol can be correlated to the loss of mass of the electronic smoking device occurring between subsequent determinations of the actual mass of the electronic smoking device. For example, it may be desirable to produce as much visible aerosol as possible from a given amount (mass) of liquid to be atomized, i.e. the ratio of visible aerosol to mass loss is to be optimised. This ratio depends on the size, concentration and distribution of the aerosol particles, which is complex and expensive to measure using conventional methods.
  • the electronic cigarette has to be extensively tested while parameters as, e.g., the composition of the liquid or the temperature of the atomizer are varied.
  • such measurements can be automatically and easily performed, wherein the visibility of the aerosol created in a puff can be estimated via optical properties of the aerosol, and the loss of mass due to liquid consumption and aerosol creation can be determined by weighing, e.g. for each individual puff.
  • the optical measurement device comprises a light source, e.g. a laser or an LED source, and at least one detector arranged for measuring the attenuation and/or scattering of light emitted from the light source and passing through the aerosol (or part of the aerosol).
  • a first detector may be arranged opposite to the light source and a second detector may be arranged at an angle to the line connecting the light source and the first detector, e.g. at an angle representing a scattering angle of 90° or another scattering angle.
  • the first detector can be used to measure the attenuation (absorption) caused by the aerosol, and in the absence of aerosol it provides a measure for the intensity of the light source.
  • Measuring the intensity of the light source by means of the first detector is generally more precise than assuming a certain intensity based on power input values.
  • the second detector is not hit by directly emitted light but by light scattered by the aerosol particles.
  • the signal of the second detector provides a measure for the visibility of the aerosol.
  • a signal at the second detector may be determined.
  • the term "signal” is to be understood in a broad sense. It also relates to, e.g., a noise-corrected signal (e.g. obtained by subtracting, from the signal measured at the second detector with aerosol present in the optical measurement device, a background signal measured at the second detector without aerosol) and/or to a signal normalised to a signal representing the intensity of the light source (the latter obtained, e.g., by means of the first detector when no or only very little aerosol is present in the optical measurement device). Or an actual detector output can be integrated over a given time interval. Other options include the selection of certain frequency ranges, e.g. by optical filters in front of the detectors or in front of the light source. The light source preferably emits light at visible frequencies and/or in the infrared range. A person skilled in the art knows how to obtain meaningful data signals.
  • a calibration step between each puff which re-defines the maximum signal at the first detector (light source on, no aerosol).
  • a minimum signal at the first detector can be measured (light source off, no aerosol) to determine when the optical measurement device needs to be cleaned from condensation that can occur on the light source or on the detectors. This allows the calculation of a "calibration coefficient" as the difference between the maximum signal and the minimum signal. When the calibration coefficient falls below a certain value, the optical measurement device must be cleaned.
  • the calibration coefficient can also serve as a measure of reproducibility.
  • the optical measurement device may be prone to becoming coated in condensate during intensive use. This can be counteracted by a quick-cleaning step using a vacuum pump to clear away lingering aerosol in the optical measurement device, for example during the hold period of the puff sequence if there are no optical measurements performed.
  • the results of the optical measurements can provide a measure for the actual aerosol density, which then can be correlated with the actual weight loss (i.e. the mass of the aerosol of the actual puff) determined by means of the precision balance to give information about what influences the particle size distribution depending on the design of the electronic smoking device. This knowledge can be used to modify the visible characteristics of the aerosol, as well as the nicotine uptake efficiency.
  • Optical measurements can be performed, using the optical measurement device, on aerosol exiting from the electronic smoking device during the inhalation period of a puff.
  • optical measurements can be performed, using the optical measurement device, on aerosol exiting from the intake chamber during the exhalation period of a puff.
  • the presence of the aerosol in the intake chamber roughly mimics the presence of aerosol in, e.g., a human mouth. To this end, it will be advantageous if the temperature in the intake chamber is controlled, e.g. to be maintained at about 37°C.
  • part of the aerosol decays through coagulation and condensation so that the ratio of an "inhale signal” (e.g., a signal at the second detector, see above, measured during the inhalation period) to an "exhale signal” (e.g., a signal at the second detector, see above, measured during the exhalation period) provides a meaningful information, designated as vapour decay coefficient.
