WO2024062245A1

WO2024062245A1 - Lockable aerosol provision system

Info

Publication number: WO2024062245A1
Application number: PCT/GB2023/052439
Authority: WO
Inventors: Laziz TURAKULOV; Darryl BAKER; Patrick MOLONEY
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Limited
Priority date: 2022-09-22
Filing date: 2023-09-20
Publication date: 2024-03-28
Also published as: GB202213830D0

Abstract

A device component for an aerosol provision system comprises: a microphone operable to detect acoustic signals; and a controller configured to: receive an acoustic signal detected by the microphone; extract data from the acoustic signal; process the extracted data to determine if the extracted data corresponds with either a locking instruction or an unlocking instruction for the aerosol generating system; and change an operational state of the aerosol provision system from an operable state to an inoperable state if correspondence with the locking instruction is found, and from an inoperable state to an operable state if correspondence with the unlocking instruction is found.

Description

LOCKABLE AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a lockable aerosol provision system, or part thereof, and a method for locking and/or unlocking an aerosol provision system.

Background

Aerosol provision systems formatted as personal handheld electronic devices that generate aerosol from a substrate material for inhalation by a user are becoming widely used. In the interests of safety and/or hygiene it may preferred by a user that others are not able to use their system without permission. For example, if the aerosol contains nicotine or is used to deliver medication, it is undesirable for other parties, including juveniles, to have access to the aerosol generation. An aerosol provision system may therefore be configured such that it is able to be placed in an inoperable or locked condition in which it cannot operate to generate aerosol, and from which it can only be made operable again, or unlocked, by the intended user of the system.

Accordingly, arrangements for locking and/or unlocking of aerosol provision systems are of interest.

Summary

According to a first aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a device component for an aerosol provision system, the device component comprising: a microphone operable to detect acoustic signals; and a controller configured to: receive an acoustic signal detected by the microphone; extract data from the acoustic signal; process the extracted data to determine if the extracted data corresponds with either of a locking instruction or an unlocking instruction for the aerosol generating system; and change an operational state of the aerosol provision system from an operable state to an inoperable state if correspondence with the locking instruction is found, and from an inoperable state to an operable state if correspondence with the unlocking instruction is found.

According to a second aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising a device component according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision system, comprising: storing data associated with a locking instruction and an unlocking instruction for the aerosol provision system in data storage of an electronic personal device comprising a speaker; in response to a user input for locking to the electronic personal device, generating a locking drive signal for the speaker in which the locking instruction is carried, and supplying the locking drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic locking signal for detection by a microphone of the aerosol provision system; and in response to a user input for unlocking to the electronic personal device, generating an unlocking drive signal for the speaker in which the unlocking instruction is carried, and supplying the unlocking drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic unlocking signal for detection by the microphone of the aerosol provision system.

According to a fourth aspect of some embodiments described herein, there is provided a computer readable medium storing a computer program which when installed on an electronic personal device with a processor and a speaker, enables the electronic device to carry out a method according to the third aspect.

These and further aspects of the certain embodiments are set out in the appended independent and dependent claims. It will be appreciated that features of the dependent claims may be combined with each other and features of the independent claims in combinations other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Furthermore, the approach described herein is not restricted to specific embodiments such as set out below, but includes and contemplates any appropriate combinations of features presented herein. For example, an aerosol provision system or part thereof, or a related method, may be provided in accordance with approaches described herein which includes any one or more of the various features described below as appropriate.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example only with reference to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a simplified schematic cross-section through an example electronic aerosol provision system in which embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic cross-sectional view through a first example of a device component for an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of steps in an example method for operating an aerosol provision system for locking and unlocking according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

Figure 4 shows a simplified schematic representation of an example system for locking and unlocking an aerosol provision system using a personal electronic device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of steps in an example method using a personal electronic device to lock and unlock an aerosol provision system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed I described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed I described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but is not limited to) aerosol or vapour provision systems, including electronic systems such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the terms “e-cigarette” and “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used; however, it will be appreciated these terms may be used interchangeably with aerosol (vapour) provision system. The systems are intended to generate an inhalable aerosol by vaporisation of a substrate (aerosol-generating material) in the form of a liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. Additionally, hybrid systems may comprise a liquid or gel substrate plus a solid substrate which is also heated. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. The terms “aerosol-generating material” and “aerosolisable material” as used herein are intended to refer to materials which can form an aerosol, either through the application of heat or some other means. The term “aerosol” may be used interchangeably with “vapour”.

As used herein, the terms “system” and “delivery system” are intended to encompass systems that deliver a substance to a user, and include non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosolisable material without combusting the aerosolisable material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, and articles comprising aerosolisable material and configured to be used within one of these noncombustible aerosol provision systems. According to the present disclosure, a “noncombustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosolisable material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery to a user. In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery (END) system, although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolisable material is not a requirement. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosolisable materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolisable material and a solid aerosolisable material. The solid aerosolisable material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a noncombustible aerosol provision device and an article (consumable) for use with the noncombustible aerosol provision device. However, it is envisaged that articles which themselves comprise a means for powering an aerosol generator or aerosol generating component may themselves form the non-combustible aerosol provision system. In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source. In some embodiments, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise an aerosolisable material, an aerosol generating component (aerosol generator), an aerosol generating area, a mouthpiece, and/or an area for receiving aerosolisable material.

In some systems the aerosol generating component or aerosol generator comprises a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosolisable material to form an aerosol. However, the disclosure is not limited in this regard, and applies also to systems that use other approaches to form aerosol, such as a vibrating mesh.

In some embodiments, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosolisable material or an area for receiving aerosolisable material. In some embodiments, the article for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise a mouthpiece. The area for receiving aerosolisable material may be a storage area for storing aerosolisable material. For example, the storage area may be a reservoir. In some embodiments, the area for receiving aerosolisable material may be separate from, or combined with, an aerosol generating area.

As used herein, the term “component” may be used to refer to a part, section, unit, module, assembly or similar of an electronic cigarette or similar device that incorporates several smaller parts or elements, possibly within an exterior housing or wall. An aerosol provision system such as an electronic cigarette may be formed or built from one or more such components, such as an article and a device, and the components may be removably or separably connectable to one another, or may be permanently joined together during manufacture to define the whole system. The present disclosure is applicable to (but not limited to) systems comprising two components separably connectable to one another and configured, for example, as an article in the form of an aerosolisable material carrying component holding liquid or another aerosolisable material (alternatively referred to as a cartridge, cartomiser, pod or consumable), and a device having a battery or other power source for providing electrical power to operate an aerosol generating component or aerosol generator for creating vapour/aerosol from the aerosolisable material. A component may include more or fewer parts than those included in the examples.

