Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
  • A24F40/53—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
  • A24F40/20—Devices using solid inhalable precursors

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating apparatus.
• a typical aerosol generating apparatus may comprise a power supply, an aerosol generating unit that is driven by the power supply, an aerosol precursor, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit to generate an aerosol, and a delivery system for delivery of the aerosol to a user.
• a drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses arises from a poor control of the temperature to which the aerosol-generating material is heated when generating the aerosols for delivery to a user.
• the flavour and content of aerosols delivered to the user depends upon the temperature to which the aerosol-generating material is heated when generating the aerosols in question.
• a poor control of this temperature can result in a poor experience (e.g., compromised flavour) for the user.
• an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising:
• a temperature "of" the aerosol-generating material is calculated, as opposed to merely an inference or estimation of temperature information "for" the aerosol-generating material.
• information about a temperature for an aerosol-generating material may be estimated by calculating a temperature of the heater and, from that, inferring temperature information for adjacent aerosol-generating material.
• the controller may calculate a temperature "of” the aerosol-generating material at a location immediately adjacent to the heater and/or at a location spaced from the heater.
• the controller may be configured to control the amount of power supplied to the heater to control the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• the calculated temperature may be controlled to achieve, approximate or approach, a pre-set target temperature.
• the target temperature may be selected to be suitable for delivering an optimal experience to the user in terms of taste, flavour or contents of the aerosol delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material.
• the controller may comprise a processor configured to receive one or more input signals comprising/containing the values of the one or more temperatures determined by the temperature monitor, and to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm.
• a more appropriate amount of power may be provided to the heater according to a calculated temperature of the aerosol generating material as opposed to providing power in a manner controlled, as in some existing methodologies, merely to maintain a pre-set temperature profile of a heating element without regard to the actual temperature of the aerosol-generating material being heated by the heater.
• the present disclosure may provide an apparatus able to provide power to the heater in a manner controlled according to known thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material.
• the present disclosure may provide an apparatus able to provide power to the heater in a manner controlled according to known thermal properties of the aerosol-generating apparatus (i.e., component parts thereof).
• the temperature calculation algorithm may comprise a thermal network model (TNM) comprising parameters modelling one or more thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material and/or of the aerosol-generating apparatus, selected from: thermal resistance(s); thermal capacitance(s).
• TMM thermal network model
• the temperature calculation algorithm e.g., the thermal network model (TNM)
• TNM thermal network model
• the temperature monitor may be configured to determine at least one said value of temperature according to a respective measurement of temperature at a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus other than the heater.
• the temperature monitor may be configured to determine a value/measurement of temperature at any one or more of: the receptacle (or component parts thereof); a casing(s) of the aerosol-generating apparatus (e.g., an outer casing within which the receptacle is contained; an inner casing within which the receptacle is contained and which is contained by an outer casing).
• the temperature monitor may be configured to determine at least one said value of temperature according to a respective measurement of an ambient temperature outside of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the temperature monitor may comprise one or more separate temperature sensors located at, respectively, one or more separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus and configured to produce a respective temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature thereat.
• the controller may be configured to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm using each respective temperature sensor signal.
• the one or more separate temperature sensors may be located at one or more of the following separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus for producing a temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature thereat:
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may comprise an air flow sensor configured to produce an air flow sensor signal corresponding to a rate of air flow through the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the controller may be configured to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material using the air flow sensor signal, according to the temperature calculation algorithm, and to control the amount of power supplied to the heater from the power source based on the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material. Accordingly, the power delivered to the heater may be controlled according to whether or not air is determined to be flowing through the receptacle (e.g., through the aerosol-generating material) at all (i.e. the mere existence of a non-zero flow rate, such as when a user "puffs" on the apparatus), and may also be determined according to a value of the flow rate so determined.
• the receptacle may comprise an air inlet part for receiving a flow of air into the receptacle in response to a "puff", and an air outlet part for delivering the flow of air to a user. Aerosols generated by the aerosol-generating material within the receptacle may be entrained within the airflow for delivery to the user within the airflow.
• the air flow sensor may be configured to sense an air flow at the air inlet part and/or at the air outlet part, and may be positioned thereat accordingly.
• the controller may be configured to model changes in thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material in response to the air flow sensor signal, and to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material may be known to vary according to its temperature which can be expected to change according to the presence of (and speed of) an airflow through the aerosol-generating material.
• the amount of power delivered to the heater may be controlled to vary when the user takes a "puff" from the apparatus, and according to how long and strong that "puff' is, or according to how long the aerosol-generating material has been heated for (i.e., since an initial time of heating), or according to how much heat the aerosol-generating material has received (e.g., this will determine how much water or other substances have been depleted from the aerosol-generating material).
• the temperature calculation algorithm may be configured to describe (e.g., model) changes in thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material as a function of time, and the controller may be configured to use the temperature calculation algorithm to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the temperature control may be chosen to achieve, approximate or approach, a pre-set target temperature deemed to be suitable for delivering an optimal experience to the user in terms of taste, flavour or contents of the aerosol delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a mixture of distinct aerosol-generating materials, such as a mixture of different types and flavours of tobacco product or the like. These distinct aerosol-generating materials may be layered concentrically within the consumable.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may be configured for delivering an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material comprising a plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials whereby the thermal properties of any one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials differs from the thermal properties of any other one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials.
