EP4635309A1

EP4635309A1 - Detection of a dry puff by addition of an imiscible substance

Info

Publication number: EP4635309A1
Application number: EP24170245.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juraj LEHOCKY
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2024-04-15
Filing date: 2024-04-15
Publication date: 2025-10-22

Abstract

The invention relates to a consumable for being inserted into an aerosol generating device and to a system comprising the consumable and the aerosol generating device. The consumable comprising an aerosol generating liquid configured to be brought into contact with the heating element. The aerosol generating liquid comprising a first liquid component configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated by a heating element and a second liquid component configured to change an electrical resistance of the heating element when coming into contact with the heating element. The invention also relates to a method for providing an inhalable aerosol to a user by means of a heating element in the consumable and to a method for manufacturing the consumable.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a consumable for being inserted into an aerosol generating device. More specifically the consumable comprising a first liquid component and a second liquid component, wherein the second liquid component s configured to change an electrical resistance of a heating element. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the consumable.

BACKGROUND

An aerosol generation device, or e-cigarette, is now a mainstream product to simulate a traditional tobacco cigarette. There are many types of aerosol generation devices, and the ones which still have tobacco or volatile substrate inside is one of the popular types. There is also another type of e-cigarette, the operation method of which is to evaporate liquid to form an aerosol. Especially the e-cigarette operating with liquid is continuously growing in popularity.
E-cigarettes operating with liquid are usually arranged with a heating element and a liquid container, wherein when the user draws on the mouthpiece, liquid is moved from the liquid container towards the heating element, where the liquid is vaporized. The vaporized liquid can be inhaled by the user until the liquid container is emptied. Once the liquid container is empty, an unpleasant dry puff, i.e., a (hot) puff that does not comprise vaporized liquid or only small amounts of vaporized liquid is generated and inhaled by the user. Since in such systems the liquid container is often not accessible for the user during smoking the device, it may be difficult for the user to identify the remaining amount of liquid in the smoking article and replace the liquid before the container is emptied. Hence, there is a need for a cheap low-level detection to prevent dry puffing. Some manufacturers put an NFC chip in the Pod and measure the number of puffs. However, every puff is different, and it often happens that the Pod must be thrown away even if there is still some liquid in it because the NFC chip has counted the maximum number of puffs but not the amount of E-liquid smoked. In addition, the NFC chip not only adds cost to the Pod, but also to the device, as it needs to be equipped with an NFC reader.
It is therefore a goal of the present invention to provide a system that can facilitate detection of an emptying cartridge and to avoid provision of the unpleasant dry puff to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is defined by the independent claims.
According to an aspect, a consumable for being inserted into an aerosol generating device is provided. The consumable comprising an aerosol generating liquid configured to be brought into contact with a heating element. The aerosol generating liquid comprising a first liquid component configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated by a heating element, and a second liquid component configured to change an electrical resistance of the heating element when coming into contact with the heating element.
With the above normal operation of the aerosol generating device is possible as long as only the first liquid component is in contact with the heating element. Once the second liquid component comes into contact with the heating element, the change in electrical resistance of the heating element may be used to avoid a dry puff. For example, the change in electrical resistance may be determined and based on this determination, the provision of power to the heating element can be stopped.
In a further aspect, according to the above aspect, first liquid component has a first density, and the second liquid component has a second density lower than the first density, and/or wherein the first liquid component has a first electrical resistance and the second liquid component has a second electrical resistance different to the first electrical resistance.
By providing the above densities, the second liquid component comes into contact with the heating element only, when the amount of liquid in the liquid container is low. Accordingly, the normal operation of the aerosol generating device is ended only if the amount of liquid in the liquid container is low. Moreover, providing the second liquid component with a second electrical resistance lower or higher than the first electrical resistance, a change of electrical resistance at the heating element is determined, enabling a detection of a dry puff.