In some examples, the present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems and components thereof that utilise aerosolisable material in the form of a liquid or a gel which is held in a storage area such as a reservoir, tank, container or other receptacle comprised in the system, or absorbed onto a carrier substrate. An arrangement for delivering the material from the reservoir for the purpose of providing it to an aerosol generator for vapour I aerosol generation is included. The terms “liquid”, “gel”, “fluid”, “source liquid”, “source gel”, “source fluid” and the like may be used interchangeably with terms such as “aerosol-generating material”, “aerosolisable substrate material” and “substrate material” to refer to material that has a form capable of being stored and delivered in accordance with examples of the present disclosure.

Figure 1 is a highly schematic diagram (not to scale) of a generic example electronic aerosol/vapour provision system such as an e-cigarette 10, in which aspects of the present disclosure may be embodied and which is presented for the purpose of showing the relationship between the various parts of a typical system and explaining the general principles of operation. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to a system configured in this way, and features may be modified in accordance with the various alternatives and definitions described above and/or apparent to the skilled person. The e-cigarette 10 has a generally elongate shape in this example, extending along a longitudinal axis indicated by a dashed line, and comprises two main components, namely a device 20 (control or power component, section or unit), and an article or consumable 30 (cartridge assembly or section, sometimes referred to as a cartomiser or clearomiser) carrying aerosol-generating material and operating to generate vapour/aerosol.

The article 30 includes a storage area such as a reservoir 3 containing a source liquid or other aerosol-generating material comprising a formulation such as liquid or gel from which an aerosol is to be generated, for example containing nicotine. As an example, the source liquid may comprise around 1% to 3% nicotine and 50% glycerol, with the remainder comprising roughly equal measures of water and propylene glycol, and possibly also comprising other components, such as flavourings. Nicotine-free source liquid may also be used, such as to deliver flavouring. A solid substrate (not illustrated), such as a portion of tobacco or other flavour element through which vapour generated from the liquid is passed, may also be included. The reservoir 3 may have the form of a storage tank, being a container or receptacle in which source liquid can be stored such that the liquid is free to move and flow within the confines of the tank. For a consumable article, the reservoir 3 may be sealed after filling during manufacture so as to be disposable after the source liquid is consumed; otherwise, it may have an inlet port or other opening through which new source liquid can be added by the user. The article 30 also comprises an aerosol generator 5, comprising in this example an aerosol generating component, which may have the form of an electrically powered heating element or heater 4 and an aerosol-generating material transfer component 6. The heater 4 is located externally of the reservoir 3 and is operable to generate the aerosol by vaporisation of the source liquid by heating. The aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 is a transfer or delivery arrangement configured to deliver aerosol-generating material from the reservoir 3 to the heater 4. In some examples, it may have the form of a wick or other porous element. A wick 6 may have one or more parts located inside the reservoir 3, or otherwise be in fluid communication with liquid in the reservoir 3, so as to be able to absorb source liquid and transfer it by wicking or capillary action to other parts of the wick 6 that are adjacent or in contact with the heater 4. This liquid is thereby heated and vaporised, and replacement liquid drawn, via continuous capillary action, from the reservoir 3 for transfer to the heater 4 by the wick 6. The wick may be thought of as a conduit between the reservoir 3 and the heater 4 that delivers or transfers liquid from the reservoir to the heater. In some designs, the heater 4 and the aerosolgenerating material transfer component 6 are unitary or monolithic, and formed from a same material that is able to be used for both liquid transfer and heating, such as a material which is both porous and conductive. In still other cases, the aerosol-generating material transfer component may operate other than by capillary action, such as by comprising an arrangement of one or more valves by which liquid may exit the reservoir 3 and be passed onto the heater 4.

A heater and wick (or similar) combination, referred to herein as an aerosol generator 5, may sometimes be termed an atomiser or atomiser assembly, and the reservoir with its source liquid plus the atomiser may be collectively referred to as an aerosol source. Various designs are possible, in which the parts may be differently arranged compared with the highly schematic representation of Figure 1. For example, and as mentioned above, the wick 6 may be an entirely separate element from the heater 4, or the heater 4 may be configured to be porous and able to perform at least part of the wicking function directly (a metallic mesh, for example). If the system is an electronic system, the heater 4 may comprise one or more electrical heating elements that operate by ohmic/resistive (Joule) heating, although inductive heating may also be used, in which case the heater comprises a susceptor in an induction heating arrangement. In general, therefore, an atomiser or aerosol generator, in the present context, can be considered as one or more elements that implement the functionality of a vapour-generating element able to generate vapour by heating source liquid (or other aerosol-generating material) delivered to it, and a liquid transport or delivery element able to deliver or transport liquid from a reservoir or similar liquid store to the vapour-generating element by a wicking action I capillary force or otherwise. An aerosol generator is typically housed in an article 30 of an aerosol generating system, as in Figure 1, but in some examples, at least the heater part may be housed in the device 20. Embodiments of the disclosure are applicable to all and any such configurations which are consistent with the examples and description herein.

Returning to Figure 1 , the article 30 also includes a mouthpiece or mouthpiece portion 35 having an opening or air outlet through which a user may inhale the aerosol generated by the heater 4.

The device 20 includes a cell or battery 7 (referred to hereinafter as a battery, and which may or may not be re-chargeable) to provide electrical power for electrical components of the e-cigarette 10, in particular to operate the heater 4. Additionally, there is a controller 8 such as a printed circuit board and/or other electronics or circuitry for generally controlling the e-cigarette. The controller may include a processor programmed with software, which may be modifiable by a user of the system. The control electronics/circuitry 8 operates the heater 4 using power from the battery 7 when vapour is required. At this time, the user inhales on the system 10 via the mouthpiece 35, and air A enters through one or more air inlets 9 in the wall of the device 20 (air inlets may alternatively or additionally be located in the article 30). When the heater 4 is operated, it vaporises source liquid delivered from the reservoir 3 by the aerosol-generating material transfer component 6 to generate the aerosol by entrainment of the vapour into the air flowing through the system, and this is then inhaled by the user through the opening in the mouthpiece 35. The aerosol is carried from the aerosol generator 5 to the mouthpiece 35 along one or more air channels (not shown) that connect the air inlets 9 to the aerosol generator 5 to the air outlet when a user inhales on the mouthpiece 35.

More generally, the controller 8 is suitably configured I programmed to control the operation of the aerosol provision system to provide functionality in accordance with embodiments and examples of the disclosure as described further herein, as well as for providing conventional operating functions of the aerosol provision system in line with established techniques for controlling such devices. The controller 8 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units I circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the aerosol provision system’s operation in accordance with the principles described herein and other conventional operating aspects of aerosol provision systems, such as display driving circuitry for systems that may include a user display such as a screen or indicator lights, and user input detections via one or more user actuable controls 12. It will be appreciated that the functionality of the controller 8 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computers and/or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuits I circuitry I chips I chipsets configured to provide the desired functionality.

