Aerosol provision device

Abstract

An aerosol provision device for providing aerosol during a puff on the aerosol provision device is disclosed. The aerosol provision device comprises at least one power supply comprising at least one supercapacitor configured to supply electrical power to at least one aerosol generator for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material. The at least one supercapacitor is a lithium-ion capacitor, LIC, comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode and / or the cathode comprises one or more dopants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an aerosol supply device. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic aerosol supply systems, such as those for electronic cigarettes, typically include aerosol-generating materials, such as a reservoir containing a source liquid containing a formulation (typically nicotine), or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, from which an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example, through thermal evaporation. Therefore, the aerosol supply system will typically include an aerosol generator, such as a heating element, arranged to atomize a portion of the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol in an aerosol-generating region through an air passage of the aerosol supply system. When a user inhales into the device and power is supplied to the aerosol generator, air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes and along the air passage to the aerosol-generating region, where the air mixes with the evaporating aerosol generator to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol-generating region continues along the air passage to the mouthpiece, carrying some aerosol, and is expelled through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

[0003] Aerosol supply systems typically include a rechargeable power source, such as a battery, like a lithium-ion battery, which powers an aerosol generator to produce aerosols. The rechargeable power source can be charged from an external power source (e.g., AC mains power). Compared to so-called "disposable" devices, rechargeable power sources allow devices to be recharged and reused multiple times, whereas "disposable" devices can only be used once and must be discarded and replaced once the energy in their internal battery is depleted. However, rechargeable power sources are hampered by drawbacks of existing battery technology, such as relatively slow charging times, low instantaneous charge / discharge currents, and limited lifespan (i.e., in terms of the total number of achievable charge / discharge cycles). Therefore, it is desirable to provide an aerosol supply system with an improved rechargeable power source. Summary of the Invention

[0004] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol supply device is provided for providing aerosols during aspiration at the aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprising: at least one power source including at least one supercapacitor configured to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for generating aerosols from aerosol generating materials, wherein the at least one supercapacitor is a lithium-ion capacitor (LIC), including an anode and a cathode, and wherein the anode and / or the cathode includes one or more dopants.

[0005] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the cathode comprises one or more of the following: activated carbon, heteroatom-doped carbon, or graphene.

[0006] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the cathode comprises one or more of the following as one or more dopants: lithium cobalt oxide (LCO); lithium manganese oxide (LMO); lithium iron phosphate (LFP); lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP); lithium nickel aluminum oxide (NCA); and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).

[0007] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the anode comprises one or more of the following: lithium pre-doped graphite carbon; hard carbon and / or soft carbon; lithium titanate (LTO); and iron oxide (Fe2O3).

[0008] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more dopants include one or more cationic dopants.

[0009] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more cationic dopants comprise one or more of the following: Na; K; Mg; Zn; Ca; Fe; Al; Y; Cr; Mo; Te; Zr; Si; Sn; Ti; Ru; V; W; Ta; Ga; and Nb.

[0010] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more dopants include one or more anionic dopants.

[0011] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more anionic dopants comprise one or more of the following: F; Cl; S; N; Si; B; and P.

[0012] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the at least one supercapacitor comprises a liquid electrolyte.

[0013] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the liquid electrolyte comprises one or more of the following: lithium salts; lithium hexafluoroarsenate LiAsF6; lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide LiFSI; lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide LiTFSI; lithium tetrafluoroborate LiBF4; lithium perchlorate LiClO4; and lithium bis(oxalate)borate LiBOB.

[0014] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the lithium salt comprises lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6).

[0015] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the liquid electrolyte comprises a carbonate-based organic solvent.

[0016] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the carbonate-based organic solvent includes one or more of the following: ethylene carbonate EC; propylene carbonate PC; ethyl methyl carbonate EMC; diethyl carbonate DEC; dimethyl carbonate DMC; propyl acetate PA; methyl formate MF; methyl acetate MA; ethyl acetate EA; methyl pyrrolidone MP; tetrahydrofuran THF; dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO; 1,2-dimethoxyethane DME; and dichloromethane DCM.

[0017] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the liquid electrolyte comprises a nitrile-based organic solvent.

[0018] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the nitrile organic solvent includes acetonitrile and / or acrylonitrile.

[0019] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the liquid electrolyte includes one or more additives.

[0020] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the one or more additives include one or more of the following: vinylene carbonate (VC); vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC); and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).

[0021] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, at least one supercapacitor is capable of being charged from a discharged state to a charged state within a charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes, and in the charged state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0022] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, between the first output voltage limit and the second output voltage limit, the at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of no more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of no more than 400 mAh.

