RU2822385C1 - Electronic aerosol delivery system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: aerosol systems.

SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates to a method for controlling an aerosol delivery system and an aerosol delivery system. The method for controlling the aerosol delivery system includes generating a first aerosol version having at least a first property modified to the first version during the first inhalation phase. The method for controlling the aerosol delivery system further includes the steps of detecting a second inhalation phase and generating a second aerosol version having at least the first property modified to a second, different version in response to the detection of the second inhalation phase.

EFFECT: increasing the efficiency of delivering steam to the lungs and, consequently, delivering the active ingredient to the bloodstream, as well as improving the taste felt by the user.

29 cl, 7 dwg

Description

Field of technology to which the invention relates

The present invention relates to electronic aerosol delivery systems, such as nicotine delivery systems (eg, electronic cigarettes, etc.) and a corresponding aerosol delivery method.

State of the art

Electronic aerosol delivery systems, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), typically contain a reservoir of a source liquid containing a composition, typically including nicotine, from which an aerosol is generated, for example, by thermal evaporation. Thus, the aerosol source for the aerosol delivery system may comprise a heater having a heating element configured to receive a source liquid from a reservoir, for example, through a wick/capillary effect. Other starting materials may also be heated to produce an aerosol, such as plant materials or a gel containing the active ingredient and/or flavor. Therefore, more generally, an e-cigarette can be considered to contain or receive a payload for vaporization when heated.

When a user inhales through the device, electrical energy is applied to the heating element to vaporize an aerosol source (part of the payload) in the vicinity of the heating element to generate an aerosol to be inhaled by the user. Such devices typically have one or more air inlets located at a distance from the mouth end of the system. When the user applies suction through a mouthpiece connected to the mouthpiece end of the system, air is drawn through the inlet ports and passed through the aerosol source. There is a path connecting the aerosol source to the opening in the mouthpiece, such that air drawn through the aerosol source follows a flow path to the mouthpiece opening, carrying with it some of the aerosol from the aerosol source. The air carrying the aerosol exits the aerosol delivery system through the mouthpiece opening for inhalation by the user.

Typically, electrical current is applied to the heater when the user draws/pulls through the device. Typically, electrical current is applied to a heater, such as a resistive heating element, in response to either activation of an airflow sensor located along the flow path when the user inhales/sucks/puffs, or in response to activation of a button by the user. The heat generated by the heating element is used to evaporate the composition. The released vapor mixes with the air drawn through the device when the user draws to form an aerosol. Alternatively or in addition, a heating element is used to heat, but typically not burn, plant material such as tobacco to release its active ingredients as a vapor/aerosol.

The amount of active ingredient that successfully reaches the user's bloodstream will depend on how well the vaporized/aerosolized payload reaches the user's lungs; however, the taste experienced by the user will depend on how well the aerosolized payload interacts with the user's mouth. These are potentially conflicting payload and/or delivery device requirements.

This document describes various approaches to find a solution or eliminate the problem of these conflicting requirements.

In a first aspect, a method for controlling an aerosol supply system according to claim 1 is provided.

In another aspect, a method for supplying an aerosol is provided in accordance with claim 17 of the claims.

Corresponding additional aspects and features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 5 is a graph of measured air flow in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

in fig. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for controlling an aerosol delivery system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

An electronic system and a method for supplying an aerosol are disclosed. In the following description, a number of specific details are presented in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not necessary to practice the present invention. Rather, specific details known to one skilled in the art have been omitted where appropriate for clarity.

As described above, the present invention relates to an aerosol delivery system (eg, a non-combustion aerosol delivery system) or an electronic vapor delivery system (EVDS), such as an electronic cigarette. In the following description, the term "electronic cigarette" is sometimes used, but this term can be used interchangeably with an (electronic) aerosol/vapor delivery system. Likewise, the terms "vapour" and "aerosol" are used interchangeably in this document.

In general, the electronic aerosol/vapor delivery system may be an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolized material is not required. In some embodiments of the invention, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a tobacco heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid aerosol generation system using a combination of aerosolable materials, one or more of which can be heated. Each of the aerosolizable materials may be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel, for example, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may contain, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product. At the same time, in some embodiments of the invention, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system generates vapor/aerosol from one or more such aerosolizable materials.

