WO2022263256A1

WO2022263256A1 - Use of aerosol generation device depending on detected user's information

Info

Publication number: WO2022263256A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/065586
Authority: WO
Inventors: Liam Nicholas Chrysostom GLADDEN; Christopher John Wright; Phil Peter Catton
Original assignee: Jt International Sa
Priority date: 2021-06-16
Filing date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2022-12-22

Abstract

An aerosol generation device (1) comprises a body (16) comprising: - an aerosol generation unit (3) comprising a casing (7) for receiving a consumable (2) comprising an aerosol-forming substance (8) through an opening (9), and arranged for transforming this aerosol-forming substance (8) into an aerosol, - an external wall (21) comprising a sensor (4) for detecting an information representative of a quantity of a chosen substance when it is in contact with a user's finger, - an occluding element (5) moveable between a closed position occluding the opening (9) and an open position authorizing access to the casing (7), and - a controller (6) arranged, when the substance quantity is greater than a first threshold, for triggering positioning of the occluding element (5) into its open position, and then for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit (3) according to the detected user's information.

Description

USE OF AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE DEPENDING ON DETECTED

USER’S INFORMATION

Field of the invention [01] The present invention relates to aerosol generation devices, and more precisely to the use of such devices.

Background

[02] Some aerosol generation devices comprise a body comprising: - an aerosol generation unit comprising a casing, arranged for receiving a consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substance through an opening, and arranged for transforming this aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user when it is supplied with electrical energy during a vaping session, and - a controller (or control device) for controlling, notably, the electrical energy supplied to the aerosol generation unit.

[03] When this type of aerosol generation device is portable, i.e. usable when held by a user, it further comprises a battery (or power source) possibly rechargeable and storing electrical energy that is used by a heater of the aerosol generation unit to induce the aerosol generation. In this case the aerosol generation device may be a vaporizer or an electronic cigarette.

[04] The invention concerns more particularly the so-called “T-vapor (or heat-not-burn (or “HnB”)) devices” comprising a heater for heating a “solid” substance (for instance a tobacco stick) inserted into its casing and similar to a traditional cigarette. So, in the following description the term “aerosol forming substance” is used to designate any solid material that is aerosolizable in air to form an aerosol.

[05] The aerosol-forming substance may comprise one or more of nicotine, tobacco material, polyol, caffeine or other active components. An active component may be carried by a carrier which may include propylene glycol or glycerin, for instance. A flavoring may also be present in the aerosol-forming material and may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar, for instance.

[06] Moreover, in the following description the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas. Such a suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to, or include, a vapor, and may include one or more components of the aerosol-forming material.

[07] As it is described in the patent document EP-B1 3307362B1, some aerosol generation devices comprise a mouthpiece equipped with a sensor that is arranged, during a vaping session, for detecting a nicotine metabolite (cotinine) in the user’s saliva, and a controller arranged, when the nicotine metabolite quantity is below a first (and minimal) threshold or above a second (and maximal) threshold for stopping the supply of the aerosol generation unit with electrical energy to stop the aerosol generation. Such a solution is intended for preventing a user having a very low cotinine level (and therefore that is not a nicotine consumer), such as a child, or a user having a very high cotinine level (and therefore should not consume some more nicotine), to continue inhaling the generated aerosol. [08] But, such a solution requires the aerosol generation device to comprise a mouthpiece, which is not the case with any T-vapor devices. Moreover, such a solution does not prevent the user from starting to inhale the generated aerosol. Indeed, the aerosol generation cannot be stopped as long as some user’s saliva has not been sufficiently produced and analyzed. So, during the first puffs the user may inhale an unauthorized substance or a substance that is potentially dangerous for his health, which means that the above described solution does not fully prevent inappropriate uses of an aerosol generation device.

[09] So, the present invention aims at improving the situation. Summary

[10] The proposed invention provides an embodiment of an aerosol generation device comprising a body comprising an aerosol generation unit comprising a casing, arranged for receiving a consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substance through an opening, and arranged for transforming this aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user.

