Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM
Field
The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems such as, but not
limited to,
nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).
Background
Electronic aerosol provision systems often employ an electronic cigarette (e-
cigarette) or
more generally an aerosol provision device. Such an aerosol provision system
typically
contains aerosolisable material (also called aerosol-generating material),
such as a reservoir
of fluid or liquid containing a formulation, typically but not necessarily
including nicotine, or a
solid material such as a tobacco-based product, from which a vapour/aerosol is
generated
for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation. Thus, an
aerosol provision
system will typically comprise a vaporiser (also called an aerosol generator),
e.g. a heating
element, arranged to aerosolise a portion of aerosolisable material to
generate a vapour.
Once a vapour has been generated, the vapour may be passed through flavouring
material
to add flavour to the vapour (if the aerosolisable material was not itself
flavoured), after
which the (flavoured) vapour may be then delivered to a user via a mouthpiece
from the
aerosol provision system.
A potential drawback of a number of existing aerosol provision systems and
associated
aerosol provision devices is in respect of their inability to provide
appropriate feedback to the
user whilst the aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol. Various
approaches are
therefore described herein which seek to help address or mitigate some of
these issues,
through the use of a feedback portion which can provide user feedback
depending on how
the aerosol provision system is being operated, whilst the aerosol provision
system is
generating an aerosol.
Summary
According to a first aspect of certain embodiments there is provided an
aerosol provision
system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol provision system comprising:
a feedback portion for providing feedback to a user of the aerosol provision
system,
wherein the feedback portion is configured to provide first feedback whilst
the aerosol
provision system is generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation, and
wherein the
feedback portion is configured to not provide the first feedback whilst the
aerosol provision
system is generating an aerosol in a second mode of operation which is
different from the
first mode of operation.
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According to a second aspect of certain embodiments there is provided a method
of
providing feedback to a user of an aerosol provision system for generating an
aerosol, the
method comprising:
providing first feedback from a feedback portion whilst the aerosol provision
system
is generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation; and
not providing the first feedback whilst the aerosol provision system is
generating an
aerosol in a second mode of operation which is different from the first mode
of operation.
It will be appreciated that features and aspects of the invention described
above in relation to
the various aspects of the invention are equally applicable to, and may be
combined with,
embodiments of the invention according to other aspects of the invention as
appropriate, and
not just in the specific combinations described herein.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only,
with reference
to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 schematically represents in perspective view an aerosol provision
system
comprising a cartridge and aerosol provision device (shown separated) in
accordance with
certain embodiments of the disclosure;
Figure 2 schematically represents in exploded perspective view of components
of the
cartridge of the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;
Figures 3A to 3C schematically represent various cross-section views of a
housing part of
the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;
Figures 4A and 4B schematically represent a perspective view and a plan view
of a dividing
wall element of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;
Figures 5A to 5C schematically represent two perspective views and a plan view
of a
resilient plug of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;
Figures 6A and 6B schematically represent a perspective view and a plan view
of a bottom
cap of the cartridge of the aerosol provision system of Figure 1;
Figure 7 schematically represents embodiments of aerosol provision system,
useable with
an aerosol provision system such as that shown in Figures 1-6B, and comprising
a feedback
portion configured to provide respective different feedback whilst the aerosol
provision
system is generating an aerosol in respective different modes of operation, in
accordance
with certain embodiments of the disclosure;
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Figure 8A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system
where the
feedback portion provides first, haptic, feedback whilst the aerosol provision
system is
generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation, in accordance with certain
embodiments
of the disclosure;
Figure 8B schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system
where the
feedback portion provides second, haptic, feedback whilst the aerosol
provision system is
generating an aerosol in a second mode of operation, in accordance with
certain
embodiments of the disclosure;
Figure 9A schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system
where the
feedback portion provides first, visual, feedback whilst the aerosol provision
system is
generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation, in accordance with certain
embodiments
of the disclosure; and
Figure 9B schematically represents an embodiment of aerosol provision system
where the
feedback portion provides second, visual, feedback whilst the aerosol
provision system is
generating an aerosol in a second mode of operation, in accordance with
certain
embodiments of the disclosure.
Detailed Description
Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed /
described
herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be
implemented conventionally and these are not discussed / 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.
The present disclosure relates to non-combustible aerosol provision systems
(such as an e-
cigarette). According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" 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.
Aerosolisable material, which also may be referred to herein as aerosol
generating material
or aerosol precursor material, is material that is capable of generating
aerosol, for example
when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. The aerosolisable
material may also
be flavoured, in some embodiments.
Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic
cigarette" may
sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used
interchangeably with an
aerosol provision system. An electronic cigarette may also known as a vaping
device or
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electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the
presence of nicotine
in the aerosolisable material is not a requirement.
In some embodiments, the aerosol provision system is a hybrid device
configured to
generate aerosol using a combination of aerosolisable materials, one or a
plurality of which
may be heated. In some embodiments, the hybrid device 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
cartridge/consumable part and a body/reusable/aerosol provision device part,
which is
configured to releasably engage with the cartridge/consumable part.
The aerosol provision system may be provided with a means for powering a
vaporiser
therein, and there may be provided an aerosolisable material transport element
for receiving
the aerosolisable material that is to be vaporised. The aerosol provision
system may also be
provided with a reservoir for containing aerosolisable material, and in some
embodiments a
further reservoir for containing flavouring material for flavouring a
generated vapour from the
aerosol provision system.
In some embodiments, the vaporiser may be a heater/heating element capable of
interacting
with the aerosolisable material so as to release one or more volatiles from
the aerosolisable
material to form a vapour/aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporiser is
capable of
generating an aerosol from the aerosolisable material without heating. For
example, the
vaporiser may be capable of generating a vapour/aerosol from the aerosolisable
material
without applying heat thereto, for example via one or more of vibrational,
mechanical,
pressurisation or electrostatic means.
In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolisable
material
which may comprise an active constituent, a carrier constituent and optionally
one or more
other functional constituents.
The active constituent may comprise one or more physiologically and/or
olfactory active
constituents which are included in the aerosolisable material in order to
achieve a
physiological and/or olfactory response in the user. The active constituent
may for example
be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. The active
constituent may
be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active constituent may
comprise for
example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin such as B6 or B12 or C,
melatonin, a
cannabinoid, or a constituent, derivative, or combinations thereof. The active
constituent
may comprise a constituent, derivative or extract of tobacco or of another
botanical. In some
embodiments, the active constituent is a physiologically active constituent
and may be
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selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g. nicotine ditartrate/nicotine
bitartrate), nicotine-free
tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, or mixtures thereof.
In some embodiments, the active constituent is an olfactory active constituent
and may be
selected from a "flavour" and/or "flavourant" which, where local regulations
permit, may be
used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a
product for
adult consumers. In some instances such constituents may be referred to as
flavours,
flavourants, flavouring material, cooling agents, heating agents, and/or
sweetening agents.
They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts
of botanicals,
synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco,
cannabis, licorice
(liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile,
fenugreek,
clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon,
turmeric, Indian
spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry,
peach, apple,
orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb,
grape, durian,
dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon,
scotch,
whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera,
cardamom, celery,
cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel,
shisha, pine,
honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom,
cherry blossom,
cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment,
ginger,
coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha,
eucalyptus, star
anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus,
laurel, mate, orange
skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower,
basil, bay leaves,
cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant,
curcuma,
cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive,
lemon balm,
lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene),
flavour
enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site
activators or stimulators,
sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium,
aspartame,
saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or
mannitol), and other
additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath
freshening agents.
