Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision system with a user input element, and a method of operating such an aerosol provision system.
• Aerosol provision systems such as e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems that deliver nicotine via vaporisation of an aerosolisable substrate material, which may be liquid, gel, tobacco leaf or a combination, are in some cases of a simple design with no user input element or user operable controls. Designs of this type typically include an internal sensor (“puff detector”) that can detect air flow or air pressure changes within the system that arise when a user inhales on the system. Detection of an inhalation causes operation of a vaporiser, such as a heating element for vaporising the aerosolisable substrate material, so that vapour is generated and entrained within the flowing air to create an aerosol that is delivered to the user for inhalation.
• a vaporiser such as a heating element for vaporising the aerosolisable substrate material
• a user input element can provide simple on or off operation if the user input element is configured merely to allow the user to turn the vaporiser on when aerosol is required during an inhalation, and to turn the vaporiser off at other times.
• a user input element can provide the user with a wider range of operating options, for increased flexibility and customisation and an improved user experience. For example, the selection of different operating powers for the vaporiser, or locking of the aerosol provision system into an off mode or off state for enhanced safety, may be made available.
• an aerosol provision system comprising: a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol provision system to generate aerosol; and a user input element configured to deliver control signals to the controller responsive to user inputs, wherein the user input element is movable between a first position and a second position, and configured such that: when the user input element is in the first position: the user input element is operable for switching the aerosol provision system between an on mode allowing operation of the aerosol provision system and an off mode preventing operation of the aerosol provision system; and if the user input element is moved from the first position to the second position when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, the aerosol provision system is locked in the on mode, and/or if the user input element is moved from the first position to the second position when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode, the aerosol provision system is locked in the off mode.
• a method of operating an aerosol provision system comprising: receiving control signals from a user input element of the aerosol provision system, the user input element being movable between a first position and a second position and configured to deliver control signals in response to user inputs; switching the aerosol provision system between an on mode allowing operation of the aerosol provision system and an off mode preventing operation of the aerosol provision system, in response to corresponding control signals received from the user input unit when it is in the first position; and locking the aerosol provision system in the on mode if the user input unit is moved from the first position to the second position when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, and/or locking the aerosol provision system in the off mode if the user input unit is moved from the first position to the second position when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode.
• the present disclosure relates to electronic aerosol or vapour provision systems, such as e-cigarettes.
• e-cigarette and “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used; however, it will be appreciated these terms may be used interchangeably with aerosol (vapour) provision system or device.
• the systems are intended to generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporisation of an aerosol-forming substrate in the form of a liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine.
• hybrid systems may comprise a liquid or gel substrate plus a solid substrate which is also heated.
• the solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
• aerosol may be used interchangeably with "vapour”.
• the term "component” is used to refer to a part, section, unit, module, assembly or similar of an electronic cigarette or similar device that incorporates several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an exterior housing or wall.
• An electronic cigarette may be formed or built from one or more such components, and the components may be removably or separably connectable to one another, or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the whole electronic cigarette.
• the present disclosure is applicable to systems comprising (at least) two components separably connectable to one another and configured, for example, as an aerosolisable substrate material carrying component holding liquid or another aerosolisable substrate material (a cartridge, cartomiser or consumable), and a control unit or device component having a battery for providing electrical power to operate a vaporiser or vaporising element for generating vapour from the substrate material.
• a cartridge or cartomiser carrier component or consumable
• a cartridge or cartomiser is described as an example of the aerosolisable substrate material carrying portion or component, but the disclosure is not limited in this regard and is applicable to any configuration of aerosolisable substrate material carrying portion or component.
• Such a component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples. This is true also of the device component.
• the present disclosure is also applicable to unitary systems, in which all parts are comprised within a single housing, or in which two or more components are permanently joined together after manufacture with the intention that the user does not separate them.
• the present disclosure is particularly but not exclusively relevant to aerosol provision systems and components thereof that utilise aerosolisable substrate material in the form of a liquid or a gel which is held in a reservoir, tank, container or other receptacle comprised in the system.
• an arrangement for delivering the substrate material from the reservoir for the purpose of providing it for vapour / aerosol generation is included.
• the terms "liquid”, “gel”, “fluid”, “source liquid”, “source gel”, “source fluid” and the like may be used interchangeably with “aerosolisable substrate material” and “substrate material” to refer to aerosolisable substrate material that has a form capable of being stored and delivered in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.
• the disclosure is not limited in this way, and is also relevant to aerosol provision systems that utilise aerosolisable substrate material in the form of solid tobacco, which is heated to drive off vapour for aerosol formation.
• aerosol provision systems that utilise aerosolisable substrate material in the form of solid tobacco, which is heated to drive off vapour for aerosol formation.
• Such systems are sometimes referred to as heat-not-burn systems or tobacco heated products.
• FIG. 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of a generic example aerosol/vapour provision system such as an e-cigarette 10, presented for the purpose of showing the relationship between the various parts of a typical system and explaining the general principles of operation.