[11] This aerosol generation device is characterized in that it further comprises:

- an external wall comprising at least one sensor arranged for detecting an information representative of a quantity of a chosen substance when it is in contact with a finger of the user,

- an occluding element moveable between a closed position occluding the opening when the aerosol generation unit does not produce aerosol and an open position authorizing access to the casing, and

- a controller arranged, when the detected user’s information is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than a first threshold, for triggering positioning of the occluding element into its open position to allow insertion of the consumable into the casing, and then for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to the detected user’s information.

[12] Thanks to the invention, it is now possible to prevent inappropriate uses of the aerosol generation device before insertion of a consumable into the casing, without any user action, other than establishing a finger contact with the sensor.

[13] The embodiment of aerosol generation device may comprise other features, considered separately or combined, and notably :

• in a first embodiment the controller may be arranged (or configured) for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than the first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity, and then for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to this determined substance quantity increase;

• in a variant of the first embodiment the controller may be arranged for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than the first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining a time elapsed since a last use of the aerosol generation device, an estimated substance quantity the user should have just after the last use from the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and the determined elapsed time, and if the user is a specific user that regularly uses the aerosol generation device from a comparison between the determined estimated substance quantity and a usual substance quantity of this specific user after a use of the aerosol generation device and represented by stored data, and then in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and stored data representative of this usual specific user’s substance quantity, and then for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to the determined substance quantity increase;

• in a second embodiment the aerosol generation device may comprise a communication interface arranged for transferring the detected user’s information to a communication equipment configured to analyze this detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than the first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity, and then for transferring this determined substance quantity increase to the communication interface. In this embodiment the controller may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to the determined substance quantity increase;

• in a variant of the second embodiment the aerosol generation device may comprise a communication interface arranged for transferring a time elapsed since a last use of the aerosol generation device and the detected user’s information to a communication equipment configured to analyze this detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than the first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining an estimated substance quantity the user should have just after the last use from the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and the determined elapsed time, and if the user is a specific user that regularly uses the aerosol generation device from a comparison between the determined estimated substance quantity and a usual substance quantity of this specific user after a use of the aerosol generation device and represented by stored data, and then in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity represented by the detected user’s information and stored data representative of this usual specific user’s substance quantity, and then for transferring this determined substance quantity increase. In this embodiment the controller may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to the determined substance quantity increase;

• the controller may be arranged for adapting a heating profile of the aerosol generation unit depending on the determined substance quantity increase; • the controller may be arranged for adapting the heating profile of the aerosol generation unit depending on at least one user preference;

• the controller may be arranged for adapting the heating profile of the aerosol generation unit depending on a model describing how users metabolize an inhaled primary substance into the chosen substance over time, and/or a model relating substance quantities to subjective feelings of craving in the chosen substance by users, and/or data pertaining to delivery profiles of the inhaled primary substance that are optimally satisfying users at different levels of craving and in different settings, and/or at least one user’s physiology information, and/or at least one user metric, and/or at least one information relative to the aerosol-forming substance received in the casing;

• the sensor may be arranged for analyzing a chemical composition of a chosen element present on, or being part of, the user’s finger. For instance, this element may be chosen from a group comprising the sweat, the skin and an interstitial fluid;

• the sensor may implement a sensing technology chosen from a group comprising spectrometry, electrochemical sensing and electronic nose;

• the chosen substance may be nicotine or a nicotine metabolite. For instance, the nicotine metabolite may be cotinine;

• it may comprise a rechargeable battery storing electrical energy that is used by the aerosol generation unit for generating the aerosol;

• the aerosol generation device may constitute an electronic cigarette.

Brief description of the figures

[14] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which: - the figure 1 (FIG.1 ) schematically and functionally illustrates a first example of embodiment of an aerosol generation device according to the invention, before insertion of a consumable into its casing,

- the figure 2 (FIG.2) schematically and functionally illustrates the aerosol generation device of figure 1 after detection of a user’s information authorizing opening of its occluding element and insertion of a consumable into its casing, and

- the figure 3 (FIG.3) schematically and functionally illustrates a second example of embodiment of an aerosol generation device according to the invention, before insertion of a consumable into its casing.

Detailed description of embodiments

[15] The invention aims at offering an aerosol generation device 1 whose use depends on user’s information detected before a vaping session and before insertion of a consumable 2.

