EP3451860A2

EP3451860A2 - Method for controlling a vaping device and vaping device for carrying out the method

Info

Publication number: EP3451860A2
Application number: EP17720795.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier Martzel
Original assignee: Sarl Gaiatrend Sarl
Current assignee: Sarl Gaiatrend Sarl
Priority date: 2016-05-02
Filing date: 2017-05-02
Publication date: 2019-03-13
Also published as: CN109068749B; US20190142067A1; US10925318B2; CA3021362A1; CN109068749A; FR3050618A1; RU2018142259A; TN2018000343A1; JP2019518441A; WO2017191143A3; WO2017191143A2; MA44853A; FR3050618B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling a vaping device comprising, in particular, an electrical power source, a reservoir for a liquid to be vaporised, an atomiser for vaporising the liquid so as to create an aerosol, an inhalation sensor, and a control unit, whereby the reservoir and the atomiser can be combined in a single component. The method of the invention is characterised by the following steps: (a) test to detect the activation of the vaping device, and proceeding to step (b) when the vaping device is activated; (b) test to detect the inhalation of a puff, and proceeding to step (c) once the inhalation of a puff has been detected; (c) monitoring of a first control event during each puff, and returning to step (b) if the first control event does not occur, or continuing to step (d) if the first control event occurs; and (d) placing the vaping device on standby once the first control event has occurred; an aerosol can be generated in response to inhalation when the device is activated, but not when the device is on standby.

Description

A method of controlling a vaping device and a vaping device for carrying out the process

Technical area

The invention relates to a vaping type inhalation device provided with control means comprising means for activating the vaping device, means for determining a control event and means for putting the vaping device on standby when the event control occurred. The invention also relates to a method of controlling such a device.

By vaping device includes electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, electronic shisha, electronic cigars, electronic cigarillos, electronic pipes and more generally devices that, by heating a liquid, said e-liquid, generate aerosol to be inhaled and are intended in particular to be used as substitutes for products containing smoking tobacco. They can also be used to inhale medical products.

Prior art

Vaping devices are becoming more prevalent and help to ease smoking cessation. The different vaping devices operate in the same way and differ essentially only in their external form. The rest of the description will be on the example of the e-cigarette, but it can be transposed to all other types of vaping devices.

These vaping devices generally comprise the following elements: a source of electrical energy such as a battery, a battery, or even a connection to the mains;

a cartridge containing the e-liquid used to generate the aerosol and containing various additives such as propylene glycol, flavorings or nicotine;

an atomizer, generally consisting of a heating resistor for vaporising the e-liquid coming from the cartridge at low temperature; a microprocessor for managing the various parameters when using the vaping device;

a vacuum sensor which detects when the vapoteur takes a puff and which sends a signal to the microprocessor to start the atomizer; and an LED which serves either merely to indicate that the vaping device is activated or to represent an incandescent point simulating the combustion of tobacco.

It is common for the cartridge and the atomizer to be combined into a single element called "cartomizer" or "clearomizer". The e-cigarette is usually either in sleep mode when not in use or in activated mode when the user is using it.

The consumer begins by filling the tank or cartomizer and makes sure that the battery is sufficiently charged. Either it turns on the electronic cigarette manually by pressing a button, or it automatically turns on during the first suction that the microprocessor detects with the vacuum sensor. The microprocessor then activates the heating resistor and turns on the LED. As soon as the liquid reaches about 60 ° C, an aerosol is formed which is sucked by the vapoteur. If the liquid contains a substance with a known effect, such as nicotine, it is inhaled by the vapoteur. Since the nicotine-containing aerosol is formed without combustion, the e-cigarette is considered a good alternative to traditional cigarettes to help with smoking cessation.

With a traditional cigarette, the smoker receives a dose of nicotine with each puff until the cigarette has been completely consumed. Some smokers pull frantically and at short intervals on their cigarettes, others on the contrary suck less and take their time, leaving the cigarette burn alone between two puffs. The same cigarette does not provide the same amount of nicotine depending on how it is smoked. However, everyone, depending on how they drink, knows roughly how many cigarettes they smoke per day. A cigarette is therefore a kind of unit of measure specific to each.

Unlike a traditional cigarette, an e-cigarette is not consumed. It is therefore possible to shoot only a few puffs from time to time, which would only correspond to a fraction of a cigarette. But it is also possible to get much more puffs than it would have been possible with a traditional cigarette. Thus, vapers are often confronted with the problem of "continuous vaping". It is by therefore difficult to know precisely the amount of nicotine inhaled during a day. A vaper can be overdosed nicotine without really realizing it. It turned out that the e-cigarette facilitated the stopping of the traditional cigarette, but not the stopping of the nicotine.

Some manufacturers have therefore designed e-cigarettes that can only work during certain well-defined periods. Outside these periods, the e-cigarette remains inert. Another solution is to require the vaper a positive act on his part so that he becomes aware of his gesture. For example, patent application WO 2007 077 167 A1 describes an electronic cigarette which only comes on after the vaper has lit it with the flame of a cigarette lighter like a traditional cigarette.

The objective of the invention is to restore the benchmarks to which tobacco smokers are accustomed in order to help them rediscover the notion of the "cigarette" unit. Another objective is to control the dose of medicament absorbed by a patient when the process is applied to an inhalation device for medical use and the respect of intervals between two successive shots.

Presentation of the invention

These objectives are achieved with the control method of the invention which provides the following steps:

(a) testing to detect activation of the inhalation device, and proceeding to step (b) as soon as activation of the inhalation device is detected

(b) testing to detect the presence of aspiration of a puff, and going to step (c) as soon as puffing is detected,

(c) monitoring a first control event during each puff, and returning to step (b) if the first control event has not occurred, or continuing to step (d) if the first event control occurred,

(d) pausing the vaping device,

an aerosol that can be generated during aspiration when the device is activated, but not when it is in standby.

It may be useful to inform the user that the first event has occurred. For this, it is possible to provide for a signal to be emitted in step (d) when the device is put on standby. This control procedure can be supplemented by a second check during the breaks between each puff. For this, in step (b), after each test having concluded the absence of aspiration, that is to say during each pause between two successive puffs or between the activation and the first puff, a second control event, the same or different from the first control event, is monitored and the process proceeds directly to step (d) if the second control event has occurred.

In the medical field, it is common for drugs to be administered at regular intervals. Failure to observe these intervals can have serious consequences for the patient, both in case of taking too close together and in case of exceeding the prescribed interval. To avoid taking too close, it may be interesting to prohibit the reactivation of the inhaler before the lapse of a certain interval between two shots. Taking the example of a drug to be taken every four hours, a delay, called blocking delay, can be provided which prevents the reactivation of the inhaler less than four hours after the previous standby. This same principle can be applied to a vaping device to force the vapoteur to wait a certain time before starting vaping again. Thus, the method can provide that the inhalation device can be activated in step (a) only after a minimum time interval, called the blocking interval (Tempol, Tempo2), has elapsed since preceding activation in step (a) or the previous standby in step (d) or since a predefined action has been executed. In some cases, especially for drugs, it is also possible to control not the duration between the standby and the next reactivation, but between two successive activations. Thus a patient would start taking a dose of medicine every 4 hours for example, regardless of how long it took to take the previous dose.

