JP2024510123A - Aerosol delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system is provided that includes a chamber that receives at least a portion of the consumable through its bore. Visual indicators are placed around the hole to provide user feedback. [Selection diagram] Figure 2

Description

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems.

Aerosol supply/delivery systems generally contain an aerosol-generating material, such as a solid, liquid or gel part, or a reservoir of raw liquid, and/or may contain and contain active substances and/or fragrances. , e.g. by thermal evaporation, to produce an aerosol or vapor for inhalation by the user. Accordingly, an aerosol delivery system/electronic smoking system typically vaporizes or aerosolizes a portion of an aerosolizable material (e.g., a solid material such as tobacco) to produce vapor or aerosol in an aerosol generation chamber. a heating chamber or an aerosol generation chamber housing an aerosol generator, e.g. a heating element, disposed in the heating chamber. When a user inhales with the device, power is supplied to the heating element and air is drawn into the device through the inlet holes and along the inlet air channel leading to the aerosol generation chamber, where the air is , and mix with the vaporized precursor material to form a condensed aerosol. An outlet air channel leads from the aerosol generation chamber to an outlet in the mouthpiece, such that air drawn into the aerosol generation chamber when a user inhales through the mouthpiece continues along the outlet flow path to the mouthpiece outlet for use. carry an aerosol with it for inhalation by persons. Some aerosol delivery systems may also include a perfume element within the air flow path through the device to impart additional perfume. Such devices may also be referred to as hybrid devices, where the perfume element is e.g. aerosol/condensed aerosol drawn through the device passed through a portion of the solid material and then passed through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user. The mouthpiece may include a portion of solid aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco, and/or flavoring material disposed within the air flow path between the aerosol-generating chamber and the mouthpiece to exit the mouthpiece. In some aerosol delivery systems, the aerosol-generating material includes a source liquid contained in a cartridge or pod that also contains a heating element and an aerosol-generating chamber, the cartridge being mechanically and electrically connected to a control unit for use. be done. The control unit includes a battery and control circuitry that together power the heating element via the cartridge.

Some aerosol supply/delivery systems include one or more visual indicators that provide visual feedback to the user regarding one or more aspects of device operation or status. Such feedback may include, for example, whether the system is on or off, the selected operating mode, how much electrical energy/charging or aerosol-generating material remains in the aerosol delivery system, heating elements It may include information regarding the temperature or the intensity with which the user is inhaling with the device. Such information may be shown before, while, and/or after the user puffs with the aerosol delivery device. Visual indicators used to display such information may include a display panel that includes an array of pixels. Alternatively or additionally, one or more lighting elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be provided to provide visual feedback. A visual indicator (sometimes referred to herein as a visual feedback indicator) is typically configured to provide visual feedback on the outer portion of the housing of the aerosol delivery system. Such a housing may include one or more apertures and/or one or more transparent or translucent portions to enable a user to view visual feedback emitted by visual indicators disposed within the housing. may include.

We provide visual feedback to the user while the user is puffing with the aerosol delivery system and/or immediately before or after the user is puffing with the aerosol delivery system. I am aware that it would be advantageous to do so. In such a scenario, we believe that conventional configurations for providing visual feedback to aerosol delivery devices provide easily visible or intuitive feedback to the user regarding their placement in the aerosol delivery system. We are aware that we cannot provide a reliable means. Various techniques are described herein that seek to help address or alleviate at least some of the problems discussed above.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol delivery system includes a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a consumable through a hole thereof, and a visual indicator disposed about the hole for providing user feedback. provided.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a consumable is configured to be inserted into a hole in an aerosol delivery system, wherein an outer portion of the consumable includes a visual indicator provided by a visual indicator disposed around the hole. A consumable is provided that is configured to change the appearance of the feedback.

According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method of providing a visual indicator for an aerosol delivery system includes the steps of: providing the aerosol delivery system with a chamber for receiving a consumable through a hole therein; and providing a visual indicator for providing user feedback. A method is provided comprising: providing an indicator, the visual indicator being disposed about the hole.

Features and aspects of the disclosure described herein with respect to the first aspect and other aspects of the disclosure are equally applicable to embodiments of the disclosure according to other aspects of the disclosure, and in certain combinations as described above. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the above, but may be combined with them as appropriate.

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of a mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device and a consumable portion including visual feedback modification means showing visual indicators according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; FIG.

[Detailed explanation]
Aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments are discussed/illustrated herein. Certain aspects and features of particular examples and embodiments may be conventionally implemented and, for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed/explained in detail. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented according to any conventional technique that implements such aspects and features.

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to aerosol supply/delivery systems (this disclosure may also relate to vapor delivery systems). Throughout the following description, the terms "electric smoking system," "non-combustion heating" system, or "tobacco heating product" may be used from time to time, and these terms refer to an aerosol supply/delivery system/ It will be appreciated that the device and electronic aerosol supply/delivery system/device can be used interchangeably. Additionally, as is common in the art, "aerosol" and "vapour" and related terms such as "vaporize," "volatilize," and "aerosolize" are generally used interchangeably. can do.

Aerosol delivery systems often, but not always, include modular assemblies that include both reusable "device" parts and replaceable "consumable" parts. Typically, the replaceable consumable part includes an aerosol-generating material that is heated to produce an aerosol, and the reusable part includes a power source (e.g., a rechargeable power source), control circuitry, and a reusable part. and a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion when coupled. In such embodiments, heat is generally transferred from a heater within the reusable device portion to a portion of the consumable portion to aerosolize/volatize the aerosol-generating material within the heated portion of the consumable portion. Alternatively, electrical power or a magnetic field is transmitted to the consumable portion to cause an aerosol generator in the consumable portion to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. Accordingly, the consumable portion, in some cases, includes elements associated with heating the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion. For example, the consumable portion may include a susceptor that can be inductively heated by a magnetic field generator/drive coil arrangement in the reusable device portion to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion, and/or Alternatively, the consumable part is reusable via an electrical interface between the reusable device part and the consumable part when the consumable part and the reusable device part are coupled together for use. The heating element may also include a heating element that receives power from a portion of the device. By inserting the consumable part into a chamber/receiving recess of the reusable device part, the consumable part may include, for example, an aerosol generation chamber or a heating chamber located within the housing of the reusable device part. It may be configured to be partially or fully inserted into a reusable device portion for use. Such a chamber can be accessed through a hole/opening located in the outer casing of the reusable device part. When the aerosol-generating material in a given consumable part is exhausted or the user desires to change to a different consumable part with a different aerosol-generating material, the consumable part is retracted from the chamber through the hole. can be removed from the reusable device part by causing the replacement consumable part to be coupled in its place to the reusable device part. Devices that fit this type of two-part modular configuration are sometimes commonly referred to as "two-part" devices.

It is common for aerosol delivery systems/devices (and reusable device parts and consumable parts containing them) to have a generally elongated shape. To provide a specific example, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein describe a general approach of this type using a reusable device portion that includes a heater and a consumable that includes an aerosol-generating material. It is considered to include an elongated two-part device. However, the basic principles described herein can be applied to a variety of aerosol delivery system configurations, such as single-part devices or modular devices containing more than two parts, refillable and disposable devices, and , for example, a so-called "box mod" high-performance device that typically has a more box-like shape and generally houses a heater and a supply of aerosol-generating material, often in liquid form. a cartridge, wherein when the cartridge is received in the chamber, the control circuitry of the cartridge and the reusable device portion is activated by abutment between electrical contacts on the cartridge and electrical contacts disposed within the chamber of the reusable device portion; Equally to devices according to other general shapes based on so-called "podmod" devices, comprising a cartridge partially inserted into a chamber in the reusable device part, so as to establish an electrical connection between It will be understood that it can be adopted. More generally, certain embodiments of the present disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems that are operably configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, It will be appreciated that the structural aspects of the aerosol delivery system configured to provide functionality in accordance with a particular embodiment are not of primary importance.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system/non-combustion heated device 1 according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The aerosol delivery system 1 includes two main components: a reusable device part 2 and a replaceable consumable/cartridge/cartomizer part 4.

During normal use, the reusable part 2 and the consumable part 4 are partially or completely inserted into the chamber 50 of the reusable device part 2, including the heater chamber area/heating area 53. By insertion, they are removably coupled/attached together. A chamber 50 is included in the reusable part 2 for heating the consumable part 4 by the reusable device part 2 while the consumable part 4 is at least partially received in the chamber. means configured to be heated by a heater or by a reusable part 2 which supplies energy (i.e. electrical energy) to the consumable part 4 so as to cause heating of a heater contained in the consumable part 4; can be considered a heating/heater chamber. FIG. 1 schematically shows a reusable device part 2 with a consumable part 4 partially received in a chamber 50. FIG. Chamber 50 includes a cylindrical tube that extends into reusable device part 2 from the outer housing surface of the reusable device part. In this example, the chamber is defined as the uppermost portion of the reusable device portion when the user holds the reusable device portion in their hand for use. Extending into the device from the outer surface of the mouthpiece end of 2, a chamber 50 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reusable device portion 2. A hole 51 communicates between the chamber 50 and the outer surface of the device.