[0023] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, at least one supercapacitor is configured to operate for a number of charge and discharge cycles greater than or equal to 10,000, and wherein, after the number of charge and discharge cycles, the at least one supercapacitor is still able to store enough charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0024] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, the aerosol supply device includes: a circuit configured to control the power supply to at least one supercapacitor during a charging operation, charging the at least one supercapacitor from a discharging state to a charging state, wherein the circuit is configured to control the power supply to the at least one supercapacitor during the charging operation to charge the at least one supercapacitor at a C-rate greater than or equal to 25C, wherein, between a first output voltage limit and a second output voltage limit, the at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of not more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of not more than 400 mAh, and / or wherein, in the charging state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0025] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, at least one supercapacitor is in the form of a cell, the cell having any of the following cell shapes: cylindrical cell shape, pouch cell shape, rectangular cell shape, and prismatic cell shape.

[0026] In some embodiments according to the first aspect, at least one supercapacitor is configured to be removed and / or replaced from the aerosol supply device.

[0027] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an aerosol supply system is provided, comprising: a consumable; and an aerosol supply device according to a first aspect, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to releasably engage with the consumable, wherein the consumable includes an aerosol-generating material.

[0028] In some embodiments according to the second aspect, the consumable includes at least one aerosol generator. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 This is a block diagram of a rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device according to an exemplary embodiment; Figure 2 This is a block diagram of a system according to an exemplary embodiment, the system including Figure 1 A rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device and equipment for recharging the aerosol supply device; Figure 3 An exploded view of a rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device includes a lithium-ion capacitor power supply and removable consumable components. Figure 4The electrode structure of a hybrid supercapacitor power supply according to an exemplary embodiment is schematically shown; Figure 5 This is a table showing the cell characteristics and test results of six different types of cells, including LIC hybrid supercapacitor cells, according to an exemplary embodiment; Figure 6 It was drawn Figure 5 The graph shows the charging time versus the number of charging cycles for the six battery cells listed. Figure 7 It was drawn Figure 5 The graph shows the charging capacity versus the number of charging cycles for the six battery cells listed. Figure 8 It was drawn Figure 5 The graph shows the total pump count versus the number of charging cycles achieved from a full charge for the six cells listed. Figure 9 It is a list that has already targeted Figure 5 The table shows the charging rate (C-rate) for each of the six battery cells listed; and Figure 10 An aerosol supply device including a hybrid supercapacitor power source is schematically illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown and described by way of illustration only. As those skilled in the art will recognize, the described embodiments can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the drawings and description are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive in nature. Throughout the description, the same reference numerals denote the same elements.

[0031] As used herein, the term "delivery system" is intended to cover systems that deliver at least one substance to a user and includes non-flammable aerosol supply systems that release compounds from aerosol-generating materials without burning them, such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and mixing systems that use a combination of aerosol-generating materials to generate aerosols.

[0032] According to this disclosure, a "combustible" aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol supply system (or its components) are burned or incinerated during use to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to a user. According to this disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol supply system (or its components) are not burned or incinerated to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to a user. The non-combustible aerosol supply system or its non-combustible aerosol supply device may include a power source and a controller.

[0033] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as an electronic cigarette, also known as an electronic vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not essential. In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heated non-flammable system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system. In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is a mixing system that uses a combination of aerosol-generating materials to generate an aerosol, wherein one or more aerosol-generating materials can be heated. Each of these aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in solid, liquid, or gel form, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the mixing system includes liquid or gel aerosol-generating materials and solid aerosol-generating materials. Solid aerosol-generating materials may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0034] Typically, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include a non-flammable aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-flammable aerosol supply device. A non-flammable aerosol supply device may also be referred to as a non-flammable aerosol generating device. In some embodiments, this disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol generating materials and configured for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device. Throughout this disclosure, these consumables are sometimes referred to as articles. A consumable is an article comprising or composed of aerosol generating materials, which is intended in whole or in part for consumption by a user during use.

[0035] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a nozzle, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0036] In some embodiments, consumables used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material delivery component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, packaging, a filter, a nozzle, and / or an aerosol modifier. The consumables may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which heats the aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol during use. The heater may, for example, include a combustible material, a material that can be heated electrically, or a sensor. In other embodiments, the aerosol generating material may be disposed within the non-flammable aerosol supply device itself, rather than in physically separate consumables. In such embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply device may include an aerosol generating material storage area for storing the aerosol generating material.

[0037] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material not intended to be atomized. Where appropriate, any material may contain one or more active ingredients, one or more flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0038] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. As used herein, an active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. An aerosol-generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol, for example, when heated, radiated, or electrified in any other way. Aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, gel, film, foam, or non-fibrous solid, any of which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavoring agent.

[0039] Aerosol-generating materials may include one or more active substances and / or flavoring agents, one or more aerosol-forming agent materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0040] The material may be present on or within the support to form a substrate. The support may be, for example, paper, cardboard, cardboard, reconstructed material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support includes a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is located on one or both sides of the material.

[0041] See now Figure 1 The diagram illustrates a block diagram of a rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device according to an exemplary embodiment, generally indicated by reference numeral 100. The non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 includes at least one power source 101, a circuit 102, at least one aerosol generator 103, a housing 104, and a charging interface 105.

