EP4676259A1

EP4676259A1 - Aerosol-generating device with improved connection interface

Info

Publication number: EP4676259A1
Application number: EP23714064.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Xing Yang; Ning Pan; Guo YU
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2023-03-03
Filing date: 2023-03-03
Publication date: 2026-01-14
Also published as: JP2026505116A; WO2024182930A1; KR20250155615A; CN120882330A

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device, comprising: a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors; a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements; wherein the controller is configured to a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED CONNECTION INTERFACE

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and at least one of a source of electrical energy and an external computing device and further relates to a computer-implemented method of controlling an aerosol-generating device.
Aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated by heating an aerosol-generating substrate or an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating devices the present disclosure pertains to are commonly referred to as heated tobacco products (HTP) , heat-not-burn devices, electronic cigarettes and/or vaporiser. The applicant has marketed such devices, for example, under the brand name
Exemplary aerosol-generating substrates may comprise solid substrate material, such as tobacco material or tobacco cast leaves (TCL) material. The substrate material may, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially stick-shaped aerosol-generating article. Such a stick or aerosol-generating article may be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-generating device, which, for example, may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the aerosol-generating article and/or the aerosol-generating substrate. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-generating substrates may comprise one or more liquids and/or solids, which may, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-generating device in the form of a cartridge or container. Corresponding exemplary aerosol-generating articles may, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and/or solid substrate, which may be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and/or liquid. Usually, such cartridge or container may be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol-generating device and refilled by inserting liquid and/or solid into the cartridge.
For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat may be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-generating substrate. The heating element, heater device or heat source may be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source may be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-generating article, for instance in the form of a stick or cartridge, which may be attached to and/or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosol-generating device.
Exemplary heating elements or heater devices can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in a battery of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively a source of electrical energy that is external of the aerosol-generating device can be in operative connection with the device to supply the electrical energy for the operation of the device. As used herein, a battery of the aerosol-generating device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-generating device configured to store electrical energy. Accordingly, the term battery can include one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.
Typically, aerosol-generating devices may comprise a battery providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-generating device and especially for heating the aerosol-generating substrate and/or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-generating articles. The battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery and may be internal, removable or external. For charging the battery or for directly operating the aerosol-generating device, it may be necessary to operatively connect a source of electrical energy to the aerosol-generating device. For example, a source of electrical energy may be connected to the aerosol-generating device each time the battery is recharged.
Also, aerosol-generating devices may be connected to external computing devices to transfer data between the aerosol-generating device and the computing device. For example, data collected by the aerosol-generating device may be extracted or data relating to the programming of the aerosol-generating device may be input from an external computing device.
The aerosol-generating device may therefore need a connection interface, for example a physical connection interface, to establish an operative connection with a source of electrical energy and/or an external computing device. The connection interface may need to provide for connectability of the aerosol-generating device with both a source of electrical energy and an external computing device. In other words, the connection interface may need to include connection elements for establishing a connection between the aerosol-generating device and an external source of electrical energy and an external computing device. For example, the external source of electrical energy may need to be connected to the battery of the aerosol-generating device and a power supply connection, whereas the external computing device may need to be connected to the controller of the aerosol-generating device in a data transfer connection. The connection interface may therefore need to include connection elements for establishing both of these connections. Typically, these connections are established by providing separate connection elements, for example connection pins, on the connection interface and respectively electrically connecting these connection elements to the battery and the controller. It is therefore typically necessary to provide at least two connection elements or connection pins on the connection interface per type of connection to be established, for example one pair of connection elements or connection pins for the power supply connection and another pair of connection elements or connection pins for the data transfer connection.
In conventional applications, for example in aerosol-generating devices, this may lead to the use of large physical connection interfaces with many connection elements or pins. Such large connection interfaces are complex structures, which may be expensive. Additionally, the high number of connection elements may in turn necessitate small tracks or traces in the electrical circuitry, which may make the production of these parts or elements more complex and thereby also increase manufacturing costs.
It may therefore be desirable to provide an improved aerosol-generating device comprising a simpler connection interface and being able to be easily manufactured.
This is achieved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Optional features are provided by the dependent claims and by the description.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device, comprising: a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors; a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements; wherein the controller is configured to a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.
In the power supply mode, the aerosol-generating device may be operable to transfer electrical energy between itself and the source of electrical energy. In other words, there may be established a power supply connection between the source of electrical power and the aerosol-generating device in power supply mode. The aerosol-generating device may for example receive the electrical energy required for its operation from the source of electrical energy connected through the connection interface. The aerosol-generating device may also comprise a battery or battery pack for storing electrical energy. In the power supply mode, the aerosol-generating device and/or its battery may therefore be charged by the source of electrical energy connected through the connection interface. The aerosol-generating device may also provide electrical energy, for example from the battery of the aerosol-generating device, to the source of electrical energy in the power supply mode. In the data transfer mode, the aerosol-generating device may be operable to transfer data between itself, especially the controller of the aerosol-generating device, and the external computing device. In other words, there may be established a data transfer connection between the aerosol-generating device or the controller of the aerosol-generating device and the external computing device. In this mode, data may be transferred from the aerosol-generating device or the controller of the aerosol-generating device to the external computing device. Additionally, in this mode, data may be transferred from the external computing device to the aerosol-generating device or the controller of the aerosol-generating device.
According to the present disclosure, the same two electrical connection elements of the connection interface are used both in the power supply mode and the data transfer mode. The two electrical connection elements may, for example, be used to detect or characterise a power source and/or a power sink in power supply mode whereas the two electrical connection elements may, for example, be used for data transmission in data transfer mode. That the electrical connection elements and/or the physical connection interface are/is operatively connected to the source of electrical energy may therefore mean that the electrical connection elements are used for detecting, characterising or managing the connection to the source of electrical energy. It is not necessary that a power transfer, for example a charging current, actually flows through the two electrical connection elements. The actual power transfer itself may be implemented through other connection elements of the physical connection interface. Nevertheless, the two electrical connection elements are necessary in their administrative functions for the power transfer in the power transfer mode. These same two electrical connection elements may then be used in the data transfer mode, particularly for conducting the data transmission. In data transfer mode, the two electrical connection elements may therefore be used for the actual transmission of the data. The two electrical connection elements of the physical connection interface may comprise or may include or may be electrical contacts or connectors. The two electrical connection elements of the physical connection interface may comprise or may include or may be pins, pads or terminals. The electrical connection between the electrical connection elements and the controller may be established through tracks, traces or wires, for example printed tracks or traces.