Typically, a non-combustion aerosol delivery system may comprise a non-combustion aerosol delivery device and an article for use with the non-combustion aerosol delivery system. However, it is contemplated that articles that themselves contain means for providing energy to the aerosol generating component may themselves form an aerosol delivery system without combustion. In one embodiment of the invention, the non-combustion aerosol delivery device may comprise a power source and a controller. The energy source may be an electrical energy source or an exothermic energy source. In one embodiment of the invention, the exothermic energy source comprises a carbon substrate onto which energy can be applied to distribute energy in the form of heat to an aerosolized material or heat transfer material in close proximity to the exothermic energy source. In one embodiment of the invention, an energy source, such as an exothermic energy source, is provided in the article to generate an aerosol without combustion. In one embodiment of the invention, an article intended for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device may comprise an aerosolizable material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating component is a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolized material to release one or more volatiles from the aerosolized material to form an aerosol. In one embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generating component is capable of generating an aerosol from the aerosolized material without heating. For example, the aerosol generating component may be capable of generating an aerosol from the material to be aerosolized without applying heat to it, such as through one or more of vibration, mechanical, pressure, or electrostatic means.

In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material may comprise an active material, an aerosol-forming material, and optionally one or more functional materials. The active material may contain nicotine (optionally contained in tobacco or a tobacco derivative) or one or more other physiologically active substances that are odorless. An odorless physiologically active material is a material that is included in an aerosolized material to achieve a physiological response other than olfactory perception. The aerosol generating material may contain one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerin, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate , benzylphenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid and propylene carbonate. The one or more functional materials may contain one or more of the following: flavors, carriers, pH adjusters, stabilizers and/or antioxidants.

In some embodiments of the invention, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device may include aerosolizable material or an area for receiving aerosolizable material. In one embodiment of the invention, an article intended for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device may include a mouthpiece. The aerosol material receiving area may be an aerosol material storage area. For example, the storage area may be a reservoir. In one embodiment of the invention, the aerosol material receiving region may be separate from or integrated with the aerosol generating region.

In fig. 1 is a schematic (not to scale) representation of an electronic aerosol/vapor delivery system, such as an electronic cigarette 10, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. The electronic cigarette has a substantially cylindrical shape extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by the dotted line LA and contains two main components, namely a main body 20 and a cartomizer 30. The cartomizer includes an inner chamber containing a payload reservoir such as, for example, a liquid containing nicotine, a vaporizer (eg, a heater) and a mouthpiece 35. Reference to nicotine in the following is to be understood as merely an example and may be replaced by any other suitable payload. In the following, reference to "liquid" as a payload should be understood as an example only, and it may be replaced by any other payload such as plant material (such as tobacco, which should be heated rather than burned) or a gel containing the active ingredient and/or flavoring. The reservoir can be foam or any other structure to hold the liquid until it needs to be transported to the evaporator. In the case of a liquid/fluid payload, the evaporator is configured to evaporate liquid, and the cartomizer 30 also includes a wick or similar means for transporting a small amount of liquid from a reservoir to an evaporation point on or adjacent to the evaporator. In the following, the heater is used as a specific example of an evaporator. However, it is understood that other forms of vaporizer (eg, using ultrasonic waves) can also be used, and it is understood that the type of vaporizer used may also depend on the type of payload that needs to be vaporized.

The main body 20 includes a battery or battery for supplying power to the electronic cigarette 10 and a circuit board for performing general control of the electronic cigarette. When the heater receives power from the battery under the control of the printed circuit board, the heater vaporizes the liquid, and then this vapor is inhaled through the mouthpiece 35 by the user. In some particular embodiments of the invention, the main body is also equipped with a manual activation device 265, such as a button, switch or touch button located on the outside of the main body.

The main body 20 and the cartomizer 30 can be detached from each other by separating in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis LA, as shown in FIG. 1, but when using the device 10 they are connected to each other by means of a connection schematically indicated in FIG. 1 at positions 25A and 25B to provide mechanical and electrical communication between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30. The electrical connection part 25B of the main body 20, which is used for connection with the cartomizer 30, also serves as a socket for connecting a charger (not shown), when the main body 20 is disconnected from the cartomizer 30. The other end of the charger may be inserted into a USB receptacle to charge a battery located in the main body 20 of the electronic cigarette 10. In other implementations, a cable may be provided for direct connection between the electrical connecting part 25B of the main body. 20 and USB socket.

The electronic cigarette 10 includes one or more holes (not shown in FIG. 1) for air intake. These holes are connected to an air passage passing through the electronic cigarette 10 to the mouthpiece 35. When the user inhales through the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into this air passage through one or more air inlet holes, which are suitably located on the outside of the electronic cigarette. When the heater is activated to vaporize nicotine from the cartridge, an air stream passes through and mixes with the resulting vapor, which mixture of air stream and resulting vapor is then exited through the mouthpiece 35 and inhaled by the user. If the device is not disposable, the cartomizer 30 can be detached from the main body 20 and disposed of when the liquid supply is used up (and replaced with another cartomizer if necessary).