According to a further aspect in the preceding aspect, the first density is between 1,000 and 1,500 kg/m³, preferably between 1,100 and 1,400 kg/m³, more preferably between 1,200 and 1,300 kg/m³ and most preferably between 1,250 kg/m³ and 1,270 kg/m³, and/or the second density is between 700 and 1,000 kg/m³, preferably between 800 and 950 kg/m³, and most preferably between 850 and 900 kg/m³.
The above values have proven to be sufficient to reliably enable the dry puff determination.
According to another aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the first liquid component is configured to not change or change only to an unsignificant amount the electrical resistance of the heating element, preferably, the unsignificant amount is a change of electrical resistance of at most 5%, more preferably of at most 4%, even more preferably of at most 3% and most preferably of at most 1%.
According to yet another aspect, in any one of the preceding aspects, the first liquid component comprises propylene glycol, PG, and glycerol, VG, and/or the second liquid component is preferably immiscible with the first liquid component and preferably comprises a food-grade oil, more preferably a coconut oil or a sunflower oil.
PG and VG are well known ingredients for aerosol generating liquids that have proven to provide an aerosol with good inhaling properties. Providing a second liquid component that is immiscible with the first liquid component ensures that the normal operation of the aerosol generating device is stopped only when the liquid container is about to empty. Oils, such as food-grade oils as coconut oil or sunflower oil generally provide for a lower density than PG/VG and a lower electrical resistance than PG/VG. Accordingly, each of sunflower oil and coconut oil provide for good base materials for the second liquid component.
According to a further aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the first liquid component and the second liquid component are configured to form an inhomogeneous mixture, preferably an emulsion.
An inhomogeneous mixture, such as an emulsion, make sure that the normal operation of the aerosol generating device is stopped only when the liquid container is about to empty.
According to another aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the second liquid component is configured to change the electrical resistance of the heating element by at least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30%, when coming into contact with the heating element.
According to another aspect in the above aspect, the second liquid component is configured to increase the electrical resistance of the heating element by at least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30%, or to decrease the electrical resistance of the heating element by at least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30%, when coming into contact with the heating element.
Experiments have shown that at least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30% facilitate determination of the change in electrical resistance. Thus, standard-grade sensors can be used, and expensive, high-performance sensors can be avoided.
In yet another aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device comprise the heating element, and wherein the heating element is preferably a wick connected to a power supply.
With the above wick heating element, the interface surface with the aerosol generating liquid increases, such that the change in electrical resistance caused by the second liquid component increases. Accordingly, the determination of the dry puff is facilitated/improved.
According to another aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the second liquid component is configured to come into contact with the heating element only when at least 90% and most preferably at least 95% of the first liquid component has been removed from the consumable.
With the above it is made sure that an imminent dry puff is determined only after most of the aerosol generating liquid has been consumed. Accordingly, most of the aerosol generating liquid is consumed and the amount of wasted aerosol generating liquid is reduced.
According to yet another aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device comprises a sensor for performing a measurement of the electrical resistance of the heating element.
With the above sensor it can reliably be determined that the electrical resistance of the electrical heating element has changed, which corresponds to the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid being low. Accordingly, an imminent dry puff can be avoided reliably.
In yet another aspect, according to the preceding aspect, the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device comprises a processor configured to determine an electrical resistance difference of the heating element based on the measured electrical resistance of the heating element, and wherein the processor is configured to stop the heating of the heating element based on the electrical resistance difference.
With the above, the imminent dry puff can be avoided reliably.
In a further aspect, according to the preceding aspect, the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device comprises a light source, preferably an LED, more preferably a colored LED configured to emit a light based on the determined electrical resistance difference, or the processor may be configured to determine that the consumable is a consumable for being heated by the aerosol generating device based on the measured electrical resistance of the heating element.