Broadly speaking, the reusable device part 2 can be heated directly by one or more heating elements associated with the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 or by heating elements in or on the consumable part 4. by the user, typically by heating one or more aerosol-generating materials in the consumable part 4, by delivering electrical energy or a magnetic field to the consumable part 4 to activate an aerosol generator such as The device is configured to generate an aerosol that is inhaled. In use, the user inserts the consumable part 4 through the hole 51 into the chamber 50 of the reusable device part and then activates the reusable device part 2, for example using the button 14. , causing the reusable device portion 2 to power the aerosol-generating element from the power source/battery 26 to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material(s) contained within the consumable portion 4 for inhalation by the user. . The user then inhales the aerosol generated by the reusable device part 2 by sucking on the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4, which extends from the hole 51 in the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2. do. As the user draws on the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4, air is drawn into the air inlet 24 located on the outer surface of the reusable part 2 and through the air inlet channel 25 into the heated area of the chamber 50. 53 and in this heating region, air enters at least one air inlet 42 of the consumable part 4 and is generated by aerosolization/heating of a portion of the aerosol-generating material 43 contained within the consumable part 4 Causes vapor/aerosol. For a specific example, FIG. 1 shows a heating region 53 of a chamber 50 arranged around a heating region 53 that transfers heat to a portion of the consumable portion 4 containing an aerosol-generating material 43, as further described herein. A heating element 48 is schematically shown. The generated vapor/aerosol travels through the consumable part 4 towards the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2 from which the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 extends. , at this mouthpiece end, the aerosol droplets concentrate from the vapor/aerosol or further concentrate from the vapor/aerosol to form a concentrated aerosol exiting the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 for inhalation by the user. .

The reusable part 2 includes an outer housing having an opening defining an air inlet 24 and a power source 26 (e.g. a battery) to provide operating power for the aerosol delivery system and controls to control and monitor operation of the electronic cigarette. It includes a circuit 22, an optional user input button 14, an optional display 16, and a visual display/indicator 28. The outer housing of the reusable device part 2 may be made of, for example, a plastic or metal material, or any other material known to those skilled in the art. To provide a specific example, the reusable device portion 2 may have a length of approximately 80 mm in some embodiments, and the consumable portion 4 may be reusable once inserted into the chamber 50. The available device portion extends from the mouthpiece end by approximately 10-30 mm, so that the overall length of the aerosol delivery system 1 when the consumable portion and the reusable device portion are connected together is approximately 90-30 mm. It is 110mm. The consumable part 4 may have a diameter of approximately 80 mm. However, as previously mentioned, it will be appreciated that the overall shape and scale of the aerosol delivery system implementing an embodiment of the present disclosure is not critical to the principles described herein.

Power supply 26 is rechargeable in this example and is of conventional type, such as non-combustion heating devices, tobacco heating devices, electronic cigarettes, and other applications requiring the supply of relatively high currents over relatively short periods of time. The battery may be of the type commonly used in aerosol delivery systems (eg, a lithium ion battery). The power supply 26 is a reusable part, including for example a micro USB or USB-C connector, which may also provide an interface for data transfer between the controller 22 and an external processing device such as a smartphone or a personal computer. may be charged by a charging connector within the housing.

User input button 14 may optionally be provided, and in this example is a conventional mechanical button, including, for example, a spring-loaded component that can be pressed by the user to establish electrical contact. In this regard, the input button 14 may be considered an input device that detects user input, and the particular manner in which the button is implemented is not important (e.g., the button may include a capacitive touch sensor and/or a touch-sensitive display element). ). A plurality of such buttons may be provided, one or more of which turns the aerosol delivery system 1 on and off, and controls user settings such as the power supplied to the aerosol generator 48 from the power supply 26 and/or select one or more device modes. However, the inclusion of user input buttons is optional, and in some embodiments such buttons may not be included.

An optional display unit 16 may be provided on the outer surface of the housing of the reusable device part 2 in some cases. The display unit 16, if included, is connected to the controller 22 (e.g., a single LED, an array of LEDs, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active Pixelated or non-pixelated display units may be included (including matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) displays, electroluminescent displays (ELD), plasma display panels (PDP), e-ink displays). A person skilled in the art can implement such a display according to any technique known in the art. Such a display may be used to display user usage information regarding the use of the aerosol delivery system 1. Exemplary forms of usage information that may be displayed to the user via the optional display unit 16 are further described herein.

At least one visual indicator/visual feedback indicator 28 is provided with a display area visible on the outer surface of the housing of the reusable device portion 2, the visual indicator 28 providing an indication of the operation or status of the device. The device is configured to provide visual feedback to a user regarding one or more aspects. Such visual feedback may include, for example, whether the system is on or off, the selected mode of operation, how much charging or aerosol-generating material remains in the system, the temperature of the heating element, or It may include information regarding the intensity with which the user is inhaling with the device (e.g., obtained from an airflow sensor as described further herein). Such information may be shown before, during, and/or after a puff or session with the aerosol delivery device. The visual indicators used to display such information may be, for example, LCD, LED, OLED, AMOLED, ELD, PDP, e-ink displays or any other form known to those skilled in the art. Display panels having a plurality of pixels may be included, including pixelated display panels. Additionally or alternatively, visual indicator 28 may include one or more non-pixelated display elements, such as one or more LEDs. If visual indicator 28 includes one or more LEDs, the color of each LED can be selected from a set of LED colors known to those skilled in the art, and/or more than one color. (e.g., one or more RGB LEDs can be used). As further described herein, the at least one visual indicator 28 is provided from one or more emissive visual feedback elements located within the housing of the reusable device portion 2. one or more light pipes, optical fibers or others configured to direct visual feedback signals to one or more display areas visible on, into or through the housing surface of the housing of the second housing surface; It may further include one or more light guiding elements, such as transparent or translucent light transmitting elements.

Controller 22 not only provides conventional operating functions of an aerosol delivery system in accordance with established techniques for controlling such devices, but also functions in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure as further described herein. The aerosol delivery system is suitably configured/programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system to provide The controller (processor circuit) 22 may be thought of as logically including various subunits/circuit elements associated with various aspects of the operation of the aerosol delivery system 1. In this example, controller 22 includes a power control circuit that controls power delivery from power supply 26 to aerosol generator 48 in response to user input, and configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input. and other functional units/circuits associated with functionality according to the principles described herein and conventional operational aspects of aerosol delivery systems, such as display drive circuits and user input detection circuits. Be prepared. The functionality of controller 22 may be implemented, for example, by one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and/or by one or more suitably programmed computer(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. It will be appreciated that the application-specific integrated circuit(s)/circuitry/chip(s)/chipset(s) configured may be used in a variety of different ways. Dew. The controller 22 transfers data between the reusable device portion 2 and an external computing device, such as a smartphone or a personal computer (not shown), by a wireless transfer protocol such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC) or Zigbee. It may include a wireless transceiver and associated control circuitry to enable the transfer. Controller 22 also includes one or more data storage devices (e.g., ROM or (memory elements such as RAM elements).

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, reusable device portion 2 is electrically connected to controller 22 and in fluid communication with a portion of the air flow path between air inlet 24 and mouthpiece 41. An air flow sensor 30 such as a pressure sensor or a flow sensor (eg, a hot wire anemometer) may be included. The air flow sensor 30 may be disposed, for example, on the wall of the air inlet channel 25 or chamber 50 and/or into or part of the air flow path defined by the air inlet channel 25 or chamber 50. It may extend at least partially over the entire length. In some embodiments, a combined airflow and temperature sensor is used that allows the temperature of the airflow in a portion of the airflow path within the device to be determined. In some embodiments, air flow sensor 30 includes a so-called "puff sensor" in that the signal from air flow sensor 30 is used by controller 22 to detect when a user is puffing the device. In some embodiments, the detection of the user's puff by the controller 22 to control powering the aerosol generator/heater 48 (e.g., the controller 22 detects the air between the air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41) detecting a signal from the airflow sensor 30 indicating the pressure and/or flow rate in the flow path and determining whether it is above or below a predetermined threshold. It will be done. Thus, controller 22 can distribute power from power source 26 to aerosol generator 48 in response to at least the signal that controller 22 receives from airflow sensor 30 . The specific manner in which the signal output from the air flow sensor 30 is used by the controller 22 to control the power supply from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 (the capacitive, resistive, or measuring the characteristics of the airflow through the aerosol delivery system (e.g., determined based on the signal output by the airflow sensor 30) according to any technique known to those skilled in the art (e.g., , pressure, flow rate and/or velocity) to the aerosol generator 48). In some cases, (e.g., if the airflow parameter value determined based on the signal received from the airflow sensor 30 is on one side of a predetermined threshold) is on the other side of a predetermined threshold, the signal received from the pressure sensor (i.e., by not supplying power) to the aerosol generator 48 Generator 48 is “puffed”) is used by controller 22. In other embodiments, the power supply to the aerosol generator 48 is controlled via other means (e.g., by the button 14) and the power delivery is varied based on signals received by the controller 22 from the airflow sensor. (e.g., adjusted proportionally to airflow parameters determined based on signals received from airflow sensor 30). However, it will be appreciated that the inclusion of an airflow sensor is optional, and in some embodiments, an airflow sensor is not included. In such embodiments, the power supply to the aerosol generator 48 may be switched on and off by the button 14, or the power supply to the aerosol generator 48 may be switched on and off by the button 14. The supply is switched off by controller 22 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. For example, controller 22 detects a predetermined input signal (e.g., provided by button 14 or detects by a suitable sensor that a user has inserted consumable part 4 into chamber 50). ), the controller may begin powering the aerosol generator 48 from the battery 26 and start a timer. When the elapsed time/duration on the timer reaches a predetermined threshold (eg, 210 seconds), the controller 22 may stop providing power to the aerosol generator 48. The duration of operation of aerosol generator 48 at a predetermined power level is based on the time it takes for aerosol generator 48 to aerosolize/volatize a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material 48 within consumable portion 4 can be set. Suitable activation durations (i.e., the time from activation of aerosol generator 48 after which controller 22 automatically turns off power to aerosol generator 48) can be determined by experiment or model. can be determined for a given consumable part 4 using

In some embodiments, the hole 51 in the reusable part 2 through which the consumable part 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 can be opened and closed by a door (not shown), which It is movable between the closed and open positions so as to allow insertion of the consumable part 4 into the reusable device part 2 when in the open position. The door can be flush with the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion and can slide along an axis between open and closed positions or pivot between open and closed positions. is configured to do so. When the user slides or pivots the door to either the open or closed position, a spring or magnet biases the door to the open or closed position. Can be held in either position.