It will be understood that the electronic cigarette 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example, and various other implementations may be used. For example, in some embodiments of the invention, the cartomizer 30 is configured as two separate components, namely, a cartridge containing a liquid reservoir and a mouthpiece (which can be replaced when the liquid from the reservoir is used up), and a vaporizer containing a heater (which is usually retained) . As another example, the charger may be connected to a supplementary or alternative power source, such as a vehicle's cigarette lighter.

In fig. 2 is a schematic (simplified) view of the main part of the electronic cigarette 10 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Image in Fig. 2 as a whole can be considered as a section along a plane passing through the longitudinal axis LA of the electronic cigarette 10. It should be noted that various components and parts of the main body, such as wires and more complex shapes, have been omitted in FIG. 2 for clarity.

The main body 20 includes a battery or accumulator 210 for powering the electronic cigarette 10 in response to activation of the device by a user. In addition, the main body 20 includes a control unit (not shown in FIG. 2), such as a chip such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microcontroller, for controlling the electronic cigarette 10. The microcontroller or ASIC includes a CPU or microprocessor. The actions of the CPU and other electronic components are generally at least partially controlled by programs running on the CPU (or other component). Such programs may be stored in non-volatile memory, such as ROM, which may be integrated into the microcontroller itself or implemented as a separate component. If necessary, the CPU can access ROM to load individual programs. The microcontroller also contains a corresponding communication interface (and control software) for appropriate communication with other devices in the main body 20.

The body 20 also includes a cap 225 for enclosing and protecting the distal end of the electronic cigarette 10. Typically, an air inlet hole is provided in or near the cap 225 so that air can enter the body 20 when a user inhales through the mouthpiece 35 A control unit or ASIC may be located along the battery 210 or at one end thereof. In some embodiments, the ASIC is coupled to sensor 215 to detect an inhalation through mouthpiece 35 (or, alternatively, sensor 215 may be implemented on the ASIC itself). There is an airflow path from the air inlet through the e-cigarette, through the airflow sensor 215 and heater (in the vaporizer or cartomizer 30), to the mouthpiece 35. Thus, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece of the e-cigarette, the CPU detects such inhalation based on information from air flow sensor 215.

At the opposite end of the main body from the cap 225, there is a connecting portion 25B for connecting the main body to the cartomizer 30. The connecting portion 25B provides mechanical and electrical communication between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30. The connecting portion 25B includes a main body connecting member 240, which is metal (silver plated in some embodiments of the invention) to serve as one terminal for electrical connection (positive or negative) to the cartomizer 30. Connection portion 25B also includes an electrical contact 250 providing a second terminal for electrical connection to the cartomizer 30 having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the first terminal, that is, the connecting element 240 of the main part. The electric contact 250 is mounted on the coil spring 255. When the main part 20 is attached to the cartomizer 30, the connecting part 25A of the cartomizer 30 presses on the electric contact 250 so as to compress the coil spring in the axial direction, i.e. in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis LA (coinciding with the longitudinal axis LA). Due to the elasticity of the spring 255, this compression displaces the spring 255, causing it to expand, which presses the electrical contact 250 tightly against the connecting part 25A of the cartomizer 30, thereby helping to ensure good electrical communication between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30. Main body connecting member 240 and electrical contact 250 are separated by a support 260 made of a non-conductive material (eg plastic) to provide good insulation between the two electrical contacts. The support 260 is shaped to promote mutual mechanical engagement of the connecting portions 25A and 25B.

As noted above, a button 265, which is one form of manual activation device 265, may be located on the outer casing of the main body. The button 265 may be implemented using any suitable mechanism that can be manually activated by the user, such as a mechanical button or switch, a capacitive or resistive touch sensor, or the like. It is also understood that the manual activation device 265 may be located on the outer casing of the cartomizer 30 rather than on the outer casing of the main body 20, in which case the manual activation device 265 may be coupled to the ASIC via connecting portions 25A, 25B. The button 265 may also be located at the end of the body, instead of (or in addition to) the cap 225.

In fig. 3 is a schematic view of the cartomizer 30 of the electronic cigarette 10 shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. Image in Fig. 3 may generally be considered a section through the longitudinal axis LA of the electronic cigarette 10. Note that various components and parts of the cartomizer 30, such as wires and more complex shapes, have been omitted from FIG. 3 for clarity.

The cartomizer 30 includes an air passage 355 extending along the central (longitudinal) axis of the cartomizer 30 from the mouthpiece 35 to a connecting portion 25A connecting the cartomizer 30 to the main body 20. A liquid reservoir 360 is located around the air passage 335. This reservoir 360 may be implemented , for example, in the form of cotton wool or foam soaked in liquid. Cartomizer 30 also includes a heater 365 for heating liquid from reservoir 360 to produce vapor passing through air passage 355 and exiting mouthpiece 35 in response to a user's inhalation through the e-cigarette 10. The heater is powered through lines 366 and 367, which, in are in turn connected to opposite poles (positive and negative or vice versa) of the battery 210 located in the main part 20 through the connecting part 25A (details of the wiring between the power lines 366 and 367 and the connecting part 25A in Fig. 3 are omitted).