  • an "inhale signal” e.g., a signal at the second detector, see above, measured during the inhalation period
  • an "exhale signal” e.g., a signal at the second detector, see above, measured during the exhalation period
  • the smoking apparatus can also comprise further measurement equipment like sensors, detectors or other devices. If a conventional smoking apparatus is used, such equipment can be mounted in the apparatus or as attachments.
  • the transporting means of the automatic transport and weighing system can be designed in various different ways.
  • a robotic arm having various degrees of freedom and comprising a grasper may be used, controlled by a computer system and optionally involving sensor signals.
  • the automatic transport and weighing system comprises at least two slides moving along axes arranged transversely to each other, preferably perpendicularly to each other.
  • One of the slides may comprise a support for an electronic smoking device, which moves downwardly for placing the electronic smoking device onto the precision balance before weighing and moves upwardly for taking up the electronic smoking device from the precision balance after weighing.
  • a holding device may hold the electronic smoking device when the electronic smoking device is removed from and mounted back at the inlet port and may release the electronic smoking device when the electronic smoking device is placed on the precision balance.
  • the set-up for running the process according to the invention may also comprise a manual-button activation device such that manually operated electronic cigarettes requiring a push-button to activate the atomizer can be tested automatically by the set-up.
  • This activation device may include a magnetically driven rod which pushes against the push-button while a robotic gripper immobilises the electronic cigarette at the inlet port.
  • a sleeve may be used which encases the electronic cigarette and distributes the force of the rod against the push-button. This would also allow to work with push-buttons coated in a soft rubber-like material.
  • the process according to the invention can be controlled by a computer system having a user interface. Generally, this easily permits modifications in the process.
  • the data or part of the data acquired in the process is stored, e.g. in the computer system used for controlling the process or elsewhere.
  • the optical measurement device can also be used in a testing apparatus which does not comprise an automatic transport and weighing system, because scattering measurements on aerosol produced by an electronic smoking device provide valuable information, even without a correlation to the weight loss of the electronic smoking device.
  • an electronic smoking device to be tested is mounted at an inlet port of a testing apparatus. Puffs are exerted at the electronic smoking device, using the testing apparatus, wherein each puff is defined by a puff sequence comprising an inhalation period and an exhalation period. At least one optical property of aerosol deriving from the electronic smoking device is measured in an optical measurement device, which is part of the testing apparatus.
  • the optical measurement device comprises a light source, preferably a laser or an LED source, and at least one detector arranged for measuring the scattering of light emitted from the light source and passing through the aerosol.
  • This detector is arranged at a scattering angle with respect to a straight light path from the light source, e.g., a scattering angle in the range of from 60° to 120°, but other scattering angles are possible as well.
  • a signal at this detector is determined.
  • the testing apparatus may comprise a smoking apparatus and may also comprise an automatic transport and weighing system.
  • the testing apparatus may essentially consist of the optical measurement device and related components (like external electronics and/or pumping devices) only. In the latter case, a testing person can exert puffs so that aerosol enters the optical measurement device, where it is analysed by scattering of light.
  • the optical measurement device is modular and designed in such a way that it can be easily removed from the rest of any apparatus so that it can also be used as a stand-alone device.
  • the detector arranged at a scattering angle corresponds to the second detector described further above. It is possible that several detectors are used for measuring scattered light, e.g. detectors mounted at different scattering angles and/or detectors which are sensitive at different wavelength ranges.
  • the optical measurement device may further comprise a detector arranged opposite to the light source, in the straight light path, which is arranged for measuring the attenuation of light emitted from the light source and passing through the aerosol.
  • This detector corresponds to the first detector described above.
  • optical measurements can be performed, using the optical measurement device, on aerosol exiting from the electronic smoking device during the inhalation period of a puff and/or on aerosol entering the optical measurement device during the exhalation period of a puff.
  • the light source can be selected depending on the desired wavelengths of the light emitted.
  • light of wavelengths similar to the size of the droplets present in the aerosol is particularly useful because it is relatively strongly scattered. For example, assuming an average droplet size in the order of 500 nm, wavelengths ranging from about 400 nm to 900 nm would be appropriate. In this case, an easily available LED light source of 850 nm may be used. In an aerosol having different droplet sizes, a different light source might be more appropriate.
