EP4520205A1 - Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance - Google Patents

Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4520205A1
EP4520205A1 EP23196058.4A EP23196058A EP4520205A1 EP 4520205 A1 EP4520205 A1 EP 4520205A1 EP 23196058 A EP23196058 A EP 23196058A EP 4520205 A1 EP4520205 A1 EP 4520205A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
power
controller
user
mode
user input
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP23196058.4A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Original Assignee
Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom filed Critical Imperial Tobacco Ltd United Kingdom
Priority to EP23196058.4A priority Critical patent/EP4520205A1/fr
Priority to CN202480057182.8A priority patent/CN121793866A/zh
Priority to PCT/EP2024/073502 priority patent/WO2025051543A1/fr
Publication of EP4520205A1 publication Critical patent/EP4520205A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • 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
    • A24F40/53—Monitoring, e.g. fault detection
    • 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
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid 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
    • A24F40/60—Devices with integrated user interfaces

Definitions

  • the smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself.
  • a smoking substitute approach corresponds to the manner in which the substitute system operates for a user.
  • a typical vaping smoking substitute system includes a mouthpiece, a power source (typically a battery), a tank or liquid reservoir for containing e-liquid, as well as a heater.
  • a power source typically a battery
  • a tank or liquid reservoir for containing e-liquid as well as a heater.
  • electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heater, which heats the e-liquid to produce an aerosol (or "vapour") which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • Vaping smoking substitute systems can be configured in a variety of ways.
  • there are "closed system" vaping smoking substitute systems which typically have a heater and a sealed tank which is pre-filled with e-liquid and is not intended to be refilled by an end user.
  • One subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute systems include a device which includes the power source, wherein the device is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a component including the tank and the heater. In this way, when the tank of a component has been emptied, the device can be reused by connecting it to a new component.
  • Another subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute systems are completely disposable and intended for one-use only.
  • vaping smoking substitute systems which typically have a tank that is configured to be refilled by a user, so the system can be used multiple times.
  • An example vaping smoking substitute system is the myblu TM e-cigarette.
  • the myblu TM e cigarette is a closed system which includes a device and a consumable component.
  • the device and consumable component are physically and electrically coupled together by pushing the consumable component into the device.
  • the device includes a rechargeable battery.
  • the consumable component includes a mouthpiece, a sealed tank which contains e-liquid, as well as a vaporiser, which for this system is a heating filament coiled around a portion of a wick which is partially immersed in the e-liquid.
  • the system is activated when a microprocessor on board the device detects a user inhaling through the mouthpiece. When the system is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the vaporiser, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • the blu PRO TM e-cigarette is an open system which includes a device, a (refillable) tank, and a mouthpiece.
  • the device and tank are physically and electrically coupled together by screwing one to the other.
  • the mouthpiece and refillable tank are physically coupled together by screwing one into the other, and detaching the mouthpiece from the refillable tank allows the tank to be refilled with e-liquid.
  • the system is activated by a button on the device. When the system is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to a vaporiser, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.
  • HT Heated Tobacco
  • HNB heat not burn
  • the tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco.
  • the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e. the tobacco does not undergo combustion.
  • the heating, as opposed to burning, of the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HT approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.
  • an aerosol delivery system e.g., a smoking substitute system
  • a puff sensor configured to detect a user drawing an airflow through the system
  • an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor
  • a user input device for receiving a input from a user
  • a power supply and a controller configured to control the supply of power from the power supply to the aerosol generator
  • the controller further configured to switch between a first power mode and a second power mode in response to receipt of a power change user input by the user input device, the controller configured to control the supply of a first power to the aerosol generator in the first power mode and a second power to the aerosol generator in the second power mode, wherein the second power is higherthan the first power
  • the controller is configured to prevent switching between the first power mode and the second power mode in response to the puff sensor detecting a user drawing an airflow through the system.
  • preventing switching between the first power mode and the second power mode in response to a user drawing an airflow through the system may prevent a user unexpectedly receiving more vapour than they are expecting (more vapour may be generated when the higher second power is supplied to the aerosol generator than when the lower first power is supplied) or receiving vapour at a higher temperature than they are expecting if a user makes an accidental power change user input.
  • the controller controlling the supply of the first power to the aerosol generator in the first power mode may be referred to as the controller operating in the first power mode.