Connection portion 25A includes an inner electrode 375, which may be silver plated or other suitable metal or conductive material. When the cartomizer 30 is connected to the main body 20, the inner electrode 375 contacts the electrical contact 250 of the main body to provide a first electrical path between the cartomizer 30 and the main body 20. Specifically, when the connecting parts 25A and 25B are engaged, the inner electrode 375 presses on the electrical contact 250, compressing the coil spring 255, thereby helping to ensure good electrical contact between the inner electrode 375 and the electrical contact 250.

The inner electrode 375 is surrounded by an insulating ring 372, which may be made of plastic, rubber, silicone, or any other suitable material. The insulating ring is surrounded by a cartomizer connector 370, which may be silver plated or another suitable metal or conductive material. When the cartomizer 30 is connected to the main body 20, the cartomizer connector 370 contacts the main body connector 240 to provide a second electrical path between the cartomizer 30 and the main body 20. In other words, the inner electrode 375 and the connector 370 act as positive and negative leads (or vice versa) to supply power from battery 210 located in main body 20 to heater 365 located in cartomizer 30 via power lines 366 and 367.

The cartomizer connecting member 370 includes two projections or tabs 380A, 380B that project in opposite directions from the longitudinal axis of the electronic cigarette 10. These tabs are used to provide a bayonet connection in combination with the main body connecting member 240 to connect the cartomizer 30 to the main body 20. This bayonet connection provides a safe and secure connection between the cartomizer 30 and the main body 20 such that the cartomizer and the main body are held in a fixed position relative to each other with a minimum of wobble or bending, and the likelihood of any accidental disconnection is very small. At the same time, the bayonet connection allows for simple and quick connection and disconnection by inserting and turning to connect and turning (in the opposite direction) and then removing to disconnect. It will be understood that other embodiments of the invention may employ another type of connection between the main body 20 and the cartomizer 30, such as a snap connection or a screw connection.

In fig. 4 is a schematic view of some of the details of the coupling portion 25B located at the end of the main body 20, in accordance with some embodiments of the invention (but for the sake of clarity, much of the internal structure of the coupling portion shown in FIG. 2, such as support 260, is omitted). In particular, in FIG. 4 shows the main body outer casing 201, which is generally shaped like a cylindrical tube. This outer casing 201 may, for example, comprise an inner tube of metal with an outer covering of paper or the like. The outer casing 201 may also include a manual activation device 265 (not shown in FIG. 4), such that the manual activation device 265 is easily accessible to the user.

The main body connecting member 240 protrudes from this outer main body casing 201. The main body connecting member 240, as shown in FIG. 4 comprises two main portions: a hollow cylindrical tube portion 241 whose size corresponds to the internal dimension of the outer main body casing 201, and a protruding portion 242 that is directed radially outward from the main longitudinal axis (LA) of the electronic cigarette. The tubular portion 241 of the main body connecting member 240, where it does not overlap with the outer casing 201, is surrounded by a ring or sleeve 290, which is also shaped like a cylindrical tube. The ring 290 is held between the protruding portion 242 of the body connecting member 240 and the outer body shell 201, which prevent the ring 290 from moving in the axial direction (ie, parallel to the axis LA). However, the ring 290 is free to rotate about the tubular portion 241 (and therefore also the axis LA).

As mentioned above, the cap 225 has an air inlet to allow air to pass when the user inhales through the mouthpiece 35. However, in some embodiments of the invention, the majority of the air entering the device when the user inhales passes through the ring 290 and the connecting body member 240, as shown by two arrows in FIG. 4.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and 2, in an embodiment of the present invention, the electronic steam delivery system (ESDS) 10 or “aerosol delivery device”, such as one described earlier in this document, is adapted to deliver multiple aerosol options.

Accordingly, in some embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol delivery device includes a detection processor (such as the control unit mentioned above, operating in accordance with appropriate software instructions). Alternatively, this detection processor is configured to detect the first phase of a user's inhalation through the aerosol delivery device, as will be described in more detail below. Alternatively, this first phase may simply be assumed, for example, when triggering vapor delivery via an ESPP (eg, activation of an ESPP by inhalation).

The aerosol delivery device also includes a control processor 62 (such as the previously mentioned control unit or a separate processor operating under the control of appropriate software instructions) configured to create a first variant of an aerosol having at least a first property modified to the first variant, in this first inhalation phase. This aerosol variant may form the default initial result for the ESPP, especially if the first phase is simply assumed. The first property and modification will be discussed below.