They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof.
They may be in any
suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or
gasone or more
of extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf,
chamomile,
fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb,
wintergreen, cherry,
berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint,
peppermint, lavender,
cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey
essence,
rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine,
ylang-ylang, sage,
fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any
species of the genus
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Mentha), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial
receptor site
activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose,
acesulfame
potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose,
fructose, sorbitol,
or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals,
botanicals, or
breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural
ingredients or blends
thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, oil, liquid, or
powder.
In some embodiments, the flavouring material (flavour) may comprise menthol,
spearmint
and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour
components of
cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the
flavour
comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour
components
extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a
sensate, which
is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually
chemically induced
and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigenninal
nerve), in addition to or
in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing
heating, cooling,
tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not
limited to, vanillyl
ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to
eucalyptol, WS-3.
The carrier constituent may comprise one or more constituents capable of
forming an
aerosol. In some embodiments, the carrier constituent may comprise one or more
of
glycerine, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol,
tetraethylene
glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate,
ethyl laurate, a diethyl
suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate,
benzyl phenyl
acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene
carbonate.
The one or more other functional constituents may comprise one or more of pH
regulators,
colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or
antioxidants.
As noted above, aerosol provision systems (e-cigarettes) may often comprise a
modular
assembly including both a reusable part (body ¨ or aerosol provision device)
and a
replaceable consumable (cartridge) part. Devices conforming to this type of
two-part modular
configuration may generally be referred to as two-part devices. It is also
common for
electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of
providing a
concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein may
comprise
this kind of generally elongate two-part device employing consumable parts.
However, it will
be appreciated the underlying principles described herein may equally be
adopted for other
electronic cigarette configurations, for example modular devices comprising
more than two
parts, as devices conforming to other overall shapes, for example based on so-
called box-
mod high performance devices that typically have a more boxy shape.
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From the forgoing therefore, and with reference to Figure 1 is a schematic
perspective view
of an example aerosol provision system (e-cigarette) 1 in accordance with
certain
embodiments of the disclosure. Terms concerning the relative location of
various aspects of
the electronic cigarette (e.g. terms such as upper, lower, above, below, top,
bottom etc.) are
used herein with reference to the orientation of the electronic cigarette as
shown in Figure 1
(unless the context indicates otherwise). However, it will be appreciated this
is purely for
ease of explanation and is not intended to indicate there is any required
orientation for the
electronic cigarette in use.
The e-cigarette 1 (aerosol provision system 1) comprises two main components,
namely a
cartridge 2 and an aerosol provision device 4. The aerosol provision device 4
and the
cartridge 2 are shown separated in Figure 1, but are coupled together when in
use.
The cartridge 2 and aerosol provision device 4 are coupled by establishing a
mechanical and
electrical connection between them. The specific manner in which the
mechanical and
electrical connection is established is not of primary significance to the
principles described
herein and may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for
example
based around a screw thread, bayonet, latched or friction-fit mechanical
fixing with
appropriately arranged electrical contacts / electrodes for establishing the
electrical
connection between the two parts as appropriate. For example electronic
cigarette 1
represented in Figure 1, the cartridge comprises a mouthpiece 33, a mouthpiece
end 52 and
an interface end 54 and is coupled to the aerosol provision device by
inserting an interface
end portion 6 at the interface end of the cartridge into a corresponding
receptacle 8 /
receiving section of the aerosol provision device. The interface end portion 6
of the cartridge
is a close fit to be receptacle 8 and includes protrusions 56 which engage
with
corresponding detents in the interior surface of a receptacle wall 12 defining
the receptacle 8
to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the
aerosol
provision device. An electrical connection is established between the aerosol
provision
device and the cartridge via a pair of electrical contacts on the bottom of
the cartridge (not
shown in Figure 1) and corresponding sprung contact pins in the base of the
receptacle 8
(not shown in Figure 1). As noted above, the specific manner in which the
electrical
connection is established is not significant to the principles described
herein, and indeed
some implementations might not have an electrical connection between the
cartridge and a
aerosol provision device at all, for example because the transfer of
electrical power from the
reusable part to the cartridge may be wireless (e.g. based on electromagnetic
induction
techniques).
The electronic cigarette 1 (aerosol provision system) has a generally elongate
shape
extending along a longitudinal axis L. When the cartridge is coupled to the
aerosol provision
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device, the overall length of the electronic cigarette in this example (along
the longitudinal
axis) is around 12.5 cm. The overall length of the aerosol provision device is
around 9 cm
and the overall length of the cartridge is around 5 cm (i.e. there is around
1.5 cm of overlap
between the interface end portion 6 of the cartridge and the receptacle 8 of
the aerosol
provision device when they are coupled together). The electronic cigarette has
a cross-
section which is generally oval and which is largest around the middle of the
electronic
cigarette and tapers in a curved manner towards the ends. The cross-section
around the
middle of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2.5 cm and a
thickness of around 1.7
cm. The end of the cartridge has a width of around 2 cm and a thickness of
around 0.6 mm,
whereas the other end of the electronic cigarette has a width of around 2 cm
and a thickness
of around 1.2 cm. The outer housing of the electronic cigarette is in this
example is formed
from plastic. It will be appreciated the specific size and shape of the
electronic cigarette and
the material from which it is made is not of primary significance to the
principles described
herein and may be different in different implementations. That is to say, the
principles
described herein may equally be adopted for electronic cigarettes having
different sizes,
shapes and / or materials.
The aerosol provision device 4 may in accordance with certain embodiments of
the
disclosure be broadly conventional in terms of its functionality and general
construction
techniques. In the example of Figure 1, the aerosol provision device 4
comprises a plastic
outer housing 10 including the receptacle wall 12 that defines the receptacle
8 for receiving
the end of the cartridge as noted above. The outer housing 10 of the aerosol
provision
device 4 in this example has a generally oval cross section conforming to the
shape and size
of the cartridge 2 at their interface to provide a smooth transition between
the two parts. The
receptacle 8 and the end portion 6 of the cartridge 2 are symmetric when
rotated through
1800 so the cartridge can be inserted into the aerosol provision device in two
different
orientations. The receptacle wall 12 includes two aerosol provision device air
inlet openings
14 (i.e. holes in the wall). These openings 14 are positioned to align with an
air inlet 50 for
the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled to the aerosol provision device. A
different one of
the openings 14 aligns with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge in the different
orientations. It will
be appreciated some implementations may not have any degree of rotational
symmetry such
that the cartridge is couplable to the aerosol provision device in only one
orientation while
other implementations may have a higher degree of rotational symmetry such
that the
cartridge is couplable to the aerosol provision device in more orientations.
The aerosol provision device further comprises a battery 16 for providing
operating power for
the electronic cigarette, control circuitry 18 for controlling and monitoring
the operation of the
electronic cigarette, a user input button 20, an indicator light 22, and a
charging port 24.
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The battery 16 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional
type, for
example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other
applications requiring
provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods. The
battery 16 may be
recharged through the charging port 24, which may, for example, comprise a USB
connector.