The aerosol-generating device may be operable in power supply mode and in data transfer mode by selectively using the same two electrical connection elements either for the configuration of the power supply connection or the data transfer connection. The power supply mode and the data transfer mode may therefore be mutually exclusive in the sense that they cannot be activated simultaneously, but only one after the other. Nonetheless, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to be operable in both modes, wherein both modes make use of the same two electrical connection elements of the physical connection interface. By this design, the physical connection interface of the aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure can be implemented with reduced complexity. It is therefore also unnecessary to use extremely small and hard to handle connection elements, so that production costs of both the connection interface and the aerosol-generating device may be reduced.
The controller may be configured to differentiate whether to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode. The controller may be configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface automatically when a connection of the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is detected. The controller may therefore be configured to automatically determine that a source of electrical energy or a computing device is connected to the connection interface. The controller may be configured to switch the physical connection interface into the data transfer mode upon determining that an operative connection between the external computing device and the two connection elements has been established. The controller may be configured to switch the physical connection interface into the power supply mode upon determining that an operative connection between the source of electrical energy and the two connection elements has been established.
The controller may alternatively be configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device or the connection interface in response to a control signal. In other words, the controller may be configured to switch the aerosol-generating device or the physical connection interface into the power supply mode or the data transfer mode upon receiving a control signal. The control signal may, for example, be provided by a user through a user input device of the aerosol-generating device, as will be explained in more detail below. Alternatively, the control signal may be provided by an external device, for example the external computing device operatively connected to the connection interface.
As already mentioned, the physical connection interface may include or comprise the electrical connection elements. The connection interface may be in the form of a socket or a plug. The electrical connection between the connection interface and the source of electrical energy or the computing device may therefore be established by inserting a plug of the source of electrical energy or the computing device into a socket of the connection interface. The electrical connection between the connection interface and the source of electrical energy or the computing device may alternatively be established by inserting a plug of the connection interface into a socket of the source of electrical energy or the computing device. In one aspect of the present disclosure, the physical connection interface may include a USB (Universal Serial Bus) socket or plug, specifically a 24-pin or a 16-pin or a 6-pin USB C socket or plug. When connection interfaces with only a limited number of connection elements or pins are used, for example a 6-pin USB C socket or plug, the provision of both the power supply mode and the data transfer mode may only be possible through the present invention because the number of pins may not be sufficient to provide separate pins for both power and data transfer. In connection interfaces with many electrical connection elements or pins, the double use of the two electrical connection elements or pins according to the present invention may free up other connection elements or pins for other uses and may therefore also be advantageous.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the two connection elements may include CC-pins (Configuration Channel-pins) , preferably CC1 and CC2 of a USB socket or plug, for example a 6-pin USB C socket or plug. Such 6-pin USB C connection interfaces may comprise a CC1-pin, a CC2-pin, two VBUS pins and two GND pins. The VBUS pins may be used for power supply between an external source of electrical energy and the aerosol-generating device and/or the battery of the aerosol-generating device. The GND pins may be used as ground or return current path. The CC-pins CC1 and CC2 may be used to establish and manage a source-to-sink connection. In USB type C, CC pins and the corresponding lines may be used to detect electrical sources and/or loads or sinks by detecting different voltages at the connected devices caused by different pull up and pull down resistor combinations. This pull-up/pull-down CC model is part of the USB type C standard so that the physical and functional details are known to the skilled person. According to the present disclosure, in power supply mode, the CC-pins of a USB connection interface may function in the conventional way so as to enable the transfer of electrical energy to and from the aerosol-generating device or the battery of the aerosol-generating device via the VBUS pins.
Additionally, however, the same electrical connection elements as used in the power supply mode to establish and manage the source-to-sink connection for power supply, for example the CC-pins, may also be used in the data transfer mode, which is not part of the USB standard. It may therefore be provided that the controller is, in data transfer mode, configured to configure the two connection elements as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter) Rx (Receiver) and Tx (Transmitter) pins or as USB D+ (Data+) and D- (Data-) pins or as I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) SCL (Serial Clock) and SDA (Serial Data) pins. The two electrical connection elements may therefore be configured to transmit data in any of the mentioned protocols. Other suitable protocols may also be used.
For this purpose, the controller may comprise two GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) pins, the GPIO pins being in electrical connection with the two connection elements of the physical connection interface and a resistor or impedance, preferably a resistor of about 3 kΩ to 7 kΩ, in particular 4.5 kΩ to 5.5 kΩ, for example 5.1 kΩ. Preferably, the resistor or impedance is connected in a branch connection to the electrical connection between the connection elements of the physical connection interface and the GPIO pins of the controller. The resistor or impedance may preferably be used as pull-up/pull-down resistor or impedance for the function of the CC-pins in power supply mode, whereas the direct electrical connection between the connection elements of the physical connection interface and the GPIO pins of the controller may be used for data transfer in data transfer mode. For example, a 5.1 kΩ resistor in connection with the CC-pins may typically characterise the aerosol-generating device as a sink so that power may be supplied to the aerosol-generating device or the battery of the aerosol-generating device via the VBUS pins in power supply mode.
For an external device, for example a source of electrical energy, to detect the aerosol-generating device as a sink through the electrical connection elements, for example the CC-pins, the controller may be configured to configure the two GPIO pins as high impedance or as high resistance in the power supply mode. In this case, the aerosol-generating device’s capacity as sink may be defined by the resistor according to the pull-up/pull-down CC model as mentioned above. The aerosol-generating device may thus be recognized as a sink by an external source of electrical energy and therefore, power may be supplied to the aerosol-generating device in the power supply mode.
During normal operation of the aerosol-generating device, power supply mode may be used more often than data transfer mode. The controller may therefore be configured to switch from the data transfer mode to the power supply mode when no data connection between the controller and the external computing device is established in a predetermined period of time after activation of data transfer mode. The predetermined period of time may, for example, be 5 seconds or 10 seconds or 15 seconds or 20 seconds or 25 seconds or 30 seconds or 1 minute or 2 minutes or 3 minutes or 4 minutes or 5 minutes. If no data is transferred between the aerosol-generating device or the controller of the aerosol-generating device and the computing device, data transfer mode may be ended and the device switched to power supply mode. This may also be a security feature to make sure that the CC-pins are available for source-to-sink detection when a source of electrical energy is connected to the connection interface.
As mentioned above, a control signal may be used to determine what mode is to be activated, for example whether or not data transfer mode should be activated. The control signal may be input by a user. For this purpose, the controller may further comprise an input device configured to receive control signals from a user, preferably wherein the input device is one of a button, a knob, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a display, a light-emitting element, and a speaker, for example a pushbutton or capacitive button. The user may operate the input device to generate the control signal. The controller may be configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface in response to a predetermined control signal received via the input device of the aerosol-generating device from a user. The controller may be configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to receiving, via the input device of the aerosol-generating device, a predetermined sequence of control signals forming an activation pattern to activate the respective one of the data transfer mode and the power supply mode. For example, the activation pattern may include activating the input device, for example pushing the button, for a predetermined number of times in a predetermined period of time. Alternatively, the activation pattern may include activating the input device, for example pushing the button, for a predetermined period of time.