• the e-cigarette 10 has a generally elongate shape in this example, extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dashed line, and comprises two main components, namely a control or power component, section or unit (device component) 20, and a cartridge component, assembly or section 30 (sometimes referred to as a cartomiser or clearomiser, or a pod) carrying aerosolisable substrate material and operating as a vapour-generating component.
• the cartridge component 30 includes a reservoir 3 containing a source liquid or other aerosolisable substrate material comprising a formulation such as liquid or gel from which an aerosol is to be generated, for example containing nicotine.
• the source liquid may comprise around 1% to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerol, with the remainder comprising roughly equal measures of water and propylene glycol, and possibly also comprising other components, such as flavourings. Nicotine-free source liquid may also be used, such as to deliver flavouring.
• a solid substrate (not illustrated), such as a portion of tobacco or other flavour element through which vapour generated from the liquid is passed, or a cavity for receiving a solid substrate, may also be included, or included in place of the reservoir 3.
• the reservoir 3 has the form of a storage tank, being a container or receptacle in which source liquid can be stored such that the liquid is free to move and flow within the confines of the tank.
• the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture so as to be disposable after the source liquid is consumed, otherwise, it may have an inlet port or other opening through which new source liquid can be added by the user.
• the cartridge component 30 also comprises a vaporiser such as an electrically powered heating element or heater 4 located externally of the reservoir tank 3 for generating the aerosol by vaporisation of the source liquid by heating.
• source liquid may be generated by an alternative powered means such as a vibrating mesh.
• a liquid transfer or delivery arrangement such as a wick or other porous element 6 may be provided to deliver source liquid from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4 or other vapour generator.
• a wick 6 may have one or more parts located inside the reservoir 3, or otherwise be in fluid communication with the liquid in the reservoir 3, so as to be able to absorb source liquid and transfer it by wicking or capillary action to other parts of the wick 6 that are adjacent or in contact with the heater 4. This liquid is thereby heated and vaporised, to be replaced by new source liquid from the reservoir for transfer to the heater 4 by the wick 6.
• the wick may be thought of as a bridge, path or conduit between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4 that delivers or transfers liquid from the reservoir to the heater. Terms including conduit, liquid conduit, liquid transfer path, liquid delivery path, liquid transfer mechanism or element, and liquid delivery mechanism or element may all be used interchangeably herein to refer to a wick or corresponding component or structure.
• a heater and wick (or similar) combination is sometimes referred to as an atomiser or atomiser assembly 7, and the reservoir 3 with its source liquid plus the atomiser 7 may be collectively referred to as an aerosol source.
• Other terminology may include a liquid delivery assembly or a liquid transfer assembly, where in the present context these terms may be used interchangeably to refer to a vapour-generating element (vapour generator or vaporiser) plus a wicking or similar component or structure (liquid transport element) that delivers or transfers liquid obtained from a reservoir to the vapour generator for vapour / aerosol generation.
• vapour generator or vaporiser vapour generator or vaporiser
• a wicking or similar component or structure liquid transport element
• the wick 6 may be an entirely separate element from the heater 4, or the heater 4 may be configured to be porous and able to perform at least part of the wicking function directly (a conductive mesh, such as a metallic mesh, for example).
• the vapour generating element may be an electrical heating element that operates by ohmic/resistive (Joule) heating or by inductive heating.
• an atomiser can be considered as one or more elements that implement the functionality of a vapour-generating or vaporising element able to generate vapour from source liquid delivered to it, and a liquid transport or delivery element able to deliver or transport liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid store to the vapour generator by a wicking action / capillary force.
• An atomiser is typically housed in a cartridge component of an aerosol generating system.
• liquid may be dispensed from a reservoir directly onto a vapour generator with no need for a distinct wicking or capillary element.
• the cartridge component 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or aerosol outlet through which a user may inhale the aerosol generated by the atomiser 7.
• a mouthpiece may be provided as a separate component which may be permanently or separably connectable to the cartridge component 30.
• the power component or control unit or, simply, device or device component 20 includes a cell or battery 5 (referred to hereinafter as a battery, and which may be rechargeable) to provide power for electrical components of the e-cigarette 10, in particular to operate a vaporiser such as the heater 4. Additionally, there is a controller 28 such as a printed circuit board and/or other electronics or circuitry for generally controlling the e-cigarette.
• the controller 28 operates the heater 4 using power from the battery 5 when vapour is required, for example in response to a signal from an optional air pressure sensor or air flow sensor (“puff detector") 32 that detects an inhalation on the system 10 during which air enters through one or more air inlets 26 in the wall of the device component 20.
• the heating element 4 When the heating element 4 is operated, the heating element 4 vaporises source liquid delivered from the reservoir 3 by the liquid delivery element 6 to generate the aerosol, and this is then inhaled by a user through the opening in the mouthpiece 35.
• the aerosol is carried from the aerosol source to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air flow channels (not shown in Figure 1 ) that connect the air inlet(s) 26 to the aerosol source to the aerosol outlet when a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35.
• the cartridge component 30 Since in this example the air inlets 26 to the system are located in the device component 20, the cartridge component 30 has its own air inlet(s) in air flow communication with the device component 20 so that air drawn in through the device component air inlet(s) 26 can reach the interior of the cartridge component 30, and the atomiser 7.