The device 20 and the article 30 are separate connectable parts detachable from one another by separation in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, as indicated by the double-headed arrows in Figure 1. The components 20, 30 are joined together when the device 10 is in use by cooperating engagement elements 21 , 31 (for example, a screw or bayonet fitting) which provide mechanical and in some cases electrical connectivity between the device 20 and the article 30. Electrical connectivity is required if the heater 4 operates by ohmic heating, so that current can be passed through the heater 4 when it is connected to the battery 5. In systems that use inductive heating, electrical connectivity can be omitted if no parts requiring electrical power are located in the article 30. An inductive work coil can be housed in the device 20 and supplied with power from the battery 5, and the article 30 and the device 20 shaped so that when they are connected, there is an appropriate exposure of the heater 4 to flux generated by the coil for the purpose of generating current flow in the material of the heater. The Figure 1 design is merely an example arrangement, and the various parts and features may be differently distributed between the device 20 and the article 30, and other components and elements may be included. The two sections may connect together end-to-end in a longitudinal configuration as in Figure 1 , or in a different configuration such as a parallel, side-by-side arrangement. The system may or may not be generally cylindrical and/or have a generally longitudinal shape. Either or both sections or components may be intended to be disposed of and replaced when exhausted (the reservoir is empty or the battery is flat, for example), or be intended for multiple uses enabled by actions such as refilling the reservoir and recharging the battery. In other examples, the system 10 may be unitary, in that the parts of the device 20 and the article 30 are comprised in a single housing and cannot be separated. Embodiments and examples of the present disclosure are applicable to any of these configurations and other configurations of which the skilled person will be aware.

In accordance with the present disclosure, an aerosol provision system is configured so that it may be locked and unlocked, in other words, made inoperable or operable or have its operational state changed between an inoperable state and an operable state, using acoustic signals. Acoustic signals which carry or represent locking instructions and unlocking instructions are received by the aerosol provision system, which responds by setting the operational state in accordance with the received instructions. By “locked” or “inoperable”, it is meant that the aerosol provision system is rendered unable to function or operate in at least one way. Primarily, this may be a temporary disabling of the vapour generation function, for example by preventing or disrupting the supply of power from the battery to the heater or other vapour generator. Other functionality may be allowed in the inoperable state, such as the ability for the user to adjusting operational settings or upload/download data. Alternatively, the aerosol provision system may be entirely turned off, with zero functionality, when in the inoperable state. Conversely, by “unlocked” or “operable”, it is meant that the functionality which is unavailable in the locked state is available for use. Primarily, this may be the enabling of the vapour generation function, for example by allowing the supply of power from the battery to the heater or other vapour generator.

The use of acoustic signals allows locking and unlocking to be performed contactlessly, remotely and wirelessly, for example when the user is across a room from the aerosol provision system, or if the aerosol provision system is in a pocket or bag, it need not be taken out. Also, security may be enhanced. If a second electronic device or entity personal to the user is used to generate and emit the acoustic signals, any security functions such as passwords and biometric unlocking associated with the second electronic device are brought into the arrangement, thereby preventing unauthorised locking and unlocking. This is beneficial compared with a simple locking and unlocking switch on the aerosol provision system itself, for example, which may be accessible to third parties, and is simpler than providing such security features in the aerosol provision system itself.

Other techniques can enable wireless or contactless communication from one electronic entity to another. Near-field-communication (NFC) is a technology standard used, for example, to enable contactless payments. NFC comprises a set of communication protocols to allow communication between two NFC-enabled entities by radio frequencies over very small distances - 4 cm or less. The extreme physical proximity required between the entities is considered to provide good security so the communication channel is not encrypted. Appropriate compatibility, software drivers and the like are required for an entity to make use of NFC, however. An alternative technology for contactless communication is Bluetooth, which is a wireless technology standard by which data can be exchanged between two paired devices over distances up to about 10 m using ultrahigh frequency radio waves. The considerably longer range compared to NFC means that a variety of channel encryptions are employed to secure Bluetooth communications. The encryption can consume a non-negligible amount of power, so can impact on the battery life of a portable electronic device. The electronic device must also be configured for Bluetooth compatibility to be used in this way, and two devices must be currently in a paired state to communicate via Bluetooth. The various requirements of NFC or Bluetooth would need to be met by an aerosol provision system to use these techniques for contactless or remote locking and locking of the system.

The use of audio signals instead of NFC or Bluetooth for locking and unlocking of an aerosol provision device offers an alternative approach that can be more flexible than the close proximity needed for NFC and the pairing requirement of Bluetooth. Audio signal generation and reception is a straightforward technique that can be implemented using simple components which are readily available and inexpensive, and can also be small so as not to occupy too much valuable space in a hand-held portable device. The software needed to operate via audio signal communication can also be simple and compact, thereby not requiring significant storage space in a device’s memory and not requiring much power for execution. This is significant in a portable device where maximum battery lifetime is an important characteristic for the user. The more complex software and operating system compatibility required to enable a device to use NFC or Bluetooth is avoided.

For security of the communication channel, which may be of interest in order to protect an aerosol provision system from unlocking for unauthorised use by a third party, an audio signal (or audio transmission channel) can be encrypted in a straightforward manner using, for example, the existing and established encryption method of asymmetric cryptography. This can be compared to the unencrypted communications of NFC, and the more complex encryption techniques required for Bluetooth so that power consumption and associated battery drain can be much less, and compatibility with more detailed encryption is not necessary. The provision of a low power contactless locking and unlocking technique is attractive for an aerosol provision system, since aerosol generation can consume a relatively large amount of power, and battery capacity is necessarily limited in a portable device.

As discussed above, an aerosol provision system can comprise a device component housing a power supply (battery) and a controller or processor for controlling the system coupled to a cartridge or consumable component that contains a supply of aerosolgenerating substrate material which is vaporised to generate the required aerosol. For practical, cost and environmental reasons, longer lifetime parts of the system tend to be housed in the device for multiple uses over a prolonged operating life, while shorter lifetime parts are housed in the consumable which will be replaced regularly. According to the present disclosure, parts relevant for audio signal communication are proposed to be located in the device for long-term usage. However, this is not a limiting arrangement, and some or all of the parts might be placed in the consumable of a two-part system, or the system might be a one-part design in which the cartridge is not detachable from the device. Hence, the following description showing audio components in the device of an aerosol generating system is an example only and is not limiting; the various parts could be otherwise distributed within an aerosol provision system.