The detection processor is configured to detect a second phase of inhalation, as described later herein, and the control processor is configured to generate a second variant of an aerosol having at least the first property modified to a second, different variant, in response to detection of the second phase of inspiration.

In embodiments of the present invention, the first property is the aerosol particle size, wherein typically the aerosol particle size of the first aerosol embodiment is smaller than the aerosol particle size of the second aerosol embodiment. The reason for this is described below.

The size of the aerosol particles can be changed by, in turn, changing the property of the aerosol generator. Depending on the type of generator, this may involve changing the temperature of the heater used to create the aerosol, or changing the frequency of the vibrator used to create the aerosol.

For some payloads, increasing the heater temperature can increase the evaporation rate, resulting in larger aerosol particle sizes. For other payloads, a potential reduction in heater temperature could result in faster droplet formation and coalescence in the pure vapor, resulting in larger aerosol particle sizes within the ESPP. Thus, the approach that is more suitable for the payload used by the ESPP can be chosen, for example in production, automatically (where payloads are interchanged and detected) or through a suitable user interface (as described below).

Now referring to FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, user inhalation is detected by airflow sensor 215 or, equivalently, a sensor of any suitable airflow metric such as air velocity or dynamic pressure.

Using airflow as an example, but recognizing that air velocity, dynamic pressure or the like could be used instead, the first inspiratory phase occurs until the airflow exceeds the first threshold level (Th1) and/or airflow will not reach the peak level (Peak).

Therefore, during the user's inhalation, the first phase involves a relatively strong or high initial airflow, which usually (but not necessarily) reaches an empirically determined threshold level indicating this strong initial phase. Meanwhile, regardless of whether this threshold is reached (or detected), the airflow due to inhalation will peak at some point; this may be an instantaneous peak or a smoothed peak (as a non-limiting example, averaged over a sliding window of 0.1 or 0.2 seconds).

In this case, the second phase of inspiration occurs after the airflow falls below the second threshold level (Th2), and/or the airflow reaches a peak level (Peak). Again, in this case the peak may be instantaneous or smoothed out as above.

It should be understood that, alternatively, the first phase may be assumed to continue until the second phase is detected, and completion of the first phase may, alternatively, not be detected separately at all. It is clear that where the first and second phases are separated by the same event (eg, peak inhalation), the transition is clear and virtually instantaneous. Meanwhile, if the first phase is considered complete after the first threshold is reached (but before the peak is reached or before the airflow falls below the second threshold, depending on the situation), then the ESPP can either continue to be in the first phase or use this intermediate time to change to or into a second phase (for example, by moving to a neutral or transition heater temperature or vibration frequency). Various possible intermediate times are shown in FIG. 5 horizontal lines with arrows.

The effect of these embodiments is that a first aerosol variant with typically smaller aerosol particles is produced during the first detected or suspected inhalation phase, and then in response to the detection of a second inhalation phase, a second aerosol variant is produced with typically larger aerosol particles.

The reason for this is that the inventors have appreciated that during inspiration through ESPPs (or similar devices), the air inhaled during the initial portion of inspiration may have comparatively higher particle velocities and will tend to reach the lungs during inspiration, while the air inhaled during the last part of the inhalation may have a comparatively lower particle velocity and will tend to reach the mouth. As a result, different aerosol variants tailored for delivery to the lungs or mouth can be delivered during different phases of inhalation to increase delivery efficiency (e.g., including/increasing the proportion of nicotine in the first phase and incorporating/increasing the proportion of flavor in the second phase, and/ or excluding/reducing the share of flavoring in the first phase and eliminating/reducing the proportion of nicotine in the second phase). Likewise, smaller particles will tend to reach the lungs (and in particular the deep lungs where the airways narrow), while larger particles will tend to reach the mouth.

Thus, providing smaller particles during the first inhalation phase at a higher rate will improve delivery of vapor to the lungs and therefore delivery of the active ingredient into the bloodstream, while providing larger particles during the second inhalation phase at a lower rate will improve delivery vapor to the mouth, and hence the delivery of taste.

As a result, the same amount of active ingredient and flavor can be delivered to the user with less vapor because it is delivered more efficiently than if the aerosol particles did not vary in response to the user's inhalation profile.

In other words, embodiments of the present invention provide different aerosol generation during different phases of inspiration, targeting it to the lungs during the initial portion of the inhalation at a high rate and targeting it to the mouth during the final portion of the inspiration at a lower rate. As described above, this can be done by adjusting the heater temperature to create smaller and then larger particle sizes (or equally by controlling a vibrating atomizer), but it is also possible or instead by switching between payloads during inhalation (e.g. payload first nicotine load and then a flavored payload) due to the presence of two wicks, heaters, etc.