[16] In the following description it will be considered that the aerosol generation device 1 is (or constitutes) an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette or else personal vaporizer). But an aerosol generation device 1 according to the invention could be of another type, as soon as it allows to transform an aerosol-forming substance in solid form into an aerosol (possibly close to room temperature). More generally, the invention concerns any type of T-vapor (or heat-not-burn (or HnB)) device comprising a heater for heating a solid substance.

[17] Moreover, in the following description it will be considered that the consumable 2 is a tobacco stick. So, the aerosol-forming substance comprises at least tobacco material (possibly shredded tobacco). But the invention is not limited to this type of consumable.

[18] It is recalled that an “aerosol-forming substance” is used to designate any solid material that is aerosolizable in air to form an aerosol. So, it may comprise one or more of nicotine, tobacco material, polyol, caffeine or other active components, or else flavoring. [19] It is also recalled that the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas, and that such a suspension may be in a gas including air.

[20] As illustrated in figures 1 to 3 an aerosol generation device 1 , according to the invention, comprises a body 16 comprising at least an aerosol generation unit 3, at least one sensor 4, an occluding element 5 and a controller 6.

[21] The aerosol generation unit 3 comprises a casing 7 arranged for receiving a consumable 2 (here a tobacco stick) comprising an aerosol forming substance 8, through an opening 9 whose access is controlled by the occluding element 5. To this effect, the occluding element 5 is moveable between a closed position occluding the opening 9 (and illustrated in figures 1 and 3) when the aerosol generation unit 3 does not produce aerosol and an open position authorizing access to the casing 7 (and illustrated in figure 2). So, when the occluding element 5 is in its open position the user can insert manually at least a part of a consumable 2 into the casing 7 that may be a heating chamber.

[22] For instance, the occluding element 5 may be a slidable shutter that can be translated (arrow F) between the closed position and the open position by means of a micro electrical motor coupled to a micro mechanism also coupled to the shutter. But in a variant the shutter could be rotatable.

[23] The aerosol generation unit 3 is arranged for transforming the aerosol-forming substance 8 mixed with air into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user through successive draws (or “puffs” or inhalation phases) during a vaping session.

[24] As illustrated in the non-limiting examples of figures 1 to 3, the casing 7 communicates with an air outlet 10 of an air flow channel 11 to be supplied with air originating from at least one air inlet 12 of this air flow channel 11. This allows mixing between the aerosol-forming substance 8 and the air. [25] Also as illustrated, the consumable 2 may comprise a filter 13, downstream of the aerosol-forming substance 8. In the non-limiting example of figure 2, the consumable 2 is fully inserted into the casing 7. But, as for a cigarette, the filter 13 could be at least partly and temporarily located in the mouth of the user and in this case it is used as a mouthpiece for inhaling the generated aerosol during each puff (or draw).

[26] The aerosol-forming substance 8 is arranged for generating an aerosol when it is heated (without burning) and mixed with air. This heating is performed by a heater 14 supplied with electrical energy originating from a power source 15. This heater 14 may belong to the aerosol generation unit 3.

[27] In the non-limiting examples illustrated in figures 1 to 3 the heater 14 surrounds the casing 7, and therefore a part of the consumable 2 (and more precisely its aerosol-forming substance 8) to heat the latter (8). For instance, the heater 14 may be a thin film heater wrapped around the outer surface of the casing 7 to heat its side walls and at least a part of its internal volume. But in a variant (not illustrated) the heater 14 could be a coil associated with a susceptor or a resistive coil heater. In the first alternative, the coil is arranged for generating an electromagnetic field when it is supplied with an electrical current, and the susceptor is arranged for transforming this electromagnetic field into heat. This susceptor may be a foil of the consumable 2 that surrounds, or is located inside, the aerosol forming substance 8. In other variants of embodiment (not illustrated) the heater 14 could be located inside the consumable 2 or inside the casing 7.

[28] For instance, the heater 14 may heat the aerosol-forming substance 8 to a temperature comprised between 150°C and 350°C.

[29] The power source 15 is housed in the body 16 of the aerosol generation device 1 which also comprises the aerosol generation unit 3. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the power source 15 could be housed in another body coupled to the body 16 by screwing by means of two corresponding threaded portions, or by clipping or else by means of magnet, for instance.

