UA114806C2 - Aerosol generating system with consumption monitoring and feedback - Google Patents

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol-generating system configured for oral or nasal delivery of a generated aerosol to a user, the system comprising a heater element (20) configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol, a power source (40) connected to the heater element, a controller (30) connected to the heater element and to the power source, wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the heater element, the controller including or being connected to a means to detect a change in air flow past the heater element, first data storage means (56) connected to the controller for recording detected changes in airflow past the heater element and data relating to the operation of the heater element, second data storage means comprising a database (57) relating changes in airflow and data relating to the operation of the heater element to the properties of the aerosol delivered to the user and an indication means (59) coupled to the second data storage means for indicating to the user a property of the aerosol delivered to the user. The property or properties of the aerosol delivered to the user may comprise amounts of particular chemical compounds.

Description

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This invention relates to systems for generating aerosols and, in particular, to systems that include devices for generating aerosols for inhalation by the consumer, such as smoking devices.

This invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring the use of the device and providing a consumer with an indication of their consumption of an aerosol or their consumption of a particular component or components of an aerosol.

Conventional butt-end cigarettes deliver smoke as a result of the combustion of tobacco and wrapper, which occurs at temperatures that during puffing can exceed 800 °C. At these temperatures, the tobacco thermally decomposes due to pyrolysis and combustion.

The heat of combustion creates and releases various gaseous combustion products and distillates from the tobacco. These products are drawn through the cigarette, cooled and condensed to form smoke, which contains the flavor and aroma compounds produced during smoking.

At combustion temperatures, not only taste and aroma compounds are formed, but also a number of undesirable compounds.

Electrically heated smoking devices are known, which are essentially aerosol systems that operate at lower temperatures than traditional snuff cigarettes. An example of such an electric smoking device is described in

MO2009/118085. M/02009/118085 describes an electric smoking device in which the aerosol-generating substrate is heated using a heating element for aerosol formation. The temperature of the heating element is regulated so that it is within a certain temperature range to ensure that there is no formation and release of undesirable volatile compounds from the substrate while releasing other, desired, volatile compounds.

It would be desirable to provide an aerosol generation system that can provide the user with information about their consumption of the aerosol or specific compounds in the aerosol, such as nicotine.

This allows the consumer to better understand and adjust their consumption. It would also be desirable to be able to collect system consumption data, aerosol consumption data for clinical studies, and consumer-level statistics.

In one of the aspects of the present invention, a system for the formation of an aerosol is proposed, which is intended for oral or nasal delivery of the formed aerosol to the consumer, and which includes:

Zo - a heating element designed to heat the aerosol-forming substrate for the formation of an aerosol; - energy source connected to the heating element; - a controller connected to a heating element and a power source, and this controller is designed to control the operation of the heating element, and includes a means for detecting changes in the air flow that passes the heating element, or is connected to such a means; - the first means of data storage, connected to the controller for recording detected changes in the flow of air that passes by the heating element and data related to the operation of the heating element; - the second means of data storage, which includes a database that correlates changes in air flow and data related to the operation of the heating element with the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer; and - an indication means, such as a display, connected to the second data storage means for indicating to the consumer the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer.

The display means can be a display capable of displaying detailed information about the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer, for example, the amount of specific compounds delivered to the consumer during a specific period of time. The indication means can be more simple and can be an audible or visual warning signal that is activated when the consumption of a particular compound in a certain period of time exceeds a threshold level. This threshold level can be set by the user. As will be described, the indication means can be installed on the device for creating an aerosol, which includes a heating element, or can be installed on an additional device to which data from the device for creating an aerosol is sent.

As used herein, the term "consumer delivered aerosol" means the aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer while using the system. As used in this description, the term "inhaled" means "absorbed into the consumer's body through the oral cavity or nose" and covers the situation where the aerosol is absorbed into the lungs of the consumer, as well as the situation where the aerosol is absorbed only into the oral or nasal cavity of the consumer before it is expelled from the body consumer

The first data storage means may be configured to record data regarding detected changes in airflow or puffs or inhalations performed by the consumer. The first data storage means may record the number of puffs performed by the consumer or the duration of each puff. The first data storage means may also be configured to record data regarding the temperature of the heating element and the power delivered during each draw. Optionally, the first data storage means can record any data available from the controller.

The database may contain data on a specific type of aerosol substrate. In this case, the system may include an identification means for identification of the aerosol substrate placed in the device. The identification means may include an optical scanner for reading marks on the aerosol substrate or electronic components designed to detect electrical properties of the aerosol substrate, such as characteristic resistance.

Alternatively or in addition to this, the system may include a user interface configured to allow the user to enter data that identifies the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the device.

Data relating to the operation of the aerosol generating element may include the temperature of the heating element or the power supplied to the heating element. This information, together with airflow data and optionally substrate identification data, can be compared with data stored in the second data storage means to obtain data that describe the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer.

The characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer may include the amount of specific chemical compounds.

The database may include values of the amount of specific compounds that are delivered by the system under certain conditions, for specific substrates. The database may include formulas that relate specific operating parameters of the aerosol generating device, such as temperature and air flow, to the amount of specific compounds delivered by the system. These values of the amount of specific compounds delivered by the system and the formula can be obtained or extrapolated from experimental data.

The system can be an electric smoking system. In the case of an electric smoking room

In the system, the second data storage means can store information obtained from smoking sessions using the reference smoking machine in various smoking modes in a controlled smoking environment and with controlled humidity for specific aerosol-forming substrates. These experimental data can be used to extrapolate the likely inhaled volume of the main smoke jet based on changes in air flow and heater operation. The smoking regimes in which the reference smoking machine is used can be, for example, the reference IZO regime or the Canadian intensive regime.

In the case of a smoking system, the data stored in the second data storage medium may include, but are not limited to, the amount of the following compounds present in the aerosol delivered to the consumer: acetaldehyde, acetamide, acetone, acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile , 4-aminobiphenyl, 1-aminonaphthalene, 2-aminonaphthalene, ammonia, anabasine, o-anisidine, arsenic, A-a-C-(2-amino-9H-pyrido|2,3-b|indole), benzIa |anthracene, benzo(aceanthrylene, benzene, benzo|(bB|Ifluoranthene, benzo|KIfluoranthene, benzo(Gr|furan, benzo(a|pyrene, benzoHsIphenanthrene, beryllium, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, caffeic acid, carbon monoxide, catechol, chlorinated dioxins/furans, chromium, chrysene, cobalt, cresols (0-, m- and p-cresol), croton aldehyde, cyclopenta|c,|pyrene, dibenz(a,p|Ianthracene, dibenzoia,e|pyrene, dibenzo(a,|Ipyrene, dibenzoi(a,|pyrene, dibenzoi(a,|pyrene, 2,6-dimethylaniline, ethylcarbamate (urethane), ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, furan, SIPSH-P-1-(2-amino -6- methyldipyridoi|1,2-a:3,2/-d| imid azole), SPy-P-2-(2-aminodipyrido (|1,2-а:327-4| imidazole), hydrazine, hydrocyanic acid, indeno|1,2,3-sa|pyrene, IXH2-(2-amino-3-methylimidazo|4,5-Pquinoline), isoprene, lead, MEA-a-C-(2 -amino-3-methyl)-9H-pyrido|2,3-b|indole), mercury, methyl ethyl ketone, 5-methyluchrisene, 4-(methylnitrosoamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (MMK), naphthalene, nickel, nicotine, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, 2-nitropropane, M-nitrosodiethanolamine (MOEGA), M-nitrosodiethylamine,

M-nitrosodimethylamine (MOMA), M-nitrosomethylethylamine, M-nitrosomorpholine (MMORN), M-nitrosonornicotine (MIMM), M-nitrosopiperidine (MPIR), M-nitrosopyrrolidine (MRMA), M-nitrososarcosine (MAN), nornicotine, phenol, PMR-(2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazoi|4,5-

B|Ipyridine), polonium-210, propionaldehyde, propylene oxide, quinoline, selenium, styrene, o-toluidine, toluene, Tgr-P-1-(3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido I|4,3 -B|indole), Tgr-P-2-(1-methyl-3-amino-5H-pyrido|4,3-b|indole), uranium-235, uranium-238, vinyl acetate, or vinyl chloride.