Reusable portion 2 typically includes an aerosol generator 48 located near heating area 53 of consumable chamber 50 . The aerosol generator is an element or device configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4, for example by heating. Accordingly, in some embodiments, aerosol generator 48 converts the aerosol-generating material within consumable portion 4 into thermal energy such that the aerosol-generating material releases one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. a heater configured to be exposed to In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured such that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, aerosol generator 48 may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material within consumable portion 4 to one or more vibrations, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy to volatilize the aerosol-generating material. good. It will be appreciated that in a two-part device as shown in FIG. 1, some parts of the aerosol generator 48 may be either the reusable device part 2 and/or the consumable part 4. There will be. In some cases, the consumable portion 4 may include a cartridge containing a powered aerosol generator (e.g., a heater) and in addition to or in addition to the aerosol generator 48 in the reusable device portion 2. Instead of the generator 48 , the reusable device portion 2 connects the consumable portion with the power source 26 and controller 22 in the reusable device portion 4 once the consumable portion 4 is fully or partially received within the chamber 50 . It will be further appreciated that an electrical interface may be included, including electrical contacts disposed within the chamber 50 to electrically connect the aerosol generator within the chamber 50 .

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the aerosol generator 48 including at least one heating element is a cylindrical tube with a hollow internal heating chamber such that the consumable portion 4 containing the aerosol generating material 43 is heated. It is formed as a cylindrical tube configured to impart thermal energy in use to the heating region 53 of the chamber/receiving recess 50 inserted into the chamber/receiving recess 50 . As further described herein, the heating element may directly form part of the tube containing chamber 50 or may be placed around or near heating region 53 of the tube containing chamber 50. Good too. Various arrangements for the aerosol generator/heater 48 are possible. In some embodiments, heater 48 may include a single heating element (e.g., a resistive trace, track, and/or winding), or may include a single heating element (e.g., a resistive trace, track, and/or winding) or a It may be formed from a plurality of heating elements aligned (eg, radially). Each of the one or more heating elements included in the heater 48 may have a circumference that is annular or cylindrical, or at least partially annular or partially cylindrical. The one or more heating elements may include one or more thin film heaters that include one or more resistive tracks in a heat resistant substrate, including, for example, a polyimide film. The one or more heating elements can be made of a ceramic material, including for example aluminum nitride or silicon nitride ceramics, which can be laminated and sintered with one or more heating layers to form a heater according to techniques known in the art. May include. Other heater configurations are possible, including, for example, induction heating elements, infrared heater elements that heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed, for example, by resistive electrical windings. In the latter case, the resistance winding may be placed around a ceramic, metal or high temperature polymer tube, or may include a heating region 53 of the chamber 50 for heat dissipation into a cavity within the heating region 53. or placed around such a tube. A battery 26 is electrically connected to provide power to the heating element when required and, under control of the control circuit 22, to combust the aerosolizable material (as discussed further herein). heating the aerosolizable material in the consumable 4 (in order to volatilize the aerosolizable material without removing the aerosolizable material).

The rate at which the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion is vaporized by the aerosol generator/heater 48 will depend on the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 48. Power can thus be applied to the aerosol generator 48 to selectively generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material within the consumable 4, and the rate of aerosol generation can be controlled, e.g. and/or by varying the amount of power delivered to the aerosol generator 48 by frequency modulation techniques.

In some embodiments, the at least one heating element included in the aerosol generator 48 is a thermally conductive tube formed, for example, from stainless steel, including a portion of the wall of the chamber 50 that receives at least a portion of the consumable portion 4. surrounding this thermally conductive tube. At least the portion of the tube near the heating element(s) may be considered to include the heating region 53 of the chamber 50. The inner diameter of the tube containing the chamber 50 is sized relative to the diameter of the consumable portion 4 inserted into the tube. The tube may be slightly tapered (not shown) from a wider diameter at the bore 51 to a narrower diameter at the base of the chamber distal to the bore 51, so that , when the consumable part 4 is slid into the chamber 50, the end distal to the mouthpiece 41 is slightly radially compressed as the consumable part 4 reaches the end of its travel into the chamber 50. As a result, the consumable part 4 is gradually retained within the chamber 50. This configuration prevents the consumable part 4 from sliding accordingly and accidentally coming out of the reusable device part 4, for example if the reusable device part 4 is turned upside down during use. I can do it. The chamber 50 may also be slightly flared or the hole edges may be beveled to allow consumable parts to be easily guided into the chamber 50. The chamber 50 therefore acts as an elongated support for supporting the consumable portion 4 containing the aerosol-generating material during use. The diameter of the chamber 50 in the heating region 53 is generally selected to closely match the diameter of the consumable portion 4 so that the outer surface of the consumable portion 4 and the inner surface of the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 are This will ensure contact with a substantial portion and allow sufficient transfer of heat from one or more heating elements included in the aerosol generator 48 to the consumable portion 4 .

In embodiments where aerosol generator 48 includes a heater, the tube containing heated region 53 of chamber 50 includes a material that transfers heat from heater 48 to consumable portion 4, typically aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, etc. , conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, ferritic stainless steel, molybdenum, copper, and bronze. In other embodiments, the portion of the tube containing the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 may be made from a different material, so long as it is thermally conductive. Other heating elements 48 may be used in other embodiments. For example, the heating element 48 may include a susceptor (e.g. , the portion of the tube containing the chamber 50).

Typically, if the aerosol generator 48 includes one or more heating elements, the aerosol generator 48 will generate aerosol in the consumable part when the consumable 4 is inserted into the reusable device part 2. The distribution of aerosol-generating material within consumable portion 4 is sized such that substantially all of the material is heated during use (e.g., the longitudinal extent of heating region 53 through the axis of chamber 50 (which may accommodate the longitudinal extent of the distribution of aerosol-generating material 43 within consumable portion 4 when portion 4 is received into chamber 50 for use). In some embodiments, the one or more heating elements included in the aerosol generator 48 are configured such that the selected zone of aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion 4 is heated as desired (e.g., a chamber containing the heating region 53). 50 independently controllable heating elements) may be arranged such that they can be heated independently, e.g. sequentially (over time) or together (simultaneously). .

As described further herein, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube that includes, is embedded in, or surrounds the heating region 53 of the chamber 50. be. The chamber formed by the inner portion of the tube containing the heated region 53 typically connects the mouse of the reusable device portion 2 via the non-heated region 52 (sometimes referred to as the extension region/chamber) of the chamber 50. It is in fluid communication with the hole 51 in the piece end. In such embodiments, the unheated region 52 includes a tubular body having a first open end adjacent to or including the holes 51 and a second open end adjacent to the heated chamber region 53 of the chamber 50. . In this way, the unheated region 52 and the heated region 53 can be thought of as tubular portions of the chamber 50 that are arranged end-to-end. Generally, the diameters of expansion region 52 and heating region 53 are such that the diameters of expansion region 52 and heating region 53 are such that the diameters of expansion region 52 and heating region 53 are such that the non-mouthpiece end of consumable portion 4 ensures smooth passage through non-heating region 52 and into heating region 53. It will be adapted at the interface with region 53. The unheated/expanded region 52 and heated region 53 of the tube containing chamber 50 may be formed separately and connected by a mechanical bonding process, or may be formed integrally. In some embodiments, the unheated region 52 has a flared cross section (not shown) that widens as it exits the hole 51 and a cross section of substantially constant inner diameter near the interface with the heated region 53. .

In some embodiments, the consumable portion 4 has a mouthpiece at a portion of the consumable portion 4 that is within the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the reusable device portion 2. 41 is in the form of a cylindrical rod having or containing an aerosol-generating material 43 at its distal end. To provide a specific example, in one embodiment, consumable portion 4 has a diameter of approximately 8 mm and a length of approximately 84 mm. The depth of the chamber 50 of the reusable device portion is such that when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use, the mouthpiece end 41 of the consumable portion 4 typically extends from the hole (e.g., 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm or more than 30 mm) relative to the length of the consumable portion 4. Thus, the mouthpiece end of the consumable part 4 typically extends out of the hole 51 from the reusable device part 2. The consumable part 4 may include a filter/cooling element 44 located between the mouthpiece 41 and the region of aerosol-generating material 43 for filtering/cooling the aerosol. The consumable portion 4 is typically circumferentially wrapped with a wrapper/outer layer (not shown) which may include a paper material and/or a metal foil and/or a polymeric film such as Natureflex™. . The outer layer of consumable portion 4 may be permeable to allow heated volatile components from aerosol-generating material 43 to escape from consumable portion 2 before reaching mouthpiece 41. In some embodiments, the wrapper can include a metallic material in the vicinity of the aerosol-generating material 43, which heats the aerosol-generating material 43 by induction heating. It is configured to act as a susceptor that is heated by induction by one or more magnetic field generators/drive coils (not shown). For example, in such embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 includes one or more magnetic field generators/drive coils configured to cause inductive heating of the metal wrapper of the consumable 4 and/or the consumable portion. The consumable portion 4 may include one or more susceptor elements embedded within the aerosol-generating material 43 within the consumable portion 4 to cause heating of the aerosol-generating material 43 within the consumable portion 4 . It will be appreciated that the configuration of the consumable part 4 described above is exemplary and one skilled in the art may modify the overall structure of the consumable part according to techniques known in the art.