By providing a light signal based on the above determination, the user of the aerosol generating device can be informed of the low remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid and that a dry puff is imminent. Moreover, by determining that the consumable is for being heated by the aerosol generating device, heating and generating an aerosol from harmful substances can be avoided.
According to a further aspect in any one of the preceding aspects, the second liquid component is configured to provide substantially less aerosol when heated than the first liquid component.
With the above, the user is able to identify that the amount of remaining aerosol generating liquid is low. Moreover, providing at least some aerosol avoids an unpleasant dry puff.
A further aspect relates to an aerosol generating system comprising a consumable according to any of the above aspects, and an aerosol generating device comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the heating element of the consumable.
A further aspect relates to a method for providing an inhalable aerosol to a user by heating by means of a heating element an aerosol generating liquid in a consumable of the above aspects, the method comprising the steps of measuring the electrical resistance of the heating element, determining a difference between the measured electrical resistance of the heating element and a reference electrical resistance of the heating element, and controlling the heating element based on the determined difference.
With the above the heating element can be controlled based on the changed electrical resistance. For example, the heating element can be controlled based on the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid.
In another aspect according to the preceding aspect, the reference electrical resistance is a previous electrical resistance measurement of the heating element.
By comparing the measured electrical resistance with a previously measured electrical resistance, a change in electrical resistance based on the second liquid component coming into contact with the heating element can be determined.
In another aspect, controlling the heating element based on the determined difference comprises shutting off the heating element, preferably by ceasing provision of power to the heating element.
With the above, the heating element can be shut off once the second liquid component comes into contact with the heating element.
In another aspect according the step of controlling the heating element further comprises determining whether the difference between the measured electrical resistance and the reference electrical resistance indicates a change in electrical resistance, preferably an increase of at least 10%, more preferably of at least 20 %, and most preferably of at least 30%, or preferably a decrease of at least 10%, more preferably of at least 20 %, and most preferably of at least 30%, and stopping the heating of the heating element based on the determination that the difference indicates the change in electrical resistance.
At least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30% facilitate determination of the change in electrical resistance. Thus, standard-grade sensors can be used, and expensive, high-performance sensors can be avoided.
Another aspect further comprises determining the filling level of the consumable based on the difference between the measured electrical resistance and the reference resistance; and, preferably, providing an indication to the user indicative of the determined filling level, wherein the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device preferably comprises a light source, preferably an LED, more preferably a colored LED configured to emit a light based on the determined electrical resistance difference.
By providing an indication to the user based on the above determination, the user of the aerosol generating device can be informed of the low remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid and that a dry puff is imminent.
A further aspect relates to a method for manufacturing the consumable according to the above aspects, comprising the steps of providing a liquid container in an upside down position, inserting a second liquid component into the liquid container, subsequently, inserting a first liquid component into the liquid container, the first liquid component being configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated, inserting, into the consumable, a heating element configured to heat the first liquid component and the second liquid component, wherein the second liquid component is configured to change an electrical resistance of the heating element when coming into contact with the heating element, and finalizing the consumable by turning the consumable in an upright position.
By manufacturing the consumable according to the above steps, it is ensured that the first liquid component and the second liquid component are provided in a way that mixture of the two is reduced to a minimum. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a consumable with two liquid components, wherein the first liquid is arranged such that it is or can be brought into contact with the heating element, while the second liquid component will be brought into contact with the heating element only once the remaining amount of liquid is low.
Preferred embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which are now briefly described.

