EP4602960A1

EP4602960A1 - Method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP4602960A1
Application number: EP24157904.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Current assignee: Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Priority date: 2024-02-15
Filing date: 2024-02-15
Publication date: 2025-08-20

Abstract

A method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus comprises: a time counter; and a time counter memory. The method includes: when the aerosol generating apparatus is in a sleep state, periodically incrementing the time counter; receiving a wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state, and in response to receiving the wake-up command, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state. Transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the operational state includes: reading a current time from the time counter and adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory; and resetting the time counter whilst retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating apparatus, an aerosol generating system and a computer-readable medium.

BACKGROUND

A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
It may be desirable to be able to lock the aerosol generating apparatus against unauthorised use, for example to prevent use of the apparatus by an underage user. For example, a device may lock periodically such that a user needs to perform re-verification in order to continue using the device. Despite the effort already invested in the development of aerosol generating apparatuses/systems further improvements are desirable.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus comprises a time counter, and a time counter memory. The method includes, when the aerosol generating apparatus is in a sleep state, periodically incrementing the time counter; receiving a wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state, and in response to receiving the wake-up command, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state. Transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the operational state includes: reading a current time from the time counter and adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory; and resetting the time counter whilst retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory.
The present inventor has observed that, in order to ensure reliability of the aerosol generating apparatus, it can be advantageous to place the apparatus into a known state when transitioning from the sleep state to the operational state, and this is aided in the present invention by resetting the time counter as part of the transition. However, the invention is also able to keep a persistent elapsed time by retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory. For example, this may be particularly advantageous in examples where a microcontroller of the aerosol generating apparatus does not comprise a real time clock.
Adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory may involve, for example, adding the current time to an existing elapsed time stored in the time counter memory to provide an updated elapsed time. Note that in some cases, the elapsed time stored in the time counter memory may be zero (e.g. upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus - see below). For avoidance of doubt, an elapsed time of zero may be stored in the time counter memory by the time counter memory being empty.
The time counter memory may be a dedicated non-volatile memory, e.g. so that the elapsed time stored in the time counter memory is not lost even if power to the time counter memory is interrupted (e.g. as part of a transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state). The non-volatile memory may be, for example, battery-backed static random-access memory (SRAM), though other forms of non-volatile memory are possible, e.g. flash memory, which may also be used to store firmware instructions for the aerosol generating apparatus. Use of SRAM may help prevent overuse or memory wear of flash memory.
The time counter and time counter memory may be viewed together as serving as a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset.
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used (e.g. by a user) to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used (e.g. by a user) to generate an aerosol. For the avoidance of doubt, when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used for generating aerosol, but the aerosol generating apparatus may be in either of a sleep state (e.g., in which no aerosol is being generated and the apparatus is not being used by a user) or an operational state (e.g., in which the apparatus may be used to generate aerosol). In contrast, in the locked state the aerosol generating apparatus cannot transition to an operational state for generating aerosol (except by first unlocking the aerosol generating apparatus).
In such examples (where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state), the method may include checking if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit; and transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit. This may be used, in some examples, to lock the aerosol generating apparatus if age verification has not been performed before expiry of the lock time limit. In some examples, the lock time limit may be less than 2 weeks. In some examples, the lock time limit may be between 1 day and 2 weeks. In some examples, the lock time limit may be any suitable time such as one day or one week. Checking if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit may occur when the aerosol generating apparatus has received the wake-up command, for example.
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may reset the elapsed time to zero and place the aerosol generating apparatus in an unlocked state, upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the signal may indicate that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is age verified, e.g. indicating that the user has an age above a predetermined age limit (e.g., eighteen years old) and as such is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus.
A signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus may be generated at an external device, e.g. in response to an age verification process having been completed by a user at the external device. Note that once an age verification process has been completed by a user at the external device, subsequent signals indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is age verified may be generated by the external device without needing the user to complete the same age verification process (e.g. as discussed below in connection with the fifth aspect of the present disclosure).
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may have a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device, wherein the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is a wireless signal received from an external device at the wireless interface. Verification of a user may accordingly take place using an external device, such as a smartphone or other mobile device.
Optionally, the method may further comprise the aerosol generating apparatus checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than the lock time limit, and if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached, generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state. This provides a way to alert a user when the aerosol generating apparatus is going to be locked (and not usable) soon. In some examples, the pre-lock time limit may be a predefined period of time prior to expiry of the lock time limit. This predefined period of time may be 2 days or less, or 1 day or less. For example, this predefined period of time may be 2 hours, or 1 day. The alert may be delivered by any suitable means, such as a haptic feedback device (e.g., a vibrating element or motor) on the aerosol generating apparatus, an optical feedback device (e.g., an LED), and/or an aural feedback device (e.g., a speaker or the like) on the aerosol generating apparatus, or by a notification on an external device.
Optionally, adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory may involve storing an error-detecting code in the time counter memory for detecting subsequent corruption of the stored elapsed time. The error-detecting code may, for example, be a checksum.
Optionally, the method may include determining whether the stored elapsed time has been corrupted using the error-detecting code stored in the time counter memory. This determination may be made, for example, by checking that the error-detecting code stored in the time counter memory meets one or more predetermined criteria indicating that the stored elapsed time is correct. A determination that the stored elapsed time has been corrupted if, for example, the error-detecting code is absent or does not meet the aforementioned one or more predetermined criteria, for example.
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may be configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and wherein the method may further comprise transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state responsive to determining that the stored elapsed time has been corrupted.
This may allow the aerosol generating apparatus to default to a locked state in which use of the apparatus is not possible, if it is determined that the stored elapsed time has been corrupted. For example, this may ensure that verification of a user needs to be performed before use of the aerosol generating apparatus when the stored elapsed time has been corrupted, as might happen, for example, when the apparatus has been factory reset, or when a fault has occurred. This may help prevent a user from circumventing a verification process by deliberately corrupting the time counter memory (e.g. by performing a factory reset of the aerosol generating apparatus).
In certain examples, the method may further comprise the aerosol generating apparatus corrupting the time counter memory upon receipt of a locking signal. For example, the locking signal may be a user input to the aerosol generating apparatus, or may be a signal received from an external device.
This is one potential mechanism for locking the aerosol generating apparatus to prevent unwanted or unauthorised use based on the error-detecting code upon receipt of a locking signal. The aerosol generating apparatus may corrupt the time counter memory directly, or may remove power from the time counter memory (e.g., cutting power from a battery which supports battery-backed SRAM), for example by entering a shutdown mode, to corrupt the time counter memory.
Optionally, the locking signal may be received from a user carrying out a predetermined action using the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, this may include a long press of a button on the aerosol generating apparatus. This may provide a convenient way to allow a user to lock their aerosol generating apparatus, without needing to use an external device.
Optionally, the method may further comprise storing a status indicator in a non-volatile memory, wherein the status indicator shows whether the aerosol generating apparatus is in a locked state or an unlocked state. This indicator may be referred to as a device lock flag, which may be used to determine whether the aerosol generating apparatus is locked (e.g., verification has not yet been performed, or a lock time limit has expired, and therefore the apparatus is not able to be used) or unlocked (e.g., verification has been performed and a lock time limit has not expired, and therefore the apparatus is able to be used). The device lock flag could be stored in a non-volatile memory (e.g. in the time counter memory, along with the elapsed time), or in a system flash memory which also stores firmware instructions.
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may further comprise a volatile memory for storing run-time generated data when the apparatus is in its operational state, and transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state may include initialising the volatile memory (as well as resetting the time counter). A typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a microcontroller which is configured to run firmware of the apparatus. The microcontroller may run firmware that controls operational aspects of the apparatus. When the microcontroller runs the firmware, run time generated data may be stored on the volatile memory of the apparatus. Run time generated data may be any data stored on and or written to the volatile memory while running the firmware instructions. When the aerosol generating apparatus transitions from the sleep state to the operational state, by initialising the volatile memory in this way, the aerosol generating apparatus can be run from a pre-set or known starting point. Run time generated data may become corrupted when the data remains on the volatile memory for a prolonged period of time. Historical run time generated data may be run time generated data which was stored within the volatile memory before the aerosol generating apparatus transitioned from the sleep state to the operational state. Running from a pre-set or known starting point may therefore help to reduce firmware bugs arising from data on the volatile memory becoming corrupted, which would otherwise prevent the apparatus from operating optimally or correctly. Initialising the volatile memory may be caused by the microcontroller running volatile memory initialisation instructions, for example.
Optionally, the wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state is generated responsive to one or more predetermined actions being performed by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus. The one or more predetermined actions may include, for example, a puff by the user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g. as detected by an airflow sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus). In some examples, the predetermined action may include, for example, a button press by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g. as detected by a button sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus), the apparatus being lifted by a user (e.g. as detected by an accelerometer of the aerosol generating apparatus).
In some examples, the wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state is generated responsive to a Bluetooth^™ connection being established with the apparatus from an external device.
The sleep state may be a state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the aerosol generating apparatus draws less power from a battery of the aerosol generating apparatus, than when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the operational state.
Optionally, the method may further comprise transitioning from the operational state to the sleep state following a predetermined period of inactivity at the aerosol generating apparatus. The apparatus may thereby automatically enter the sleep state after a predetermined period of inactivity at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g. no user interaction with the aerosol generating apparatus). The predetermined period of inactivity may, for example, be less than 10 minutes, or less than 60 seconds. For example, the period of inactivity may be 30 seconds or less, e.g. 10 seconds. For example, the period of inactivity may be measured using the time counter.
Optionally, the time counter memory may be a battery-backed static random-access memory, SRAM. This may provide the benefits of both non-volatile memory (as the contents of the SRAM are maintained in the presence of battery power without needing to be refreshed) and volatile memory (since it can be wiped by removing power, e.g. by interrupting a connection between the battery and the memory), the properties of which may be particularly suited in certain examples of the present invention as described herein.
Optionally, the time counter may be a 64-bit time counter. For example, this may allow the elapsed time to be monitored with an eight-microsecond resolution for a lock time limit of one week.
In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a time counter; a time counter memory; a microcontroller; and a hardware component configured to be controlled by the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform a method according to the first aspect of the disclosure.
In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus according to the second aspect of the disclosure, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus has a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device; and the external device.
The external device may for example be a mobile device. The mobile device may be configured to wirelessly communicate with the aerosol generating apparatus. The mobile device may be a mobile phone, for example, such as a smartphone or the like.
In a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an aerosol generating apparatus, cause the aerosol generating apparatus to carry out a method according to the first aspect of the disclosure.
In a fifth aspect, the present disclosure provides a method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus comprises a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset; wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus from an unlocked state to a locked state if the elapsed time recorded by the timer has reached a lock time limit, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol. The method includes the aerosol generating apparatus resetting the timer upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus; and the aerosol generating apparatus checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than the lock time limit, and if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached, generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state (this may be referred to herein as a pre-lock alert).
In particular, the alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state may be generated each and every time the pre-lock time limit is reached, such that no conditionality is permitted on the pre-lock alert being generated.
By providing a method in this way, the present invention allows a user to continuously use the aerosol generating apparatus without interruption. In particular, by notifying a user before the apparatus is locked, the user can be verified, or the user can confirm that they have previously been verified, to use the aerosol generating apparatus before the apparatus is locked, thereby resetting the timer.
Of course, it will be appreciated that a verification signal can also be received by the aerosol generating apparatus before the pre-lock time limit has been reached, such that the timer may be reset at any time (i.e. without the user having to wait for the pre-lock signal).
Optionally, the aerosol generating apparatus may have a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device, wherein the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is a wireless signal received from an external device at the wireless interface. Verification of a user may accordingly take place using an external device, such as a smartphone or other mobile device.
For the avoidance of doubt, when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used for generating aerosol, but the aerosol generating apparatus may be in either of a sleep state (e.g., in which no aerosol is being generated and the apparatus is not being used by a user) or an operational state (e.g., in which the apparatus may be used to generate aerosol). In contrast, in the locked state the aerosol generating apparatus cannot transition to an operational state for generating aerosol (except by first unlocking the aerosol generating apparatus).
As an example, verification of a user may include age verification, or verification that the user is the owner of the aerosol generating apparatus. Transitioning the apparatus to the locked state may thereby inhibit unauthorised use of the apparatus.
In some examples, the timer of the aerosol generating apparatus may include:

a time counter; and
a time counter memory.

The time counter and time counter memory may be as described herein, e.g. as described above with reference to the first aspect of the present disclosure. However, in other examples the timer may be implemented by other means, e.g. a real-time clock or the like.
The aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a locking mechanism which allows the apparatus to transition from the unlocked state to the locked state (and vice versa), wherein the locking mechanism may be implemented by software, hardware, or a mixture of software and hardware.
Optionally, the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is sent to the aerosol generating apparatus by an external device. For example, the external device may be a mobile device such as a smartphone or the like, or may be a personal computer. In some examples, the signal sent by the external device may be a wireless signal received at a wireless interface of the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the wireless signal may be a Bluetooth^™ signal, a Wi-Fi signal, or a near-field communication (NFC) signal or the like.
In certain examples, the external device may send the signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus upon the user completing an age verification process indicating that the user is older than a predetermined age limit. Optionally, the method may include the external device sending a subsequent signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the subsequent signal is sent based on a previously completed age verification process, without requiring the user to complete the same or a further age verification process. This may allow a user to more easily reset the timer to prolong use of the aerosol generating apparatus without involving a complex verification process. For example, the subsequent signal may be generated by the external device responsive to the user completing an identification process at the external device indicating that the user is authorised to use the device. The identification process may include, but is not limited to, the user unlocking the external device (e.g., a smartphone), or an application on the external device, for example with a password, biometric identification (such as fingerprint identification, face identification or the like). In contrast, an age verification process may include steps such as verifying a user identification using an item of identification separate from the external device (e.g., a driver's licence, a passport or the like), and may optionally include communicating with a remote server.
Optionally, the method may further comprise adjusting one or both of the pre-lock time limit and the lock time limit upon receipt of a time limit changing command. For example, the time limit changing command may be received from an external device connected (e.g., by a wired or wireless connection) to the aerosol generating apparatus. This may allow a user to adjust the pre-lock time limit and/or the lock time limit to a preferred duration. In some examples, adjustment may, for example, only be allowed between predetermined limits (for example, the predetermined limits may be based on regulatory requirements or manufacturer specified limits).
Optionally, the lock time limit may be at least 2 days, such as 7 days. In some examples, the lock time limit may be less than 2 weeks, for example between 1 day and 2 weeks.
Optionally, the pre-lock time limit may be any suitable predefined period of time prior to expiry of the lock time limit. For example, the predefined period may be 2 days or less, or 1 day or less. This may ensure that the user has sufficient time before the lock time limit is reached to allow them to re-verify that they are verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the pre-lock time limit may expire 24 hours before the lock time limit.
Optionally, generating the alert may comprise sending an alert signal to an external device connected (e.g., by a wired or a wireless connection) to the aerosol generating apparatus. After receiving the alert signal, the external device may send a notification to a user, for example. By sending an alert signal to an external device in this way, the alert signal may be more likely to be detected by a user (for example, as the alert signal may be noticed by a user at a time when they are not using the aerosol generating apparatus). Furthermore, the notification at the external device may be a persistent notification, rather than a one-time alert, which increases the chances of a user noticing the alert. The notification may be sent to a user by any one or more suitable output devices of the external device. For example, the notification may comprise an alert sound generated by an aural output device, or a visual alert displayed on a screen of the device, and/or a haptic alert from a haptic feedback device (e.g., a vibrating element or motor).
Optionally, generating the alert may comprise activating a feedback device of the aerosol generating apparatus. That is, the alert for notifying a user may comprise activating a haptic feedback device (e.g., a vibrating element or motor), an optical feedback device (e.g., an LED), and/or an aural feedback device (e.g., a speaker or the like). In this way, the alert may not require an external device. Of course, it will be appreciated that, in some examples, the alert may involve both the feedback device of the aerosol generating apparatus and the external device (e.g., a notification as described above).
Optionally, checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit is performed responsive to receiving a wake-up command. That is, the elapsed time may be checked each time the aerosol generating apparatus is to be transitioned from a sleep state to an operational state. A wake-up command may be generated responsive to one or more predetermined actions being performed by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus, for example. The one or more predetermined actions may include, for example, a puff by the user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g., as detected by an airflow sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus). In some examples, the predetermined action may include, for example, a button press by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g., as detected by a button sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus), the apparatus being lifted by a user (e.g., as detected by an accelerometer of the aerosol generating apparatus).
In some examples, the wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state is generated responsive to a Bluetooth^™ connection being established with the apparatus from an external device.
The sleep state may be a state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which the aerosol generating apparatus draws less power from a battery of the aerosol generating apparatus, than when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the operational state.
In a sixth aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset; wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus from an unlocked state to a locked state if the elapsed time recorded by the timer has reached a lock time limit, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and a microcontroller configured to perform a method according to the fifth aspect of the disclosure.
In a seventh aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the disclosure, and an external device configured to send the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus to the aerosol generating apparatus.
In an eighth aspect, the present disclosure provides a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer (or an aerosol generating apparatus), cause the computer or aerosol generating apparatus to carry out a method according to the fifth aspect of the disclosure.
The preceding summary is provided for purposes of summarizing some examples to provide a basic understanding of aspects of the subject matter described herein. Accordingly, the above-described features should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Moreover, the above and/or proceeding examples and aspects of the disclosure may be combined in any suitable combination to provide further examples, except where such a combination is clearly impermissible or expressly avoided. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following text and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of examples in reference to the appended drawings in which like numerals denote like elements.