The input button 20 in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for
example
comprising a sprung mounted component which may be pressed by a user to
establish an
electrical contact in underlying circuitry. In this regard, the input button
may be considered
an input device for detecting user input, e.g. to trigger aerosol generation,
and the specific
manner in which the button is implemented is not significant. For example,
other forms of
mechanical button or touch-sensitive button (e.g based on capacitive or
optical sensing
techniques) may be used in other implementations, or there may be no button
and the
device may rely on a puff detector for triggering aerosol generation.
The indicator light 22 is provided to give a user with a visual indication of
various
characteristics associated with the electronic cigarette, for example, an
indication of an
operating state (e.g. on / off / standby), and other characteristics, such as
battery life or fault
conditions. Different characteristics may, for example, be indicated through
different colours
and / or different flash sequences in accordance with generally conventional
techniques.
The control circuitry 18 is suitably configured / programmed to control the
operation of the
electronic cigarette to provide conventional operating functions in line with
the established
techniques for controlling electronic cigarettes. The control circuitry
(processor circuitry) 18
may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements
associated
with different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation. For example,
depending on the
functionality provided in different implementations, the control circuitry 18
may comprises
power supply control circuitry for controlling the supply of power from the
battery/power
supply to the cartridge in response to user input, user programming circuitry
for establishing
configuration settings (e.g. user-defined power settings) in response to user
input, as well as
other functional units / circuitry associated functionality in accordance with
the principles
described herein and conventional operating aspects of electronic cigarettes,
such as
indicator light display driving circuitry and user input detection circuitry.
It will be appreciated
the functionality of the control circuitry 18 can be provided in various
different ways, for
example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and /
or one or
more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) /
circuitry / chip(s) /
chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.
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Figure 2 is an exploded schematic perspective view of the cartridge 2
(exploded along the
longitudinal axis L). The cartridge 2 comprises a housing part 32, an air
channel seal 34, a
dividing wall element 36, an outlet tube 38, a vaporiser/heating element 40,
an aerosolisable
material transport element 42, a plug 44, and an end cap 48 with contact
electrodes 46.
Figures 3 to 6 schematically represents some of these components in more
detail.
Figure 3A is a schematic cut-away view of the housing part 32 through the
longitudinal axis L
where the housing part 32 is thinnest. Figure 3B is a schematic cut-away view
of the housing
part 32 through the longitudinal axis L where the housing part 32 is widest.
Figure 3C is a
schematic view of the housing part along the longitudinal axis L from the
interface end 54
(i.e. viewed from below in the orientation of Figures 3A and 3B).
Figures 4A is a schematic perspective view of the dividing wall element 36 as
seen from
below. Figure 4B is a schematic cross-section through an upper part of the
dividing wall
element 36 as viewed from below.
Figure 5A is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from above and Figure
5B is a
schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from below. Figure 5C is a schematic
view of the
plug 44 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the
cartridge (i.e.
viewed from above for the orientation in Figures 1 and 2).
Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view of the end cap 48 from above. Figure
6B is a
schematic view of the end cap 48 along the longitudinal axis L seen from the
mouthpiece
end 52 of the cartridge (i.e. from above).
The housing part 32 in this example comprises a housing outer wall 64 and a
housing inner
tube 62 which in this example are formed from a single moulding of
polypropylene The
housing outer wall 64 defines the external appearance of the cartridge 2 and
the housing
inner tube 62 defines a part the air channel through the cartridge. The
housing part is open
at the interface end 54 of the cartridge and closed at the mouthpiece end 52
of the cartridge
except for a mouthpiece opening / aerosol outlet 60, from the mouthpiece 33,
which is in
fluid communication with the housing inner tube 62. The housing part 32
includes an
opening in a sidewall which provides the air inlet 50 for the cartridge. The
air inlet 50 in this
example has an area of around 2 mm2. The outer surface of the outer wall 64 of
the housing
part 32 includes the protrusions 56 discussed above which engage with
corresponding
detents in the interior surface of the receptacle wall 12 defining the
receptacle 8 to provide a
releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the aerosol
provision device.
The inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part includes further
protrusions 66
which act to provide an abutment stop for locating the dividing wall element
36 along the
longitudinal axis L when the cartridge is assembled. The outer wall 64 of the
housing part 32
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further comprises holes which provide latch recesses 68 arranged to receive
corresponding
latch projections 70 in the end cap to fix the end cap to be housing part when
the cartridge is
assembled.
The outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 includes a double-walled section 74
that defines a
gap 76 in fluid communication with the air inlet 50. The gap 76 provides a
portion of the air
channel through the cartridge. In this example the doubled-walled section 74
of the housing
part 32 is arranged so the gap defines an air channel running within the
housing outer wall
64 parallel to the longitudinal axis with a cross-section in a plane
perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of around 3 mm2. The gap / portion of air channel 76 defined
by the double-
walled section of the housing part extends down to the open end of the housing
part 32.
The air channel seal 34 is a silicone moulding generally in the form of a tube
having a
through hole 80. The outer wall of the air channel seal 34 includes
circumferential ridges 84
and an upper collar 82. The inner wall of the air channel seal 34 also
includes circumferential
ridges, but these are not visible in Figure 2. When the cartridge is assembled
the air channel
seal 34 is mounted to the housing inner tube 62 with an end of the housing
inner tube 62
extending partly into the through hole 80 of the air channel seal 34. The
through hole 80 in
the air channel seal has a diameter of around 5.8 mm in its relaxed state
whereas the end of
the housing inner tube 62 has a diameter of around 6.2 mm so that a seal is
formed when
the air channel seal 34 is stretched to accommodate the housing inner tube 62.
This seal is
facilitated by the ridges on the inner surface of the air channel seal 34.
The outlet tube 38 comprises a tubular section, for instance made of ANSI 304
stainless
steel or polypropylene, with an internal diameter of around 8.6 mm and a wall
thickness of
around 0.2 mm. The bottom end of the outlet tube 38 includes a pair of
diametrically
opposing slots 88 with an end of each slot having a semi-circular recess 90.
When the
cartridge is assembled the outlet tube 38 mounts to the outer surface of the
air channel seal
34. The outer diameter of the air channel seal is around 9.0 mm in its relaxed
state so that a
seal is formed when the air channel seal 34 is compressed to fit inside the
outlet tube 38.
This seal is facilitated by the ridges 84 on the outer surface of the air
channel seal 34. The
collar 80 on the air channel seal 34 provides a stop for the outlet tube 38.
The aerosolisable material transport element 42 comprises a capillary wick and
the vaporiser
(aerosol generator) 40 comprises a resistance wire heater wound around the
capillary wick.
In addition to the portion of the resistance wire wound around the capillary
wick, the
vaporiser comprises electrical leads 41 which pass through holes in the plug
44 to contact
electrodes 46 mounted to the end cap 54 to allow power to be supplied to the
vaporiser via
the electrical interface the established when the cartridge is connected to an
aerosol
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provision device. The vaporiser leads 41 may comprise the same material as the
resistance
wire wound around the capillary wick, or may comprise a different material
(e.g. lower-
resistance material) connected to the resistance wire wound around the
capillary wick. In this
example the heater coil 40 comprises a nickel iron alloy wire and the wick 42
comprises a
glass fibre bundle. The vaporiser and aerosolisable material transport element
may be
provided in accordance with any conventional techniques and is may comprise
different
forms and / or different materials. For example, in some implementations the
wick may
comprise fibrous or solid a ceramic material and the heater may comprise a
different alloy. In
other examples the heater and wick may be combined, for example in the form of
a porous
and a resistive material. More generally, it will be appreciated the specific
nature
aerosolisable material transport element and vaporiser is not of primary
significance to the
principles described herein.