Fig. 1a: shows a casing of a consumable according to an embodiment;
Fig. 1b: shows a consumable according to an embodiment;
Fig. 2a: shows the consumable with a high amount of aerosol generating liquid;
Fig. 2b: shows the consumable with a low amount of aerosol generating liquid;
Fig. 3a: shows a heating element in contact with first liquid component;
Fig. 3b: shows a heating element in contact with second liquid component;
Fig. 4: shows an aerosol generating device;
Fig. 5a: shows insertion of the second liquid component into the consumable;
Fig. 5b: shows insertion of the first liquid component into the consumable;
Fig. 6: shows a flow diagram of a method of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In Fig. 1a, a casing 160 of a consumable 100 for being inserted into an aerosol generating device 200 is shown. The casing 160 comprises a liquid container 161 for inserting an aerosol generating liquid 110. In some examples, the casing 160 comprises a mouthpiece 164 configured to be received by the mouth of a user. The user may draw on the mouthpiece 164 to inhale an inhalable aerosol generated from the consumable 100.
Fig 1.b shows the consumable 100 comprising the casing 160. In this example, the liquid container 161 comprises the aerosol generating liquid 110. In some examples, the consumable 100 comprises a heating element 170 for heating the aerosol generating liquid 110. The heating element 170 is in proximity to or inside the liquid container 161 and configured to be brought into contact with the aerosol generating liquid 110 to heat the aerosol generating liquid 110 to generate an inhalable aerosol. Preferably, the heating element 170 is a wick and coil. Preferably, the electrical resistance of the heating element is at least 0.3 Ohm, more preferably at least 0.35 Ohm, even more preferably at least 0.5 Ohm, even more preferably at least 1 Ohm, and most preferably at least 1.5 Ohm, and/or at most 3.0 Ohm, preferably at most 2.8 Ohm, most preferably at most 2.7 Ohm. However other heating element 170 arrangements are also possible, such as non-limiting examples of an inductive heating element or other types of resistive heating elements such as a blade-type heater. The heating element 170 is configured to receive electrical power from a power source, such as a battery. Preferably, the aerosol generating device 200 comprises the power source. In this case, the consumable 100 and the aerosol generating device 200 comprise a terminal 172. The terminal 172 is configured to enable flow of electrical power from the power source in the aerosol generating device 200 to the heating element 170 in the consumable 100. Preferably, a controller is configured to control the provision of power from the power source to the heating element 170. The controller may be a processor configured to execute code stored on a memory. The controller may be part of the consumable 100 or of the aerosol generating device 200. In other examples, the controller and /or the power source are part of the aerosol generating device 200.
Furthermore, in some examples, the casing 160 comprises one or more sensors. A first sensor may be a sensor for measuring an electrical resistance of the heating element 170. Preferably, the first sensor is configured to determine electrical resistance changes of the heating element in a range between 0.05 to 1.05 Ohm, preferably in a range between 0.1 and 1.0 Ohm, more preferably in a range between 0.3 and 0.8 Ohm and most preferably in a range between 0.5 and 0.7 Ohm. Preferably, the first sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the controller. A second sensor may be a sensor for measuring an inhalation of a user at the consumable 100. Preferably, the second sensor is configured to transmit a signal to the controller. Moreover, the one or more sensors may be connected to the terminal 172 to transmit a signal generated in the consumable 100 from the consumable 100 to the aerosol generating device 200.
In examples where the casing 160 comprises the mouthpiece 164 and the heating element 170, the mouthpiece 164 is preferably allocated at a first end of the casing 162 and the heating element 170 is preferably allocated at a second end of the casing 163, opposite the first end of the casing 162, as shown in the example in Fig. 1b.
In some examples, the consumable 100 is a removable consumable, configured to be inserted into and removed from the aerosol generating device 200. In these examples, the consumable 100 may be a single use consumable without the possibility of refill the aerosol generating liquid 110 in the liquid container 161. In other examples, the consumable 100 may be a refillable consumable, wherein the terminal 172 is configured to receive aerosol generating liquid 110 to refill the aerosol generating liquid 110 in the liquid container 161. In other examples, the consumable 100 comprises the aerosol generating device 200. In examples where the consumable 100 comprises the aerosol generating device 200, the consumable 100 may be a single use consumable without the possibility of refill the aerosol generating liquid 110 in the liquid container 161. In other examples where the consumable 100 comprises the aerosol generating device 200, the consumable 100 may be a refillable consumable with the terminal 172 configured to receive aerosol generating liquid 110 to refill the aerosol generating liquid 110 in the liquid container 161.
The aerosol generating liquid 110 comprises a first liquid component 111 and a second liquid component 112. The first liquid component 111 may comprise propylene glycol, PG, and/or glycerol, VG. The first liquid component 111 is configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated by the heating element 170. That is, once the first liquid component 111 reaches a certain temperature, it turns into an inhalable aerosol from a liquid. The first liquid component 111 has a first density. In an example, the first density is between 1,000 and 1,500 kg/m³, preferably between 1,100 and 1,400 kg/m³, more preferably between 1,200 and 1,300 kg/m³ and most preferably between 1,250 kg/m³ and 1,270 kg/m³. The first liquid component 111 has a first electrical resistance.