  • the controller controlling the supply of the second power to the aerosol generator in the second power mode may be referred to as the controller operating in the second power mode.
  • the controller being configured to prevent switching between the first and second power modes may mean that the controller does not switch between the first and second power modes, even upon receipt of a power change user input by the user input device.
  • the controller being configured to prevent switching between the first and second power modes in response to the puff sensor detecting a user drawing an airflow through the system may mean that that that the controller is configured to only switch between the first and second power modes if the puff sensor does not detect a user drawing airflow through the system.
  • the system may comprise an airflow path therethrough, the airflow path extending from an air inlet to an outlet.
  • the puff sensor will be within or in fluid communication with the airflow path.
  • the airflow path may pass the aerosol generator between the air inlet and the outlet.
  • the airflow path may comprise a first portion extending from the air inlet towards the aerosol generator.
  • a second portion of the airflow path may pass the aerosol generator (e.g., over or around the aerosol generator) to a conduit that extends to the outlet (which may be in a mouthpiece portion).
  • References to "downstream” in relation to the airflow path are intended to refer to the direction towards the outlet/mouthpiece portion.
  • the second portion of the airflow path is downstream of the first portion of the airflow path.
  • references to "upstream” are intended to referto the direction towards the air inlet.
  • the first portion of the airflow path (and the air inlet) is upstream of the second portion of the airflow path (and the outlet).
  • the user input device may be configured to send a user input signal to the controller when the user input device receives a user input.
  • the controller being configured to determine whether the power change user input is received by the user input device may include the controller being configured to determine whether a user input signal is received by the controller from the user input device.
  • the controller being configured to determine whether the power change user input is received by the user input device may further include the controller being configured to determine from the user input signal a duration of a user input received by the user input device and to determine whether the duration of the user input is greater than or equal to a pre-determined duration. By determining that the duration of the user input is greater than or equal to a pre-determined duration, the controller may determine that the power change user input is received by the user input device.
  • the predetermined duration of the user input may be at least 1 second, for example at least 2 seconds or at least 3 seconds such as at least 4 seconds or at least 5 seconds.
  • such predetermined durations may reduce the likelihood of a user accidentally switching between the first and second power modes or the first and second locked modes.
  • the controller may be configured to determine whether the puff sensor detects a user drawing airflow through the system.
  • the controller may be configured to prevent switching between the first and second power modes in response to determining that the puff sensor detects a user drawing airflow through the system (e.g. along the airflow path).
  • the puff sensor may be configured to send an airflow signal to the controller in response to the puff sensor detecting a user drawing airflow through the system.
  • the puff sensor may, for example, be in the form of a pressure sensor or an acoustic sensor.
  • the controller being configured to determine whether the puff sensor detects a user drawing airflow through the system may comprise the controller being configured to determine whether an airflow signal is received from the puff sensor. By determining that an airflow signal is received by the controller, the controller may determine that the puff sensor detects a user drawing an airflow through the system (e.g. along the airflow path).
  • the controller may be configured to continue operating in the power mode in which it is currently operating when the controller prevents switching between the first and second power modes. For example, if the controller is operating in the first power mode and a power change user input is received while the puff sensor detects an airflow through the system, the controller may prevent switching from the first power mode to the second power mode and the controller may continue to operate in the first power mode.
  • the controller may be configured such that power may be supplied from the power supply to the aerosol generator immediately following switching between the first and second power modes.
  • switching between the first and second power modes may not inhibit a user from using the aerosol generating system to generate an aerosol.
  • the aerosol generator may comprise a heating element.
  • the aerosol generator may comprise an ultrasonic or flow expansion unit, or an induction heating system.
  • preventing switching between the first power mode and the second power mode in response to a user drawing an airflow through the system may improve the safety of the system.
  • the aerosol generator comprises a heating element or an induction heating system, for example, the system may prevent a user unexpectedly receiving more vapour or receiving vapour at a higher temperature than they are expecting if a user makes an accidental power change user input.
  • the aerosol generator comprises an ultrasonic or flow expansion unit, the system may prevent a user unexpectedly receiving more vapour than they are expecting if a user makes an accidental power change user input.
  • the aerosol delivery system may be a vaping system (e.g., a vaping smoking substitute system).
  • the system may comprise a tank for housing the aerosol precursor (e.g. a liquid aerosol precursor).
  • the aerosol precursor may comprise an e-liquid, for example, comprising a base liquid and e.g. nicotine.
  • the base liquid may include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine.
  • the conduit discussed above may extend through the tank with the conduit walls defining an inner region of the tank. In this respect, the tank may surround the conduit e.g. the tank may be annular.