In some embodiments, aerosol generator 48 includes at least one heating element configured to transfer heat to consumable portion 4 (in accordance with techniques for heating further described herein); and at least one magnetic field generator/drive coil configured to inductively heat at least one susceptor element included in consumable portion 4 (in accordance with techniques further described herein). In such embodiments, aerosol-generating material 43 can include a plurality of aerosol-generating materials, and at least a first aerosol-generating material of the plurality of aerosol-generating materials is removed from consumable portion 4 from aerosol generator 48. At least a second aerosol-generating material of the plurality of aerosol-generating materials is heated by the one or more susceptors contained within or on the consumable 4 .

If the aerosol generator 48 is configured to heat the consumable part 4 , the part of the aerosol generator 48 and/or the heating region 53 of the chamber 50 or the consumable part 4 or the reusable device part The temperature of any part of 2 may be detected by controller 22 using one or more temperature sensors. For example, a heating element included in aerosol generator 48 may include a material that has a temperature coefficient of resistance property such that the resistance varies with temperature. The controller 22 determines the resistance of the heating element using known techniques and uses this result either experimentally or by modeling to relate the heating element resistance to temperature in order to estimate the temperature of the aerosol generator 48 based on the measured resistance. The resulting lookup table can be compared. Alternatively or additionally, one or more temperature sensing elements, such as a thermistor, may be placed in the vicinity of the heating region 53 (e.g., attached to or embedded in the tube containing the heating region 53 of the chamber 50). , said thermistor is connected to the controller 22 so that the controller 22 can monitor the temperature of the consumable part 4 and/or the heating area 53. The temperature of the air within the air inlet channel 25 may also be monitored by one or more temperature sensors (eg, a combined temperature and pressure sensor or a thermistor).

Typically, the main flow path for heated volatile components produced by heating the aerosol-generating material 43 by the heater 48 passes axially through the consumable portion 4 and through the filter/cooling element 44 (if included); It reaches the user's mouth via the open end of the mouthpiece 41. However, some of the volatile components escape from the consumable portion 4 and pass through its permeable outer wrapper to the space surrounding the consumable portion 4 (e.g., to the outer surface of the consumable 4) in the unheated chamber region 52. The space formed by an optional air gap (not shown) between the flared portion of the unheated/expanded chamber region 53 and the inner surface of the chamber 50).

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating material" 43 generally includes materials that, upon heating, provide volatile components, typically in the form of vapor or aerosol. The "aerosol generating material" may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. The "aerosol-generating material" may include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extracts, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol-generating material can be in the form of ground tobacco, shredded rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, regenerated tobacco, regenerated aerosol-generating material, liquid, gel, amorphous solid, gelled sheet, powder, or mass. "Aerosol-generating materials" may also include other non-tobacco products and, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. The "aerosol-generating material" may include one or more humectants, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

As mentioned above, the aerosol-generating material 43 may include an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous), or a "dry gel." There is. Amorphous solids are solid materials that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, inside them. In some cases, the aerosol generating material comprises about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% amorphous solids, up to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% amorphous solids. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material consists of an amorphous solid.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is a non-liquid aerosol-generating material, and the reusable device portion is configured to heat the non-liquid aerosol-generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material. belongs to.

Once all or substantially all of the volatile component(s) of the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 have been used up, the user removes the consumable part 4 from the reusable device part 1 and removes the consumable part 4 from the reusable device part 1. 4 can be disposed of. The user can then reuse the reusable device part 2 with another consumable part 4. However, in other respective embodiments, the consumable part 4 and the reusable device part 2 may be disposed of once the volatile component(s) of the aerosol-generating material are consumed. The consumable portion 4 may be configured with a quantity of aerosol-generating material that is configured to be heated and depleted over a single heating cycle (e.g., 210 seconds of activation duration). It may be configured with an amount of aerosol-generating material that is configured to be used up over multiple heating cycles. In the latter case, the consumable part 4 may be considered a reusable consumable part 4.

In some embodiments, the consumable part 4 may be sold, supplied, or otherwise provided separately from the reusable device part 2 with which the consumable part 4 is usable. However, in some embodiments, one or more of the reusable device portion 2 and the consumable portion 4 are provided as a system, such as a kit or assembly, possibly with additional components such as cleaning tools. , may be provided together.

As further described herein, the controller 22 may indicate to the user the status or use of the aerosol generation system 1 by one or more feedback mechanisms/indicators included in the reusable device 1. There is class information for . Such information may be referred to as "feedback" or "usage information" and may include visual indicators 28 (described further herein), display unit 16, an audible feedback mechanism (such as a microphone), or a tactile feedback mechanism (such as a microphone). (e.g., an eccentric rotating mass actuator). Feedback/usage information presented to the user by visual, audible and/or tactile feedback mechanisms/indicators may include any of the following non-exhaustive list of classes of information.
Regardless of whether the battery 26 is below a charging threshold, e.g., less than 75%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of full charge, the remaining energy of the battery (e.g., less than 5% of full charge) battery output voltage, number of charging cycles, battery temperature, maximum output power, number of heating cycles remaining before battery depletion, or battery error Information regarding the condition of the battery 26, including, but not limited to, indicators of condition. As those skilled in the art will readily understand, these parameters may be determined and/or estimated by controller 22 connected to battery 26 in a variety of ways according to techniques known in the art.
the length of the puff or session, or the intensity or duration of the puff; e.g., an indication of the pressure drop during the user's inhalation; the air flow rate or airflow velocity during the user's inhalation; the airflow between the air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41; Information regarding the airflow in the aerosol delivery system, including but not limited to the air temperature in a portion of the tract, or the elapsed time or total duration of the user puff. Such information may be established by controller 22 based on signals received from airflow sensor 30. As those skilled in the art will readily understand, these parameters can be determined and/or estimated by controller 22 connected to airflow sensor 30 in a variety of ways according to techniques known in the art.
An indication of the actual power currently being delivered to the aerosol generating element 48 or delivered during a previous heating cycle, the current power setting (e.g., either by default or by the user, or in any other manner by the controller) 22 and which will be applied to the aerosol generation element 48 in the next heating cycle), an indication of an error condition in the aerosol generation element 48, and a binary indication of whether the aerosol generation element 48 is activated. information regarding the operation and status of the aerosol-generating element 48, including, but not limited to, indicators or indicators of the temperature of the heater containing the aerosol-generating element 48; As those skilled in the art will readily understand, these parameters can be determined and/or estimated by controller 22 connected to aerosol generation element 48 in a variety of ways according to techniques known in the art.
Including, but not limited to, measures of number of puffs within a predetermined time period, measures of number of sessions within a predetermined time period, measures of average puff or session length, measures of average puff intensity or duration. Information on the usage statistics of the aerosol delivery system.

Generally, one or more parameter values, including feedback/usage information, are converted by controller 22 into a representation for display to a user on visual indicator 28. In this regard, it will be appreciated that a variety of representations may be used to visually represent feedback/usage information. For example, parameter values that include usage information may be expressed as absolute values or as positions of values with respect to predetermined ranges. For example, the temperature of a heating element included in aerosol generator 48, as measured by controller 22 according to techniques further described herein, may be expressed as an absolute value, such as 200° C., to give one non-limiting example. may be done. Such values may also be expressed in terms of a position within a predetermined range of values, so that, for example, 200°C is midway between a range of 150°C to 250°C, or 125°C to It may be expressed as three quarters of the way between the 225°C range. Thus, expressions in the former example may include expressions of the form "1/2" or "50%" or (50/100), and expressions in the latter example may include expressions in the form "1/2" or "50%" or "75%". or (75/100). Multiple ranges may be used to map the absolute value of a parameter to one or more classes. For example, “low” may be defined as a class of heating element temperatures (t) where 50<t≦150°C, “medium” may be defined as a class of temperatures where 150<t≦250°C, and “ "High" may be defined as a class of temperatures where 250<t≦350°C. Therefore, in this scheme, the temperature detected by controller 22 at t=200° C. may be mapped by controller 22 to the “intermediate” class. In some embodiments, parameter values that include usage information are given a binary classification for the value (e.g., "1" or "0", or "on" or "off", or "yes" or "no"). If so, it may be assigned to one of two classes depending on whether it is above or below a predetermined threshold. Although these examples have been described in terms of usage information including parameter values for temperature associated with the aerosol delivery system 1, any usage information, including but not limited to those further described herein. It will be appreciated that similar techniques may be used for other forms of representation.

It will be appreciated that parameter values, including usage information, may be displayed by visual indicator 28 using one or more visual representations. For example, in a visual indicator that includes a pixelated display area (eg, an LCD display panel, etc.), parameter values may be represented alphanumerically (eg, by displaying the temperature as "200° C." in an array of pixels). Values or classes of values can also be defined using a predetermined mapping (e.g. using a color map that maps a range of colors to values/classes within a predetermined range of values/classes). It may be assigned to one or more display colors. For example, if there are only two classes, each of the classes in the set mentioned above may be assigned a different color (e.g. green for "low", orange for "medium", red for "high"). , the class to which the displayed parameter value belongs can be indicated by a simple binary indicator. For example, if visual indicator 28 includes a display with one or more lighting elements (e.g., a backlit LCD display, or one or more LEDs), visual indicator 28 may be configured such that the parameter value is set to a predetermined threshold. or the display may be illuminated by the controller 22 when the parameter value is above a predetermined threshold and not illuminated by the controller 22 if the parameter value is below a predetermined threshold. When the parameter value is below a predetermined threshold value, the second color may be displayed.

Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, values and/or classes of values may be represented by a particular pattern displayed on visual indicator 28. For example, a value/range of values may be mapped to a particular frequency to which the brightness and/or color of the visual feedback displayed on the visual feedback device may be adjusted. For example, the "low" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses at a frequency of 3 Hz, and the "medium" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses of the same duration at a frequency of 6 Hz. The "high" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses of the same duration at a frequency of 6 Hz. Each "on" pulse is visually activated to display a predetermined form of visual feedback (e.g., showing a solid color indicator for 0.1 s) in display area 281 for a certain pulse duration. A controller 22 may be included to control the indicator 28, where the visual indicator 28 is controlled not to display the predetermined form of visual feedback between pulses (e.g., the display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 is It may be controlled to emit light during the on pulse, and may be controlled not to emit light between the "on" pulses). Alternatively, in some embodiments, the pattern associated with the value or class for the parameter value is between the first color during each "on" pulse and between "on" pulses. and/or adjusting between a first brightness/brightness during each "on" pulse and a second color between "on" pulses. This may include adjusting between two lower brightness/brightness levels. Different pulse frequencies may be mapped to different ranges for the displayed usage information/feedback parameter (e.g., each of the plurality of classes described above may be assigned a different pulse frequency), or the pulse frequency may be mapped to different ranges for the displayed usage information/feedback parameter. to change continuously as the value changes according to a function such as f = x ^* c, where f is the pulse frequency, x is the value of the displayed parameter, and c is the scaling constant. may be controlled by the controller 22. The pulse "on" time can be set to any suitable predetermined value or can be scaled as a function of the parameter x.

The use of color and/or binary indicators (such as illuminating or not illuminating the display area of a visual indicator) and/or the use of temporary illumination patterns to represent parameter values does not take into account alphanumeric representations. It may be particularly useful in allowing parameters to be displayed by a visual indicator 28 (e.g., a non-pixelated display such as a single LED, and/or a light pipe as further described herein). You will understand what you can do. However, in pixelated displays that allow alphanumeric representations of parameter values, the display of colors that represent the values and/or the representation of the values, either instead of or in conjunction with the alphanumeric representations. It will be appreciated that binary indicators and/or temporal display patterns may be used.

The inventors have recognized that certain configurations may be particularly advantageous for the placement of visual indicators 28 associated with aerosol delivery system 1. In particular, we have proposed that the visual indicator/visual feedback indicator 28 may be provided with a display/display area 281 disposed/extending around the hole 51 in which the consumable portion 4 is received. It has been recognized that this can offer certain advantages in terms of visibility of used information.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a part of the reusable device part 2 that corresponds to the upper left part of the reusable device part 2 schematically shown in FIG. Obviously, FIG. 2 schematically shows the part of the outer housing of the reusable device part 2 in which the hole 51 is located and in which the consumable part 4 is received. The portion of the consumable part 4 that extends from the hole 51 when the consumable part 4 is received in the chamber 50 is shown schematically using hatched lines. The surface area 29 of the housing of the reusable device part 2 surrounding the hole 51 is shown. In various embodiments, the hole 51 may be located at any suitable location in the outer housing of the reusable device portion, and the surface area 29 surrounding the hole 51 may be flat or curved or any other shape. It will be appreciated that the shape may also be a shape. In many embodiments, the surface area 29 of the housing surrounding the hole is oriented generally perpendicular to the long axis of the consumable chamber 50, and the reusable device portion 2 is oriented for puffing with the device. When held together with the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 in the uppermost position, it forms what can be considered the mouthpiece "end" of the reusable part, which is visible to the user. 1 and 2, the reusable part 2 comprises an elongated "box" such that the surface area 29 surrounding the hole 51 is oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the reusable device part 2. Although this configuration is exemplary, the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion, including surface area 29, may be circular, oval, polyhedral, or any other suitable shape. It will be understood that it may be. Typically, the mouthpiece end face includes a surface of the housing of the aerosol delivery system that is oriented generally perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber in which the consumable portion 4 is configured to be received, and/or , the mouthpiece end face comprises a surface of the housing of the aerosol delivery system oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the consumable part 4 . Typically, the outer circumference of the mouthpiece end face 29 will correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the reusable device portion 2 along a substantial proportion of its length.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a visual indicator 28 arranged around the hole 51. Visual indicator 28 includes a display area 281 that is visible to the user and that provides visual feedback/usage information (e.g., as further described herein) in or through the display area under control of controller 22. A representation of the usage information described) can be displayed. The display/display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 (some or all of which may be configured to display visual feedback to the user, such as an illuminated signal) matches the surface contours of the surrounding surface area 29. It may be continuous, or it may be embedded in or extend outwardly from the surface contour. In some embodiments, the housing near the surrounding surface area 29 of the reusable device portion 2 is transparent or translucent to reuse the display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 where visual feedback is displayed. The user may be able to see through the housing of the usable device part 2, and thus in such embodiments the translucent or transparent part of the housing of the reusable device part 2 It may be located between the visible/display portion 281 of the visual indicator 28 and the outer surface of the reusable device portion 2. Generally, the "visible portion" or "display area" of a visual indicator includes an area configured to display to a user a representation of a parameter, including usage information, a pixelated display area, and/or a luminescent display area. It may include a structured surface area. In some instances, the visible portion or display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 (some or all of which may be configured to display usage information) covers all or part of the mouthpiece end area 29 surrounding the hole 51. The display area 281 typically provides a user with visual feedback provided to the visual indicator 28 when looking at the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2 along the central axis of the chamber 50. is oriented generally perpendicular to the central axis of chamber 50 to allow viewing.

In the example shown schematically in FIG. 2, the hole 51 is circular and the display/display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 has an annular shape that generally surrounds the hole 51 (i.e. extends continuously around the hole). ). The display area 281 is typically continuous around the hole (in the sense that the visual indicator 28 has a display/display area that forms an enclosed loop surrounding the hole 51), but this is discussed herein. As further explained in the text, this is not the case in all embodiments and therefore the display may extend partially or completely around/around the hole 51. Generally, display area 281 follows the contour of surface area 29 surrounding hole 29. In some embodiments, the display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 may include all or substantially all of the mouthpiece end face of the reusable portion. Although in FIG. 2 the holes 51 are circular, in other cases the holes 51 may have other shapes (e.g., elliptical, rectangular or polyhedral); It will be appreciated that the inner boundary closest to the hole 51 may closely follow the shape of the hole 51 and be either continuous with the hole or separated from the hole by an annular housing portion. The inner and outer boundaries of display area 281 may follow the same contour (e.g., in FIG. 2, the inner and outer areas defined in the plane of surface area 29 with respect to hole 51 are both circular). , forming an annular 2D (two-dimensional) viewing area with a constant radial thickness in the plane of the surface area 29). In other embodiments, the inner and outer boundaries of display area 281 may have various shapes. For example, the inner border can be circular shaped to be continuous with the hole 51 and the outer border is the mouse of the reusable device 2 oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50. It may be a rectangle that includes all or substantially all of the area range of the piece end face 29.

Visual indicator 28 may be formed in a variety of ways. For example, the visual indicator 28 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display, an electroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel ( A pixelated display/display area 281 may be included, including a PDP), an e-ink display, or any other form of display known to those skilled in the art. In this regard, the visual indicator may include one or more lighting elements (e.g., the visual indicator may be a backlit display panel, such as a pixelated LED display panel) or (a number of External lighting may be relied upon for visual feedback displayed in the display area 281 viewed by the user (as may be the case with e-ink display panels). The former class of visual indicators can be considered "actively illuminated" visual indicators, and the latter class of visual indicators can be considered "passive" visual indicators.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the display of the feedback mechanism disposed around the hole 51 may be subdivided into multiple display areas that may optionally be independently controlled by the controller 22. FIG. 3 schematically depicts the visible portion of an exemplary visual indicator 28 disposed around the hole 51 when viewed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50. In this embodiment, the display of visual indicator 28 takes an annular form and is subdivided into four quadrants/display areas 281A, 281B, 281C and 281D, each covering approximately 90 degrees of the circumference of the display. There is. These quadrants may be continuous with each other around the hole, or they may be spaced apart. Each of the four quadrants may be separately activated by controller 22 to display usage information according to techniques further described herein. Activation and/or illumination of successive quadrants/display areas 281A-281D (e.g., in the direction of the hatched arrows) includes usage information associated with each quadrant/display area and the aerosol delivery system 1. It can be used to indicate the value of a parameter containing usage information based on a mapping between predetermined ranges of values for a particular parameter. For example, if the usage information displayed by the visual indicator includes the elapsed time t in a heating cycle with a predetermined duration of T seconds, then the controller 22 controls the quadrant 281A if t≦(T/4). If (T/4)<t≦(T/2), then quadrants 281A and 281B are illuminated; if (T/2)<t≦(2T/3), quadrants 281A and 281B are illuminated; 281A, 281B, and 281C, and if (T2/3)<t, quadrants 281A, 281B, 281C, and 281D can be illuminated. It will be appreciated that the same principles may be applied to display any other parameters associated with the use of the device (e.g., temperature, flow rate, or power level as further described herein). Probably. Although four quadrants are shown in Figure 3, in principle the visual indicators could be any number of quadrants to give finer granularity to the display of each parameter value for a predetermined range of values. It will be further understood that the display area may be subdivided into individual display areas. In some embodiments, a predetermined range of values (e.g., defined as a range between a minimum value and a maximum value) for a given parameter is divided into several subranges each having equal-sized subranges. They can be grouped into consecutive non-overlapping classes, where the number of classes is equal to the number of individual individually controllable display areas 281 available in the visual indicator. In that case, each display area can be assigned to a given class such that classes representing a series of subranges are mapped to individual display areas 281 at a series of positions around the hole 51. For a given current value of a parameter value displayed in the visual indicator 28, the controller 22 first determines to which class the parameter value belongs and then activates the respective display area corresponding to said class. , optionally, all individual display areas corresponding to all classes covering a range of values less than a given current value may be activated. "Activation" of the display area in this context is based on a binary indicator (such as illuminating or not illuminating the display area 281 depending on a parameter value), a predetermined mapping of different colors to different parameter values. for displaying usage information, including displaying a particular color in the display area 281 and/or modulating the brightness and/or color of the visual feedback provided in the display area 281 with a modulation frequency that is a function of the parameter value. may follow any of the approaches further described herein.

The embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 4 is similar to and understood from FIG. 2 and shows an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 3, in which the visual indicator 28 is , a display having a plurality of display areas 281-288 arranged around the hole 51. In the embodiment shown schematically in FIG. 4, each display area follows a circular path around the hole 51, such that a display comprising a plurality of display areas 281 is arranged/extends around the hole 51. It is arranged as follows. Each of the display areas 281-288 may be continuous with its neighboring display areas such that the visual indicator 28 includes a continuous display extending around the hole 51, or the circular area in which the display areas are located. The spacing around the tract may provide multiple spatially separated (eg, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or more than 5 mm) display areas. The display areas 281-288 may be continuous with the rim of the hole 51 or radially away from the edge of the hole 51 by a certain distance (eg, 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or more than 5 mm). It may be separated by In some embodiments, the visual indicator 28 may include a plurality of display areas 281-288, each including an LED embedded in or located inside the outer housing of the reusable device portion 2. , a reusable device in which light from the LED is transmitted for display to a user through a hole in the outer housing or through a light-transmitting element such as a light pipe or fiber optic element passing through the outer housing. Several parts of light-transmitting elements, visible on the outer surface 29 of part 2, are arranged around the hole 51. If the display of the visual indicator 28 includes a plurality of independently controllable display areas 281-288, the controller 22 may configure the display to display usage information in accordance with the techniques described with respect to the embodiment schematically illustrated in FIG. may be configured.

In some embodiments, the display of visual indicators is disposed/extended non-continuously around the hole 51. FIG. 4 shows a visual indicator 28 comprising a plurality of display areas 281-288 arranged in a continuous path around the hole, while some parts of the outer housing of the reusable device part 2 separating each display area from an adjacent display area so that the visual feedback provides a plurality of separate visible/display areas separated by areas of the outer surface 29 of the reusable device portion 2 where visual feedback is not displayed by the controller 22; A display of visual indicators 28 is included. FIG. 5, which is distinguished from FIGS. 2 and 4, also shows a visual indicator 28 that is not continuous around the hole 51. However, in this embodiment, visual indicator 28 includes a single continuous display area rather than multiple display areas as shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the visible display area of the visual indicator 28 is formed by a cutout 290 that extends a certain angular range around the circumference of the annular display portion (e.g., a non-contact portion of the outer housing of the reusable device portion). an annular display portion having a display portion). Generally, the cutout will occupy an angular extent of <50% of the circumference of the annular display portion of the visual indicator 28, but it will be appreciated that any suitable value may be selected. Typically, a display extending around the hole 51 will include one or more display areas 281 extending around a path around the hole 51, such that the display including the display area will extend around the hole 51. extending continuously or discontinuously around an angular range of ≧Π radians.

The visual indicator 28 shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 includes an annular display having a circular inner and outer border. However, in other embodiments, the visual indicators/displays placed around the hole 51 may have other geometries. For example, the display of visual indicator 28 may be continuous or partially continuous along a notional path around hole 51 having an oval, triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polyhedral contour. It may be placed in Alternatively, the displays may be arranged continuously or partially continuously along a notional path around the hole 51 with a free-form contour.

In some embodiments, visual indicator 28 includes at least two concentrically arranged display areas that are independently controllable by controller 22 such that controller 22 provides visual feedback/display at each display area. The display of usage information can be independently controlled. Accordingly, different instances of usage information (e.g., different representations of one or more parameter values that include usage information) may be displayed simultaneously or alternately in each display area by controller 22, but more than one It will be appreciated that the usage information displayed in each of the concentric display areas may be the same.

FIG. 6, distinguished from FIG. 2, schematically shows a hole 51 around which a visual indicator comprising two concentric display areas 281, 282 is arranged/extends. The two display areas 281 and 282 may be implemented according to any of the techniques further described herein (e.g., each may include a single contiguous display area, or e.g. It may include a plurality of display areas, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and/or each display area 281 or 282 may be continuous around the hole 51, as shown in FIG. It does not have to be continuous around the hole 51 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The first display area 281 is arranged around a first path around the hole 51 (i.e. extends around the hole 51), and the second display area 282 is arranged around a first path around the hole 51, and a second display area 282 is arranged around a first path around the hole 51. 1 (i.e., extending around the hole 51). In the example shown in FIG. 6, the first path and the second path are circular, and the first display area 281 and the second display area 282 both have an annular geometry. However, as further described herein, each of the plurality of concentric display areas of visual indicator 28 can have a variety of shapes, such that the inner boundaries of display portions 281 and 282 of visual indicator 28 It will be appreciated that the and outer boundaries may follow differently shaped paths. For example, in some embodiments, the first display area 281 (i.e., the display area closest to the hole 51) of the visual indicator 28 may include a circular ring, and the second display area 282 may be reusable. may include part or substantially all of the remaining surface area 29 of the mouthpiece end of the device portion 2 (eg, including a rectangular outer area and a circular inner area). The inner border of the second display portion 282 may be adjacent to the outer border of the first display portion 281 or the first display area and the second display area may be adjacent to the outer border of the second display portion 282. It will be appreciated that it may be separated by a non-display area of the housing of the reusable device part 2 located between the inner border and the outer border of the first display part 281.

FIG. 7 schematically shows a longitudinal section of a reusable device portion 2 of an aerosol delivery system 1 comprising a visual indicator 28 having two concentric display areas 281 and 282, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Shown below. In this regard, FIG. 7 may be considered to show a cross-section of the arrangement schematically shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the reusable device part 2 along the axis of the chamber 50 showing the visual indicator 28 including display areas 281 and 282 extending around the hole 51. In this exemplary embodiment, display areas 281 and 282 are both pixelated display screens (e.g., LCDs) having pixelated display surfaces disposed facing outward from the outside of reusable device portion 2. screen). Display areas 281 and 282 are both electrically connected to controller 22, which independently controls each of the display areas to display usage information in accordance with principles further described herein. Control. However, it will be appreciated that each of the plurality of display areas 281, 282 included in visual indicator 28 may be implemented according to any pixelated or non-pixelated display technique described herein. . As shown in FIG. 6, first display area 281 and second display area 282 of visual indicator 28 both include annular display areas, although this configuration is exemplary and will be described further herein. As shown, the display area can have a wide variety of shapes. The display area of visual indicator 28 is arranged to extend around opening 51 of chamber 50 in a manner further described herein. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the visual indicator 28 is located outside the tube 54 where the diameter of the hole through the first display area 281 includes a portion of the chamber 50 near the opening 51 (e.g., at the mouthpiece end of the tube 54). sized to closely fit the diameter (e.g., provide a slip fit or clearance fit to its outer diameter). The second display area 282 is arranged around both the hole 51 and the first display area 281 such that the inner diameter of the second display area 282 closely matches the outer diameter of the first display area 282. It is sized. Thus, during assembly of the reusable device portion, the visual indicator 28 can be sleeved against the mouthpiece end of the tube 54 that includes a portion of the chamber 50. The outer housing of the reusable device portion typically includes the outer surface of one or more display areas when the visual indicator 28 is attached to the reusable device portion 2. shaped with a channel fitted around the hole 51 or a notch around the hole 51 shaped to receive the visual indicator 28 so as to be flush with the end surface area 29; will be done. Typically, the outer surfaces of the plurality of display areas included in visual indicator 28 will also be coplanar with each other. However, in other embodiments, the outer surfaces of the first display area 281 and the second display area 282 may extend from the surrounding surface 29 or may be visible to the user. For example, it may be embedded in the surrounding surface. Typically, the first display area and the second display area are nested display areas (in that one is located within the other). Concentric display areas 281 and 282 may not be continuous with each other or with hole 51, and as described herein, in various embodiments, display areas 281 and 282 may be By intervening non-display areas of the outer housing of the reusable device part 2 can be separated from the rim of the hole 51 or from each other. Although FIG. 7 shows visual indicator 28 including two concentric/nested display areas 281 and 282, it will be appreciated that any number of display areas may be used in other embodiments. Probably.