Preferably, the aerosol generating liquid 110 consists mostly of the first liquid component 111. For example, the aerosol generating liquid 110 may comprise at least 50 wt.%, preferably at least 60 wt.%, more preferably at least 70 wt.%, even more preferably at least 80 wt.% and most preferably at least 90 wt.% first liquid component 111. In one example, the aerosol generating liquid 110 comprises at least 95 wt.% first liquid component 111. The second liquid component 112 is configured to generate significantly less aerosol when heated compared to the first liquid component 111. For example, the evaporation temperature of the second liquid component 112 may be substantially higher than the evaporation temperature of the first aerosol generating liquid 111. Accordingly, if heated to the certain temperature (at which the first aerosol generating liquid evaporates), the second aerosol generating liquid 112 will generate none or only very little aerosol. Moreover, the second liquid component 112 has a second electrical resistance lower than the first electrical resistance. Preferably, the second liquid component is configured to decrease the electrical resistance of the heating element 170, preferably by at least 10%, preferably at least 15 %, most preferably at least 20%, when coming into contact with the heating element. The medium around the heating element 170 influences the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 by facilitating electrical flow through the surrounding medium. Accordingly, the electrical resistance of the aerosol generating liquid 110 in contact with the heating element 170 changes if the amount of second liquid component 112 in contact with the heating element 170 increases, relative to the amount of second liquid component 112 in contact with the heating element 170. Accordingly, the more second liquid component 112 is in contact with the heating element 170, the higher or lower the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 becomes. In case of a wick and coil heating element 170, electrical resistance of the wick and coil may change if the wick is soaked with second aerosol generating liquid 112, instead of being soaked with first aerosol generating liquid 111.
Moreover, the second liquid component 112 has a second density lower than the first density. For example, the second density is between 700 and 1,000 kg/m³, preferably between 800 and 950 kg/m³, and most preferably between 850 and 900 kg/m³. Preferably, the second liquid component 112 is immiscible with the first liquid component 111 and preferably comprises a food-grade oil, more preferably a coconut oil or a sunflower oil. With this, the first liquid component 111 and the second liquid component 112 form an inhomogeneous mixture, preferably an emulsion.
In examples where the second liquid component 112 has the second density and the first liquid component 111 has the first density, the second liquid component 112 floats on top of the first liquid component 111. Accordingly, as long as the consumable 100 has a relatively high amount of remaining aerosol generating liquid 110, only the first liquid component 111 is in contact with the heating element 170. By generating the aerosol from the first liquid component 111, the amount of first liquid component 111 in the aerosol generating liquid 110 decreases. Since the second liquid component 112 does not generate a substantial amount of aerosol when heated, the amount of second liquid component 112 in the aerosol generating liquid 110 increases relative to the amount of first liquid component 111 in the aerosol generating liquid. Once the amount of first liquid component 111 in the aerosol generating liquid 110 is reduced significantly, the amount of second liquid component 112 in the area (or in contact with) of the heating element 170 increases. Through the reduction of first liquid component 111 in the aerosol generating liquid 110, the overall amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 decreases. Accordingly, when the consumable 100 has a relatively low amount of remaining aerosol generating liquid 110, the first liquid component 111 and (or only) the second liquid component 112 is in contact with the heating element 170. Since the electrical resistance of the second liquid component 112 is lower than the electrical resistance of the first liquid component 111, the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 effectively decreases (as the electrical resistance of the surrounding medium of the heating element 170 influences the electrical resistance of the heating element). Preferably, the electrical resistance is measured periodically.
In the above example, by measuring the electrical resistance of the heating element 170, it is possible to determine the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100. In exemplary measurements, the electrical resistance of exemplary heating elements 170 were in the range between 0.3 and 3.0 Ohm, wherein particular examples had an electrical resistance of or around 0.35 Ohm (Example 1), 1.8 Ohm (Example 2) and 2.6 Ohm (Example 3).
Fig. 3a shows an exemplary heating element 170 in contact with the first liquid component 111. The heating elements 170 in the example shown in Fig 3a is a wick and coil heating element. In this example, the wick of the heating element is soaked with the first liquid component 111. In exemplary measurements, the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 was 2.6 Ohm (which is similar the resistance of the exemplary coil without any aerosol generating liquid 110). In this example, the first liquid component 111 did not significantly change the electrical resistance of the heating element 170. Fig. 3b shows the exemplary heating element 170 in contact with the second liquid component 112. The heating element 170 shown in Fig. 3b is a similar wick and coil heating element as shown in Fig. 3a, wherein instead of being soaked with first liquid component 111, the heating element 170 is soaked with the second liquid component 112. In exemplary measurements, the electrical resistance of the wick soaked with second liquid component 112 was 2.0 Ohm. This means, compared to the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 soaked with fist liquid component 111, the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 soaked with second liquid component 112 decreased by around 0.6 Ohm, or 23%. In other exemplary measurements, the electrical resistance changes were in a range between 0.1 and 1 Ohm, in particular in the range between 0.5 to 0.7 Ohm. This change in resistance was measured by an AD 5933 chip connected to the controller and to the wick of the consumable 100. The AD 5933 chip is a standard chip commonly found in e-cigarette electronics.