Therefore, in embodiments of the present invention, different payloads may be used for the first and second inhalation phases to take advantage of the current trend towards delivery to the lungs in the first phase and delivery to the mouth in the second phase, and, alternatively, also differentiate by particle size , to further enhance this trend, as explained earlier in this document.

Therefore, in embodiments of the present invention, the first property is the aerosolized payload and therefore the aerosol constituents. Keep in mind that if this is in addition to differentiating aerosol size, it will be a second property or parallel to the first property, but otherwise can be considered the same thing.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the ESPP comprises two aerosol generators, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the two payload sources, and the control processor is configured to generate the first and second aerosol variants by selectively activating each of the aerosol generators to produce a corresponding aerosol, containing an appropriate payload (eg, different components and/or ratios of components, for example, changing the presence or level of nicotine and flavor).

It should be understood that such activations may overlap to create a mixture, in which case the control processor is configured to effectively change the balance of the mixture in response to detection of the second phase and, alternatively, in response to detection of completion of the first phase (for example, by moving to a more uniform mixture during the transition period between phases when it occurs).

It will be appreciated that two aerosol generators may alternatively use the same generation mechanism, but if at least the first aerosol generator is a heater, then it is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the associated payload, and if at least the first aerosol generator is a vibrator, it is in mechanical communication with at least a portion of the corresponding payload.

It should be understood that improving the absorption of the active ingredient during the first, deep inhalation phase at a higher rate through the use of smaller aerosol particles and/or targeted selection of the active payload, as well as improving the sense of taste during the second, less deep inhalation phase at a lower rate speed through the use of larger aerosol particle sizes and/or targeted selection of flavored payload can be further increased by more accurately predicting at least the onset of the second phase for a particular user; this is because during the transition to the second phase there may be a delay in either the temperature change or the evaporation of the payload; therefore, by predicting when the second phase (and possibly the first phase) will occur, this delay can potentially be accounted for or eliminated.

Therefore, in some embodiments of the present invention, the control processor is configured to measure air flow during multiple breaths of the user, and the control processor is configured to model one or more inhalation air flow profiles of the user based on these measurements.

One or each profile indicates the typical behavior of an ESPC user during inhalation.

The inhalation airflow profile describes the speed and/or amount of air inhaled through the ESPP e-cigarette during a puff by the user.

The air flow profile during inhalation can, alternatively, be specified parametrically with varying degrees of approximation. Thus, the profile may define the target inspiratory shape as a time course or curve, or may define peak airflow (or a similar measure of intensity) and duration of the inspiratory profile, or may define the integral of airflow and time, either way, alternatively, together with one or more additional parameters in response to the inspiratory curve (eg inspiratory peak time).

Thus, such profiles may be representative of a short puff at a low dosage, or a long puff at a higher dosage, or any other type or mode of inhalation by the user. Likewise, profiles may differ depending on whether the user's inhalation is shallow or deep. Therefore, the profile can be of arbitrary length depending on the corresponding inhalation behavior, and the airflow parameter described by the profile can change during this time as the user's inhalation characteristics change.

Alternatively, the profile may be predefined by the manufacturer or distributor, or may be downloaded later by the user (as described below). Profile data may be stored in local data storage such as RAM or flash memory.

In this way, the user's inhalation can be compared to a description of the profile, either by tracking the inhalation on a time graph or curve, or by comparing the difference between the position of the target profile on a graph of inspiratory intensity versus time and the user's current position either after completion of the inhalation or by as it is carried out.

Accordingly, the control processor is configured to compare the airflow measurements with one or more simulated inspiratory air profiles, and if the measurement matches the simulated inspiratory air profile within a specified tolerance, then the control processor is configured to predict the start of the second inspiratory phase and/or the completion of the first inspiratory phases based on a simulated inspiratory airflow profile. Likewise, instead of matching to a given tolerance, you can choose the closest existing model. Alternatively, this itself may be subject to negotiation to a predefined tolerance, beyond which either the default behavior is used or an additional model is initiated using the current measurements, thereby adapting to different user styles.

Referring again to FIG. 5, this time as an example of an inhalation profile, it should be understood that the integral below the graph represents the amount of air inhaled and therefore, over time, indicates the cumulative inhalation and therefore the rate and depth of inhalation. Therefore, any time at which Th1 is reached and/or the peak level, and/or the peak time, and/or the integral itself, and/or the initial airflow gradient, and/or the time at which Th2 is reached, can be used to characterize the profile and selecting the nearest simulated profile and/or (in training mode) selecting or creating a profile to update with this new data.

Referring to FIG. 6, it should be understood that the system described herein may be a stand-alone system in which an aerosol delivery device, such as an electronic cigarette, contains a detection processor, a control processor, and any necessary data storage, but alternatively, the system may consist of two components , such as an aerosol delivery device 10 and a mobile phone or similar device (such as a tablet) 100 designed to communicate with the electronic cigarette, for example, via Bluetooth®.

