WO2023072683A1 - Aerosol provision device - Google Patents
Aerosol provision device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2023072683A1 WO2023072683A1 PCT/EP2022/078988 EP2022078988W WO2023072683A1 WO 2023072683 A1 WO2023072683 A1 WO 2023072683A1 EP 2022078988 W EP2022078988 W EP 2022078988W WO 2023072683 A1 WO2023072683 A1 WO 2023072683A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- aerosol
- heating
- temperature
- provision device
- during
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 631
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 680
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 178
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims description 105
- 230000001965 increasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 34
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 46
- 241000208125 Nicotiana Species 0.000 description 40
- 235000002637 Nicotiana tabacum Nutrition 0.000 description 40
- 239000000306 component Substances 0.000 description 30
- 238000009423 ventilation Methods 0.000 description 26
- 230000005291 magnetic effect Effects 0.000 description 18
- 230000000391 smoking effect Effects 0.000 description 17
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 14
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 12
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 8
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N (-)-Nicotine Chemical compound CN1CCC[C@H]1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-JTQLQIEISA-N 0.000 description 7
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 7
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 7
- 229960002715 nicotine Drugs 0.000 description 7
- SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N nicotine Natural products CN1CCCC1C1=CC=CN=C1 SNICXCGAKADSCV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 6
- 229920002678 cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 6
- 235000010980 cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 5
- VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L Calcium carbonate Chemical compound [Ca+2].[O-]C([O-])=O VTYYLEPIZMXCLO-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 4
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000009825 accumulation Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000008263 liquid aerosol Substances 0.000 description 4
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000010936 titanium Substances 0.000 description 4
- DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene glycol Chemical compound CC(O)CO DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 3
- 229920002301 cellulose acetate Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 3
- 235000019504 cigarettes Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 3
- FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 6-{[2-carboxy-4,5-dihydroxy-6-(phosphanyloxy)oxan-3-yl]oxy}-4,5-dihydroxy-3-phosphanyloxane-2-carboxylic acid Chemical compound O1C(C(O)=O)C(P)C(O)C(O)C1OC1C(C(O)=O)OC(OP)C(O)C1O FHVDTGUDJYJELY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Fe2+ Chemical compound [Fe+2] CWYNVVGOOAEACU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-UHFFFAOYSA-L Magnesium sulfate Chemical compound [Mg+2].[O-][S+2]([O-])([O-])[O-] CSNNHWWHGAXBCP-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 2
- HPEUJPJOZXNMSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Methyl stearate Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC HPEUJPJOZXNMSJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920000881 Modified starch Polymers 0.000 description 2
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silicium dioxide Chemical compound O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229920002472 Starch Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229910000019 calcium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 150000001768 cations Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000001913 cellulose Substances 0.000 description 2
- -1 chalk) Chemical compound 0.000 description 2
- 239000010941 cobalt Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910017052 cobalt Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N cobalt atom Chemical compound [Co] GUTLYIVDDKVIGB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 2
- ZDJFDFNNEAPGOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyl tetradecanedioate Chemical compound COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC ZDJFDFNNEAPGOP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- MMKRHZKQPFCLLS-UHFFFAOYSA-N ethyl myristate Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OCC MMKRHZKQPFCLLS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000004676 glycans Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 230000001976 improved effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000011256 inorganic filler Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910003475 inorganic filler Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N lactic acid Chemical compound CC(O)C(O)=O JVTAAEKCZFNVCJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000019426 modified starch Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 229920001206 natural gum Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229920005862 polyol Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 150000003077 polyols Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 229920001282 polysaccharide Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000005017 polysaccharide Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012827 research and development Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000008275 solid aerosol Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000019698 starch Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 2
- URAYPUMNDPQOKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N triacetin Chemical compound CC(=O)OCC(OC(C)=O)COC(C)=O URAYPUMNDPQOKB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- IXPNQXFRVYWDDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 1-methyl-2,4-dioxo-1,3-diazinane-5-carboximidamide Chemical compound CN1CC(C(N)=N)C(=O)NC1=O IXPNQXFRVYWDDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- OVOUKWFJRHALDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-[2-(2-acetyloxyethoxy)ethoxy]ethyl acetate Chemical compound CC(=O)OCCOCCOCCOC(C)=O OVOUKWFJRHALDD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HIQIXEFWDLTDED-UHFFFAOYSA-N 4-hydroxy-1-piperidin-4-ylpyrrolidin-2-one Chemical compound O=C1CC(O)CN1C1CCNCC1 HIQIXEFWDLTDED-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M Acetate Chemical compound CC([O-])=O QTBSBXVTEAMEQO-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 description 1
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002134 Carboxymethyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N D-Glucitol Natural products OC[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-FSIIMWSLSA-N 0.000 description 1
- FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N D-glucitol Chemical compound OC[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)CO FBPFZTCFMRRESA-JGWLITMVSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004348 Glyceryl diacetate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002907 Guar gum Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920002153 Hydroxypropyl cellulose Polymers 0.000 description 1
- DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M Ilexoside XXIX Chemical compound C[C@@H]1CC[C@@]2(CC[C@@]3(C(=CC[C@H]4[C@]3(CC[C@@H]5[C@@]4(CC[C@@H](C5(C)C)OS(=O)(=O)[O-])C)C)[C@@H]2[C@]1(C)O)C)C(=O)O[C@H]6[C@@H]([C@H]([C@@H]([C@H](O6)CO)O)O)O.[Na+] DGAQECJNVWCQMB-PUAWFVPOSA-M 0.000 description 1
- 239000005909 Kieselgur Substances 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920002230 Pectic acid Polymers 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920001131 Pulp (paper) Polymers 0.000 description 1
- ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tin Chemical compound [Sn] ATJFFYVFTNAWJD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titanium Chemical compound [Ti] RTAQQCXQSZGOHL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- DOOTYTYQINUNNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Triethyl citrate Chemical compound CCOC(=O)CC(O)(C(=O)OCC)CC(=O)OCC DOOTYTYQINUNNV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002253 acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000007513 acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229940072056 alginate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 235000010443 alginic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920000615 alginic acid Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000007933 aliphatic carboxylic acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- AEMOLEFTQBMNLQ-BKBMJHBISA-N alpha-D-galacturonic acid Chemical compound O[C@H]1O[C@H](C(O)=O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H]1O AEMOLEFTQBMNLQ-BKBMJHBISA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000010410 calcium alginate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000648 calcium alginate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960002681 calcium alginate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- OKHHGHGGPDJQHR-YMOPUZKJSA-L calcium;(2s,3s,4s,5s,6r)-6-[(2r,3s,4r,5s,6r)-2-carboxy-6-[(2r,3s,4r,5s,6r)-2-carboxylato-4,5,6-trihydroxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-4,5-dihydroxyoxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylate Chemical compound [Ca+2].O[C@@H]1[C@H](O)[C@H](O)O[C@@H](C([O-])=O)[C@H]1O[C@H]1[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H](O[C@H]2[C@H]([C@@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@H](O2)C([O-])=O)O)[C@H](C(O)=O)O1 OKHHGHGGPDJQHR-YMOPUZKJSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000001768 carboxy methyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010948 carboxy methyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008112 carboxymethyl-cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000969 carrier Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019506 cigar Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000008119 colloidal silica Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000779 depleting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- IZMOTZDBVPMOFE-UHFFFAOYSA-N dimethyl dodecanedioate Chemical compound COC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC(=O)OC IZMOTZDBVPMOFE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000002500 effect on skin Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- CAMHHLOGFDZBBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N epoxidized methyl oleate Natural products CCCCCCCCC1OC1CCCCCCCC(=O)OC CAMHHLOGFDZBBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000002148 esters Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000008713 feedback mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003302 ferromagnetic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002314 glycerols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 235000019443 glyceryl diacetate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000001087 glyceryl triacetate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000013773 glyceryl triacetate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 150000002334 glycols Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000008187 granular material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010439 graphite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910002804 graphite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000010417 guar gum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000665 guar gum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229960002154 guar gum Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229930195733 hydrocarbon Natural products 0.000 description 1
- 150000002430 hydrocarbons Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000001863 hydroxypropyl cellulose Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010977 hydroxypropyl cellulose Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 230000000977 initiatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007794 irritation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004310 lactic acid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000014655 lactic acid Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- ZLNQQNXFFQJAID-UHFFFAOYSA-L magnesium carbonate Chemical compound [Mg+2].[O-]C([O-])=O ZLNQQNXFFQJAID-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 239000001095 magnesium carbonate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000021 magnesium carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000395 magnesium oxide Substances 0.000 description 1
- CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium oxide Inorganic materials [Mg]=O CPLXHLVBOLITMK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052943 magnesium sulfate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000019341 magnesium sulphate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- AXZKOIWUVFPNLO-UHFFFAOYSA-N magnesium;oxygen(2-) Chemical compound [O-2].[Mg+2] AXZKOIWUVFPNLO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000696 magnetic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002808 molecular sieve Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011368 organic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000013618 particulate matter Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001814 pectin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000010987 pectin Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229920001277 pectin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000010451 perlite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019362 perlite Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000010408 potassium alginate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000737 potassium alginate Substances 0.000 description 1
- MZYRDLHIWXQJCQ-YZOKENDUSA-L potassium alginate Chemical compound [K+].[K+].O1[C@@H](C([O-])=O)[C@@H](OC)[C@H](O)[C@H](O)[C@@H]1O[C@@H]1[C@@H](C([O-])=O)O[C@@H](O)[C@@H](O)[C@H]1O MZYRDLHIWXQJCQ-YZOKENDUSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000630 rising effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon carbide Chemical compound [Si+]#[C-] HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910010271 silicon carbide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000000779 smoke Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052708 sodium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000010413 sodium alginate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000661 sodium alginate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940005550 sodium alginate Drugs 0.000 description 1
- URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium aluminosilicate Chemical compound [Na+].[Al+3].[O-][Si]([O-])=O.[O-][Si]([O-])=O URGAHOPLAPQHLN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002594 sorbent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000600 sorbitol Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002459 sustained effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- TUNFSRHWOTWDNC-UHFFFAOYSA-N tetradecanoic acid Chemical class CCCCCCCCCCCCCC(O)=O TUNFSRHWOTWDNC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000011135 tin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052718 tin Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052719 titanium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 235000019505 tobacco product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 231100000167 toxic agent Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002463 transducing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229960002622 triacetin Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 239000001069 triethyl citrate Substances 0.000 description 1
- VMYFZRTXGLUXMZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N triethyl citrate Natural products CCOC(=O)C(O)(C(=O)OCC)C(=O)OCC VMYFZRTXGLUXMZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 235000013769 triethyl citrate Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N triethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCOCCOCCO ZIBGPFATKBEMQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010455 vermiculite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000019354 vermiculite Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 229910052902 vermiculite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000003039 volatile agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001285 xanthan gum Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 235000010493 xanthan gum Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000230 xanthan gum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940082509 xanthan gum Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
- A24F40/57—Temperature control
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
Definitions
- the present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision device, an aerosol generating system and a method of generating an aerosol.
- Articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these types of articles, which burn tobacco, by creating products that release compounds without burning.
- Apparatus is known that heats smokable material to volatilise at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the smokable material.
- Such apparatus is sometimes described as a “heat-not-burn” apparatus or a “tobacco heating product” (THP) or “tobacco heating device” or similar.
