EP4111890A1 - Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements - Google Patents

Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4111890A1
EP4111890A1 EP21183228.2A EP21183228A EP4111890A1 EP 4111890 A1 EP4111890 A1 EP 4111890A1 EP 21183228 A EP21183228 A EP 21183228A EP 4111890 A1 EP4111890 A1 EP 4111890A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
aerosol
puff
generation device
controller
electrical
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP21183228.2A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Olayiwola Olamiposi POPOOLA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
JT International SA
Original Assignee
JT International SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by JT International SA filed Critical JT International SA
Priority to EP21183228.2A priority Critical patent/EP4111890A1/de
Publication of EP4111890A1 publication Critical patent/EP4111890A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces
    • 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
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • 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 present invention relates to an aerosol generation device, and more precisely to the estimation of the aerosol-forming liquid remaining in the reservoir of an aerosol generation device during a vaping session.
  • the invention concerns aerosol generation devices comprising a reservoir storing an aerosol-forming liquid, a heater and an electrical and control device, and often named "E-vapor devices”.
  • the electrical and control device comprises at least:
  • the heater is arranged, when it is supplied with electrical power, for heating the aerosol-forming liquid originating from the reservoir, generally via a capillary element (for instance a capillary wick), to induce generation of an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user during successive puffs (or inhalation phases) of a vaping session.
  • a capillary element for instance a capillary wick
  • the controller generally starts a countdown of the successive puffs obtained since the reservoir is full in the aerosol generation device, and when the remaining number of puffs becomes smaller than a threshold, depending on the maximal number of puffs that a user may have with the full reservoir, the controller triggers an alert for the user.
  • This maximal number of puffs is determined in a laboratory under controlled conditions and all the puffs are considered to be the same. But in real use all these controlled conditions are not present for every puff and therefore the number of puffs with a full reservoir will vary widely due to the aerosol generation device, the power source (battery), the heater, and environmental and human factors. This means that the real number of puffs that a user may have with the full reservoir is often different from the maximal number of puffs predetermined for this full reservoir, and therefore the user is often alerted too early or too late.
  • an object of this invention is to improve the situation, and notably to allow an accurate estimation of the quantity of aerosol-forming liquid remaining in the reservoir after each puff (or inhalation phase).
  • This aerosol generation device is characterized in that its controller is arranged after each puff for estimating the first quantity from at least an electrical power supplied to the heater, a puff duration and a flow rate of the generated aerosol, and for triggering an alert for the user when the estimated second quantity is smaller than a chosen threshold.
  • the embodiment of aerosol generation device may comprise other aspects or features, considered separately or combined, and notably:
  • the invention aims, notably, at offering an aerosol generation device (or E-vapor device) 1 intended for alerting of a forthcoming capillary element drying.
  • the aerosol generation device 1 is an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette or else personal vaporizer).
  • an aerosol generation device 1 according to the invention could be of another type, as soon as it comprises a reservoir 5 storing an aerosol-forming liquid and allows the generation of an aerosol by heating this aerosol-forming liquid. So, for instance, the aerosol generation device 1 could be an inhaler.
  • the aerosol-forming liquid may comprise one or more of nicotinoid(s), cannabinoid(s), caffeine, tobacco material, polyol, flavoring or other active components.
  • An active component may be carried by a carrier which may include propylene glycol or glycerin, for instance.
  • an aerosol may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas. Such a suspension may be in a gas including air.
  • an aerosol generation device comprises at least an electrical and control device 3, a reservoir 5 and a heater 18.
  • the reservoir 5 and the heater 18 may be contained in the body 4 of a cartomizer 2 intended for being mechanically and electrically coupled to the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3.
  • the aerosol generation device 1 could comprise any components (or elements) in a single body (and notably the reservoir 5, heater 18 and electrical and control device 3).
  • the reservoir 5 is arranged for storing an aerosol-forming liquid having initially (i.e. when it is full) a predetermined quantity pq that is known by a controller (or control device) 27 of the electrical and control device 3.
  • the heater 18 is arranged, when it is supplied with electrical power, for heating the aerosol-forming liquid originating from the reservoir 5 to induce generation of an aerosol that can be inhaled by a user during a puff of a vaping session.
  • the heater 18 may be arranged for aerosolizing the aerosol-forming liquid in an aerosol chamber 7 in order to generate an aerosol when the latter (7) is supplied with air.