Figure 2 shows a highly schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view through an example device or device component for an aerosol provision system configured for audio signal communication for the purpose of locking and/or unlocking. Note that in this disclosure, the terms “audio” and “acoustic” may be used interchangeably to denote the use of sound and sound waves, with the terms “audio signal” and “acoustic signal” indicating a sound wave deliberately configured to carry specified information (the sound wave is shaped in some way to encode the information) over a specified channel of communication from an acoustic or audio source or transmitter to an acoustic or audio detector or receiver.

In Figure 2, the device 20 comprises, as before in Figure 1 , a housing 20a with a coupling arrangement 21 to allow a consumable component to be joined or connected to the device 20 to make a complete aerosol provision system. Inside the housing 20a is a battery 7 and a controller 8 which is configured to control operation of the aerosol generation system, including the supply of power from the battery 7 to electrical components of the system as required. Other elements of the device which may be present but which are not relevant to the present disclosure are omitted for clarity. A memory or data storage element 14 is associated with the controller 8. The memory 14 stores software which is executed by the controller in order to operate the aerosol provision system, and also stores various data or information representing values required for the execution of the software, such as power level settings for running a heating element. In some cases these may be pre-set values provided during manufacture for access by the controller when required. In other cases, the data may be input by a user of the device in order to customise or personalise the system. Such data may be input directly into the device via a user input interface (not shown) such as a touch screen, or may be transferred to the device from an external device such as a computer or a smartphone via a wired or wireless communications connection (the device being enabled with appropriate connectivity, also not shown). In particular according to the present disclosure, the memory stores data 15 which is associated with a locking instruction for locking the aerosol provision system, that is, placing the system in an inoperable state in which it cannot operate to generate aerosol, and associated with an unlocking instruction for unlocking the aerosol provision system, that is, placing the system in an operable state in which it can operate to generate aerosol. According to the present concept, locking and unlocking instructions are provided to the device using acoustic signals.

The device also includes a microphone 16, which is operable in the usual manner to detect acoustic signals 22 which are incident on the microphone 16. The microphone is connected to the controller via connections 18, by which the form of the acoustic signal, converted into an electrical signal by the microphone 16, is passed to the controller 8 for use in locking or unlocking the aerosol provision system. A microphone is a passive electrical element that does not require any power supply. Hence, it is a useful component for enabling an aerosol provision system, in which it is generally desirable to conserve battery power where possible, to receive communication signals. Depending on the amplitude (volume) and frequency of the acoustic signals which intended to be detected, the microphone 16 may be mounted behind a suitable aperture or window (not shown) in the housing 20a in order that the material of the housing does not attenuate the acoustic signal. In other cases, the acoustic signal 22 may be strong enough to transmit through the housing 20a so that no window is required; this simplifies construction and protects the microphone 16 from physical damage. The microphone 16 can be located wherever is convenient within the housing 20a, but usefully some consideration is given to location such that a user holding the device is less likely to block access to the microphone 16 for the acoustic signal 22 with their hand if holding the aerosol provision system.

The locking and unlocking instructions can be encoded or embedded in acoustic signals received at the microphone in any way. Amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, or a combination of the two may be used, so that the acoustic signal varies in volume and/or pitch in a way which reflects the embedded instruction. Also, the overall frequency range can be selected as preferred, for example in order to make the acoustic signal more or less perceptible to human listeners. For example, a frequency or frequencies in a range audible to humans, generally defined as 20 Hz to 20 kHz, might be used. Use of audible frequencies, particularly towards the mid-part of this range (for example 200 Hz to 2 kHz) allows the user to perceive that instructions have been transmitted. However, in a non-quiet environment, additional audible audio signals might be deemed undesirable or obtrusive, or go unheard anyway so that audibility is not of interest. Accordingly, the acoustic signal can be pitched in a non-audible frequency range, such as below 20 Hz (infrasonic frequencies or infrasound) or above 20 kHz (ultrasonic frequencies or ultrasound). The locking and unlocking instructions themselves may take any form which is able to be understood, recognised or identified by the aerosol provision system, examples of this procedure being discussed further below. A binary or non-binary sequence or string of numbers or other characters might be used, for example. The sequence might be considered to be a code for example, which may or may not be uniquely assigned to the particular aerosol provision system. A unique code, sequence or instruction can improve security and inhibit unauthorised locking and unlocking by other parties with access to instructions associated with other aerosol provision systems.

Often, the aerosol provision system 10 will typically be relatively close to the source of the acoustic signal (described further below). For example, the aerosol provision system 10 will likely be within 5 m or within 1 m or within 50 cm of the source. Hence, the acoustic signal 22 need not have a high volume in order to be perceptible by the microphone 44. However, in order to avoid confusion with or interference from other sounds propagating in the vicinity, the acoustic signal may, for example, be configured to include identifying information that indicates that it is an acoustic signal intended for the aerosol provision system. Such information may be included in a header portion of the acoustic signal, for example. The aerosol provision system is configured to find the header so that it is known that subsequent sound detected comprises the required acoustic signal. Similarly, the acoustic signal may include a footer portion having a signal indicating that the relevant portion of the acoustic signal which carries the locking or unlocking instruction has finished.

Alternatively or additionally, the acoustic signal can occupy only a single frequency or narrow frequency band, and the aerosol provision system can include one or more acoustic filters configured to separate the detected acoustic signal at this frequency or frequencies from other detected sound such as background noise. The filtering may be achieved with dedicated filtering components, or may be achieved during processing of the detected acoustic signal.

Operation of a device of an aerosol provision system such as the example of Figure 2 will now be described. The aerosol provision system is used in conjunction with a second electronic device associated with the user of the aerosol provision system, which is enabled to emit appropriate acoustic signals under command of the user (or possibly automatically at particular times or after specific time periods, for example). The second electronic device can be considered as an instructing device, in that it provides locking and unlocking instructions to the aerosol provision system. As an example, a mobile cellular telephone may be used as the instructing device, but this is not limiting, and other appropriately configured or configurable apparatus may be used instead, such as laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a device configured primarily for emission of acoustic signals and formatted as a remote control device, a key fob, or similar. Operation of the instructing device will be described in more detail later.

Let us designate the aerosol provision system as having an operational state, which may be an operable state or an inoperable state, as described above. Assume that the aerosol provision system has been being used by the user for aerosol provision, and the user then ceases use and desires to render the aerosol provision system unusable, such as for safety reasons so that the aerosol provision system may be left unattended without concern. Using the instructing device, the user causes emission of an acoustic signal 22 which carries a locking instruction for the aerosol provision system. The acoustic signal 22 is received at and detected by the microphone 16 of the aerosol provision system, which acts to convert the sound wave of the acoustic signal to an electrical signal in the usual way, and passes the electrical signal via the connection 18 to the controller 8.