• air inlets may be located in the outer wall of the cartridge component 30 so that air enters directly into the cartridge component 30 instead of arriving there via the device component 20.
• the device component (control unit) 20 and the cartridge component (cartomiser, consumable) 30 are, in this example, separate connectable parts detachable from and re-attachable to one another by movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the double-headed arrows in Figure 1 .
• Each component 20, 30 has a connecting portion 21, 31 at an end facing towards the corresponding end of the other component, and the components 20, 30 are joined together when the aerosol provision system 10 is ready for use or in use by cooperating engagement elements at the connecting portions 21, 31 (for example, a screw or bayonet fitting, or a push-fit, snap-fit or magnetic connection) which provide mechanical and in some cases electrical connectivity between the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30.
• Electrical connectivity is required if the heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, or where a vibrating mesh vapour generator or other electrically powered vapour generator is used, so that current can be passed through the heater 4 when it is connected to the battery 5.
• electrical connectivity can be omitted if no parts requiring electrical power are located in the cartridge component 30.
• An inductive work coil can be housed in the device component 20 and supplied with power from the battery 5, and the cartridge component 30 and the device component 20 shaped so that when they are connected, there is an appropriate exposure of the heater 4 to flux generated by the coil for the purpose of generating current flow in the material of the heater 4.
• apertures for air flow from the device component 20 to the cartridge component 30 are included at the connecting portions 21, 31 of the two components 20, 30 in designs having one or more air inlets 26 in the outer wall(s) of the device component 21.
• the connecting portions 21, 31 therefore provide an interface between the cartridge component 30 and the device component 20.
• the Figure 1 design is merely an example arrangement, and the various parts and features may be differently distributed between the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30, and other undepicted elements may be included.
• the two components 20, 30 may connect together end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration as in Figure 1 , or in a different configuration such as a parallel, side-by-side arrangement.
• the system may or may not be generally cylindrical and/or have a generally longitudinal shape.
• Either or both components 20, 30 may be intended to be disposed of and replaced when exhausted (the reservoir 3 is empty or the battery 5 is flat, for example), or be intended for multiple uses enabled by actions such as refilling the reservoir 3 and recharging the battery 5.
• the aerosol provision system 10 may be unitary, in that the parts of the device component 20 and the cartridge component 30 are comprised in a single housing and are not intended to be separated by the user. Embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are applicable to any of these configurations and other configurations of which the skilled person will be aware.
• the aerosol provision system 10 includes a user input element 25 by which the user can direct the controller for control of the aerosol provision system for the generation of aerosol.
• the user input element 25 is comprised in the device component 20, but it may alternatively be comprised in the cartridge component 30, or at any convenient location on a unitary system.
• the user input element 25 is an element that is manually operable or actuable by the user, and mounted in or on the outer housing of the system 10 so as to be accessible to the user.
• the user input element 25 responds to appropriate manual interactions (user inputs) by the user to generate and deliver control signals to the controller 28 for operation of the aerosol provision system 10, primarily to enable or cause the generation of aerosol for inhalation by the user, and in some cases to additionally enable the activation or selection of various operational parameters of the aerosol provision system.
• the controller performs appropriate operation of the vaporiser such as turning the power supply from the battery 5 to the vaporiser on and off when aerosol is required, or operating the vaporiser at a particular power level or power profile or for a particular duration.
• a main function of the user input element 25 is to enable the user to switch the aerosol provision system between an on mode and an off mode.
• “on” is not intended to mean that the vaporiser is actively turned on and generating vapour. Rather, the on mode is an operational mode or state of the aerosol provision system in which operation of the aerosol provision system to generate vapour is allowed or enabled.
• actual vapour generation is able to be caused by the controller operating the vaporiser, either in response to detection of an inhalation by a puff detector (if included) or by a specified form of user interaction with the user input element, such as one or more presses if the user input element has the form of a push-button.
• the on mode can be thought of as a "ready to vape" mode or a standby mode, in which the aerosol provision system is able to be operated for vapour generation but is not constantly generating vapour.
• the aerosol provision system is in the off mode, operation of the aerosol provision system is prevented.
• the controller is configured to not operate the vaporiser in response to a detected inhalation or the specified user interaction with the user input element so that the vaporiser does not operate and cannot be operated in the off mode.
• the off mode can be used to disable the aerosol provision system if the user does not intend to use it for a prolonged period, or for safety reasons so that vapour generation cannot be accidentally or inadvertently activated.
• the off mode can be thought of as a "no vape" mode or a sleep mode, in which the aerosol provision system is inoperable for vapour generation and does not respond to the inputs or signals used to cause vapour generation in the on mode.
• the user input element, and/or the response of the controller to the control signals from the user input element is configured such that a particular specified user interaction, different from other user interactions to which the controller is configured to respond, is required to operate the user input element in order to produce switching of the aerosol provision system between the on mode and the off mode.
• This can be useful to prevent inadvertent switching from the on mode to the off mode if the user is merely holding the aerosol provision system or inattentively playing with the user input element, and as an increased safety feature that can prevent accidentally switching from the off mode to the on mode while the aerosol provision system is in a pocket or by an unauthorised user.