[0042] The circuit 102 can be configured to control the power supply to at least one power source 101 during charging operation to charge at least one power source 101 from a discharging state to a charging state (e.g., 80%, 90%, or 100% charging). The discharging state can vary depending on the use of the device 100, depending on the degree to which the power source 101 is discharged when the user connects the charging interface 105 to an external power source to begin charging the device 100. Typically, the discharging state can be a minimum operating voltage threshold required by the controller (e.g., main control unit, MCU) in the device 100, where the output voltage of the power source 101 is greater than or equal to that required by the controller (e.g., main control unit, MCU) in the device 100. V t Any state, because once the output voltage of power supply 101 drops below that level (i.e., V t If the device 100 is not charged further (i.e., preventing further discharge of the power source 101), the device 100 will become inoperable until the power source 101 has been charged to a higher level. Circuit 102 can be configured to control the power supply to at least one power source 101 according to a charging profile in which one or more of the charging voltage, charging current, and charging C-rate vary over time during charging operation. Therefore, circuit 102 can also be referred to as a "charging circuit" or a "charging control circuit." In some exemplary embodiments, the charging current can be selected based on the capacity of the battery cell and the known charging C-rate supported by that cell. For example, for a battery cell with a capacity of 200 mAh and known to support charging C-rates up to 25C, circuit 102 can be configured to control the power supply to at least one power source 101 according to a charging profile with a charging current equal to or less than 5 ampere-A (i.e., 0.2 × 25 = 5).

[0043] The charging curves can be specifically configured for a particular type of power source 101 used in device 100. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the at least one power source 101 can be configured to be removable and replaceable. In some such embodiments, circuitry 102 can be configured to store multiple charging curves, each associated with a different type of power source 101. When the at least one power source 101 is replaced with a replacement power source, circuitry 102 can be configured to identify the type of the replacement power source (e.g., by communicating with the replacement power source to receive an identifier indicating the power source type, or by communicating with a separate power source identification mechanism, either locally or remotely, with the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100). Circuitry 102 can then subsequently select one of the multiple charging curves associated with the identified type of replacement power source during subsequent charging operations for more efficient charging (e.g., faster and / or more reliable charging).

[0044] The non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 of this embodiment is configured to receive a consumable 110 comprising aerosol generating material 111 (e.g., a tobacco consumable 110, such as a tobacco stick). The at least one power source 101 is rechargeable and can be recharged using electrical energy received through the charging interface 105. The at least one power source 101 supplies power to the aerosol generator 103 to generate aerosols and can also supply power to other components of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 (e.g., active components within the circuitry 102) during operation of the device 100. Depending on the embodiment, the charging interface 105 may include a wired interface or a wireless interface. In the case of wireless charging, the charging interface 105 may include, for example, a resonant receiver in the form of an antenna. The antenna of the resonant receiver can be used (e.g., under the control of the circuitry 102) to receive magnetic field energy for charging the at least one power source 101.

[0045] Housing 105 may be configured to house, retain, or otherwise support some or all of the other components of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100. Housing 105 may be formed of any suitable material, including but not limited to paper, cardboard, cardboard, corrugated cardboard, reconstructed materials, plastic materials, ceramic materials, composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber), glass, metal, or metal alloys. In some embodiments, housing 105 may be configured to allow one or more components of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 to be removed and replaced. For example, housing 105 may include movable or removable portions (e.g., in the form of a panel, cover, cap, or plug) to allow access to components such as circuitry 102, at least one power source 101, and / or aerosol generator 103, potentially allowing removal and replacement of these components for repair or upgrade of device 100, or allowing removal of these components before disposal of device 100 (e.g., allowing separation of different materials used in device 100 for disposal / recycling). In some embodiments, housing 105 is configured such that at least one power source 101 can be removed and replaced.

[0046] In use of the device 100, the consumable 110 is inserted into the receiving portion of the housing 105, such that the consumable 110 can be heated by the aerosol generator 103 to generate an aerosol (and tobacco flavor, in the case of tobacco consumables) for the user. When the user inhales (which may be referred to as "inhalation") at the end of the consumable 110, air is drawn into the device 100 through one or more air inlets and passes through the consumable 110, thereby delivering the aerosol (and tobacco flavor, in the case of tobacco consumables) to the user.

[0047] In this embodiment, the aerosol generator 103 is an induction heater comprising an induction coil 103a and a sensor 103b. In use, the circuit 102 directs electrical energy from the power source 101 to the induction coil 103a, causing a varying current to flow through it. This generates a varying magnetic field that penetrates the conductive material of the sensor 103b, causing hysteresis heating of the sensor 103b. The consumable 110 and the aerosol generating material 111 contained therein are heated by the sensor 103b. In this embodiment, the sensor 103b is disposed within the device 100, for example, within the housing 105. However, in other embodiments, the sensor 103b may be disposed within the consumable 110.