  • Figure 1 an embodiment of a set-up 1 used for running the process of testing an electronic cigarette 2 is illustrated in a schematic diagram.
  • the set-up 1 comprises a smoking apparatus 10 including an inlet port 12. At the inlet port 12, the electronic cigarette 2 can be mounted in the area of its mouth-sided end so that it is safely supported. A gasket (or an array of gaskets) at the inlet port 12 prevents aerosol exiting from the electronic cigarette 2 from escaping to the environment.
  • the smoking apparatus 10 includes an intake chamber 14, the volume of which can be changed (increased and decreased) by means of a piston 16.
  • optical measurement device 20 is arranged between the inlet port 12 and the intake chamber 14.
  • the optical measurement device 20 is regarded as a part of the smoking apparatus 10.
  • it could be considered as a separate component operated in conjunction with a smoking apparatus, e.g. a conventional smoking apparatus.
  • Figure 2 shows the optical measurement device 20 in a schematic cross-sectional view, in a plane indicated in Figure 1 by the axis I-I and perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 1 .
  • Light emitted by a light source 24 preferably a laser or an LED, e.g. working in the visible or infrared wavelength range
  • a first detector 26 mounted opposite to the light source 24.
  • the first detector 26 can also be used for measuring the intensity of the light source 24, in particular when no or only very little aerosol 22 is present in the optical measurement device 20. Moreover, the aerosol scatters light out of this direct light path so that the scattered light can be detected under an angle relative to the straight light path by a second detector 28.
  • the second detector 28 is mounted at a scattering angle of 90°, but it may also be adapted to be fixed in different positions in order to measure scattered light at different scattering angles.
  • the inlet port 12 is connected to the optical measurement device 20 via a short piece of silicone tubing, which runs through the actuator area of a first pinch valve (not shown in the figures).
  • the first pinch valve is operated to open and close the inlet of the optical measurement device 20.
  • a second pinch valve acting onto another silicon tube is mounted at the casing of the optical measurement device 20 to permit a controlled exhaust of the aerosol.
  • a vacuum pump can be used to remove the rests of the aerosol and to keep the set-up 1 clean from aerosol or its remnants.
  • the set-up 1 comprises an automatic transport and weighing system 30, see Figure 1 and in particular Figure 3 .
  • This system 30 is able to transfer the electronic cigarette 2 from the inlet port 12 to a precision balance 32, where the actual mass of the electronic cigarette 2 is determined, and to bring the electronic cigarette 2 back to the smoking apparatus 10 and re-mount the electronic cigarette 2 to the inlet port 12.
  • a precision balance 32 where the actual mass of the electronic cigarette 2 is determined
  • a weighing tray 34 of the precision balance 32 is surrounded by a support 36 which safely holds the electronic cigarette 2 by means of two notches (not shown in the figure).
  • An adjustable backstop 38 can be moved in x direction, back and forth. It serves to ensure a correct position of the electronic cigarette 2 in x direction.
  • the support 36 which is designed as a slide, is mounted at a slide 40 so that it can be moved up and down, in z direction.
  • the support 36 is not moved in y direction because the center of the weighing tray 34 is aligned with the inlet port 12 along the x axis. In other designs, an additional degree of freedom for movement in y direction may be useful, however.
  • the support 36 When the support 36 is moved upwardly, it finally arrests the electronic cigarette 2 by means of two prongs 42 which, e.g., may enter into indents of the sleeve device mentioned above. In this state, the center axis of the electronic cigarette 2 aims at the center of the inlet port 12.
  • the slide 40 can be moved in parallel to the x axis. To this end, it is arranged at a guide 44.
  • the set-up 1 is controlled by a computer system 50 having a user interface, which also includes a data storage, see Figure 1 .
  • the electronic cigarette 2 can be initially mounted at the inlet port 12 by inserting the mouth-sided end of the electronic cigarette 2 into the gasket provided at the inlet port 12. This step can be performed by placing the electronic cigarette 2 on the support 36 and operating components of the automatic transport and weighing system 30, see above. Before initially mounting the electronic cigarette 2 at the inlet port 12, it is also possible to determine its mass by means of the precision balance 32, in an analogous way as described below in detail.