When the cartridge is assembled, the wick 42 is received in the semi-circular
recesses 90 of
the outlet tube 38 so that a central portion of the wick about which the
heating coil is would is
inside the outlet tube while end portions of the wick are outside the outlet
tube 38.
The plug 44 in this example comprises a single moulding of silicone, may be
resilient. The
plug comprises a base part 100 with an outer wall 102 extending upwardly
therefrom (i.e.
towards the mouthpiece end of the cartridge). The plug further comprises an
inner wall 104
extending upwardly from the base part 100 and surrounding a through hole 106
through the
base part 100.
The outer wall 102 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the housing
part 32 so that
when the cartridge is assembled the plug in 44 forms a seal with the housing
part 32. The
inner wall 104 of the plug 44 conforms to an inner surface of the outlet tube
38 so that when
the cartridge is assembled the plug 44 also forms a seal with the outlet tube
38. The inner
wall 104 includes a pair of diametrically opposing slots 108 with the end of
each slot having
a semi-circular recess 110. Extended outwardly (i.e. in a direction away from
the longitudinal
axis of the cartridge) from the bottom of each slot in the inner wall 104 is a
cradle section
112 shaped to receive a section of the aerosolisable material transport
element 42 when the
cartridge is assembled. The slots 108 and semi-circular recesses 110 provided
by the inner
wall of the plug 44 and the slots 88 and semi-circular recesses 90 of the
outlet tube 38 are
aligned so that the slots 88 in the outlet tube 38 accommodate respective ones
of the
cradles 112 with the respective semi-circular recesses in the outlet tube and
plug
cooperating to define holes through which the aerosolisable material transport
element
passes. The size of the holes provided by the semi-circular recesses through
which the
aerosolisable material transport element passes correspond closely to the size
and shape of
the aerosolisable material transport element, but are slightly smaller so a
degree of
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compression is provided by the resilience of the plug 44. This allows
aerosolisable material
to be transported along the aerosolisable material transport element by
capillary action while
restricting the extent to which aerosolisable material which is not
transported by capillary
action can pass through the openings. As noted above, the plug 44 includes
further
openings 114 in the base part 100 through which the contact leads 41 for the
vaporiser pass
when the cartridge is assembled. The bottom of the base part of the plug
includes spacers
116 which maintain an offset between the remaining surface of the bottom of
the base part
and the end cap 48. These spacers 116 include the openings 114 through which
the
electrical contact leads 41 for the vaporiser pass.
The end cap 48 comprises a polypropylene moulding with a pair of gold-plated
copper
electrode posts 46 mounted therein.
The ends of the electrode posts 44 on the bottom side of the end cap are close
to flush with
the interface end 54 of the cartridge provided by the end cap 48. These are
the parts of the
electrodes to which correspondingly aligned sprung contacts in the aerosol
provision device
4 connect when the cartridge 2 is assembled and connected to the aerosol
provision device
4. The ends of the electrode posts on the inside of the cartridge extend away
from the end
cap 48 and into the holes 114 in the plug 44 through which the contact leads
41 pass. The
electrode posts are slightly oversized relative to the holes 114 and include a
chamfer at their
upper ends to facilitate insertion into the holes 114 in the plug where they
are maintained in
pressed contact with the contact leads for the vaporiser by virtue of the
plug.
The end cap has a base section 124 and an upstanding wall 120 which conforms
to the
inner surface of the housing part 32. The upstanding wall 120 of the end cap
48 is inserted
into the housing part 32 so the latch projections 70 engage with the latch
recesses 68 in the
housing part 32 to snap-fit the end cap 48 to the housing part when the
cartridge is
assembled. The top of the upstanding wall 120 of the end cap 48 abuts a
peripheral part of
the plug 44 and the lower face of the spacers 116 on the plug also abut the
base section 124
of the plug so that when the end cap 48 is attached to the housing part it
presses against the
resilient part 44 to maintain it in slight compression.
The base portion 124 of the end cap 48 includes a peripheral lip 126 beyond
the base of the
upstanding wall 112 with a thickness which corresponds with the thickness of
the outer wall
of the housing part at the interface end of the cartridge. The end cap also
includes an
upstanding locating pin 122 which aligns with a corresponding locating hole
128 in the plug
to help establish their relative location during assembly.
The dividing wall element 36 comprises a single moulding of polypropylene and
includes a
dividing wall 130 and a collar 132 formed by projections from the dividing
wall 130 in the
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direction towards the interface end of the cartridge. The dividing wall
element 36 has a
central opening 134 through which the outlet tube 38 passes (i.e. the dividing
wall is
arranged around the outlet tube 38). In some embodiments, the dividing wall
element 36
may be integrally formed with the outlet tube 38. When the cartridge is
assembled, the upper
surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44 engages with the lower surface of
the dividing
wall 130, and the upper surface of the dividing wall 130 in turn engages with
the projections
66 on the inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32. Thus, the
dividing wall
130 prevents the plug from being pushed too far into the housing part 32 -
i.e. the dividing
wall 130 is fixedly located along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge by
the protrusions 66 in
the housing part and so provides the plug with a fixed surface to push
against. The collar
132 formed by projections from the dividing wall includes a first pair of
opposing projections /
tongues 134 which engage with corresponding recesses on an inner surface of
the outer
wall 102 of the plug 44. The protrusions from the dividing wall 130 further
provide a pair of
cradle sections 136 configured to engage with corresponding ones of the cradle
sections
112 in the part 44 when the cartridge is assembled to further define the
opening through
which the aerosolisable material transport element passes.
When the cartridge 2 is assembled an air channel extending from the air inlet
50 to the
aerosol outlet 60 through the cartridge is formed. Starting from the air inlet
50 in the side wall
of the housing part 32, a first section of the air channel is provided by the
gap 76 formed by
the double-walled section 74 in the outer wall 64 of the housing part 32 and
extends from the
air inlet 50 towards the interface end 54 of the cartridge and past the plug
44. A second
portion of the air channel is provided by the gap between the base of the plug
44 and the
end cap 48. A third portion of the air channel is provided by the hole 106
through the plug
44. A fourth portion of the air channel is provided by the region within the
inner wall 104 of
the plug and the outlet tube around the vaporiser 40. This fourth portion of
the air channel
may also be referred to as an aerosol/aerosol generation region, it being the
primary region
in which aerosol is generated during use. The air channel from the air inlet
50 to the aerosol
generation region may be referred to as an air inlet section of the air
channel. A fifth portion
of the air channel is provided by the remainder of the outlet tube 38. A sixth
portion of the air
channel is provided by the outer housing inner tube 62 which connects the air
channel to the
aerosol outlet 60, which is located at an end of the mouthpiece 33. The air
channel from the
aerosol generation region to be the aerosol outlet may be referred to as an
aerosol outlet
section of the air channel.