Fig. 1 is a block system diagram showing an example aerosol generating apparatus.
Fig. 2 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid precursor.
Figs. 3a and 3b are schematic diagrams showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a block system diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to generate aerosol from a solid precursor.
Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example implementation of the apparatus of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a block system diagram showing an example system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus.
Fig. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Figs. 8a and 8b are flow diagrams showing methods which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Figs. 9a and 9b are flow diagrams showing methods which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Fig. 10 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Fig. 11 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Fig. 12 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Fig. 13 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.
Fig. 14 is a flow diagram showing a method which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing several examples implementing the present disclosure, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited by specific construction details or process steps set forth in the following description and accompanying drawings. Rather, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein could be embodied differently and/or be practiced or carried out in various alternative ways.
Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in connection with the presently disclosed inventive concept(s) shall have the meanings that are commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, and known techniques and procedures may be performed according to conventional methods well known in the art and as described in various general and more specific references that may be cited and discussed in the present specification.
Any patents, published patent applications, and non-patent publications mentioned in the specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
All examples implementing the present disclosure can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While particular examples have been described, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the systems, apparatus, and/or methods and in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the concept, spirit, and scope of the inventive concept(s). All such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope, and concept of the inventive concept(s) as defined by the appended claims.
The use of the term "a" or "an" in the claims and/or the specification may mean "one," as well as "one or more," "at least one," and "one or more than one." As such, the terms "a," "an," and "the," as well as all singular terms, include plural referents unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Likewise, plural terms shall include the singular unless otherwise required by context.
The use of the term "or" in the present disclosure (including the claims) is used to mean an inclusive "and/or" unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or unless the alternatives are mutually exclusive. For example, a condition "A or B" is satisfied by any of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).
As used in this specification and claim(s), the words "comprising, "having," "including," or "containing" (and any forms thereof, such as "comprise" and "comprises," "have" and "has," "includes" and "include," or "contains" and "contain," respectively) are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps.
Unless otherwise explicitly stated as incompatible, or the physics or otherwise of the embodiments, examples, or claims prevent such a combination, the features of examples disclosed herein, and of the claims, may be integrated together in any suitable arrangement, especially ones where there is a beneficial effect in doing so. This is not limited to only any specified benefit, and instead may arise from an "ex post facto" benefit. This is to say that the combination of features is not limited by the described forms, particularly the form (e.g. numbering) of example(s), embodiment(s), or dependency of claim(s). Moreover, this also applies to the phrase "in one embodiment," "according to an embodiment," and the like, which are merely a stylistic form of wording and are not to be construed as limiting the following features to a separate embodiment to all other instances of the same or similar wording. This is to say, a reference to 'an,' 'one,' or 'some' embodiment(s) may be a reference to any one or more, and/or all embodiments, or combination(s) thereof, disclosed. Also, similarly, the reference to "the" embodiment may not be limited to the immediately preceding embodiment. Further, all references to one or more embodiments or examples are to be construed as non-limiting to the claims.
The present disclosure may be better understood in view of the following explanations, wherein the terms used that are separated by "or" may be used interchangeably:
As used herein, an "aerosol generating apparatus" (or "electronic(e)-cigarette") may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user. The apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a "smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article. As used herein a combustible "smoking article" may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis). An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity. The generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device. The input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time (which may be variable) may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
The aerosol generating apparatus may be portable. As used herein, the term "portable" may refer to the apparatus being for use when held by a user.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating system" may be a system that includes an aerosol generating apparatus and optionally other circuitry/components associated with the function of the apparatus, e.g. one or more external devices and/or one or more external components (here "external" is intended to mean external to the aerosol generating apparatus). As used herein, an "external device" and "external component" may include one or more of a: a charging device, a mobile device (which may be connected to the aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. via a wireless or wired connection); a networked-based computer (e.g. a remote server); a cloud-based computer; any other server system.
An example aerosol generating system may be a system for managing an aerosol generating apparatus. Such a system may include, for example, a mobile device, a network server, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, an "aerosol" may include a suspension of precursor, including as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. An aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapour. An aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.
As used herein, a "precursor" may include one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; loose leaf material; other substance. The precursor may be processed by an aerosol generating unit of an aerosol generating apparatus to generate an aerosol. The precursor may include one or more of: an active component; a carrier; a flavouring. The active component may include one or more of nicotine; caffeine; a cannabidiol oil; a non-pharmaceutical formulation, e.g. a formulation which is not for treatment of a disease or physiological malfunction of the human body. The active component may be carried by the carrier, which may be a liquid, including propylene glycol and/or glycerine. The term "flavouring" may refer to a component that provides a taste and/or a smell to the user. The flavouring may include one or more of: Ethylvanillin (vanilla); menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil); or other. The precursor may include a substrate, e.g. reconstituted tobacco to carry one or more of the active component; a carrier; a flavouring.
As used herein, a "storage portion" may be a portion of the apparatus adapted to store the precursor. It may be implemented as fluid-holding reservoir or carrier for solid material depending on the implementation of the precursor as defined above.
As used herein, a "flow path" may refer to a path or enclosed passageway through an aerosol generating apparatus, e.g. for delivery of an aerosol to a user. The flow path may be arranged to receive aerosol from an aerosol generating unit. When referring to the flow path, upstream and downstream may be defined in respect of a direction of flow in the flow path, e.g. with an outlet being downstream of an inlet.
As used herein, a "delivery system" may be a system operative to deliver an aerosol to a user. The delivery system may include a mouthpiece and a flow path.
As used herein, a "flow" may refer to a flow in a flow path. A flow may include aerosol generated from the precursor. The flow may include air, which may be induced into the flow path via a puff by a user. As used herein, a "puff" (or "inhale" or "draw") by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
As used herein, an "aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor. The aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system). A plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols (for example, from a plurality of different aerosol precursors) may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
As used herein, a "heating system" may refer to an arrangement of at least one heating element, which is operable to aerosolise a precursor once heated. The at least one heating element may be electrically resistive to produce heat from the flow of electrical current therethrough. The at least one heating element may be arranged as a susceptor to produce heat when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. The heating system may be configured to heat a precursor to below 300 or 350 degrees C, including without combustion.
As used herein, a "consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor. The consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer. The consumable may include a mouthpiece. The consumable may include an information carrying medium. With liquid or gel implementations of the precursor, e.g. an e-liquid, the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule" or a "pod" or an "e-liquid consumable". The capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor. With solid material implementations of the precursor, e.g. tobacco or reconstituted tobacco formulation, the consumable may be referred to as a "stick" or "package" or "heat-not-burn consumable". In a heat-not-burn consumable, the mouthpiece may be implemented as a filter and the consumable may be arranged to carry the precursor. The consumable may be implemented as a dosage or pre-portioned amount of material, including a loose-leaf product.
As used herein, an "information carrying medium" may include one or more arrangements for storage of information on any suitable medium. Examples include: a computer readable medium; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transponder; codes encoding information, such as optical (e.g. a bar code or QR code) or mechanically read codes (e.g. a configuration of the absence or presents of cutouts to encode a bit, through which pins or a reader may be inserted).
As used herein "heat-not-burn" (or "HNB" or "heated precursor") may refer to the heating of a precursor, typically tobacco, without combustion, or without substantial combustion (i.e. localised combustion may be experienced of limited portions of the precursor, including of less than 5% of the total volume).
As used herein, "electrical circuitry" may refer to one or more electrical components, examples of which may include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); electronic/electrical componentry (which may include combinations of transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors etc); one or more processors; a non-transitory memory (e.g. implemented by one or more memory devices), that may store one or more software or firmware programs; a combinational logic circuit; interconnection of the aforesaid. The electrical circuitry may be located entirely at the apparatus, or distributed between the apparatus and/or on one or more external devices in communication with the apparatus, e.g. as part of a system.
As used herein, a "processing resource" (or "processor" or "controller") may refer to one or more units for processing data, examples of which may include an ASIC, microcontroller, FPGA, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP) capability, state machine or other suitable component. A processing resource may be configured to execute a computer program, e.g. which may take the form of machine readable instructions, which may be stored on a non-transitory memory and/or programmable logic. The processing resource may have various arrangements corresponding to those discussed for the circuitry, e.g. on-board and/or off board the apparatus as part of the system. As used herein, any machine executable instructions, or computer readable media, may be configured to cause a disclosed method to be carried out, e.g. by a aerosol generating apparatus or system as disclosed herein, and may therefore be used synonymously with the term method.
As used herein, an "external device" (or "peripheral device") may include one or more electronic components external to an aerosol generating apparatus. Those components may be arranged at the same location as the aerosol generating apparatus or remote from the apparatus. An external device may comprise electronic computer devices including: a smartphone; a PDA; a video game controller; a tablet; a laptop; or other like device.