The system may include a single aerosol generator that accommodates all 60 system components. Alternatively, the system may include an aerosol generating device and one or more additional device(s) to which the aerosol generating device may be directly or indirectly connected or connected, and this(s) one or more additional device(s) include(s) some of the components of the system. Thus, in the case of a system that includes a single device, the second data storage means or display, or both the second data storage means and the display are contained within a single housing together with a heating element and a power source. The first data storage medium and the second data storage medium may be parts of a single physical memory. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the second data storage medium or display, or both the second data storage medium and the display may be part of one or more additional device(s). For example, a portable computer can be part of the system and connected to the device to generate an aerosol. The portable computer may include a second data storage device and a display, and may perform a comparison of data from the first data storage device with data in the second data storage device.

In this description, the term "device for the formation of an aerosol" means a device that interacts with an aerosol-generating substrate to form an aerosol. The device for the formation of an aerosol can include an energy source that can be an external energy source or a built-in energy source that forms part of the device for the formation of an aerosol.

One or more additional device(s) may be a charging device configured to replenish the energy source in the aerosol generating device.

Alternatively or in addition, the one or more additional device(s) may be a laptop computer, desktop computer, mobile phone or other consumer electronic device. In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the second means of data storage may include a remote server to which a device for forming an aerosol or another additional device may be connected through a data exchange network.

It may be necessary for the consumer to send detected changes in airflow past the heating element and data related to the operation of the heating element (referred to herein as "usage data") to a remote server in order to obtain aerosol characteristics from the server. which is delivered to the consumer. This provides an opportunity

From the centralized storage of usage data, which can be used to collect statistical data at the level of the number of consumers, can be used to improve the design of the system and can be used in clinical studies.

Data can be transferred between different devices in the system using any acceptable means. For example, a wired connection such as a BV connection can be used. Alternatively, a wireless connection can be used. Data may also be transmitted over a data exchange network such as the Internet. In one embodiment of the present invention, the aerosol generating device may be configured to transfer data from the first data storage medium to the second data storage medium in the battery charging device each time the aerosol generating device is recharged using connections acceptable for data exchange .

For the first and second means of data storage, any acceptable type of memory can be used, for example, random access memory (RAM) or flash memory.

Identification data or one of several indicators of the aerosol-forming substrate may be provided before or after recording the usage data. As described, identification data or one of several indicators of an aerosol substrate may be provided by user input of the system or may be provided as a result of an automated substrate detection process.

The system may be configured to provide a warning signal upon determining that a threshold amount of one or more compound(s) has been delivered to the consumer by the system within a predetermined period of time. Multiple thresholds can be set for different compounds and different time periods. A warning signal may be provided on the aerosol generating device that houses the heating element or on one or more additional device(s). The warning signal can be a simple visual or sound signal or can be a display of more detailed information on the display screen. A warning signal may be provided to warn the consumer that his consumption of a particular compound has reached a desired limit or a predetermined dose.

A customer's password or customer's name may be entered into the user interface in the system to ensure that recorded data matches previously recorded data from the same customer 60 . Alternatively, if the system includes one or more additional

device(s) housing the second data storage device, each aerosol device may be assumed to be used by a single consumer, and the device identifier may be contained in usage data or other data transmitted from the device for aerosol formation.

In a second aspect of the present invention, a method of providing aerosol delivery data to an end user of an electrically heated aerosol generating device is provided, and the device includes a heating element, an energy source for supplying power to the heating element, and a means for detecting changes in air flow , which passes by the heating element, which includes: - recording detected changes in the air flow that passes by the heating element and data related to the operation of the heating element; - obtaining from the database, based on the detected changes in air flow and data related to the operation of the heating element, the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer; and - indication, for example, demonstration, of the obtained characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer.

The method may also include the step of detecting or providing at least one indicator of the aerosol substrate placed in the device, and the step of obtaining the aerosol indicators is also based on the mentioned at least one indicator of the aerosol substrate placed in the device.

The resulting characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer may include the amount of specific chemical compounds. The device for the formation of an aerosol can be a smoking device.

In the third aspect of the present invention, a computer program is proposed which, when executed on a computer or other acceptable data processing device, performs the method according to the second aspect or at least the steps of obtaining and specifying the characteristics of the aerosol.

In the fourth aspect of the present invention, a data carrier suitable for reading by a computing device is proposed, with computer-executable instructions placed on it, which when executed on a computer or other

From an acceptable data processing device, the method according to the second aspect is provided, or at least the steps of obtaining and specifying the characteristics of the aerosol.

The computer-executable instructions may be provided as an application program or computer program for a personal computer or portable computing device, such as a mobile phone or other data processing device, to which the aerosol generating device may be connected. An application program or computer program may be downloaded by a consumer over a data exchange network such as the Internet. The instructions executed by the computing device may include a database or have a means to access a database stored on a remote device.

In the fifth aspect of the description of the present invention, a device for aerosol formation is proposed, designed to provide oral or nasal delivery of the formed aerosol to the consumer, and this device includes: - a heating element designed to heat the aerosol-forming substrate for aerosol formation; - energy source connected to the heating element; - a controller connected to the heating element and the energy source, and this controller is designed to control the operation of the heating element, and this controller includes means for detecting changes in the flow of air that passes the heating element, or is connected to such a means ; - the first means of data storage, connected to the controller for recording detected changes in the flow of air that passes by the heating element and data related to the operation of the heating element; and - data output means configured to output data from the first data storage means to an external device.

In the sixth aspect of the present invention, a kit is proposed, which includes: a device for generating an aerosol, with electric heating, which includes a heating element, an energy source for supplying power to the heating element and a means for detecting changes in the air flow that passes by the heating element ; and a computer-readable medium with computer-executable instructions or code placed thereon that enable computer-executable instructions to be downloaded from a remote device, those computer-executable instructions when executed on a computer computer or other acceptable data processing device provide the method according to the second aspect or at least the steps of obtaining and specifying the characteristics of the aerosol.

In all aspects of the present invention, the means for detecting changes in the flow of air passing the heater may be a specialized flow sensor, such as a microphone or thermocouple, connected to a controller. Alternatively, the controller may be designed to regulate the power supplied from the power source to the heating element to maintain the temperature of the heating element at a target temperature, and to monitor changes in the temperature of the heating element to detect changes in airflow past the heating element. or the power supplied to the heating element.