  • the tank may be transparent or translucent.
  • the aerosol generator may be within an aerosol generator chamber.
  • the aerosol generator may comprise a wick.
  • the wick may form the base of the tank so that the aerosol precursor may be in contact with the wick.
  • the wick may comprise one or more channels on its upper surface (facing the tank), the channels being in fluid communication with the tank.
  • the device may alternatively or additionally be able to detect information about the consumable component via an RFID reader, a barcode or QR code reader.
  • This interface may be able to identify a characteristic (e.g. a type) of the consumable.
  • the consumable component may include any one or more of an RFID chip, a barcode or QR code, or memory within which is an identifier and which can be interrogated via the interface.
  • the component may comprise the tank and conduit discussed above.
  • the user input device may be the user input device described above with reference to the first aspect.
  • a method of controlling an aerosol delivery device or system having a first power mode in which a first power is supplied to an aerosol generator of the device in response to the device or system being activated and a second power mode in which a second power that is higher than the first power is supplied to the aerosol generator in response to the device or system being activated.
  • the method may, for example, be for controlling the system of the first aspect or the device of the second aspect.
  • the method comprises receiving a power change user input from a user input device, determining whether a user is drawing an airflow through the device or system (e.g.
  • the method may further include: if switching between the first and second power modes is prevented, continuing to operate in the power mode in which the controller is currently operating.
  • a method of using the aerosol-delivery (e.g. smoking substitute) system comprising engaging the consumable component with an aerosol-delivery (e.g. smoking substitute) device (as described above) having a power supply so as to electrically connect the power supply to the consumable component (i.e. to the aerosol generator of the consumable component).
  • an aerosol-delivery e.g. smoking substitute
  • the component 104 includes a mouthpiece portion at an upper end 109 of the component 104, and one or more air inlets (not shown) in fluid communication with the mouthpiece portion such that air can be drawn into and through the component 104 when a user inhales through the mouthpiece portion.
  • the tank 106 containing e-liquid is located at the lower end 111 of the component 104.
  • the memory 122 preferably includes non-volatile memory.
  • the memory may include instructions which, when implemented, cause the controller 120 to perform certain tasks or steps of a method. A method which may be performed by the controller 120 is discussed in detail below.
  • the additional components 128 of the device 102 may comprise the light 116 discussed above.
  • the additional components 128 of the device 102 may comprise a haptic feedback element.
  • the haptic feedback element may provide haptic feedback to a user when there is a power mode change of the system (as will be described in more detail below).
  • the component 104 includes the tank 106, an electrical interface 130, an aerosol generator 132, one or more air inlets 134, a mouthpiece portion 136, and one or more additional components 138.
  • the aerosol generator 132 is configured to heat and vaporise e-liquid contained in the tank 106 using electrical energy supplied from the power supply 118 in the first power mode or in the second power mode.
  • the aerosol generator 132 includes a heating filament and a wick. The wick draws e-liquid from the tank 106 and the heating filament heats the e-liquid to vaporise the e-liquid.
  • a user activates the smoking substitute system 100 by inhaling through the mouthpiece portion 136 as described above.
  • the controller 120 may supply electrical energy from the power source 118 to the aerosol generator 132 (via electrical interfaces 126, 130) in a first or second power mode, which may cause the aerosol generator 132 to heat e-liquid drawn from the tank 106 to produce a vapour which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece portion 136.
  • Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing a method performed by the controller 120. As shown in Fig. 3 , the method is performed in a loop.
  • the button press is a power change user input and, in response to the power change user input, at step S4 the controller 120 switches between the first and second power modes.
  • the controller 120 switches into the second power mode after the button press.
  • the controller 120 switches into the first power mode after the button press.
  • the controller only switches between the first and second power modes if the controller does not determine at step S1 that a user drawing an airflow through the system is detected.
  • the controller 120 determines at step S1 that a user drawing an airflow through the system is detected, in response to this determination, the controller 120 does not switch between the first and second power modes even if the user is pressing the button 142 on the device 102 in accordance with the power change user input.
  • the second power, supplied from the power supply 118 to the aerosol generator 132 in the second power mode is 7W.
  • power change feedback may be provided to the user with the light 116 and the haptic feedback element discussed above.
  • the colour emitted by the light may be blue when the controller switches from the first power mode to the second power mode, and white when the controller switches from the second power mode to the first power mode.
  • current feedback which indicates which power mode the controller is operating in may be provided to the user with the light 116 discussed above.
  • the colour emitted by the light may be blue when the controller is operating in the second power mode and white when the controller is operating in the first power mode.
  • the smoking substitute system 100 shown in figures 1A to 3 is just one exemplary implementation of a smoking substitute system.
  • the system could otherwise be in the form of an entirely disposable (single-use) system or an open system in which the tank is refillable (rather than replaceable).