[30] Also for instance, the power source 15 may be a rechargeable battery. In this case the body 16 may comprise an electrical connector to which a charger cable may be connected during a charging session of the rechargeable battery 15. Such a charger cable may be coupled to an (AC) adapter or to a wall socket. The charger cable and/or the (AC) adapter may belong to the aerosol generation device 1.

[31] The electrical energy supplied to the heater 14 during a vaping session is controlled by the controller 6. This controller (or control unit) 6 may comprise at least a processor and a memory arranged for performing operations for controlling the aerosol generation unit 3 (and notably its heater 14) during a vaping session and also the power source 15 during a possible charging session.

[32] For instance, the processor may be a digital signal processor (or DSP), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or else a field programmable gate array (FPGA). More generally, the processor may comprise integrated (or printed) circuits, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected therebetween through wired or wireless connections. The term “integrated (or printed) circuits” refers here to any type of device capable of carrying out at least one electric or electronic operation.

[33] Also for instance, the memory may be a random access memory (or RAM). But it may be any type of device arranged for storing program instructions for the processor.

[34] Generally speaking, the functions of the controller (or control unit) 6 may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually (by the user). These functions may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software. [35] As illustrated in the non-limiting examples of figures 1 to 3, the controller (or control unit) 6 (and notably its processor and memory) may be fixed onto a printed circuit board (or PCB) 17 (here housed in the body 16).

[36] The controller (or control unit) 6 may also comprise, in addition to its processor and memory, an input interface, a mass memory (notably for storing intermediate data produced during its calculus and processing), and an output interface for delivering messages and instructions at least for controlling the aerosol generation unit 3 (and notably its heater 14), the electronic component(s) (such as switch(es)) supplying the electrical power (stored in the power source 15) to the aerosol generation unit 3, and the position of the occluding element 5.

[37] The (each) sensor 4 is set in an external wall 21 of the body 16, with an external surface in contact with the outside air in order to be touched by a finger of the user before a vaping session.

[38] This (each) sensor 4 is arranged for detecting a user’s information representative of a quantity (or level) sq1 of a chosen substance of the user’s body when it is in contact with a finger of this user. For instance, the sensor 4 may be arranged for analyzing the chemical composition of a chosen element present on, or being part of, a user’s finger. In the following description it will be considered that this chosen element is sweat. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, it could be also the skin or an interstitial fluid, for instance. Data information defining the expected signature of the chosen substance (for instance cotinine) may be taken into account during the analysis, for instance.

[39] In the following description it will be considered that the external wall 21 of the body 16 comprises only one sensor 4, but it may comprise several sensors 4, possibly arranged as an array.

[40] Also for instance, the sensor 4 may be a button, a slider or a mechanism, possibly dedicated to the user’s information determination or that the user must touch in order to switch on the aerosol generation device 1 or to position the occluding element 5 in its open/closed position or else to control or operate a function that is required for using the aerosol generation device 1 .

[41] For instance, the sensor 4 may implement a sensing technology that is chosen amongst spectrometry, electrochemical sensing and electronic nose.

[42] The nature of the detected user’s information depends on the sensing technology employed by the sensor 4. So, it may include a time series of frequency and amplitude values, the power spectrum of a signal, or a time series or snapshot of current measurements, for instance.

[43] Also for instance, the chosen substance may be a nicotine metabolite. In the following description it will be considered that the nicotine metabolite is cotinine. It is recalled that the inhaled nicotine is broken down into several different chemicals (or metabolites) in a user’s body, with the majority converted or metabolized into cotinine. While nicotine remains in a user’s body for only several hours, cotinine is much longer-lived (it is detectable days or weeks after nicotine inhalation).

[44] Generally speaking the chosen substance to be determined depends on the chemical composition of the aerosol-forming substance 8. In the case where the aerosol-forming substance 8 belongs to a tobacco stick 2, the chosen substance could be an inhaled primary substance (i.e. a part of the generated aerosol), such as nicotine, or a nicotine metabolite that is not cotinine.

[45] The controller 6 is arranged, when the detected user’s information is representative of a substance quantity (or level) sq1 that is greater than a first threshold s1 , for triggering positioning of the occluding element 5 into its open position to allow insertion of the consumable 2 into the casing 7. Then, the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to this detected user’s information.