As used herein, a "computer readable medium/media" (or "memory" or "data storage") may include any medium capable of storing a computer program, and may take the form of any conventional non-transitory memory, for example one or more of: random access memory (RAM); a CD; a hard drive; a solid state drive; a memory card; a DVD. The memory may have various arrangements corresponding to those discussed for the circuitry /processor. The present disclosure includes a computer readable medium configured to cause an apparatus or system disclosed herein to perform a method as disclosed herein.
As used herein, a "communication resource" (or "communication interface") may refer to hardware and/or firmware for electronic information/data transfer. The communication resource may be configured for wired communication ("wired communication resources") or wireless communication ("wireless communication resource"). Wireless communication resources may include hardware to transmit and receive signals by radio and may include various protocol implementations e.g. the 802.11 standard described in the Institute of Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Bluetooth^™ from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland Wash. Wired communication resources may include; Universal Serial Bus (USB); High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or other protocol implementations. The apparatus may include communication resources for wired or wireless communication with an external device.
As used herein, a "network" (or "computer network") may refer to a system for electronic information/data transfer between a plurality of apparatuses/devices. The network may, for example, include one or more networks of any type, which may include: a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN); a telephone network (e.g. a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and/or a wireless network); a local area network (LAN); a metropolitan area network (MAN); a wide area network (WAN); an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network; a private network; the Internet; an intranet.
It will be appreciated that any of the disclosed methods (or corresponding apparatuses, programs, data carriers, etc.) may be carried out by either a host or client, depending on the specific implementation (i.e. the disclosed methods/apparatuses are a form of communication(s), and as such, may be carried out from either 'point of view', i.e. in corresponding to each other fashion). Furthermore, it will be understood that the terms "receiving" and "transmitting" encompass "inputting" and "outputting" and are not limited to an RF context of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic (e.g. radio) waves. Therefore, for example, a chip or other device or component for realizing embodiments could generate data for output to another chip, device or component, or have as an input data from another chip, device, or component, and such an output or input could be referred to as "transmit" and "receive" including gerund forms, that is, "transmitting" and "receiving," as well as such "transmitting" and "receiving" within an RF context.
Referring to Fig. 1, an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy. The apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2. The power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source. The apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol. The apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
In variant examples, which are not illustrated, the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid precursor.
In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 10 and a consumable 30.
In this example, the body 10 includes the power supply 4. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 12, a memory 14, a wireless interface 16, one or more other components 18.
The electrical circuitry 12 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 10 and consumable 30, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 14.
The wireless interface 16 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth^™.
The other component(s) 18 may include one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3a).
The apparatus 1 further comprises a time counter 20 and a time counter memory 22. The time counter 20 is a hardware counter which is periodically incremented in order to keep track of time. For example, the time counter 20 may be a 64-bit counter which is incremented every eight microseconds. The time counter memory 22 is associated with the time counter 20 in order to store an elapsed time according to methods described herein. The time counter memory 22 may be a dedicated non-volatile memory, such as battery-backed SRAM, so that an elapsed time which is stored in the time counter memory 22 is not lost even if power to the time counter memory (e.g., from the power supply 2) is interrupted. In other examples, the time counter memory 22 may form part of a flash memory which is also used to store firmware instructions for the aerosol generating apparatus 1. In some examples, the time counter memory 22 may form part of the memory 14.
The consumable 30 includes a storage portion implemented here as a tank 32 which stores the liquid precursor 6 (e.g. e-liquid). The consumable 30 also includes a heating system 34, one or more air inlets 36, and a mouthpiece 38. The consumable 30 may include one or more other components 40.
The body 10 and consumable 30 may each include a respective electrical interface (not shown) to provide an electrical connection between one or more components of the body 10 with one or more components of the consumable 30. In this way, electrical power can be supplied to components (e.g. the heating system 34) of the consumable 30, without the consumable 30 needing to have its own power supply.
In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 when inhaling through the mouthpiece 38, i.e. when performing a puff. The puff, performed by the user, may initiate a flow through a flow path in the consumable 30 which extends from the air inlet(s) 34 to the mouthpiece 38 via a region in proximity to the heating system 34.
Activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be initiated, for example, by an airflow sensor in the body 10 which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the mouthpiece), or by actuation of an actuator included in the body 10. Upon activation, the electrical circuitry 12 (e.g. under control of the processing resource) may supply electrical energy from the power supply 2 to the heating system 34 which may cause the heating system 32 to heat liquid precursor 6 drawn from the tank to produce an aerosol which is carried by the flow out of the mouthpiece 38.
In some examples, the heating system 34 may include a heating filament and a wick, wherein a first portion of the wick extends into the tank 32 in order to draw liquid precursor 6 out from the tank 32, wherein the heating filament coils around a second portion of the wick located outside the tank 32. The heating filament may be configured to heat up liquid precursor 6 drawn out of the tank 32 by the wick to produce the aerosol.
In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 34 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece 38.
In variant examples (not shown), any one or more of the precursor 6, heating system 34, air inlet(s) 36 and mouthpiece 38, may be included in the body 10. For example, the mouthpiece 36 may be included in the body 10 with the precursor 6 and heating system 32 arranged as a separable cartomizer.
Figs. 3a and 3b show an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 2. In this example, the consumable 30 is implemented as a capsule/pod, which is shown in Fig. 3a as being physically coupled to the body 10, and is shown in Fig. 3b as being decoupled from the body 10.
In this example, the body 10 and the consumable 30 are configured to be physically coupled together by pushing the consumable 30 into an aperture in a top end 11 the body 10, with the consumable 30 being retained in the aperture via an interference fit.
In other examples (not shown), the body 10 and the consumable 30 could be physically coupled together in other ways, e.g. by screwing one onto the other, through a bayonet fitting, or through a snap engagement mechanism, for example.
The body 10 also includes a charging port (not shown) at a bottom end 13 of the body 10.
The body 10 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a light 15, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
In this example, the consumable 30 has an opaque cap 31, a translucent tank 32 and a translucent window 33. When the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10 as shown in Fig. 3a, only the cap 31 and window 33 can be seen, with the tank 32 being obscured from view by the body 10. The body 10 includes a slot 15 to accommodate the window 33. The window 33 is configured to allow the amount of liquid precursor 6 in the tank 32 to be visually assessed, even when the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10.
Fig. 4 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1, where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol by a-heat not-burn process.
In this example, the apparatus 1 includes a device body 50 and a consumable 70.
In this example, the body 50 includes the power supply 4 and a heating system 52. The heating system 54 includes at least one heating element 54. The body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 56, a memory 58, a wireless interface 60, one or more other components 62.
The electrical circuitry 56 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 50, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 58.
The wireless interface 60 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth^™.
The other component(s) 62 may include an actuator, one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 5).
The apparatus 1 further comprises a time counter 20 and a time counter memory 22. The time counter 20 is a hardware counter which is periodically incremented in order to keep track of time. For example, the time counter 20 may be a 64-bit counter which is incremented every eight microseconds. The time counter memory 22 is associated with the time counter 20 in order to store an elapsed time according to methods described herein. The time counter memory 22 may be a dedicated non-volatile memory, such as battery-backed SRAM, so that an elapsed time which is stored in the time counter memory 22 is not lost even if power to the time counter memory (e.g., from the power supply 2) is interrupted. In other examples, the time counter memory 22 may form part of a flash memory which is also used to store firmware instructions for the aerosol generating apparatus 1. In some examples, the time counter memory 22 may form part of the memory 58.
The body 50 is configured to engage with the consumable 70 such that the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 penetrates into the solid precursor 6 of the consumable. In use, a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to cause the heating system 52 of the body 50 to cause the at least one heating element 54 to heat the solid precursor 6 of the consumable (without combusting it) by conductive heat transfer, to generate an aerosol which is inhaled by the user.
Fig. 5 shows an example implementation of the aerosol generating device 1 of Fig. 4.
As depicted in Fig. 5, the consumable 70 is implemented as a stick, which is engaged with the body 50 by inserting the stick into an aperture at a top end 53 of the body 50, which causes the at least one heating element 54 of the heating system 52 to penetrate into the solid precursor 6.
The consumable 70 includes the solid precursor 6 proximal to the body 50, and a filter distal to the body 50. The filter serves as the mouthpiece of the consumable 70 and thus the apparatus 1 as a whole. The solid precursor 6 may be a reconstituted tobacco formulation.
In this example, the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile. Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be bladeshaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
In this example, the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 5, the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
The body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
The body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user. Here, the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4. Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user. The body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
In this example, the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
In this example, the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
Fig. 6 shows an example system 80 for managing an aerosol generating apparatus 1, such as those described above with reference to any of Figs. 1-5.
The system 80 as shown in Fig. 1 includes a mobile device 82, an application server 84, an optional charging station 86, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
In this example, aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to communicate wirelessly, e.g. via Bluetooth^™, with an application (or "app") installed on the mobile device 2, via a wireless interface included in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and via a wireless interface included in the mobile device 82. The mobile device 82 may be a mobile phone, for example. The application on the mobile phone is configured to communicate with the application server 84, via a network 88. The application server 84 may utilise cloud storage, for example.
The network 88 may include a cellular network and/or the internet.
In other examples, the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be configured to communicate with the application server 84 via a connection that does not involve the mobile device 82, e.g. via a narrowband internet of things ("NB-loT") or satellite connection. In some examples, the mobile device 82 may be omitted from the system 80.