[0048] While induction heating is used to generate aerosols in this embodiment, different mechanisms may be used to generate aerosols in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can still be configured to receive consumables including tobacco (e.g., in the form of shredded tobacco), but instead of induction coil 103a and sensor 103b, the aerosol generator 103 may include a resistance heater. In embodiments where the tobacco is heated by the resistance heater, the aerosol generator 103 (i.e., the resistance heater) may be arranged to have at least some physical contact with the tobacco material contained in the consumable 110 when the consumable is contained in the device 100. This can be achieved, for example, by providing a resistance heater in the form of a protruding element (such as a nail or blade) that is pushed into the tobacco 111 during insertion of the consumable 110 into the device 100.

[0049] The non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 is described by way of example only. Many alternative aerosol supply devices can be used in the exemplary implementation of the principles described herein. For example, instead of devices such as... Figure 1 The tobacco heating system of the device 100 shown herein, in other embodiments, may be a non-flammable aerosol supply device that is an electronic vaping device in which an aerosol-generating material (e.g., a liquid) is heated to generate an aerosol. The principles of this disclosure are not limited to a particular type of aerosol supply device 100. That is, the aerosol supply device 100 may be arranged to atomize solid, liquid, or other aerosol-generating materials by any suitable electric or controlled aerosol generator, such as a heater, a vibrating mesh, a radiation source, an electrically controlled pressurized canister that may include an electric release valve, etc.

[0050] Therefore, in some embodiments, at least one aerosol generator 103 may be configured to generate aerosols from an aerosol-generating material without heating, for example by using one or more of the following: vibration, pressure, or electrostatic energy. Examples of non-heated aerosol generators include ultrasonic atomizers and surface acoustic wave atomizers. In embodiments where the aerosol generator 103 is configured to generate aerosols by heating the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol generator 103 may include any of the following: induction heater, electromagnetic (EM) radiation heater (e.g., laser heater, non-laser optical heater, infrared heater, radio frequency heater, or microwave frequency heater), plasma heater, microfluidic heater, convection heater, conductive heater, resistance heater (e.g., graphene heater or ceramic heater), halogen heater, dielectric heater.

[0051] In embodiments where the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 is a so-called e-cigarette device, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can form part of an aerosol supply system comprising modular components, typically having two main functional parts: the aerosol supply device 100 and the article 110. In such embodiments, the article 110 may include consumable aerosol generating material 111 and an aerosol generator 103 (e.g., a resistive or inductive heating element), while portions of the aerosol supply device 100 may include longer-life components such as a rechargeable power supply 101, circuitry 102, and other components such as user interface features. The aerosol supply device 100 may also be referred to as a reusable component or battery section, and the article 110 may also be referred to as a consumable, disposable / replaceable component, cartridge, or cartridge atomizer.

[0052] In tobacco heating systems and e-cigarette systems, the aerosol supply device 100 and the article 110 can be mechanically coupled together at an interface, for example, using threads, bayonet, latch, or friction fit. When the aerosol-generating material in the article 110 is depleted, or when the user wishes to switch to a different article with different aerosol-generating materials (e.g., different compositions, such as different flavors), the article 110 can be removed from the aerosol supply device 100, and a replacement article can be attached to the appropriate position of the device 100. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the article 110 is configured such that after the aerosol-generating material 111 in the article 110 is depleted, the article 110 can be refilled with more aerosol-generating material 111 (e.g., more tobacco in the case of a tobacco heating system, or more liquid in the case of an e-cigarette system), thereby allowing the article 110 to be reused. In some such embodiments, the user can refill the article 110 using a separate reservoir of aerosol-generating material 111. The aerosol generating material used to refill the article can be the same as or different from the previous aerosol generating material in the article, thereby allowing the user to replace different aerosol generating materials 111 without purchasing new articles 110.

[0053] As described above, at least one power source 101 is rechargeable. According to an exemplary embodiment, reference will now be made to... Figure 2 Description includes Figure 1 A system comprising a rechargeable non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 and a device 200 for recharging the aerosol supply device. For example, the device 200 for recharging the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 may be referred to, according to its physical form, as a "charging device," "charger," "charging box," or "charging pack." Figure 2 In this embodiment, device 200 is shown in the form of a charging case or charging bag. The device includes a housing 210 having a space in which the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can be housed during charging. In such an embodiment, device 200 can perform a dual function by acting as a case or bag for protecting the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 (e.g., when carried by a user) while simultaneously charging the power source 101 of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100. In other embodiments, the charging device can take different forms, such as as a power adapter or power pack, which can be connected to the charging port 105 of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 via a suitable charging cable or an inductive charging interface.

[0054] The charging device 200 of this exemplary embodiment includes a charging power supply 201, a charging control circuit 202, a user interface 203, an external power interface 204, and a device interface 205. The user interface 203 may, for example, be used to convey information to a user about the status of the charging device 200 and / or the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100. In some embodiments, the user interface 203 may be omitted. The charging control circuit 202 is configured to control the flow of power from the charging power supply 201 and / or from the external power interface 204 through the device interface 205 to the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 to recharge the power supply 101 of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100.