The controller, based on pre-defined thresholds or using a control loop such as a Schmitt trigger, can decide whether the detected changes in airflow are the result of a draw performed by the consumer. For example, in one embodiment of the present invention, in order to detect a change in the flow of air passing the heating element, which indicates inhalation performed by the consumer, the controller can be designed to check whether the difference between the temperature of the heating element and the target temperature exceeds a threshold value . To detect a change in airflow past the heating element indicative of inhalation by the consumer, the controller may be configured to check whether said difference between the temperature of the heating element and the target temperature exceeds a threshold value during a predetermined time period or within a predetermined period of time. a certain number of measurement cycles. This ensures that very short-term temperature fluctuations will not falsely detect inhalation by the user.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the controller may be configured to monitor the difference between the power delivered to the heating element and the expected power level to detect a change in airflow past the heating element that indicates inhalation by the consumer. Alternatively or in addition to this, the controller can be designed to compare the rate of change of temperature or

From the rate of change of power delivered with a threshold level to detect a change in airflow past the heating element that indicates inhalation by the consumer.

The controller can be designed to adjust the target temperature upon detection of a change in airflow past the heating element. Increased airflow brings more oxygen into contact with the substrate. This increases the probability of burning the substrate at a certain temperature. Combustion of the substrate is undesirable. Therefore, when an increase in airflow is detected, the target temperature can be lowered to reduce the likelihood of substrate burning. Alternatively or in addition to this, the controller may be configured to adjust the power supplied to the heating element upon detection of a change in airflow past the heating element. Air flow that passes a heating element usually cools that heating element. To compensate for this cooling, the power supplied to the heating element can be temporarily increased.

In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the controller can be designed to control the temperature of the heating element based on the measurement of the electrical resistance of the heating element. This makes it possible to detect the temperature of the heating element without the need for an additional sensor.

The temperature of the heating element can be checked at predetermined time intervals, for example every few milliseconds. This can be done continuously or only during those periods of time when power is applied to the heating element.

The controller may be configured to return to the initial ready state to detect the next draw performed by the consumer when the difference between the detected temperature and the target temperature is less than a threshold value. The controller may be configured to require that the difference between the detected temperature and the target temperature be less than a threshold value for a predetermined amount of time or a predetermined number of measurement cycles.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the controller may be configured to compare the measured power delivered from the energy source to the heating element, or the energy delivered from the power source to the heating element, with a threshold value of the power or energy to detect the presence of an aerosol-forming substrate near the heating element or the characteristics of the substance of the aerosol-forming substrate located near the heating element.

Said measured power or energy may be any measured power or energy including average power over a predetermined time period or over a predetermined number of measurement cycles, rate of change of power or energy, or cumulative measured power or energy delivered over a predetermined time interval or during a predetermined number of measurement cycles.

In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the measured energy indicator represents the reduced energy within a predetermined time interval. In another embodiment of the present invention, the measured energy indicator represents the rate of reduction of the reduced energy during a predetermined period of time.

The amount of power or energy required to reach and maintain the temperature of the heating element at the target temperature depends on the rate of heat loss from the heating element. This largely depends on the environment surrounding the heating element. If the substrate is near or in contact with the heating element, this will affect the rate of heat loss from the heating element compared to a situation where the substrate is not near the heating element. In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the device is designed so that the contained aerosol substrate is in contact with the heating element. In this case, the heating element transfers heat to the substrate using thermal conductivity. The device can be designed so that when used, the substrate surrounds the heating element.

The controller may be configured to reduce the power supply to the heating element from the energy source to zero if the measured power or energy is less than a threshold measured power or energy. If the amount of energy required to maintain the temperature of the heating element at the target temperature is less than expected, then this may be due to the absence of an aerosol-forming substrate in the device or the presence of an unsuitable substrate in the device, such as an already used substrate. Previously used substrate usually has more

Zo has a lower moisture content and lower aerosol generator content than the new substrate and therefore consumes less energy from the heating element. In both cases, it is usually desirable to stop the power supply to the heater. In all aspects of the present invention, the energy source can be any acceptable energy source, such as a gas, chemical, or electrical energy source. The energy source can be a battery. In one embodiment of the present invention, the energy source is a lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the energy source may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium-based battery, such as a lithium-cobalt, lithium-iron-phosphate, or lithium-polymer battery. Power can be supplied to the heating element in the form of a pulse signal. The amount of power delivered to the heating element can be adjusted by varying the duty cycle or pulse width of the power signal.

Said heating element may include a single heating element.

Alternatively, the heating element may include more than one heating element. This heating element or these heating elements may be positioned to most efficiently heat the aerosol-forming substrate.

The heating element may include an electroresistive material. Suitable electrical resistive materials include, but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically "conductive" ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys, and composite materials made from a ceramic material and a metal . Such composite materials may include alloyed or non-alloyed ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum and platinum group metals. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel, cobalt, chromium, aluminum, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese , gold- and iron-containing alloys, and heat-resistant alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Titeia(b) and alloys based on iron-manganese-aluminum. In composite materials, the electroresistive material can be optionally introduced into the mass, encapsulated or covered with an insulating material or, conversely, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the desired external physicochemical properties. Ceramic and/or insulating materials may include, for example, aluminum oxide or zirconium oxide (2702). Alternatively, the electric heater may include an infrared heating element , a photon source or an inductive heating element.

The heating element can have any acceptable shape. For example, the heating element can have the shape of a heating blade. Alternatively, the heating element can be in the form of a body or base that has separate electrically conductive parts, or an electroresistive metal tube. Alternatively, one or more heating needles or rods passing through the central part of the aerosol forming substrate may be as described above. Alternatively, the heating element can be a disk (end) heater or a combination of a disk heater with heating needles or rods. Other alternative embodiments of the present invention include a heating wire or filament, for example, a wire made of Mi-Stg (chromium-nickel), platinum-, gold-, silver-, tungsten-containing or other alloys, or a heating plate. Optionally, the heating element can be located in or on a rigid support material. In one of these variants of the implementation of the present invention, the electroresistive heater can be made using a metal that has a certain relationship between temperature and specific resistance. In such an embodiment of the device, the metal may be formed as a track on a suitable insulating material, such as a ceramic material, and then placed between it and another insulating material, such as glass. Heating elements made in this way can be used both for heating and for monitoring the temperature of heaters during operation.

The heating element can heat the aerosol-forming substrate with the help of thermal conductivity. This heating element may be at least partially in contact with the substrate or with the carrier on which the substrate is placed. Alternatively, heat from the heating element can be supplied to the substrate using a heat-conducting element.

Alternatively, the heating element can transfer heat to the incoming ambient air drawn through the system during its use, which, in turn, heats the aerosol-forming substrate by convection. Ambient air may be heated before passing through the aerosol-forming substrate.

In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention in order to create an aerosol with

From the aerosol forming substrate, power is applied to the heating element until the heating element reaches a temperature of approximately 250-440 "C. Any suitable temperature sensor and control components can be used to verify the heating of the heating element, including when using one or more additional heating element(s), until the temperature is reached approximately 250-440 "C. This is a difference from ordinary cigarettes, in which the temperature of combustion of tobacco and cigarette wrapper can reach 800 "С.