In this case, the mobile phone may comprise one or more profile storage/selection/preparation means (eg, suitable RAM, flash memory and processor), a detection processor and a control processor, wherein measurement inputs and command outputs, as appropriate, transmitted via Bluetooth® protocol between an electronic cigarette and a mobile phone.

As stated above, breath profiles can also be downloaded or, if desired, created and/or customized using a suitable interface on the mobile phone.

Thus, in some embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol delivery system includes a mobile communication device capable of wirelessly communicating with the aerosol delivery device, the mobile communication device comprising one or more sensing processors and control processors. In this case, it will be appreciated that the discovery processor and/or control processor may be provided by a central processing unit of the mobile device operating in accordance with a suitable software instruction. It should also be understood that the role of the discovery processor and/or control processor may be divided among or distributed among multiple processors in either the telephone or the ESPP.

Referring to FIG. 7, the control method for the aerosol delivery system includes:

optionally, detecting the first phase of inhalation by the user using the aerosol delivery device or simply guessing the first phase when activating the ESPP for vapor delivery;

in a first step s710, generating a first variant of an aerosol having at least a first property modified to the first variant during the first inhalation phase;

in the second stage s720, detecting the second phase of inspiration; And

in a third step s730, generating a second aerosol variant having at least the first property modified to a second, different variant in response to detection of the second inhalation phase.

It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, as described and claimed herein, that variations of the above method are contemplated within the scope of the present invention corresponding to various embodiments of the apparatus, including, but not limited to, the following:

- the first property is the size of aerosol particles;

- the size of aerosol particles in the first option is smaller than in the second option;

- generating the first and second aerosol variants by changing a property of the aerosol generator to change the resulting particle size of the aerosol, wherein the property of the aerosol generator is a property selected from a list consisting of the temperature of the heater used to generate the aerosol, the frequency of the vibrator used to generate the aerosol, and the aerosol source (for example, different aerosol paths, generation methods, basic materials, etc.).

- the first property is the payload convertible into an aerosol;

- the payload of the first option contains an ingredient whose active effect is manifested when absorbed into the bloodstream, and the payload of the second option contains an ingredient whose active effect is manifested in the form of taste;

- the aerosol delivery device contains two aerosol generators, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of two payload sources, the method includes the step of generating the first and second aerosol options by selectively activating each of the aerosol generators to obtain a corresponding aerosol containing the corresponding payload;

- at least the first aerosol generator is a heater and is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the corresponding payload;

- at least the first aerosol generator is a vibrator and is in mechanical connection with at least part of the corresponding payload;

- inhalation is determined using an air flow sensor;

- the first phase of inspiration occurs until the air flow exceeds the first threshold level;

- the first phase of inspiration occurs until the air flow reaches a peak level;

- the second inhalation phase occurs after the air flow drops below the second threshold level;

- the second phase of inspiration occurs after the air flow reaches its peak level;

- measuring the airflow during multiple breaths of the user and simulating one or more airflow profiles during the user's inhalation based on these measurements; And

- measuring airflow as the user inhales, comparing the measurement to one or more simulated inspiratory airflow profiles, and, if the measurement matches the simulated inspiratory airflow profiles within a specified tolerance, predicting one or more events selected from a list consisting from the end of the first inhalation phase and the beginning of the second inhalation phase.

It is understood that the above described methods can be performed on conventional hardware suitably adapted accordingly either through software commands or by incorporating or replacing special equipment such as, for example, an electronic cigarette or the like, or an electronic cigarette operating in combination with a mobile phone or similar.

Thus, the required adaptation to existing parts of a conventional equivalent device can be implemented in the form of a computer program product containing processor-executable instructions stored on a permanent machine medium such as a floppy disk, optical disk, hard disk, PROM, random access memory, flash memory or any combination of these or other storage media, or may be implemented in hardware, for example, as an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) or FPGA (field programmable gate array) or other configurable circuit suitable for use in adapting a conventional equivalent device. Separately, such a computer program may be transmitted via data signals over a network such as Ethernet, a wireless network, the Internet, or any combination of these and other networks.