[0055] The charging power source 201 is configured to store energy that can be used to charge the power source 105 of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100. For example, the charging power source 201 may include a battery, capacitor, supercapacitor, or any other suitable power source capable of storing and providing electrical energy. In some embodiments, such as when the charging device 200 is implemented as a power adapter configured to direct power from mains power to the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100, the charging power source 201 may be omitted.

[0056] External power interface 204 is configured to receive power from an external power source, such as mains electrical supply or other electrical devices such as tablet computers, laptops or desktop computers, smartphones, etc. In some embodiments, such as when the charging device 200 is implemented as a charging case or charging pack, external power interface 204 may be omitted. In such embodiments, when external power interface 204 is omitted, the charging power source 201 may be, for example, removable to allow the charging power source 201 to be replenished once depleted, either by replacing the charging power source 201 with another charging power source 201 that is partially or fully charged, or by recharging the charging power source 201 outside the charging device 200.

[0057] Despite Figure 2In the exemplary embodiment shown, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 is recharged using the charging device 200. However, in other embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can be recharged from any suitable electrical energy source. For example, the charging interface 105 of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can be a standardized interface such as a Universal Serial Bus-C (USB-C) connector, through which the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 can connect to and be recharged from any device capable of providing power via a USB-C interface. It should be noted that this description uses a USB-C interface as an example only and should not be construed as limiting the invention. In other exemplary embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 may include a different type of charging interface than USB-C.

[0058] Turn now Figure 3 The image shows a non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 according to another exemplary embodiment. Although the above references... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The described non-flammable aerosol supply device 100 is shown in the form of a tobacco heating system, which is configured to receive consumables including tobacco sticks, but in Figure 3 In an exemplary embodiment, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material in the form of a liquid substrate. Therefore, Figure 3 The non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 shown in the figure can be referred to as an "electronic cigarette device" or "electronic cigarette".

[0059] The non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 includes electrical contacts 302 (e.g., in the form of contact springs, contact pads, or spring pins) and a product interface 303. The product interface 303 is configured to engage with a product 301, thereby physically connecting the product 301 to the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300. Although Figure 3Not shown, but article 301 includes a reservoir and an aerosol generator configured to generate an aerosol from a liquid held in the reservoir. When article interface 303 engages with article 301, electrical contacts 302 of non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 form an electrical connection with corresponding contacts on article 301, thereby supplying power from non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 to the aerosol generator in article 301 to generate an aerosol. In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 may be configured to wirelessly supply power to the aerosol generator, in which case electrical contacts 302 may be omitted. For example, in such an embodiment, non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 may include an induction coil, and the aerosol generator 301 in article may include a sensor configured to generate heat when subjected to a changing magnetic field generated by the induction coil, as described above. As another alternative, in some embodiments, article 300 may not include an aerosol generator. For example, the induction coil and sensor can be included in the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300, eliminating the need for a separate aerosol generator in the article 300.

[0060] Continue to refer to Figure 3 The non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 includes a product interface circuit 304 (in this embodiment, it is in the form of a flexible printed circuit board (flexible PCB)), a power supply 305, a charging circuit 306, a connector 307, charging contacts 308, and a housing 309. The product interface circuit 304 and the charging circuit 306 can perform the functions described above. Figure 1 and 2 The circuit 102 of the described device 100 functions similarly. The power supply 305 can perform the same function as... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The power supply 101 of device 100 performs similar functions, such as providing power to the aerosol generator to generate aerosols, and providing power to other components of the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 during operation of device 300. Connector 307 and charging contact 308 can perform functions similar to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The charging interface 105 of the device 100 has a similar function.

[0061] Once assembled, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 is elongated and substantially tubular in shape. Depending on the size and proportions of the housing 309, in some exemplary embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply device 300 may have an appearance similar to that of a conventional cigarette, such as a King Size (KS) factory-manufactured cigarette (FMC).

[0062] See above. Figures 1 to 3The described non-flammable aerosol supply devices 100, 300 for providing aerosols during aspiration include power sources 101, 305 configured to supply power to at least one aerosol generator. In some exemplary embodiments, power sources 101, 305 are supercapacitors, such as hybrid supercapacitors, such as lithium-ion capacitors (LIC).

[0063] In this disclosure, the term "hybrid supercapacitor" is used to refer to a cell in which one electrode (e.g., an electrode comprising activated carbon) primarily stores energy via an adsorption process through an electrical double layer formed on the electrode surface, while the other electrode (e.g., an electrode comprising pre-doped lithium graphite) primarily stores energy through lithium-ion intercalation. Conversely, it should be understood that the electrode primarily storing energy through adsorption via the electrical double layer will release energy through a desorption process, while the electrode primarily storing energy through lithium-ion intercalation will release energy through an intercalation-deintercalation process. The electrode primarily storing charge as an electrical double layer is referred to herein as the cathode, while the electrode primarily storing charge through lithium-ion intercalation is referred to herein as the anode.