Aerosol substrate can be placed in a smoking product. When the system is in operation, the smoking product containing the aerosol-generating substrate can be placed entirely within the system to generate an aerosol. In this case, the user can draw from the mouthpiece of the system to create an aerosol. Alternatively, when the system is in operation, the smoking product containing the aerosol-generating substrate may be partially contained within the system to generate an aerosol. In this case, the consumer can puff directly from this smoking product.

This smoking article may have a substantially cylindrical shape. The smoking product may be substantially elongated. The smoking article may have a length and a cross-section that is circular in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

The aerosol substrate may have a substantially cylindrical shape. The aerosol substrate may be substantially elongated. The aerosol-forming substrate may also have a length and a cross-section that is circular in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate can be slidably placed in the container of the aerosol-forming device so that the length of the aerosol-forming substrate is essentially parallel to the direction of the air flow in the aerosol-forming device.

The smoking article can have an overall length of about 30 mm to about 100 mm.

The smoking article may have an outer diameter of about 5 mm to about 12 mm.

The smoking product may include a section of the filter rod. This section of the filter rod can be placed near the downstream end of the smoking product. The segment of the filter rod can be an acetyl cellulose segment of the filter rod. In one embodiment of this filter, the length of the filter rod is about 7 60 mm, but can be from about 5 mm to about 10 mm in length.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the smoking product has a total length of approximately 45 mm. The smoking product can have an outer diameter of approximately 7. mm.

The aerosol substrate can be approximately 10 mm long. Alternatively, the aerosol forming substrate may be approximately 12 mm long. The diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate can be from about 5 mm to about 12 mm. The smoking product may include an outer paper wrapper. The smoking product may have a gap between the aerosol-forming substrate and the segment of the filter rod. This gap may be approximately 18 mm, but may range from approximately 5 mm to approximately 25

MM.

In this description, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" means a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Volatile compounds can be released by heating or burning the aerosol substrate. The aerosol substrate may contain nicotine.

The aerosol-forming substrate can be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the aerosol substrate may include both solid and liquid components.

The aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material that contains volatile aromatic and flavor compounds of tobacco that are released from the substrate upon heating.

Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a material of non-tobacco origin. The aerosol generating substrate may also include an aerosol generator that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of acceptable aerosol formers are glycerin and propylene glycol.

If the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may include, for example, one or more of powders, granules, balls, pieces, thin tubes, tapes, or sheets that contain one or more of herb leaves. , tobacco leaves, fragments of tobacco veins, reconstituted tobacco, homogenized tobacco, extruded tobacco and loose tobacco. The solid aerosol substrate may be in bulk, or may be provided in a suitable container or cartridge. Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may contain other tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aromatic and flavor compounds that are released from the substrate upon

From heating. The solid aerosol substrate may also contain additional capsules that, for example, contain other tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aromatic and flavoring compounds, and such capsules may melt when the solid aerosol substrate is heated.

As used herein, the term "homogenized tobacco" includes material formed by the agglomeration of tobacco particles and which may be sheet-shaped.

The homogenized tobacco material may have an aerosol content of more than 5 95% by weight in the dry state. Alternatively, the homogenized tobacco material may have an aerosolizing agent content of from 595% dry weight to 3095% dry weight. Sheets of homogenized tobacco material can be formed by agglomeration of tobacco particles obtained by grinding or otherwise grinding one or both of such tobacco materials as tobacco leaf lamina and tobacco leaf veins; alternatively or in addition, sheets of homogenized tobacco material may include one or more of such tobacco materials as tobacco dust, tobacco fines and other tobacco by-products in the form of particles that are generated during, for example, processing, handling operations and transportation of tobacco.

Sheets of homogenized tobacco material may include one or more of their own binder(s), i.e. endogenous tobacco binder(s), one or more impurity binder(s), i.e., exogenous tobacco binder(s), or a combination thereof to promote agglomeration of tobacco particles; alternatively or in addition, sheets of homogenized tobacco material may include other additives including, but not limited to, tobacco and non-tobacco fibers, aerosol generators, humectants, plasticizers, flavors, fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, and combinations thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the aerosol-forming substrate includes a folded corrugated sheet of homogenized tobacco material. As used herein, the term "-offered sheet" refers to a sheet having a plurality of generally parallel ridges and waves. In a preferred embodiment, after assembly of the aerosol generating article, generally parallel ridges or waves extend along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating article. This provides the advantage of facilitating the folding of a corrugated sheet of homogenized tobacco material to form an aerosol substrate. However, it should be noted that the corrugated sheets of homogenized tobacco material intended to be inserted into an aerosol-forming article may alternatively or in addition have a plurality of generally parallel bumps or folds at an acute or obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-forming article after assembly of the aerosol-forming article. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a pleated sheet of homogenized tobacco material generally uniformly textured over its entire surface.

For example, an aerosol-forming substrate may include a pleated corrugated sheet of homogenized tobacco material having a plurality of generally parallel bumps or folds that are generally evenly spaced across the width of the sheet.

Optionally, a solid aerosol-forming substrate can be applied to a heat-resistant carrier or introduced into its mass. This carrier can be in the form of powder, granules, balls, pieces, thin tubes, tapes or sheets. Alternatively, the carrier may be a tubular carrier having a thin layer of a solid aerosol-forming substrate applied to its inner surface, or to its outer surface, or to both the inner and outer surfaces. Such a tubular carrier can be made of, for example, paper or paper-like material, a non-woven carbon fiber mat, a light metal mesh with open cells, perforated metal foil, or any other heat-resistant polymer matrix.

A solid aerosol-forming substrate can be applied to the surface of the carrier in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, gel or suspension. The solid aerosol-forming substrate can be applied to the entire surface of the carrier, or alternatively can be applied in a pattern to ensure non-uniform delivery of the aroma during use.

Although solid aerosol-forming substrates are mentioned above, it is clear to a person skilled in the art that other forms of aerosol-forming substrate can be used in other embodiments of the present invention. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate can be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. If a liquid aerosol-forming substrate is provided, then the device for forming the aerosol, according to the preferred embodiment, includes means for holding the liquid. For example, a liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be kept in

From the container. Alternatively or in addition to this, the liquid substrate can be absorbed into the porous carrier material. This porous support material can be made from a length of rod or rod of any acceptable absorbent, such as foamed materials with metallic properties or plastics, polypropylene, terylene, nylon fibers or ceramics. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be contained in the porous carrier material prior to use of the aerosol-forming system, or alternatively, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate material may be released into the porous carrier material during or immediately prior to use of the aerosol-forming system. For example, a liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be provided in a capsule. The capsule shell, in a preferred embodiment, melts upon heating and releases the liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the porous carrier material. Optionally, the capsule can contain a solid aerosol-forming substrate in combination with a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Alternatively, the carrier can be a non-woven fabric or a bundle of fibers into which tobacco components are introduced. This nonwoven fabric or bundle of fibers may include, for example, carbon fibers, natural cellulose fibers, or fibers from cellulose derivatives.

The aerosol generation system may include an air inlet. The aerosol formation system may include an air outlet. The system for the formation of an aerosol can include a condensation chamber to provide an opportunity for the formation of an aerosol with the desired parameters.