• the controller may be configured to model simultaneously a plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials as described by mutually distinct respective thermal properties, and to calculate a concurrent temperature of each component aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the distinct aerosol-generating materials may respond to temperature, and temperature changes, in different respective ways. Taking account of these differences allows the apparatus to more accurately determine the temperature of the overall mixture of the aerosol-generating material.
• the temperature monitor may comprise one or more temperature sensors disposed at selected locations about the aerosol-generating apparatus, such as would be readily apparent and available to the person of ordinary skill in the art.
• the temperature monitor be configured to provide a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater indirectly according to an ohmic heating of the heater by an electrical power (e.g., via an electrical current) delivered to it from the power source.
• the heater may be configured to generate an amount of heat for heating the aerosol-generating material according to an amount electrical power supplied from a power source and, in determining the temperature of a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus, the temperature monitor may be configured to determine a temperature of the heater according to an amount of electrical power supplied from the power source to the heater.
• the temperature monitor may indirectly sense the temperature of the heater.
• the temperature monitor may be configured to measure an electrical current delivered to the heater and/or an electrical voltage (i.e., potential difference) dropped across an electrical (current) input terminal and electrical (current) output terminal of the heater.
• the temperature monitor may comprise a processor configured to calculate a value of a temperature of the heater according to an ohmic heating algorithm such as would be readily apparent and available to the person of ordinary skill in the art.
• the heater, the temperature monitor and the controller may collectively define a feedback control loop, whereby the controller is configured to control the amount of power supplied to the heater from the power source contemporaneously according to the at least one temperature determined by the temperature monitor so as to reduce a difference between the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material and a pre-set target temperature value. Accordingly, values of the calculated temperature may be caused to converge towards the pre-set target temperature value.
• the controller may be configured to receive, as an input signal, a difference value corresponding to a difference between the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material and the pre-set target temperature value.
• the difference value may influence the power delivered to the heater which, in turn, may influence the heat delivered to the aerosol-generating material and to parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus to be sensed by the temperature monitor, which thereby influences the calculated temperature value (being an input to the temperature calculation algorithm) and, by a feedback loop, finally influences/updates the difference value subsequently generated.
• the controller may be configured to control an amount of power received by the heater from the power source by controlling an electrical power output by the power source to the heater.
• the heater may comprise a heating pin extending axially within the receptacle and configured for insertion axially into a body of aerosol-generating material when the body is inserted axially into the receptacle.
• the body of aerosol-generating material may comprise a body of tobacco material or substance within a sleeve (e.g., paper sleeve) of a "smoking stick".
• the heater may be responsive to receipt of electrical power from a power source by heating according to an ohmic heating process.
• the receptacle may be configured to hold a consumable (e.g., extractably insertable into the receptacle) comprising an aerosol-generating material.
• a consumable e.g., extractably insertable into the receptacle
• a "smoking stick" containing a solid precursor e.g., a tobacco material
• Other examples include, but are not limited to, a "pod” containing a liquid precursor.
• the consumable may be a detachable part of the apparatus (e.g., extractably insertable into the receptacle), and the temperature monitor may be configured to determine a value of one or more temperatures at, respectively, one or more parts of the consumable.
• the temperature monitor may comprise at least one separate temperature sensors located at, respectively, at least one separate parts of the consumable and configured to produce a respective temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature thereat.
• the controller may be configured to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm using each respective temperature sensor signal.
• the receptacle may be a non-detachable part of the apparatus that contains the aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol-generating apparatus may be a disposable apparatus containing an aerosol-generating material which is not intended to be replenished by detachment of a consumed consumable and replacement with a replacement consumable containing aerosol-generating material.
• the present disclosure may provide a method of generating an aerosol, which may implement any one or more features disclosed herein. Accordingly, in a second aspect, the present disclosure may provide an aerosol-generating method for an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a receptacle, a heater, a temperature monitor and a controller, the method comprising:
• the method may comprise, by the temperature monitor, determining at least one said value of temperature according to a respective measurement of temperature at a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus other than the heater.
• the method may comprise, by the temperature monitor of the aerosol-generating apparatus, determining at least one said value of temperature according to a respective measurement of an ambient temperature outside of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the method may comprise, by the temperature monitor, determining the temperature, respectively, at one or more separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus and calculating the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm using each respective temperature so determined.
• the method may comprise, by the temperature monitor, determining the temperature, respectively, at one or more of the following separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus: the heater; a wall of the receptacle; an external surface of the aerosol-generating apparatus for determining an ambient temperature outside of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the method may comprise providing an air flow sensor and therewith producing an air flow sensor signal corresponding to a rate of air flow through the aerosol-generating apparatus and, by the controller, calculating the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to said temperature calculation algorithm using the air flow sensor signal, and controlling the amount of power supplied to the heater from the power source based on the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• the method may comprise, by the controller, modelling changes in thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material in response to the air flow sensor signal, and calculating the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the temperature control algorithm may be configured to describe changes in thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material as a function of time, and method may comprise, by the controller using the temperature control algorithm, calculating the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the method may comprise delivering an aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating material comprising a plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials whereby the thermal properties of any one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials differs from the thermal properties of any other one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials, wherein the method comprises, by the controller, modelling simultaneously the thermal properties of a plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials as described by mutually distinct respective thermal properties, and calculating the concurrent temperature of each component aerosol-generating material according to the changes in the thermal properties thereof.