- THP tobacco heating product
- Various different arrangements for volatilising at least one component of the smokable material are known.
- the material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products or a combination, such as a blended mix, which may or may not contain nicotine.
- an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material
- the aerosol provision device comprises: one or more aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and a controller for controlling the one or more aerosol generators; wherein the controller is operable in a first mode of operation to set a first heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T1 ; and wherein the controller is operable in a second mode of operation to set a second different heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is also T1.
- an aerosol provision device which has the ability to set two or more different heating profiles for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the two or more different heating profiles are arranged so that they have the same, or substantially the same, average operating temperature T 1 during a session of use thereby enabling aerosolisable material to be maintained at an optimum or desired average temperature during a session of use whilst also facilitating a user to have different sensorial experiences by selecting between a choice of different heating profiles.
- an aerosol provision device maintains the optimum operating conditions for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material whilst allowing a user to vary the sensorial experience.
- the average operating temperature of the heating profiles T1 may be in the range: (i) 200-210 °C; (ii) 210-220 °C; (iii) 220-230 °C; (iv) 230- 240 °C; (v) 240-250 °C; (vi) 250-260 °C; (vii) 260-270 °C; (viii) 270-280 °C; (ix) 280-290 °C; and (x) 290-300 °C.
- first and second heating profiles may be mirror images of each other.
- the first heating profile may have a first maximum operating temperature and the second heating profile may have a second different maximum operating temperature.
- the first heating profile may be stepped upwards as a function of time and the second heating profile may be stepped downwards as a function of time.
- the first heating profile may be stepped downwards as a function of time and the second heating profile may be stepped upwards as a function of time.
- a session of use comprises at least a first time period t1 and at least a second subsequent time period t2, wherein in either a first mode of operation and/or in a second mode of operation during the first time period t1 the controller is arranged to set a first maximum temperature Ti max for the one or more aerosol generators and wherein during the second time period t2 the controller is arranged to set a second maximum temperature T2max for the one or more aerosol generators, wherein either: (i) T imax •* T2max , or (ii) T i max ⁇ T2 max ⁇
- the session of use may comprise at least a first time period t1 , at least a second subsequent time period t2 and at least a third yet further time period t3, wherein in either a first mode of operation and/or in a second mode of operation during the first time period t1 the controller is arranged to set a first maximum temperature T1 max , during the second time period t2 the controller is arranged to set a second maximum temperature T2max and wherein during the third time period t3 the controller is arranged to set a third maximum temperature Tsmax wherein either: (i) Timax > T2max •* Tsmax , (ii) Timax •* T2max Tsmax , (iii) T imax ⁇ T 2max •* T 3max , or (iv) Timax ⁇ T 2max T 3max ⁇
- the first heating profile may have a first duration D1 and the second heating profile may have a second different duration D2.
- D1 and D2 may differ by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% or 50%.
- D1 may be selected from: (i) 200-210 s; (ii) 210-220 s; (iii) 220-230 s; (iv) 230-240 s; (v) 240-250 s; (vi) 250-260 s; (vii) 260-270 s; (viii) 270- 280 s; (ix) 280-290 s; or (x) 290-300 s.
- D2 may be selected from: (i) 200-210 s; (ii) 210-220 s; (iii) 220-230 s; (iv) 230-240 s; (v) 240-250 s; (vi) 250-260 s; (vii) 260-270 s; (viii) 270- 280 s; (ix) 280-290 s; or (x) 290-300 s.
- the second heating profile may correspond to the first heating profile but additionally include one or more adjustment periods.
- the purpose of including an adjustment period may be to ensure that the first and second heating profiles have the same average operating temperature T1.
- an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material comprises: one or more aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and a controller; wherein the controller is operable in a first mode of operation to set a first heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators during a first session of use wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is initially increased to a temperature T2 during a first time period, then decreased to a temperature T3 during a second time period and then increased to a temperature T4 during a third time period; wherein the controller is operable in a second mode of operation to set a second heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators during a second session of use wherein the operating temperature of the one or
- a controller which is operable in at least three different modes of operation, wherein in each mode of operation a different heating profile may be set for one or more aerosol generators. Accordingly, a more versatile controller is provided which enables a user to experience an increased variety of sensorial experiences.
- the controller when operated in the second mode of operation is arranged to increase the temperature of the one or more aerosol generators from T5 to T6 to T7 in either: (i) a substantially stepped manner; or (ii) a substantially smooth manner.
- the controller when operated in the second mode of operation is arranged to decrease the temperature of the one or more aerosol generators from T8 to T9 to T10 in either: (i) a substantially stepped manner; or (ii) a substantially smooth manner.
- the first session of use may have a duration D1
- the second session of use may have a duration D2
- an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material
- the aerosol provision device comprises: one or more aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and a controller for controlling the one or more aerosol generators; wherein the controller is operable in a first mode of operation to set a first heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T1 ; and wherein the controller is operable in a second mode of operation to set a second heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators, wherein the second heating profile corresponds to the first heating profile but additionally includes one or more adjustment periods such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T2, wherein T 1 and T2 are different.
- a heating profile which is otherwise set for one or more aerosol generators so to both extend a session of use and also vary the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators throughout a session of use.
- the one or more aerosol generators comprise one or more induction heating units.
- the one or more aerosol generators comprise one or more resistive or non-induction heating units.
- the one or more aerosol generators comprise one or more external heating units. According to an embodiment the one or more aerosol generators comprise one or more internal heating units.
- the one or more aerosol generators comprise a first heating unit and a second heating unit.
- the first heating unit comprises an induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an induction heating unit;
- the first heating unit comprises an induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit;
- the first heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an induction heating unit; or
- the first heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit.
- the first heating unit comprises an external heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an external heating unit; (ii) the first heating unit comprises an external heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an internal heating unit; (iii) the first heating unit comprises an internal heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an internal heating unit; or (iv) the first heating unit comprises an internal heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an external heating unit.
- a session of use is determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators after an aerosol generating article has been inserted into the aerosol provision device.
- a session of use is determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators in order to raise the temperature of the one or more aerosol generators to an operating temperature Tmin such that a user can take a first puff of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- Tmin is in the range: (i) 200-210 °C; (ii) 210-220 °C; (iii) 220-230 °C; (iv) 230-240 °C; (v) 240-250 °C; (vi) 250-260 °C; (vii) 260-270 °C; (viii) 270-280 °C; (ix) 280-290 °C; and (x) 290-300 °C.
- a session of use is determined to end when power or energy is no longer supplied to the one or more aerosol generators. According to an embodiment a session of use is determined to end when the aerosol generating material is substantially spent or wherein a user is unable to take further puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- a session of use is determined to relate to a period of time during which a user is enabled to take multiple puffs of aerosol generated from aerosol generating material without replacement or replenishment of the aerosol generating material.
- an aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol provision device as described above; and an aerosol generating article comprising aerosol generating material.
- the aerosol generating article may be inserted, in use, into the aerosol provision device.
- a method of generating aerosol comprising: providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more aerosol generators arranged to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material; inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation; wherein in the first mode of operation a first heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T1 ; and wherein in the second mode of operation a second different heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is also T 1.
- a method of generating aerosol comprising: providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more aerosol generators arranged to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material; inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and selecting between at least three different modes of operation; wherein in a first mode of operation a first heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators during a first session of use wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is increased to a temperature T2 during a first time period, then decreased to a temperature T3 during a second time period and then increased to a temperature T4 during a third time period; wherein in a second mode of operation a second heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators during a second session of use wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is increased to a temperature T5 during a first time period, then further increased to a higher temperature T6 during a second time period and then yet further increased to a yet higher temperature T7 during
- a method of generating aerosol comprising: providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more aerosol generators arranged to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material; and inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation; wherein in a first mode of operation a first heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T1; and wherein in a second mode of operation a second heating profile is set for the one or more aerosol generators, wherein the second heating profile corresponds to the first heating profile but additionally includes one or more adjustment periods such that during a session of use the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T2, wherein T 1 and T2 are different.
- Fig. 1A is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly of an aerosol provision device and Fig. 1B is a cross-section of the heating assembly shown in Fig. 1 A with an aerosol generating article disposed therein;
- Fig. 2A is a schematic cross-section of an aerosol generating article for use with the aerosol provision device and Fig. 2B is a perspective view of the aerosol provision article;
- Fig. 3 is a graph showing a general temperature profile of a first heating unit in an aerosol provision device during an exemplary smoking session
- Fig. 4 is a graph showing a general temperature profile of a second heating unit in an aerosol provision device during an exemplary smoking session
- Fig. 5 is a graph showing a general programmed heating profile of a heating element in an aerosol provision device during an exemplary session of use
- Fig. 6 shows two different heating profiles which a controller may set for one or more aerosol generators of an aerosol provision device according to an embodiment wherein the heating profiles are different but have the same average operating temperature T 1 throughout a session of use;
- Fig. 7 shows two different heating profiles which a controller may set for one or more aerosol generators of an aerosol provision device according to an embodiment wherein the heating profiles have different maximum and minimum temperatures but wherein the average operating temperature throughout a session of use is the same;
- Fig. 8 shows an embodiment wherein a first heating profile is stepped upwards throughout a session of use and a second heating profile is stepped downwards throughout a session of use and wherein the two heating profiles have the same average operating temperature throughout a session of use;
- Fig. 9 shows an embodiment wherein a controller may apply two different heating profiles have different durations but wherein the heating profiles have the same average operating temperature
- Fig. 10 shows an embodiment wherein a controller is arranged to set heating profiles for one or more aerosol generators and is operable in at least three different modes of operation wherein a user may select between at least three different heating profiles which may be applied to the one or more aerosol generators of an aerosol provision device;
- Fig. 11 A shows an embodiment wherein in a first mode of operation the controller sets a heating profile wherein the temperature increases, then decreases, then increases,
- Fig. 11 B shows an embodiment wherein in a second mode of operation the controller sets a heating profile which is stepped upwards and
- Fig. 11 C shows an embodiment wherein in a third mode operation the controller sets a heating profile which is stepped downwards; and
- Fig. 12A shows an embodiment wherein a controller sets a heating profile for one or more aerosol generators having an average operating temperature T 1 and Fig. 12B shows an embodiment wherein a dummy buffer period or adjustment period is inserted into a heating profile so as to extend the duration of the heating profile with the effect that the average operating temperature T2 of the one or more aerosol generators throughout a session of use is altered.
- aerosol generating material includes materials that provide volatilised components upon heating, typically in the form of an aerosol.
- Aerosol generating material includes any tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosol generating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.
- the aerosol generating material is a non-liquid aerosol generating material.
- the non-liquid aerosol generating material comprises tobacco.
- Apparatus that heats aerosol generating material to volatilise at least one component of the aerosol generating material, typically to form an aerosol which can be inhaled, without burning or combusting the aerosol generating material.
- Such apparatus is sometimes described as an “aerosol generating device”, an “aerosol provision device”, a “heat-not-burn device”, a “tobacco heating product”, a “tobacco heating product device”, a “tobacco heating device” or similar.
- the aerosol provision device is a tobacco heating product.
- the non-liquid aerosol generating material for use with a tobacco heating product comprises tobacco.
- E-cigarette devices which comprise aerosol provision devices which vaporise an aerosol generating material in the form of a liquid, which may or may not contain nicotine.