Below, variants of the implementation of the present invention will be described in detail, only in the form of an example, with references to the accompanying figures, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the main elements of the device for the formation of an aerosol according to one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a structural diagram showing the control elements of one of the embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. C is a graph that, according to another embodiment of the present invention, illustrates the changes in the temperature of the heater and the supplied power during tightening performed by the consumer, which corresponds to another embodiment of the present invention;

in Fig. 4 shows a sequence of control steps for determining whether a user-driven tightening occurs, which corresponds to another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a graph illustrating the difference in reduced energy that must be supplied to the heating element to maintain the temperature at the target level for a new substrate, for a substrate that has been used, and for the case where the substrate is not adjacent to the heating element; and in Fig. 6 shows a sequence of control steps for determining whether an acceptable substrate is present in the device.

In Fig. 1, what is inside an embodiment of an aerosol generating device 100 is shown in a simplified form. In particular, the elements of the aerosol generating device 100 are not shown to scale. Elements that are not relevant to the understanding of the embodiment of the present invention discussed in this description are for simplicity

Fig. 1 were omitted.

The device 100 for the formation of an aerosol includes a body 10 and an aerosol-forming substrate 2, for example, a cigarette. The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is inserted into the housing 10 until it is sufficiently close to the heating element 20 for thermal effects.

Aerosol substrate 2 will release a certain amount of volatile compounds at different temperatures. Some of these volatile compounds released from the aerosol-forming substrate 2 are formed only during the heating process. Each volatile compound is released at a temperature that is higher than the characteristic release temperature. By adjusting the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 100 to be below the release temperature of some volatile compounds, the release or formation of these smoke components can be avoided.

In addition, the device 100 for the formation of an aerosol includes a source 40 of electrical energy, for example, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, placed inside the housing 10.

The aerosol generating device 100 also includes a controller 30 connected to a heating element 20, an electrical power source 40, an aerosol generating substrate detection device 32, and a user interface 36, such as a graphical display.

With or a combination of LED indicators that convey information about the device 100 to the consumer.

The aerosol substrate detection device 32 can detect the presence and identification data of the aerosol substrate 2 in sufficient thermal proximity to the heating element 20, and notifies the controller 30 of the presence of the aerosol substrate 2. The provision of this substrate detection device is optional.

The controller 30 controls the user interface 36 to display information about the system, for example, battery charge, temperature and state of the aerosol substrate 2, other messages, or combinations thereof.

The controller 30 also regulates the maximum operating temperature of the heating element 20.

The temperature of the heating element can be detected using a specialized temperature sensor. Alternatively, in another embodiment of the present invention, the temperature of the heating element is determined by monitoring its electrical resistance.

The electrical resistivity of a piece of wire depends on its temperature. The specific resistance p increases with increasing temperature. The actual resistivity p will vary depending on the exact composition of the alloy and the geometric configuration of the heating element 20, and an empirically determined ratio can be used in the controller.

Thus, knowledge of the specific resistance p at any given time can be used to determine the actual operating temperature of the heating element 20.

The resistance of the heating element is determined by the formula B-MU/I, where M is the voltage on the heating element and I is the current that passes by the heating element 20. The resistance AB depends on the configuration of the heating element 20, as well as on the temperature, and is expressed as ratio:

A - p (T)ХИУ5 (equation 1), where p (T) is a temperature-dependent specific resistance, I is the length of the heating element 20 and 5 is the cross-sectional area of the heating element 20. I and 5 are constant for a specific heating element 20 of a certain configuration, and can be measured. Thus, for a certain design of a specific heating element, PE is proportional to p (T).

The specific resistance p (T) of the heating element can be expressed in polynomial form (516) as follows:

r. - roh(Tat Ta» T2) (equation 2), where ro is the specific resistance at the reference temperature To, and ai and d2 are polynomial coefficients.

Thus, knowing the length of the heating element 20 and its cross-sectional area, it is possible to determine the resistance A and, accordingly, the specific resistance p at a certain temperature by measuring the voltage M and the current | heating element. This temperature can be obtained simply from a reference table of the dependence of characteristic specific resistance on temperature for the heating element used or by calculating the polynomial equation (2) given above. In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, this process can be simplified by presenting the curve of dependence of the specific resistance p on temperature in the form of one or more, and according to the variant to which preference is given - two linear approximations in the range of temperatures applicable to tobacco. This simplifies the calculation of the desired temperature by the controller 30, which has limited computing resources.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the controls of a system that includes the device shown in FIG. 1, together with other system components. This system includes an aerosol generating device 100, an additional device 58, and optionally one or more remote device(s) 60. The aerosol generating device 100 is as shown in FIG. 1, but in Fig. 2 shows only the controls of the aerosol generating device. As will be described, the additional device 58 and one or more remote device(s) 60 operate to compare the usage data received from the aerosol generating device with the experimental usage data contained in the database 57, which correlates the use of the aerosol generating device with the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer. The characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer may then be displayed on the display 59 on the accessory device 58, or on the display on the aerosol generating device or on the external device 60.

As shown in Fig. 2, the controller 30 includes a measuring unit 50 and a control unit 52. The measuring unit is designed so that it can determine the resistance A of the heating element 20. The measuring unit 50 transmits the results of the resistance measurement to the control unit 52. After that, the control unit 52 regulates the supply of power from the battery 40 to

From the heating element 20 by switching the switch 54. The controller can include a microprocessor, as well as separate electronic control components. In one embodiment of the present invention, the microprocessor may have standard functionality, such as an internal clock, in addition to other functionality.

In the process of preparing the temperature control, a value is selected for the target operating temperature of the device 100 for the formation of an aerosol. The choice is based on the release temperatures of the volatile compounds that should or should not be released. After that, this predetermined value is stored in the control unit 52. The control unit 52 includes a non-volatile memory 56.

The controller 30 controls the heating of the heating element 20 by regulating the supply of electrical energy from the battery to the heating element 20. The controller 30 allows power to be supplied to the heating element 20 only if the aerosol substrate detection device 32 has detected the aerosol substrate 20 and the consumer has activated the device. By switching the switch 54, the power is supplied in the form of a pulse signal. The pulse width or duty cycle of the signal can be modulated by the control unit 52 to change the amount of energy supplied to the heating element. In one embodiment of the present invention, the cycle duty factor can be limited to 60-80 95. This can provide additional safety and prevent the user from inadvertently increasing the adjusted heater temperature so that the substrate reaches a temperature higher than the combustion temperature.

In use, the controller 30 measures the resistivity p of the heating element 20. The controller 30 then converts the resistivity of the heating element 20 into the value of the actual operating temperature of the heating element by comparing the measured resistivity p with a reference table. This can be done in the measuring unit 50 or the control unit 52. In the next step, the controller 30 compares the actual received operating temperature with the target operating temperature. Alternatively, the temperature values in the heating mode are converted to resistance values in advance, so that the controller adjusts the resistance instead of the temperature, this avoids real-time calculations to convert the resistance values to temperature values during smoking.

If the actual operating temperature is below the target operating temperature, the control unit 52 supplies additional electrical power to the heating element 20 to increase the actual operating temperature of the heating element 20. If the actual operating temperature is above the target operating temperature, the control unit 52 reduces the electrical power supplied to the heating element 20 to reduce the actual operating temperature to the target operating temperature.

To regulate the temperature, the control unit can use any suitable control method, such as the control principle using a simple thermostatic feedback loop or the proportional-integral-differential control principle.