• the method may comprise, by the heater, generating an amount of heat for heating the aerosol-generating material according to an amount electrical power supplied from a power source and, in determining said temperature of a part of the aerosol-generating apparatus, by the temperature monitor, determining a temperature of the heater according to an amount of electrical power supplied from the power source to the heater.
• the method may comprise, by the controller, controlling an amount of power received by the heater from the power source by controlling an electrical power output by the power source to the heater.
• the temperature calculation algorithm of the method may comprise a thermal network model (TNM) comprising parameters modelling one or more thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material selected from: thermal resistance(s); thermal capacitance(s).
• TMM thermal network model
• the method may comprise, by the receptacle, holding a detachable consumable comprising an aerosol-generating material.
• the consumable may comprise a detachable part of the apparatus and the method may comprise, by the temperature monitor, determining at least one temperature at, respectively, at least one part of the consumable.
• the temperature monitor may comprise one or more separate temperature sensors located at, respectively, one or more separate parts of the consumable and the method may comprise therewith producing a respective temperature sensor signal corresponding to a temperature thereat and, by the controller, calculating the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm using each respective temperature sensor signal.
• the receptacle may be a non-detachable part of the apparatus and may contain the aerosol-generating material.
• the present disclosure may provide electrical circuitry and/or a computer program configured to cause an aerosol generating apparatus/system to perform any method or method step disclosed herein.
• a computer readable medium comprising the computer program is also disclosed.
• the invention may provide a computer program for an aerosol-generating apparatus as disclosed above, the controller thereof comprising a computer and the computer program being configured, when executed by the computer, to implement a method as disclosed above.
• the present disclosure may provide a computer program for an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a receptacle, a heater, a temperature monitor and a controller, the computer program being configured, when executed by a computer, to implement a method comprising: calculating a temperature of an aerosol-generating material when held within the receptacle, according to a temperature calculation algorithm using at least one temperature of at least one part of the aerosol-generating apparatus as determined by the temperature monitor; and, controlling an amount of power supplied to the heater from a power source based on the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material, for heating the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user.
• an "aerosol generating apparatus” may be an apparatus configured to deliver an aerosol to a user for inhalation by the user.
• the apparatus may additionally/alternatively be referred to as a “smoking substitute apparatus", if it is intended to be used instead of a conventional combustible smoking article.
• a combustible “smoking article” may refer to a cigarette, cigar, pipe or other article, that produces smoke (an aerosol comprising solid particulates and gas) via heating above the thermal decomposition temperature (typically by combustion and/or pyrolysis).
• An aerosol generated by the apparatus may comprise an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.2 - 7 microns, or less than 10 microns, or less than 7 microns. This particle size may be achieved by control of one or more of: heater temperature; cooling rate as the vapour condenses to an aerosol; flow properties including turbulence and velocity.
• the generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating apparatus may be controlled by an input device.
• the input device may be configured to be user-activated, and may for example include or take the form of an actuator (e.g. actuation button) and/or an airflow sensor.
• Each occurrence of the aerosol generating apparatus being caused to generate aerosol for a period of time may be referred to as an "activation" of the aerosol generating apparatus.
• the aerosol generating apparatus may be arranged to allow an amount of aerosol delivered to a user to be varied per activation (as opposed to delivering a fixed dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating an aerosol generating unit of the apparatus for a variable amount of time, e.g. based on the strength/duration of a draw of a user through a flow path of the apparatus (to replicate an effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article).
• a " puff” (or “ inhale “ or “ draw ”) by a user may refer to expansion of lungs and/or oral cavity of a user to create a pressure reduction that induces flow through the flow path.
• an " aerosol generating unit" may refer to a device configured to generate an aerosol from a precursor.
• the aerosol generating unit may include a unit to generate a vapour directly from the precursor (e.g. a heating system or other system) or an aerosol directly from the precursor (e.g. an atomiser including an ultrasonic system, a flow expansion system operative to carry droplets of the precursor in the flow without using electrical energy or other system).
• a plurality of aerosol generating units to generate a plurality of aerosols may be present in an aerosol generating apparatus.
• a " consumable" may refer to a unit that includes a precursor.
• the consumable may include an aerosol generating unit, e.g. it may be arranged as a cartomizer.
• the consumable may include a mouthpiece.
• the consumable may include an information carrying medium.
• liquid or gel implementations of the precursor e.g. an e-liquid
• the consumable may be referred to as a "capsule” or a "pod” or an "e-liquid consumable”.
• the capsule/pod may include a storage portion, e.g. a reservoir or tank, for storage of the precursor.
• solid material implementations of the precursor e.g.
• electrical circuitry may refer to one or more electrical components, examples of which may include: an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC); electronic/electrical componentry (which may include combinations of transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors etc); one or more processors; a non-transitory memory (e.g. implemented by one or more memory devices), that may store one or more software or firmware programs; a combinational logic circuit; interconnection of the aforesaid.
• the electrical circuitry may be located entirely at the apparatus, or distributed between the apparatus and/or on one or more external devices in communication with the apparatus, e.g. as part of a system.