Also, when the cartridge is assembled a reservoir 31 for aerosolisable
material is formed by
the space outside the air channel and inside the housing part 32. This may be
filled during
manufacture, for example through a filling hole which is then sealed, or by
other means. The
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specific nature of the aerosolisable material, for example in terms of its
composition, is not of
primary significance to the principles described herein, and in general any
conventional
aerosolisable material of the type normally used in electronic cigarettes may
be used. The
present disclosure may refer to a liquid as the aerosolisable material, which
as mentioned
above may be a conventional e-liquid. However, the principles of the present
disclosure
apply to any aerosolisable material which has the ability to flow, and may
include a liquid, a
gel, or a solid, where for a solid a plurality of solid particles may be
considered to have the
ability to flow when considered as a bulk.
The reservoir is closed at the interface end of the cartridge by the plug 44.
The reservoir
includes a first region above the dividing wall 130 and a second region below
the dividing
wall 130 within the space formed between the air channel and the outer wall of
the plug. The
aerosolisable material transport element (capillary wick) 42 passes through
openings in the
wall of the air channel provided by the semi-circular recesses 108, 90 in the
plug 44 and the
outlet tube 38 and the cradle sections 112, 136 in the plug 44 and the
dividing wall element
36 that engage with one another as discussed above. Thus, the ends of the
aerosolisable
material transport element extend into the second region of the reservoir from
which they
draw aerosolisable material through the openings in the air channel to the
vaporiser 40 for
subsequent vaporisation.
In normal use, the cartridge 2 is coupled to the aerosol provision device 4
and the aerosol
provision device activated to supply power to the cartridge via the contact
electrodes 46 in
the end cap 48. Power then passes through the connection leads 41 to the
vaporiser 40.
The vaporiser is thus electrically heated and so vaporises a portion of the
aerosolisable
material from the aerosolisable material transport element in the vicinity of
the vaporiser.
This generates aerosol in the aerosol generation region of the air path.
Aerosolisable
material that is vaporised from the aerosolisable material transport element
is replaced by
more aerosolisable material drawn from the reservoir by capillary action.
While the vaporiser
is activated, a user inhales on the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge. This
causes air to be
drawn through whichever aerosol provision device air inlet 14 aligns with the
air inlet 50 of
the cartridge (which will depend on the orientation in which the cartridge was
inserted into
the aerosol provision device receptacle 8). Air then enters the cartridge
through the air inlet
50, passes along the gap 76 in the double-walled section 74 of the housing
part 32, passes
between the plug 44 and the end cap 48 before entering the aerosol generation
region
surrounding the vaporiser 40 through the hole 106 in the base part 100 of the
plug 44. The
incoming air mixes with aerosol generated from the vaporiser to form a
condensation
aerosol, which is then drawn along the outlet tube 38 and the housing part
inner 62 before
exiting through the mouthpiece outlet/aerosol outlet 60 for user inhalation.
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From the above Figures 1-6B, it can be seen a possible embodiment construction
of aerosol
provision system 1 which is configured for generating an aerosol, which is
suitable for use in
the context of the present disclosure (alongside potentially other forms of
aerosol provision
system).
Turning now to Figures 7-9B, the present disclosure also provides for an
aerosol provision
system 300 (which could be based off the aerosol provision system 1 as shown
in Figures 1-
6B, for instance ¨ although other forms of aerosol provisions system could
appreciably be
also used, in so far as they are able to generate an aerosol) for generating
an aerosol,
wherein the aerosol provision system 300 further comprises a feedback portion
200 for
providing feedback to a user of the aerosol provision system 300. At a general
level, the
feedback portion 200 may be configured to provide first feedback Fl whilst the
aerosol
provision system is generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation Ml. In
this way, this
provided feedback may be targeted for that specific first mode of operation
Ml. Put
differently therefore, the feedback portion 200 may thus also be configured to
not provide the
first feedback Fl whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating an
aerosol in a
second mode of operation M2 which is different from the first mode of
operation Ml.
As noted above, the feedback portion 200 may be configured to provide the
feedback whilst
the aerosol provision system 300 is generating the aerosol in the given mode
of operation. In
this way, any provided feedback may be perceived by the user whilst the
aerosol provision
system is in use. In this way, the user may either perceive, or act on, the
feedback in a
timely fashion, as opposed to say the user being provided with the feedback at
the end of
the given mode of operation.
As noted above, it is envisaged that the first feedback Fl is not provided
whilst the aerosol
provision system 300 is generating an aerosol in the second mode of operation
M2. In this
way therefore, the feedback portion 200 may be configured instead to provide
second
feedback F2 whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating an aerosol
in this second
mode of operation M2, wherein the second feedback F2 is different from the
first feedback
Fl. In this way therefore, the first feedback Fl may be provided whilst the
aerosol provision
system 300 is generating an aerosol in the first mode of operation Ml, whereas
the second
(different) feedback F2 may be provided whilst the aerosol provision system
300 is
generating an aerosol in the second (different) mode of operation M2. In
essence therefore,
based on the user perceiving either the first feedback Fl or the second
feedback F2, the
user may be able to more easily discern which mode of operation is currently
being operated
whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating the aerosol.
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Appreciating the above general disclosures therefore, as to the form of any
provided
feedback from the feedback portion 200, this may take a variety of different
forms. For
instance, any provide feedback (such as the first feedback and/or the second
feedback) may
comprise at least one of: visual feedback; acoustic feedback; and/or haptic
feedback.
Particularly for those with a visual impairment, the use of acoustic or haptic
feedback may be
particularly advantageous.
To implement the above feedback, as required, in accordance with some
embodiments, the
feedback portion 200 comprise any one or combination of an optical feedback
element or
visual feedback element (such as an LED, a light source, or a display); an
acoustic element
(such as a speaker); and/or a haptic feedback element (such as a vibrator).
Appreciably, in some particular embodiments to those set out above, any such
feedback
portion 200, including any potential visual/acoustic/haptic feedback
element(s) therefrom,
may be most conveniently located on the aerosol provision device 4 (which may
comprise a
cartridge 2 / aerosol provision device 4 type arrangement in accordance with
some
embodiments). Equally however, and in accordance with some potential other
embodiments,
the feedback portion 200 may not be located on the aerosol provision device 4
(i.e. put
differently the aerosol provision device 4 may not comprise the feedback
portion 200), and
so may instead be located elsewhere, e.g. as part of an electrical device 250,
which may be
operable to communicate with the aerosol provision device 4. In this way, the
electrical
device 250 may thus comprise the feedback portion 200.
As to what such an electrical device 250 might be, it is envisaged that this
may comprise any
form of electrical device 250 which might operably communicate with the
aerosol provision
system 300 or aerosol provision device 4, such as (and certainly not limited
to) any of a
portable device, such as a tablet computer, smartphone, portable computer,
smart watch, or
smart device (such as an electrical wrist strap or ankle strap) which might be
carried or worn
by a user of the aerosol provision device 4. As required, it will be
appreciated that the
electrical device 250 may be operable to communicate with the aerosol
provision device 4,
such as wirelessly via the wireless connection protocol 270. In this case
therefore,
appreciably the electrical device 250 may then also comprise a wireless
transmitter/receiver/transceiver 252, as appropriate, to facilitate any such
wireless
communication with the aerosol provision device 4 (which equally may then also
comprise a
wireless transmitter/receiver/transceiver 97 in communication with the
controller 18).