The temperature of the heating element 20 depends not only on the power supplied to it. The flow of air, which passes by the heating element 20, cools the heating element, reducing its temperature. This cooling action can be used to detect changes in airflow through the device. The temperature of the heating element, as well as its electrical resistance, will decrease as the air flow increases before the control unit 52 returns the temperature of the heating element to the target temperature.

In Fig. C shows a typical process of changing the temperature of the heating element and the supplied power during the use of the device for the formation of an aerosol shown in Fig. 1.

The input power level is shown by line 61, and the heating element temperature is shown by line 62. The target temperature is shown by dashed line 64.

At the beginning of use, an initial period of high power is required to raise the temperature of the heating element to the target temperature as quickly as possible. Immediately after reaching the target temperature, the supplied power is reduced to the level necessary to maintain the temperature of the heating element at the target temperature. However, when the user pulls on substrate 2, air is drawn past the heating element and cools it below the target temperature. This is shown as feature 66 in FIG. 3. In order to return the temperature of the heating element 20 to the target temperature, there is a corresponding surge of applied power, shown as a characteristic element 68 in FIG. 3. In this example of a four-puff smoking session, this pattern is repeated throughout device use.

User-induced puffs or other changes in airflow may be detected

By detecting temporary changes in temperature or power, or the rate of change in temperature or power. In Fig. 4 shows an example of a jitter-eliminating control process using a Schmitt trigger that can be used in control unit 52 to determine when tightening occurs. The process in Fig. 4 is based on the detection of changes in the temperature of the heating element. At step 400 arbitrary

C5 the state variable, which is initially set to zero, is changed to three quarters of its true value. At step 410, the value of delta is determined, which is the difference between the measured temperature of the heating element and the target temperature. Steps 400 and 410 may be performed in reverse order or in parallel. In step 415, the delta value is compared to the threshold delta value. If the delta value is greater than the delta threshold value, then the state variable is incremented by one quarter before proceeding to step 425. This is shown as step 420. If the delta value is less than the delta threshold value, then the state variable remains unchanged, and the process proceeds to step 425. The state variable is then compared to the state threshold value. The value of the state threshold value used differs depending on the determination of the state in which the device is at this moment in time - in the state of performing tightening or in the state of no tightening. In step 430, the control unit determines in which state the device is - in the tightening state or in the non-tightening state. Initially, that is, in the first control cycle, it is assumed that the device is in a state of no tightening.

If the device is in the state of no tightening, then the state variable is compared to

by the HIGH state threshold at step 440. If the state variable is greater than the HIGH state threshold, then the device is determined to be in a pull state. If not, then it is determined that the device remains in a state of no tightening.

In both cases, the process then proceeds to step 460 and then returns to step 400.

If the device is in the state of executing tightening, then the state variable is compared to

LOW state threshold at step 450. If the state variable is less than the LOW state threshold, then the device is determined to be in a no-tightening state. If not, then it is determined that the device remains in the tightening state. In both cases, the process then proceeds to step 460 and then returns to step 400.

The value of the HIGH and LOW thresholds directly affects the number of process execution cycles required to transition between the no tightening state and the tightening state, and vice versa. In this way, very short-term temperature fluctuations and random parameter changes in the system, which are not the result of a user-performed tightening, can be prevented from being detected as delays.

Short fluctuations are effectively filtered out. However, the number of necessary cycles should preferably be chosen so that the transition of the tightening detection process can occur before the device compensates for the temperature drop by increasing the power supplied to the heating element. Alternatively, the controller may suspend the process of said compensation while it makes a decision as to whether the tightening is performed or not. In one example, the LOW threshold value is 0.06 and the HIGH threshold value is 0.94, which means that the system must complete at least 10 cycles if the delta value was greater than the delta threshold value to go from the no-pull state to the performing tightening.

The system shown in Fig. 4, can be used to count the pulls and, if the controller includes a clock, to indicate the point in time at which each pull occurs. The tightening and no tightening states can also be used to dynamically control the target temperature. Increased airflow brings more oxygen into contact with the substrate. This increases the probability of burning the substrate at a certain temperature. Combustion of the substrate is undesirable. Therefore, when determining the tightening state, the target temperature can be lowered in order to reduce the probability of burning the substrate. Then, when a no-tightening condition is detected, the target temperature can be reset to its original value.

The process shown in Fig. 4, is just one example of a tightening detection process. For example, processes similar to the process shown in FIG. 4, can be carried out using as a measured indicator of the supplied power, or the rate of change of temperature, or the rate of change of supplied power. A process similar to that shown in FIG. 4, but using only a single state threshold instead of different HIGH and LOW thresholds.

The system can also automatically detect the presence or absence of the expected substrate.

The amount of energy required to reach the target temperature and maintain the temperature of the heating element at the target temperature depends on the presence or absence of the substance of the substrate 2 near the heating element 20 and on the characteristics of the substrate. In Fig. 5 shows the process of changing the reduced energy supplied to the heating element as a function of time. Curve 70 represents the reduced energy when there is a new substrate in the device, and curve 71 represents the reduced energy when there is no substrate in the device. The delivered energy is the energy delivered over a set period of time, reduced relative to the initial energy measurement.

The resulting measured energy figure minimizes the influence of environmental conditions such as ambient temperature, air flow and humidity.

It can be seen that in both cases the power delivered to the heating element decreases monotonically with time after the initial period of high power required to raise the temperature of the heating element to the target temperature. However, in Fig. 5 shows that at T-10 s the amount of energy supplied with a new substrate in the device is approximately twice as much as the amount of energy supplied when there is no substrate in the device.

The difference in energy input between the new substrate and the previously heated substrate is smaller, but still detectable. In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the difference in reduced energy can be measured at 1-5 s and the presence or absence of the substrate can be determined without error.

The controller is able to calculate the reduced energy supplied to the heating element up to a predetermined point in time and, based on this, is able to determine whether the expected or suitable substrate is in the device.

In Fig. 6 shows an example of the control process that can be performed by the control unit 52 to determine the presence or absence of a substrate in the device. This process is a cyclic process and begins at step 600. At step 610, the cycle number is incremented. At the beginning of the process, the cycle number is set to zero. Each time the control loop is executed, the loop number is incremented in step 610. In step 620, the process branches depending on the value of the loop number. In the initial cycle, when the cycle number is one, the process proceeds to step 630. In step 630, the initial energy, that is, the energy supplied to the heater at the current time, is set as "energy". This initial energy is used to drive further energy measurements. The process then proceeds to step 640 and back to step 610. Subsequent cycles are performed directly from step 620 to step 640 until a decision cycle is reached. Each cycle can be executed at a set time interval, for example, every two seconds. The decision cycle corresponds to the moment of time that is defined in the controller settings to compare the reduced energy with the expected or threshold value to determine the presence or absence of the substrate.

The threshold value of the reduced energy is shown by the dashed line 74 in Fig. 5. In this example, the decision-making cycle is the fifth cycle and occurs through Yus after turning on the device. In the decision cycle, the process proceeds from step 620 to step 650.