A skilled person would readily appreciate that the mobile device 82 may be configured to communicate via the network 88 according to various communication channels, preferably a wireless communication channel such as via a cellular network (e.g. according to a standard protocol, such as 3G or 4G) or via a WiFi network.
The app installed on the mobile device 82 and the application server 84 may be configured to assist a user with managing their aerosol generating apparatus 1, based on information communicated between the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and the app, information communicated directly between the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and the application server 84, and/or information communicated between the app and the application server 84.
The charging station 86 (if present) may be configured to charge (and optionally communicate with) the aerosol generating apparatus 1, via a charging port on the aerosol generating apparatus 1. The charging port on the smoking substitute device 10 may be a USB port, for example, which may allow the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to be charged by any USB-compatible device capable of delivering power to the aerosol generating apparatus 1 via a suitable USB cable (in this case the USB-compatible device would be acting as the charging station 86). Alternatively, the charging station could be a docking station specifically configured to dock with the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and charge the aerosol generating apparatus 1via the charging port on the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
Fig. 7 is a flow chart showing steps in a method 100 which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described herein (e.g., the aerosol generating apparatus 1 as described above). The method 100 begins with the aerosol generating apparatus in a sleep state 102, which is a state of the aerosol generating apparatus in which no aerosol is being generated and the apparatus is not being used by a user. While in the sleep state, a time counter is incremented periodically, as described below with respect to Fig. 12. Incrementing the time counter thereby allows the amount of time for which the aerosol generating apparatus 1 has been in the sleep state to be tracked. It will be appreciated that the time counter may also be incremented when the aerosol generating apparatus is in an operational state. While in the sleep state, the method includes a step 104 of receiving a wake-up command. A wake-up command may be generated responsive to one or more predetermined actions being performed by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus. The one or more predetermined actions may include, for example, a puff by the user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g. as detected by an airflow sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus). In some examples, the predetermined action may include, for example, a button press by a user at the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g. as detected by a button sensor of the aerosol generating apparatus), the apparatus being lifted by a user (e.g. as detected by an accelerometer of the aerosol generating apparatus).
If a wake-up command is not received (that is, the determination at step 104 is 'No'), then the method 100 does not move on, and loops back to step 104 to maintain the present state of the aerosol generating apparatus until a wake-up command is received.
At step 106 (which occurs upon receipt of the wake-up command), the current time from the time counter is read and at step 108 the current time is added to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory. Step 108 may involve, for example, adding the current time to an existing elapsed time stored in the time counter memory to provide an updated elapsed time. In some examples, step 108 may involve a further step 109 of storing an error-detecting code in the time counter memory for detecting subsequent corruption of the stored elapsed time. The error detecting code may be used to monitor the integrity of the elapsed time, but may also be used as an indicator for locked or unlocked states of the aerosol generating apparatus as described below with respect to Figs. 9a-b.
Note that, in some examples, the elapsed time stored in the time counter memory may be zero (for example, if the elapsed time has not previously been updated, or if the elapsed time has been reset). For avoidance of doubt, an elapsed time of zero may be stored in the time counter memory by the time counter memory being empty.
In some examples, after the current time has been added to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory instep 108, the updated elapsed time may be used to determine if a pre-lock time limit and a lock-time limit have been reached, as described below with respect to Fig. 8b.
After the elapsed time has been updated, there is a step 110 of resetting the time counter, such that the time counter is set to zero, while the elapsed time is retained in the time counter memory. This ensures that the time counter is in a known state before the apparatus is fully transitioned to the operational state, which helps ensure reliability of the apparatus. After the time counter has been reset, the aerosol generating apparatus may transition to the operational state at step 112, such that it is able to be used by a user.
In some examples, applicable to an aerosol generating apparatus comprising a volatile memory for storing run-time generated data when the apparatus is in its operational state, transitioning to the operational state may include a step 111 of initialising the volatile memory. When the aerosol generating apparatus transitions from the sleep state to the operational state, by initialising the volatile memory in this way, the aerosol generating apparatus can be run from a pre-set or known starting point. Run time generated data may become corrupted when the data remains on the volatile memory for a prolonged period of time. Historical run time generated data may be run time generated data which was stored within the volatile memory before the aerosol generating apparatus transitioned from the sleep state to the operational state. Running from a pre-set or known starting point may therefore help to reduce firmware bugs arising from data on the volatile memory becoming corrupted, which would otherwise prevent the apparatus from operating optimally or correctly.
In some examples, the method 100 may include a step 113 of, while the aerosol generating apparatus is in the operational state, determining if a predetermined period of inactivity has elapsed. For example, the predetermined period of inactivity may be around 10 seconds. If the aerosol generating apparatus is inactive (i.e., has not been used by a user and so no user actions have been detected by the aerosol generating apparatus) for this period of time (that is, the determination at step 113 is 'Yes'), then the aerosol generating apparatus transitions from the operational state to the sleep state. This may reduce the power consumption of the aerosol generating apparatus (e.g., where the sleep state uses less energy than the operational state). If the aerosol generating apparatus is used before the predetermined period of inactivity elapsed (that is, the determination at step 113 is 'No'), then the aerosol generating apparatus continues in the operational state. It will be appreciated that the time counter is also incremented in the operational state, and the time counter may be used to determine if the predetermined period of inactivity has lapsed.
Fig. 8a is a flow chart showing a method 200a which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described herein (e.g., the aerosol generating apparatus 1 as described above). The aerosol generating apparatus may be in either a locked state or an unlocked state when the method 200a is performed. To aid understanding of the method 200a, it may be appreciated that a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset may comprise a time counter and a time counter memory (e.g., a time counter 20 and a time counter memory 22 as discussed above), or by any other suitable timer (e.g., by a real-time clock or the like).
The method 200a begins with a step 202 of the aerosol generating apparatus receiving a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus (this may be referred to herein as a verifying signal). By way of example, a check for a verifying signal may be performed periodically. The signal may be sent to the aerosol generating apparatus by an external device, for example over a wireless connection such as Bluetooth^™. An example method describing how the verifying signal may be generated in some examples is described below with respect to Fig. 10.
The form of the verifying signal may also be varied in different examples. In one example, the signal may be sent by an external device upon a user completing an age verification process indicating that the user is older than a predetermined limit. In another example, the verifying signal may be a subsequent signal send from the external device, wherein the subsequent signal is sent based on a previously completed age verification process, without requiring the user to complete a further age verification process. This may comprise an identification process which indicates that the user is authorised to use the apparatus, such as the user unlocking the external device with a passcode or biometric data or the like.
After a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is received (that is, after step), the method 200 may perform a step 204 of transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to an unlocked state, if the aerosol generating apparatus was not already in an unlocked state (this step is not necessary if the aerosol generating apparatus was already in an unlocked state when the signal is received). In some examples, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the unlocked state may comprise a step 205 of storing a status indicator (e.g., in a non-volatile memory), wherein the status indicator shows whether the aerosol generating apparatus is in a locked state or an unlocked state, and in this situation the step 205 of storing the status indicator may comprise updating the status indicator to show that the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state. This status indicator may be referred to as a device lock flag.
The method 200 then moves to a step 206 of resetting the timer. That is, after the verifying signal is received, the timer is set to zero such that the timer is configured to record (by incrementing the timer) the elapsed time since the timer was last reset (and, correspondingly, the elapsed time since the verifying signal was received). If the timer is implemented by a time counter and a time counter memory as discussed previously, then resetting the timer may include resetting the time counter AND the time counter memory.
Fig. 8b is a flow chart showing a method 200b which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described herein.
It will be appreciated that during the method 200b, a timer is periodically incremented. If the timer is implemented by a time counter and a time counter memory as discussed previously, then periodically incrementing the timer may include periodically incrementing the time counter.
In the method 200b, there may be a step 208 of receiving a wake-up command. This could be the same step as step 104, described above. It will therefore be appreciated that, in some examples, after a wake-up command has been received other steps may be performed, such as adding a current time to an elapsed time and resetting a time counter as described above with respect to Fig. 7.
After the wake-up command has been received (step 208), the method 200b includes a step 210 of checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit, which is less than a lock time limit. In other examples, checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit may occur periodically and not responsive to a wake-up command being received.
If the timer is implemented by a time counter and a time counter memory as discussed previously, then the step 210 of reading the elapsed time from the time counter memory, after the step of adding the current time to the elapsed has been performed, e.g. as in step 108, above. That is, the method 200b may overlap or run in parallel with the method 100 described above.
If the pre-lock time limit has not been reached (that is, the determination at step 210 is 'No'), then No alert is generated, as shown by a step 211.
If the pre-lock time limit has been reached (that is, the determination at step 210 is 'Yes'), the method goes on to a step 212 of checking whether a lock time limit has been reached. If the pre-lock time limit has been reached, but the lock time limit has not been reached (that is, the determination at step 210 is 'Yes' and the determination at step 212 is 'No'), there is a step 214 of generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state (which may be referred to herein as a pre-lock alert). After the pre-lock alert has been generated at step 214, the aerosol generating apparatus may continue to operate in its present mode (e.g., an operational mode or a sleep mode). It will be appreciated that, in some examples, the aerosol generating apparatus may transition to a sleep state (e.g., after a predetermined period of inactivity) before a wake-up command is received, e.g. as shown in Fig. 7.
If, however, it is determined that the lock time limit has been reached (that is, the determination at step 212 is 'Yes'), then the method 200 comprises a step 216 of transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state. In the locked state the aerosol generating apparatus cannot be used to generate an aerosol, thereby preventing unauthorised use of the apparatus (e.g., use by a person not verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus). However, by generating a pre-lock alert at step 214, the method 200 may aid the user to continuously use the aerosol generating apparatus without interruption. In particular, by notifying a user before the apparatus is locked, the user can take action to be verified, or the user can confirm that they are verified, to use the aerosol generating apparatus before the apparatus is locked, thereby resetting the timer and allowing continued use of the apparatus in the unlocked state.