[46] So, if the substance quantity sq1 is smaller than the first threshold s1 (sq1 < s1), the controller 6 does not authorize the opening of the occluding element 5, which means than no consumable 2 can be inserted by the user into the casing 7 and therefore that the aerosol generation unit 3 cannot work. Now, if the substance quantity sq1 is greater than the first threshold s1 (sq1 > s1), the controller 6 authorizes the opening of the occluding element 5, which means that a consumable 2 can be inserted by the user into the casing 7 in order that the aerosol generation unit 3 generates an aerosol that may be inhaled by the user. Indeed, the user is considered as a nicotine user. This allows for preventing a user having a very low cotinine level (and therefore that is not, for instance, a nicotine consumer), such as a child, to start using the aerosol generation device 1 , because the user cannot insert a consumable 2 into the casing 7.

[47] In an option, the controller 6 could be also arranged for not authorizing the opening of the occluding element 5 when the substance quantity sq1 is greater than a second threshold s2 that is greater than the first threshold s1 (s1 < s2 < sq1). This allows for preventing a user having a very high cotinine level to start using the aerosol generation device 1 , because it could be dangerous for his health to inhale some more nicotine contained in a generated aerosol.

[48] So, the invention fully prevents inappropriate uses of the aerosol generation device 1 without any user action, other than establishing a finger contact with the sensor 4, and may possibly provide a maximally satisfying dose of primary substance (for instance nicotine) to the user.

[49] In a preferred embodiment, the working of the aerosol generation unit 3 may be controlled according to a determined substance quantity increase sq2 for the user. Such a determination can be performed in at least two ways (internal or external).

[50] In a first way (fully internal), illustrated in the non-limiting example of figures 1 and 2, the controller 6 may be arranged for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity sq1 that is greater than the first threshold s1 (and preferably smaller than the second threshold s2), and in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase sq2 for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity sq3 contained in the user’s body. In this case, the controller 6 is also arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to this determined substance quantity increase sq2 (with sq2 = sq3 - sq1).

[51] The usual user’s substance quantity sq3 may be an average quantity corresponding to an average nicotine consumer or a specific quantity that has been selected or scheduled by the user of the aerosol generation device 1.

[52] So, the working of the aerosol generation unit 3 is controlled in order that the vaping session allows the current substance quantity of the user (initially equal to sq1) to reach the usual user’s substance quantity sq3 (or in other words to have an increase of sq2).

[53] It should be noticed that when the analysis of the detected user’s information shows that sq1 < s1 or sq1 > s2, the controller 6 does not determine sq2.

[54] It should be noticed that in a very simple embodiment, when sq1 > s1 the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 in order that it starts generating aerosol after insertion of a consumable 2 into the casing 7.

[55] In a variant of embodiment of the first way (fully internal), also illustrated in the non-limiting example of figures 1 and 2, the controller 6 is also arranged for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity sq1 that is greater than the first threshold s1 (and preferably smaller than the second threshold s2). But, in the affirmative the controller 6 is arranged for determining a time elapsed since the last use of the aerosol generation device 1 . This requires that the controller 6 registers the time and date of the end of each vaping session. Then the controller 6 is arranged for determining an estimated substance quantity sq4 the user should have just after this last use (i.e. before this determined elapsed time) from the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and the determined elapsed time. This step aims at estimating the substance quantity sq4 that the user should normally have in his body at the end of the last vaping session if his current substance quantity is sq1 . Then the controller 6 is arranged for determining if the user is a specific user that regularly uses the aerosol generation device 1 from a comparison between this determined estimated substance quantity sq4 and a usual substance quantity sq5 of the specific user after a use of the aerosol generation device 1 and represented by stored data. Indeed, if sq4 = sq5 this means that the current user can be considered as the specific user of the aerosol generation device 1. Then, in the affirmative the controller 6 is arranged for determining an allowed substance quantity increase sq2 for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and stored data representative of the usual specific user’s substance quantity sq5 in the user’s body. Then the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to this determined substance quantity increase sq2 (with sq2 = sq5 - sq1).