- the aerosol generating material may be in the form of or be provided as part of a rod, cartridge or cassette or the like which can be inserted into the apparatus.
- a heater for heating and volatilising the aerosol generating material may be provided as a “permanent” part of the apparatus.
- Aerosol provision devices are also known which generate aerosol from a hybrid aerosol generating article.
- the hybrid aerosol generating article comprises a section which includes a cartomiser which includes a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and another section which includes solid aerosol generating material such as tobacco granules.
- An aerosol provision device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating, also referred to as a “smoking article”.
- An “article”, “aerosol generating article” or “smoking article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilise the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use.
- a user may insert the article into the aerosol provision device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales.
- the article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article.
- the aerosol provision device comprises a plurality of aerosol generators for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material in use.
- An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material.
- the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol.
- the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating.
- the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.
- a heating unit typically refers to a component which is arranged to receive electrical energy from an electrical energy source, and to supply thermal energy to an aerosol generating material.
- a heating unit may comprise a heating element.
- a heating element is typically a material which is arranged to supply heat to an aerosol generating material in use.
- the heating unit comprising the heating element may comprise any other component required, such as a component for transducing the electrical energy received by the heating unit.
- the heating element itself may be configured to transduce electrical energy to thermal energy.
- the heating unit may comprise an induction coil.
- the coil is configured to cause heating of at least one electrically-conductive heating element, so that heat energy is conductible from the at least one electrically-conductive heating element to aerosol generating material to thereby cause heating of the aerosol generating material.
- the coil may be configured to generate, in use, a varying magnetic field for penetrating at least one heating element, to thereby cause induction heating and/or magnetic hysteresis heating of the at least one heating element.
- the or each heating element may be termed a “susceptor”.
- a coil that is configured to generate, in use, a varying magnetic field for penetrating at least one electrically-conductive heating element, to thereby cause induction heating of the at least one electrically-conductive heating element may be termed an “induction coil” or “inductor coil”.
- the coils may be helical. In some examples, the coils may encircle at least a part of a heating zone of the aerosol provision device that is configured to receive aerosol generating material. In some examples, the coils are a helical coils that encircle at least a part of the heating zone.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that one or both heating units reaches its maximum operating temperature at a rate of at least 100 °C per second. In a particular embodiment, the aerosol provision device may be configured such that one or both heating units reaches the maximum operating temperature at a rate of at least 150 °C per second.
- Induction heating systems may be of interest because the varying magnetic field magnitude can be easily controlled by controlling power supplied to the heating unit. Moreover, as induction heating does not require a physical connection to be provided between the source of the varying magnetic field and the heat source, design freedom and control over the heating profile may be greater, and cost may be lower.
- the aerosol provision device may comprise a heating assembly.
- the heating assembly may comprise a first heating unit and a second heating unit.
- the first heating unit and the second heating unit may comprise induction heating units and the units may be controllable independent from each other. Heating the aerosol generating material with independent heating units may provide more accurate control of heating of the aerosol generating material. Independently controllable heating units may also provide thermal energy differently to each portion of the aerosol generating material, resulting in differing temperature profiles across portions of the aerosol generating material.
- the first and second heating units may be configured to have temperature profiles which differ from each other in use. This may provide asymmetrical heating of the aerosol generating material along a longitudinal plane between the mouth end and the distal end of the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is in use.
- the first and second heating units may be configured to have temperature profiles which are substantially the same in use. This may provide symmetrical heating of the aerosol generating material along a longitudinal plane between the mouth end and the distal end of the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device is in use.
- a susceptor An object that is capable of being inductively heated is known as a susceptor.
- the susceptor comprises ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt
- heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the varying orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of their alignment with the varying magnetic field.
- inductive heating as compared to heating by conduction for example, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating. Further, there need not be any physical contact between the inductive heater and the susceptor, allowing for enhanced freedom in construction and application. Reference may be made to the temperature of one or more heating units or heating elements throughout the present specification.
- the temperature of a heating unit or heating element may also be conveniently referred to as the temperature of the heating unit which comprises the heating element. This does not necessarily mean that the entire heating unit is at the given temperature. For example, where reference is made to the temperature of an induction heating unit, it does not necessarily mean that both the inductive element and the susceptor have such a temperature. Rather, in this example, the temperature of the induction heating unit corresponds to the temperature of the heating element composed in the induction heating unit. For the avoidance of doubt, the temperature of a heating element and the temperature of a heating unit can be used interchangeably.
- temperature profile refers to the variation of temperature of a material over time.
- the varying temperature of a heating element or heating unit measured at the heating element or heating unit for the duration of a smoking session may be referred to as the temperature profile or heating profile of that heating element or heating unit.
- the heating elements or heating units provide heat to the aerosol generating material during use, to generate an aerosol.
- the temperature profile or heating profile of the heating element or heating unit therefore induces the temperature profile of aerosol generating material disposed near the heating element or heating unit.
- Heating temperature refers to any heating element temperature at which the element can heat an aerosol generating material to produce sufficient aerosol for a satisfactory puff without combusting the aerosol generating material.
- the maximum operating temperature of a heating element or heating unit is the highest temperature reached by the heating element or heating unit during a smoking session.
- the lowest operating temperature of the heating element or heating unit refers to the lowest heating element temperature at which sufficient aerosol can be generated from the aerosol generating material by the heating element or heating unit for a satisfactory puff.
- each heating element or heating unit has an associated maximum operating temperature.
- the maximum operating temperature of each heating element or heating unit may be the same, or it may differ for each heating element or heating unit.
- each heating element or heating unit may be arranged to generate aerosol from aerosol generating material in a non-combustible manner.
- the temperature profile or heating profile of each heating element or heating unit may induce the temperature profile of each associated portion of aerosol generating material, the temperature profiles or heating profiles of the heating element or heating unit and the associated portion of aerosol generating material may not exactly correspond.
- the aerosol provision device may comprise a controller for controlling each heating unit present in the aerosol provision device.
- the controller may comprise a printed circuit board (“PCB”).
- the controller may be configured to control the power supplied to each heating unit, and control the “programmed heating profile” of each heating unit present in the aerosol provision device.
- the controller may be programmed to control the current supplied to a plurality of inductors to control the resulting temperature profiles or heating profiles of the corresponding induction heating elements or induction heating units.
- the programmed heating profile of a heating element or heating unit may not exactly correspond to the observed temperature profile of a heating element or heating unit, for the same reasons given above.
- operating temperature can also be used in relation to the aerosol generating material.
- the term refers to any temperature of the aerosol generating material itself at which sufficient aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating material for a satisfactory puff.
- the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol generating material is the highest temperature reached by any part of the aerosol generating material during a smoking session. In some embodiments, the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol generating material is greater than 200 °C, 210 °C, 220 °C, 230 °C, 240 °C, 250 °C, 260 °C or 270 °C.
- the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol generating material is less than 300 °C, 290 °C, 280 °C, 270 °C, 260 °C or 250 °C.
- the lowest operating temperature is the lowest temperature of aerosol generating material at which sufficient aerosol is generated from the material to product sufficient aerosol for a satisfactory “puff”.
- the lowest operating temperature of the aerosol generating material is greater than 90 °C, 100 °C, 110 °C, 120 °C, 130 °C, 140 °C or 150 °C.
- the lowest operating temperature of the aerosol generating material is less than 150 °C, 140 °C, 130 °C or 120 °C.
- the aerosol provision device may provide an inhalable aerosol to a consumer which has better organoleptic properties than an aerosol provided by a conventional aerosol provision device which does not include a heating unit which reaches a maximum operating temperature as rapidly.
- the aerosol provision device is configured such that at least one heating element or heating unit in the device reaches its maximum operating temperature within 20 seconds, and the first temperature at which the at least one heating unit is held for at least 1 second, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, or 20 seconds is the maximum operating temperature. That is, in these embodiments, the heating unit is not held at a temperature which is not the maximum operating temperature before reaching the maximum operating temperature.
- the at least one heating unit reaches its maximum operating temperature within the given period from ambient temperature.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured to operate as described herein.
- the aerosol provision device may at least partially be configured to operate in this manner by a controller which may be programmed to operate the device in one or more different modes. Accordingly, references herein to the configuration of the aerosol provision device or components thereof may refer to the controller being programmed to operate the aerosol provision device as disclosed herein, amongst other features (such as spatial arrangement of the heating units).
- Aerosol generating articles for aerosol provision devices usually contain more water and/or aerosol generating agent than combustible smoking articles to facilitate formation of an aerosol in use.
- This higher water and/or aerosol generating agent content can increase the risk of condensate collecting within the aerosol provision device during use, particularly in locations away from the heating unit(s).
- This problem may be greater in aerosol provision devices with enclosed heating chambers, and particularly those with external heaters, than those provided with internal heaters (such as “blade” heaters).
- Various programmed heating profiles may be employed in an aerosol provision device configured to externally and/or internally heat aerosol generating material to provide a desirable amount of aerosol to the user whilst keeping the amount of aerosol which condenses inside the aerosol provision device relatively low.
- the maximum operating temperature of a heating unit may affect the amount of condensate formed. It may be that lower maximum operating temperatures provide less undesirable condensate.
- the difference between maximum operating temperatures of heating units in a heating assembly may also affect the amount of condensate formed. Further, the point in a session of use at which each heating unit reaches its maximum operating temperature may affect the amount of condensate formed.
- the aerosol provision device may heat an aerosol generating material to provide an inhalable aerosol.
- the aerosol provision device may be referred to as “ready for use” when at least a portion of the aerosol generating material has reached a lowest operating temperature and a user can take a puff which contains a satisfactory amount of aerosol.
- the aerosol provision device may be ready for use within approximately 20 seconds of supplying power to one or both heating units, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds or 5 seconds.
- the aerosol provision device may be ready for use within approximately 20 seconds of activation of the device, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds or 5 seconds.
- the aerosol provision device may begin supplying power to a heating unit such as the first heating unit or the second heating unit when the device is activated, or it may begin supplying power to the heating unit after the aerosol provision device is activated.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that power starts being supplied to one or the heating units some time after activation of the aerosol provision device, such as at least 1 second, 2 seconds or 3 seconds after activation of the aerosol provision device.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that power is not supplied to one of the heating units, or any heating unit present in the heating assembly until at least 2.5 seconds after activation of the aerosol provision device. This may prolong battery life by avoiding unintentional activation of the heating unit(s).
- the aerosol provision device may be ready for use more quickly than corresponding aerosol provision devices known in the art, providing an improved user experience.
- the point at which the aerosol provision device is ready for use will be some time after one of the heating units has reached its maximum operating temperature, as it will take some amount of time to transfer sufficient thermal energy from the heating unit to the aerosol generating material in order to generate the aerosol.
- the aerosol provision device may be ready for use within 20 seconds of one of the heating units reaching its maximum operating temperature, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds or 5 seconds.
- the user’s sensorial experience arising from the aerosol generated by the present device is like that of smoking a combustible cigarette, such as a factory-made cigarette.
- the aerosol provision device may indicate that it is ready for use via an indicator.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that the indicator indicates that the aerosol provision device is ready for use within approximately 20 seconds of power being supplied to one of the heating units, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds or 5 seconds.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that the indicator indicates that the aerosol provision device is ready for use within approximately 20 seconds of activation of the device, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds or 5 second.