One of the advantages of the present disclosure lies in the fact that even though the physical connection interface may be of minimal configuration, for example as a 6-pin USB type C socket or plug, both power supply and data transfer can be implemented. A data transfer from the aerosol-generating device to the external computing device in data transfer mode may be useful to read out data connected by the aerosol-generating device during operation and/or its use by a user. For example, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to collect usage data, which may for example pertain to data describing or characterizing the usage habits of the aerosol- generating device of a user. This data may be read out to be used in usage statistics to improve the control of the aerosol-generating device and user experience. Another example of data that may be collected by the aerosol-generating device may be event data, for example pertaining to abnormal or extreme events. Such data may for example include very high or very low temperatures of the aerosol-generating device or its battery, failures to identify an aerosol-generating article and so on. Further, the aerosol-generating device may also collect error data, for example an error log of the firmware of the aerosol-generating device and its controller. For the purpose of collecting, storing and transferring this data to the external computing device, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a data storage, the data storage storing one or more of usage data, event data, and error data, wherein the controller may be configured to provide the data stored in the data storage to the external computing device connected to the physical connection interface in the data transfer mode.
As explicit examples, one or more of the usage data, the event data, and the error data may comprise data indicative of at least one of
- an energy consumption per usage session,
- a number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated to generate aerosol, preferably per predefined time interval,
- a duration of a usage session,
- a resting time between consecutive usage sessions, preferably wherein the usage pattern parameter value pertaining to the resting time between consecutive usage sessions only varies for resting times between subsequent usage sessions of from 0 to 40 minutes,
- a frequency of at least two usage sessions in a row, in particular without recharging of the aerosol-generating device in between,
- an ambient temperature during a usage session,
- an ambient air pressure during a usage session,
- an ambient humidity during a usage session,
- an ambient temperature during recharging of a battery of the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature of a battery of the aerosol-generating device during a usage session,
- a temperature of a heating element or heater device of the aerosol-generating device within a predefined period of time before start of a usage session,
- a number of puffs per usage session,
- a puff volume,
- a puff frequency,
- a puff rhythm,
- a time of initiation of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a time of termination of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a recharge event of the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time after recharging the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of less than 10 %,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of more than 90 %,
- a density of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a weight of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a type of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used in the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature profile selected by a user,
- an error log of a firmware of the aerosol-generating device,
- status information of the aerosol-generating device,
- battery degradation data,
- a total number of battery charges,
- a total battery charging time,
- a maximum battery voltage when charging,
- a maximum temperature of the battery,
- a minimum temperature of the battery,
- a total time of all usage sessions,
- a total number of usage sessions.
The usage data, the event data, and the error data stored in the data storage and provided to the external computing device by the aerosol-generating device may comprise any one or any combination of the data or parameters as mentioned above.
The energy consumption per usage session may describe the amount of electrical energy drained from the battery of the aerosol-generating device to provide or grant a usage session, for example from the start of the usage session to the end of the usage session. This may be represented in units of the capacity of the battery, for example as a percentage of the state of charge (SOC) of the battery drained to provide the usage session. It may also be represented as a total amount of battery capacity needed to provide the usage session, for example in mAh, which is the standard representation of battery capacity.
The number of usage sessions of the aerosol-generating device, respectively, the number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated, may be a relevant parameter because it may characterise the intensity of use of the device by the user. It therefore may allow to differentiate casual from heavy users and may be used to describe the progression through the lifetime of the device and/or the battery. The number of usage sessions may alternatively be related to a different reference than a predefined time interval. For example, the number of usage sessions between recharging the device may be collected. For this value, the amount of time between the two consecutive recharging events of the device may be irrelevant.
The duration of one or more usage sessions may vary from user to user and may have an impact on the strain on the battery. The amount of energy required for a usage session may be highly correlated to its duration, as the aerosol-generating device should preferably maintain the heating temperature during this period. Merely as an example, typical aerosol-generating devices allow usage sessions of up to 6 minutes.
The resting time between consecutive usage sessions may be related to the temperature of the device, a heating element of the device and the battery. During a usage session, the heating element, the device and the battery may be heated up by heating the aerosol-generating substrate or article. After a usage session, the device and the battery start to cool off or cool down until the device and the battery reach the ambient temperature. This time duration can be referred to as the resting time. As a non-limiting example, after around 40 minutes, the battery typically reaches ambient temperature, which may mean that different resting times of 40 minutes or more may have the same effect, from the point of view of temperature. For this reason, optionally, only resting times between 0 and 40 minutes may result in different values for the corresponding usage pattern parameter, whereas times of 40 minutes and more may have the same value. Short resting times that are not long enough for the device to reach ambient temperature may be less strainful for the battery and therefore cause less battery degradation.
The frequency of at least two usage sessions in a row, especially without recharging of the aerosol-generating device or the battery in between, may also be referred to as back-to-back regime. This parameter may, for example, be described by the percentage of two consecutive usage sessions which occur without the aerosol-generating device or the battery having been recharged before initiation of the second usage session. For example, in an aerosol-generating device designed or configured to provide two usage sessions after fully charging the battery, recharging the aerosol-generating device after each usage session would result in a back-to-back regime of 0 %, whereas recharging the device only after two usage sessions have been performed would result in a back-to-back regime of 100 %. A back-to-back regime of 50 %would then describe recharging the device after one usage session half the time and only after two usage sessions the rest of the time. Generally, the frequency of at least two usage sessions in a row may be determined by dividing the number of consecutive usage sessions by the total number of usage sessions.
A puff in the sense of the present disclosure may describe a pull and/or draw on the aerosol-generating device while inhaling a mixture of air and aerosol by a user. The puff volume may describe the volume of said mixture inhaled in one pull or inhalation. Puff frequency and rhythm may describe corresponding patterns in the occurrence of puffs characteristic for individual users. Merely as an example, typical aerosol-generating devices are designed to allow a maximum of 14 puffs per aerosol-generating article.
A pause mode may refer to a special mode of the aerosol-generating device allowing a pause during a usage session. Pause mode therefore may not pertain to and may be distinct from resting times between usage sessions.
The aerosol-generating device may be operated in at least two operation modes, an aerosol-releasing mode and a pause mode. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to heat the heating element, the aerosol-generating article and/or the substrate at a first temperature level in the aerosol-releasing mode. Therein, the first temperature level may correspond to a predetermined heating temperature or a temperature above, which may be sufficient to generate aerosol. The aerosol-generating device may further be configured to heat the heating element, the aerosol-generating article and/or the substrate at a second temperature level below the first temperature level in a pause mode of the aerosol-generating device. The second temperature level may, for example, refer to a temperature above room temperature and below the first temperature level.
A user experience, also referred to as usage session or experience of an aerosol-generating article herein, may be interrupted, for example by switching the device into the pause mode, and resumed by a user at a later, wherein the aerosol-generating article or substrate may be kept in pause mode of the aerosol-generating device at a temperature below the first temperature level and/or below the predetermined heating temperature used during normal use of the device (in particular during a user experience or usage session) , but still above or well above room temperature. That is, the second temperature level preferably may be chosen such as to avoid degradation of the non-depleted substrate or aerosol-generating article. In particular, the second temperature level may be chosen such as to be sufficiently low in order to minimize depletion of the substrate or article during the pause mode, and at the same time to be sufficiently high in order to avoid vapor to condensate in the device which otherwise could affect the quality of the non-depleted aerosol-generating substrate or article.
During use of the device, in particular when a user experience or usage session is to take place, the aerosol-generating device may be operated in the aerosol-releasing mode, whereas during a use pause of the device, that is, when no user experience or usage session is to take place and/or when a usage session is interrupted by a pause, the aerosol-generating device may be operated in the pause mode. During both, the aerosol-releasing mode and the pause mode of the aerosol-generating device, the heating element, a heating circuitry and/or a heating arrangement may be in operation, in particular in heating operation, yet at different temperature levels, namely, at a first temperature level during the aerosol-releasing mode, which may be chosen to be sufficiently high in order to generate an aerosol, and at a second temperature level below the first temperature level during the pause mode, which may be chosen to be sufficiently low in order to minimize depletion of the substrate, whilst avoiding degradation.