As the potential applications for any first feedback Fl, and potentially also
any provided
second feedback F2, it is envisaged that these may be configured to be
provided by the
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feedback portion 200 to cater for a wide variety of potential first and second
modes of
operation M1;M2, as will be described.
As an initial note however, it is to be noted that in accordance with some
embodiments, each
mode of operation may comprise a mode of operation which is configured to be
selected by
the user prior to the aerosol provision system 300 generating an aerosol using
this (selected)
mode of operation. In this way, in so far as the aerosol provision system 300
may be
configured to allow a user to initially select a mode of operation for the
aerosol provision
system 300 from one of the first mode of operation M1 and the second mode of
operation
M2, any provided feedback from the feedback portion 200 may in such cases
provide a
positive confirmation to a user as to whether the correct mode of operation
has been
selected.
In accordance with some other embodiments however, the user may not
necessarily know
beforehand which mode of operation the aerosol provision system 300 is
generating an
aerosol in. In this way, the feedback provided by the feedback portion 200 may
serve to
allow the user to discern, whilst the aerosol is being generated, which mode
of operation is
currently being employed.
Placing the above in context therefore, in accordance with some embodiments,
the first
mode of operation M1 may be configured to generate the aerosol, at a first
rate, from the
aerosol provision system 300. VVhereas the second mode of operation M2 may be
configured to generate the aerosol at a second rate, which is different from
the first rate. In
this way, such embodiments may allow the first and/or second feedback Fl ;F2
to be
provided to the user, whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating an
aerosol in
respectively either a first/second mode of operation, to thus provide the user
with feedback
to let them more easily discern how much aerosol they are inhaling in a given
period of time.
For instance, in so far as the rate of the second mode of operation M2 may be
higher than
the rate of the first mode of operation Ml, where the aerosol provision system
300
comprises a feedback portion 200 comprising the haptic element (such as a
vibrator, in
accordance with some particular embodiments), the first feedback Fl may
comprise a first
haptic feedback for moving the haptic element in a first predetermined way,
such as by
vibrating the haptic element at a first predetermined frequency, or by
vibrating the haptic
element at a first predetermined power. In such embodiments therefore, and
where the
second feedback F2 is also employed, the second feedback F2 may comprise a
second
haptic feedback for moving the haptic element in a second predetermined way,
such as by
vibrating the haptic element at a second predetermined frequency (which may be
potentially
different from, higher than, and/or lower than, the first predetermined
frequency), or by
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vibrating the haptic element at a second predetermined power (which may be
potentially
different from, higher than, and/or lower than, the first predetermined power)
as shown in
Figures 8A and 8B for instance.
Similarly, in so far as the rate of the second mode of operation M2 may be
higher than the
rate of the first mode of operation Ml, where the first feedback Fl comprises
first visual
feedback to operate the feedback portion 200 (such as an LED, light source,
and/or a
display) in a first predetermined way, such as by displaying a first
predetermined colour;
pattern; information; and/or symbol; on the feedback portion 200. In which
case, any
provided second feedback (if at all) F2 may then comprise second visual
feedback to
operate the feedback portion 200 in a second predetermined way, such as by
displaying a
second predetermined colour; pattern; information; and/or symbol; on the
feedback portion
200, as shown in Figures 9A and 9B for instance.
Rather than the first and second modes of operation corresponding to different
rates of
aerosol generation from the aerosol provision system 300, in accordance with
some
embodiments, the first mode of operation M1 may be configured to generate the
aerosol
based on a first amount of power delivered to any provided aerosol generator
40 from the
aerosol provision system 300. In this way, the second mode of operation M2 may
be
configured to generate the aerosol based on a second amount of power (which is
different
from, such as higher than, or lower than, the first amount of power) delivered
to the aerosol
generator.
Equally, in accordance with some embodiments, the first mode of operation M1
may
correspond to aerosol being generated from an aerosol-generating material
comprising a
first composition (such as flavour), with the second mode M2 of operation
correspond to
aerosol being generated from aerosol-generating material comprising a second
composition
(which is different from the second composition). Such an embodiment may be
particularly
helpful where the aerosol provision system 300 comprises an aerosol provision
device 4
configured to separately receive a first cartridge 2A comprising a reservoir
31 containing
aerosol-generating material of a first composition (e.g. comprising a mint, or
menthol,
flavour) and/or receive a second cartridge 2B comprising a reservoir 31
containing aerosol-
generating material of a second composition (e.g. comprising a tropical fruit,
such as passion
fruit, flavour). In this way, a very particular embodiment could comprise the
feedback portion
200 comprising a display, with the first feedback Fl comprising a display of a
green colour;
and/or a display of a mint leaf; on the display, and with the second feedback
F2 comprising a
display of a yellow, purple, and/or orange colour; and/or a display of a
passion fruit; on the
display. In this way, even if the user does not know the composition of the
aerosol-
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generating material, the user can still discern the composition based on the
feedback from
the feedback portion 200 as shown in Figures 9A and 9B for instance.
Appreciably, in accordance with some embodiments, the first mode of operation
M1 may
comprise the aerosol being generated at a first predetermined time. In
accordance with
some embodiments, this first predetermined time may comprise an early or first
time of day,
such in some particular embodiments before noon. Equally, In accordance with
some
embodiments, this first predetermined time may comprise a time when the
aerosol provision
system 300 is determined as not having overheated; and/or a time when the
temperature of
the aerosol generator 40 from the aerosol provision system 300 is determined
as not having
exceeded a predetermined temperature.
Similarly, in accordance with some embodiments, the second mode of operation
M2 may
comprise the aerosol being generated at a second predetermined time. In
accordance with
some embodiments, this second predetermined time may comprise a later or
second time of
day, such as after noon. Equally, In accordance with some embodiments, this
second
predetermined time may comprise a time when the aerosol provision system 300
is
determined as having overheated; and/or a time when the temperature of the
aerosol
generator 40 from the aerosol provision system is determined as having
exceeded a
predetermined temperature; and/or a time when the aerosol provision system 300
is
generating aerosol in a predetermined abnormal manner. In this way therefore,
the second
mode of operation M2 may in accordance with some embodiments correspond to a
mode of
operation which the user may not necessarily know about in advance and/or
which may
correspond to a mode of operation whereby the aerosol provision system is
generating
aerosol in a mode which is determined (e.g. by the control circuity 18) as
being
abnormal/malfunctioning/faulty.
Noting the above therefore, the provision of the second feedback F2 in
accordance with
some embodiments may thus define second feedback F2 which comprises an
indication:
that the aerosol provision system has malfunctioned (such as overheated); an
indication that
the aerosol provision system is functionally in an abnormal manner; and/or an
indication that
the aerosol provision system has experienced a fault.
In this way, and in accordance with some additional/alternative embodiments,
the first
feedback Fl may thus define first feedback which comprises an indication: that
the aerosol
provision system has not malfunctioned (such as not overheated); an indication
that the
aerosol provision device is functionally in a normal manner, and/or an
indication that the
aerosol provision system has not experienced a fault.