Always in the perspective of helping a patient to respect the intervals between two shots, it may be useful to remind him that it is time for him to take the next dose. For this purpose, it is possible to trigger a second time delay after expiry of the time delay which prevented the inhalation device from activating which, when it comes to an end, triggers the emission of a signal warning the patient that he has not taken the current dose yet. This timer can be automatically rebooted after each expiration until the inhalation device is activated, for example by a first aspiration. For this purpose, it can be expected that after the expiration of the blocking interval (Tempol, Tempo2), a signal is emitted at regular intervals, called the recall interval (tlima), as long as the inhalation device has not been activated in step (a).

In an exemplary preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intended to determine the volume of aerosol generated during each aspiration, to accumulate these volumes as and when the consumption of the vaping device or inhalation and compare this. cumulated volume to a reference volume corresponding to the volume that would have been generated by a corresponding conventional smoking device (cigarette, cigar, pipe, shisha, etc.) or to the volume corresponding to a dose of medication. As soon as the cumulative volume reaches the reference volume, the vaping device goes to sleep, thus indicating to the vaper that he has finished his "cigarette" or to the patient that he has absorbed the prescribed dose. Achieving the reference volume is the first event. For this, step (c) comprises the following substeps performed at each passage of step (c):

(c1) the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) during the present passage (i) of step (c) is determined,

(c2) the cumulative aerosol volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated by adding to the accumulated volume (Vcum (i-1)) of the previous step (i-1) step (a, b or c) the volume aerosol generated (Vfum (i)) during the present passage of step (c), the cumulative volume (Vcum (0)) at the activation of the vaping device having the value 0, and (c3) the volume cumulated (Vcum (i)) is compared with a predefined threshold volume (Vcig) then the process continues at the beginning of step (b), that is to say the test for the presence of a suction, if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is less than the threshold volume (Vcig), or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig).

When the process is applied to tobacco substitutes, such as e-cigarettes for example, it is possible to calculate during each pause a fictitious aerosol volume corresponding to the volume of smoke that would have generated a traditional cigarette by slow consumption between two aspirations . This fictitious volume is added to the cumulative volume of aerosol generated during aspirations, then this cumulated volume is compared to the threshold volume. The vaping device is put on standby as soon as the threshold volume is reached. It is therefore possible that the vaping device goes to sleep during a pause. For this, step (b) may comprise the following substeps performed after each test of step (b) having noted the absence of aspiration, that is to say during a pause between two successive aspirations : (b1) a fictitious aerosol volume (Vcn (i)) is determined corresponding to the present passage (i) of step (b),

(b2) the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) of the volumes of aerosol generated previously during the aspirations and the fictitious volumes generated previously during the breaks is calculated by adding to the cumulated volume (Vcum (i-1)) of the preceding passage ( i- 1) step (a, b or c) the aerosol fictitious volume (Vcn (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (b), the cumulative volume (Vcum (0)) to the activation of the vaping device having the value 0,

(b3) the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with the predefined threshold volume (Vcig) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b), that is to say the presence test of a suction if the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is less than the threshold volume, or the process continues in step (d) if the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig). In practice, it can be considered that the imaginary aerosol volume (Vcn (i)) passing step (b) during breaks is constant (Vcn).

The cumulative volume can be calculated and compared to the threshold value at the end of each aspiration or pause, each defining a time period, the duration of which varies from one aspiration to another and a pause at the other. However, it is preferable to calculate the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) and to compare it with the threshold volume (Vcig) several times by suction or by pause. This will in particular to put the vaping device on hold after a long pause, without waiting for the vapoteur to attempt a puff well after the control volume has reached the threshold value during the last pause. In this case, the lapse of time will depend on the frequency of the clock present in the control unit managing the vaping device.

When the method is used to administer a drug, calculating a fictitious volume of smoke no longer makes sense. On the other hand, it may be interesting to limit the time available to take the dose of medication. If, after a certain period of time, the amount of medicine absorbed (Vcum (i)) has not reached the prescribed dose (Vcig), it may be useful to stop taking the medicine and therefore to put the inhalation device into Eve. For this, it can be provided that step (b) comprises the following steps performed at each pass of step (b) after each test having noted the absence of aspiration:

(bV) the duration (t (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (b) is determined, (b2 ') the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) of all the step passes (b) during which the process finds the absence of suction is calculated by adding to the cumulative duration (tcurrib (il)) of the passage preceding (i-1) of step (b), the duration (t (i)) of the present passage of step (b), the cumulative duration (tcurrib (O)) at the moment of activation of the device inhalation value 0,

(b3 ') the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) is compared with a predefined threshold duration (tlirrib) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b) if the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) is less than the threshold duration (tlirrib), or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold duration (tlirrib).

In practice, we can consider that the duration (t (i)) of a passage of step (b) during breaks is constant (t).

It is better to calculate the cumulative duration (tcum _b (i)) and to compare it to the threshold duration (tlirrib) several times per pause. This will allow in particular to put the inhalation device on standby after a long pause, without waiting for the patient to attempt a new puff well after the previous one. In this case, the durations (t (i)) of each passage of step (b) can be defined so as to be all identical. Since the inhalation device will go into a standby state without the amount of drug absorbed (Vcum (i)) reaching the prescribed dose (Vcig), it is preferable that the patient, a third party in charge of controlling the drug taking or a monitoring procedure is informed of this defect by issuing a signal.

A delay may also be provided to prevent the patient from reactivating the inhalation device until a certain time interval has elapsed since the sleep or last activation. Thus, the first blocking delay (Tempol) can be provided after standby in step (d) when the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig), and a second delay of blocking (Tempo2) can be provided after the standby in step (d) after expiration of the control threshold duration (tlirrib), the duration of the second timer (Tempo2) being preferably equal to the duration of the first time delay (Tempol) minus the control threshold duration (tlim _b ).

Aerosol volumes generated can be measured or estimated using more easily measurable parameters. For example, it is possible in step (d) to determine the suction power (Pasp (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (c), preferably using a suction sensor, and / or determining the atomizer temperature (Tres (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (c), and then calculating the volume of the generated aerosol (Vfum (i)) during the present passage (i) of step (c) as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i)) and / or the atomizer temperature (Tres (i)).

In order to prevent the temperature of the atomizer from exceeding a certain threshold temperature beyond which harmful products could be released, it is preferable for each passage (i) of step (c) during the aspirations, to determine the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) and then compare it with a threshold value (Tmax), the heating of the atomizer being limited if the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is greater than the threshold value (Tmax).

The temperature of the atomizer can be either measured or determined using other easily measurable or determinable parameters. However, the more powerful the suction, the more the heating of the atomizer is important and the higher the temperature rises. When the place in the inhalation device or its configuration permit, it is preferable to use a temperature sensor. However, in vaping devices, it is difficult to use such a sensor. Indeed, the cartomizer is an interchangeable piece that is screwed into the electronic cigarette. It is therefore not easy to ensure the contact between a temperature sensor located inside the cartomizer and the microprocessor of the e-cigarette. In this case, it is preferable to estimate the temperature based on a part of the initial temperature and on the other hand the suction power, the duration of the suction and the voltage at the terminals of the source. energy. Thus, it is possible to provide the following steps:

after activation of the vaping device,

the atomizer temperature is set at a predetermined value (Tres (0)); then during each aspiration, at each passage (i) of step (c),

the suction power (Pasp (i)) is determined, preferably by means of a suction sensor,

the voltage (Ubat (i)) at the terminals of the electric power source is measured,

the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is determined firstly as a function of the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i-1)) at the preceding passage (i-1) of step (a, b or c) and secondly depending on the suction power (Pasp (i)) and the voltage across the power source (Ubat (i));

during each pause between two aspirations and / or during the standby mode, at each pass

(i) of step (a) or (b), the atomizer temperature (Tres (i)) is determined as a function of the atomizer temperature (Tres (i-1)) at the previous step (i-1) step (a, b or c).