• the specified user interaction to operate the user input element for switching between the on mode and the off mode may comprise a predetermined sequence of at least two actions.
• the sequence may comprise two or more presses of the button in a particular pattern with specified duration and period, such a plurality of short and briefly spaced presses, or a few long presses, or a combination of one or more short presses and one or more long presses. Only when the controller receives the control signal corresponding to the specified user interaction is the aerosol provision system switched from its current mode (on mode or off mode) to the other mode (off mode or on mode).
• the on mode in addition to allowing operation of the aerosol provision system for vapour generation, can also comprise or have associated with it a supplementary function relating to the operation of the aerosol provision system.
• the supplementary function supplements or modifies the on mode beyond the basic function of aerosol generation being allowed, to provide an additional feature or features or enable more complex operation of the aerosol provision system.
• a supplementary function is a "time out" function.
• the controller when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, the controller is configured to automatically switch the aerosol provision system into the off mode if the aerosol provision system is not operated by the user to generate aerosol for a predetermined period of time.
• the aerosol provision system automatically switches itself off when it has not been used for a (relatively) extended time period. This can be useful for a user who prefers to keep the aerosol provision system in the off mode when not wanting to vape, but may sometimes forget to switch to the off mode or does not want to have to actively switch to the off mode after every use.
• the off mode effectively becomes the default mode when the aerosol provision system is not being regularly used, or is left unattended for some time.
• the time period after the last operation for aerosol generation (measured from the start or end of the last inhalation, or the start or end of the last provision of power to the vaporiser, for example), at the expiry of which the off mode is selected, can be pre-set in the controller during manufacture of the aerosol provision system, or the aerosol provision system may be configured to allow the user to set their own time period according to preference.
• a short time period of 2 minutes, 3 minutes or 5 minutes might be useful for particularly safety-conscious usage of the aerosol provision system, or a longer period of 10 minutes, 15 minutes or 30 minutes might be useful to provide a safety back-up for a user who uses the aerosol provision system regularly and wishes to retain the on mode most of the time.
• Other time periods are not excluded however.
• an indicator function This is a function that provides some form of indication of the user to notify the user about usage of, or a state of, the aerosol provision system, in other words about past or current operation of the aerosol provision system.
• the aerosol provision system is provided with one or more indicators which are perceptible to the user and which are controlled by the controller and operated in response to a particular circumstance or occurrence.
• the indication may be provided visually by a visual indicator, for example by operation of one or more lights such as light emitting diodes which are set into or on the outer housing of the aerosol provision system, or by operation of a small display screen (such as a liquid crystal display) on the outer housing.
• the indication may be provided aurally by a sound indicator, for example by operation of an audio signal generator to emit beeps or other tones or to play a tune.
• the indication may be provided tactilely by a haptic indicator, for example by operation of an ultrasound emitter or other vibrating element within the housing of the aerosol provision system to deliver a haptic sensation.
• the supplementary function may provide an indication for any operational state or metric of the aerosol provision system that is deemed useful.
• a simple arrangement may be to provide an indication of the current mode (on or off) when the user switches between modes, or to indicate when the vaporiser is being operated for aerosol generation, or when the battery is becoming or has become flat, or when the reservoir is becoming or has become empty.
• the user is made aware of the current operational state of the aerosol provision system, or when a service action such as recharging or refilling or cartridge replacement is needed.
• More complex arrangements may relate to the amount of operation of the aerosol provision system which is being implemented. This can be useful for a user who wishes to keep track of their aerosol consumption.
• the indication may be provided such that the indicator is operated when a predetermined number of inhalations has been taken on the aerosol provision system, such as after every Nth inhalation.
• N might be 10 or a similar number considered to represent a typical vaping session.
• the value of N might be pre-set in the controller during manufacture of the aerosol provision system, or the aerosol provision system may be configured to allow the user to select a value for N.
• the indication may be provided such that the indicator is operated after a predetermined accumulated operational time of the vaporiser, such as after each M seconds of vaporiser operation.
• M might be 30 seconds, for example, corresponding to a vaping session of 10 inhalations of 3 seconds each, but independent of the individual durations of each inhalation.
• the value of M might be pre-set in the controller during manufacture of the aerosol provision system, or the aerosol provision system may be configured to allow the user to select a value for M.
• supplementary functions may be a functionality to allow the user to change or select the power level provided from the battery to the vaporiser during an inhalation, or to change or select a time-varying profile of the power level during a puff.
• Other examples by which the on mode can be supplemented, modified or extended will be apparent to the skilled person, and are not excluded, since the present disclosure relates to handling or management of a supplementary function rather than to the form of the functionality provided by the supplementary function.
• Supplementary functions such as those described above and others may be desirable features of an aerosol provision systems for some users.
• a time out function may be useful to a user who lives with minors and wishes to safeguard them from accidental operation of the aerosol provision device.
• a user who uses their aerosol provision system very frequently and has no requirement to avoid accidental usage may find a time out function to interfere too much with their vaping habits if they often need to perform the specified user interaction on the user input element to revert to the on mode after the time out function has engaged the off mode.