In step 650, the reduced energy is calculated as the energy supplied since the device was turned on, divided by the product of the initial energy and the decision cycle number (five in this example). After that, in step 660, the calculated reduced energy is compared with the threshold value. If the reduced energy exceeds the threshold value, the control unit determines the presence of an acceptable substrate, and the use of the device can be continued. If the applied energy does not exceed the threshold value, then the control unit detects the absence of substrate (or the presence of an unacceptable substrate), and then the control unit prevents power from being supplied to the heating element by keeping the switch 54 open.

The process shown in Fig. b, is only one example of the process of determining the presence of an acceptable substrate in the device for the formation of an aerosol. Other measured values of power or energy delivered to the heating element may be used, and either reduced or unreduced data may be used. The point of time at which the determination is made is also a matter of choice. The advantage of early detection, so that timely measures can be taken if necessary, must be balanced with the need to obtain a reliable result.

The measured power or energy can be compared to a set of threshold values. This can be useful for distinguishing between different types of substrates or for distinguishing between the presence of an unacceptable substrate and the absence of any substrate.

In addition to being useful for dynamically controlling the aerosol generating device, the drag detection data and substrate detection data determined by the controller 30 can

To be useful for analytical purposes. In particular, seizure detection data, together with data relating to heating element temperature and/or power applied to the heating element (collectively referred to herein as usage data), can be compared to stored experimental data that establishes a relationship between the relationship between usage data and the characteristics of the aerosol delivered by the device in different usage patterns. The characteristics of the delivered aerosol can be provided to the consumer as feedback on his consumption of the aerosol and the main components of the aerosol. Aerosol characteristics can also be collected over time and from several different users to provide a population-level data set that can subsequently be analyzed.

Stored experimental data that correlates usage data with the characteristics of the aerosol delivered by the device under different usage scenarios may be contained in a database and stored in the aerosol generation device or in an additional device that can be connected to a device for the formation of an aerosol can be connected. This additional device can be any data processing device, such as a laptop computer or a mobile phone. In one of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the additional device is a charger for recharging the battery in the device for creating an aerosol.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that if additional environmental data is required to accurately compare actual consumer data to experimental data, control unit 52 may include additional sensor data acquisition functionality to provide such data. about the environment. For example, the control unit 52 may include a humidity sensor 55 , and the humidity data may be part of the data that is subsequently provided to the external device 58 .

Alternatively or in addition to this, sensor 55 may be an ambient temperature sensor.

The use of the device can also be analyzed by an external device 58, 60 to determine which experimentally obtained data most closely matches a particular mode of use, for example, taking into account the duration and frequency of inhalation and the number of inhalations.

The experimental data that most closely matches the mode of use 60 can later be used as a basis for further data analysis and mapping.

In Fig. 2 shows the connection of the controller 30 to an external accessory device 58, which includes a display 59. The draw and time count data can be transmitted to the external device 58 along with other received usage data, and can further be transmitted from the accessory device 58 to other external devices 60 for data processing or storage. The device for the formation of an aerosol can include any suitable means of outputting data. For example, the device for the formation of an aerosol may include a wireless radio interface connected to the controller 30 or the memory 56, or a socket of the universal serial bus (W5B) connected to the controller 30 or the memory 56.

Alternatively, the aerosol generating device may be configured to transfer data from said memory to an external memory in the battery charger each time the aerosol generating device is recharged via suitable data communication connections. The battery charging device may provide a larger memory capacity for longer storage of drawdown data, and may subsequently be connected to a suitable data processing device or data exchange network. In addition, data as well as instructions for the controller 30 can be transmitted, for example, to the control unit 52 when the controller 30 is connected to the external device 58.

Additional data may also be collected and transmitted to the external device 58 during operation of the aerosol generating device 100 . Such data may include, for example, the serial number or other identification information of the device for the formation of an aerosol; start time of the smoking session; the time of the end of the smoking session; and information related to the reason for ending the smoking session.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the serial number or other identifying information or tracking information associated with the aerosol device 100 may be stored in the controller 30. For example, such tracking information may be stored in the memory 56. Since the device 100 to generate an aerosol may not always be connected to the same external device 58 for battery charging or data transfer purposes, then this tracking information can be transferred to external processing or data storage devices 60 and compiled to obtain a more complete picture of consumer behavior. A serial number or other identifying information provides the ability to link usage data

From a specific device with previously saved usage data from the same device.

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that using the methods and devices disclosed herein, data can also be obtained about the duration of operation of the aerosol generating device, such as the start and end times of a smoking session. For example, using the clock function 35 available in the controller 30 or the control unit 52, the controller can obtain and record the start time of the smoking session. Similarly, the end time may be recorded when the consumer or the aerosol generating device 100 ends the smoking session by stopping power to the heating element 20. The accuracy of these smoking session start and end time values can be further enhanced if the external device 58 transmits to the controller 30 more exact time to correct any loss or inaccuracy. For example, when connecting the controller 30 to the external device 58, the device 58 can query the internal clock function of the controller 30, compare the received time value with the time from the clock provided in the external device 58 or in one or more external device(s) (s) 60 processing or storing data, and providing the controller 30 with a refined clock signal.

The reason for the termination of the smoking session or the operation of the aerosol generating device 100 may also be determined and recorded. For example, control unit 52 may include a reference table that includes various reasons for ending a smoking session or work.

Below is an illustrative list of these reasons. 11111111 | The reason for session termination | Description of causes./:.:/://:/ УК/:П 11110 | o (normal ending) | The end of svansu has been reached.d//-:/ Z

The consumer has stopped smoking (by pressing the power button to end the session, by inserting the device for 1 (stopped by the consumer) write more aerosol formation in the external device 58, or by using a remote control command)

Suspected damage to the heater due to . . temperature measurements outside the 2 (damaged heater) and : and predetermined range during heating

A malfunction occurs when the temperature of the heating element exceeds or does not

With (improper level of heating) | reaches a predetermined operating temperature outside the tolerance range

The temperature of the heating element 4 (external heating) remains higher than the target temperature, even when the input power is reduced

The table above provides a number of illustrative examples of reasons for ending a work or smoking session. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that, using the various readings provided by the measuring unit 50 and the control unit 52 provided in the controller 30, either alone or in combination with the recorded readings, in response to the controller 30 controlling the heating of the heating element 20, the controller 30 may assign session codes for the reason for terminating the operation of the aerosol device 100 or the smoking session using such device. It will now be apparent to one skilled in the art that other causes may be determined from available data using the methods and devices described above, and may also be discovered using the methods and devices disclosed herein, without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. of this description and examples of the embodiments of the present invention described therein.

Consumer consumption of aerosolized substances can be accurately approximated because the aerosol generating device 100 disclosed herein can precisely control the temperature of the heating element 20 and because data can be collected by the controller 30 as well as the units 50 and 52 provided in the controller 30, and then an accurate profile of the actual use of the device 100 during a smoking session can be obtained.

In one of the examples of the variants of the implementation of the present invention, the usage data received by the controller 30 can be compared with the data determined during controlled smoking sessions to further improve the conditions of use by the consumer of the device 100. For example, by collecting raw data, using a smoking machine in under controlled environmental conditions and with measurements of data such as number of puffs, puff volume, puff interval, and heating element resistivity, a database 57 can be created that provides, for example, the levels of nicotine or other deliverables produced in conditions of the experiment. This experimental data can then be compared with data collected by the controller 30 during actual use and used to determine, for example, information about how much of the deliverable substance has been inhaled by the consumer. In one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 2, this database 57 containing the experimental data may be stored in one or more remote

From device(s) 60, and in one or more device(s) 60, additional comparison and data processing may be performed. For example, the remote devices 60 may be one or more server(s) operated by the aerosol device manufacturer, connected to the Internet and accessible via the Internet. Alternatively, the database 57 may be housed in an external device 58, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2.