Depending on the type and composition of the specific aerosol-generating article or substrate to be used with the device, the first temperature level may be in a range between 200 degree Celsius and 500 degree Celsius, particularly between 250 degree Celsius and 450 degree Celsius, particularly between 270 degree Celsius and 430 degree Celsius, particularly between 315 degree Celsius and 355 degree Celsius, or between 240 degree Celsius and 280 degree Celsius. These temperatures may be suitable operating or heating temperatures sufficient to allow volatile compounds to be released from the aerosol-generating article or substrate, for example during one or more usage sessions and/or when operating the device in the aerosol releasing mode. For example, the first temperature level and/or heating temperature for liquid aerosol-generating articles or substrates may be lower than the first temperature level for solid aerosol-generating articles or substrates.
In general, the second temperature level may be chosen to maintain a usability of the aerosol-generating article or substrate for a prolonged time. The second temperature level may also depend on the type and composition of the aerosol-generating article or substrate to be used with the device. Accordingly, the second temperature level may be in a range between 175 degree Celsius and 225 degree Celsius, particularly between 185 degree Celsius to 215 degree Celsius, more particularly between 195 degree Celsius and 205 degree Celsius. These temperatures may be sufficiently low in order to minimize depletion of the substrate during the pause mode but at the same time sufficiently high in order to avoid vapor to condensate in the device, which could lead to degradation of the aerosol-generating article or substrate.
In order to avoid condensation effects in the device, in particular to avoid condensation of substances in the aerosol-generating article or substrate, the second temperature level may be at least 150 degree Celsius, in particular at least 175 degree Celsius, preferably at least 185 degree Celsius, more preferably at least 195 degree Celsius.
Vice versa, in order to minimize depletion of the substrate or article during the pause mode the second temperature level may be at most 220 degree Celsius, in particular at most 225 degree Celsius, preferably at most 215 degree Celsius, more preferably at least 205 degree Celsius. In particular, the second temperature level may be chosen such as to reduce the formation of aerosols by at least 50 percent compared to the aerosol-releasing mode.
In relative terms, the second temperature level may be lower than the first temperature level, for example by at least 50 degree Celsius, in particular at least 75 degree Celsius, more particularly at least 100 degree Celsius.
The temperature values given above preferably may be average temperatures of the aerosol-generating article or substrate during operation of the device. In addition, as already mentioned, the temperature values may depend, inter alia, on the type and composition of the aerosol-generating article or substrate to be used with the device.
As used herein, the pause mode may refer to a first operational mode of aerosol-generating device, in which the heating element, the heating circuitry and/or a heating arrangement may be operated during an operation pause, that is, a use pause of the aerosol-generating device, that is, when a user experience or usage session is paused and aerosol generation may not take place, or at least may be reduced to a minimum level. That is, in the pause mode the aerosol-generating device is in a use pause.
Vice versa, the aerosol-releasing mode may refer to a second operational mode of the aerosol-generating device, which is the normal heating operational mode of the heating element, circuitry, and/or arrangement for aerosol generation, in which heating element, the heating circuitry and/or a heating arrangement may be operated during use of the device by a user, that is, when a user experience or usage session takes place, in particular when aerosol generation takes place. In general, aerosol generation may take place continuously or on demand, in particular on a puff basis, that is, on demand of a user when taking a puff.
The density, weight, type and/or humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article may be detected by the aerosol-generating device recognising, sensing and/or identifying the stick or cartridge for example through RFID or other means. As these factors may influence the energy needed for aerosol generation from the substrate or article, they also influence battery degradation.
Apart from providing data to the external computing device, the aerosol-generating device may also be configured to receive data from the computing device in data transfer mode. For example, the aerosol-generating device may receive control signals from the computing device and may be controlled by the computing device. For example, when the computing device is a smart phone or a personal computer or any other suitable computing device, the user may control the aerosol-generating device through the computing device, for example change settings and/or access data stored on the aerosol-generating device. The controller may also be configured to receive programming input information, for example data related to a firmware update, from the external computing device in the data transfer mode. The controller may implement this data into its software, for example firmware, to update to a new version.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device, for example an aerosol-generating device according to the disclosure herein, and at least one of a source of electrical energy and an external computing device. All of the features, functions and advantages of the aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure may also apply to the aerosol-generating system and vice versa.
The aerosol-generating device may include an internal, removable, or external battery or battery pack. Any other suitable storage for electrical energy may also be used. In power supply mode, the battery or battery pack of the aerosol-generating device may be charged by the external source of electrical energy.
The source of electrical energy may, for example, be an AC adapter or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device and the companion device may be configured so that the aerosol-generating device may be at least partly inserted into the companion device. Preferably, an electrical connection through the physical connection interface is automatically established when the aerosol-generating device is at least partly inserted into the companion device. The companion device may include a storage for electrical energy, for example a battery or a battery pack which may have a greater capacity than a storage for electrical energy of the aerosol-generating device. The storage for electrical energy of the companion device may therefore be used as the source of electrical energy for the aerosol-generating device.
The computing device may be a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer or a server communicatively couplable to the aerosol-generating device. The computing device may be any device capable of transferring data to and from the aerosol-generating device and/or the controller of the aerosol-generating device. The computing device may include a software for establishing the data transfer mode with the aerosol-generating device and/or for allowing the user to control the aerosol-generating device through the computing device.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is a computer-implemented method for controlling an aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating system, for example an aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating system according to the present disclosure, comprising: determining, at a controller of the aerosol-generating device, whether a source of electrical energy or an external computing device is operatively connected to two connection elements of a physical connection interface configured to establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and the source of electrical energy or the computing device, and, depending on which of the source of electrical energy and the external computing device is operatively connected, operating the physical connection interface in a power supply mode to receive or provide for electrical energy when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements; and operating the physical connection interface in a data transfer mode to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements. The method may, for example, be implemented by a software running on the aerosol-generating device, for example on the controller of the aerosol-generating device.
As explained above, the activation of the respective modes may be automatic or may be triggered by a control signal provided by a user. Determining whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface may therefore comprise: automatically detecting whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface, or receiving a control signal provided by a user of the aerosol-generating device indicating whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface.
All of the features, functions and advantages of the aerosol-generating device and/or the aerosol-generating system according to the present disclosure may also apply to the computer-implemented method and vice versa.
In another aspect, the present disclosure relates to a control circuitry comprising: a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors; a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the control circuitry and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements; wherein the controller is configured to a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.
All of the features, functions and advantages of one of the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating system and the computer-implemented method according to the present disclosure may also apply to the control circuitry and vice versa.
The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.
Example 1. An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors;
a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements;
wherein the controller is configured to
a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and
b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.
Example 2. The aerosol-generating device according to Example 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface automatically when a connection of the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is detected.
Example 3. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples,
wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the data transfer mode upon determining that an operative connection between the external computing device and the two connection elements has been established.
Example 4. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples,
wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the power supply mode upon determining that an operative connection between the source of electrical energy and the two connection elements has been established.
Example 5. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples,
wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to a control signal.
Example 6. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples,
wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the power supply mode or the data transfer mode upon receiving a control signal.
Example 7. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the physical connection interface includes a USB socket or plug.
Example 8. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding Examples, wherein the physical connection interface includes a 6-pin USB C socket or plug.
Example 9. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the two connection elements include CC-pins, preferably CC1 and CC2 of a USB socket or plug.
Example 10. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the controller is, in data transfer mode, configured to configure the two connection elements as UART Rx and Tx pins or as USB D+ and D-pins or as I2C SCL and SDA pins.
Example 11. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the controller comprises two GPIO pins, the GPIO pins being in electrical connection with the two connection elements of the physical connection interface and a resistor or impedance, preferably a resistor of about 4.5 kΩ to 5.5 kΩ, in particular about 5.1 kΩ.
Example 12. The aerosol-generating device according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to configure the two GPIO pins as high impedance in the power supply mode.
Example 13. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the data transfer mode to the power supply mode when no data connection between the controller and the external computing device is established in a predetermined period of time after activation of data transfer mode.
Example 14. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the controller further comprises an input device configured to receive control signals from a user, preferably wherein the input device is one of a button, a knob, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a display, a light-emitting element, and a speaker.
Example 15. The aerosol-generating device according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface in response to a predetermined control signal received via the input device of the aerosol-generating device from a user.
Example 16. The aerosol-generating device according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to receiving, via the input device of the aerosol-generating device, a predetermined sequence of control signals forming an activation pattern to activate the respective one of the data transfer mode and the power supply mode.
Example 17. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, further comprising a data storage, the data storage storing one or more of usage data, event data, and error data, wherein the controller is configured to provide the data stored in the data storage to the external computing device connected to the physical connection interface in the data transfer mode.
Example 18. The aerosol-generating device according to the preceding Example, wherein one or more of the usage data, the event data, and the error data comprise data indicative of at least one of
- an energy consumption per usage session,
- a number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated to generate aerosol, preferably per predefined time interval,
- a duration of a usage session,
- a resting time between consecutive usage sessions, preferably wherein the usage pattern parameter value pertaining to the resting time between consecutive usage sessions only varies for resting times between subsequent usage sessions of from 0 to 40 minutes,
- a frequency of at least two usage sessions in a row, in particular without recharging of the aerosol-generating device in between,
- an ambient temperature during a usage session,
- an ambient air pressure during a usage session,
- an ambient humidity during a usage session,
- an ambient temperature during recharging of a battery of the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature of a battery of the aerosol-generating device during a usage session,
- a temperature of a heating element or heater device of the aerosol-generating device within a predefined period of time before start of a usage session,
- a number of puffs per usage session,
- a puff volume,
- a puff frequency,
- a puff rhythm,
- a time of initiation of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a time of termination of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a recharge event of the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time after recharging the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of less than 10 %,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of more than 90 %,
- a density of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a weight of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a type of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used in the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature profile selected by a user,
- an error log of a firmware of the aerosol-generating device,
- status information of the aerosol-generating device,
- battery degradation data,
- a total number of battery charges,
- a total battery charging time,
- a maximum battery voltage when charging,
- a maximum temperature of the battery,
- a minimum temperature of the battery,
- a total time of all usage sessions,
- a total number of usage sessions.
Example 19. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, wherein the controller is configured to receive programming input information, for example data related to a firmware update, from the external computing device in the data transfer mode.
Example 20. An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding Examples, and at least one of a source of electrical energy and an external computing device, preferably wherein the aerosol-generating device includes an internal, removable, or external battery or battery pack.
Example 21. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding Example, wherein the source of electrical energy is an AC adapter or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating device.
Example 22. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of Examples 20-21, wherein the computing device is a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer or a server communicatively couplable to the aerosol-generating device.
Example 23. A computer-implemented method for controlling an aerosol-generating device, preferably an aerosol-generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 19, comprising:
determining, at a controller of the aerosol-generating device, whether a source of electrical energy or an external computing device is operatively connected to two connection elements of a physical connection interface configured to establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and the source of electrical energy or the computing device,
and, depending on which of the source of electrical energy and the external computing device is operatively connected,
operating the physical connection interface in a power supply mode to receive or provide for electrical energy when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements; and
operating the physical connection interface in a data transfer mode to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements.
Example 24. The method according to the preceding Example, wherein determining whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface comprises:
automatically detecting whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface, or
receiving a control signal provided by a user of the aerosol-generating device indicating whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface.
Example 25. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-24, wherein the physical connection interface includes a USB socket or plug.
Example 26. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-25, wherein the physical connection interface includes a 6-pin USB C socket or plug.
Example 27. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-26, wherein the two connection elements include CC-pins, preferably CC1 and CC2 of a USB socket or plug.
Example 28. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-27, wherein the controller is, in data transfer mode, configured to configure the two connection elements as UART Rx and Tx pins or as USB D+ and D-pins or as I2C SCL and SDA pins.
Example 29. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-28, wherein the controller comprises two GPIO pins, the GPIO pins being in electrical connection with the two connection elements of the physical connection interface and a resistor or impedance, preferably a resistor of about 4.5 kΩ to 5.5 kΩ, in particular about 5.1 kΩ.
Example 30. The method according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to configure the two GPIO pins as high impedance in the power supply mode.
Example 31. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-30, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the data transfer mode to the power supply mode when no data connection between the controller and the external computing device is established in a predetermined period of time after activation of data transfer mode.
Example 32. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-31, wherein the controller further comprises an input device configured to receive control signals from a user, preferably wherein the input device is one of a button, a knob, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a display, a light-emitting element, and a speaker.
Example 33. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-32, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface in response to a predetermined control signal received via the input device of the aerosol-generating device from a user.
Example 34. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-33, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to receiving, via the input device of the aerosol-generating device, a predetermined sequence of control signals forming an activation pattern to activate the respective one of the data transfer mode and the power supply mode.
Example 35. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-34, further comprising a data storage, the data storage storing one or more of usage data, event data, and error data, wherein the controller is configured to provide the data stored in the data storage to the external computing device connected to the physical connection interface in the data transfer mode.