[0064] Here, the term "primary storage" refers to the mechanism under discussion as the primary mechanism by which charge is stored on or in the electrode during cell operation, but does not preclude the possibility that a certain amount of charge may also be stored by one or more other mechanisms. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, the cathode (i.e., the electrode that stores energy primarily through adsorption via the electric double layer) may also store and release energy through the insertion / deintercalation of lithium ions. For example, in such embodiments, the cathode may comprise a transition metal oxide (TMO) material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions through insertion / deintercalation. In some exemplary embodiments, the cathode may comprise a combination of activated carbon and TMO materials.

[0065] According to embodiments, various materials and combinations of materials can be used for the anode and cathode of the hybrid supercapacitor power supply 101. The cathode may, for example, comprise or consist of one or more of the following materials: activated carbon, heteroatom-doped carbon (e.g., nitrogen- or phosphorus-doped), or graphene, having dopants including, but not limited to, lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP), lithium nickel aluminum oxide (NCA), and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). For example, the anode may comprise or consist of one or more of the following materials: lithium pre-doped graphitic carbon, hard carbon and / or soft carbon, lithium titanate (LTO), or iron oxide (Fe2O3). Here, the terms "hard carbon" and "soft carbon" both refer to amorphous carbon, in other words, to a form of carbon with a lower degree of graphitization in its structure. The main difference between hard carbon and soft carbon is that soft carbon can be completely converted to graphite when heat-treated to 3000°C, while hard carbon cannot be converted to graphite when heat-treated to 3000°C.

[0066] In some exemplary embodiments, the cathode and / or anode include one or more cationic dopants, including but not limited to: sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), aluminum (Al), yttrium (Y), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tellurium (Te), zirconium (Zr), silicon (Si), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), ruthenium (Ru), vanadium (V), tungsten (W), tantalum (Ta), gallium (Ga), and niobium (Nb). For example, dopants such as Ca, Y, Cr, Mo, and Ti can be added to the cathode and / or anode to improve the cycle life of the supercapacitor. In some exemplary embodiments, the cathode and / or anode include one or more anionic dopants, including but not limited to: fluorine (F), chlorine (Cl), sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), silicon (Si), boron (B), and phosphorus (P).

[0067] Compared to undoped LIC hybrid supercapacitors, adding one or more dopants (such as those listed above) to the anode and / or cathode can provide numerous advantages. For example, adding one or more dopants to the anode and / or cathode can eliminate undesirable surface defects, thereby improving the structural stability and electrochemical performance of the anode or cathode materials.

[0068] Hybrid supercapacitors, such as LIC, also include a liquid electrolyte and a separator membrane. The separator membrane is positioned between the anode and cathode to separate them. In other words, the separator membrane prevents the anode from contacting the cathode, which would result in a short circuit. The separator membrane allows charge to flow through both the electrolyte and the separator membrane, enabling charges transferred in the electrolyte to flow from the anode to the cathode and vice versa.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid electrolyte may comprise one or more of the following: lithium salts, including but not limited to lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF6), lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), and lithium bis(oxalate)borate (LiBOB); and carbonate organic solvents, including but not limited to ethylene carbonate (EC), propylene carbonate (PC), and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC). Diethyl carbonate (DEC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC), propyl acetate (PA), methyl formate (MF), methyl acetate (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), methylpyrrolidone (MP), tetrahydrofuran (THF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 1,2-dimethyl ethane (DME), and dichloromethane (DCM); nitrile organic solvents, such as acetonitrile and / or acrylonitrile; and one or more combinations of additives, including but not limited to vinylene carbonate (VC), vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC), and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).

[0070] In an exemplary embodiment, the separator membrane includes one or more of the following: cellulose or cellulose-derived materials; single-layer or multi-layer polyolefin microporous membranes, including but not limited to polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride and / or polytetrafluoroethylene; nonwoven fibers; naturally occurring substances; and ceramics.

[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, the power source used in the non-flammable aerosol supply device (e.g., Figure 1 The power supply 101 in the device 100 or Figure 3 The supercapacitor of the power supply 305 in the device 300 can be in the form of a cell having any of the following cell shapes: cylindrical cell shape, pouch cell shape, rectangular cell shape, and prismatic cell shape.

[0072] See now Figure 4 The electrode structure of a hybrid supercapacitor power supply is schematically illustrated according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 4 In an exemplary embodiment, the hybrid supercapacitor is a LIC. See above. Figures 1 to 3 The power supplies 101 and 305 of the described non-flammable aerosol supply devices 100 and 300 may include hybrid supercapacitors, such as... Figure 4 The hybrid supercapacitor shown. The LIC hybrid supercapacitor power supplies 101 and 305 can be configured to be removed and / or replaced from the aerosol supply unit, as shown above. Figure 1 As described.