The vaping devices are generally provided with a light source, such as an LED, to indicate to the vaper that its device is activated. It is preferable that this light source be turned on during each aspiration. The luminous intensity of the light source at each passage (i) of step (c) may depend on the suction power (Pasp (i)) and / or the light source may be gradually extinguished at the end of each aspiration and / or the light source can be powered by a signal whose pulse width is modulated (PWM).

The activation of the vaping device in step (a) can be triggered for example by pressing a switch and / or automatically by taking out the vaping device from a case and / or during the first aspiration and / or after that a heat source, preferably a flame, has been approached by a detector present in the vaping device. If the activation is triggered by a first aspiration, then the first pause, time spent between activation and the first aspiration, is directly finished.

The heating of the atomizer can be controlled by a signal whose pulse width is modulated (PWM).

In order to prevent the vaper from bypassing the control process by reactivating the vaping device as soon as it has gone to sleep, it is preferable that the activation of the vaping device in step (a) can not be done. triggered only after a minimum time interval has elapsed since the previous standby or after a predefined action has been executed. For example, it is possible to provide that the vaping device should be stored in a case.

When the activation of the inhalation device in step (a) is triggered by removing the inhalation device from a case, it may be preferable to provide a counter which is incremented each time the inhalation device has returned to the case after at least one aspiration has been detected. In this case, the counter can be reset once a day and the counter value can be displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or the case. More generally, it is preferable to provide a counter which is incremented each time the process goes through step (d). This counter can be reset once a day and the counter value can be displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or the case.

The invention also relates to a vaping device comprising a source of electric current, a tank for a liquid to be vaporized, an atomizer for vaporizing the liquid in order to generate an aerosol, a suction sensor and a control unit, the reservoir and the atomizer can be combined into a single component. The device of the invention is characterized in that the control unit is provided with means for implementing the method of the invention.

The inhalation device is preferably provided with a screen designed to display statistical data, for example information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) during a predefined unit of time or the number of times the process has passed through step (d) by a unit of time, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) per day or information on the number of times per day that the process passed through step (d). This is to inform the vapoteur of the number of "equivalent cigarette" vaping in the day, or the patient of the number of doses absorbed during the day. It can be expected to indicate the daily accumulation of volumes of aerosol actually absorbed, which is useful when it comes to knowing the daily amount of nicotine or the amount of drug absorbed, or the daily accumulation of absorbed volumes and fictitious volumes when the vaper must refer to a "cigarette equivalent".

The vaping device may be provided with a case in which it can be stored. This case can be used simply as a storage box and reloading. It can also be used to control the consumption of the e-cigarette. In this case, a screen can be provided on the inhalation device and / or the case. This screen can be designed to display statistical data, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) during a predefined unit of time or the number of times the process has passed through step (d) by a unit of time, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) per day or information on the number of times the process has passed through step (d) per day. Here too, it can be expected to indicate the daily accumulation of aerosol volumes actually absorbed, which is useful when it comes to knowing the daily amount of nicotine or the amount of drug absorbed, or the amount of Daily accumulation of absorbed volumes and fictitious volumes when the vaper must refer to a "cigarette equivalent".

More generally, provision may be made to provide the inhalation device with a counter which is incremented each time the process goes through step (d). In this case, the counter is preferably reset once a day and the counter value is preferably displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or the case.

Brief description of the drawings

An exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention is described below with the aid of the following figures:

Figure 1 Schematic diagram of an e-cigarette;

Figure 2 basic flow chart of the control method according to the invention;

Figure 3 improved basic flow chart;

Figure 4 detailed logigram for activation by output of a case;

Figure 5 detailed logigram for activation by first aspiration;

Figure 6 is a detailed flow chart for administering a drug with activation by first aspiration, and

Figure 7 Detailed logigram for activation by another positive act (ignition on flame, pressing a button, etc.).

Embodiments of the Invention The invention relates to an electronic vapouring device. By vaping device, it includes an aerosol generator serving as a substitute for a tobacco product, such as a cigarette, a cigar, a cigarillo, a pipe or a shisha. These vaping devices include electronic cigarettes (or e-cigarettes), electronic cigarillos, electronic cigars, electronic pipes and electronic shisha. The method also applies to the administration of drugs in the form of an aerosol generated by evaporation of a liquid. For simplicity, the inhalation device will be referred to hereafter as "vaping device" or "e-cigarette", without this term being limiting. All these vaping devices (1) have substantially the same elements and are distinguished from each other essentially by their outer shape. They include:

a source of electric power (2),

a reservoir for a liquid to be vaporized (commonly called e-liquid),

an atomizer for vaporizing the liquid to generate an aerosol,

a suction sensor (3) and

a control unit (4) provided with a microprocessor and a clock. It is common for the tank and atomizer to be combined into a single component commonly referred to as a "cartomizer" or "clearomizer" (5). These elements have the function of turning the liquid into an aerosol. For this, they are provided with a heat source, for example a heating resistor (51). This heat source is turned on during aspiration. The longer the suction takes, the more heat source is heated and the greater the volume of aerosol generated. In the case in particular of tobacco substitute devices, the cartomizer is a removable part which is screwed into the body of the e-cigarette. Indeed, since e-liquids are often scented, it is preferable to avoid mixtures to have a perfume cartomizer or even a nicotine concentration.

Generally, the electric power source is a rechargeable battery (2). But, it can also consist of a battery, or even an external source, such as the sector current. In order to show the vapoteur that the vaping device is being heated, it is often provided with a light source, such as an LED (6), which lights up when the vapoteur sucks a puff and that the Atomizer or cartomizer is powered by the power source. This LED can be placed at the end opposite to the mouthpiece and simulate the embers of the tobacco being consumed.

Figure 1 shows by way of example an electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, with its various components. The remainder of the description is made with the example of such an e-cigarette. However, the method could be transposed to any other type of vaping device or more generally to any type of electronic inhalation device designed to generate an aerosol by vaporization of a liquid. After ignition with the flame, a traditional cigarette is consumed until the exhaustion of the tobacco. Consumption is done in an accelerated way when the smoker inhale a puff, either more slowly between two puffs. Smoke volumes due to aspiration and volumes of smoke due to slow consumption are thus released. The volume of smoke due to aspiration depends on the duration and power of the suction. Moreover, the higher the suction power, the higher the temperature of the ember is high and the volume of smoke generated is important. The amount of tobacco remaining decreases accordingly. Slow consumption, on the other hand, is regular and depends solely on the duration of the break.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for controlling an e-cigarette that is close to this process of consuming a traditional cigarette. We set a first event to control, and as soon as this first event occurred, the microprocessor causes the e-cigarette to go to sleep. The control of this first event can be done during aspirations (Figure 2). This basic process is therefore characterized by the following steps:

(a) testing to detect activation of the inhalation device, and proceeding to step (b) as soon as activation of the inhalation device is detected,

(d) suspending the inhalation device,

It is also possible to set a second event to be checked, identical or different from the first, and as soon as this second event has occurred, the microprocessor causes the e-cigarette to go to sleep. Control of this second event can occur during breaks between two successive aspirations (Figure 3). In the flow diagram of FIG. 3, the first control of the basic process (monitoring of a first event in step c) is completed by a second check during the breaks between each puff. For this, in step (b), after each test having concluded the absence of aspiration, that is to say during each pause between two successive puffs or between the activation and the first puff, a second control event, identical or different from the first event control, is monitored and the process proceeds directly to step (d) if the second control event has occurred.