- the device is configured such that the indicator indicates that the device is ready for use within approximately 20 seconds of the first heating unit reaching its maximum operating temperature, or 15 seconds, or 10 seconds.
- puff refers to a single inhalation by the user of the aerosol generated by the aerosol provision device.
- “Session of use” as used herein refers to a single period of use of the aerosol provision device by a user.
- the session of use begins at the point at which power is first supplied to at least one heating unit or aerosol generator present in the heating assembly.
- the device will be ready for use after a period of time has elapsed from the start of the session of use.
- the session of use may end at the point at which no power is supplied to any of the heating units or aerosol generators in the aerosol provision device.
- the end of the session of use may coincide with the point at which the aerosol generating article is depleted (the point at which the total particulate matter yield (mg) in each puff would be deemed unacceptably low by a user).
- the session may comprise a plurality of puffs.
- the session may have a duration less than 7 minutes, or 6 minutes, or 5 minutes, or 4 minutes and 30 seconds, or 4 minutes, or 3 minutes and 30 seconds. In some embodiments, the session of use may have a duration of from 2 to 5 minutes, or from 3 to 4.5 minutes, or 3.5 to 4.5 minutes or approximately 4 minutes.
- a session may be initiated by the user actuating a button or switch on the device, causing at least one heating unit or aerosol generator to begin rising in temperature when activated or some time after activation.
- a session of use may be determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to a heating unit or aerosol generator after an aerosol generating article has been inserted into the aerosol provision device.
- a session of use may be determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to one or more heating units or aerosol generators in order to raise the temperature of the one or more heating units or aerosol generators to an operating temperature Tmin such that a user can take a first puff of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- Tmin may be in the range: (i) 200-210 °C; (ii) 210-220 °C; (iii) 220-230 °C; (iv) 230-240 °C; (v) 240-250 °C; (vi) 250-260 °C; (vii) 260-270 °C; (viii) 270-280 °C; (ix) 280-290 °C; and (x) 290-300 °C.
- a session of use may be determined to end when power or energy is no longer supplied to the one or more heating units or aerosol generators.
- a session of use may be determined to end when the aerosol generating material is substantially spent or wherein a user is unable to take further puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- a session of use may be determined to relate to a period of time during which a user is enabled to take multiple puffs of aerosol generated from aerosol generating material without replacement or replenishment of the aerosol generating material.
- the aerosol provision device may be operable in at least a first (e.g. base) mode of operation and a second (e.g. boost) mode of operation.
- the heating assembly may be operable in a maximum of two modes of operation, or may be operable in more than two modes, such as three modes, four modes, or five modes.
- Each mode of operation may be associated with a predetermined heating profile for each heating unit in the heating assembly, such as a programmed heating profile.
- One or more of the programmed heating profiles may be programmed or selected by a user. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the programmed heating profiles may be programmed by the manufacturer. In these examples, the one or more programmed heating profiles may be fixed such that an end user cannot alter the one or more programmed heating profiles.
- the modes of operation may be selectable by a user.
- the user may select a desired mode of operation by interacting with a user interface.
- Power may begin to be supplied to a first heating unit at substantially the same time as the desired mode of operation is selected.
- Each mode may be associated with a temperature profile which differs from the temperature profiles of the other modes. Further, one or more modes may be associated with a different point at which the device is ready for use.
- the heating assembly may be configured such that, in a first mode, the device is ready for use a first period of time after the start of a session of use, and in a second mode, the device is ready for use a second period of time after the start of the session. The first period of time may be different from the second period of time.
- the heating assembly may be configured such that the aerosol provision device is ready for use within 30, 25 seconds, 20 seconds or 15 seconds of supplying power to a heating unit when operated in the first mode.
- the heating assembly may also be configured such that the aerosol provision device is ready for use in a shorter period of time when operating in the second mode - within 25 seconds, 20 seconds, 15 seconds, or 10 seconds of supplying power to a heating unit when operating in the second mode.
- the aerosol provision device may be configured such that the indicator indicates that the aerosol provision device is ready for use within 20 seconds of selection of a first (e.g. base) mode, and within 10 seconds of selection of a second (e.g. boost) mode.
- a first (e.g. base) mode e.g. base
- a second (e.g. boost) mode e.g. Providing an aerosol provision device such as a tobacco heating product with a heating assembly that is operable in a plurality of modes (e.g. base mode and boost mode) gives more choice to the consumer, particularly where each mode is associated with a different maximum heater temperature.
- such an aerosol provision device is capable of providing different aerosols having differing characteristics, because volatile components in the aerosol generating material will be volatilised at different rates and concentrations at different heater temperatures.
- a user can select a particular mode based on a desired characteristic of the inhalable aerosol, such as degree of tobacco flavour, nicotine concentration, and aerosol temperature.
- a desired characteristic of the inhalable aerosol such as degree of tobacco flavour, nicotine concentration, and aerosol temperature.
- modes in which the aerosol provision device is ready for use more quickly e.g. a second or “boost” mode
- modes in which the aerosol provision device is ready for use at a later point in the session of use e.g. a first or base mode
- the second mode may be referred to as a “boost” mode.
- Various embodiments provide an aerosol provision device which is operable in a first “normal” or “base” mode and a second “boost” mode.
- the “boost” mode may provide a quicker first puff, or a greater nicotine content per puff, or a more concentrated flavour per puff.
- the aerosol provision device may comprise a maximum of two aerosol generators. In other examples, the aerosol provision device may comprise more than two independently controllable aerosol generators, such as three, four or five independently controllable aerosol generators.
- At least one of the heating units or aerosol generators provided in the heating assembly may comprise an induction heating unit.
- the heating unit comprises an inductor (for example, one or more inductor coils), and the aerosol provision device may be arranged to pass a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current, through the inductor.
- the varying electric current in the inductor produces a varying magnetic field.
- the inductor and the heating element are suitably relatively positioned so that the varying magnetic field produced by the inductor penetrates the heating element, one or more eddy currents are generated inside the heating element.
- the heating element has a resistance to the flow of electrical currents, so when such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object causes the object to be heated by Joule heating.
- Supplying a varying magnetic field to a susceptor may conveniently be referred to as supplying energy to a susceptor.
- An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol provision device as described herein in combination with an aerosol generating article.
- the aerosol provision device may comprise a non-combustible apparatus or a tobacco heating product (“THP”) for heating smokable material without burning or combusting the smokable material.
- THP tobacco heating product
- Fig. 1A shows an induction heating assembly 100 of an aerosol provision device which is given for illustrative purposes to illustrate various aspects of a heat not but aerosol provision device.
- Fig. 1B shows a cross section of the induction heating assembly 100 of the device.
- the heating assembly may comprise a resistive heating assembly wherein the aerosol generator comprises one or more electrically resistive heaters.
- the one or more electrically resistive heaters may comprise a winding of electrically resistive wire or a thin film. The winding of electrically resistive wire or thin film may be provided in a tubular arrangement which surrounds the aerosol generating article.
- the heating assembly 100 has a first or proximal or mouth end 102, and a second or distal end 104. In use, the user will inhale the formed aerosol from the mouth end of the aerosol generating device.
- the mouth end may be an open end.
- the heating assembly 100 comprises a first induction heating unit 110 and a second induction heating unit 120.
- the first induction heating unit 110 comprises a first inductor coil 112 and a first heating element 114.
- the second induction heating unit 120 comprises a second inductor coil 122 and a second heating element 124.
- Figs. 1A and 1B show an aerosol generating article 130 received within a susceptor 140 (see Fig. 1 B).
- the susceptor 140 forms the first induction heating element 114 and the second induction heating element 124.
- the susceptor 140 may be formed from any material suitable for heating by induction.
- the susceptor 140 may comprise metal.
- the susceptor 140 may comprise non-ferrous metal such as copper, nickel, titanium, aluminium, tin, or zinc, and/or ferrous material such as iron, nickel or cobalt.
- the susceptor 140 may comprise a semiconductor such as silicon carbide, carbon or graphite.
- Each induction heating element present in the aerosol provision device may have any suitable shape.
- the induction heating elements 114,124 define a receptacle to surround an aerosol generating article and heat the aerosol generating article externally.
- one or more induction heating elements may be substantially elongate, arranged to penetrate an aerosol generating article and heat the aerosol generating article internally.
- the first induction heating element 114 and second induction heating element 124 may be provided together as a monolithic element 140. That is, in some embodiments, there is no physical distinction between the first 114 and second 124 heating elements. Rather, the differing characteristics between the first and second aerosol generators 110, 120 are defined by separate inductor coils 112,122 surrounding each induction heating element 114,124, so that they may be controlled independently from each other. In other embodiments (not depicted), physically distinct inductive heating elements may be employed.
- the first and second inductor coils 112,122 may be made from an electrically conducting material.
- the first and second inductor coils 112,122 are made from Litz wire/cable which is wound in a helical fashion to provide helical inductor coils 112,122.
- Litz wire comprises a plurality of individual wires which are individually insulated and are twisted together to form a single wire. Litz wires are designed to reduce the skin effect losses in a conductor.
- the first and second inductor coils 124,126 are made from copper Litz wire which has a circular cross section. In other examples the Litz wire can have other shape cross sections, such as rectangular.
- the first inductor coil 112 is configured to generate a first varying magnetic field for heating the first induction heating element 114
- the second inductor coil 122 is configured to generate a second varying magnetic field for heating a second section of the susceptor 124.
- the first inductor coil 112 and the first induction heating element 114 taken together form a first induction heating unit 110.
- the second inductor coil 122 and the second induction heating element 124 taken together form a second induction heating unit 120.
- the first inductor coil 112 is adjacent to the second inductor coil 122 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the device heating assembly 100 (that is, the first and second inductor coils 112,122 do not overlap).
- the susceptor arrangement 140 may comprise a single susceptor. Ends 150 of the first and second inductor coils 112,122 can be connected to a controller such as a PCB (not shown).
- the controller comprises a PID controller (proportional integral derivative controller).
- the varying magnetic field generates eddy currents within the first inductive heating element 114, thereby rapidly heating the first induction heating element 114 to a maximum operating temperature within a short period of time from supplying the alternative current to the coil 112, for example within 20, 15, 12, 10, 5, or 2 seconds.
- Arranging the first induction heating unit 110 which is configured to rapidly reach a maximum operating temperature closer to the mouth end 102 of the heating assembly 100 than the second induction heating unit 120 may mean that an acceptable aerosol is provided to a user as soon as possible after initiation of a session of use.
- first and second inductor coils 112,122 may have at least one characteristic different from each other.
- the first inductor coil 112 may have at least one characteristic different from the second inductor coil 122.
- the first inductor coil 112 may have a different value of inductance than the second inductor coil 122.
- the first and second inductor coils 112,122 are of different lengths such that the first inductor coil 112 is wound over a smaller section of the susceptor 140 than the second inductor coil 122.
- the first inductor coil 112 may comprise a different number of turns than the second inductor coil 122 (assuming that the spacing between individual turns is substantially the same).
- the first inductor coil 112 may be made from a different material to the second inductor coil 122.
- the first and second inductor coils 112,122 may be substantially identical.
- the first inductor coil 112 and the second inductor coil 122 are wound in the same direction.