Example 36. The method according to the preceding Example, wherein one or more of the usage data, the event data, and the error data comprise data is indicative of at least one of
- an energy consumption per usage session,
- a number of usage sessions the aerosol-generating device has been operated to generate aerosol, preferably per predefined time interval,
- a duration of a usage session,
- a resting time between consecutive usage sessions, preferably wherein the usage pattern parameter value pertaining to the resting time between consecutive usage sessions only varies for resting times between subsequent usage sessions of from 0 to 40 minutes,
- a frequency of at least two usage sessions in a row, in particular without recharging of the aerosol-generating device in between,
- an ambient temperature during a usage session,
- an ambient air pressure during a usage session,
- an ambient humidity during a usage session,
- an ambient temperature during recharging of a battery of the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature of a battery of the aerosol-generating device during a usage session,
- a temperature of a heating element or heater device of the aerosol-generating device within a predefined period of time before start of a usage session,
- a number of puffs per usage session,
- a puff volume,
- a puff frequency,
- a puff rhythm,
- a time of initiation of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a time of termination of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a pause mode at the aerosol-generating device,
- a duration of a recharge event of the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time after recharging the aerosol-generating device,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of less than 10 %,
- a resting time with a battery state of charge of more than 90 %,
- a density of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a weight of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a type of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used with the aerosol-generating device to generate aerosol,
- a humidity of an aerosol-generating substrate or aerosol-generating article used in the aerosol-generating device,
- a temperature profile selected by a user,
- an error log of a firmware of the aerosol-generating device,
- status information of the aerosol-generating device,
- battery degradation data,
- a total number of battery charges,
- a total battery charging time,
- a maximum battery voltage when charging,
- a maximum temperature of the battery,
- a minimum temperature of the battery,
- a total time of all usage sessions,
- a total number of usage sessions.
Example 37. The method according to any of the preceding Examples 23-36, wherein the controller is configured to receive programming input information, for example data related to a firmware update, from the external computing device in the data transfer mode.
Example 38. A control circuitry comprising:
a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors;
a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the control circuitry and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements;
wherein the controller is configured to
a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and
b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.
Example 39. The control circuitry according to Example 38, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface automatically when a connection of the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is detected.
Example 40. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-39, wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the data transfer mode upon determining that an operative connection between the external computing device and the two connection elements has been established.
Example 41. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-40, wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the power supply mode upon determining that an operative connection between the source of electrical energy and the two connection elements has been established.
Example 42. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-41, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to a control signal.
Example 43. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-42, wherein the controller is configured to switch the physical connection interface into the power supply mode or the data transfer mode upon receiving a control signal.
Example 44. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-43, wherein the physical connection interface includes a USB socket or plug.
Example 45. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-44, wherein the physical connection interface includes a 6-pin USB C socket or plug.
Example 46. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-45, wherein the two connection elements include CC-pins, preferably CC1 and CC2 of a USB socket or plug.
Example 47. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-46, wherein the controller is, in data transfer mode, configured to configure the two connection elements as UART Rx and Tx pins or as USB D+ and D-pins or as I2C SCL and SDA pins.
Example 48. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-47, wherein the controller comprises two GPIO pins, the GPIO pins being in electrical connection with the two connection elements of the physical connection interface and a resistor or impedance, preferably a resistor of about 4.5 kΩ to 5.5 kΩ, in particular about 5.1 kΩ.
Example 49. The control circuitry according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to configure the two GPIO pins as high impedance in the power supply mode.
Example 50. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-49, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the data transfer mode to the power supply mode when no data connection between the controller and the external computing device is established in a predetermined period of time after activation of data transfer mode.
Example 51. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-50, wherein the controller further comprises an input device configured to receive control signals from a user, preferably wherein the input device is one of a button, a knob, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a display, a light-emitting element, and a speaker.
Example 52. The control circuitry according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface in response to a predetermined control signal received via the input device of the control circuitry from a user.
Example 53. The control circuitry according to the preceding Example, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the control circuitry in response to receiving, via the input device of the control circuitry, a predetermined sequence of control signals forming an activation pattern to activate the respective one of the data transfer mode and the power supply mode.
Example 54. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-53, further comprising a data storage, the data storage storing one or more of usage data, event data, and error data, wherein the controller is configured to provide the data stored in the data storage to the external computing device connected to the physical connection interface in the data transfer mode.
Example 55. The control circuitry according to any of the preceding Examples 38-54, wherein the controller is configured to receive programming input information, for example data related to a firmware update, from the external computing device in the data transfer mode.
Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:
Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and a source of electrical energy and an external computing device;
Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the connection between the controller and the physical connection interface; and
Figure 3 shows a flow chart of the method.
The figures are schematic only and not to scale.
Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating system 1 for generating aerosol, for example for consumption by a user in one or more usage sessions. The system 1 may comprise an aerosol-generating device 2 for generating aerosol and a companion device 3 for at least partially receiving the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or an external computing device 18. The companion device 3 may be a charging device for charging the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or an energy storage or battery thereof. In the exemplary configuration shown in figure 1, the companion device 3 may be configured as a source of electrical energy 23 for the aerosol-generating device 2. However, other devices may be used as external source of electrical energy 23, for example an AC adapter. The source of electrical energy 23 is configured to transfer electrical power to and/or from the aerosol-generating device 2 in power supply mode. In turn, the computing device 18 is configured to establish a data connection with the aerosol-generating device 2 in data transfer mode. In the exemplary configuration shown in figure 1, the computing device 18 is a smart phone, but any other suitable computing device 18 may be employed.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise an insertion opening 4 for at least partially inserting an aerosol-generating article 17. The aerosol-generating article 17 may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco containing substrate, and/or a cartridge comprising a liquid, for example a liquid that can be aerosolized for inhalation.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further include a controller 19 including processing circuitry 5 or control circuitry 5 with one or more processors 6. For generating the aerosol during use or consumption of the aerosol-generating article 17, the aerosol-generating device 2 may comprise at least one heating element 7 or heater device for applying heat to at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 17. The controller 19 may be configured to control actuation, activation and/or deactivation of at least one heating element 7. The controller 19 may further be configured to perform steps of the method described herein.