• a "processing resource” may refer to one or more units for processing data, examples of which may include an ASIC, microcontroller, FPGA, microprocessor, digital signal processor (DSP) capability, state machine or other suitable component.
• a processing resource may be configured to execute a computer program, e.g. which may take the form of machine readable instructions, which may be stored on a non-transitory memory and/or programmable logic.
• the processing resource may have various arrangements corresponding to those discussed for the circuitry, e.g. on-board and/or off board the apparatus as part of the system.
• any machine executable instructions, or computer readable media may be configured to cause a disclosed method to be carried out, e.g. by a aerosol generating apparatus or system as disclosed herein, and may therefore be used synonymously with the term method.
• an “external device” may include one or more electronic components external to an aerosol generating apparatus. Those components may be arranged at the same location as the aerosol generating apparatus or remote from the apparatus.
• An external device may comprise electronic computer devices including: a smartphone; a PDA; a video game controller; a tablet; a laptop; or other like device.
• a "computer readable medium/media” may include any medium capable of storing a computer program, and may take the form of any conventional non-transitory memory, for example one or more of: random access memory (RAM); a CD; a hard drive; a solid state drive; a memory card; a DVD.
• RAM random access memory
• the memory may have various arrangements corresponding to those discussed for the circuitry /processor.
• the present disclosure includes a computer readable medium configured to cause an apparatus or system disclosed herein to perform a method as disclosed herein.
• a " communication resource " may refer to hardware and/or firmware for electronic information/data transfer.
• the communication resource may be configured for wired communication ("wired communication resources") or wireless communication ("wireless communication resource”).
• Wireless communication resources may include hardware to transmit and receive signals by radio and may include various protocol implementations e.g. the 802.11 standard described in the Institute of Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and Bluetooth TM from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group of Kirkland Wash.
• Wired communication resources may include; Universal Serial Bus (USB); High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) or other protocol implementations.
• the apparatus may include communication resources for wired or wireless communication with an external device.
• any of the disclosed methods may be carried out by either a host or client, depending on the specific implementation (i.e. the disclosed methods/apparatuses are a form of communication(s), and as such, may be carried out from either 'point of view', i.e. in corresponding to each other fashion).
• the terms “receiving” and “transmitting” encompass “inputting” and “outputting” and are not limited to an RF context of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic (e.g. radio) waves.
• a chip or other device or component for realizing embodiments could generate data for output to another chip, device or component, or have as an input data from another chip, device, or component, and such an output or input could be referred to as "transmit” and “receive” including gerund forms, that is, “transmitting” and “receiving,” as well as such “transmitting” and “receiving” within an RF context.
• an example aerosol generating apparatus 1 includes a power supply 2, for supply of electrical energy.
• the apparatus 1 includes an aerosol generating unit 4 that is driven by the power supply 2.
• the power supply 2 may include an electric power supply in the form of a battery and/or an electrical connection to an external power source.
• the apparatus 1 includes a precursor 6, which in use is aerosolised by the aerosol generating unit 4 to generate an aerosol.
• the apparatus 2 includes a delivery system 8 for delivery of the aerosol to a user. Electrical circuitry (not shown in figure 1 ) may be implemented to control the interoperability of the power supply 4 and aerosol generating unit 6.
• the power supply 2 may be omitted since, e.g. an aerosol generating unit implemented as an atomiser with flow expansion may not require a power supply.
• Fig. 2 shows an implementation of the apparatus 1 of Fig. 1 , where the aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to generate aerosol from a liquid precursor.
• the apparatus 1 includes a device body 10 and a consumable 30.
• the body 10 includes the power supply 4.
• the body may additionally include any one or more of electrical circuitry 12, a memory 14, a wireless interface 16, one or more other components 18.
• the electrical circuitry 12 may include a processing resource for controlling one or more operations of the body 10 and consumable 30, e.g. based on instructions stored in the memory 14.
• the wireless interface 16 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with an external (e.g. mobile) device, e.g. via Bluetooth.
• the other component(s) 18 may include one or more user interface devices configured to convey information to a user and/or a charging port, for example (see e.g. Fig. 3 ).
• the consumable 30 includes a storage portion implemented here as a tank 32 which stores the liquid precursor 6 (e.g. e-liquid).
• the consumable 30 also includes a heating system 34, one or more air inlets 36, and a mouthpiece 38.
• the consumable 30 may include one or more other components 40.
• the body 10 and consumable 30 may each include a respective electrical interface (not shown) to provide an electrical connection between one or more components of the body 10 with one or more components of the consumable 30. In this way, electrical power can be supplied to components (e.g. the heating system 34) of the consumable 30, without the consumable 30 needing to have its own power supply.
• a respective electrical interface not shown
• a user may activate the aerosol generating apparatus 1 when inhaling through the mouthpiece 38, i.e. when performing a puff.
• the puff performed by the user, may initiate a flow through a flow path in the consumable 30 which extends from the air inlet(s) 34 to the mouthpiece 38 via a region in proximity to the heating system 34.
• Activation of the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be initiated, for example, by an airflow sensor in the body 10 which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the mouthpiece), or by actuation of an actuator included in the body 10.
• the electrical circuitry 12 e.g. under control of the processing resource
• the heating system 34 may cause the heating system 32 to heat liquid precursor 6 drawn from the tank to produce an aerosol which is carried by the flow out of the mouthpiece 38.