The controller 8 is configured to handle the acoustic signal 22, as represented by the electrical output of the microphone, in order to extract data from the acoustic signal 22. This can be by appropriate processing in order to retrieve any information or data carried by the acoustic signal, depending on the technique used to embed or encode data into the acoustic signal, such as amplitude modulation or frequency modulation as noted above. If encryption of the acoustic signal is employed, the data extraction can include decryption to determine the underlying data string, code or sequence. Next, the controller 8 needs to determine whether any data which has been extracted from the received acoustic signal 22 corresponds to a locking instruction for the aerosol provision system. To achieve this, the data storage 14 includes stored data 15 which is associated with locking and unlocking instructions for the aerosol provision system, and which is usable by the controller to test whether the extracted data is the expected locking instructions. This can be used not only to separate a locking signal from any other detected sound, but also to ensure that a received locking signal is correct or genuine for the aerosol provision system, and not an attempt by an unauthorised party to interact with the aerosol provision system using locking or unlocking instructions designed for a different aerosol provision system. Accordingly, the controller 8 uses the stored data 15 to process the extracted data in order to determine if the extracted data corresponds with a locking instruction. Some options for determining correspondence are described later. Note that the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction may or may not be unique to the aerosol provision system.

If the controller 8, as a result of the processing, finds that the extracted data from the received acoustic signal corresponds to the locking instruction, the controller 8 acts to place the aerosol provision system to an inoperable state, such as by changing the operational state of the aerosol provision system, which as noted above is currently operable, to an inoperable or locked state or condition. For example, the supply of power from the battery 7 to the vapour generator may be interrupted or disabled in such a way that it does not occur in response to activation of the aerosol provision system, such as inhaling to operate a air flow or pressure sensor switch or manual operation of an external power switch.

Subsequently, the user may wish to consume aerosol from the aerosol provision system, and requires the system to be unlocked. This time, the instructing device generates and emits an acoustic signal which carries an unlocking instruction, which as before is received and detected by the microphone 16 and passed as an electrical signal to the controller 8 which acts to extract data. The controller 8 again processes the extracted data using the stored data 15, this time to determine if there is correspondence between the extracted data and the aerosol provision system’s unlocking instruction. If correspondence is found, the controller 8 acts to change the operational state of the aerosol provision system from the locked or inoperable state to the unlocked or operable state, in which the aerosol provision system can be used, in particular to provide aerosol. Typically, the unlocking comprises a reversal of the action previously taken to lock the aerosol provision system. Following the example above, therefore, the supply of power from the battery 7 to the vapour generator in response to activation of the aerosol provision system is re-enabled.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart of steps in an example method for operating an aerosol provision system in such a way. In as first step S1 , an acoustic signal is detected by a microphone in an aerosol provision system. In a second step S2, data is extracted from the acoustic signal. In a next step S3, in order to determine if the acoustic signal has carried an instruction for the aerosol provision system, the extracted data is processed to determine if there is correspondence of the extracted data with a locking instruction or an unlocking instruction. In a next step S4, an assessment is made to decide if correspondence has been found. If no correspondence with an instruction has been found, the method returns via a “no” route to the start to detect a next acoustic signal in step S1. However, if correspondence has been found, the method proceeds to step S5 via a “yes” route, where an assessment is made as to whether the correspondence is correspondence of the extracted data with the locking instruction. If “yes”, the method proceeds to a first alternative final step S6a, where the operational state of the aerosol provision system is changed from operable to inoperable. If “no”, the method proceeds to a second alternative final step S6b, where it is assumed that the correspondence must therefore be with the unlocking instruction, and the operational state is changed from inoperable to operable.

In an alternative, the assessment in step S5 may be for correspondence with an unlocking instruction, rather than a locking instruction, with the options for steps S6a and S6b being reversed. In another alternative, correspondence with either instruction may be assessed, and the appropriate state change matching the instruction then made.

In some circumstances, the user may inadvertently, or deliberately (from an abundance of caution to ensure a locked system, for example), send a locking instruction to an already locked or inoperable aerosol provision system, or an unlocking instruction to an already unlocked or operable aerosol provision system. In such a case, the final steps S6a and S6b comprise instead keeping the operational state of the aerosol provision system in its current state, rather than changing or switching between states.

Any technique suitable to test the correctness of a data string or other instruction may be used to determine correspondence of the extracted data with either of the locking instruction or the unlocking instruction. The stored data which is associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction and used by the processor in making the determination of correspondence will be configured as appropriate for the chosen technique.

In a first non-limiting example, the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction may be generated using one or more rules or algorithms, for example starting from a seed value. The stored data in the data storage comprises one or more related or associated rules (or the same rules, depending on the mathematical operations used) against which the extracted data can be tested to determine if it was generated according to the original rules. Hence, the stored data comprises rules by which it is possible to identify the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction. The controller processes the extracted data to see if it complies with or follows the stored rules. If compliance is found, it is assumed that the instruction was created using the original rules and is therefore a valid instruction for the aerosol provision system. Correspondence of the extracted data with one or other of the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction is thereby considered to have been found or determined. A single rule or set of rules may be used for both the locking and unlocking instructions, for simplicity, or different rules may be used, which offers ease of distinguishing between the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction, for example.

In a second non-limiting example, the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction each comprise a code, in other words a fixed string or sequence of characters, numbers or values, which is assigned to the aerosol provision system. In this case, the stored data associated with the locking and unlocking instructions represents the locking code and the unlocking code. The controller processes the extracted data from the received acoustic signal by comparing it with the stored data and looking for a match. If the extracted data is found to match either of the stored locking code or the stored unlocking code, correspondence is considered to have been found.

Regardless of the technique used to determine correspondence, in some examples, the locking instruction is chosen to be different from the unlocking instruction. While this gives slightly increased complexity, it allows the two instructions to be distinguished from one another so that accidental sending by the user of the opposite instruction to that intended will not be actioned. The aerosol provision system will already be in the desired operational state, and will not be switched out of it when the wrong instruction is received. Rather, the controller will simply retain the current operational state. The aerosol provision system cannot therefore be mistakenly unlocked by a locking instruction, for example.

On the other hand, in other examples, the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction are chosen to be the same or identical. In this case, the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction can be considered as a single locking-and-unlocking instruction. On receipt of this instruction (once correspondence has been found), the controller simply acts to switch the aerosol provision system from its current state to the opposite state. Hence, if the system is locked, sending the instruction will unlock it. If the system is unlocked, sending the instruction will lock it. This configuration offers simplicity. The instructing device needs to hold only a single code, and the data storage in the aerosol provision system need only be data associated with a single code. The processing is also simplified, since the controller never needs to carry out more than one test to determine correspondence of the extracted data with the instruction.