  • the cartomizer body 4 comprises at least a first air inlet 11 set upstream of the aerosol chamber 7 and in fluid communication therewith, in order to supply it with air originating from outside, and an aerosol outlet 16 set downstream of the aerosol chamber 7 and in fluid communication therewith, in order to receive the generated aerosol when a user of the aerosol generation device 1 inhales during a vaping session.
  • the cartomizer 2 may comprise a first sleeve 6 defining the aerosol chamber 7.
  • this first sleeve 6 may have an annular shape.
  • the aerosol chamber 7 is fed with air (sucked in by the user) through each first air inlet 11 defined in a wall of the first sleeve 6 (as illustrated by the two small arrows B in figure 2 ).
  • This air comes from outside through at least one second air inlet 12 defined in the cartomizer body 4 (as illustrated by the arrow C in figure 2 ).
  • each second air inlet 12 could be defined in a wall of the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3.
  • the first sleeve 6 (with all the elements coupled to it) may be removable, and therefore the cartomizer 2 may be sold with or without the first sleeve 6.
  • the cartomizer body 4 may comprise a mouthpiece 8 comprising the aerosol outlet 16 and allowing the user to inhale the generated aerosol through this aerosol outlet 16 during a vaping session (as illustrated by the arrows A in figure 2 ).
  • the aerosol chamber 7 is fluidly coupled to the mouthpiece 8 by an aerosol path (or conduit or passage) 9 leading to the aerosol outlet 16.
  • the cartomizer body 4 comprises an end 10 that receives the generated aerosol from the aerosol path 9 and to which the mouthpiece 8 is fixed, for instance by screwing or clipping.
  • the cartomizer body 4 may comprise an outer wall 17 defining a cavity, and the reservoir 5 may be delimited at least partially by this outer wall 17 and the aerosol path 9.
  • the aerosol chamber 7 comprises the heater 18, and the latter (18) is supplied with electrical energy originating from a power source 23 of the electrical and control device 3, under control of the controller 27.
  • the electrical and control device 3 may comprise a group of electronic components 35 (such as switch(es)) supplying the electrical power (stored in the power source 23) to the heater 18 under control of the controller 27.
  • This heater 18 may be a resistive heater, such as a resistive coil, and/or an inductive heater, such as a metallic susceptor.
  • the heater 18 may comprise one or more electrically activated resistive and/or inductive heating elements. But in a variant not illustrated the heater 18 could be at least partially housed in the cartomizer 2 and therefore partly outside the aerosol chamber 7. The heating can be made by conduction, convection and/or radiation.
  • the aerosol-forming liquid can leave the reservoir 5 to reach the aerosol chamber 7 (see the four arrows D) through corresponding openings 14 and 15 defined respectively in the reservoir 5 and first sleeve 6.
  • the reservoir 5 or the aerosol chamber 7 may comprise a fastening member configured for fastening the cartomizer 2 to the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3.
  • the first sleeve 6 may have at least one first fastening member configured to cooperate with a corresponding and complementary second fastening member of the electrical and control device 3 for connecting mechanically the first sleeve 6 to the electrical and control device 3 (and more precisely to the body 13 of the latter (3)).
  • the second fastening member may belong to a second sleeve 26 which is housed in the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3.
  • the reservoir 5 may have an annular shape and a central passage defining the aerosol path (or passage or conduit) 9 and communicating with a recess 32 housing a part of the first sleeve 6.
  • the coupling between the cartomizer body 4 and the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3 can be done by screwing by means of two corresponding threaded portions 24 and 25.
  • the body 13 of the electrical and control device 3 may comprise a user interface 28 in addition to the controller (or control device) 27 and the power source 23 (storing electrical energy).
  • the power source 23 may be a rechargeable battery.
  • the body 13 may comprise an electrical connector to which a charger cable may be connected during a charging session of the rechargeable battery 23.
  • a charger cable may be coupled to an (AC) adapter or to a wall socket.
  • the controller 27 is electrically coupled to the power source 23 and controls operation of the cartomizer 2 (and notably its heater 18) during a vaping session and also during a possible charging session.
  • the controller 27 may be fixed onto a printed circuit board 29 (housed in the body 13).
  • This controller 27 comprises at least a processor and a memory arranged for performing operations for controlling the aerosol generation device 1.
  • the processor may be a digital signal processor (or DSP), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or else a field programmable gate array (FPGA). More generally, the processor may comprise integrated (or printed) circuits, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected therebetween through wired or wireless connections.