• the heating system 34 may include a heating filament and a wick, wherein a first portion of the wick extends into the tank 32 in order to draw liquid precursor 6 out from the tank 32, wherein the heating filament coils around a second portion of the wick located outside the tank 32.
• the heating filament may be configured to heat up liquid precursor 6 drawn out of the tank 32 by the wick to produce the aerosol.
• the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 34 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece 38.
• the body 10 and the consumable 30 are configured to be physically coupled together by pushing the consumable 30 into an aperture in a top end 11 the body 10, with the consumable 30 being retained in the aperture via an interference fit.
• the body 10 and the consumable 30 could be physically coupled together in other ways, e.g. by screwing one onto the other, through a bayonet fitting, or through a snap engagement mechanism, for example.
• the body 10 also includes a charging port (not shown) at a bottom end 13 of the body 10.
• the body 10 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user.
• the user interface device is implemented as a light 15, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated.
• Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
• the consumable 30 has an opaque cap 31, a translucent tank 32 and a translucent window 33.
• the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10 as shown in Fig. 3A , only the cap 31 and window 33 can be seen, with the tank 32 being obscured from view by the body 10.
• the body 10 includes a slot 15 to accommodate the window 33.
• the window 33 is configured to allow the amount of liquid precursor 6 in the tank 32 to be visually assessed, even when the consumable 30 is physically coupled to the body 10.
• the at least one heating element 54 is a rod-shaped element with a circular transverse profile.
• Other heating element shapes are possible, e.g. the at least one heating element may be blade-shaped (with a rectangular transverse profile) or tube-shaped (e.g. with a hollow transverse profile).
• the body 50 includes a cap 51. In use the cap 51 is engaged at a top end 53 of the body 50. Although not apparent from Fig. 5 , the cap 51 is moveable relative to the body 50. In particular, the cap 51 is slidable and can slide along a longitudinal axis of the body 50.
• the body 50 also includes an actuator 55 on an outer surface of the body 50. In this example, the actuator 55 has the form of a button.
• the body 50 also includes a user interface device configured to convey information to a user.
• the user interface device is implemented as a plurality of lights 57, which may e.g. be configured to illuminate when the apparatus 1 is activated and/or to indicate a charging state of the power supply 4.
• Other user interface devices are possible, e.g. to convey information haptically or audibly to a user.
• the body may also include an airflow sensor which detects airflow in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 (e.g. caused by a user inhaling through the consumable 70). This may be used to count puffs, for example.
• the consumable 70 includes a flow path which transmits aerosol generated by the at least one heating element 54 to the mouthpiece of the consumable.
• the aerosol generating unit 4 is provided by the above-described heating system 52 and the delivery system 8 is provided by the above-described flow path and mouthpiece of the consumable 70.
• Fig. 6 shows an example system 80 for managing an aerosol generating apparatus 1, such as those described above with reference to any of Figs. 1-5 .
• the system 80 as shown in Fig. 1 includes a mobile device 82, an application server 84, an optional charging station 86, as well as the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
• aerosol generating apparatus 1 is configured to communicate wirelessly, e.g. via Bluetooth TM , with an application (or "app") installed on the mobile device 2, via a wireless interface included in the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and via a wireless interface included in the mobile device 82.
• the mobile device 82 may be a mobile phone, for example.
• the application on the mobile phone is configured to communicate with the application server 84, via a network 88.
• the application server 84 may utilise cloud storage, for example.
• the network 88 may include a cellular network and/or the internet.
• the aerosol generating apparatus 1 may be configured to communicate with the application server 84 via a connection that does not involve the mobile device 82, e.g. via a narrowband internet of things ("NB-loT") or satellite connection.
• the mobile device 82 may be omitted from the system 80.
• the mobile device 82 may be configured to communicate via the network 88 according to various communication channels, preferably a wireless communication channel such as via a cellular network (e.g. according to a standard protocol, such as 3G or 4G) or via a WiFi network.
• the app installed on the mobile device 82 and the application server 84 may be configured to assist a user with managing their aerosol generating apparatus 1, based on information communicated between the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and the app, information communicated directly between the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and the application server 84, and/or information communicated between the app and the application server 84.
• the charging station 86 may be configured to charge (and optionally communicate with) the aerosol generating apparatus 1, via a charging port on the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
• the charging port on the smoking substitute device 10 may be a USB port, for example, which may allow the aerosol generating apparatus 1 to be charged by any USB-compatible device capable of delivering power to the aerosol generating apparatus 1 via a suitable USB cable (in this case the USB-compatible device would be acting as the charging station 86).
• the charging station could be a docking station specifically configured to dock with the aerosol generating apparatus 1 and charge the aerosol generating apparatus 1via the charging port on the aerosol generating apparatus 1.
• an aerosol generating apparatus 100 which may be implemented in any of the preceding examples, comprises an aerosol-generating device having a receptacle 106 configured to hold an aerosol-generating material 112.
• the device includes a heater 114 configured to receive power supplied from a power source 118 to heat the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol for delivery to a user.
• a temperature monitor 132 comprising two temperature sensors (120, 114/132) is configured to determine the temperature at, respectively, two separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the apparatus includes a controller 116 configured to calculate a temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to a temperature calculation algorithm 117A using the two temperatures determined by the temperature monitor. An amount of power supplied to the heater from the power source is controlled, by the controller, based on the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• an aerosol generating apparatus 101 which may be implemented in any of the preceding examples, comprises all of the features of the apparatus of Fig. 7A with the addition of a third temperature sensor 124 and an air-flow sensor unit 126.