In another approach which can reduce the correspondence testing required, the controller can determine the current operational state of the aerosol provision system when an acoustic signal is received, and then only carry out correspondence testing which is appropriate for the current operational state. An instruction to place the aerosol provision system into an operational state in which it already exists can be ignored. If the current operational state is determined as locked, or inoperable, a received locking instruction can be disregarded since it will not require any switching of the operational state. Therefore, when the controller sees the inoperable state, it processes the data extracted from the acoustic signal to determine any correspondence with the unlocking instruction only, and switches the operational state from inoperable to operable if this correspondence is found. Conversely, if the current operational state is determined as unlocked or operable, a received unlocking instruction can be disregarded. When the controller finds the operable state, it processes the data extracted from the acoustic signal to determine any correspondence with the locking instruction only, and switches the operational state from operable to inoperable if correspondence is found.

Any method by which the controller can determine the operational state of the aerosol provision system in advance of processing the extracted data can be used to implement this embodiment. For example, the controller may interrogate a component utilised to change between the operable and inoperable states, such as a switch connecting the battery to the vapour generator. Another simple approach can utilise status flags. When the controller places the aerosol provision system into one or other of the operational states, it additionally sets or stores in the data storage an operational state flag which indicates the operational state into which it has placed the aerosol provision system. A simple binary flag might be used, where a “0” indicates an unlocked state and a “1” indicates a locked state, for example. When a next acoustic signal is received, the controller checks the saved operational state flag to determine the current operational state, and carries out processing of the extracted data in accordance with the determined operational state. Namely, if the flag shows a locked state, correspondence with the unlocking instruction can be tested for, and if the flag shows an unlocked state, correspondence with the locking instruction can be tested for.

Figure 4 shows a simplified schematic representation of an example system configured for operating an aerosol provision system in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The system comprises an aerosol provision system 10 comprising a device component 20 connected to a cartridge component 30, for example in line with the aerosol provision system of Figure 1. The aerosol provision system comprises a microphone 16 in the device component 20 for detecting acoustic signals, in line with the Figure 2 example.

The system additionally comprises an electronic personal device 40 which is associated with or otherwise belongs to an individual (user) to whom the aerosol provision system 10 belongs or is associated with. The electronic personal device 40 can be considered as an instructing device, and may comprise any of a range of devices as noted above. A mobile cellular telephone is a useful example. The instructing device 40 comprises a speaker 42 operable to emit acoustic signals 22 which can be received at the aerosol provision system 10 for detection by the microphone 16. The speaker 42 is connected to a processor or controller 44 via a connection through which drive signals can be supplied to the speaker 42 from the controller 44. The controller has access to data storage 45 in the instructing device 40, in which is stored data 47 associated with a locking instruction and an unlocking instruction for the aerosol provision system 10. The data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction may be any data from which the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction can be obtained or derived. For example, it may comprise one or more rules from which the locking instruction and unlocking instruction may be generated, or it may comprise codes, strings or character sequences which can be used directly as the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction, in accordance with examples set out above. The controller is operable to retrieve the stored data 47 associated with whichever of the locking instruction or the unlocking instruction might be required, and generate and supply to the speaker a drive signal for the speaker which carries the instruction, the drive signal configured to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic signal which carries the instruction. The generation may include encryption of the instruction if desired. Generation of the drive signal may be carried out each time an instructing acoustic signal is required to be emitted, or the drive signal may be stored for repeated use so that generation is a simple retrieval of the drive signal. In this case, the stored data 47 associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction may comprise the drive signal for the locking instruction and the drive signal for the unlocking instruction. In general, a drive signal for emission of the locking signal can be considered as a locking drive signal, and a drive signal for emission of the unlocking signal can be considered as an unlocking drive signal.

The instructing device also comprises a user input interface or element 46, configured for a user to input to the instructing device 40 a requirement for locking or unlocking of the aerosol provision system 10. The user input element 46 may comprise a touch screen or one or more buttons or switches, according to the design and format of the instructing device 40. As a non-limiting example, if the instructing device 40 is a mobile telephone or other handheld portable computing device such as a tablet, the instructing device may have installed upon it an “app” for controlling the aerosol provision system, which when accessed by the user causes the display of icons for locking and unlocking which the user can touch in order to activate one or other of the locking and unlocking functions. The user input element 46 is connected to or otherwise in communication with the controller 44 so that when the user inputs a request or command for locking using the user input element 46, a corresponding signal is sent to the controller 44, which responds by generating the locking drive signal and supplying the locking drive signal to the speaker 42 to cause the speaker 42 to emit an acoustic signal 22 carrying the locking instruction (acoustic locking signal) for transmission to the aerosol provision system 10. Similarly, when the user inputs a request or command for unlocking using the user input element 46, a corresponding signal is sent to the controller 44 which responds by generating the unlocking drive signal and supplying the unlocking drive signal to the speaker 42 to cause the speaker 42 to emit an acoustic signal 22 carrying the unlocking instruction (acoustic unlocking signal) for transmission to the aerosol provision system 10.

As mentioned above, the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction may be different from one another, or may be the same so as to comprise a single locking-and- unlocking instruction. In the former case, the locking drive signal and the unlocking drive signal will also be different from one another, as will the acoustic locking signal and the acoustic unlocking signal. In the latter case, the locking drive signal and the unlocking drive signal will be the same (a single locking-and-unlocking drive signal), and the acoustic locking signal and the acoustic unlocking signal will be the same (a single locking-and-unlocking drive signal). In this case, the user input element on the instructing device may offer the user a single locking-and-unlocking button, icon, switch or control.

The instructing device 40 may further be used to set up locking/unlocking functionality for the aerosol provision system. In order to effect this, the user may enter an input for aerosol provision system set-up to the user input element 46 of the instructing device 40, causing a command for set up to be sent to the controller 44. In order for the aerosol provision system to be able to lock and unlock itself in response to received acoustic locking and unlocking signals, the data associated with the locking and unlocking instructions described with regard to Figure 2 are required by the aerosol provision device so that detected acoustic signals can be assessed for locking or unlocking instructions. Accordingly, the set up procedure may include the supply of the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction to the aerosol provision system 10 by the instructing device. In response to receipt of the set up command by the controller 44 of the instructing device 40, the controller 44 generates one or more initial drive signals for the speaker 42 which are supplied to the speaker 42 and configured to cause the speaker 42 to emit one or more initial acoustic signals 22 which carry the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instructing, for detection by the microphone 16 of the aerosol provision system. The initial drive signals may be generated using the stored data 47 associated with the locking and unlocking instructions which is stored in the instructing device 40 for generating the locking and unlocking drive signals, for example if the locking and unlocking instructions are codes or other strings that are matched to check for correspondence. Alternatively additional data may be available which is associated with the locking and unlocking instructions and which is required by the aerosol generation system 10. For example, if rules are used to generate the instructions and to determine the veracity of the instructions, different data may represent the rules used by the instructing device 40 to generate the instructions from the data that represents corresponding rules used by the aerosol generating system 10 to check the instructions. Additionally, the initial drive signal(s) and initial acoustic signal(s) may carry further data required by the controller 8 of the aerosol provision system 10 to set up the aerosol provision for locking/unlocking, such as an instruction to save the data associated with the locking and unlocking instructions which is extracted from the initial acoustic signal to the data storage 14 of the aerosol provision system 10, and instructions to enable the controller 8 to process data extracted from received acoustic signals to identify if a locking or an unlocking instruction has been received. When the initial acoustic signal(s) are detected by the microphone 16, the data associated with the locking and unlocking instructions are extracted by the controller 8, and saved to the data storage 14 of the aerosol provision system 10.