  • the piston 16 With the first pinch valve open and the second pinch valve closed, the piston 16 is moved to increase the volume of the intake chamber 14, and a puff detector included in the electronic cigarette 2 senses the resulting vacuum and initiates the creation of aerosol by operating an atomizer inside the electronic cigarette 2.
  • the liquid used for generating the aerosol is supplied from a cartridge arranged in the electronic cigarette 2. If the electronic cigarette 2 comprises a manually actuatable switch for initiating the creation of aerosol instead of a puff detector, this switch can be operated by, e.g., a magnetically driven actuator mounted at the set-up 1.
  • the aerosol passes through the optical measurement device 20, where it can be investigated by means of the first detector 26 and the second detector 28, as outlined before and further described below.
  • the piston 16 stops so that the inhalation period of the puff ends. Now the first pinch valve is closed and the aerosol stays for some time (hold period) inside the intake chamber 14 so that aerosol particles can settle and the density of the aerosol may change.
  • the temperature of the intake chamber 14 is maintained at about 37°C.
  • the second pinch valve opens and the piston 16 starts to decrease the volume of the intake chamber 14 so that the residual aerosol is expelled from the intake chamber 14 and re-enters the optical measurement device 20, where its properties can be measured by means of the first detector 26 and the second detector 28.
  • the second pinch valve is closed. Prior to the inhalation period of the next puff, a pause can be provided.
  • a vacuum pump is used during the hold period in order to remove lingering aerosol from the optical measuring device 20 to prevent condensate from building up in the optical measurement device 20.
  • the intake chamber 14 has to be separated from the optical measurement device 20, during the hold period, by an additional valve or shutter.
  • the operation of the smoking apparatus 10 including the optical measurement device 20 has been considered.
  • the inhalation period ends, however, it is not required that the electronic cigarette 2 remains in a state mounted at the inlet port 12.
  • the exhalation period and the pause it can be remote from the inlet port 12 and can be weighed to determine its actual mass. This is performed by the automatic transport and weighing system 30.
  • the electronic cigarette 2 being held between the support 36 and the prongs 42 is pulled out of the gasket of the inlet port 12.
  • the support 36 is moved in x direction towards the precision balance 32 where it is lowered until the electronic cigarette 2 rests on the weighing tray 34.
  • the electronic cigarette is supported by the weighing tray 34 only so that its mass can be determined by the precision balance 32. In the embodiment, this takes about five seconds, including the settling time of the precision balance 32.
  • the measured mass is transmitted to the computer system 50.
  • the height in z direction of the support 36 is increased again until the electronic cigarette 2 (or its sleeve device) rests against the prongs 42, and the electronic cigarette 2 is transferred back to the inlet port 12 by moving the support 36 and the slide 40.
  • the accuracy of the precision balance 32 is high enough to reliably determine the mass of the aerosol consumed during the puff considered by taking the difference of the masses of the electronic cigarette 2 before and after the puff in question. It is assumed that a user typically puffs every 30 seconds. The time required for moving the electronic cigarette 2 and the settling of the precision balance 32 is about 20 seconds. That means, after the inhalation period, there is sufficient time for transporting and weighing the electronic cigarette 2 during the hold period, the exhalation period, and a pause. Thus, the set-up 1 is able to determine the actual mass of the electronic smoking device for each puff so that the cycle described so far can be repeated many times. The mass data can be correlated with the data achieved by the optical measurements and optionally with other data.
  • the computer system 50 may also control the set-up 1 so that the electronic cigarette 2 is weighed for every second puff only, or an in different manner.
  • the process is very versatile.
  • a meaningful optical property representing the visibility of the aerosol is the signal received at the second detector 28, which may be corrected and normalised for achieving a higher precision.
  • the output signal of the second detector 28, a voltage is digitalised by means of an analogue-to-digital converter and integrated over a pre-selected period of time.
  • the result represents the scattering, but it may also include some noise.
  • a noise correction can be obtained by subtracting, from the above result, a background signal measured at the second detector 28 after the aerosol has been removed from the optical measurement device 20 (again digitalised and integrated over the same period of time).