• the temperature monitor 132 is configured to determine the temperature at, respectively, three separate parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus.
• the controller 116 is configured to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material 112 according to a temperature calculation algorithm 117B using the three temperatures determined by the temperature monitor and using the rate of air flow measured by the air-flow sensor, and to control the amount of power supplied to the heater from the power source based on the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• the aerosol generating apparatus (100, 101) comprises an outermost housing 102 within which is housed an inner casing 104 which is in physical contact with the outer housing at a contact interface therebetween.
• the inner casing 104 contains the receptacle 106 which comprises a cylindrical tubular body defining a cylindrical bore extending axially from an air-flow inlet port 128 at one axial end of the receptacle, to an air-flow outlet port 129 at an opposite axial end thereof.
• a linear heater pin 114 extends axially along the centre of the inner cylindrical space of the receptacle from the air-flow inlet port in a direction towards the air-flow outlet port.
• a consumable 108 such as a smoking stick, comprises a cylindrical volume 112 of an aerosol-generating precursor material such as tobacco, terminated by a filter part 110 acting as a mouthpiece for a user, both of which are encased in a paper sleeve.
• the cylindrical diameter of the consumable is dimensioned to closely match the diameter of the bore of the receptacle such that the outer surface of the sleeve of the consumable makes a close, sliding contact with the surface of the bore of the receptacle when the former is inserted into the latter, in use, along substantially all parts of the outer surface of the sleeve that are within the bore.
• the heating pin 114 is arranged to be inserted into the cylindrical volume 112 of an aerosol-generating precursor material when the consumable 108 is inserted into the receptacle. In this position, the heater pin is able to heat the aerosol-generating material from within the consumable so as to cause the generation aerosols for delivery to the user as entrained in a flow of air 130 from the air-flow inlet port 128, through the aerosol-generating material 134, into the filter part 136 and out 138 through the filter part, via the air-flow outlet port 129, in response to a "puff" on the filter part 110 of the consumable by the user in use.
• the length of the cylindrical volume 112 of aerosol-generating precursor material is dimensioned such that, when the consumable 108 is fully inserted into the receptacle, those parts of the heating pin 114 that extend along the bore of the receptacle also extend along a majority of the length of the cylindrical volume of aerosol-generating precursor material without collision with the terminal filter part 110 internally.
• heat generated by the heating pin 114 passes from the heater pin along heat flow paths that pass into the aerosol-generating material and into the surrounding parts of the aerosol-generating apparatus, and beyond, according to a heat flow rate that is sensitive to the distribution of heat along the heat flow path. Changes in the temperature or heat flow rate at any one part of such a heat flow path will influence the temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• heat from the heating pin 114 is conducted 139 and radiated 146 through the aerosol-generating material 112 and the sleeve 113 surrounding it.
• An onward flow of heat from the receptacle passes across an air gap 105 formed between the receptacle and the inner casing surrounding it, by processes of radiation 146 and convection 140.
• the flow of heat passes, by a process of heat conduction, through the walls of the inner casing 104, thence into and through the walls of the outer housing 102 that are in physical contact with the inner casing and, finally, radiates 144 away from the apparatus.
• Temperature sensors (120, 124, 132/114) are provided at a surface of the receptacle for taking temperature measurements there, at an outer surface of the outermost housing 102 (in some examples) for taking measurements of the ambient temperature immediately outside the apparatus at the outermost surface of the apparatus, and by an algorithm implemented by the temperature monitor 132 for indirectly determining the temperature of the heater pin.
• the heating pin is configured to generate an amount of heat according to an amount of electrical power supplied from the power source 118.
• the temperature monitor 132 is provided with an ohmic heating algorithm configured for indirectly sensing/calculating the temperature of the heating pin according to an ohmic heating of the heater by an electrical current delivered to it from the power source 118.
• the temperature monitor 132 is thereby configured to determine a temperature of the heater according to an amount of electrical power supplied from the power source to the heater.
• the temperature monitor 132 comprises a processor (not shown) configured to calculate a value of a temperature of the heater according to an ohmic heating algorithm such as would be readily apparent and available to the person of ordinary skill in the art.
• the temperature monitor 132 is configured to measure an electrical current delivered to the heating pin 114 and/or an electrical voltage (i.e., potential difference) dropped across an electrical (current) input terminal and electrical (current) output terminal of the heating pin, and to use the measurement(s) as inputs to the ohmic heating algorithm for calculating a temperature value of the heating pin.
• the controller 116 is configured to control the amount of power supplied to the heating pin to control the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material is controlled to achieve, approximate or approach, a pre-set target temperature.
• the target temperature is, in some examples, selected to be suitable for delivering an optimal experience to the user in terms of taste, flavour or contents of the aerosol delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material.
• the controller comprises a processor (not shown) configured to receive one or more input signals comprising/containing the values of the one or more temperatures determined by the temperature monitor 132, and to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm 117A (or 117B).
• Fig. 9 shows a feedback control loop defined by the heating pin 114, the temperature monitor 126 and the controller 116 (implementing the temperature calculation algorithm 117A/B).