In other examples, rather than being sent from the instructing device, the data 15 associated with the locking and unlocking instructions which is stored in the data storage of the aerosol provision system 10 (and any other data required for setting up the locking and unlocking functionality) may be included during manufacture of the device component 20, or may be delivered to the aerosol provision system by other data transfer or communication channels for which the aerosol provision system is equipped or enabled, which may be wired or wireless.

A set-up procedure may additionally or alternatively involve the transmission of an initiating acoustic signal from the instructing device 40 (following generation of a suitable initiating drive signal for the speaker) to the aerosol provision system 10, if for example the aerosol provision system 10 is new and has not yet been used. For safety purposes and/or to preserve battery power, new aerosol provision systems or the device components of new aerosol provision systems may be provided in a non-operational state. The initiating acoustic signal carries initiating data which is extracted from the initiating acoustic signal by the controller 8 of the aerosol provision system 10 before the first use of the aerosol provision system 10, and used by the controller 8 to initiate or activate the aerosol provision system 10 for use by changing the aerosol provision system 10 or the device component 20 of the aerosol provision system 10 from the non-operational state in which it is supplied to the operational state described above. Once placed in the operational state, the aerosol provision system 10 is capable of being changed between the operable state and the inoperable state in response to the unlocking instruction and the locking instruction. The initiating data may comprise instructions or commands for the controller 8 to switch the aerosol provision system 10 or the aerosol provision system device component 30 from the non-operational state to the operational state, for example. In order to prevent unauthorised initiation of a new aerosol provision system 10, the device component 30 may be supplied with stored data which is associated with an initiating instruction, which might be unique to the device component, or to a model number or batch number for example. When data is extracted from a received acoustic signal, the controller 8 processes the extracted data by using the stored data associated with the initiating instruction to determine any correspondence of the extracted data with the initiating instruction. If correspondence is found, the extracted data is deemed to be the expected initiating instruction, and it is used to switch to the operational state as described above.

The initiating instruction may be the same as the unlocking instruction, in a simple example. A first receipt of the unlocking instruction in the initiating acoustic signal moves the aerosol provision system from non-operational to operational, and subsequent receipts of the unlocking instruction in acoustic signals move the aerosol provision system to operable or unlocked when it is the inoperable or locked state.

Returning to Figure 4, the various data required by the instructing device to perform the various operations described above may be included in the instructing device 40 on manufacture, for example if the instructing device 40 is a dedicated locking/unlocking remote controller for the aerosol provision system 10. If the instructing device 40 is a personal computing device used for other purposes, such as a mobile telephone or tablet, the data can be provided to the instructing device from an external server (not shown) when it is desired to use the instructing device for locking/unlocking the aerosol provision system 10. The user may input a request for the data using the user input element 46 of the instructing device 40. The external server, which may be maintained by the supplier of the aerosol provision system, for example, may download the data to the instructing device 40 via any suitable or appropriate data transfer channel 50, such as a mobile telecommunications network (operating according to the 3G, 4G or 5G standards, for example), or using a local or area network in communication with the external server via the internet and connected wirelessly (Wi-Fi) or by wired connection (Ethernet) to the instructing device. The external server may be a remote server. In other scenarios, the external server may be a terminal installed in a retail outlet from which the user can download the required data when the aerosol provision system 10 is purchased, for example using a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection. The data provided can include any or all of the data needed by the controller 44 of the instructing device 40, including the data associated with the locking instruction, the data associated with the unlocking instruction, and/or the data associated with the initiating instruction, and/or the locking instruction, the unlocking instruction and the initiating instruction or initiating data.

Similarly, a computer program such as an app that enables the instructing device 40 to carry out initiating, unlocking and/or unlocking control of an aerosol provision system or a device component of an aerosol provision system according to the examples herein may be downloaded to the instructing device 40 from an external server, such as in response to a request by the user.

Figure 5 shows a flow chart of steps in an example method of controlling an aerosol provision system with locking and unlocking capability. In a first step S10, an electronic personal device that is required for use as an instructing device to unlock and unlock an aerosol provision system is provided with data associated with locking and unlocking instructions for the aerosol provision system, such as by storing the data in data storage in the electronic personal device. In a second step S11 , the electronic personal device receives an input command from a user for locking/unlocking of the aerosol provision system. In a third step S12, the input is assessed to determine if it is a command for locking.

If yes, the method proceeds via a first alternative to step S13a, where the electronic personal device uses the stored data to generate a locking drive signal for a speaker in the electronic personal device, where the locking drive signal carries the locking instruction. In a next step S14a, the locking drive signal is supplied to the speaker to cause it to emit a locking acoustic signal which carries the locking instruction. The locking acoustic signal is intended for detection by the aerosol provision system, which is configured to use the acoustic locking signal to obtain the locking instruction and place itself into a locked or inoperable state, such as in the method of Figure 3.

If no at step S12, the method proceeds via a second alternative to step S13b, where the electronic personal device uses the stored data to generate an unlocking drive signal for the speaker in the electronic personal device, where the unlocking drive signal carries the unlocking instruction. In a next step S14b, the unlocking drive signal is supplied to the speaker to cause it to emit an unlocking acoustic signal which carries the unlocking instruction. The unlocking acoustic signal is intended for detection by the aerosol provision system, which is configured to use the acoustic unlocking signal to obtain the unlocking instruction and place itself into an unlocked or operable state, such as in the method of Figure 3.

The various examples discussed above have largely described locking and unlocking in the context of the aerosol provision system as a whole. When an aerosol provision system is configured for regular use it will often comprise a device component operably coupled to a cartridge component or consumable. A controller in the device component can operate to lock and unlock the system as a whole, for example by disabling power supply capability from a battery in the device component to a vapour generator in consumable. However, the cartridge component may be specifically designed to be disposable or interchangeable, and the user may not immediately replace it with a new cartridge component, but rather keep the device component in an uncoupled condition for a period before attaching a new cartridge component. In this situation, locking of the device component alone may be desirable, in order to prevent its unauthorised use by a different party who may have their own cartridge component. Accordingly, all references to locking and unlocking herein apply equally to both a complete aerosol provision system (which may or may not made of separable components) and to individual components of an aerosol provision including when they are in an uncoupled state, in particular a device component. In the context of a device component, placing the device component in an inoperable state will place it in a condition in which it will not operate and cannot be operated to cause vapour generation if it was coupled to a cartridge component. For example, one or more electrical connections by which the device component supplies electrical power to a connected cartridge component may be temporarily disabled or rendered inoperable. Similarly, the device component may be unlocked when the user wishes to couple a cartridge to it again, in order to return it to a condition in which it can operate with the cartridge system to generate vapour when required.