• visual, aural or haptic indications may provide useful information for some users, but may be considered intrusive or an undesirable drain on battery life in other circumstances.
• an aerosol provision system be provided with a supplementary function of an on mode, and additionally that the supplementary function is able to be readily enabled or disabled as required by the user.
• the user can choose between running the on mode with the supplementary function and without the supplementary function. It is proposed that this be implemented via a format or configuration of the user input element that provides straightforward engagement or disengagement of a supplementary function via a different user action than the user inputs used to operate the aerosol provision for aerosol generation.
• the user input element which as explained above is configured for user inputs in the form of manual actions or actuations and in response to deliver control signals to the controller for aerosol generation via operation of the vaporiser, is additionally configured so as to movable between two positions relative to the housing of the aerosol provision system, which we may call a first position and a second position.
• the user input element When the user input element is in its first position, it is operable for switching the aerosol provision system between the on mode and off mode described above, optionally via a specified user interaction allocated for this switching, which optionally comprises a predetermined sequence at least two actions, also as described above.
• aerosol generation is allowed by operation of the vaporiser, as noted; this may be actioned by user inputs to the user input elements (such as a press if the user input is a push button) or by detection of an inhalation if a puff detector is included.
• the aerosol provision system is in the off mode, operation for aerosol generation is prevented, also as noted.
• the aerosol provision system is in the on mode and the user input element is in the first position, the supplementary function of the on mode is enabled. Examples of possible supplementary modes are given above.
• the supplementary function of the on mode is disabled. Accordingly, the user can choose whether the aerosol provision system should run the supplementary function, and implement their selection simply by moving the user input element from the first position to the second position to disable or disengage the supplementary function, or moving the user input element from the second position to the first position to enable or engage the supplementary function. Hence, if the user input element is in the first position and the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, the supplementary function operates or is available.
• the supplementary function does not operate or is not available, and the on mode allows standard operation of the aerosol provision system to generate aerosol (via a puff detector or user inputs at the user input element, as described).
• the two positions of the user input element can be used simply to allow the supplementary function to be enabled and disabled, and otherwise the user input element can be operated in the same way in both the first position and the second position.
• the user input element in both the first position and the second position, can be operated to switch the aerosol provision system between the on mode and the off mode.
• the different positions of the user input element thereby provide a clear visual indication to the user about whether the supplementary function is running or not running, and otherwise the operation of the aerosol provision is the same.
• the first and second positions of the user input element can be used to enable a lock function, by which the aerosol provision system can be locked into the on mode or locked into the off mode.
• This can be implemented by configuring the user input element such that when the user input element is in the first position and the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, movement of the user input element to the second position locks the aerosol provision system into the on mode, in addition to disabling the supplementary function.
• movement of the user input element to the second position locks the aerosol provision system into the off mode.
• the aerosol provision system can be locked into the currently selected mode by moving the user input element to the second position.
• the lock can be implemented electronically, such that the user input element does not deliver a control signal to the controller in response to the specified user action for switching between modes, or the controller is configured to ignore or not respond to a control signal from the user input element delivered in response to input of the specified user action.
• the locking ability can be provided for just one of the on mode or the off mode.
• the aerosol provision system may be configured such that when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode and the user input element is moved to the second position, the on mode is locked, but when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode and the user input element is moved to the second position, no locking occurs and it is possible to switch from the off mode to the on mode.
• the aerosol provision system may be configured such that when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode and the user input element is moved to the second position, the off mode is locked, but when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode and the user input element is moved to the second position, no locking occurs and it is possible to switch from the on mode to the off mode.
• the two positions of the user input element can be utilised for locking the aerosol provision system into the current mode selected in the first position, without disablement of the supplementary function, so that the supplementary function remains in action in the on mode if the user input element is placed in the second position while the on mode is selected.
• the lock functionality can be provided in the described manner in aerosol provision systems that do not have a supplementary function.
• step S5'a If this is done when the on mode is selected, the aerosol provision system is locked into the on mode, and the supplementary function is disabled, in step S5'a. If step S4' is performed when the off mode is selected, the aerosol provision system is locked into the off mode, in step S5'b. In the next step S6', the user input element is returned to its first position. If this is done when the on mode is locked, the on mode is retained and the supplementary function is re-enabled, in step S7'a. If step S6' is performed when the off mode is locked, the off mode is retained, in step S7'b. Movement back to the first position also unlocks the current aerosol provision system mode, so that in step S8' it is again possible to switch between the on mode and the off mode.
• FIG 3 shows a flow chart of steps in a method for using or operating an aerosol provision according to a second example, in which the two positions of the user input unit are used for the supplementary function of the on mode.
• the aerosol provision system has its user input element in the first position. This allows switching between the on mode and the off mode by appropriate operation of the user input element, in step S2". Accordingly, either the on mode is selected, together with enablement of the supplementary function, in step S3"a, or the off mode is selected in step S3"b.
• step S4 the user input element can be moved to the second position if desired.