• the controller controls the amount of power 119 (voltage/current) supplied to the heating pin 114 from the power source 118 contemporaneously according to the temperatures determined by the temperature monitor 132, which serve as inputs to the temperature calculation algorithm 117, so as to reduce a difference 120 between the calculated temperature 128 ("calculated stick temperature") of the aerosol-generating material (e.g. within a consumable such as a "smoking stick”) and a pre-set target temperature value 122 ("stick temperature setpoint").
• the controller receives, as an input signal, a difference value 120 corresponding to a difference between the calculated temperature 128 of the aerosol-generating material and the pre-set target temperature value 122. Accordingly, values of the calculated temperature 128 may be caused to converge towards the pre-set target temperature value 122.
• the temperature calculation algorithm comprises a thermal network model (TNM) comprising parameters modelling thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material and of the aerosol-generating apparatus, such as is shown in the example of Fig. 10 .
• TMM thermal network model
• This thermal network model (TNM) comprising parameters modelling thermal properties in terms of thermal resistance and thermal capacitance of:
• the heating pin of thermal capacitance C_1 receives a flow of input heat Q in and has a measured temperature modelled as temperature parameter T_1.
• An aerosol-generating tobacco material is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_2 which receives a flow of heat from the heating pin via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_1 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R_rad_1.
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_2.
• the cooling effect of an air-flow through this material (cause by a user inhaling air) is modelled by the heat out-flow quantity -Q puff_A .
• a sleeve of the smoking stick is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_3 which receives a flow of heat from the tobacco via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_2 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R_rad_2.
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_3.
• a wall of the receptacle (chamber) of the apparatus is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_4 which receives a flow of heat from the stick sleeve via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_3 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R_rad_3.
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_4.
• An air gap between the receptacle wall (chamber wall) of the apparatus and its inner casing has a temperature parameter variable of T_5 and is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_5 which receives a flow of heat from the receptacle wall via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_4.
• a wall of the inner casing of the apparatus (second chamber wall) of the apparatus and its inner casing is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_6 which receives a flow of heat from the receptacle wall (chamber wall) via a convective heat flow path of thermal resistance R_5.
• the wall of the inner casing also receives a flow of heat from the receptacle wall (chamber wall) via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R_rad_4 extends in parallel to this convective heat flow path and leads from the receptacle wall (chamber wall) to the thermal capacitance node C_6 corresponding to the inner casing which has a temperature parameter variable of T_6.
• a wall of the housing of the apparatus is modelled as a thermal capacitance variable C_7 which receives a flow of heat from the inner casing of the apparatus (second chamber wall) via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_6.
• the ambient environment immediately surrounding the apparatus is modelled as receiving (or providing) a flow of heat from (or to) the housing of the apparatus of the apparatus via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R_7.
• ⁇ Q is an amount of heat flow (Watts) required to raise the temperature of the mass by an amnount ⁇ T .
• a thermal network method is based on the similarity between the diffusion equation for thermal engineering and that for electrical engineering, and it is found that the analogous quantities are voltage(V)/temperature(T) and current(I)/heat flow(Q).
• the following equations can be written as examples based on heat flow conservation for a nodal point representing to a mass of thermal capacitance C 1 at which the temperature is T 1 :
• a heat flow Q 1 passes along a heat flow path of thermal resistance R 1 into a body of thermal capacitance C 1 having a temperature T 1 .
• a heat flow Q 2 passes out from the body of thermal capacitance C 1 along a heat flow path of thermal resistance R 2 towards a point at a temperature T 2 .
• Fig. 12C shows an example of, in effect, two circuits of the type shown in Fig. 12B connected in series defining four nodal points.
• Two nodal points in this circuit represent two respective masses of thermal capacitance C 1 and C 2 at which the temperatures are, respectively, T C 1 and T C 2 .
• a heat flow of Q 1 passes into the network at point having temperature T A , and onward heat flow in to, between and out from the two masses occurs via heat flow paths of thermal resistances R 1 , R 2 and R 3 respectively, to a point in the network having temperature T B .
• T T C 1 T C 2
• U T A Q in ⁇ Q out T B
• the quantity y is the output vector
• the quantity C is the output matrix of values related to state vector U.
• the quantity D is known as the 'direct transition matrix' and, in this example it is zero-valued.
• Fig. 12A shows a diagramatic representation of a process for the creation of these matrix equations using the matrices A, B, C and D.
• An initial solution 142 to eq.(1) yields an initial estimate of the state vector, T , and by a feed-back process 140, this initial value is multiplied by the state matrix and an updated solution 142 to eq.(1) yields an updated estimate of the state vector, T, which ultimately converges upon a stable solution giving a stable output vector, y.
• a discrete time-integration of a state space model provides output predictions.
• the temperature calculation algorithm comprises a thermal network model (TNM) as illustrated in Fig. 10 which results in matrices A, B, C and D as shown in Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 .
• TPM thermal network model
• An outflow of heat at a given node due to the cooling effect of a user inhaling a ⁇ puff' may be represented by addition of a term -Q puff to the appropriate matrix element.
• the TNM illustrated in Fig. 10 is configured to model changes in thermal properties of the aerosol-generating material in response to the air flow sensor signal, as an outflow of heat (- Q puff ) at the node of the network representing the aerosol-generating material 134 due to the cooling effect of the sensed airflow.