  • the noise-corrected result can be normalised to a signal (digitalised and integrated over some period of time) measured by the first detector 26 after the aerosol has been removed, in order to cancel out any long-term drift in the intensity of the light source 24.
  • the frequency range of the light source may be selected in relation to the expected range of sizes of the aerosol particles in order to optimise the scattering signal.
  • the light source 24 may emit light at visible frequencies and/or in the infrared range.
  • a calibration step between subsequent puffs which re-defines the "maximum signal” at the first detector 26 (light source on, no aerosol).
  • a "minimum signal” at the first detector 26 can be measured (light source off, no aerosol) to determine when the optical measurement device 20 needs to be cleaned from condensation that can occur on the light source 24 or on the detectors 26, 28.
  • This allows the calculation of a calibration coefficient as the difference between the maximum signal and the minimum signal. When the calibration coefficient falls below a certain value, the optical measurement device 20 must be cleaned.
  • the calibration coefficient can also serve as a measure of reproducibility.
  • the results of the optical measurements can provide a measure for the actual aerosol visibility, which then can be correlated with the actual weight loss (i.e. the mass of the aerosol of the actual puff) determined by means of the precision balance 30.
  • optical measurements can be performed both during the inhalation period and during the exhalation period of a puff.
  • part of the aerosol decays so that the ratio of the respective inhale signal to the respective exhale signal ("vapour decay coefficient") provides compact information on the decay process.
  • the optical measurement device 20 can be used in general, also independent of the set-up 1, e.g. as a stand-alone device for performing measurements on light scattered from aerosol present in the optical measurement device 20, as outlined further above.

Claims (4)

  1. Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif de cigarette électronique, comprenant :
    - le montage d'un dispositif de cigarette électronique (2) à tester sur un orifice d'admission (12) d'un appareil de test (20 ; 10),
    - le tirage de bouffées sur le dispositif de cigarette électronique (2), au moyen de l'appareil de test, chaque bouffée étant définie par une séquence de bouffée comprenant une période d'inhalation et une période d'exhalation,
    - la mesure d'au moins une propriété optique d'aérosol (22) émanant du dispositif de cigarette électronique (2) dans un dispositif de mesure optique (20), qui fait partie de l'appareil de test,
    - dans lequel le dispositif de mesure optique (20) comprend une source lumineuse (24), de préférence une source à laser ou à DEL, et au moins un détecteur (28) conçu pour mesurer la diffusion de la lumière émise par la source lumineuse (24) et passant à travers l'aérosol (22), ledit détecteur (28) étant agencé selon un angle de diffusion par rapport à un trajet rectiligne de la lumière à partir de la source lumineuse (24), l'angle de diffusion étant de préférence compris dans la plage de 60° à 120°, et
    - dans lequel un signal sur ledit détecteur (28) est déterminé comme propriété optique.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif de mesure optique (20) comprend en outre un détecteur (26) agencé en face de la source lumineuse (24), dans le trajet rectiligne de la lumière, qui est conçu pour mesurer l'atténuation de la lumière émise par la source lumineuse (24) et passant à travers l'aérosol (22) .
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel des mesures optiques sont effectuées, au moyen du dispositif de mesure optique (20), sur un aérosol (22) sortant du dispositif de cigarette électronique (2) pendant la période d'inhalation d'une bouffée.
  4. Procédé selon une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel des mesures optiques sont effectuées, au moyen du dispositif de mesure optique (20), sur un aérosol (22) entrant dans le dispositif de mesure optique (20) pendant la période d'exhalation d'une bouffée.
EP16155806.9A 2015-04-23 2015-04-23 Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif à fumer électronique Active EP3085251B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16155806.9A EP3085251B1 (fr) 2015-04-23 2015-04-23 Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif à fumer électronique
PCT/EP2016/057877 WO2016169797A1 (fr) 2015-04-23 2016-04-11 Procédé de test de dispositif à fumer électronique

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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EP16155806.9A EP3085251B1 (fr) 2015-04-23 2015-04-23 Procédé permettant de tester un dispositif à fumer électronique
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EP3085251A1 (fr) 2016-10-26
EP3085250A1 (fr) 2016-10-26
WO2016169669A1 (fr) 2016-10-27
WO2016169797A1 (fr) 2016-10-27

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