  • integrated (or printed) circuits refers here to any type of device capable of carrying out at least one electric or electronic operation.
  • the memory may be a random access memory (or RAM). But it may be any type of device arranged for storing program instructions for the processor.
  • controller should not be construed to refer exclusively to hardware capable of executing software, and may implicitly include, without limitation, digital signal processor hardware, processor, application specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, read only memory (ROM) for storing software, random access memory, and non volatile storage. Other hardware, conventional and/or custom, may also be included.
  • the functions of the controller 27 may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually (by the user). These functions may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software.
  • the user interface 28 is coupled to the controller 27 and the power source 23 to allow the user to control at least partly the controller 27.
  • the user interface 28 may comprise a display (such as a screen or light emitting diode (or LED)-type interface) arranged for displaying information relative to a current vaping session or a possible current charging session and for allowing the user to control the controller 27.
  • the user interface 28 may be fixed partly to the printed circuit board 29 to ease and simplify its connections with the controller 27.
  • the cartomizer 2 and the electrical and control device 3 may comprise respectively first 30 and second 31 electrical pins intended for contacting each other during their coupling to allow the supply of the first sleeve 6 with electrical energy during a vaping session.
  • the aerosol chamber 7 may comprise an aerosol-forming liquid transport element 33 to transport aerosol-forming liquid from the second openings 15 of the first sleeve 6 to the heater 18.
  • this aerosol-forming liquid transport element 33 may be a capillary element (possibly a capillary wick) having two opposite ends set in front of the second openings 15, and preferably against the latter (and therefore against the internal surface of the first sleeve 6).
  • This capillary element 33 can be a fiber or ceramic rod, for instance.
  • the heater 18 may comprise a resistive coil wound around the capillary element 33 and connected to the first electrode 30 via lead wires 34.
  • the controller 27 is also arranged after each puff (ending at an instant t) for estimating a first quantity q1(t) of aerosol-forming liquid consumed, and a second quantity q2(t) remaining in the reservoir 5 by subtracting this estimated first quantity q1(t) from the last second quantity q2(t-1) that was remaining before this puff.
  • q2(t) q2(t-1) - q1(t).
  • each first quantity q1(t) is estimated by the controller 27 from at least an electrical power ep(t) supplied to the heater 18 during the considered puff, the puff duration pd(t) of this considered puff, and the flow rate afr(t) of the aerosol generated during this considered puff.
  • the controller 27 is arranged for triggering an alert for the user of its aerosol generation device 1 when the estimated second quantity q2(t) is smaller than a chosen threshold. This chosen threshold corresponds to a remaining quantity of aerosol-forming liquid under which the capillary element 33 will start drying before burning.
  • the invention allows a real time and accurate estimation of the quantity of aerosol-forming liquid remaining in the reservoir 5 after each puff, and therefore allows to alert the user just before the capillary element 33 starts drying so that he can decide either to refill the reservoir 5 (or to replace the consumable defining the reservoir 5 with a new one), or else to continue his vaping session without being surprised by the next strange sensation induced by the capillary element drying during the next puff.
  • the electrical and control device 3 may comprise an electrical circuit 36 arranged for estimating the electrical power ep(t) that is supplied to the heater 18 during each puff.
  • this electrical circuit 36 may be coupled to the group of electronic components 35 (supplying the electrical power to the heater 18).
  • the controller 27 measures the resistance across the heater 18, and on user request (i.e. sucking) applies the corresponding voltage/current to match a pre-determined power setting or a dynamic power-setting based on sucking pressure.
  • the electrical and control device 3 may comprise a puff sensor 37 arranged for detecting when the user inhales during a puff, and for informing the controller 27 each time such a detection starts (puff start) and each time such a detection ends (puff end).
  • the controller 27 is arranged for determining the puff duration pd(t) from the time interval between the puff start detection and the puff end detection.
  • This puff sensor 37 may be a flow or pressure sensor or a microphone or else a thermistor detecting drops of temperature, for instance. Moreover the puff sensor 37 may inform the controller 27 of a puff start detection or puff end detection by means of a dedicated digital or analog signal.
  • the aerosol generation device 1 may comprise a pressure sensor 38 set in the aerosol path 9 (through which the generated aerosol flows when the user sucks in via the aerosol outlet 16), and arranged for estimating a pressure drop during a puff and for providing this estimated pressure drop to the controller 27.
  • the controller 27 is arranged for estimating the generated aerosol flow rate afr(t) from this estimated pressure drop.