• step S5a If this is done when the on mode is selected, the aerosol provision system remains in the on mode, and the supplementary function is disabled, in step S5"a. If step S4" is performed when the off mode is selected, the aerosol provision system remains in the off mode, in step S5"b. In this example, there is no locking of the mode in the second position of the user element, so it is possible, in the next step S6", to switch between the on mode and off mode if desired. In the next step S7", the user input element is returned to its first position. If this is done when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, the on mode is retained and the supplementary function is re-enabled, in step S8"a. If step S7" is performed when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode, the off mode is retained, in step S8"b. In step S9" it is again possible to switch between the on mode and the off mode if desired.
• FIG 4 shows a flow chart of steps in a method for using or operating an aerosol provision according to a third example, in which the two positions of the user input unit are used for locking of the aerosol provision system mode.
• the aerosol provision system has its user input element in the first position. This allows switching between the on mode and the off mode by appropriate operation of the user input element, in step S2′′′. Accordingly, either the on mode is selected in step S3′′′a, or the off mode is selected in step S3"b.
• step S4′′′ the user input element can be moved to the second position if desired. If this is done when the on mode is selected, the aerosol provision system is locked into the on mode, in step S5′′′a.
• step S4′′′ is performed when the off mode is selected, the aerosol provision system is locked into the off mode, in step S5′′′b.
• step S6′′′ the user input element is returned to its first position. If this is done when the aerosol provision system is in the on mode, the on mode is unlocked, in step S7′′′a. If step S6′′′ is performed when the aerosol provision system is in the off mode, the off mode is unlocked, in step S7′′′b. In step S8′′′ it is again possible to switch between the on mode and the off mode if desired.
• the user input element may be implemented according to a variety of configurations that allow the above functionality to be provided. Some examples are now given, but the disclosure is not limited in this way, and other implementations of the user input element that provide the same functionality may be used, as will be apparent to the skilled person. Examples of a suitable user input element include a slidable push button, a rotatable push button, and a graphical representation on a touch sensitive display.
• FIG. 5A shows a simplified schematic representation in plan view of part of an aerosol provision system having a first example of a user input element.
• the user input element 25 comprises a button or similar actuable mechanical element 42 which is mounted on a housing 40 of the aerosol provision system 10 so as to be movable by pushing or pressing in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the housing 40 (into the plane of the page as depicted), and also movable by linear sliding along a direction which is parallel to the plane of the housing 40 (and orthogonal to the direction of the pressing action), indicated by the arrow M.
• the sliding might be facilitated by mounting the button 42 within a slot 43 in the housing 40, for example.
• the sliding action allows the button 42 to be moved from a first position 42a to a second position 42b, and also in the opposite direction to return the button 42 to the first position 42a, as desired by the user when the on mode or off mode is required to be locked or unlocked, and/or the supplementary function is required to be enabled or disabled, as described above.
• the pressing action of the button 42 is used to switch between the on mode and the off mode at least when the button 42 is in the first position 42a, by execution by the user of one or more presses corresponding to the specified user action defined for switching, as described above.
• Figure 5B shows a simplified schematic representation of a side view of the user input element of Figure 5A , showing an example configuration for enabling the pressing action of the button 42 to deliver control signals to the controller responsive to user inputs, which in this example are presses of the button 42.
• the controller 28 has an associated electrical circuit 50 for receiving control signals from the button 42.
• the button 42 is configured to send a control signal in response to a pressing action by the user (user input) in both the first position 42a and the second position 42b.
• This can be used in arrangements where operation of the vaporiser to vaporise liquid from the reservoir of the aerosol provision system in the on mode is controlled manually by the user when aerosol is required, rather than in response to inhalation detection by a puff detector, for example.
• the circuit 50 is open and has a pair of contacts 51a, 51b which can be connected to close the circuit by a switch 52 which is brought into connection with the contacts 51a, 51b by downward (in the depicted orientation) movement, that is pressing, of the button 42.
• the button 42 may have a protrusion 53 on its lower side (opposite the exposed outward facing surface which is pressed upon by the user) which engages with the switch 52 when the button is pressed, and pushes the switch into a closed position against the contacts 51a, 51b, thereby closing the circuit 50.
• the controller 28 can detect closure of the circuit 50 and thereby determine that a user input has been made at the user input element, in other words the controller 28 receives a control signal from the user input element in response to a user input.
• the switch 52 is shaped, sized and located such it can be engaged by the button 42 (via the protrusion 53 in this example) in both the first position 42a and the second position 42b, and the button 42 is structured and mounted such that movement P orthogonal to the sliding direction M is possible when the button 42 is pressed in either position.
• the button 42 has a return mechanism (not shown) such as spring mounting to return it to its undepressed position after a press from the user, in order to remove the pushing against the switch 52 and allow the circuit 50 to open; the control signal delivered to the controller 28 thereby ceases.
• circuitry able to detect a pressing or pushing operation or actuation of the button 42 so that the controller receives control signals in response to user inputs can be implemented in other ways.
• it may not be necessary to deliver control signals when the button 42 is in the second position for example in aerosol provision systems which are configured such that the on or off mode is locked in the second position so that there is no requirement to allow the specified user interaction for switching between modes to be able to be input in the second position, and also configured with a puff detector for activating the vaporiser so that there is no requirement for manual user input to activate the vaporiser.