- the inductor coils 112,122 may be wound in opposite directions. This can be useful when the inductor coils are active at different times. For example, initially, the first inductor coil 112 may be operating to heat the first induction heating element 114, and at a later time, the second inductor coil 122 may be operating to heat the second induction heating element 124. Winding the coils in opposite directions helps reduce the current induced in the inactive coil when used in conjunction with a particular type of control circuit.
- first inductor coil 112 may be a right-hand helix and the second inductor coil 122 a lefthand helix. In another example, the first inductor coil 112 may be a left-hand helix and the second inductor coil 122 may be a right-hand helix.
- the coils 112,122 may have any suitable geometry. Without wishing to be bound by theory, configuring an induction heating element to be smaller (e.g. smaller pitch helix; fewer revolutions in the helix; shorter overall length of the helix), may increase the rate at which the induction heating element can reach a maximum operating temperature.
- the first coil 112 may have a length of less than approximately 20 mm, less than 18 mm, less than 16 mm, or a length of approximately 14 mm, in the longitudinal direction of the heating assembly 100.
- the first coil 112 may have a length shorter than the second coil 124 in the longitudinal direction of the heating assembly 100. Such an arrangement may provide asymmetrical heating of the aerosol generating article along the length of the aerosol generating article.
- the susceptor 140 of this example is hollow and therefore defines a receptacle within which aerosol generating material is received.
- the article 130 can be inserted into the susceptor 140.
- the susceptor 140 is tubular, with a circular cross section.
- the induction heating elements 114 and 124 are arranged to surround the aerosol generating article 130 and heat the aerosol generating article 130 externally.
- the aerosol provision device is configured such that, when the aerosol generating article 130 is received within the susceptor 140, the outer surface of the article 130 abuts the inner surface of the susceptor 140. This ensures that the heating is most efficient.
- the article 130 of this example comprises aerosol generating material.
- the aerosol generating material is positioned within the susceptor 140.
- the article 130 may also comprise other components such as a filter, wrapping materials and/or a cooling structure.
- the heating assembly 100 is not limited to two heating units. In some examples, the heating assembly 100 may comprise three, four, five, six, or more than six heating units. These heating units may each be controllable independent from the other heating units present in the heating assembly 100.
- FIGs 2A and 2B there is shown a partially cut-away section view and a perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating article 200.
- the aerosol generating article 200 shown in Figs 2A and 2B corresponds to the aerosol generating article 130 shown in Fig. 1.
- the aerosol generating article 200 may be any shape suitable for use with an aerosol provision device.
- the aerosol generating article 130 may be in the form of or provided as part of a cartridge or cassette or rod which can be inserted into the apparatus.
- the aerosol generating article 130 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod that includes a body of smokable material 202 and a filter assembly 204 in the form of a rod.
- the filter assembly 204 includes three segments, a cooling segment 206, a filter segment 208 and a mouth end segment 210.
- the article 200 has a first end 212, also known as a mouth end or a proximal end and a second end 214, also known as a distal end.
- the body of aerosol generating material 202 is located towards the distal end 214 of the article 200.
- the cooling segment 206 is located adjacent the body of aerosol generating material 202 between the body of aerosol generating material 202 and the filter segment 208, such that the cooling segment 206 is in an abutting relationship with the aerosol generating material 202 and the filter segment 208.
- the filter segment 208 is located in between the cooling segment 206 and the mouth end segment 210.
- the mouth end segment 210 is located towards the proximal end 212 of the article 200, adjacent the filter segment 208.
- the filter segment 208 is in an abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 210.
- the total length of the filter assembly 204 is between 37 mm and 45 mm, and optionally the total length of the filter assembly 204 is 41 mm.
- portions 202a and 202b of the body of aerosol generating material 202 may correspond to the first induction heating element 114 and second induction heating element 124 of the portion 100 shown in Fig. 1 B respectively.
- the body of smokable material may have a plurality of portions 202a, 202b which correspond to the plurality of induction heating elements present in the aerosol provision device.
- the aerosol generating article 200 may have a first portion 202a which corresponds to the first induction heating element 114 and a second portion 202b which corresponds to the second induction heating element 124.
- These portions 202a, 202b may exhibit temperature profiles which are different from each other during a session of use; the temperature profiles of the portions 202a, 202b may derive from the temperature profiles of the first induction heating element 114 and second induction heating element 124 respectively.
- any number of the substrate portions 202a, 202b may have substantially the same composition.
- all of the portions 202a, 202b of the substrate have substantially the same composition.
- body of aerosol generating material 202 is a unitary, continuous body and there is no physical separation between the first and second portions 202a, 202b, and the first and second portions have substantially the same composition.
- the body of aerosol generating material 202 comprises tobacco.
- the body of smokable material 202 may consist of tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may comprise tobacco and aerosol generating material other than tobacco, may comprise aerosol generating material other than tobacco, or may be free of tobacco.
- the aerosol generating material may include an aerosol generating agent, such as glycerol.
- the aerosol generating material may comprise one or more tobacco components, filler components, binders and aerosol generating agents.
- the filler component may be any suitable inorganic filler material.
- suitable inorganic filler materials include, but are not limited to: calcium carbonate (i.e. chalk), perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves. Calcium carbonate is particularly suitable.
- the filler comprises an organic material such as wood pulp, cellulose and cellulose derivatives.
- the binder may be any suitable binder.
- the binder comprises one or more of an alginate, celluloses or modified celluloses, polysaccharides, starches or modified starches, and natural gums.
- Suitable binders include, but are not limited to: alginate salts comprising any suitable cation, such as sodium alginate, calcium alginate, and potassium alginate; celluloses or modified celluloses, such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose; starches or modified starches; polysaccharides such as pectin salts comprising any suitable cation, such as sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium pectate; xanthan gum, guar gum, and any other suitable natural gums.
- alginate salts comprising any suitable cation, such as sodium alginate, calcium alginate, and potassium alginate
- celluloses or modified celluloses such as hydroxypropyl cellulose and carboxymethylcellulose
- starches or modified starches polysaccharides
- pectin salts comprising any suitable cation, such as sodium, potassium, calcium or magnesium pectate
- xanthan gum, guar gum and any other suitable natural gums.
- a binder may be included in the aerosol generating material in any suitable quantity and concentration.
- the “aerosol generating agent” is an agent that promotes the generation of an aerosol.
- An aerosol generating agent may promote the generation of an aerosol by promoting an initial vaporisation and/or the condensation of a gas to an inhalable solid and/or liquid aerosol.
- an aerosol generating agent may improve the delivery of flavour from the aerosol generating article.
- any suitable aerosol generating agent or agents may be included in the aerosol generating material.
- Suitable aerosol generating agent include, but are not limited to: a polyol such as sorbitol, glycerol, and glycols like propylene glycol or triethylene glycol; a non-polyol such as monohydric alcohols, high boiling point hydrocarbons, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as diacetin, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate or myristates including ethyl myristate and isopropyl myristate and aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as methyl stearate, dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.
- the aerosol generating material comprises a tobacco component in an amount of from 60 to 90% by weight of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of 0 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol generating agent in an amount of from 10 to 20% by weight of the tobacco composition.
- the tobacco component may comprise paper reconstituted tobacco in an amount of from 70 to 100% by weight of the tobacco component.
- the body of aerosol generating material 202 is between 34 mm and 50 mm in length, optionally, the body of aerosol generating material 202 is between 38 mm and 46 mm in length, optionally still, the body of aerosol generating material 202 is 42 mm in length.
- the total length of the article 200 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, optionally, total length of the article 200 is between 79 mm and 87 mm, optionally still, total length of the article 200 is 83 mm.
- An axial end of the body of aerosol generating material 202 is visible at the distal end 214 of the article 200.
- the distal end 214 of the article 200 may comprise an end member (not shown) covering the axial end of the body of aerosol generating material 202.
- the body of aerosol generating material 202 is joined to the filter assembly 204 by annular tipping paper (not shown), which is located substantially around the circumference of the filter assembly 204 to surround the filter assembly 204 and extends partially along the length of the body of aerosol generating material 202.
- the tipping paper is made of 58GSM standard tipping base paper. In one example has a length of between 42 mm and 50 mm, and optionally, the tipping paper has a length of 46mm.
- the cooling segment 206 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the cooling segment.
- the air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilised components generated from the body of aerosol generating material 202 to flow.
- the cooling segment 206 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 200 is in use during insertion into the device 100.
- the thickness of the wall of the cooling segment 206 is approximately 0.29 mm.
- the cooling segment 206 provides a physical displacement between the aerosol generating material 202 and the filter segment 208.
- the physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 206 will provide a thermal gradient across the length of the cooling segment 206.
- the cooling segment 206 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 40 °C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 206 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 206.
- the cooling segment 206 is configured to provide a temperature differential of at least 60 °C between a heated volatilised component entering a first end of the cooling segment 206 and a heated volatilised component exiting a second end of the cooling segment 206.
- This temperature differential across the length of the cooling element 206 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 208 from the high temperatures of the aerosol generating material 202 when it is heated by the heating assembly 100 of the device aerosol provision device. If the physical displacement was not provided between the filter segment 208 and the body of aerosol generating material 202 and the heating elements 114,124 of the heating assembly 100, then the temperature sensitive filter segment may 208 become damaged in use, so it would not perform its required functions as effectively.
- the length of the cooling segment 206 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 206 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more particularly 23 mm to 27 mm, more particularly 25 mm to 27 mm and more particularly 25 mm.
- the cooling segment 206 is made of paper, which means that it is comprised of a material that does not generate compounds of concern, for example, toxic compounds when in use adjacent to the heater assembly 100 of the aerosol provision device.
- the cooling segment 206 is manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
- the cooling segment 206 is a recess created from stiff plug wrap or tipping paper.
- the stiff plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to have a rigidity that is sufficient to withstand the axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article 200 is in use during insertion into the device 100.
- the dimensional accuracy of the cooling segment is sufficient to meet the dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing process.
- the filter segment 208 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatilised compounds from heated volatilised components from the smokable material.
- the filter segment 208 is made of a mono-acetate material, such as cellulose acetate.
- the filter segment 208 provides cooling and irritationreduction from the heated volatilised components without depleting the quantity of the heated volatilised components to an unsatisfactory level for a user.
- the density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 208 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 208, which in turn controls the draw resistance of the article 200. Therefore, the selection of the material of the filter segment 208 is important in controlling the resistance to draw of the article 200. In addition, the filter segment 208 performs a filtration function in the article 200.
- the filter segment 208 is made of a 8Y15 grade of filter tow material, which provides a filtration effect on the heated volatilised material, whilst also reducing the size of condensed aerosol droplets which result from the heated volatilised material which consequentially reduces the irritation and throat impact of the heated volatilised material to satisfactory levels.
- the presence of the filter segment 208 provides an insulating effect by providing further cooling to the heated volatilised components that exit the cooling segment 206. This further cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user’s lips on the surface of the filter segment 208.
- One or more flavours may be added to the filter segment 208 in the form of either direct injection of flavoured liquids into the filter segment 208 or by embedding or arranging one or more flavoured breakable capsules or other flavour carriers within the cellulose acetate tow of the filter segment 208.
- the filter segment 208 is between 6 mm to 10 mm in length, optionally 8 mm.
- the mouth end segment 210 is an annular tube and is located around and defines an air gap within the mouth end segment 210.
- the air gap provides a chamber for heated volatilised components that flow from the filter segment 208.