[0073] Figure 4The LIC power supply 101, 305 includes a cathode 401, an anode 402, a liquid electrolyte 403, and a separation membrane 404. Figure 4 The arrows in the diagram indicate the direction of charge (e.g., cations, anions, electrons, etc.) movement during LIC charging. In this exemplary embodiment, cathode 401 comprises activated carbon doped with TMO (e.g., NMC, LCO, LFP, and / or LTO), while anode 402 comprises pre-doped lithium graphite. During charging, charge is stored at cathode 401 in the form of an electrical double layer on the surface of cathode 401 and in the form of intercalated ions, while charge is stored at anode 402 in the form of intercalated lithium ions.

[0074] Figure 5 This is a table illustrating the cell characteristics and test results of six different types of power sources (cells) including LIC hybrid supercapacitor cells according to exemplary embodiments. The table lists the following characteristics for each cell: Cell weight, in grams (g); Cell diameter, in millimeters (mm) — note that a single diameter is given for cells 1-4 and 6 because these cells are circular in cross-section, while two values ​​are given for cell 5 because it has a rectangular cross-section; Cell length, in mm; Cell volume, in cubic centimeters (cm). 3 As a unit; The operating voltage range of the battery cell is measured in volts (V). The manufacturer-specified cell capacity is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh); and The energy density of a battery cell is measured in watt-hours per liter (Wh / L).

[0075] also, Figure 5 The table below lists the following test results for each cell: The discharge capacity of a battery cell is the total energy (measured in mAh) discharged from the cell during a discharge operation in which the cell voltage drops from a first voltage to a second voltage, where the second voltage is lower than the first voltage. Aerosol inhalation count, i.e., the total number of inhalations that can be achieved based on discharge capacity and the simulated power consumption distribution of an exemplary e-cigarette device; The 5-ampere (A) charging time of the exemplary e-cigarette device including the battery cell is measured in minutes (min), which is the time taken to charge the battery cell from a discharged state to a charged state (in this case, charging from a state where the output voltage of the battery cell is too low for the controller in the device to operate to a fully charged state, i.e., 100% state of charge, SOC). THP usage session count, which is the total number of usage sessions that can be realized based on the discharge capacity and the simulated power consumption curve of an exemplary THP (tobacco heating product) device; and The 5A charging time of the exemplary THP device including the battery cell is measured in minutes (min), which is the time it takes for the battery cell to be charged from a discharged state to a charged state (in this case, charging from a state where the output voltage of the battery cell is too low for the controller in the device to operate to a fully charged state, i.e., 100% state of charge, SOC).

[0076] In each of the tests given above (the results are in) Figure 5 As given in the text, the battery cell under discussion is charged or discharged between a certain discharge state and a certain charge state. Here, the term "discharge state" refers to the state of charge of the battery cell at the start of the test (for tests involving charging) or at the end of the test (for tests involving discharging). Conversely, the term "charge state" refers to the state of charge of the battery cell at the end of the test (for tests involving charging) or at the start of the test (for tests involving discharging). Figure 5 The states of charge in all tests given in the report are fully charged, meaning the cell is considered to be in a state of charge where it can no longer store any further charge (also referred to as 100% SOC). For example, a cell can be considered fully charged once the current flowing into it (in the case of charging) falls below a minimum threshold, such as 0.5A. Figure 5 The discharge state in all tests given in the results is when the cell's output voltage is below (e.g., slightly below) the minimum operating voltage threshold required by the controller (e.g., the main control unit MCU) in the device. V t The charging state. The discharging state in all tests is defined as the state of charge when the cell's output voltage has dropped to a level where the controller in the device can no longer operate, meaning that the device is rendered inoperable when the cell is in a discharging state.

[0077] exist Figure 5In the results shown, the charging time measured at a 5A charging current for each cell in the exemplary THP device is longer than the charging time measured at the same charging current (5A) for the same cells used in the exemplary e-cigarette device. This is because the exemplary THP device and the exemplary e-cigarette device used in these tests include different controllers with different minimum operating voltages. The controller in the exemplary THP device has a minimum operating voltage of 3.0V, while the controller in the exemplary e-cigarette device has a minimum operating voltage of 3.3V. Therefore, the starting point in the 5A charging time test for the exemplary THP device is when the cell's output voltage is in a discharged state of (or slightly below) 3.0V, while the starting point in the 5A charging time test for the exemplary THP device is when the cell's output voltage is in a discharged state of (or slightly below) 3.3V. In both cases, the endpoint of the 5A charging time test is when the cell reaches its maximum output voltage (i.e., at 100% state of charge). Therefore, the measured 5A charging time for the exemplary THP device is longer than the measured 5A charging time for the exemplary e-cigarette device.