• the switch 52 in the circuit 50 can be configured for engagement with the pressed button 42 only when the button is in the first position.
• the user input element comprises an electrical switch that is activated when the user input element is pressed, where the activation is closure of the circuit so as allow current to flow and provide a control signal to the controller in response to the user input of pressing.
• Figure 5C shows a simplified schematic representation of the user input element of Figure 5A , showing an example configuration for enabling the controller 28 to determine the position of the user input element in the form of the button 42.
• the controller 28 needs to be able to ascertain when the user input element is in the first position and when it is in the second position, so that the controller 28 can enable/disable the supplementary function, and lock/unlock the current mode in accordance to the position of the user input element.
• a sensing or detecting arrangement is provided in conjunction with the user input element in order to enable the controller to determine the position of the user input element.
• the user input element comprise a sensor configured to detect the position of the user input element and deliver control signals to the controller indicating whether the user input element is in the first position or the second position.
• the sensing be performed electronically.
• a first sensing circuit 60a is provided, connected to the controller 28.
• the first sensing circuit 60a has a pair of contacts 61a which are spaced apart so that the first sensing circuit 60a is open.
• the button 42 is provided with a further contact 62 that is physically mounted on the button, such as conductive protrusion. When the button 42 is in the first position 42a, the further contact 62 is located to connect with the pair of contacts 61a and close the first sensing circuit 60a.
• a second sensing circuit 60b also has a pair of contacts 61b, spaced apart to give an open circuit when the button 42 is in the first position, and which are contacted by the further contact 62 when the button 42 is in the second positon 42.
• the second sensing circuit 60b is thereby closed, and the controller 28 can detect that the button is in the second position.
• the first sensing circuit 60a is then open.
• the controller 28 is able to determine which of the first position 42a and the second position 42b the button 42 is in, by detecting which of the first sensing circuit 60a and the second sensing circuit 60b is closed.
• Non-circuit based sensor configurations might also be used, such as optical detectors, which may for example be embodied such that the user input element blocks light transmission to one of a pair of detectors associated with the first and second positions according to whether it is in the first position or the second position.
• the controller can interrogate the optical detectors and determine the position of the user input element from which detector is receiving light and which is not.
• FIG. 6A shows a simplified schematic representation in plan view of part of an aerosol provision system having a second example of a user input element.
• the user input element 25 again comprises a button or similar actuable element 42 which is mounted on a housing 40 of the aerosol provision system 10 so as to be movable by pushing or pressing in a direction which is substantially orthogonal to the plane of the housing 40 (into the plane of the page as depicted).
• This example differs from the previous example in that the button 42 is additionally movable by a rotational movement about an axis parallel to the direction of the pressing action, indicated by the arrow M.
• the button 42 can therefore have the form of a rotatable dial.
• the rotation might be facilitated by mounting the button 42 on a spindle that passes through an opening in the housing 40, for example.
• the rotational action allows the button 42 to be moved from a first position 42a to a second position 42b, and also in the opposite direction to return the button 42 to the first position 42a, as desired by the user when the on mode or off mode is required to be locked or unlocked, and/or the supplementary function is required to be enabled or disabled, as described above.
• the button 42 may be provided with a marking on its surface that can be rotated into alignment with markings on the housing 40 to indicate whether the button 42 is in the first position 42a or the second position 42b.
• the pressing action of the button 42 is used to switch between the on mode and the off mode at least when the button 42 is in the first position 42a, by execution by the user of one or more presses corresponding to the specified user action defined for switching, as described above.
• Figure 6B shows a simplified schematic representation of a side view of the user input element of Figure 6A , showing an example configuration for enabling the pressing action of the button 42 to deliver control signals to the controller responsive to user inputs, which in this example are presses of the button 42.
• the controller 28 has an associated electrical circuit 50 for receiving control signals from the button 42.
• the circuit 50 is open and has a pair of contacts 51a, 51b which can be connected to close the circuit by a switch 52 which is brought into connection with the contacts 51a, 51b by downward (in the depicted orientation) movement, that is pressing, of the button 42.
• the button 42 may have a protrusion 53 on its lower side (opposite the exposed outward facing surface which is pressed upon by the user) which engages with the switch 52 when the button is pressed, and pushes the switch into a closed position against the contacts 51a, 51b, thereby closing the circuit 50.
• the protrusion 53 may also be the spindle or axel on which the button 42 is mounted for the rotatable movement, for example.
• the controller 28 can detect closure of the circuit 50 and thereby determine that a user input has been made at the user input element, in other words the controller 28 receives a control signal from the user input element in response to a user input.
• the button 42 has a return mechanism (not shown) such as spring mounting to return it to its undepressed position after a press from the user, in order to remove the pushing against the switch 52 and allow the circuit 50 to open; the control signal delivered to the controller 28 thereby ceases. Since in this example the button 42 occupies the same location in the first position and the second position, pressing of the button 42 can close the circuit 50 in both the first position and the second position; downward motion of the button 42 can push the switch 52 closed in both positions.