- the mouth end segment 210 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation yet rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that might arise during manufacture and whilst the article is in use during insertion into the device 100.
- the thickness of the wall of the mouth end segment 210 is approximately 0.2 9mm.
- the length of the mouth end segment 210 is between 6 mm to 10 mm and optionally 8 mm. In one example, the thickness of the mouth end segment is 0.29 mm.
- the mouth end segment 210 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube which provides a hollow internal chamber yet maintains critical mechanical rigidity. Spirally wound paper tubes are able to meet the tight dimensional accuracy requirements of high-speed manufacturing processes with respect to tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.
- the mouth end segment 210 provides the function of preventing any liquid condensate that accumulates at the exit of the filter segment 208 from coming into direct contact with a user. It should be appreciated that, in one example, the mouth end segment 210 and the cooling segment 206 may be formed of a single tube and the filter segment 208 is located within that tube separating the mouth end segment 210 and the cooling segment 206.
- a ventilation region 216 is provided in the article 200 to enable air to flow into the interior of the article 200 from the exterior of the article 200.
- the ventilation region 216 takes the form of one or more ventilation holes 216 formed through the outer layer of the article 200.
- the ventilation holes may be located in the cooling segment 206 to aid with the cooling of the article 200.
- the ventilation region 216 comprises one or more rows of holes, and optionally, each row of holes is arranged circumferentially around the article 200 in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the article 200.
- each row of ventilation holes may have between 12 to 36 ventilation holes 216.
- the ventilation holes 216 may, for example, be between 100 to 500 pm in diameter.
- an axial separation between rows of ventilation holes 216 is between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm, optionally, an axial separation between rows of ventilation holes 216 is 0.5 mm.
- the ventilation holes 216 are of uniform size. In another example, the ventilation holes 216 vary in size.
- the ventilation holes can be made using any suitable technique, for example, one or more of the following techniques: laser technology, mechanical perforation of the cooling segment 206 or pre-perforation of the cooling segment 206 before it is formed into the article 200.
- the ventilation holes 216 are positioned so as to provide effective cooling to the article 200.
- the rows of ventilation holes 216 are located at least 11mm from the proximal end 212 of the article, optionally the ventilation holes are located between 17mm and 20mm from the proximal end 212 of the article 200.
- the location of the ventilation holes 216 is positioned such that user does not block the ventilation holes 216 when the article 200 is in use.
- Providing the rows of ventilation holes between 17 mm and 20 mm from the proximal end 212 of the article 200 enables the ventilation holes 216 to be located outside of the device 100, when the article 200 is fully inserted in the device 100, as can be seen in Fig. 1.
- By locating the ventilation holes outside of the apparatus non-heated air is able to enter the article 200 through the ventilation holes from outside the device 100 to aid with the cooling of the article 200.
- the length of the cooling segment 206 is such that the cooling segment 206 will be partially inserted into the device 100, when the article 200 is fully inserted into the device 100.
- the length of the cooling segment 206 provides a first function of providing a physical gap between the heater arrangement of the device 100 and the heat sensitive filter arrangement 208, and a second function of enabling the ventilation holes 216 to be located in the cooling segment, whilst also being located outside of the device 100, when the article 200 is fully inserted into the device 100.
- the majority of the cooling element 206 is located within the device 100. However, there is a portion of the cooling element 206 that extends out of the device 100. It is in this portion of the cooling element 206 that extends out of the device 100 in which the ventilation holes 216 are located.
- Fig. 3 depicts a temperature profile 300 of a first heating element in an aerosol provision device, such as the first inductive heating element 114 shown in Fig. 1 B, during an exemplary session of use 302.
- the temperature profile 300 suitably refers to the temperature profile of the first inductive heating element 114 in any mode of operation of the heating assembly.
- the temperature profile 300 of the first heating element 114 is measured by a suitable temperature sensor disposed at the first heating element 114.
- Suitable temperature sensors include thermocouples, thermopiles or resistance temperature detectors (RTDs, also referred to as resistance thermometers).
- the device comprises at least one RTD.
- the device comprises thermocouples arranged on each heating element 114,124 present in the aerosol provision device.
- the temperature data measured by the or each temperature sensor may be communicated to a controller. Further, it may communicated to the controller when a heating element 114,124 has reached a prescribed temperature, such that the controller may change the supply of power to elements within the aerosol provision device accordingly.
- the controller comprises a PID (proportional integral derivative) controller, which uses a control loop feedback mechanism to control the temperature of the heating elements based on data supplied from one or more temperature sensors disposed in the device.
- the controller comprises a PID controller configured to control the temperature of each heating element based on temperature data supplied from thermocouples disposed at each of the heating elements.
- the session of use 302 begins when the device is activated 304 and the controller controls the device to supply energy to at least the first induction heating unit 110.
- the device may be activated by a user by, for example, actuating a push button, or inhaling from the device.
- Actuating means for use with an aerosol provision device are known to the person skilled in the art.
- the session of use begins when the controller instructs a varying electrical current to be supplied to an inductor (such as first and second coils 112,122) and thus a varying magnetic field to be supplied to the induction heating element, generating a rise in temperature of the induction heating element.
- an inductor such as first and second coils 112,122
- this may conveniently be referred to as “supplying energy to the induction heating unit”.
- the end 306 of the session of use session of use 302 occurs when the controller instructs elements in the device to stop supplying energy to all aerosol generators present in the aerosol provision device.
- the session of use ends when varying electrical current ceases to be supplied to any of the induction heating elements provided in the heating assembly, such that any varying magnetic field ceases to be supplied to the induction heating elements.
- the temperature of the first heating element rapidly increases until it reaches the maximum operating temperature 308.
- the time taken 310 to reach the maximum operating temperature 308 may be referred to as the “ramp-up” period, and has a duration of less than 20 seconds according to various embodiments.
- the temperature of the first heating element may optionally drop from the maximum operating temperature 308 to a lower temperature 314 later in the session of use 312. If the temperature drops from the maximum operating temperature 308 later in the session of use 302, it is preferred that the temperature to which the first heating element drops 314 is an operating temperature.
- the operating temperature to which the first heating element drops 314 may suitable be referred to as the “second operating temperature” 314.
- the temperature of the first heating element does not drop below the lowest operating temperature of the first heating element until the end 306 of the session of use 302.
- the first heating element optionally remains at or above the second operating temperature 314 until the end 306 of the session of use 302.
- the heating assembly is operable in a plurality of modes (e.g.
- the temperature of the first heating element may drop from the maximum operating temperature 308 to a second operating temperature 314 in at least one of the modes.
- the temperature of the first heating element drops from the maximum operating temperature 308 to a second operating temperature 314 in all of the operable modes.
- the maximum operating temperature 308 and second operating temperature 314 of the first heating element may differ from mode to mode.
- the second operating temperature 314 is from 180 to 240 °C. Where the heating assembly is operable in a plurality of modes, the second operating temperature 314 in at least one mode of operation may be from 180 to 240 °C. Optionally, the second operating temperature 314 in all modes of operating may be from 180 to 240 °C. Optionally still, the second operating temperature 314 is at least 220 °C. In some examples, the first heating element or aerosol generators remains at or above the second operating temperature 314 until the end of the session of use in all modes of operation.
- configuring the heating assembly such that the first heating element does not drop below 220 °C until the end of the session of use 220 may at least partially prevent condensation from occurring in the first portion of the aerosol generating article during the session of use, and/or also reduce resistance to draw provided by the first portion of the aerosol generating article.
- the first heating element may remain at or substantially close to the highest operating temperature for up to least 25%, 50%, or 75% of the session.
- the first heating element may remain at its maximum operating temperature for a first duration of the session of use, then drop to and remain at the second operating temperature for a second duration of the session of use, the first duration being at least 25%, 50%, or 75% of the session.
- the first duration may be longer or shorter than the second duration.
- the first duration is longer than the second duration.
- the ratio of the first duration to the second duration may be from 1.1 :1 to 7:1 , from 1.5:1 to 5:1 , from 2:1 to 3:1 , or approximately 2.5:1.
- the device is operable in a plurality of modes, and the ratios listed above apply to the first mode of operation.
- the first duration may be longer or shorter than the second duration.
- the second duration is longer than the first duration.
- one embodiment is a device which is configured such that in a first mode of operation, the first duration is longer than the second duration, but in the second mode of operation, the second duration is longer than the first duration.
- the ratio of the second duration to the first duration may be from 1.1 :1 to 5: 1 , from 1.2 to 2: 1 or from 1.3:1 to 1.4:1.
- the ratio of the second duration to the first duration may be from 2:1 to 12:1, from 2.5:1 to 11:1.
- the ratio may be from 3:1 to 4:1; alternatively, the ratio may be from 8:1 to 10:1.
- This embodiment may be particularly suitable for reducing the amount of condensate formed in the device during a session of use.
- the maximum operating temperature 308 may be from approximately 200 °C to 300 °C, or 210 °C to 290 °C, or 220 °C to 280 °C, or, 230 °C to 270 °C, or 240 °C to 260 °C.
- Fig. 4 depicts a temperature profile 400 of a second heating element when present in an aerosol provision device, such as the second inductive heating element 124 shown in Fig. 1 B, during an exemplary smoking session 402.
- Smoking session 402 corresponds to smoking session 302 shown in Fig. 3.
- the temperature profile 400 suitably refers to the temperature profile of the second inductive heating element 124 in any mode of operation of the heating assembly.
- the session of use 402 begins when the device is activated 404 and energy is supplied to at least the first induction heating unit.
- the controller is configured not to supply energy to the second induction heating unit at the start of the session of use 402. Nevertheless, the temperature at the second induction heating element will likely rise somewhat due to thermal “bleed” - conduction, convection and/or radiation of thermal energy from the first heating element 114 to the second heating element 124.
- the controller instructs energy to be supplied to the second heating unit 120 and the temperature of the second heating element 124 rises rapidly until the time point 408 at which a predetermined first operating temperature 410 is reached, then the controller controls the second heating unit 120 such that the second heating element 124 remains at substantially this temperature for a further period of time.
- the predetermined first operating temperature 410 may be lower than the maximum operating temperature 412 of the second heating element 124.
- the first predetermined operating temperature is the maximum operating temperature; that is, the second heating element 124 is directly heated to its maximum operating temperature upon activation of the second heating unit 120.
- the predetermined first operating temperature 410 is from 150 °C to 200 °C.
- the predetermined first operating temperature 410 may be greater than 150 °C, 160 °C, 170 °C, 180 °C, or 190 °C.
- the predetermined first operating temperature 410 may be less than 200 °C, 190 °C, 180 °C, 170 °C, or 160 °C.
- the predetermined first operating temperature 410 is from 150 °C to 170 °C.
- a lower first operating temperature 410 may help to reduce the amount of undesirable condensate which collects in the device.
- the heating assembly may be configured such that the second heating element 124 rises to a first operating temperature 410, maintains the first operating temperature 410, then subsequently rises to the maximum operating temperature 412, in at least one mode.
- the heating assembly is configured such that the second heating element 124 rises to a first operating temperature 410, maintains the first operating temperature 410, then subsequently rises to the maximum operating temperature 412 in all operable modes.
- the first programmed time point 406 at which power is first supplied to the second heating unit 120 may be at least approximately 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, or 60 seconds after activation of the device 404.