In some examples, the second liquid component 112 is configured to come into contact with the heating element only when at least 90% and most preferably at least 95% of the first liquid component 111 has been removed from the consumable 100. This can be achieved by setting a certain ratio between the first and second liquid components and choosing specific substances as first and second liquid components.
In an example, certain changes in the electrical resistance may be associated with certain remaining amounts of aerosol generating liquid 110 (or first liquid component 111, respectively). For example, a x % change in electrical resistance may correspond to a x% decrease in aerosol generating liquid 110 (or first liquid component 111, respectively), and a 2x % change in electrical resistance may correspond to a y% decrease in aerosol generating liquid 110. With this the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 can be determined by determining the change in electrical resistance. Preferably, the consumable 100 and/or the aerosol generating device 200 comprises the controller, wherein the controller is configured to determine the change in electrical resistance of the heating element 170 based on the measured electrical resistance of the heating element 170 and is configured to stop the heating of the heating element 170 based on the determined electrical resistance difference. While the above may be used to determine the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100, the controller may also be configured to determine only when the aerosol generating liquid 110 has been used such that a further puff will not be pleasant for the user. An unpleasant puff is a puff where only a little aerosol is generated due to the absence of sufficient first aerosol generating liquid 111 in the vicinity of the heating element 170. Such a puff is also referred to as a "dry puff'. The fry puff may also have a substantially higher temperature as a "normal", i.e., pleasant puff, which may cause irritation in the throat of the user.
In Fig. 4, the aerosol generating device 200 is shown. In this example, the consumable 100 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200. The aerosol is consumed by the user by drawing on the mouthpiece 164 of the consumable 100. In some examples, the consumable 100 and/or the aerosol generating device 200 comprises a light source 210, preferably an LED, more preferably a colored LED configured to emit a light based on the determined electrical resistance difference. In Fig. 4, the aerosol generating device 200 comprises the light source 210. In this example, the light source 210 is a colored LED. Moreover, the aerosol generating device 200 may comprise a vibrating means connected to the controller. In an example, the vibrating means and the light source 210 are connected to the controller. In this example, the controller may be configured control the LED such that a light is emitted based on a certain amount of detected change in electrical resistance of the heating element 170. For example, a light may be emitted at a determined change of the electrical resistance of around 15%. Such a change of electrical resistance may indicate that a significant portion of the aerosol generating liquid 110 has been used. Moreover, the controller may be configured to make the vibrating means vibrate at a determined change of the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 of around 20%. With this, the user may be notified that a significant amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 has been used in the consumable 100 (through the emitted light) and may be notified once the consumable 100 is fully depleted of aerosol generating liquid 110 (through vibration).
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a method for providing an inhalable aerosol to a user by heating by means of the heating element 17 the aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 110, as shown in Fig. 6. In a first step, the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 is measured S110. Preferably, the electrical resistance of the heating element 170 is measured by the one or more sensors. In a second step, a difference between the measured electrical resistance of the heating element 170 and a reference electrical resistance of the heating element 170 determined (S120). Preferably, the reference electrical resistance of the heating element 170 is stored in a memory connected to the controller. The reference electrical resistance of the heating element 170 may be a resistance value characteristic for the material of the heating element 170 or may be a previous electrical resistance measurement of the heating element 170. The resistance value characteristic for the material of the heating element 170 corresponds to a resistance of the heating element 170 that is measured when no aerosol generating liquid 110 is in contact with the heating element 170 or to a resistance that is measured when substantially only the first aerosol generating liquid 111 is in contact with the heating element 170. The previous electrical resistance measurement corresponds to a resistance that is measured in a previous measurement when the aerosol generating liquid 110 is in contact with the heating element 170. That is, when the first and/or the second aerosol generating liquid is in contact with the heating element 170. Based on the determination of the difference between the measured