[56] It is also possible that the substance quantity (or level) sq1 be used to infer the identity of a user or whether he is using other products, if the expected substance quantity (or level) after the elapsed time is not equal to the observed value.

[57] In a second way (external (or remote)), illustrated in the non-limiting example of figure 3, the aerosol generation device 1 further comprises a communication interface 18 arranged for transferring the user’s information detected by the sensor 4 to a communication equipment 19. This communication equipment 19 is arranged for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity sq1 that is greater than the first threshold s1. In the affirmative the communication equipment 19 is arranged for determining an allowed substance quantity increase sq2 for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity sq3. Then the communication equipment 19 is arranged for transferring the determined substance quantity increase sq2 to the communication interface 18 of the aerosol generation device 1 . In this case the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to this determined substance quantity increase sq2. If the communication equipment 19 determines that sq1 < s1 or sq1 > s2, it does not determine sq2 and therefore does not transmit any data representing sq2 to the communication interface 18 or transmits a dedicated message indicating that the occluding element 5 should not be open, and therefore the controller 6 does not trigger the change of position of the occluding element 5 (which remains in its closed position).

[58] So, in the second (external) way all the computations concerning the detected user’s information are performed by a controller 20 belonging to a communication equipment 19 that has been previously paired to the aerosol generation device 1 and comprising at least a processor and a memory. This communication equipment 19 may be a smartphone or an electronic tablet or a laptop or else a personal computer of the user. In a variant, the aerosol generation device 1 may have connectivity capacity, i.e. the capacity to be connected to at least one communication network, possibly for accessing the Internet. In such a variant all the computations concerning the detected user’s information are performed by a controller or computer belonging to a distant server.

[59] For instance, the communication interface 18 may be arranged for having wireless communications with the communication equipment 19. Also for instance, this communication interface 18 may be arranged for having Bluetooth communications when its aerosol generation device 1 has been paired to the communication equipment 19. But this is a non- limiting example, and other types of short-range wireless communications are possible, and notably NFC, RFID, ZigBee, and WiFi Direct.

[60] In a variant of embodiment of the second way (fully external), also illustrated in the non-limiting example of figure 3, the aerosol generation device 1 also further comprises a communication interface 18 arranged for transferring the time elapsed since the last use of the aerosol generation device 1 and the user’s information detected by the sensor 4 to a communication equipment 19. This requires that the controller 6 registers the time and date of the end of each vaping session. The communication equipment 19 is arranged for analyzing the detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity sq1 that is greater than the first threshold s1 (and preferably smaller than the second threshold s2). But, in the affirmative the communication equipment 19 is arranged for determining an estimated substance quantity sq4 the user should have just after the last use (i.e. before the determined elapsed time) from the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and the transferred and determined elapsed time. Then the communication equipment 19 is arranged for determining if the user is a specific user that regularly uses the aerosol generation device 1 from a comparison between this determined estimated substance quantity sq4 and a usual substance quantity sq5 of this specific user after a use of the aerosol generation device 1 and represented by stored data. Then, in the affirmative the communication equipment 19 is arranged for determining an allowed substance quantity increase sq2 for the user from a comparison between the substance quantity sq1 (represented by the detected user’s information) and stored data representative of this usual specific user’s substance quantity sq5. Then the communication equipment 19 is arranged for transferring this determined substance quantity increase sq2 to the communication interface 18 of the aerosol generation device 1. In this case, the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to this determined substance quantity increase sq2 (with sq2 = sq5 - sq1).

[61] In both ways (internal and external), the analysis of the detected user’s information can be performed through comparisons with data stored in a database or by means of equation(s) or else by means of artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence can be based on pattern recognition, and trained to determine the estimated substance quantity sq4 and the substance quantity increase sq2 from the determined elapsed time and the substance quantity sq1.

[62] In other variants of the first and second ways, the controller 6 or 20 may deduce that the user is a specific user when the elapsed time since the last use of the aerosol generation device 1 for a vaping session is approximately equal to an average elapsed time between successive vaping sessions with this aerosol generation device 1.