• a return mechanism such as spring mounting to return it to its undepressed position after a press from the user, in order to remove the pushing against the switch 52 and allow the circuit 50 to open; the control signal delivered to the controller 28 thereby ceases. Since in this example the button 42 occupies the same location in the first position and the second position, pressing of the button 42 can close the circuit 50 in both the first position and the second position; downward motion of the button 42 can push the switch 52 closed in both positions.
• the controller may be programmed to ignore any user inputs from the button that are delivered when the button is in the second position.
• a physical barrier or block may be provided that is brought into alignment in the second position that prevents pressing of the button so that user inputs by the user are prevented when the button is in the second position.
• Figure 6C shows a simplified schematic representation of the user input element of Figure 6A , showing an example configuration for enabling the controller 28 to determine the position of the user input element in the form of the button 42.
• This configuration is similar to that of Figure 5C , in that the sensing is performed electronically, by way of a first sensing circuit 60a and a second sensing circuit 60b, each connected to the controller 28 and each having a pair of contacts 61a, 61b which are spaced apart to provide open circuits.
• the button 42 is again provided with a further contact 62 that is physically mounted on the button, such as conductive protrusion.
• the further contact 62 When the button 42 is in the first position 42a, the further contact 62 is located to connect with the pair of contacts 61a in the first sensing circuit 60a and close the first sensing circuit 60a, and when the button 42 is in the second position 42b, the further contact is located to connect with the pair of contacts 61 b in the second sensing circuit 60b and close the second sensing circuit 60b.
• Current can thereby flow in either the first sensing circuit 60a or the second sensing circuit 60b, which is detected by the controller 28 and allows the controller 28 to determine which of the first position 42a and the second position 42b that the button 42 is in.
• a simpler configuration may alternatively by used, comprising just one sensing circuit associated with one of the first position 42a and the second position 42b.
• other electrical configurations with switches and similar items that can sense or detect the user input element position will be apparent to the skilled person, and the disclosure is not limited to the above example, and non-circuit based sensor configurations might also be used, such as optical detectors.
• user input elements may also be implemented, which allow the movement of the user input element between two positions, in a first position of which (at least) the user input element can additionally be manipulated to enter user inputs for delivery to the controller (which may or may not be a pressable button as described above), and for which the controller is configured to discriminate between the two positions. Suitable designs for this will be apparent to the skilled person, and the disclosure is therefore not limited to the specific examples given above.
• the user input element may be configured as a graphical representation on a touch sensitive display provided on the housing of the aerosol provision system.
• FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of an example user input element configured as a graphical representation, or graphical user interface (GUI).
• the aerosol provision system 10 has a touch sensitive display panel 65 mounted on its housing 40.
• the touch sensitive display panel 65 is configured to be detect and respond to the touch of a user's finger, and may be configured as a capacitive touch screen, for example.
• the touch sensitive display panel 65 is also configured to, under control from the controller, display a user input element 25 as a graphical representation.
• the user input element 25 has a similar appearance to the slidable button of the Figures 5A-5C example, and is represented similarly to a conventional toggle button on a computer graphical user interface.
• the user input element 25 comprises a representation of a button element 42 within an elongate border so as to indicate to the user familiar with GUI toggle buttons that the button element 42 may be moved between a first position 42a at one end of the elongate border and a second position 42b at the other end of the elongate border.
• the user touches the button element 42 and drags it along the length of the elongate border.
• a dragging or sliding touch on the button element 42 allows the user to move the user input element between the first position 42a and the second position 42b, replicating the mechanical action of sliding a button in the Figures 5A-5C example.
• the touch sensitive display panel sends signals to the controller indicating the position of the touch on the screen and the controller determines that the user input element is in either the first position 42a or the second position 42b.
• the controller is configured to recognise a touch by the user in a stationary location, so that the user can tap or touch and hold the button element 42 on the screen to replicate presses of a mechanical button, including presses of different duration if this is supported within the user inputs recognised by the controller.
• the button element is the first position, the user can tap or touch the button element in the specified user interaction for switching the aerosol provision system between the on mode and the off mode, in the same way as operating a mechanical user input element.
• the touch screen and controller may be configured to detect and receive user inputs on the button element for operating the vaporiser, where a puff detector is not utilised for this purpose.
• user input element is implemented as a graphical representation on a touch sensitive display, which is configured to be moved between a first position and a second position by a touch and drag action by the user, and configured to be operated by a tapping, pressing or touching action to receive user inputs.
• the touch sensitive screen detects and recognises these actions and send appropriate control signals to the controller, in response to which the controller can switch the aerosol provision system between the on mode and the off mode, lock and unlock the current mode, enable and disable the supplementary function of the on mode, and/or operate the vaporiser for aerosol generation, depending on the particular configuration of the aerosol provision system.
• Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein.
• the disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=90053994

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (2)

• 2024
  • 2024-02-22 EP EP24159239.3A patent/EP4606244A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-02-21 WO PCT/EP2025/054820 patent/WO2025176891A1/en active Pending

Patent Citations (2)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events