electrical resistance of the heating element 170 and the reference electrical resistance, in a subsequent step, the heating element 170 is controlled (by the controller) based on the determined difference S130. For example, as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the change in electrical resistance may indicate that the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100 is low. In this case, based on the determination in step S120, in step S140 the controller may shut off the heating element 170, preferably by ceasing provision of power to the heating element 170. However, if it is determined that the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100 is sufficiently high, in step S150, the controller may continue provision of electrical power to the heating element 170. As set forth above, a remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the container 100 is sufficient, if mostly first aerosol generating liquid 111 is in contact with the heating element 170 such that an inhalable puff of aerosol is generated for a user (there is no substantial amount of second aerosol generating liquid 112 in contact with the heating element 170). Once the remaining amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the container 100 is not sufficient, a substantial amount of second aerosol generating liquid 112 is in contact with the heating element 170, such that a complete puff is not generated (as the second aerosol generating liquid 112 generates only little to no aerosol at the certain temperature of the heating element 170). A complete puff is a puff that is to be expected by the user during normal use, i.e., a puff in which a relatively large amount of first aerosol generating liquid 111 is turned into an aerosol. Such a puff is experienced as normal by the user. An incomplete puff is a puff that is experienced as not "normal" by the user. This means, a puff that is experienced as harsh, relatively hot, relatively wet, relatively hard to draw or produces a relatively small amount of aerosol. For example, an incomplete puff may be a puff in which the amount of aerosol is below 60%, preferably below 50%, more preferably below 40% even more preferably below 30%, even more preferably below 20% and most preferably below 10% of the amount of aerosol in a "normal" puff, i.e., in a puff that is generated when mostly/only first aerosol generating liquid 111 is turned into an aerosol. Thus, the incomplete puff may be a puff in which a substantial amount of second aerosol generating liquid 112 is in contact with the heating element 170. When it is determined that the amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100 is sufficient, the method continues with step S110. If it is determined that the amount of aerosol generating liquid 110 in the consumable 100 is not sufficient, the method may continue with a step of providing a feedback to the user S160. The feedback may be haptic feedback, such as a vibration feedback from the vibrating means, an acoustic feedback, such as the provision of a sound from an acoustic means, or an optical feedback, such as the provision of a light from the light source 210.
The above method may also be implemented as executable code executable by a processor of an aerosol generating device 200 configured to receive the consumable 100.
Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of filling the consumable 100 with the aerosol generating liquid 110. This is shown in Figs. 4a and bb. In a first step S200, the consumable 100 is oriented such that the side at which the terminal 172 of Fig. 1b is allocated (the side of the mouthpiece) is at a top position (directed to in a direction opposite a floor of the surrounding). Subsequently, the container 161 of the consumable 100 is cleaned S210. In step S220, the second aerosol generating liquid 112 (preferably coconut oil) of 0.07ml to 0.2ml is filled into the liquid container 161 of the consumable 100, preferably through an injection nozzle, as shown in Fig. 5a. In a subsequent step S230, the second aerosol generating liquid 111 1.7ml is filled into the liquid container 161 of the consumable 100, as shown in Fig. 5b. Preferably, the aerosol generating liquid has a ratio of first aerosol generating liquid 111 to second aerosol generating liquid 112 between 8:1 and 25:1. Then, other components such as the heating element 170, the terminal 172 and preferably gaskets are inserted into the consumable 100 S240. Subsequently, the consumable is sealed and closed S250. Afterwards, the consumable is rotated such that the mouthpiece side of the consumable 100 (see, Fig. 1b) is in the top position. In an example, where the second liquid component 112 has a density lower than the first liquid component 111, once the Pod is rotated into this position, the second liquid component 112 is floating on top of the first liquid component 111 due to the second density being lower than the first density.
In tests, a consumable 100 was obtained by applying the above method. In this example, the consumable 100 had the first aerosol generating liquid 111 with the first density and the second aerosol generating liquid 111 with the second density, wherein the first and second liquid components were immiscible. Mixing tests were performed with the consumable 100 in a lab. In these tests, the second liquid component 112 did not mix with the first liquid component 111 and remained floating on top of the first liquid component 111 even after heavy shaking.
Since the user typically uses the aerosol generating device 200 holding the aerosol generating device 200 in a way that the mouthpiece is in a top position, the first aerosol generating liquid 111 (having the higher first density) is allocated in the proximity of / in contact with the heating element 170. During smoking of the aerosol generating liquid 110, the first aerosol generating component 111 is used and the aerosol generating liquid level drops, while the second liquid component remains on top and slowly approaches the heating element 170, until it replaces the first liquid component 111 in the proximity / in contact with the heating element 170.