[63] For instance, the controller 6 may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 during the next vaping session by adapting a heating profile of this aerosol generation unit 3 depending on the determined substance quantity increase sq2. More precisely, the controller 6 will control the electrical energy supplied to the heater 14 according to the adapted heating profile. This heating profile may be stored in a memory of the controller 6 (or 20). The adaptation of the heating profile is intended for adapting the delivery profile of the primary substance (for instance nicotine) contained in the generated aerosol. The heating profile may comprise the heater temperature and/or the heating duration and/or heater temperature variations during the vaping session, for instance.

[64] It is important to notice that the controller 6 may be arranged for adapting the heating profile of the aerosol generation unit 3 not only according to the substance quantity increase sq2 but also according to at least one user preference. Indeed, the user preferences may vary with the composition and/or flavor and/or brand and/or tobacco variety of the aerosol-forming substance 8 (known from information data associated with its consumable 2), for instance.

[65] The user preference(s) can be stored in the controller 6 and/or in the communication equipment 19 of the user or in the above mentioned distant server.

[66] It is also important to notice that the controller 6 may be arranged for adapting the heating profile of the aerosol generation unit 3 depending on:

- a model describing how users metabolize an inhaled primary substance (such as nicotine) into the chosen substance (for instance cotinine) over time, and/or

- a model relating substance quantities to subjective feelings of craving in the chosen substance by users, and/or

- data pertaining to delivery profiles of the inhaled primary substance that are optimally satisfying users at different levels of craving and in different settings (for instance contextual information and/or knowledge about psychological factors, which affect the sense of satiation achieved by the delivery of a nicotine dose), and/or

- at least one user’s physiology information, such as the heart rate or the blood pressure (gathered by a third party device, for instance a smartwatch), and/or

- at least one user metric, such as the age, the weight, or the medical history, and/or

- at least one information relative to the aerosol-forming substance 8 received in the casing 7 and relevant to nicotine delivery, such as geometry or nicotine content, for instance.

[67] It is also important to notice that in a variant of embodiment of the second way (external computations) the adaptation of the heating profile could be determined by the communication equipment 19 or in the above mentioned distant server. In this case the communication equipment 19 is arranged for transferring the definition of the adapted heating profile and possibly the determined substance quantity increase sq2 to the communication interface 18 of the aerosol generation device 1. In this case, the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to the transferred heating profile and possibly the transferred determined substance quantity increase sq2.

[68] In practical settings, for energy efficiency reasons the working of the sensor 4 is preferably triggered by an event. Such an event may be, for instance, the pressing by the user of the sensor 4 or a button of the aerosol generation device 1 (possibly dedicated). In a variant of embodiment, the sensor 4 may work at discrete times (or regular intervals) to provide successive information at low frequency, and each information may be compared to the preceding one to detect when a user’s finger is in contact with the sensor 4 by looking for a rising edge. Indeed, a user’s finger contact will produce some “signature” or “modulation” in the sensor output (or information). So, when the user’s finger comes into contact with the sensor 4, the sensor output goes from being “trivial” to “non-trivial” or goes from below a chosen threshold to above this chosen threshold.

[69] The invention allows a heat-not-burn device 1 to adapt its primary substance delivery based on physiological facts about a user on the basis of a measured quantity (or level) of a chosen substance (possibly this primary substance or a primary substance metabolite) in the user’s sweat or skin or interstitial fluid.

[70] Moreover, unauthorized uses of the aerosol generation device 1 can be prevented by measuring something physiologically “true” about the user (for instance cotinine is directly linked to nicotine inhalation). So, it allows, for instance, preventing a child from using the aerosol generation device (as he should have a very low cotinine level), without resorting to traditional means of age verification, i.e. without requiring biometric authentication or access to, for instance, credit card or other sensitive information.

[71] Furthermore, the aerosol generation device 1 can adapt delivery of a primary substance (for instance nicotine) based on the state of the user in terms of substance quantity (such as cotinine) in his body, and so it allows optimizing the satisfaction felt by the user. The experience can be tailored not only to that user specifically, but to that user at that particular time, and so offers a highly personalized, as well as satisfying, experience.

[72] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some block diagrams of figures 1 to 3 herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention.