For powering the at least one heating element 7 with electrical power, the aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise at least one energy storage, for example in the form of a battery 15, for storing electrical energy or power. The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise at least one physical connection interface 12 for coupling to a corresponding at least one electrical connector 13 of the companion device 3 or the computing device 18. For example, when the aerosol-generating device 2 is at least partially inserted into the opening 14 of the companion device 3, the connection interface 12 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may be coupled with the one or more electrical connectors 13 of the companion device 3 to charge the at least one battery 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2. Alternatively, the connection interface 12 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may be coupled with one or more electrical connectors 13 of the computing device 18. The electrical connector 13 of the computing device 18 may, for example, be a plug attached to a cable suitable for data transfer between the aerosol-generating device 2 and the computing device 18.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise user interface components, for example comprising an input device 8 or input element in the exemplary form of a pushbutton or a capacitive button. The input device 8 may be used as a power button to activate or deactivate the heating element 7 for aerosol generation thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosol-generating device 2. Input device 8 may also be used to provide a control signal to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode. Upon activation of the aerosol-generating device 2, the heating element 7 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosol-generating article 17, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption by the user, for example in a usage session.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-generating device 2 with the companion device 3, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a mobile data connection for example but not limited to a 3G/4G/5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, an optical data connection such as but not limited to IrDa, a radio connection, a near field connection, and/or an IoT connection.
The aerosol-generating device 2 may further comprise a data storage 11 for storing information or data, such as usage data, event data, and error data. Data storage 11 may also store collected values of battery degradation data and/or one or more mathematical functions or formulas, software and computer instructions that can be executed by the controller 10 and/or processing circuitry 5. One or more sensors 16 may be arranged on the aerosol-generating device 2 to collect data, for example usage data, event data, and error data.
Figure 2 shows a more detailed view of an exemplary setup according to the present disclosure. Specifically, figure 2 shows the connection arrangement between the controller 19, the physical connection interface 12 and the battery 15. All of the components shown in figure 2 may be part of and/or arranged on the aerosol-generating device 2. In the exemplary setup according to figure 2, the connection interface 12 is configured as a 6-pin USB type C socket or plug and the following explanations will make reference to this type of connection interface 12. However, other suitable connection interfaces 12 may be used.
The connection interface 12 may include two electrical connection elements 22. These may be provided as two CC-pins, namely CC1 and CC2, of the connection interface 12. Apart from these two electrical connection elements 22, the connection interface 12 may include two VBUS-pins 24 and two GND pins 25. The VBUS-pins 24 may be used for power supply to and from the aerosol-generating device 2. They may, for example, be used to charge the battery 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2 and may therefore be in electrical connection with battery 15 through a charger 26, for example a battery charger integrated circuit (IC) . The GND pins 25 may be used as ground and/or as current return lines and may, for example, also be in electrical connection with charger 26.
The two electrical connection elements 22, the CC1 pin and the CC2 pin, may be connected to the controller 19 through two GPIO pins 21 of the controller 19. Thus, the CC1 pin may be connected with one GPIO pin 21 of the controller 19 and the CC2 pin may be connected with another GPIO pin 21 of the controller 19. The function and/or resistance or impedance of the GPIO pins 21 may be individually configured by the controller 19. By the electrical connection between the GPIO pins 21 and the connection elements 22, the connection elements 22 may be similarly configurable by the controller 19. In addition to the connection between the connection elements 22 and the GPIO pins 21 of the controller 19, the connection elements 22 may also be connected to at least one resistor 20 each, for example a 5.1 kΩ resistor, which may be configured and further connected as usual pull-up and/or pull-down resistors in CC-lines. The resistors 20 may be arranged in a branching connection from the connection between the connection elements 22, i.e. the CC-pins, and the controller 19. This exemplary setup allows implementation of both the power supply mode and the data transfer mode using only the connection interface 12, as will be further explained below.
The power supply mode may be the normal operation mode of the aerosol-generating device 2. Therefore, the aerosol-generating device 2 may be in power supply mode by default. In power supply mode, controller 19 may configure GPIO pins 21 as high impedance/resistance with an impedance/resistance far exceeding the resistors 20. This means that in power supply mode, an external source of electrical energy 23 connected via the connection interface 12 may sense the resistance of resistors 20 acting in the usual pull-up/pull-down CC model to identify the aerosol-generating device 2 as a source or a sink. For example, when battery 15 is to be charged by the external source of electrical energy 23, then the resistance of resistors 20 may be used to characterize the aerosol-generating device 2 as a sink so that electrical energy is supplied to battery 15 by the source of electrical energy 23. As is usual in CC-lines, the amount of current and/or wattage supplied to the aerosol-generating device 2 by the source of electrical energy 23 may depend on the combination of pull-up and pull-down resistors in the source of electrical energy 23 and the aerosol-generating device 2. For example, a companion device 3 configured to charge the aerosol-generating device 2 or an AC adapter or another source of electrical energy 23 may be connected to the connection interface 12 via a standard USB C socket or plug. The connection elements 22 are then used to configure and manage the power supply connection so that the source of electrical energy 23 and the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the battery 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may enter into power transfer.
To leave power supply mode and to activate data transfer mode, it may be provided that a control signal input by a user via the input device 8 is received by the controller 19. For example, the user may activate input device 8 in a predetermined pattern and/or in a predetermined period of time so as to unambiguously request an activation of data transfer mode by the controller 19. In data transfer mode or to activate data transfer mode, the controller 19 may configure the GPIO pins 21 for data transmission using a data transfer protocol or bus like UART, USB or I2C. By the electrical connection between the GPIO pins 21 and the connection elements 22, the connection elements 22 can similarly be used for data transmission to an external computing device 18, for example as UART Tx and Rx, USB D+ and D-or I2C SCL and SDA. This means that an external computing device 18, for example a smartphone or a personal computer, may be connected to the connection interface 12 with a standard USB C socket or plug and may enter into data transmission with the aerosol-generating device 2. Any desirable data may then be transferred in any direction between the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the controller 19 of the aerosol-generating device 2 and the computing device 18.
The present disclosure therefore provides that the same two connection elements 22, for example the CC-pins of a USB connection interface, may be used both in power supply mode and in an additional data transfer mode. By this double use of the two connection elements 22, it is not necessary to provide different connection elements for the power supply mode and the data transfer mode. The connection interface 12 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may therefore be simplified both in terms of its own complexity and in terms of the complexity of the assembly process of the aerosol-generating device 2.
Figure 3 shows an exemplary flowchart of the method 30 according to the present disclosure. The method 30 may begin in step 31. For example, method 30 may begin by an unknown device being connected to the connection interface 12. In step 32, it may then be determined what type of device has been connected to the connection interface 12. This may include an automatic determination of the type of device, for example by a pull-up/pull-down CC model to identify a source-to-sink connection with a source of electrical energy 23. Alternatively, this may include receiving a control signal input by a user via the input device 8, which prompts control 19 to activate either the power supply mode or the data transfer mode. Such a control signal may, for example, be indicative of a computing device 18 being connected to the connection interface 12. The control signal may therefore request activation of data transfer mode.
To activate data transfer mode, the controller 19 may configure the data connection in step 33. For this, controller 19 may configure the connection elements 22 for a specific data transfer protocol or bus through their connection with the GPIO pins 21 of the controller 19. In step 34, the connection elements 22 are then used for data connection and data transfer between the computing device 18 and the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the controller 19 of the aerosol-generating device 2.
To activate power supply mode, the controller 19 may configure the power supply connection in step 35. In particular, controller 19 may configure the GPIO pins 21 of controller 19 as high impedance/resistance. In this way, a device connected to the connection interface 12 may sense resistors 20 connected to the connection elements 22 and use their resistance to determine the type of power supply connection needed for the aerosol-generating device 2. The respective type of power supply connection can then be established, so that in step 36, the connection elements 22 may be used for a power supply connection between the source of electrical energy 23 and the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or the battery 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2. For example, battery 15 of the aerosol-generating device 2 may be charged by electrical power source 23 connected through the connection interface 12.
The method 30 ends in step 37. For example, the method 30 may end when the device connected to the connection interface 12 is disconnected or removed.
For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about" . Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10%of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic (s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