In some examples, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to a locked state may comprise a step 217 of storing a status indicator (e.g., in a non-volatile memory), which may be the same indicator as described above with respect to step 205. Thus, the device lock flag may be updated to show that the aerosol generating apparatus is in a locked state, and so is not useable. For example, the locked state may persist until a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus has been received.
It will be appreciated that an aerosol generating apparatus may, in some examples, perform both method 100 and method 200, such that the methods 100, 200 may be performed substantially in parallel with one another. For example, in one embodiment the methods may overlap in that the step 210 of determining whether a pre-locktime limit has been reached may be performed responsive to receiving a wake-up command, such that determining whether a pre-lock time limit has been reached (in method 200) may be performed after the step 110 of updating the elapsed time has been performed (in method 100). In this regard it should also be noted that the step 206 of resetting the timer may, in some examples, comprise setting a time counter to zero and also resetting an elapsed time which is stored in a time counter memory to zero. For the avoidance of doubt, particularly where method 100 and method 200 are both performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, it should be noted that when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used for generating aerosol, but the aerosol generating apparatus may be in either of a sleep state (e.g., in which no aerosol is being generated and the apparatus is not being used by a user) or an operational state (e.g., in which the apparatus may be used to generate aerosol). In contrast, in the locked state the aerosol generating apparatus cannot transition to an operational state for generating aerosol.
Figs. 9a and 9b are flow charts showing methods 300a, 300b which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus (e.g., the aerosol generating apparatus 1 as described above), in some examples. The methods 300a, 300b make use of an error detecting code which may be stored with an elapsed time in a time counter memory, as described above with respect to Fig. 7 (step 111).
The method 300a comprises a step 302 of receiving a locking signal at the aerosol generating apparatus. The locking signal may be an instruction received from an external device (e.g., over a wired or a wireless connection), or may be a signal which is generated by the aerosol generating apparatus itself (e.g., in response to a user carrying out a predetermined action using the aerosol generating apparatus, such as a button press). If a locking signal has been received, then the method moves on to a step 304 of corrupting the time counter memory. For example, the aerosol generating apparatus may corrupt the memory directly, or may remove power from the time counter memory in order to corrupt the memory (for example, if the time counter memory is battery-backed SRAM, the step 304 of corrupting the stored elapsed time may comprise removing the connection between the battery and the SRAM itself). Here it is to be noted that if the method 100 included the step 109 of storing an error-detecting code in the time counter memory, then the step 304 of corrupting the time counter memory will also corrupt the error-detecting code stored in the time counter memory.
The method 300b may be performed after an initial step 305 of receiving a wake-up command at the aerosol generating apparatus. At step 306, a determination is made as to whether the stored elapsed time is corrupted. Determining whether the stored elapsed time is corrupted may involve using the error detecting code stored in the time counter memory as a result of step 109 described above, for example by checking that the error-detecting code stored in the time counter memory meets one or more predetermined criteria indicating that the stored elapsed time is correct. Typically, corruption of the time counter memory as in step 304 would result in the error-detecting code not meeting the one or more predetermined criteria.
If it is determined that the stored elapsed time is not corrupted (that is, the determination at step 306 is 'No'), then no change is made to the locked/unlocked state of the aerosol generating apparatus (step 308). That is, if the aerosol generating apparatus was already in a locked state, then it remains in the locked state, and if the aerosol generating apparatus was already in an unlocked state, then it remains in the unlocked state.
If it is determined that the stored elapsed time is corrupted (that is, the determination at step 306 is 'Yes', for example if the error-detecting code is absent or does not meet predetermined criteria), then the method moves to step 310 where the aerosol generating apparatus is transitioned to a locked state (or, if applicable, the aerosol generating apparatus continues in the locked state).
Transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to a locked state in step 310 may include storing an appropriate status indicator (e.g. a device lock flag) as described above with respect to Fig. 8b.
A result of methods 300a, 300b is that corrupting the time counter memory provides a means by which the aerosol generating apparatus may be locked upon receipt of a locking signal 302, such that it is no longer useable until it has been transitioned to an unlocked state (e.g., by performing verification as described herein).
It should be noted, however, that method 300b may be useful even in the absence of method 300a. For example, the stored elapsed time may have been corrupted when the apparatus has been factory reset or when a fault has occurred, in which case method 300b may place the aerosol generating apparatus in the locked state accordingly. This may provide a useful security feature, by helping to prevent a user from circumventing a verification process by deliberately corrupting the time counter memory (e.g., by performing a factory reset of the aerosol generating apparatus or otherwise tampering with the time counter memory).
Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing steps in a method 400 of generating a signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus (a verifying signal), which may be used in some examples. The method 400 may be performed at an aerosol generating apparatus, an external device, an application server, or any suitable combination of these. For example, the method 400 may be performed at a mobile device 82, as described above.
The method 400 comprises a first step 402 of receiving a verification request, which is an indication that a user wants to generate a signal indicating that they are verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus. For example, the user may wish to transition the aerosol generating apparatus from a locked state to an unlocked state (for example, the user may have received a pre-lock alert as described in step 214, above). Receiving a verification request may include the user opening or using an application on a mobile device 82 (e.g. smartphone), for example. This may include the user completing an identification process at the external device indicating that the user is authorised to use the device (e.g., by unlocking the external device with a passcode or with biometric data or the like).
After the verification request is received, the method 400 includes a step 404 of determining whether verification has been previously performed, such that a verification result has been stored. For example, a user may have previously performed a verification process (such as age verification), and the result of the verification may be saved (e.g., at the external device or at a remote server). If the method determines that verification for the user has previously been performed (that is, the determination at step 404 is 'Yes'), then the method moves on to a step 410 of generating the signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus. This may allow the user to generate the signal without undergoing an additional verification process.
If, however, the method 400 determines that verification for the user has not been previously performed, or a previous result has not been saved, (that is, the result of the determination 404 is 'No'), then the method moves to a step 408 of requiring the user to complete a verification process. For example, this may be an age verification process in which the age of a user is compared with a predetermined threshold value to determine that the user is older than a predetermined age limit. For example, this may comprise sending identification information of a user to an application server for age verification. If the verification is failed, then no verifying signal is generated. However, if the verification is successful (e.g., it is determined that the user is older than a predetermined age limit), then the method moves to step 410 to generate the verifying signal.
After the signal indicating that the user is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is generated, this may be sent to the aerosol generating apparatus, where further processing may be performed as described above with respect to Fig. 8a.
Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing a method 500 which may be used in some examples. In particular, the method 500 may be applicable to examples in which the method 200b described above with respect to
Fig. 8b is used. In a first step 502, the method comprises receiving a time limit change command. In particular, this is a command to change either one or both of a pre-lock time limit and a lock time limit.
For example, the command may be received at an aerosol generating apparatus from an external device, and a user may set either or both of these time periods using the external device (e.g., using an application of the external device). In a second step 504, the method comprises changing the time limit according to the time limit change command. In this way, either or both of the pre-lock time limit and the lock time limit may be adjusted by a user according to a desired period. Of course, it will be appreciated that in other examples of the method 200, the pre-lock time limit and the lock time limit may not be user-adjustable, and may be predetermined (e.g., set by a manufacturer of the aerosol generating apparatus).
Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a method 600 which may be used in some examples. The method is performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described above, comprising a time counter, and a time counter memory.
The method 600 includes a step 602 of incrementing a time counter. For example, the time counter may be incremented periodically, such as every 8 microseconds. The method 600 may run parallel to any of the methods described herein, such that the time counter is incremented during all operating states of the aerosol generating apparatus, in particular during an operational state and during a sleep state, but in some examples also during a locked state or during an unlocked state.
It will be appreciated by a skilled person that the method of Figs. 7-12 may be performed at the same time as each other, i.e. these methods do not need to be performed sequentially. For example, periodically incrementing the time counter as shown in Fig. 12 may be performed whilst some or all of the other methods are performed.
The methods shown in Figs. 13 and 14 are more general versions of the methods shown in Figs. 7-12.
Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing steps in a method 700 which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described herein (e.g., the aerosol generating apparatus 1 as described above). The method 700 includes a step 702 of, when the aerosol generating apparatus is in a sleep state, periodically incrementing a time counter. A step 704 includes receiving a wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state. In response to receiving the wake-up command, the aerosol generating apparatus transitions from the sleep state to the operational state.
Transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the operation state includes a step 706 of reading a current time from the time counter and adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory, and a step 708 of resetting the time counter whilst retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory. In this way, reliability of the aerosol generating apparatus is aided by resetting the time counter such that it is in a known state when transitioning to the operational state, while a persistent elapsed time is retained in the time counter memory.
Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing steps in a method 800 which may be performed by an aerosol generating apparatus as described herein (e.g., the aerosol generating apparatus 1 as described above). The method 800 includes a step 802 of resetting the timer upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus (which may be referred to herein as a verifying signal). Then, the method includes a step 804 of checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than a lock time limit, and querying, at step 806, if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached. If the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached (that is, the determination at step 806 is 'Yes'), then the method 800 moves to a step 808 of generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state.
The following clauses, which form part of the description, provide general expressions of the disclosure herein:

A1. A method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus comprises:
- a time counter; and
- a time counter memory;
- wherein the method includes:
  - when the aerosol generating apparatus is in a sleep state, periodically incrementing the time counter;
  - receiving a wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state, and in response to receiving the wake-up command, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state;
- wherein transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the operational state includes:
  - reading a current time from the time counter and adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory; and
  - resetting the time counter whilst retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory.
A2. A method according to clause A1, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and
wherein the method includes:
- checking if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit; and
- transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit.
A3. A method according to clause A2, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus resetting the elapsed time to zero and placing the aerosol generating apparatus in an unlocked state, upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus.
A4. A method according to clause A3, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus has a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device, wherein the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is a wireless signal received from an external device at the wireless interface.
A5. A method according to any one of clauses A2 to A4, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than the lock time limit, and if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached, generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state.
A6. A method according to any previous clause, wherein adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory involves storing an error-detecting code in the time counter memory for detecting subsequent corruption of the stored elapsed time.
A7. A method according to clause A6, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and
wherein the method further comprises transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state responsive to determining that the stored elapsed time has been corrupted.
A8. A method according to clause A7, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus corrupting the time counter memory upon receipt of a locking signal.
A9. A method according to clause A8, wherein the locking signal is received from a user carrying out a predetermined action using the aerosol generating apparatus.
A10. A method according to any one of clauses A2 to A9, further comprising storing a status indicator in a non-volatile memory, wherein the status indicator shows whether the aerosol generating apparatus is in a locked state or an unlocked state.
A11. A method according to any previous clause, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus further comprises a volatile memory for storing run-time generated data when the apparatus is in its operational state; and
wherein transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state includes initialising the volatile memory.
A12. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state is generated responsive to detecting a puff request.
A13. A method according to any preceding clause, further comprising transitioning from the operational state to the sleep state following a predetermined period of inactivity.
A14. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the time counter memory is a battery-backed static random-access memory, SRAM.
A15. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the time counter is a 64-bit time counter.
A16. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:
- a time counter,
- a time counter memory;
- a microcontroller; and
- a hardware component configured to be controlled by the microcontroller;
- wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform a method according to any previous clause.
A17. An aerosol generating system comprising:
- an aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of clause 16, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus has a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device; and
- the external device.
A18. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an aerosol generating apparatus, cause the aerosol generating apparatus to carry out a method according to any one of clauses A1 to A15.
B1. A method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus comprises:
- a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset;
- wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus from an unlocked state to a locked state if the elapsed time recorded by the timer has reached a lock time limit, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol;
- wherein the method includes:
  - the aerosol generating apparatus resetting the timer upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus; and
  - the aerosol generating apparatus checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than the lock time limit, and if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached, generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state.
B2. A method according to clause B1, wherein the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is sent to the aerosol generating apparatus by an external device.
B3. A method according to clause B2, wherein the signal sent by the external device is a wireless signal received at a wireless interface of the aerosol generating apparatus.
B4. A method according to clause B2 or B3, wherein the external device sends the signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus upon the user completing an age verification process indicating that the user is older than a predetermined age limit.
B5. A method according to clause B4, wherein the method includes the external device sending a subsequent signal indicating that the user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the subsequent signal is sent based on the previously completed age verification process, without requiring the user to complete a further age verification process.
B6. A method according to clause B5, wherein the subsequent signal is generated by the external device responsive to the user completing an identification process at the external device indicating that the user is authorised to use the device.
B7. A method according to any preceding clause, further comprising adjusting one or both of the pre-lock time limit and the lock time limit upon receipt of a time limit changing command.
B8. A method according to clause B7, wherein the time limit changing command is received from an external device connected to the aerosol generating apparatus.
B9. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein the lock time limit is at least 2 days.
B10. A method according to clause B9, wherein the pre-lock time limit is at least 2 hours less than the lock time limit.
B11. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein generating the alert comprises sending an alert signal to an external device connected to the aerosol generating apparatus.
B12. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein generating the alert comprises activating a feedback device of the aerosol generating apparatus.
B13. A method according to any preceding clause, wherein checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit is performed responsive to receiving a wake-up command.
B14. An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:
- a timer which is configured to record elapsed time since the timer was last reset;
- wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus from an unlocked state to a locked state if the elapsed time recorded by the timer has reached a lock time limit, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and
- a microcontroller configured to perform a method according to any one of clauses 1 to 13.
B15. An aerosol generating system comprising:
- an aerosol generating apparatus according to clause B14, and
- an external device configured to send the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus to the aerosol generating apparatus.
B16. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an aerosol generating apparatus, cause the aerosol generating apparatus to carry out a method according to any one of clauses B1 to B13.