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Appreciating the foregoing, to help make any determination whether the aerosol
provision
device is generating an aerosol in either the first mode of operation M1 or
the second mode
of operation M2, in some embodiments, there may also be provided a controller,
such as the
control circuitry 18 described above. In such embodiments therefore, the
controller may be
configured to determine whether the aerosol provision system is generating an
aerosol in
the first mode of operation or the second mode of operation. In response to
the controller 18
determining that the aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol in the
first mode of
operation, the controller 18 may be then configured to generate an output
signal, for the
feedback portion 200 to provide the first feedback Fl.
Appreciably as well, in so far as the second feedback is also employed, the
above
embodiments employing the controller 18 could in some embodiments comprise the
controller being further configured to generate an output signal, for the
feedback portion 200
to provide the second feedback F2, in response to the controller 18
determining that the
aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol in the second mode of
operation M2.
Although not necessarily, and depending on what constitutes the first or
second modes of
operation, any provided aerosol provision system 300 or aerosol provision
device 4 in
accordance with some embodiments may also comprise a sensor 91 for generating
sensor
data. In this way, the controller 18 may be then configured to receive the
sensor data from
the sensor 91, and determine, using the sensor data, whether the aerosol
provision system
is generating an aerosol in either the first mode of operation M1 or the
second mode of
operation M2. In response to the controller 18 determining that the aerosol
provision system
is generating an aerosol in the first mode of operation M1 (or second/nth mode
of operation
M2), the controller 18 may be then configured to generate the output signal
for the feedback
portion 200 to provide the first (or second/ nth feedback).
As to what such a sensor 91 might be, appreciably this might then depend on
what each
mode of operation M1;M2 is intended to relate to, and how these modes of
operation are
determined by the controller 18.
For instance, in accordance with some embodiments, the sensor 91 may comprise
a
temperature sensor 93, with the sensor data being indicative of a temperature,
such as an
ambient temperature or a temperature of a portion of the aerosol provision
system, such as
in some particular embodiments a temperature of the aerosol generator 40 ¨ as
per the
embodiment from Figure 7.
In accordance with such embodiments therefore, the controller 18 may be then
configured to
determine whether the aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol in the
first mode of
operation M1 or the second mode of operation M2 using the sensor data. For
instance, in
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accordance with some embodiments, where one of the first and second modes of
operation
is indicative of the temperature exceeding a predetermined temperature, this
may
correspond to that mode of operation comprising an abnormal mode of operation
in which
aerosol is generated in a predetermined abnormal manner.
Equally, and in accordance with some embodiments where the sensor data is
indicative of a
temperature, such as an ambient temperature, one of the mode of operations may
comprise
the sensor data being indicative of a temperature which does not exceed a
(first)
predetermined temperature, with another mode of operation
additionally/alternatively
comprising the sensor data being indicative of a temperature which exceeds a
(second)
predetermined temperature - which in some particular embodiments may be where
the first
predetermined temperature is the same as the second predetermined temperature.
In this way, different feedback may be provided to a user of the aerosol
provision system,
whilst the aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol, depending on the
temperature
sensed by the sensor 9193.
Appreciably, where a sensor 91 is employed, in some embodiments the sensor 91
in
accordance with some embodiments may comprise a motion detector 95, such that
the
sensor data comprises acceleration data. In such embodiments therefore, the
controller 18
may be thus configured to determine whether the aerosol provision system is
generating an
aerosol in either the first mode of operation M1 or the second mode of
operation M2 using
the acceleration data. Any such acceleration data may appreciably be generated
using an
appropriate form of motion detector 95. For instance, in accordance with some
embodiments, the motion detector 95 may comprise at least one of an
accelerometer, a
gyroscope, or a magnetoscope or any other form of motion detector which can
output
relevant acceleration data.
As to the location of any provided motion detector(s) 95, in accordance with
some
embodiments, the motion detector 95 may be located on or in the aerosol
provision system,
such as in either a cartridge 2 (where this is employed) or in the aerosol
provision device 4.
Appreciably however, in accordance with some embodiments, the motion detector
95 may
be located in any provided electrical device 250.
At a general level therefore, the presence of the motion detector 95 may thus
allow the
modes of operation to reflect different ways in which the aerosol provision
system (or its user
¨ via the electrical device 250) is moving.
For instance, and in a particular embodiment, the acceleration data may
comprise an
acceleration system, with the controller 18 being then configured to determine
that the
aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol in one of the modes (e.g.
the first or
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second) of operation in response to the controller 18 determining that the
acceleration value
is no more than a predetermined acceleration value, and/or configured to
determine that the
aerosol provision system is generating an aerosol in another (e.g. the second
or first) mode
of operation in response to the controller 18 determining that the
acceleration value is
greater than the predetermined acceleration. Thus in such embodiments, where
the
acceleration is above the predetermined acceleration, this may be indicative
of the aerosol
provision system as having been, or shortly being subjected, to a fault, such
as through
falling of from a high building. More generally speaking therefore, any mode
of operation
relating to these conditions may thus comprise an abnormal mode of operation
in which
aerosol is generated in a predetermined abnormal manner.
In embodiments where each mode of operation corresponds to aerosol being
generated
from an aerosol-generating material comprising a respective different
composition (as shown
in the embodiment of Figures 9A and 9B), whilst in some cases the composition
information
may be provided directly to the controller 18, e.g. as part of any connection
of a cartridge 2
to the aerosol provision device 4, in some embodiments the composition may
appreciably
instead be determined using sensor data from a sensor 91;97 configured to
generate sensor
data indicative of a composition of the aerosol-generating material from the
aerosol provision
system 300. In accordance with some embodiments, this sensor 9197 may
configured to be
in fluid communication with, and/or in contact with, the aerosolisable
material from the
aerosol provision system 300. Equally, in accordance with some particular
embodiments,
any provided cartridge 2 and/or reservoir 31 from the aerosol provision system
may thus
comprise any such provided sensor 91;97, as shown in the embodiment of Figure
7.
Noting the above disclosures therefore, it may be appreciated that depending
on what each
given mode of operation is intended to be indicative of, the feedback Fl ;F2
pertaining to any
particular mode of operation M1;M2 may comprise a suggestion to operate the
aerosol
provision system in a predetermined way. For instance, and purely for
illustrative purposes,
in accordance with some embodiments the feedback for any mode of operation may
comprise a suggestion to:
i) use the aerosol provision system in a different mode of operation.
ii) connect a different cartridge 2 to the aerosol provision device 4 (where
such a
cartridge / aerosol provision device arrangement is employed). This could be,
for instance in
some embodiments, in response to a determination being made by the controller
18 that an
amount of aerosolisable material in at least a portion of the cartridge 2
comprises less than a
predetermined amount, which could thus be indicative of low amount of
remaining
aerosolisable material, such that the cartridge 2 requires replacing.
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iii) use an aerosol-generating material in the aerosol provision system which
comprises a predetermined, and/or different, composition or flavour. This
could be, for
instance in some embodiments, in response to a determination being made by the
controller
18 that the composition of any aerosol-generating material from the aerosol
provision system
does not comprise a predetermined (or, potentially, expected) composition or
flavour, which
could thus be indicative of a perceived `wrong'; incorrect; or unknown type of
aerosol-
generating material as having been used with the aerosol provision system 300.