A first object of the invention is that the e-cigarette goes to sleep after the equivalent of the consumption of a traditional cigarette is reached. It is therefore planned to determine an event reflecting the total consumption of tobacco of the traditional cigarette. Here the same event is controlled during aspirations and breaks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling an electronic inhaler for administering precise doses of drugs. An event to be controlled (fixed dose administration) is fixed and as soon as this dose is reached, the microprocessor causes the inhalation device to be put on standby (FIG. 2). Here, the control of the quantity administered is only done during aspirations. On the other hand, it is possible to provide automatic standby after a too long pause or a too long administration period (FIG. 3). In this case, the first controlled event (dose to be administered) is different from the second controlled event (too long pause time).

Depending on the intended applications, or the desired complexity, different parameters may be taken into account by the method.

A first variant for smoking inhalation devices may provide that step (c) comprises the following substeps:

(d) the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) during the present step (c) is determined, (c2) the cumulative aerosol volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated by adding to the accumulated volume (Vcum ( i-1)) during the step (c) preceding the volume of aerosol generated (Vfum (i)) during the present step (c), knowing that the cumulative volume (Vcum (0)) at the moment of activation the inhalation device has the value 0, and

(c3) the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with a predefined threshold volume (Vcig) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is less than the threshold volume (Vcig) or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig).

This simple process only takes into account the volumes of aerosol actually generated. In a first simple embodiment, the first event to be monitored in step (c) and the second event to be monitored in step (b) may be a prefixed usage time. As soon as the usage time is reached, the e-cigarette goes to sleep. The usage time may be the average time required to smoke a traditional cigarette. So we set a number of time units. When all these units of time are exhausted, the e-cigarette goes to sleep. In an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that a suction consumes more units of time than a pause. Other examples of such methods are presented in the flowcharts of the figures

4 to 7. These more complex processes determine not only the volume of aerosol generated during each aspiration, but also (i) the volume of aerosol fictitiously generated during each pause, (ii) the pause time and / or iii) the time between two successive activations or between the standby and the next activation.

Between two aspirations, an e-cigarette does not consume e-liquid and generates no aerosol, whereas a traditional cigarette burns slowly, decreasing the amount of tobacco available. In a variant embodiment, it is therefore also possible to calculate fictitious aerosol volumes in addition to the volumes of aerosol actually generated during the aspirations. During the entire process, the volumes of aerosol generated and the fictitious volumes are cumulated, then this accumulated volume is compared with a threshold volume corresponding to the total volume of smoke that a traditional cigarette is capable of supplying. As soon as the accumulated volume reaches or exceeds this threshold volume, the e-cigarette is put on standby.

The process could calculate the aerosol volumes generated and the fictitious volume at the end of each aspiration or pause and calculate the accumulation and compare it to the threshold value only at the end of each aspiration and each pause. The disadvantage of this solution lies in the fact that if the vaper has forgotten his e-cigarette, it is at a break and will not go into sleep, failing to pass the cumulative volume test. It is therefore better to do the calculations and tests constantly.

For this, the microprocessor is clocked by the clock. The number of clock cycles depends on the frequency of it. For a 25 Hz frequency, there are 25 clock cycles per second. In other words, the clock gives a pulse every 1 / 25th of a second. The microprocessor will use one or more clock cycles to perform a calculating, performing a test or measuring a physical quantity. Therefore, each box of a logic diagram will require a certain number of clock cycles. The microprocessor therefore takes a certain time (time) to go from one particular point to another particular point of the logic diagram and to go through a sequence of instructions corresponding to a certain step of the method. The duration of this period of time depends on each step. The process will constantly scan the logigram, even when it is idle waiting for activation. Thus, the process will pass at each aspiration X times the succession of steps

(b) Aspiration = yes and (c) calculation of the aspirated volume + calculation of cumulation and return to the aspiration test, then it will pass X times the test of step (b) Aspiration during a pose. For the sake of clarity, the passage of each current step is assigned the value (i), whether it is a step (a), (b) or (c), step (a), ( b) or (c) preceding being step (i-1). A step (a) can follow a step (a) or a step (d), a step (b) can follow a step (a), a step (b) or a step (c), and a step (c) can follow a step (b) or a step (c), or even a step (a) when the steps (a) and (b) are combined. Therefore the preceding step (i-1) or the step (i + 1) following the current step (i) is not necessarily the same step. We will therefore use in the following the general term "passage of step" to talk about the passage of one of the stages.

After the activation of the e-cigarette, the processor will test the presence of a suction until it detects one.

The fictitious volume (Vcn (i)) generated at each passage (i) by step (b) having noted the absence of a suction (thus during a pause) is substantially constant. It is set to a reference value (Vcn). The volume of aerosol generated at each passage (i) by step (c) during suction depends on the power of the suction (Pasp (i)) and the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i) ), both measured for this passage (i) of the step

(vs) . During breaks or in standby mode, the resistance cools, especially as the pause is long. At the beginning of an aspiration, the resistance therefore does not always have the same temperature according to whether it is a first aspiration (starting temperature = ambient temperature), of an aspiration following a pause of average duration (low residual temperature) or suction very close to the previous one (high residual temperature). Moreover, the longer the suction time, the more the heater heats. It is therefore preferable to take into account the temperature of the resistance in the determination of the aerosol volume generated. This temperature (Tres (i)) can be measured directly using a sensor or can be estimated using other, more easily measurable parameters. For example, the temperature (Tres (i)) during the suction can be estimated with the aid of the temperature estimated at the previous step transition (i-1) (T prees = Tres (i-1)) to which is added a factor depending on the suction power (Pasp (i)) and the voltage across the battery (Ubat (i)) during the present passage (i) of step (c). The temperature (Tres (i)) during a pause is estimated as a function of the temperature estimated at the previous step transition (i-1) (T prees = Tres (i-1)) to which is subtracted a temperature-dependent factor estimated at the previous step transition (i-1) (T prees = Tres (i-1)). It will be understood that the preceding step pass (i-1) can be a step pass (a), a step pass (b) or a step pass (c).