• the controller may vary the magnitude of the quantity Q puff according to (e.g., in proportion to, or a more complex relation as appropriate) the magnitude of the rate of air flow as sensed by the air-flow sensor to the appropriate matrix element.
• the aerosol-generating material may comprise a mixture of distinct aerosol-generating materials, such as a mixture of different types and flavours of tobacco product or the like. These distinct aerosol-generating materials may be layered concentrically within the consumable. In these circumstances, the thermal properties of any one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials will generally differ from the thermal properties of any other one of the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials.
• the controller may then employ a TNM model describing simultaneously the plurality of distinct component aerosol-generating materials. This may be done as illustrated in Fig. 11 in which the mutually distinct respective thermal properties of the tobacco materials is incorporated as comprising its own separate respective node in the TNM.
• a first tobacco has a thermal capacitance variable of C _2_ P 1 , and received a flow of heat from the heating pin via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R _ 1_ P 1 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R _ rad_ 1_ P 1 .
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_2A.
• the cooling effect of an air-flow through this material (cause by a user inhaling air) is modelled by the heat out-flow quantity -Q puff_A .
• a second tobacco has a thermal capacitance variable of C _2_ P 2 , and received a flow of heat from the first tobacco via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R _1_ P 2 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R _ rad_ 1_ P 2 .
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_2B.
• the cooling effect of an air-flow through this material (cause by a user inhaling air) is modelled by the heat out-flow quantity - Q puff_B .
• a third tobacco has a thermal capacitance variable of C _2_ P 3 , and received a flow of heat from the second tobacco via a conductive heat flow path of thermal resistance R _ 1_ P 3 and via a radiative heat flow path of thermal resistance R _ rad_ 1_ P 3 .
• the conductive heat flow path and the radiative heat flow path are parallel paths each leading to the thermal capacitance node which has a temperature parameter variable of T_2C.
• the cooling effect of an air-flow through this material (cause by a user inhaling air) is modelled by the heat out-flow quantity - Q puff _ C .
• the controller calculates a concurrent temperature (T_2A, T_2B, T_2C) of each component tobacco material accordingly.
• the distinct tobacco materials will generally respond to temperature, and temperature changes, in different respective ways and may therefore be described by individual respective thermal parameter values of thermal resistance and thermal capacitance. Taking account of these differences allows the apparatus to more accurately determine the temperature of the overall mixture of the aerosol-generating material, and the amount of power to deliver to the heater pin to achieve a desired temperature of the mixture and its component parts.
• the controller may store data defining a set of values for the thermal resistance of the tobacco of a consumable, and/or a set of values for the thermal capacitance of the tobacco of the consumable, which describe how the thermal capacitance or resistance changes as a function of the temperature of the tobacco in question, over a pre-set range of temperatures likely to be encountered when consuming the tobacco in the normal use of the apparatus.
• the controller may be configured to employ in the TMN a particular value for the thermal parameter, selected from the set of values, representing the thermal capacitance or thermal resistance representing the tobacco which is selected according to the calculated temperature of the tobacco at hand.
• different value may be selected at different times as the calculated temperature of the tobacco changes overtime (e.g., as function of time and/or after a puff.
• tobacco may dry during smoking, and the thermal conductivity of it will decrease (thermal resistance increases) both due to less moisture being present and the increase in voids present within the tobacco product.
• the structure of the TNM is not changed by the selection of a given thermal parameter value from the pre-stored set of values, but the subsequently-calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material 134 will change.
• the controller may be configured to re-calculate a temperature of the aerosol-generating material 134 in response to the new selection of a given thermal parameter value from the pre-stored set of values so as to update the calculated temperature value predicted by the TNM.
• the appropriate values of the thermal parameters of the pre-stored set of values may be determined or obtained separately as desired, and stored in the controller.
• the controller thereby controls the amount of power supplied to the heating pin 114 to control the calculated temperature of the aerosol-generating material 112.
• the calculated temperature is controlled to achieve, approximate or approach, a pre-set target temperature selected to be suitable for delivering an optimal experience to the user in terms of taste, flavour or contents of the aerosol delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material.
• the controller 116 comprises a processor configured to receive input signals comprising/containing the values of the one or more temperatures determined by the temperature monitor, and to calculate the temperature of the aerosol-generating material according to the temperature calculation algorithm implementing the TNM described herein.
• the pre-set target temperature may be selected by the controller according to pre-set temperature profile stored within the controller.
• the pre-set temperature profile may comprise a plurality of pre-set target temperature values which describe a variety of target temperatures, or variation in a target temperature.
• the pre-set target temperature value may be selected from this profile, by the controller, according to a type of aerosol-generating material (e.g., tobacco) being consumed and/or according to a time elapsed since consumption of the aerosol-generating material commenced, or according to a temperature of the aerosol-generating material.
• a type of aerosol-generating material e.g., tobacco
• an aerosol-generating method for an aerosol-generating apparatus comprising a receptacle, a heater, a temperature monitor and a controller, the method comprising:
• the controller comprises a computer processor containing a computer program configured, when executed by a computer processor, to implement a method described above.

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• 2024
  • 2024-04-18 EP EP24171133.2A patent/EP4635338A1/de active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-04-02 WO PCT/EP2025/059007 patent/WO2025219089A1/en active Pending

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