Landscapes

  • Disinfection, Sterilisation Or Deodorisation Of Air (AREA)
  • Charge And Discharge Circuits For Batteries Or The Like (AREA)
EP23196058.4A 2023-09-07 2023-09-07 Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance Ceased EP4520205A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23196058.4A EP4520205A1 (fr) 2023-09-07 2023-09-07 Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance
CN202480057182.8A CN121793866A (zh) 2023-09-07 2024-08-21 有功率控制的气溶胶输送设备
PCT/EP2024/073502 WO2025051543A1 (fr) 2023-09-07 2024-08-21 Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol à commande de puissance

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP23196058.4A EP4520205A1 (fr) 2023-09-07 2023-09-07 Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4520205A1 true EP4520205A1 (fr) 2025-03-12

Family

ID=87971968

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP23196058.4A Ceased EP4520205A1 (fr) 2023-09-07 2023-09-07 Dispositif de distribution d'aérosol avec commande de puissance

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4520205A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN121793866A (fr)
WO (1) WO2025051543A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3711500A1 (fr) * 2019-03-22 2020-09-23 Nerudia Limited Système de substitution du tabac
US20220395028A1 (en) * 2020-02-07 2022-12-15 Kt&G Corporation Aerosol generating device
WO2023041448A1 (fr) * 2021-09-15 2023-03-23 Nerudia Limited Dispositif/système de distribution d'aérosol

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3711500A1 (fr) * 2019-03-22 2020-09-23 Nerudia Limited Système de substitution du tabac
US20220395028A1 (en) * 2020-02-07 2022-12-15 Kt&G Corporation Aerosol generating device
WO2023041448A1 (fr) * 2021-09-15 2023-03-23 Nerudia Limited Dispositif/système de distribution d'aérosol

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN121793866A (zh) 2026-04-03
WO2025051543A1 (fr) 2025-03-13

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