In some embodiments, the one or more display areas of the visual indicator/visual feedback indicator 28 are implemented using a light guiding arrangement, and the one or more light guiding elements are connected to the reusable device portion 2. from one or more light-emitting elements (e.g. one or more LEDs) arranged within to a display part/area visible outside of the reusable device part 2 and arranged around the hole 51; Arranged to guide light. FIG. 8, distinguished from FIG. 7, schematically depicts a longitudinal section of a reusable device portion 2 of an aerosol delivery system 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As in FIG. 7, the first display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 is arranged around the hole 51 as in FIG. However, in this embodiment, the visual indicator 28 is adapted to direct a light signal from a lighting element 2811 in the housing of the reusable device part 2 to a display area 281 visible on the outer surface of the reusable device part 2. a first light guide configured in the form of an annular tube; The end face of the light guide includes a first display area 281 located at the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8, lighting elements 2811 (eg, one or more LEDs) are located on a printed circuit board (PCB) 221 that includes part of controller 22. In the example shown in FIG. The part of the visual indicator 28 that is arranged within the housing of the reusable device part 2 is shaped to be attached to the PCB 221, for example by providing the visual indicator 28 with a recess in which the lighting element 2811 is received. and the recess has a light-receiving surface for receiving light from the lighting element and a mating surface around the recess that can be mechanically fixed to the surface of the PCB or bonded by adhesive. A plurality of lighting elements 2811 are provided, e.g. LEDs of different colors (or one or more RGB LEDs), such that the color of the visual feedback provided by the visual indicator 28 is adjusted by the controller 22. It may be possible. Each of the one or more light transmissive portions/light guides of the visual indicator 28 includes a transparent or translucent material, such as a polymer or glass material, which allows the display of the lighting element 2811 and the visual indicator 28 to be Light can be transferred between regions. As shown schematically in FIG. 8, some portions of the outer wall of each light guide may be angled/chamfered to direct light from the lighting element(s) 2811 to the display area 281. Typically, the surfaces of the light guide, excluding the light receiving surface and display surface, are configured to facilitate reflection of light within the light guide. This promotion may include, for example, air and /or by selecting the refractive index of the light guide relative to the surrounding material of the reusable device part (eg, housing material). This includes polishing and/or providing a reflective coating (e.g. a metallic coating) on all of the outer surfaces of the reusable device part 2, except for the light-receiving surface and display area 281 located at the mouthpiece end. This may be enhanced, for example, by surface treatment of the light guide. Some or all of the light guide of visual indicator 28 may be translucent to diffuse/scatter the light received from lighting element 2811. The visual indicator 28 including the light pipe/light guide may be mechanically clamped or coupled to a PCB 221 included in the controller 22 and/or mechanically attached to a portion of the housing of the reusable device part 2. It may be attached and/or it may be mechanically attached to a portion of tube 54 that includes a portion of chamber 50. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wide range of mechanical fixation, adhesive bonding, thermal welding and other fixation techniques can be applied to attach one or more visual indicators in place within the reusable device portion 2. You will understand that.

The visual indicator 28 shown in FIG. 8 is arranged around the tube 54 containing part of the chamber 50 such that at least the display area 281 of the visual indicator is arranged around the hole 51. FIG. 8 further illustrates an optional second light guide included in visual indicator 28, where the second light guide is generally configured in the same manner as the first light guide, but is similar to the first light guide. Arranged concentrically, the two light guides therefore include concentric display areas 281 and 282 arranged around the hole 51. In the example shown schematically in FIG. 8, both light guides are sleeved against a tube 54, with the first light guide (indicated by hatching) containing a portion of the chamber 50 near the hole 51. and a second light guide (indicated by the dots) includes a light transmissive region including a circular cross-section tube sized to sleeve over the first visual light guide. In this way, the first light guide and the second light guide include nested light guides, one at least partially housed within the other, thereby creating a nested display area 281 and 282. As further described herein with respect to FIGS. 2-6, display areas 281 and 282 may include any shape, and the shape of each display area generally also provides a chamber for reusable device portion 2. 50 includes a cross-sectional shape of a light guide portion of the visual indicator extending in a direction of 50.

As further described herein, the display area 281 closest to the hole 51 around which the display area 281 is disposed may be spaced apart from the hole 51, or the display area 281 may The inner edge of the hole 51 may be continuous with the rim of the hole so as to actually form the periphery of the hole 51. The light guides/pipes used to form the display areas may be integrally formed with each other (e.g., by thermoplastic or resin molding techniques) and typically include two layers of reflective material. placed between each of the two or more light guides to prevent light leakage between them. In a single light guide, in the optical path, a layer of reflective material and/or a layer of opaque material between the plurality of illumination element(s) 2821 and the display disposed on the outer surface of the reusable device part 2. may be incorporated. Providing such layers (e.g., by co-molding them into the light guide during manufacturing) allows the light guide to be segmented into individual light-transmitting regions, thereby improving the illumination element(s) 2821. A separate optical path is defined between each of the plurality of subsets and each of the plurality of display areas. Thus, in one example, if the light guide includes a tubular light-transmitting region of annular cross-section with an end surface that includes an annular display region, the light-transmitting region extends radially from the inner annular surface to the outer annular surface of the light-transmitting region. , can be segmented into multiple segments by placing a reflective/opaque layer extending parallel to the centerline of the tube. Accordingly, the cross-section of the tubular light-transmitting region of the light guide may resemble the configuration schematically shown in FIG. 3, in which a plurality of individual quadrants/display areas are defined. a separate lighting element (or lighting elements), such as one or more LEDs, in optical communication with each of the individual light-transmitting regions (e.g., by attaching the lighting element and the light guide to the PCB 221, or By providing the lighting element(s) in the light guide (by embedding the lighting element(s) in the light guide or by receiving the lighting element(s) in a recess disposed in the surface of the light guide), the controller 22 may be configured as further described herein. Each individual light transmissive area can be independently illuminated to provide various display patterns representing usage information in the display area 281 of the visual feedback element according to the techniques described.

In some embodiments, consumable portion 4 is configured with regions that modify the visual feedback emitted by visual indicators 28 associated with reusable device portion 2. For example, the consumable portion 4 is provided with a reflective surface coating that reflects visual feedback emitted by a display of visual indicators 28 disposed around the hole 51 in which the consumable portion 4 is received for use. Good too. 9 schematically illustrates an arrangement, distinguished from FIG. 8, in which a single visual indicator 28 including a light guide is provided around the hole 51 of the chamber 50 of the reusable device part 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1. to show. The inner diameter of the light transmitting tube portion 61 of the visual indicator 28 in this example is sized to provide an interference fit with the outer diameter of the tube 54 containing the mouthpiece end of the chamber 50. The consumable portion 4 is shown received in a hole 51, with a mouthpiece end of the consumable portion 4 extending from the hole 51 when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use. It includes an outer light-modifying region 44 located on the surface of the consumable part 4 . For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use, the light modification region 44 may extend partially from within the chamber 50 to the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion. . In this example, light emitted by light emitting element 2811 is reflected/transmitted/diffused along one or more paths within visual feedback element 281. At least a portion of the light signal is emitted as visual feedback from the display surface/area of the visual feedback element along one or more paths 62 directed to the outer surface of the consumable portion 4. The incident light signal along path 62 interacts with light modification region 44 where it is reflected/re-emitted as modified visual feedback 63.

The light modification region 44 of the consumable part 4 can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the light-modifying region includes a reflective surface, such as a metallic surface (eg, including a metallic foil such as silver foil or gold foil). In some embodiments, light modification region 44 includes a holographic wrap/film. In some embodiments, light modification region 44 is configured to receive light from one or more visual feedback elements, pass through a portion of consumable portion 4, and re-emits light at a surface of consumable portion 4. one or more light guiding elements. For example, one or more fiber optic elements or light pipe elements may be disposed within the mouthpiece end of the consumable part 4 and the light receiving area is such that the consumable part 4 is received by the reusable device part 2. When the display area of the visual indicator 28 is displayed, the display area of the visual indicator 28 is placed near the display area. The light emitting area of one or more fiber optic elements or light pipe elements may be arranged, for example, around the rim of the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4, so that the light emitted by the visual indicator 28 can be or received by a plurality of optical fiber or light pipe elements and emitted again in the viewing area around the rim of the mouthpiece 41. In some embodiments, the display area of the visual indicator is located within the inner annular surface of the tube 54, which includes a portion of the chamber 50, and includes one or more fiber optic elements located on the surface of the consumable portion 4. or configured to be optically coupled to a receiving area of the light guide element. In such embodiments, the display area of the visual indicator 28 may be obscured from view when the consumable portion 4 is received in the hole 51, such that the light signal/visual feedback emitted by the visual indicator 28 is It is only visible in the surface area of the consumable part 4 if the one or more optical fiber elements or light pipe elements emit the signal/feedback again as a modified visual feedback.

The light modification region 44 of the consumable portion 4 may be configured such that the modification of the visual feedback emitted by the visual indicator 28 relates to one or more characteristics of the consumable portion 4. For example, light modification region 44 may be configured to modify the color of incident signal 62 emitted by visual indicator 28 , where the color modification indicates the type of aerosol-generating material 43 contained in consumable portion 4 . used to indicate

The display area of visual indicator 28 may be configured to optimize the conveyance of light signals from visual indicator(s) 281 to light modification area 44 of consumable portion 4 . For example, if the light modification area 44 includes a reflective/holographic surface area of the consumable portion 4, the display area of the visual indicator 28 will be relative to the surface of the display area at a given point on the surface of the display area point. may be angled so that the perpendicular vector points toward a portion of light modification region 44 . For example, if the display area includes an annular display area around the hole 51, the display area includes a chamfered display area where the inner periphery of the display area is fitted into the reusable device part 2 relative to the outer periphery of the display area. obtain.