For these calculations and estimates, tables or charts are produced which indicate, by step (i), the estimated value according to the variable parameters selected. For example, for the estimation of the temperature of the resistance (Tres (i)) during an aspiration, the initial temperature (T prees = Tres (i-1)) estimated at the preceding step transition (i) is added to temperature delta read in the table according to the voltage across the battery and the power drawn (Pasp (i)). A new estimated temperature (Tres (i)) is obtained for the present step transition (i), which in turn serves as an estimated initial temperature (T prees (i + 1) = Tres (i)) for the step transition next (i + 1). During a pause, subtracted from the initial temperature (T prees = Tres (i-1)) estimated at the step transition preceding a temperature delta read in a table according to the initial temperature (T prees = Tres (i-1) ). This gives a new estimated temperature (Tres (i)) for this step transition (i), which in turn serves as the initial temperature (T prees (i + 1) = Tres (i)) for the step transition next (i + 1). The initial temperature at activation of the e-cigarette is set at a predetermined value (Tini). From there, the temperature remains at this value until the first suction. It then increases all the passages of step (c) of a variable delta read in the table of aspirations until the end of the aspiration. At the end of aspiration, the end suction temperature is decreased all the passages of step (b) without aspiration of a variable delta read in the table of breaks until the beginning of the next suction. It is the same during the standby mode until reaching a threshold value, for example the initial temperature (Tini). This control during the standby mode makes it possible, if a vapoteur reactivates the e-cigarette very quickly after its standby, to take into account the residual temperature of the resistor which has not had time to completely cool down. The control restarts at the residual temperature and not at the initial temperature and overheating can be avoided. The procedure is similar for the calculation of aerosol volumes. Upon activation of the e-cigarette, the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (0)) and the accumulated volume (Vcum (0)) are set to zero. At each passage (i) of step (c) during aspiration, the generated volume (Vfum (i)) is calculated on the basis of a value read in an array of volumes generated as a function of the power drawn ( Pasp (i)) and the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)). This generated volume (Vfum (i)) is added to the accumulated volume (Vcum (i-1)) calculated during the previous step transition of step (b) or (c) (i-1). For pauses, the fictitious volume (Vcn) is constant for each passage of step (b) noting the absence of aspiration if the periods of time necessary for the passage of these steps (b) have identical durations. The accumulated volume at the end of the passage of a step (b) without aspiration is therefore increased by (Vcn).

The temperature of the resistor can also be used to limit the heating of the atomizer to avoid overheating of the e-liquid which could lead to generate harmful products. It is therefore possible during the checks during the aspirations to compare the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) with a threshold value (Tmax). If the temperature (Tres (i)) is greater than the threshold value (Tmax), then the heating of the atomizer is limited so that this threshold temperature (Tmax) is not exceeded.

In practice, the heating of the resistor is done by pulse width modulation (PWM) as a function of the suction power. The more powerful the suction, the greater the width of the impulse and the more the resistance will heat up. A much greater frequency will be used than for carrying out the method. For example, we can choose a frequency 1000 Hz for the modulation. If the vaping device is equipped with a light source, such as an LED, it is lit during each aspiration. It can also be expected that the light intensity of the LED is all the more important that the suction is strong. For this, the power supply of the LED can be done, like that of the resistance, PWM depending on the suction power. Here again, the more powerful the suction, the greater the pulse width and the more the LED will shine. This function simulates the embers of a cigarette that is more or less luminous depending on the power of suction. By choosing a modulation frequency of 1 000 Hz, we are sure that the eye will not see the very rapid succession of phases on and off phases. It can also be provided that the LED does not go out directly at the end of the suction, but it goes out gradually. The vaping device can be activated in different ways. We can provide a switch. It is also possible that the e-cigarette can be activated after it has been removed from a holster for this purpose. This therefore requires that the e-cigarette is rerangée in its case between two uses. For this, we can predict that the e-cigarette communicates in "full-duplex" with the case when inserted in it. The e-cigarette can for example receive data from the case by the charging voltage, by amplitude modulation while the e-cigarette transmits its data to the case for example by light pulses using the diode. In this case, the case is provided with an optical sensor. It goes without saying that any other mode of communication may be considered, such as radio or induction communication. When the e-cigarette is stored in the case, it transmits all its data in a memory located in the case. A screen may be provided on the case to display certain data, such as for example the number of e-cigarettes vapoted in the day. Such a screen can be provided also directly on the e-cigarette. The holster itself can communicate with a central unit, such as a smartphone or a computer, to enable further exploitation of the information. The screen can display statistical data, such as for example the number of e-cigarettes smoked in the day, the amount of drug or nicotine absorbed during the day. The unit of time may be the day, the week, the month, or any other significant unit for the vaper or the patient.

Another solution is to activate the e-cigarette at the first suction, or even when a heat source, for example the flame of a lighter, is approached by a heat detector located in the e-cigarette . We thus maintain the gesture of "lighting" a cigarette. In any case, it takes a voluntary act of the vaper that makes him aware that he starts a new e-cigarette.

It is also possible to provide that the e-cigarette can not be reactivated until a certain time has elapsed since the last standby or since the last activation. This avoids a circumvention of the purpose of the process.

We can see that the steps follow one another and are repeated several times.

The flow diagram of Figure 4 is now explained in more detail. In this logigram it is planned as a positive act to take the cigarette out of its case. It also means putting it back in its holster when it goes into sleep mode. Previous step

At the beginning, either during the purchase or after the end of a previous cycle, the e-cigarette is in standby mode. It is not possible to generate aerosol, even by sucking a puff.

The positive ace in this embodiment is to take the e-cigarette out of its case. This means that it must have been placed beforehand, either at the time of purchase or at the end of the previous cycle. There is therefore a first loop consisting in testing the presence of the e-cigarette in its case. As long as the microprocessor (the control unit) finds that the e-cigarette is not in its case, it continues to calculate the temperature of the resistance which may be cooling if its passage in sleep mode is recent, or has reached the lower threshold value (Tini).

Step (a)

The first step is to activate the e-cigarette, which for the moment is in standby mode, if a predefined positive act has been detected. At regular intervals depending on the frequency of the microprocessor, performing this positive act is tested until it has occurred. In this example, the positive act is to take the e-cigarette out of its case.

As long as the microprocessor finds that the e-cigarette has not come out of its case, it continues to calculate the temperature of the resistance.

When he finds that the e-cigarette is out of the case, the e-cigarette is activated and the accumulated volume (Vcum (0)) is reset.

Step (a) of the process is completed.

^1st crossing of stage (b)

The process then monitors whether suction is in progress. This test is repeated until aspiration is detected. As long as the microprocessor notices the absence of suction, it continues to calculate the temperature of the resistance. As soon as an aspiration is detected, the first crossing of step (b) of the process is completed and the first pass of step (c) begins. So it usually takes several passages of the stage (b) without aspiration before taking this step (b) and reaching for the first time

(vs) .

^1st passage of step (c)

To simplify the explanation of the logic diagram, we will fix i = 1 for the first pass of step (c) following the first aspiration, thus ignoring (for this explanation) all the passages of the previous steps (a) and (b). the first pass to step (c). During the first pass of step (c) (i = 1) of this first suction, the suction power (Pasp (1)) and the voltage at the terminals of the battery (Ubat (1)) are measured. resistance of the atomizer is warmed up and the LED is lit. For this, these two components are powered by a signal whose pulse width is modulated according to the suction power (MLI (Pasp)). The higher the suction power, the wider the impulse and the higher the resistance will heat up and the LED will shine. By choosing a modulation frequency of 1,000 Hz for example, the rapid succession (every 1/1000 of a second) of switching on and off of the LED will remain unnoticed by the human eye. The temperature of the resistance is determined on the basis of the value of the temperature (T prees (1) = Tres (0)) at the previous step transition (i = 0), that is to say the last determined temperature before the detection of the suction, as well as on the basis of the voltage at the terminals of the battery (Ubat (1)) and suction power (Pasp (1)). This value Tres (1) is assigned to the value of the initial temperature (T prees (2)) for the next step transition (i = 2).

In order to prevent the atomizer from overheating, it is preferable to control its temperature and limit its heating when this temperature exceeds a threshold value (Tmax). The method therefore compares the temperature of the resistor (Tres (1)) with the threshold value (Tmax). If this value is exceeded, the heating of the atomizer is limited.