The various embodiments of the invention described in this document are presented only to promote understanding and convey ideas of the claimed features. These embodiments of the invention are provided only as exemplary embodiments of the invention and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or other aspects described herein are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalent claims, and that without departing from the scope of the claimed invention, other embodiments of the invention and modifications can be made. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably contain, consist of, or essentially consist of suitable combinations of described elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those described herein. In addition, the invention may include other inventions not expressly claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims (63)

1. A method for controlling an aerosol delivery system, including the following steps: generating a first variant of an aerosol having at least a first property modified to the first variant during the first inhalation phase; detection of the second phase of inspiration; And generating a second aerosol variant having at least the first property modified to a second, different variant in response to detection of the second inhalation phase. 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the first property represents the components of the payload converted into an aerosol. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the payload of the first embodiment contains an ingredient whose active effect is manifested when absorbed into the bloodstream, and the payload of the second embodiment contains an ingredient whose active effect is manifested in the form of taste. 4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, in which the aerosol delivery device contains two aerosol generators, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the two payload sources; wherein the method includes the step of generating the first and second aerosol variants by selectively activating each of the aerosol generators to produce a corresponding aerosol containing a corresponding payload. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least the first aerosol generator is a heater and is in thermal communication with at least a portion of the associated payload. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein at least the first aerosol generator is a vibrator and is in mechanical connection with at least a portion of the associated payload. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first property is the particle size of the aerosol. 8. The method according to claim 7, in which the size of the aerosol particles in the first embodiment is smaller than in the second embodiment. 9. The method of claim 7 or 8, which includes the step of generating first and second aerosol variants by changing an aerosol generator property to change the resulting aerosol particle size, wherein the aerosol generator property is selected from a list consisting of: i. temperature of the heater used to generate the aerosol, ii. frequency of the vibrator used to generate the aerosol, and iii. aerosol source. 10. Method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-9, in which inhalation is detected using an air flow sensor. 11. The method according to claim 10, in which the first phase of inspiration occurs until the air flow exceeds the first threshold level. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, in which the first phase of inspiration occurs until the air flow reaches a peak level. 13. Method according to any one of paragraphs. 10-12, in which the second inspiratory phase occurs after the airflow falls below the second threshold level. 14. Method according to any one of paragraphs. 10-13, in which the second inspiratory phase occurs after the airflow reaches a peak level. 15. Method according to any one of paragraphs. 1-14, which includes the following steps: measuring airflow during multiple breaths of the user; And modeling one or more airflow profiles as the user inhales based on these measurements. 16. The method according to claim 15, which includes the following steps: measuring airflow as the user inhales; comparing the measurement to one or more simulated inspiratory airflow profiles; And if the measurement matches the simulated inspiratory airflow profiles within a specified tolerance, predicting one or more events selected from a list consisting of: i. the end of the first phase of inspiration; And ii. the beginning of the second phase of inspiration. 17. An aerosol delivery system containing: aerosol delivery device; a control processor configured to generate a first variant of an aerosol having at least a first property modified to the first variant during the first inhalation phase; a detection processor configured to detect the second inhalation phase; And a control processor configured to generate a second variant of an aerosol having at least the first property modified to a second, different variant in response to detection of the second inhalation phase. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the first property is the components of the aerosolized payload. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises two aerosol generators, each of which is connected to a corresponding one of the two payload sources; wherein the control processor is configured to generate the first and second aerosol variants by selectively activating each of the aerosol generators to generate a corresponding aerosol containing a corresponding payload. 20. The system of claim 17, wherein the first property is the particle size of the aerosol. 21. The system according to claim 20, in which the size of the aerosol particles in the first option is smaller than in the second option. 22. The system of claim 20 or 21, wherein the control processor is configured to generate the first and second aerosol variants by changing a property of the aerosol generator to change the resulting particle size of the aerosol, wherein the property of the aerosol generator is a property selected from a list consisting of: i. temperature of the heater used to generate the aerosol, ii. frequency of the vibrator used to generate the aerosol, and iii. aerosol source. 23. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-22, in which inhalation is detected using an air flow sensor. 24. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-23, in which the first phase of inspiration occurs until one or more of a list of: i. the air flow exceeds the first threshold level; And ii. air flow reaches peak level. 25. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-24, in which the second phase of inspiration occurs after one or more of the list consisting of: i. the airflow will fall below the second threshold level; And ii. the airflow will reach its peak level. 26. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-25, in which: the control processor is configured to measure air flow during multiple breaths of the user; And the control processor is configured to simulate one or more user inhalation airflow profiles based on these measurements. 27. The system according to claim 26, in which the control processor is configured to compare the airflow measurements with one or more simulated inspiratory airflow profiles; And if the measurement matches the simulated inspiratory airflow profiles within a specified tolerance, the control processor is configured to predict one or more events selected from a list consisting of: i. the end of the first phase of inspiration; And ii. the beginning of the second phase of inspiration. 28. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-27, which contains a mobile communication device configured to communicate wirelessly with the aerosol delivery device; wherein the mobile communication device contains one or more of a list consisting of: i. detection processor; And ii. control processor. 29. The system according to any one of paragraphs. 17-28, which contains at least a first payload for conversion into an aerosol by an aerosol delivery device.