[73] The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Aerosol generation device (1) comprising a body (16) comprising an aerosol generation unit (3) comprising a casing (7), arranged for receiving a consumable (2) comprising an aerosol-forming substance (8) through an opening (9), and arranged for transforming said aerosol-forming substance (8) into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user, wherein said body (16) further comprises:

- an external wall (21) comprising at least one sensor (4) arranged for detecting an information representative of a quantity of a chosen substance when it is in contact with a finger of said user,

- an occluding element (5) moveable between a closed position occluding said opening (9) when said aerosol generation unit (3) does not produce aerosol and an open position authorizing access to said casing (7), and

- a controller (6) arranged, when said detected user’s information is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than a first threshold, for triggering positioning of said occluding element (5) into its open position to allow insertion of said consumable (2) into said casing (7), and then for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit (3) according to said detected user’s information.

2. Aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein said controller (6) is arranged for analyzing said detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than said first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for said user from a comparison between said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity, and then for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit (3) according to said determined substance quantity increase.

3. Aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein said controller (6) is arranged for analyzing said detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than said first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining i) a time elapsed since a last use of said aerosol generation device (1), ii) an estimated substance quantity said user should have just after said last use from said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and said determined elapsed time, and iii) if said user is a specific user that regularly uses said aerosol generation device (1) from a comparison between said determined estimated substance quantity and a usual substance quantity of said specific user after a use of said aerosol generation device (1) and represented by stored data, and then in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for said user from a comparison between said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and stored data representative of said usual specific user’s substance quantity, and then for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit (3) according to said determined substance quantity increase.

4. Aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a communication interface (18) arranged for transferring said detected user’s information to a communication equipment (19) arranged for analyzing said detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than said first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for said user from a comparison between said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and stored data representative of a usual user’s substance quantity, and then for transferring said determined substance quantity increase to said communication interface (18), and wherein said controller (6) is arranged for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit (3) according to said determined substance quantity increase.

5. Aerosol generation device according to claim 1 , wherein it comprises a communication interface (18) arranged for transferring a time elapsed since a last use of said aerosol generation device (1) and said detected user’s information to a communication equipment (19) arranged for analyzing said detected user’s information to determine if it is representative of a substance quantity that is greater than said first threshold, and in the affirmative for determining i) an estimated substance quantity said user should have just after said last use from said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and said determined elapsed time, and ii) if said user is a specific user that regularly uses said aerosol generation device (1) from a comparison between said determined estimated substance quantity and a usual substance quantity of said specific user after a use of said aerosol generation device (1) and represented by stored data, and then in the affirmative for determining an allowed substance quantity increase for said user from a comparison between said substance quantity represented by said detected user’s information and stored data representative of said usual specific user’s substance quantity, and then for transferring said determined substance quantity increase to said communication interface (18), and wherein said controller (6) is arranged for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit (3) according to said determined substance quantity increase.

6. Aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein said controller (6) is arranged for adapting a heating profile of said aerosol generation unit (3) depending on said determined substance quantity increase.

7. Aerosol generation device according to claim 6, wherein said controller (6) is arranged for adapting said heating profile of said aerosol generation unit (3) depending on at least one user preference.

8. Aerosol generation device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said controller (6) is arranged for adapting said heating profile of said aerosol generation unit (3) depending on a model describing how users metabolize an inhaled primary substance into said chosen substance over time, and/or a model relating substance quantities to subjective feelings of craving in said chosen substance by users, and/or data pertaining to delivery profiles of said inhaled primary substance that are optimally satisfying users at different levels of craving and in different settings, and/or at least one user’s physiology information, and/or at least one user metric, and/or at least one information relative to said aerosol-forming substance (8) received in said casing (7).

9. Aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said sensor (4) is arranged for analyzing a chemical composition of a chosen element present on, or being part of, said user’s finger.

10. Aerosol generation device according to claim 9, wherein said element is chosen from a group comprising the sweat, the skin and an interstitial fluid.

11 . Aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein said sensor (4) implements a sensing technology chosen from a group comprising spectrometry, electrochemical sensing and electronic nose.

12. Aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 , wherein said chosen substance is nicotine or a nicotine metabolite.

13. Aerosol generation device according to claim 12, wherein said nicotine metabolite is cotinine.

14. Aerosol generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein it comprises a rechargeable battery (15) storing electrical energy that is used by said aerosol generation unit (3) for generating said aerosol.

15. Aerosol generation device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein it constitutes an electronic cigarette.