An aerosol-generating device, comprising:

a controller comprising processing circuitry with one or more data processors;

a physical connection interface configured to selectively establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and either a source of electrical energy or an external computing device, the physical connection interface including two electrical connection elements;

wherein the controller is configured to

a) activate a power supply mode of the physical connection interface, to receive or provide electric energy from or to the source of electrical energy, when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface, and

b) activate a data transfer mode of the physical connection interface, to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device, when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface.
The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface automatically when a connection of the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is detected or wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the aerosol-generating device in response to a control signal.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the physical connection interface includes a USB socket or plug.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the physical connection interface includes a 6-pin USB C socket or plug.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the two connection elements include CC-pins, preferably CC1 and CC2 of a USB socket or plug.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is, in data transfer mode, configured to configure the two connection elements as UART Rx and Tx pins or as USB D+ and D-pins or as I2C SCL and SDA pins.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller comprises two GPIO pins, the GPIO pins being in electrical connection with the two connection elements of the physical connection interface and a resistor or impedance, preferably a resistor of about 4.5 kΩ to 5.5 kΩ, in particular about 5.1 kΩ.
The aerosol-generating device according to the preceding claim, wherein the controller is configured to configure the two GPIO pins as high impedance in the power supply mode.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to switch from the data transfer mode to the power supply mode when no data connection between the controller and the external computing device is established in a predetermined period of time after activation of data transfer mode.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller further comprises an input device configured to receive control signals from a user, preferably wherein the input device is one of a button, a knob, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a display, a light-emitting element, and a speaker,

preferably wherein the controller is configured to activate the power supply mode or the data transfer mode of the physical connection interface in response to a predetermined control signal received via the input device of the aerosol-generating device from a user.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a data storage, the data storage storing one or more of usage data, event data, and error data, wherein the controller is configured to provide the data stored in the data storage to the external computing device connected to the physical connection interface in the data transfer mode.
The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to receive programming input information, for example data related to a firmware update, from the external computing device in the data transfer mode.
An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims, and at least one of a source of electrical energy and an external computing device,

preferably wherein the aerosol-generating device includes an internal, removable, or external battery or battery pack,

preferably wherein the source of electrical energy is an AC adapter or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating device,

preferably wherein the computing device is a smartphone, a tablet computer, a personal computer or a server communicatively couplable to the aerosol-generating device.
A computer-implemented method for controlling an aerosol-generating device, preferably an aerosol-generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising:

determining, at a controller of the aerosol-generating device, whether a source of electrical energy or an external computing device is operatively connected to two connection elements of a physical connection interface configured to establish an operative connection between the aerosol-generating device and the source of electrical energy or the computing device,

and, depending on which of the source of electrical energy and the external computing device is operatively connected,

operating the physical connection interface in a power supply mode to receive or provide for electrical energy when the source of electrical energy is operatively connected to the two connection elements; and

operating the physical connection interface in a data transfer mode to transfer data between the controller and the external computing device when the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements.
The method according to the preceding claim, wherein determining whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the physical connection interface comprises:

automatically detecting whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface, or

receiving a control signal provided by a user of the aerosol-generating device indicating whether the source of electrical energy or the external computing device is operatively connected to the two connection elements of the connection interface.