The examples presented above have described the controller carrying out the determination of whether the extracted data corresponds with either of the locking instruction or the locking instruction, such as by utilising stored data associated with the locking and unlocking instructions. In another example, the controller may alternatively be configured to perform the processing of the extracted data to determine correspondence by making use of a remote or external server, which may be a backend server or a cloud server, to carry out the determination. In this case, the controller is configured to pass the extracted data to the remote server, where the determining correspondence is carried out, and then receive a result of the determining sent from the remote server back to the device.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. A device component for an aerosol provision system, the device component comprising: a microphone operable to detect acoustic signals; and a controller configured to: receive an acoustic signal detected by the microphone; extract data from the acoustic signal; process the extracted data to determine if the extracted data corresponds with either a locking instruction or an unlocking instruction for the aerosol generating system; and change an operational state of the aerosol provision system from an operable state to an inoperable state if correspondence with the locking instruction is found, and from an inoperable state to an operable state if correspondence with the unlocking instruction is found.

2. A device component according to claim 1 , further comprising data storage for storing data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction, the controller configured to carry out the determining using the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction.

3. A device component according to claim 2, wherein: the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction comprise one or more rules for identifying the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction; and the controller is configured to process the extracted data by testing the extracted data for compliance with the one or more rules, and determine correspondence with the locking instruction if the extracted data complies with the one or more rules for identifying the locking instruction and determine correspondence with the unlocking instruction if the extracted data complies with the one or more rules for identifying the unlocking instruction.

4. A device component according to claim 2, wherein: the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction represents a locking code and an unlocking code for the aerosol generating system; and the controller is configured to process the extracted data by comparing the extracted data with one or both of the locking code and the unlocking code, and determine correspondence with the locking instruction if the extracted data matches the locking code and determine correspondence with the unlocking instruction if the extracted data matches the unlocking code.

5. A device component according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to: determine the operational state of the aerosol provision system when an acoustic signal is received; and if the aerosol provision system is in an operable state, process the extracted data to determine correspondence with the locking instruction only, and if the aerosol provision system is in an inoperable state, process the extracted data to determine correspondence with the unlocking code only.

6. A device component according to claim 5, wherein the controller is further configured to store in the data storage an operational state flag indicating the operational state of the aerosol provision system after changing the operational state in response to receipt of a previous acoustic signal, and determine the operational state of the aerosol provision system by checking the operational state flag in response to receipt of a next acoustic signal.

7. A device component according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction comprise a single locking-and-unlocking instruction, and the controller is configured to change the operational state of the aerosol provision system from the operable state to the inoperable state or the inoperable state to the operable state if the extracted data is determined to correspond with the locking-and-unlocking code.

8. A device component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the locking instruction is different from the unlocking instruction.

9. A device component according to claim 2, comprising the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction stored in the data storage.

10. A device component according to claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to extract data comprising the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction from one or more initial acoustic signals detected by the microphone, and store the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction in the data storage.

11. A device component according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the controller is further configured to extract initiating data from an initiating acoustic signal detected before first use of the aerosol provision system, and use the initiating data to switch the aerosol provision system from a non-operational state to the operational state.

12 A device according to claim 11 , wherein the initiating data comprises instructions for the controller to switch the aerosol provision system from the non-operational state to the operational state.

13. A device according to claim 10 or claim 11 , wherein data associated with an initiating instruction is stored data storage in the device, and the controller uses the initiating data by determining correspondence of the initiating data with the initiating instruction, and if correspondence is found, switching the aerosol provision system from the non-operational state to the operational state.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the initiating instruction is the same as the unlocking instruction.

15. A device component according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to process the extracted data by passing the extracted data to a remote server configured to perform the determining and receiving a result of the determining from the remote server.

16. An aerosol provision system comprising a device component according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. An aerosol provision system according to claim 16, comprising an article comprising an aerosol generator, the controller of the device component further configured to control the aerosol generator to generate aerosol for consumption by a user when the aerosol provision system is in the operable state.

18. A method of operating an aerosol provision system, comprising: storing data associated with a locking instruction and an unlocking instruction for the aerosol provision system in data storage of an electronic personal device comprising a speaker; in response to a user input for locking to the electronic personal device, generating a locking drive signal for the speaker in which the locking instruction is carried, and supplying the locking drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic locking signal for detection by a microphone of the aerosol provision system; and in response to a user input for unlocking to the electronic personal device, generating an unlocking drive signal for the speaker in which the unlocking instruction is carried, and supplying the unlocking drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit an acoustic unlocking signal for detection by the microphone of the aerosol provision system.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction comprise a single locking-and-unlocking instruction, the locking drive signal is the same as the unlocking drive signal, and the acoustic locking signal is the same as the acoustic unlocking signal.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein the locking instruction is different from the unlocking instruction.

21. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising, in response to a user input for aerosol provision system set-up to the electronic personal device, generating one or more initial drive signals for the speaker in which data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction are carried, and supplying the initial drive signals to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit one or more initial acoustic signals carrying the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction for detection by the microphone of the aerosol provision system.

22. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 20, further comprising receiving the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction and optionally the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction at the electronic personal device from a external server.

23. A method according to claim 21 or claim 22, in which the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction comprise one or more rules for identifying the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction.

24. A method according to claim 21 or claim 22, in which the data associated with the locking instruction and the unlocking instruction comprise a locking code and an unlocking code.

25. A method according to any one of claims 18 to 24, further comprising, in response to user input for aerosol provision system initiation prior to first use of the aerosol provision system to the electronic personal device, generating an initiating drive signal for the speaker in which initiating data to enable the aerosol provision system to switch from a non- operational state to an operational state is carried, and supplying the initiating drive signal to the speaker to cause the speaker to emit the initiating drive signal carrying the initiating data for detection by the microphone of the aerosol provision system.

26. A method according to claim 25, further comprising, in response to the user input for aerosol provision system initiation, receiving the initiating data at the electronic personal device from a external server.

27. A computer readable medium storing a computer program which when installed on an electronic personal device with a processor and a speaker, enables the electronic device to carry out a method according to any one of claims 18 to 26.