  • the pressure sensor 38 monitors the pressure in the cavity when the user does not suck in and when the user starts sucking in, the negative pressure forces the pressure sensor 38 to detect a lower pressure than the previous ambient.
  • the normal pressure may be equal to 1000 mbar, and during a first sucking the pressure may become equal to 998 mbar.
  • This -2 mbar difference may equate to a generated aerosol flow rate afr(t) equal to 11 ml/sec.
  • the generated aerosol flow rate afr(t) is equal to 18 ml/sec.
  • the controller 27 may be arranged for estimating the first quantity q1(t) from the result of the estimated electrical power ep(t) supplied to the heater 18 during the considered puff multiplied by the estimated puff duration pd(t) of this considered puff multiplied by the estimated generated aerosol flow rate afr(t) during this considered puff.
  • q1(t) ep(t)*pd(t)*afr(t), where q1(t) is given in ⁇ l, ep(t) is given in watts, pd(t) is given in seconds, and afr(t) is given in ml/sec (but is based on mbar delta).
  • This equation appears to be linear, but more complicated (and nonlinear) equations may be used with at least the same parameters ep(t), pd(t) and afr(t).
  • the controller 27 may be arranged after each puff for estimating the first quantity q1(t) not only from ep(t), pd(t) and afr(t), but also from the ambient temperature and/or the puff start temperature and/or the orientation of the aerosol generation device 1 during this puff and/or a ratio of quantities of two different constituents of the aerosol-forming liquid. This allows to increase the accuracy of the estimation of the second quantity q2(t).
  • the chosen model initially built for q1(t) can be expanded to capture more features possibly contained in a table that needs to be completed.
  • a supervised machine learning technique like multiple regression
  • q1(t) B1 * x1 + B2 * x2 + ... + Bn * xn + A.
  • the aerosol generation device 1 to comprise a temperature sensor.
  • the use of the orientation of the aerosol generation device 1 requires the aerosol generation device 1 to comprise a tilt sensor.
  • the ratio of quantities of two different constituents requires the controller 27 to be informed beforehand.
  • the two different constituents may be the propylene glycol (or PG) and the vegetable glycerin (or VG).
  • the cartomizer 2 is capable of communicating the constituents to the controller 27, then the correct ratio (or factor) is used in the calculation. Otherwise, for dumb cartomizers 2 an average weighting of all the possible constituent ratios is used for all calculations.
  • the user interface 28 of the electrical and control device 3 may be arranged for providing the triggered alert to the user.
  • the user interface 28 may comprise a buzzer arranged for emitting a predefined sound message representative of the triggered alert, or a display screen arranged for displaying a predefined message representative of the triggered alert or else a haptic feedback arranged for vibrating a chosen part of the aerosol generation device 1 to alert the user.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
EP21183228.2A 2021-07-01 2021-07-01 Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements Pending EP4111890A1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21183228.2A EP4111890A1 (de) 2021-07-01 2021-07-01 Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP21183228.2A EP4111890A1 (de) 2021-07-01 2021-07-01 Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements

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EP4111890A1 true EP4111890A1 (de) 2023-01-04

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EP21183228.2A Pending EP4111890A1 (de) 2021-07-01 2021-07-01 Aerosolerzeugungsvorrichtung zur warnung vor einer bevorstehenden trocknung eines kapillarelements

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Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2468116A1 (de) 2010-12-24 2012-06-27 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosolerzeugungssystem mit Mitteln zur Steuerung des Verbrauchs eines Flüssigsubstrats
WO2016090303A1 (en) * 2014-12-05 2016-06-09 Pax Labs, Inc. Calibrated dose control
WO2018184861A1 (en) * 2017-04-07 2018-10-11 Philip Morris Products S.A. System and method for checking fill level of a liquid storage portion
WO2021011739A1 (en) * 2019-07-17 2021-01-21 Instrumems Inc. Vaporizer flow detection

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2468116A1 (de) 2010-12-24 2012-06-27 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosolerzeugungssystem mit Mitteln zur Steuerung des Verbrauchs eines Flüssigsubstrats
WO2016090303A1 (en) * 2014-12-05 2016-06-09 Pax Labs, Inc. Calibrated dose control
WO2018184861A1 (en) * 2017-04-07 2018-10-11 Philip Morris Products S.A. System and method for checking fill level of a liquid storage portion
WO2021011739A1 (en) * 2019-07-17 2021-01-21 Instrumems Inc. Vaporizer flow detection

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