The volume of aerosol generated during the first passage of this first suction (Vfum (1)) is determined in step (c1) as a function of the suction power (Pasp (1)) and the estimated temperature (Tres (1)) or the threshold temperature (Tmax) if the temperature has exceeded this threshold. In step (c2), the cumulative aerosol volume (Vcum (1)) is calculated by adding to the accumulated volume reset in step (a), thus equal to zero, the calculated volume (Vfum (1)) calculated for this first pass of step (c) (i = 1). In step (c3), the cumulative volume (Vcum (1)) is compared with the threshold volume (Vcig) corresponding to the total volume of smoke that can be provided by a corresponding conventional cigarette.

If the threshold volume (Vcig) is not reached (which should be the case here, since it is the first pass of step (c) after the first aspiration after activation), the process returns to beginning of step (b), namely the test to determine whether there is still a suction.

If the accumulated volume (Vcum (1)) is greater than the threshold volume (Vcig), which in principle should not be the case at this stage of vaping, the process continues in step (d).

The first passage of step (c) ends thus.

Following passages of step (b)

Because of the very short time between two successive tests (time imposed by the frequency of the clock and the number of actions performed during each step (c)), the method should detect that we are still in the presence suction and return to a second pass of step (c). The process therefore continues to the indicated step "Next passes of step (c)". This is also the case in the following passages of step (b) as long as an aspiration is detected during the test of step (b), or in steps (c) following a test having noted the return of an aspiration.

If the method detects during a passage of step (b) that there is no more aspiration, for example after X positive passages of the test, the vapoteur has now stopped sucking. In this case, the method provides the following steps for the present passage (i) of step (b): determination of the temperature of the resistance (Tres (i)) as a function of the initial temperature (T prees (i) = Tres (i-1)) determined during the previous step transition (i-1) and allocation of the current temperature (Tres (i)) to the initial value (T prees (i + 1)) for the next pass of step (i + 1); during a step (b1) determining a fictitious aerosol volume (Vcn (i)). In practice, if the time required to pass step (b) have constant or substantially constant durations, it can be considered that this volume is also constant (Vcn) at each pass of step (b);

during a step (b2) calculation of the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) of the aerosol volumes generated (Vfum (i)) during the preceding aspirations (calculated in the preceding steps (c1)) and the notional volumes (Vcn (i )) generated during breaks (calculated in steps (b1) above). In concrete terms, the cumulative volume (Vcum (i-1)) of the preceding step transition will be added to the notional volume (Vcn (i)) determined in the present passage of step (b); then

during a step (b3), comparing the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) of the present passage of step (b) with the predetermined threshold volume (Vcig). If the accumulated volume reaches or exceeds the threshold volume (Vcig), the process continues in step (d), otherwise it returns to the beginning of step (b), namely to test the presence of a suction.

The following step b is completed

Subsequent Passages of Step (c) The process detected at one of the passages in step (b) that suction continued or new aspiration started.

The suction power (Pasp (i)) and the voltage across the battery (Ubat (i)) are measured. The resistance of the atomizer is warmed up and the LED is lit, always fed by a signal whose pulse width is modulated according to the suction power (MLI (Pasp (i)).

The temperature of the resistance is determined by adding to the previous temperature (T prees (i) = Tres (i-1)) a delta calculated as a function of the voltage across the battery and the power of the suction (Pasp ( i)). The value of the current temperature (Tres (i)) is assigned to the initial temperature (T prees (i + 1)) for the next step pass.

In order to avoid overheating of the atomizer, its temperature can be controlled and its heating limited when the temperature exceeds a threshold value. The process therefore compares the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) to a threshold value (Tmax). If this value is exceeded, the heating of the atomizer is limited.

During a new passage of step (c1), the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) is determined as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i)) and the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)). i)) or the threshold temperature (Tmax) if the temperature has exceeded this threshold.

During a new passage of step (c2), the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated by adding to the previous cumulative volume (Vcum (i-1)) the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) during the present passage of step (c). During a new passage of step (c3), the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with the threshold value (Vcig). If the threshold value is not reached, the process returns to the beginning of step (b), namely to test the presence of a suction, otherwise it goes to step (d). Step (d)

Stage (d) is reached as soon as the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) reaches or exceeds the threshold volume (Vcig) for this type of cigarette. The process is complete and the e-cigarette goes into standby mode. It can only work again after being stored in its case and then out (see previous step). This gesture of taking the e-cigarette out of its case must make the vapoteur aware of the number of "cigarettes" he is smoking.

It is also possible to put the e-cigarette back in the case before it goes into sleep mode. This is not dangerous because the resistor only heats up when the process detects an aspiration. Due to the calculation of the fictitious volume, it will automatically go into sleep mode after a certain time.

The method described in this flow chart provides for various options considered. However, it would be possible to calculate the volume of aerosol generated (Vfum (i)) without taking into account the suction power (Pasp (i)) and / or the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) . In a very simple variant, it could be considered that the e-cigarette generates for each passage of step (c) a constant aerosol volume (Vfum) when there is aspiration and for each passage of step (b). ) a constant fictitious volume (Vcn) less than (Vfum). One could even give up trying to determine a fictional volume during breaks. Instead of the cumulative volume test during pauses, it would then be possible to introduce a suction duration or pause duration test, at the end of which the e-cigarette is put on standby. If the device vaping is equipped with a temperature detector, it is no longer necessary to evaluate the latter.

The methods of Figures 5 to 7 operate in substantially the same manner. They are distinguished from the first example in particular by the positive act and by the introduction of one or more delays.

The method of Figures 5 and 6 is triggered when the microprocessor detects a first suction after entering sleep mode. The steps are essentially identical to those of the process of Figure 4. They are therefore only mentioned, without going into details.

Step (a) / First of step (b) Here, the positive act is constituted by the first aspiration after entering the standby mode.

As long as no suction is detected, the microprocessor continues to calculate the temperature of the resistor.

As soon as the first aspiration is detected, the e-cigarette goes into activated mode and the accumulated volume (Vcum (0)) is reset. Step (a) and the first pass of step (b) are completed, the method passing directly to step (c) since it has detected a suction.

Following passages of step (b)

In the following process, as long as no suction is detected, the microprocessor continues to calculate for each passage (i) of step (b) the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)). It also calculates the fictitious volume (Vcn (i)) that it adds to the previous sum and compares the current sum to the threshold value (Vcig). If this threshold value is reached, the process goes to step (d), otherwise it returns to the beginning of step (b) and tests the presence of a suction.

When an aspiration is detected, the process proceeds to step (c). Step (c)

The suction power (Pasp (i)) and the voltage across the battery (Ubat (i)) are measured. The resistor and the LED are lit using a signal whose pulse width is modulated according to the power drawn (Pasp (i)). The temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) is calculated as a function of the previous temperature (Tpresres (i) = Tres (i-1)), the voltage at the terminals of the battery (Ubat (i)) and the suction power (Pasp (i)). This value (Tres (i)) is attributed to the initial temperature (T prees (i + 1)) for the next step pass. The temperature is compared with the threshold value (Tmax) and heating of the resistor is limited if this temperature is reached or exceeded. The volume of smoke generated (Vfum (i)) is calculated as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i)) and the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) or the threshold temperature (Tmax) if this threshold is reached or exceeded. The cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated by adding to the previous cumulative volume (Vcum (i-1)) the volume of smoke generated (Vfum (i)) calculated for this portion of step (c). This cumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with the threshold value (Vcig). If this value is reached or exceeded, the process continues in step (d), otherwise it returns to step (b) of detecting the presence of aspiration.