List of reference signs

100: consumable
110: aerosol generating liquid
111: first liquid component
112: second liquid component
160: casing
161: liquid container
162: first end of the casing
163: second end of the casing
164: mouthpiece
170: heating element
172: terminal
200: aerosol generating device
210: light source

Claims

A consumable for being inserted into an aerosol generating device, the consumable comprising:
an aerosol generating liquid configured to be brought into contact with the heating element, the aerosol generating liquid comprising:
a first liquid component configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated by a heating element; and

a second liquid component configured to change an electrical resistance of the heating element when coming into contact with the heating element.
The consumable according to the preceding claim, wherein the first liquid component has a first density, and the second liquid component has a second density lower than the first density, and/or
wherein the first liquid component has a first electrical resistance and the second liquid component has a second electrical resistance lower than the first electrical resistance.
The consumable according to the preceding claim, wherein the first density is between 1,000 and 1,500 kg/m³, preferably between 1,100 and 1,400 kg/m³, more preferably between 1,200 and 1,300 kg/m³ and most preferably between 1,250 kg/m³ and 1,270 kg/m³, and/or
wherein the second density is between 700 and 1,000 kg/m³, preferably between 800 and 950 kg/m³, and most preferably between 850 and 900 kg/m³.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid component comprises propylene glycol, PG, and glycerol, VG, and/or
wherein the second liquid component is preferably immiscible with the first liquid component and preferably comprises a food-grade oil, more preferably a coconut oil or a sunflower oil.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first liquid component and the second liquid component are configured to form an inhomogeneous mixture, preferably an emulsion.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second liquid component is configured to increase the electrical resistance of the heating element by at least 10%, preferably at least 20 %, most preferably at least 30%, when coming into contact with the heating element.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second liquid component is configured to come into contact with the heating element only when at least 90% and most preferably at least 95% of the first liquid component has been removed from the consumable.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device comprises a sensor for performing a measurement of the electrical resistance of the heating element, and
wherein the consumable and/or the aerosol generating device preferably comprises a processor configured to determine an electrical resistance difference of the heating element based on the measured electrical resistance of the heating element, and wherein the processor is configured to stop the heating of the heating element based on the electrical resistance difference.
The consumable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second liquid component is configured to provide substantially less aerosol when heated than the first liquid component.
An aerosol generating system comprising a consumable according to any of claims 1 to 9, and an aerosol generating device comprising a power supply for providing electrical power to the heating element of the consumable.
A method for providing an inhalable aerosol to a user by heating by means of a heating element an aerosol generating liquid in a consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the method comprising the steps of:
measuring the electrical resistance of the heating element;

determining a difference between the measured electrical resistance of the heating element and a reference electrical resistance of the heating element; and

controlling the heating element based on the determined difference.
The method according to the preceding claim, wherein the reference electrical resistance is a previous electrical resistance measurement of the heating element.
The method according to any one of claims 11 or 12, wherein the step of controlling the heating element further comprises:
determining whether the difference between the measured electrical resistance and the reference electrical resistance indicates an increase in electrical resistance, preferably an increase of at least 10%, more preferably of at least 20 %, and most preferably of at least 30%; and

stopping the heating of the heating element based on the determination that the difference indicates the increase in electrical resistance.
The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising:
determining the filling level of the consumable based on the difference between the measured electrical resistance and the reference resistance; and, preferably,

providing an indication to the user indicative of the determined filling level, wherein the consumable is preferably a consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
A method for manufacturing a consumable according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of:
providing a liquid container in an upside down position;

inserting a second liquid component into the liquid container;

subsequently, inserting a first liquid component into the liquid container, the first liquid component being configured to generate an inhalable aerosol when being heated;

inserting, into the consumable, a heating element configured to heat the first liquid component and the second liquid component, wherein the second liquid component is configured to change an electrical resistance of the heating element when coming into contact with the heating element; and

finalizing the consumable by turning the consumable in an upright position.