Claims

A method performed by an aerosol generating apparatus, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus comprises:
a time counter; and

a time counter memory;

wherein the method includes:
when the aerosol generating apparatus is in a sleep state, periodically incrementing the time counter;

receiving a wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state, and in response to receiving the wake-up command, transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state;

wherein transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus to the operational state includes:
reading a current time from the time counter and adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory; and

resetting the time counter whilst retaining the elapsed time in the time counter memory.
A method according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and
wherein the method includes:
checking if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit; and

transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state if the stored elapsed time has reached a lock time limit.
A method according to claim 2, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus resetting the elapsed time to zero and placing the aerosol generating apparatus in an unlocked state, upon receipt of a signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus.
A method according to claim 3, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus has a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device, wherein the signal indicating that a user of the aerosol generating apparatus is verified to use the aerosol generating apparatus is a wireless signal received from an external device at the wireless interface.
A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus checking whether the elapsed time has reached a pre-lock time limit which is less than the lock time limit, and if the pre-lock time limit has been reached but the lock time limit has not been reached, generating an alert for notifying a user of an impending transition to the locked state.
A method according to any previous claim, wherein adding the current time to an elapsed time stored in the time counter memory involves storing an error-detecting code in the time counter memory for detecting subsequent corruption of the stored elapsed time.
A method according to claim 6, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus is configured to transition the aerosol generating apparatus between an unlocked state and a locked state, wherein when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the unlocked state it can be used to generate an aerosol, and when the aerosol generating apparatus is in the locked state it cannot be used to generate an aerosol; and
wherein the method further comprises transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the unlocked state to the locked state responsive to determining that the stored elapsed time has been corrupted.
A method according to claim 7, further comprising the aerosol generating apparatus corrupting the time counter memory upon receipt of a locking signal.
A method according to claim 8, wherein the locking signal is received from a user carrying out a predetermined action using the aerosol generating apparatus.
A method according to any one of claims 2 to 9, further comprising storing a status indicator in a non-volatile memory, wherein the status indicator shows whether the aerosol generating apparatus is in a locked state or an unlocked state.
A method according to any previous claim, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus further comprises a volatile memory for storing run-time generated data when the apparatus is in its operational state; and
wherein transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to the operational state includes initialising the volatile memory.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the wake-up command for transitioning the aerosol generating apparatus from the sleep state to an operational state is generated responsive to detecting a puff request.
A method according to any preceding claim, further comprising transitioning from the operational state to the sleep state following a predetermined period of inactivity.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the time counter memory is a battery-backed static random-access memory, SRAM.
A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the time counter is a 64-bit time counter.
An aerosol generating apparatus comprising:
a time counter,

a time counter memory;

a microcontroller; and

a hardware component configured to be controlled by the microcontroller;

wherein the microcontroller is configured to perform a method according to any previous claim.
An aerosol generating system comprising:
an aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claim 16, wherein the aerosol generating apparatus has a wireless interface for receiving wireless signals from an external device; and

the external device.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by an aerosol generating apparatus, cause the aerosol generating apparatus to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.