Step (d)

In order to prevent a vapoteur from circumventing the objective of the process, which is to make him aware that he is lighting up a new cigarette, it can be foreseen that the first aspiration that makes the e-cigarette pass from the sleep state to the activated state can not take place until some time has elapsed. It was therefore planned in step (d), before going into sleep mode to trigger a timer. As long as the accumulated duration between the switch to standby mode has not reached a threshold value (Tempol), it is not possible to pass the test of step (a), namely to detect the positive act, here the first aspiration. It is also planned to emit a signal at the beginning of the delay to inform the user or a third party, see a method of managing this delay. The drop in the resistance temperature continues to be calculated during the entire time delay (Tempol).

The process of Figure 6 is a variation of that of Figure 5. This method is applied to an inhalation device for the administration of a drug. The method no longer calculates fictitious volume (Vcn). However, two timers (Tempol, Tempo2) have been provided to prevent reactivation of the inhalation device before the scheduled time. regular reminder (tcum _a ) to the patient after completion of the time delay (Tempol, Tempo2) to take his medication and a control of the cumulative duration of pauses between two aspirations (tcumb). The control of the cumulative duration of the breaks (tcumb) serves to limit the time available to administer the drug. After the allowed time (tlirrib), the inhalation device automatically goes to sleep, even though the entire dose has not been administered. The timers (Tempol, Tempo2) are used to prohibit the reactivation of the device as long as a minimum time interval has not elapsed since the last activation or the last standby. This allows you to control the time interval between two shots. These timers can be triggered at the end of the previous cycle as in the process of Figure 5, or at the beginning thereof. A first time delay (Tempol) is triggered either when the drug intake is completed (Vcum (i) ≥ Vcig), while a second time delay (Tempo2) is triggered when the cumulative duration of the breaks has exceeded the threshold duration (tcum _b ≥ tlim _b ). It can be expected that a signal is emitted not only during the passage of the device in standby mode, but also when the interval between two takes is completed. The signal (Buzzer) emitted when switching to standby mode after taking the medicine completely (Vcum (i) ≥ Vcig) may be different from that (Alarm2) when the time allowed to take the medicine is completed without all the dose was taken (tcumb≥ tlimb). When the two timers (Tempol, Tempo2) are used, the method provides that when the inhaler device goes to sleep after the expiration of the allowed time to take a dose, then the second timer (Tempo2) takes into account the pause time (tcurrib (i)), and in particular that the duration of the second timer (Tempo2) is equal to the duration of the first timer (Tempol) less the cumulative duration of the pauses (tcurrib (i)).

In step (a) and in the first step (b), the method controls whether a first aspiration is detected. As long as no aspiration is detected, the microprocessor continues to calculate the resistance temperature and monitors the time spent in this loop. As long as a first aspiration is not detected, the duration (t (i)) of each passage (i) is determined and the accumulation (tcum _a (i)) calculated. Whenever this accumulation reaches or exceeds a threshold duration (tlim _a ), a signal is emitted (Alarm a) and the cumulation is reset (tcum _a (i) = 0). In practice, all the passages of this stage have the same duration. Thus, the patient is regularly reminded to take his dose of medication if he has not already done so. As soon as the first aspiration is detected, the e-cigarette goes into activated mode and the accumulated volume (Vcum (O)), the accumulations of waiting time (tcum _a (i)) and control of the duration of setting (tcurrib (i)) are reset, as well as blocking delays (Tempol, Tempo2). Step (a) and the first pass of step (b) are completed.

At each passage of step (b), that is to say, whenever the process finds that there is no suction, the temperature of the resistor (Tres (i)) is calculated in function of the previous temperature (Tpres (i) = Tres (i-1)). Similarly, during a step (bV) the duration (t (i)) of the present passage of step (b) is determined. In practice, all the passages of step (b) have the same duration. Then in a step (b2 '), the cumulative duration of the pauses (tcurrib (i)) in the present passage (i) of step (b) is calculated by adding to the previous accumulation (tcurrib (il)) the duration of the present step transition (t (i)). In a step (b3 '), the cumulative duration of the breaks (tcum (i)) is compared with a threshold duration (tlim). If the time allowed for taking the drug is not completed, the process returns to the beginning of step (b), that is to say to the aspiration detection test, otherwise it continues to step (d).

At each passage of step (c), the cumulative pause time (tcurrib (i)) which controls the allowed time to take a dose is retained and remains unchanged. A signal can be provided when the device goes into sleep mode after taking the whole dose (Vcum (i) ≥ Vcig) and / or when the device goes into sleep mode at the end of the time authorized to take the dose without it being taken completely (tcurrib (i) ≥ tlimb) and / or at the end of the interval between two doses (Tempol, Tempo2). These signals may be the same or different.

The process of Figure 7 is triggered when the vaper presses a button or "lights" his e-cigarette to the flame of a lighter. The process is virtually the same as when storing the e-cigarette in its case before reactivating the e-cigarette. The difference lies mainly in the lack of control of the presence of the e-cigarette in the case. When the e-cigarette is to be lit by flame, it is best to provide the e-cigarette with a heat detector, including an infrared sensor.

Other process variants can be envisaged by combining with one another various of the following different options:

delay between two reactivations; time delay between standby and next reactivation;

issuing a signal whenever an event has occurred;

calculation of fictitious volumes;

calculation of the temperature of the resistance; etc.

The signals emitted during the process may be sensory signals, such as light or acoustic signals, or be text messages or e-mail messages sent to the user or a third party, or signals intended for a management or communication process. control.

Possibilities of industrial application

The method of the invention applied to a substitute of a tobacco product, such as an electronic cigarette, allows the vaper to find benchmarks close to those he had when consuming traditional tobacco products. Due to the extinction of the vaping device when it goes into sleep mode, it becomes aware of having finished a "cigarette". He is no longer at risk of unconscious overdose of nicotine, for example.

Applied to the administration of a drug, the device allows to control the interval between two shots as well as to limit the time allowed to take the drug. It facilitates the management of the administration of the drug.

List of references:

1 Vape device (e-cigarette)

2 Power source (battery)

3 suction power sensor

4 Control Unit (microprocessor)

5 Cartomizer (combination of atomizer and tank)

51 Heating element of atomizer or cartomizer

6 LEDs

Pasp (i) Suction power during the present passage (i) of step (c)

Tres (i) temperature of the resistance during the present step transition (i)

Tpres (i) temperature of the resistance at the previous step transition (i-1)

Tini initial temperature

Tmax limit temperature

t (i) duration of this passage (i) of step (b) cumulative duration of stage transitions (a) elapsed when waiting for a positive act

duration of the interval between two reminders in case of non-activation

cumulative duration of the stage passes (b) elapsed during breaks allowed to take a dose

time interval between two successive activations or between a standby and the following activation in case of threshold volume reached

time interval between two successive activations or between a standby and the following activation in case of too long a break

voltage at the terminals of the current source during the present passage (i) of step (c)

Aerosol volume generated during this passage (i) of step (c), i.e. in case of aspiration

Fictitious volume generated in this passage (i) of step (b), i.e. in case of break

Cumulative volume of aerosol volumes actually generated and fictitiously generated

Threshold volume

Claims

claims

1. A method of controlling a vaping type inhalation device designed to generate an aerosol by vaporization of a liquid by an atomizer characterized by the following steps:

(d) suspending the inhalation device,

2. Control method according to claim 1, characterized in that in step (d) a signal is emitted during the standby of the inhalation device.