Database 57 may include data for a plurality of different types of aerosol-forming substrates and for a plurality of different types of aerosol-forming devices. Indication of the type of substrate and the type of device may be provided by the consumer either before the smoking session or after the smoking session and may be entered into the aerosol generating device or one of the additional devices. Alternatively, indication of substrate type and device type may be provided automatically by the aerosol generating device as part of the usage data.

The data stored in the database 57 may include the amount of the following compounds contained in the aerosol delivered under specific operating conditions: acetaldehyde, acetamide, acetone, acrolein, acrylamide, acrylonitrile, 4-aminobiphenyl, 1-aminonaphthalene . )aceanthrylene, benzene, benzo|p|fluoranthene, benzo|KIfluoranthene, benzoGr|Ifuran, benzo(a|pyrene, benzo|c|Iphenanthrene, beryllium, 1,3-butadiene, cadmium, caffeic acid, carbon monoxide, catechol, chlorinated dioxins/furans, chromium,

chrysene, cobalt, cresols (0-, m- and p-cresol), croton aldehyde, cyclopenta|c,a|pyrene, dibenzi(a,n| anthracene, dibenzo(a,e|pyrene, dibenzoia, P|ipyrene, dibenzogTsa,|pyrene, dibenzoga,I|pyrene, 2,6-dimethylaniline, ethylcarbamate (urethane), ethylbenzene, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, furan, Spi-

P-1-(2-amino-6-methyldipyrido|1,2-a:3,27-a) imidazole), SiS-P-2-(2-aminodipyrido|1,2-a:3",27- and imidazole), hydrazine, hydrocyanic acid, indeno!1,2,3-sa|pyrene, IS(-2-amino-3-methylimidazoli|4,5-quinoline), isoprene, lead, MEA-a-C-( 2-amino-3-methyl)-9H-pyridoy(2,3-B|indole), mercury, methyl ethyl ketone, 5-methylchrysene, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (MMK) , naphthalene, nickel, nicotine, nitrobenzene, nitromethane, 2-nitropropane, M-nitrosodiethanolamine (MOEGA), M-nitrosodiethylamine, M-nitrosodimethylamine (MOMA), M-nitrosomethylethylamine, M-nitrosomorpholine (MMORM), M-nitrosonornicotine (MMM) . polonium-210, propionaldehyde, propylene oxide, quinoline, selenium, styrene, o-toluidine, toluene, Tgr-P-1-(3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido|4,3-b|indole), Ter-P-2-(1 - methyl-3-amino-5H-pyridoi|4,3-B|indole), uranium-235, uranium-238, vinyl acetate, or vinyl chloride.

Information about the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer may be displayed on the aerosol generating device 100 , or may be displayed on the display 59 of an additional device 58 , such as a mobile phone or charger, or on a remote external device 60 .

It will now be apparent to one skilled in the art that using the methods and devices discussed herein, almost any desired information can be obtained that can be compared to experimental data, and various performance-related metrics can be accurately approximated. by the consumer of the device 100 for the formation of an aerosol.

The above-described examples of embodiments of the present invention illustrate, but do not limit, this invention. A person skilled in the art, after familiarizing himself with the above examples of embodiments of the present invention, will see other embodiments of the present invention that are similar to the above-described examples of embodiments of the present invention.

Claims (15)

FORMULATION OF THE INVENTION Zo 1. A system for the formation of an aerosol, which is intended for oral or nasal delivery of the formed aerosol to a consumer and which includes: a heating element designed to heat an aerosol-forming substrate for the formation of an aerosol, an energy source connected to the heating element, a controller connected to the heating element and the power source, the controller being adapted to control the operation of the heating element and either including or connected to means for detecting changes in the flow of air passing the heating element, a first data storage means connected to the controller for recording detected changes in the flow of air passing the heating element and data relating to the operation of the heating element, and a second data storage means which includes a database in which the changes air flow and data related to the operation of the heating element correlated with aerosol characteristics such as delivered to the consumer, and an indication means connected to the second data storage means for informing about the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer. 2. The system for generating an aerosol according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller is configured to regulate the power supplied from the energy source to the heating element to maintain the temperature of the heating element at the target temperature, and to monitor to detect changes in the flow of air passing the heating element, changes in the temperature of the heating element or the power supplied to the heating element. 3. The system for the formation of an aerosol according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the controller is designed to compare a certain indicator related to the power supplied to the heating element or to the energy supplied from the energy source to the heating element element, with a threshold value of an indicator related to power or energy to detect the presence of an aerosol-forming substrate near the heating element or a certain characteristic of the substance of the aerosol-forming substrate near the heating element. 4. The system for the formation of an aerosol according to any of claims 1-3, which is characterized by the fact that the database contains data that are specific for a specific type of aerosol-forming substrate. 5. The system for the formation of an aerosol according to claim 4, which is characterized by the fact that it includes an identification means for identifying the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the device, or a user interface designed to enable the user to enter data that identifies the aerosol-forming substrate contained in the device into the device. 6. The system for generating an aerosol according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the data related to the operation of the aerosol generating element include the temperature of the heating element or the power supplied to the heating element. 7. A system for generating an aerosol according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that it includes a housing, and the second data storage means or display, or both the second data storage means and the display are contained within said housing together with the heating element, or together with the energy source, or together with both of them. 8. The system for generating an aerosol according to any one of claims 1-6, which is characterized by the fact that it includes a device for generating an aerosol and one or more additional devices 3 with which this device for generating an aerosol can be directly or indirectly connected , and the second data storage means and the display are part of said one or more additional devices. 9. The system for the formation of an aerosol according to claim 8, which is characterized in that the additional device is a charging device made with the possibility of replenishing the energy source in the device for the formation of an aerosol. 10. The system for the formation of an aerosol according to any one of claims 1-9, which is characterized in that said characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer include quantitative characteristics regarding specific chemical compounds. 11. A system for generating an aerosol according to any one of claims 1-10, which is characterized by the fact that it is an electric smoking device. 12. A method of providing aerosol delivery data to an end user of an electrically heated aerosol generating device comprising a heating element, an energy source for supplying power to the heating element, and means for detecting changes in air flow past the heating element, which includes: writing to the first database detected changes in the flow of air passing the heating element and data related to the operation of the heating element, reading from a second database in which the changes in the air flow and data related to the operation of the heating element, correlated with the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer, based on the detected air flow changes obtained from said first database and data related to the operation of the heating element, the characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer, and informing about the read characteristics of the aerosol that delivered to the consumer, and using an indicator connected to a second database. 13. The method according to claim 12, which is characterized by the fact that it additionally includes the step of detecting or providing at least one characteristic of the aerosol-forming substrate that is placed in the device, and the mentioned step of reading the characteristics of the aerosol is also based on the mentioned at least one characteristic of the aerosol-forming substrate that is placed in the device. 14. The method according to claim 12 or claim 13, which differs in that the read characteristics of the aerosol delivered to the consumer include quantitative characteristics regarding specific chemical compounds. 15. 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