Although FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the visual indicator 28 includes a light pipe, the visual indicator 28 used to provide a light signal to the light modification region 44 of the consumable portion 4 is further described herein. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented in any other manner (e.g., using one or more pixelated display elements or LEDs). More generally, when this disclosure refers to embodiments in which multiple displays/display areas (e.g., concentric display areas) are provided, each of the multiple visual indicators may be as described herein. It will be appreciated that the present invention may be implemented using different display technologies, or may otherwise be implemented using different display technologies known to those skilled in the art. Thus, although FIG. 8 schematically depicts an embodiment in which two concentric display areas 281 and 282 include light pipe elements, instead of one of the light pipe elements a pixelated display or and a plurality of LEDs disposed along a path around the hole 51, as schematically described in the accompanying text, or as further described herein (e.g., with respect to FIGS. 2-7). It will be appreciated that any of the other exemplary approaches to providing visual indicators around 51 may be used.

Embodiments described herein typically include an aerosolization delivery system in which an aerosol generator included in reusable device portion 2 aerosolizes (e.g., by heating) an aerosol-generating material in consumable portion 4. Although illustrative, these embodiments are not limiting, and the aerosol delivery systems described herein can be implemented as flammable aerosol delivery systems, non-flammable aerosol delivery systems, or aerosol-free delivery systems. You will understand what you can do. For example, the techniques described with respect to providing one or more visual indicators around the hole 51 of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system may be such that the consumable device portion 4 is connected to the cartridge/heater and the aerosol-generating material supply. The reusable device part chamber 50 may be applied to an aerosol delivery system that is a cartomizer containing a part (e.g. a liquid reservoir), and the reusable device part chamber 50 is inserted into the reusable device part when the cartridge/cartomizer 4 is received in the chamber 50. It includes an electrical interface forming an electrical path between part 2 and the heater of cartridge/cartomizer 4. In such embodiments, the term "consumable" may be used to refer to the cartridge/cartomizer and does not necessarily imply that the cartridge/cartomizer is not reusable or refillable. For example, the use of the term "consumable" in this context refers to the consumable part 4 regardless of whether the consumable part 4 can later be refilled and reused with a fresh supply of aerosol-generating material. may be taken to refer to the fact that the aerosol-generating material supply within is aerosolized (eg, "depleted").

1-9 and the accompanying text herein describe an arrangement in which the visual indicator 28 is placed on the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1, including the mouthpiece. Although the consumable portion 4 is arranged around a hole configured to be received, it is understood that the techniques described herein can be applied to aerosol delivery systems having modified configurations. will be done. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a separate mouthpiece is attached to the portion of consumable portion 4 that extends from hole 51 when the aerosol delivery system is in use. For example, a mouthpiece comprising food grade metal and/or plastic material may be press-fit into the portion of the consumable portion 4 that extends from the hole 51 when the aerosol delivery system is in use. Alternatively or additionally, a separate mouthpiece as described above may be connected to the reusable device part 4. For example, the consumable portion 4 may be partially or wholly received within the chamber 50, and the mouthpiece may be a reusable device (e.g., by screwing or press-fitting into the hole 51 of the chamber 50). It may be attached to the part. In some embodiments, the mouthpiece may be attached to the reusable device part by a sliding or hinged connection to allow the chamber 50 to be accessed for insertion and removal of the consumable part 4. good.

Further, FIGS. 1-9 illustrate that the display area of the visual indicator 28 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the consumable part 4 (e.g., on the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device part 2). Although the visual indicator 28 may be arranged around the hole 51 in other ways in which the geometry of the reusable device part 2 is configured differently, good. For example, in some embodiments, the reusable device portion may not be placed on the end face of the reusable device portion 2, but around/around the reusable device portion 2. It may be arranged around the side wall of part 2. In some embodiments, the reusable device portion 2 may be shaped such that there is no significant mouthpiece end face that is oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the consumable portion 4 into the chamber 50. good. In such an embodiment, substantially all of the ends of the reusable device portion 2 in which the consumable portion 4 is received include holes 51 for receiving the consumable portion 4 . In some such embodiments, the mouthpiece portion is (e.g., by press-fitting or threading into the hole 51 or by being press-fitted against the end of the reusable device portion 2). It is configured to be connected to the reusable device part 2. In such an embodiment, the consumable part 4, once the mouthpiece is attached (the connected reusable part 4 and the mouthpiece effectively form an enclosure housing the consumable part 4); It may also be hidden from the user's view. When the mouthpiece is connected to the reusable device part 2, the reusable device part 2 and the mouthpiece are oriented perpendicular to the insertion direction of the consumable part 4, placing the visual indicator 28. , the mouthpiece end faces of the reusable device portions 2 may abut each other (e.g., the interface between the mouthpiece and the reusable device portion may be a surface of the aerosol delivery system). may form a smooth contour transition without any significant angular displacement). For example, the reusable device portion 4 and the mouthpiece may together form an elongated tubular aerosol delivery system 1, with the entire mouthpiece end configured to be received in the user's mouth. Even if a separate mouthpiece is not used, the consumable part 4 and the reusable part 2 can still be configured to connect together without significant mouthpiece end faces (e.g. The side walls of the available device portion 2 may be tapered/chamfered towards the hole 51, terminating in a rim around the hole 51). In such embodiments, the visual indicator 28 may be arranged with the display facing radially outward from the long axis of the reusable device portion 2. The visual indicator may be arranged in an extending manner at the end of the reusable device part 2 in which the consumable part 4 is received (e.g. with an indicator part forming a ring around the hole 51). , or may be spaced from the end of the reusable device portion 2 by a portion of the housing material that is not configured to provide visual feedback. Such an approach can also be taken if the consumable part 4 comprises a cartridge or pod containing a reservoir of aerosol-generating material and a heater, and in which case the mouthpiece mentioned above also It will be appreciated that it may form an integral part of the consumable part 4.

The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, features, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or equivalents of the claims. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed. . Various embodiments of the invention may suitably include any suitable combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, portions, steps, means, etc. other than those specifically described herein; It can consist of, or consist essentially of, a combination of such. Additionally, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims (30)

an aerosol delivery system comprising a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a consumable through a hole thereof, the aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from a consumable received in the chamber; The aerosol delivery system, the system further comprising a visual indicator positioned around the hole that provides user feedback. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator provides a display that extends partially around the hole. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator provides a display that extends continuously around the hole. An aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the visual indicator provides a display arranged around the hole. the hole includes a receiving recess for the consumable, the receiving recess has a central axis, and the planar display area of the visual indicator is oriented generally perpendicular to the central axis of the receiving recess. The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. An aerosol delivery system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visual indicator display area is arranged at a mouthpiece end face of the aerosol delivery system. An aerosol delivery system according to any preceding claim, wherein the visual indicator provides a display comprising a plurality of display areas arranged in a path around the hole. 8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 7, wherein the display areas are spaced apart from each other. Aerosol delivery system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one lighting element. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 9, wherein the at least one lighting element includes at least one LED. An aerosol delivery system according to any preceding claim, wherein the visual indicator comprises a display having a plurality of pixels. An aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the visual indicator provides a display comprising two or more concentric display areas, each arranged in a separate path around the hole. . 13. The aerosol delivery system of claim 12, wherein the concentric display areas include nested sets of display areas. 14. An aerosol delivery system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the concentric display areas are coplanar. 15. According to any one of claims 9 to 14, the visual indicator comprises at least one light guide configured to direct light from the at least one lighting element to a display arranged around the hole. aerosol delivery system. 16. The aerosol delivery system of claim 15, wherein the at least one light guide includes a tubular light-transmissive portion disposed about the chamber. Aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the at least one lighting element is attached to a printed circuit board. The aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 7 to 17, wherein the plurality of display areas includes independently controllable display areas. Each of the plurality of display areas is one of an LED display area, a liquid crystal display area, an organic light emitting diode display area, an active matrix organic light emitting diode display area, an electroluminescent display area, a plasma display panel area, or an electronic ink display area. The aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 7 to 18, comprising: A consumable configured to be inserted into a hole of an aerosol delivery system, the outer portion of the consumable changing the appearance of visual feedback provided by a visual indicator disposed about the hole. consisting of consumables. 21. The consumable of claim 20, wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to alter the appearance of the visual feedback includes a reflective coating disposed on an outer surface of the consumable. 22. A consumable as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to modify the appearance of the visual feedback includes a hologram disposed on an outer surface of the consumable. The outer portion of the consumable is configured to alter the appearance of the visual feedback, and the outer portion of the consumable receives light emitted by a visual indicator disposed around a hole in the aerosol delivery system and directs the light to the consumable. 23. A consumable product according to any one of claims 20 to 22, comprising a light guiding structure configured to lead to a display area arranged on an outer part of the consumable. the outer portion of the consumable configured to change the appearance of the visual feedback; the outer portion of the consumable configured to change the appearance of the visual feedback in a manner selected based on a characteristic of the consumable; 24. The consumable product according to any one of claims 20 to 23. The outer portion of the consumable configured to alter the appearance of the visual feedback modifies the appearance of the visual feedback in a manner selected depending on the type of aerosol-generating material included in the consumable. 25. The consumable of claim 24, configured to modify. A consumable according to any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the consumable includes a portion of solid aerosol-generating material. 27. The consumable of claim 26, wherein the solid aerosol-generating material comprises tobacco. A consumable according to any one of claims 20 to 27, wherein the consumable includes a reservoir of aerosol-generating material comprising a liquid or a gel. A system comprising an aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 19 and a consumable product according to any one of claims 20 to 28. A method of providing a visual indicator for an aerosol delivery system, the method comprising:
providing an aerosol delivery system with a chamber for receiving at least a portion of a consumable through its bore, the aerosol delivery system being configured to generate an aerosol from the consumable received in the chamber; providing a chamber;
providing a visual indicator to provide user feedback, the visual indicator being positioned around the hole;
including methods.

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