- the first programmed time point 406 is at least approximately 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 70 seconds, or 80 seconds after activation of the device 404 in at least one mode.
- the first programmed time point 406 is at least approximately 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 70 seconds, or 80 seconds after activation of the device 404 in all operable modes.
- the first programmed time point 406 may be the same in each mode, or it may differ between modes. Optionally, the first programmed time point 406 differs between the modes. In particular, the first programmed time point 406 may be at a later point in the session of use in the first mode than in the second mode. ln some embodiments, the heating assembly 100 may be configured such that the second induction unit 120 rises to the predetermined operating temperature 410 within 10 seconds, or 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds or 2 seconds of the programmed time point 406 for increasing the temperature of the second induction heating element 124 to the first predetermined operating temperature 410.
- the period 414 between the two time points 406, 408 may have a duration of 10 seconds or less, 5 seconds or less, 4 seconds or less, 3 seconds or less, or 2 seconds or less.
- the period 414 has a duration of 2 seconds or less.
- the second heating element 124 may be kept at the predetermined first operating temperature 410 for a predetermined period of time until a second programmed time point 416 at which the controller controls the second heating unit such that the second heating element 124 rises to its maximum operating temperature 412. At this second programmed time point 416 the temperature of the second heating element 124 rises rapidly until the time point 418 at which the maximum operating temperature 412 is reached. Then, the controller controls the second heating unit such that the second heating element 124 remains at substantially this temperature for a further period of time.
- the second programmed time point 416 may be at least approximately 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, or 60 seconds after activation of the device 404.
- the heating assembly 100 may be configured such that the second induction element 124 rises from the first predetermined operating temperature 410 to the maximum operating temperature 412 within 10 seconds, or 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds or 2 seconds of the programmed time point 416 for increasing the temperature of the second induction heating element 124 to the maximum operating temperature 412.
- the period 420 between the two time points 416, 418 may have a duration of 10 seconds or less, 5 seconds or less, 4 seconds or less, 3 seconds or less, or 2 seconds or less.
- the period 420 has a duration of 2 seconds or less.
- the temperature of the second heating element in the period from timepoint 416 to timepoint 418 may rise at a rate of at least 50 °C per second, or 100 °C per second, or 150 °C per second.
- the heating assembly 100 may be configured such that the second induction heating element 124 reaches the maximum operating temperature 412 after at least approximately 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 80 seconds, 100 seconds, or 120 seconds from activation of the device 404.
- the heating assembly 100 is configured such that the second induction heating element 124 reaches the maximum operating temperature 412 after at least approximately 120 seconds after activation of the device 404.
- the heating assembly 100 may be configured such that the second induction heating element 124 reaches the maximum operating temperature 412 after at least approximately 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds, 40 seconds, 50 seconds, 60 seconds, 80 seconds, 100 seconds, or 120 seconds from the first induction heating element 122 reaching its maximum operating temperature 308.
- the heating assembly 100 is configured such that the second induction heating element 124 reaches its maximum operating temperature 412 after at least approximately 120 seconds from the first induction heating element 122 reaching its maximum operating temperature 308.
- time point 418 may be at least 120 seconds later than time point 310 during the smoking session 302, 402.
- the second heating element 124 may be kept at its maximum operating temperature 412 for a predetermined period of time until the end of the smoking session 422, at which point the controller controls the heating assembly such that energy ceases to be supplied to all heating elements present in the aerosol provision device.
- the temperature of the second heating element 124 does not drop below the lowest operating temperature 424 of the second heating element 124 until the end of the smoking session 402.
- the second heating element 124 may reach its maximum operating temperature 412 before the temperature drop of the first heating element 122, after the temperature drop of the first heating element 122, or concurrent with the temperature drop of the first heating element 122. In an embodiment, the second heating element 124 reaches its maximum operating temperature 412 before the first heating element 122 drops from its maximum operating temperature 308 to a lower temperature. In some embodiments, the maximum operating temperature 308 of the first heating element 122 is substantially the same as that of the second heating element 124. In other embodiments the maximum operating temperatures 308, 412 of the first and second heating elements 122, 124 may differ.
- the maximum operating temperature 308 of the first heating element 122 may be greater than that of the second heating element 124, or the maximum operating temperature 412 of the second heating element 124 may be greater than that of the first heating element 122. In one embodiment, the maximum operating temperature 308 of the first heating element 122 is greater than the maximum operating temperature 412 of the second heating element 124. In another embodiment, the maximum operating temperature 308 of the first heating element 122 is substantially the same as that of the second heating element 124.
- the fluctuation is less than approximately ⁇ 10 °C, or ⁇ 5 °C, or ⁇ 4 °C, or ⁇ 3 °C, or ⁇ 2 °C, or ⁇ 1 °C.
- the fluctuation is less than approximately ⁇ 3 °C for at least the first heating element, at least the second heating element, or both the first heating element and second element.
- Figs. 3 and 4 discussed hereinabove reflect the measured or observed temperature profile of heating unit(s) present in the device 100.
- Fig. 5 reflects a programmed heating profile of any heating unit(s) present in the device 100. Any programmed heating profile of any heating unit present in the heating assembly of the present device may be depicted by the general programmed heating profile as shown in Fig. 5.
- a programmed heating profile 500 includes a first temperature, temperature A 502.
- Temperature A 502 is the first temperature which the heating unit is programmed to reach during a given session of use, at timepoint A 504.
- Timepoint A 504 may conveniently be defined in terms of the number of seconds elapsed from the start of a session of use, i.e. from the point at which power is first supplied to at least one heating unit present in the heating assembly.
- a programmed heating profile 500 may include a second temperature, temperature B 506.
- Temperature B 506 is a temperature different to temperature A 502.
- the device is programmed to reach temperature B 506 during a given session of use at timepoint B 508.
- Timepoint B 508 occurs temporally after timepoint A 504.
- the heating unit may have a temperature within 10 °C of temperature A 502 during this period, optionally within 5 °C of temperature A 502 during this period.
- Such profiles are still considered to correspond to the profile shown generally in Fig. 5.
- Fig. 5 depicts temperature B 506 being higher than temperature A 502, the programmed heating profiles of the present disclosure are not so limited: temperature B 506 may be higher or lower than temperature A 502 for any given heating profile.
- a programmed heating profile 500 includes a second temperature, Temperature B 506.
- a programmed heating profile 500 may include a third temperature, temperature C 510.
- Temperature C 510 is a temperature different to temperature B.
- the device is programmed to reach to temperature C 510 during a given session of use at timepoint C 512.
- Timepoint C 512 occurs temporally after timepoint B 508 and thus timepoint A 502.
- Temperature C 510 may or may not be the same temperature as temperature A 502.
- Fig. 5 depicts temperature C 510 being higher than temperature B 506 and temperature A 502
- the programmed temperature profiles of the present disclosure are not so limited: temperature C 510 may be higher or lower than temperature A 502 for any given heating profile; temperature C 510 may be higher or lower than temperature B 506 for any given heating profile.
- the programmed heating profile 500 includes a final timepoint 514, the point at which energy stops being supplied to the heating unit for the rest of the session of use. It may be that the final timepoint 514 is concurrent with the end of the session of use.
- the temperatures 502, 506, 510 and timepoints 504, 508, 512, 514 of the programmed heating profile of the heating unit(s) may be modulated to reduce the accumulation of condensation in a device 100.
- configuring the device such that timepoint B 508 occurs after 50% of the session of use has elapsed, optionally after 75% of the session of use has elapsed, may reduce the amount of condensate which collects in the device in use.
- the heating assembly comprises at least two aerosol generators
- the heating assembly may be configured such that the first and second aerosol generators have substantially the same maximum operating temperature. The inventors have identified that this configuration may also reduce the accumulation of condensation in the device.
- Fig. 6 illustrates an embodiment wherein a controller may set two different heating profiles for one or more aerosol generators of an aerosol provision device.
- the controller may be operable in a first mode of operation to set a first heating profile 601,602 for one or more aerosol generators of an aerosol provision device.
- the first heating profile 601,602 may be stepped down as a function of time.
- the controller when operated in the first mode of operation is arranged to set the first heating profile 601,602 such that during a session of use (i.e. between time points 610 and 612) the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is arranged to be a temperature T1.
- the controller is initially arranged at the start of a session to set a temperature 601 at initial time point 610 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the initial temperature 601 may be maintained for a period of time t1 and then at time point 611 the temperature may be dropped to a lower temperature 602 for the remainder of the session of use.
- the session is deemed to end at time point 612 when the controller stops supplying energy to the one or more aerosol generators.
- the controller may also be operated in a second mode of operation as shown in Fig. 6 wherein the controller is arranged to set a second different heating profile 603,604 for the one or more aerosol generators such that during a session of use (i.e. between time points 610 and 612) the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is also arranged to be temperature T1.
- the controller may be arranged to operate in at least a first mode and a second mode wherein different heating profiles may be utilised but wherein the different heating profiles set the same average operating temperature T 1 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the average operating temperature T1 of the heating profile(s) 601 ,602;603,604 may be in the range: (i) 200-210 °C; (ii) 210-220 °C; (iii) 220-230 °C; (iv) 230-240 °C; (v) 240-250 °C; (vi) 250-260 °C; (vii) 260-270 °C; (viii) 270-280 °C; (ix) 280-290 °C; and (x) 290-300 °C.
- the first and second heating profiles 601,602;603,604 may be mirror images of each other as in the case of the example shown and described with reference to Fig. 6.
- the first heating profile 601 ,602 is arranged to set a first temperature 601 during a first time period t1 from time points 610 to 611 and then at time point 611 the first heating profile sets a lower temperature 602 for the remaining time period t2 from time points 611 to 612.
- the second heating profile 603,604 is arranged to set a temperature 603 during time period t1 from time points 610 to 611 and then at time 611 the second heating profile sets a higher temperature 604 for the remaining time period 611 to 612.
- a desired or optimum sensorial experience for a user may be achieved by maintaining the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators at a certain average operating temperature T 1 during a session of use (i.e. during time points 610 to 612).
- a certain average operating temperature T 1 during a session of use (i.e. during time points 610 to 612).
- different heating profiles may be utilised which have the same average operating temperature T1.
- the ability to set different heating profiles which have the same average operating temperature T1 during a session of use enables aerosolisable material to be maintained at an optimum average temperature during a session of use whilst also facilitating a user to have different sensorial experiences by selecting between two or more different heating profiles.
- the session of use may comprise at least a first time period t1 and at least a second subsequent time period t2 as shown in Fig. 6.
- the controller in a first mode of operation during the first time period t1 the controller may be arranged to set a first maximum temperature 601 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the controller may then be arranged to set a second maximum temperature 602 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the first maximum temperature 601 may be higher than the second maximum temperature 602.
- the first maximum temperature may be lower than the second maximum temperature.
- the controller may be arranged to set a first maximum temperature 603 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the controller may then be arranged to set a second maximum temperature 604 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the first maximum temperature 603 may be lower than the second maximum temperature 604.
- the first maximum temperature may be higher than the second maximum temperature.
- Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment wherein a controller may be arranged to set a first heating profile 701 ,702,703,704 having a first maximum operating temperature 701,703 and a second heating profile 705,706,707,708 having a second different maximum operating temperature 705,707 but wherein both heating profiles have the same average operating temperature T 1.