3. Control method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in step (b), after each test having concluded the absence of aspiration, a second control event, identical or different from the first control event, is monitored and the process proceeds directly to step (d) if the second control event has occurred.

4. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inhalation device can be activated in step (a) after a time interval, said blocking interval (Tempol, Tempo2), has elapsed since the previous standby in step (d) or since the previous activation in step (a), or since a predefined action has been executed.

5. Control method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that after expiry of the blocking interval (Tempol, Tempo2), a signal is emitted at regular intervals, called the recall interval (tlim _a ), as long as the device inhalation was not activated in step (a).

6. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

step (c) comprises the following substeps performed at each pass of step (c):

(c2) the cumulative aerosol volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated by adding to the accumulated volume (Vcum (i-1)) of the preceding stage pass (i-1) the volume of aerosol generated (Vfum (i)) ( i)) during the present passage of step (c), the cumulative volume (Vcum (0)) at the time of activation of the inhalation device having the value 0, and

(c3) the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with a predefined threshold volume (Vcig) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is less than the threshold volume (Vcig), or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig).

7. Control method according to claim 6, characterized in that step (b) comprises the following substeps performed at each pass of step (b) after each test of step (b) having found the absence of aspiration:

(b1) a fictitious aerosol volume (Vcn (i)) is determined corresponding to the present passage (i) of step (b),

(b2) the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) of the volumes of aerosol generated previously during the aspirations and fictitious volumes generated previously between two successive aspirations is calculated by adding to the cumulative volume (Vcum (i-1)) of the previous passage step (i-1) the aerosol fictitious volume (Vcn (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (b), the cumulative volume (Vcum (0)) at the moment of activation of the inhalation device having the value 0,

(b3) the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is compared with the predefined threshold volume (Vcig) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b) if the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is less than the threshold volume, or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig).

8. Control method according to claim 7, characterized in that the imaginary aerosol volume (Vcn (i)) by passing step (b) during breaks is constant (Vcn), and / or in that the cumulative volume (Vcum (i)) is calculated and compared with the threshold volume (Vcig) several times by aspiration and / or by pause between two successive aspirations.

9. Control method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that step (b) comprises the following substeps performed at each pass of step (b) after each test of the step ( (b) having noted the absence of aspiration:

(bV) the duration (t (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (b) is determined,

(b2 ') the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) of all the step passes (b) during which the process finds the absence of suction is calculated by adding to the cumulative duration (tcurrib (il)) of the passage preceding (i-1) of step (b), the duration (t (i)) of the present passage of step (b), the cumulative duration (tcurrib (O)) at the moment of activation of the device inhalation value 0,

(b3 ') the cumulative duration (tcurrib (i)) is compared with a predefined control threshold time (tlirrib) and the process continues at the beginning of step (b) if the accumulated duration (tcurrib (i)) is less than at the threshold duration (tlirrib), or the process continues in step (d) if the cumulative duration (tcum _b (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold duration (tlim _b ).

10. Control method according to claim 9, characterized in that the cumulative duration (tcum _b (i)) is calculated and compared to the threshold duration (tlim _b ) several times per pause, and / or in that step (b3 '), when the method goes to step (d), a signal is transmitted (Horn2).

1 1. A method according to claim 9 or 10 associated with claim 6, characterized in that a first blocking delay (Tempol) is provided after standby in step (d) when the accumulated volume (Vcum (i)) is greater than or equal to the threshold volume (Vcig), and a second blocking delay (Tempo2) is provided after the standby in step (d) after expiration of the control threshold duration (tlimb), the duration of the second timer (Tempo2) being preferably equal to the duration of the first timer (Tempol) minus the control threshold duration (tlimb).

12. Control method according to claim 6 or one of claims 7 to 1 1 associated with claim 6, characterized in that in step (d), the suction power (Pasp (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (c) is determined, preferably by means of a suction sensor, and / or the atomizer temperature (Tres (i)) of the present passage (i) of step (c) is determined, the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) during the present passage (i) of step (c) is calculated as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i )) and / or the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)).

13. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each passage (i) of step (c), the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is determined and compared to a threshold value (Tmax), the heating of the atomizer being limited if the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is higher than the threshold value (Tmax) and the aerosol volume generated (Vfum (i)) during the present passage (i) of step (c) is calculated as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i)) and / or the threshold temperature (Tmax).

14. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that

before the first activation of the inhalation device,

- the atomizer temperature (Very) is set to an initial value (Tini);

during each aspiration, at each passage (i) of step (c),

the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is determined firstly as a function of the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i-1)) at the previous step (i-1) of step and of on the other hand, as a function of the suction power (Pasp (i)) and the voltage at the terminals of the energy source (Ubat (i));

during each pause between two aspirations and during the waking period, at each passage (i) of step (a) or (b),

the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i)) is determined as a function of the temperature of the atomizer (Tres (i-1)) at the previous step (i-1).

15. Control method according to one of the preceding claims applied to an inhalation device provided with a light source, such as an LED, characterized in that the light source is lit during each aspiration.

16. Method according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the light intensity of the light source at each passage (i) of step (c) depends on the suction power (Pasp (i)) and / or the light source is gradually extinguished at the end of each aspiration and / or the light source is powered by a signal whose pulse width is modulated (PWM).

17. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation of the inhalation device in step (a) is triggered by pressing a switch and / or automatically by removing the inhalation device from a case and / or during the first aspiration and / or after a heat source, preferably a flame, has been approached by a detector present in the inhalation device.

18. The method of control according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating of the atomizer is controlled by a signal whose pulse width is modulated (MLI).

19. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the activation of the inhalation device in step (a) is triggered by removing the inhalation device from a holster and in that a counter is provided which is incremented each time the inhalation device is returned to the case after at least one aspiration has been detected, the counter preferably being reset once a day, the value of the counter being preferably displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or the case.

20. Control method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a counter is provided which is incremented each time the method goes through step (d), the counter preferably being reset once a day. and / or the value of the counter preferably being displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or on a case in which the inhalation device can be stored.

21. Inhalation device comprising a source of electric current, a reservoir for a liquid to be vaporized, an atomizer for vaporizing the liquid in order to generate an aerosol, a suction sensor and a control unit, the reservoir and the atomizer being able to be combined into a single component, characterized in that the control unit is provided with means for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims.

22. Inhalation device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is provided with a screen designed to display statistical data, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) during a unit of predefined time or the number of times the process has passed through step (d) by a unit of time, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) per day or information on the number of times a day where the process has gone through step (d).

23. Inhalation device according to one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that it is provided with a case in which it can be stored, a screen being provided on the inhalation device and / or the case.

24. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the screen is designed to display statistical data, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) during a predefined unit of time or the number of times wherein the process is passed through step (d) by a unit of time, preferably information on the amount of aerosol volumes generated (Vfum) per day or information on the number of times the process has passed through step (d) per day.

25. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it is provided with a counter which is incremented each time the method passes through step (d), the counter preferably being reset once a day and / where the value of the counter is preferably displayed on a screen placed on the inhalation device and / or the case.