Equally, this
suggestion may be in response to the controller 18 determining that the
composition of any
aerosol-generating material from the aerosol provision system has not changed
for more
than a predetermined period of time, which could thus be indicative of the
user as having
gotten too accustomed to the flavour, or forgetting to change the flavour
and/or any cartridge
2 relating thereto.
iv) operate the user input button 20 in different way, such as for not as
long, or
more/less often. This could be, for instance in some embodiments, in response
to a
determination being made by the controller 18 that the aerosol generator 40
temperature
exceeds the predetermined temperature.
v) stop using the aerosol provision system. This, appreciably, could be in
response to
a determination being made by the controller 18 that the aerosol generator 40
temperature
exceeds the predetermined temperature, and/or in response to a determination
being made
by the controller 18 that the aerosol provision system has been operated for a
time which
exceeds a predetermined amount of time, such as in some cases a predetermined
amount
of time in a predetermined time interval.
Mindful of the above as well, it will be appreciated in general terms that the
level of feedback
corresponding to each mode of operation may differ, as shown for instance in
the
embodiment of Figures 9A and 9B. Put differently therefore, and in accordance
with some
embodiments, one of the first and second feedback Fl ;F2 may comprise a
greater level of
feedback than the level of feedback corresponding to the other of the first
and second
feedback Fl ;F2. By the 'level' of the feedback, this may comprise the amount
of the
feedback (e.g. the brightness of the feedback in the case of visual feedback,
or the loudness
of the feedback in the case of the acoustic feedback), the magnitude of the
feedback (e.g.
the brightness of the feedback in the case of visual feedback, or the strength
of the feedback
in the case of haptic feedback), or even the prominence of the feedback (e.g.
the brightness
of the feedback in the case of visual feedback, or the strength of the
feedback in the case of
haptic feedback, or the loudness of the feedback in the case of the acoustic
feedback).
Appreciably as well, where such a level is employed, this could also comprise
an average
level, or a maximum level, in accordance with some narrower embodiments.
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It may also be appreciated noting the foregoing disclosure that a given mode
of operation
from the aerosol provision system may equally correspond to a particular
parameter from the
aerosol provision system. This parameter could, for instance, in some
embodiments be
related to a predetermined property of the generated aerosol, and/or could be
configured to
be related to the strength (or duration) of a puff from the user on the
aerosol provision
system, or potentially even a power level of the aerosol generator. In this
way, the first mode
of operation is accordance with some embodiments thereof may correspond to the
aerosol
provision system providing the aerosol based on the parameter comprising a
first value, and
such that the second mode of operation corresponds to the aerosol provision
system
providing the aerosol based on the parameter comprising a second value which
is different
to (or higher than; and/or potentially lower than, in some narrower
embodiments) the first
value. For instance, in the particular embodiment where the parameter
comprises the
duration of a puff (to draw in air into the aerosol provision system) from the
user on the
aerosol provision system, the first value could correspond to a puff duration
of less than a
predetermined duration (e.g. 0.2 seconds, in a very particular embodiment),
and the second
value could correspond to a puff duration of at least the predetermined
duration. So here, in
a very particular embodiment, where a longer puff is detected (e.g. in the
second mode of
operation as opposed to in the first mode of operation where a shorter puff is
detected, the
second feedback may be delivered at a greater level than the first feedback so
the user can
more easily appreciate the difference between these two modes of operation.
It should also be appreciated as well that not only the level of the feedback,
but also the type
of the feedback that is provided in conjunction with the different modes may
be different. For
example, the first mode may enable feedback to be provided via a haptic
element while the
second mode may enable feedback to be provided via an audio element.
Appreciating the foregoing therefore, there has accordingly been described an
aerosol
provision system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol provision system
comprising:
a feedback portion for providing feedback to a user of the aerosol provision
system,
wherein the feedback portion is configured to provide first feedback whilst
the aerosol
provision system is generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation, and
wherein the
feedback portion is configured to not provide the first feedback whilst the
aerosol provision
system is generating an aerosol in a second mode of operation which is
different from the
first mode of operation.
There has also been described a method of providing feedback to a user of an
aerosol
provision system for generating an aerosol, the method comprising:
providing first feedback from a feedback portion whilst the aerosol provision
system
is generating an aerosol in a first mode of operation; and
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not providing the first feedback whilst the aerosol provision system is
generating an
aerosol in a second mode of operation which is different from the first mode
of operation.
There has also been described an aerosol provision system 300 for generating
an aerosol,
the system 300 comprising a feedback portion 200 for providing feedback to a
user of the
aerosol provision system 300. The feedback portion 200 is configured to
provide first
feedback Fl whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating an aerosol
in a first mode
of operation Ml, and provide second feedback F2 whilst the aerosol provision
system 300 is
generating an aerosol in a second mode of operation M2 which is different from
the first
mode of operation Ml. The feedback can thus be perceived by the user of the
aerosol
provision system 300 whilst the aerosol provision system 300 is generating the
aerosol, such
that the user can discern the mode of operation which is currently being
employed.
In order to address various issues and advance the art, this disclosure shows
by way of
illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be
practiced. The
advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of
embodiments
only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to
assist in
understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). It is to be understood
that advantages,
embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects
of the
disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure 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 claims.
Various
embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of,
various
combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps,
means, etc.
other than those specifically described herein, and it will thus be
appreciated that features of
the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent claims
in combinations
other than those explicitly set out in the claims. The disclosure may include
other inventions not
presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.
For instance, in terms of how any provided feedback portions 200 may be
powered (if they
are present at all), it will be appreciated that each feedback portion may be
powered using
either the power supply 16 (as shown in the embodiment of Figure 7), or each
powered with
its own power source (not shown in the Figures).
Equally, with regard to the positioning of any such feedback portion(s) 200
and/or sensor(s),
it will be appreciated that their locations may be provided anywhere in the
aerosol provision
system 300 as may be required to allow them to provide their required
functionality. This
may even include a location where the feedback portion 200 and/or sensor is
not actually
located on the aerosol provision device 4 (e.g. in a separate electrical
device 250 which is
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attachable to the user, such as a strap or some other patch or device which
may be secured
(releasably if needs be, e.g. via an adhesive patch), to the user.
Equally, and where the aerosol provision system comprises a cartridge 2 and an
aerosol
provision device 4, any provided feedback portion(s) 200 and/or sensor 91 may
be located in
either the cartridge 2 or the aerosol provision device 4, as needed so as to
allow the required
functionality of the feedback portion or sensor.
For the sake of completeness as well, in respect of any feedback portion(s)
200 or sensor(s)
91 in the aerosol provision device or system, it will be appreciated that any
power or signals
sent thereto may be provided using either a wired or wireless connection
between the
control circuitry 18 and the respective feedback portion 200/ sensor 91. In
the particular
embodiments shown in Figure 7, for instance, a wired connection is provided
between the
relevant feedback portion 200 and/or sensor 91 and the control circuitry 18,
and which
extends in the case of the component being located in the cartridge 2 across
the interface
end 54, via the contact electrodes 46 located on each of the aerosol provision
device 4 and
the cartridge 2.
Finally, it will also be appreciated that the present disclosure is not
necessarily limited to two
modes of operation, such that the teaching could appreciably correspond to any
integer
number of modes of operation (e.g. a number between 1 and 100, for instance).
In this way,
the feedback portion 200 may be configured to provide (nth) feedback whilst
the aerosol
provision system is generating an aerosol in the corresponding (nth) mode of
operation.
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