- first heating profile 701,702,703,704 may have a first minimum operating temperature 702,704 and the second heating profile 705,706,707,708 may have a second different minimum operating temperature 706,708.
- Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment wherein a controller may set a first heating profile 801,802,803,804 for the one or more aerosol generators wherein the first heating profile 801,802,803,804 may be stepped upwards as a function of time and wherein the average operating temperature throughout a session of use is T1.
- the controller may also be arranged to set a second heating profile 810,811,812,813 for the one or more aerosol generators wherein the second heating profile 810,811,812,813 may be stepped downwards as a function of time.
- the second heating profile 810,811,812,813 may be arranged to have the same average operating temperature throughout a session of use as the first heating profile namely T 1. ln the particular example shown in Fig. 8 the two heating profiles are mirror images of each other. However, it will be understood that it is not essential that the two heating profiles are mirror images.
- the first heating profile may be stepped downwards as a function of time and the second heating profile may be stepped upwards as a function of time wherein both heating profiles may have the same average operating temperature T 1 throughout a session of use.
- a session of use may comprise at least a first time period t1, at least a second subsequent time period t2 and at least a third yet further time period t3.
- the controller may be operable in a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation.
- the controller may be arranged to set a first maximum temperature Timax
- the controller is arranged to set a second maximum temperature T2max
- the controller is arranged to set a third maximum temperature Tsmax.
- Ti max ⁇ T2max > Tsmax.
- Fig. 9 illustrates another embodiment wherein the controller may be arranged to set two different heating profiles for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the first heating profile 900 has an average operating temperature T 1 and a duration D1.
- the second heating profile 901 has the same average operating temperature T1 but a different duration D2.
- D1 and D2 may differ by at least 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 45% or 50%.
- D1 may be 200-210 s, 210-220 s, 220-230 s, 230-240 s, 240- 250 s, 250-260 s, 260-270 s, 270-280 s, 280-290 s or 290-300 s.
- D2 may be 200-210 s, 210-220 s, 220-230 s, 230-240 s, 240-250 s, 250-260 s, 260-270 s, 270-280 s, 280-290 s or 290-300 s.
- Fig. 10 illustrates an embodiment wherein a controller for setting heating profiles to one or more aerosol generators is operable in at least three different modes of operation 1001,1002,1003.
- a controller which enables a user to be able to select between experiencing an increased variety of sensorial experiences.
- a user may select the controller to operate in a first mode of operation 1001 wherein the controller may be arranged to set a first heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators during a first session of use (between times to and t3) wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is initially increased to a temperature T2 during a first time period to to t1, then decreased to a lower temperature T3 during a second time period t1 to t2 and then increased to a higher temperature T4 during a third time period t2 to t3.
- the session of use is deemed to end at time t3.
- a user may select the controller to operate in a second mode of operation 1002 wherein the controller may be arranged to set a second heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators during a second session of use (between times tO and t3) wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is initially increased to a temperature T5 during a first time period tO to t1, then further increased to a higher temperature T6 during a second time period t1 to t2 and then yet further increased to a yet higher temperature T7 during a third time period t2 to t3.
- the session of use is deemed to end at time t3.
- a user may select the controller to operate in a third mode of operation 1003 wherein the controller may be arranged to set a third heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators during a third session of use (between times tO and t3) wherein the operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is set initially at a temperature T8 during time period tO to t1 and then decreased to a lower temperature T9 at a time t1.
- the controller is further arranged to decrease the temperature to a yet lower temperature T10 at time t2.
- the temperature is maintained at temperatureTIO for time period t2 to t3.
- the session of use is deemed to end at time t3.
- the first session of use may have a duration D1
- the second session of use may have a duration D2
- the third session of use may have a duration D3.
- D1 D2 D3.
- D1 D2 D3.
- D1 D3 D2.
- the various heating profiles shown in Figs. 11A-11C have a stepped profile wherein the operating temperature which is set for the one or more aerosol generators changes in a stepped manner as a function of time.
- the operating temperature which is set for the one or more aerosol generators may vary in a smooth or continuous manner as a function of time.
- Fig. 12A illustrates a heating profile according to another embodiment.
- the controller sets a first heating profile 1200,1201 for the one or more aerosol generators.
- the first heating profile comprises setting a first temperature 1200 during time period to to t1, then setting a second temperature 1201 during time period t1 to t2, then setting a third temperature 1200 during time period t2 to t3 and then setting a fourth temperature 1201 during time period t3 to t4.
- the session of use is deemed to end at time t4.
- the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T1.
- the controller may be operated in a mode of operation wherein a dummy buffer period or adjustment period may be inserted into the heating profile in order to form a new second heating profile.
- the dummy buffer period or adjustment period is inserted into the heating profile at the end of the first heating profile at time t4 in order to extend the session of use so that the session of use now finishes at a later time t5.
- controller is operable in a second mode of operation to set a second heating profile for the one or more aerosol generators, wherein the second heating profile corresponds to the first heating profile but additionally includes one or more dummy buffer periods.
- the one or more dummy periods may also be referred to as one or more adjustment periods.
- the controller sets a heating profile having a first temperature 1200 during time period to to t1, then sets a second temperature 1201 during time period t1 to t2, then sets a third temperature 1200 during time period t2 to t3 and then sets a fourth temperature 1201 during time period t3 to t4.
- the controller further includes a dummy buffer period or adjustment period between time t4 to t5 wherein the temperature is maintained at a temperature 1200.
- the average operating temperature of the one or more aerosol generators is T2. It will be understood that T2 is different from the average operating temperature T1 in the first mode of operation.
- One or more dummy periods or adjustment periods may be inserted into the first heating profile for a variety of reasons. For example, it may be desired to operate the aerosol provision device is a second mode of operation which has a different average operating temperature to the first mode of operation. Other embodiments are contemplated wherein it may be desired to vary another property of a temperature profile which is set for the aerosol generators such as a mark-space ratio or period of time before setting a higher or lower temperature.
- a session of use may end prior to the end of a temperature profile which is set for the aerosol generators.
- the one or more aerosol generators may comprise one or more induction heating units or one or more resistive or non-induction heating units.
- the one or more aerosol generators may comprise one or more external or internal heating units.
- An external heating unit will be understood as comprising a heating unit which surrounds an aerosol generating article and directs heat into the outer portion of the aerosol generating article which then heats the remaining portion of the aerosol generating article.
- the external heating unit(s) may comprise an induction heating unit(s) and/or a resistive heating unit(s).
- an internal heating unit comprises a heating unit which enters into or which is provided within the main body of the aerosol generating article.
- an internal heating unit may comprise a blade provided in the base of a heating chamber of the aerosol provision device. The aerosol generating article when inserted into the aerosol provision device will be pushed down onto the blade with the result that the blade extends into the distal end of the aerosol generating article.
- the internal heating unit(s) may comprise resistive heating units wherein an electrical current is passed through the heating unit in order to heat the heating unit.
- the internal heating unit(s) may comprise induction heating unit(s).
- An induction heating unit may comprise an induction coil for generating a time varying magnetic field and a susceptor.
- the induction coil and the susceptor are suitably relatively positioned so that the varying magnetic field produced by the inductor penetrates the susceptor and one or more eddy currents are generated inside the susceptor.
- the susceptor has a resistance to the flow of electrical current, so when such eddy currents are generated in the susceptor, their flow against the electrical resistance of the susceptor causes the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating.
- a susceptor may be provided in the base of a heating chamber of the aerosol provision device such that the aerosol generating article is pushed onto the susceptor when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the aerosol provision device.
- the susceptor may then be heated by an induction coil which may be spaced at a distance from the internal susceptor.
- the one or more aerosol generators may comprise a first heating unit and a second heating unit.
- the first heating unit comprises an induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an induction heating unit;
- the first heating unit comprises an induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit;
- the first heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an induction heating unit;
- the first heating unit comprises a resistive or non-induction heating unit and the second heating unit comprises a resistive or noninduction heating unit.
- the first heating unit comprises an external heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an external heating unit; (ii) the first heating unit comprises an external heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an internal heating unit; (iii) the first heating unit comprises an internal heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an internal heating unit; or (iv) the first heating unit comprises an internal heating unit and the second heating unit comprises an external heating unit.
- a session of use is determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators after an aerosol generating article has been inserted into the aerosol provision device.
- a session of use may also be determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators in order to raise the temperature of the one or more aerosol generators to an operating temperature Tmin such that a user can take a first puff of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- Tmin may be in the range: (i) 200-210 °C; (ii) 210-220 °C; (iii) 220- 230 °C; (iv) 230-240 °C; (v) 240-250 °C; (vi) 250-260 °C; (vii) 260-270 °C; (viii) 270-280 °C; (ix) 280-290 °C; and (x) 290-300 °C.
- a session of use may be determined to end when power or energy is no longer supplied to the one or more aerosol generators. According to an embodiment a session of use is determined to end when the aerosol generating material is substantially spent or wherein a user is unable to take further puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.
- a session of use is determined to relate to a period of time during which a user is enabled to take multiple puffs of aerosol generated from aerosol generating material without replacement or replenishment of the aerosol generating material.
Landscapes
- Package Closures (AREA)
- Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
- Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
- Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
- Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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CA3236400A CA3236400A1 (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Aerosol provision device |
KR1020247013769A KR20240067117A (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Aerosol delivery device |
AU2022374406A AU2022374406A1 (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Aerosol provision device |
IL312297A IL312297A (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Aerosol provision device |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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GBGB2115367.1A GB202115367D0 (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2021-10-26 | Aerosol provision device |
GB2115367.1 | 2021-10-26 |
Publications (1)
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WO2023072683A1 true WO2023072683A1 (en) | 2023-05-04 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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PCT/EP2022/078988 WO2023072683A1 (en) | 2021-10-26 | 2022-10-18 | Aerosol provision device |
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KR (1) | KR20240067117A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2022374406A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3236400A1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB202115367D0 (en) |
IL (1) | IL312297A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2023072683A1 (en) |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2018019855A1 (en) * | 2016-07-26 | 2018-02-01 | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | Method of generating aerosol |
EP3808195A2 (en) * | 2019-03-11 | 2021-04-21 | Nicoventures Trading Limited | Aerosol-generating device |
-
2021
- 2021-10-26 GB GBGB2115367.1A patent/GB202115367D0/en not_active Ceased
-
2022
- 2022-10-18 KR KR1020247013769A patent/KR20240067117A/en active Search and Examination
- 2022-10-18 WO PCT/EP2022/078988 patent/WO2023072683A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-10-18 CA CA3236400A patent/CA3236400A1/en active Pending
- 2022-10-18 AU AU2022374406A patent/AU2022374406A1/en active Pending
- 2022-10-18 IL IL312297A patent/IL312297A/en unknown
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2018019855A1 (en) * | 2016-07-26 | 2018-02-01 | British American Tobacco (Investments) Limited | Method of generating aerosol |
EP3808195A2 (en) * | 2019-03-11 | 2021-04-21 | Nicoventures Trading Limited | Aerosol-generating device |
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KR20240067117A (en) | 2024-05-16 |
AU2022374406A1 (en) | 2024-05-09 |
IL312297A (en) | 2024-06-01 |
GB202115367D0 (en) | 2021-12-08 |
CA3236400A1 (en) | 2023-05-04 |
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