[0078] Figure 5 Cells #1 to #4 in the table shown include LIC power supplies according to exemplary embodiments. Specifically, cells #1, #2, #3, and #4 are LIC cells comprising an activated carbon cathode and a lithium-predoped graphite anode. Compared to cells #1 and #2, cells #3 and #4 comprise cathodes with a lower level of TMO dopant. Cell #5 is a comparative example of a commercially available e-cigarette device comprising a conventional lithium-ion battery, and cell #6 is a comparative example of a commercially available e-cigarette device comprising an LIC power supply.

[0079] Cell #1 is a LIC cell manufactured by CDA (RTM), identified by product code LIB1340Q4R0507. Cell #2 is a LIC cell manufactured by CDA, identified by product code LIB1840Q4R0118. Cell #3 is a LIC cell manufactured by CDA, identified by product code LIC1840Q3R8507. Cell #4 is a LIC cell manufactured by CDA, identified by product code LIC1840Q3R8757. Based on the test results presented herein, the inventors have recognized that such cells are particularly suitable for use as a power source in aerosol supply systems, as will be explained below.

[0080] Figure 5The discharge capacity values ​​given are obtained at a C-rate of 0.2C and a temperature of 25°C. The C-rate is widely used to allow comparisons between cells of different capacities; a C-rate of 0.2C means that if power is drawn from the cell at a continuous rate of 0.2C (starting from a full charge), the cell will be fully discharged after 5 hours (1 / 0.2). For cells #1 and #2, both have a specified operating voltage range of 2.5-4.0V. Figure 5 As stated in the "Voltage Range" column, the discharge capacity is measured within a voltage range of 3.0-4.0V. For cells #3 and #4, both have a specified operating voltage range of 2.5-3.8V. Figure 5 As stated in the “Voltage Range” column, the discharge capacity is measured within a voltage range of 3.0-3.8V to ensure that it does not exceed the maximum operating voltage of the cell.

[0081] Figure 5 The aerosol inhalation count and THP usage period count values ​​given are obtained based on the simulated power consumption curves of the example e-cigarette device. The power consumption curves were determined by subjecting the device to repeated inhalations for 3 seconds each, with 30-second pauses between inhalations, under the control of the vaporizer, to ensure repeatability. During each inhalation, the power supply used pulse width modulation (PWM) to power the aerosol generator at a 50% duty cycle and a switching frequency of 50 Hz. Under these conditions, the exemplary e-cigarette device consumes approximately 6.5 milliwatt-hours (mWh) or 23.4 joules (J) per inhalation. The power consumption curves were then converted into a battery test script and applied to each cell under test (cells #1 through #6) using a Maccor battery tester, starting from a fully charged state. The number of simulated inhalations was then counted until the cell was completely depleted to determine the total number of inhalations a cell could provide on a full charge (i.e., the "aerosol inhalation count" value).

[0082] Similar methods are used to obtain Figure 5The THP usage session count value is obtained based on the simulated power consumption curve of the example tobacco heating system. In this case, the aerosol generator in the tobacco heating system is activated for a longer period of time (referred to as a "session") compared to the aerosol generator in the vaping device. The vaping device is activated at the start of each vape and deactivated at the end of each vape. During a usage session, the user will typically take several vapes on the tobacco heating system. In this example, the power consumption curve of the exemplary tobacco heating system is obtained based on an average usage session duration of approximately 4 minutes and 45 seconds (4.75 minutes), during which the tobacco heating system consumes approximately 220 mWh or 792 J of power from the battery cell. The power consumption curve is then converted into a battery test script, and the power consumption curve is applied to each battery cell under test (cells #1 to #6) using a Maccor battery tester, starting from when the cell is fully charged. The number of simulated THP usage sessions is then counted until the cell is completely depleted to determine the total number of usage sessions that the cell can provide when fully charged (i.e., the "THP usage session count" value). When determining the THP usage period count, if the cell is exhausted midway through a simulated usage period (i.e., a non-integer value is given for the THP usage period count), the number of usage periods is rounded down to the nearest integer to give the total number of complete usage periods that can be provided by a fully charged cell.

[0083] Historically, the trend in aerosol supply systems (e.g., e-cigarette devices and tobacco heating systems) has been to increase the power capacity of the devices to allow for longer periods of use between charging. Simultaneously, there is a desire to shorten the charging time so that the device can be recharged more quickly once the power is depleted. These represent conflicting technical requirements, as charging time increases accordingly with increased capacity. Figure 5 The example of cell #6 in the text (from a commercially available LIC-powered e-cigarette device) follows this trend by using a relatively high-capacity LIC power supply (650 mAh capacity).

[0084] However, the inventors have recognized that, since supercapacitors can be charged much faster than conventional batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), the total capacity becomes less important from the user's perspective when using supercapacitors as a power source in an aerosol supply system. This is because when the battery is depleted, the faster charging time means the device can be quickly recharged and ready for use again, with minimal inconvenience to the user. In other words, the act of recharging the device is far less inconvenient for the user when using a supercapacitor power source compared to devices that include conventional power sources.

[0085] The inventors have recognized that using a supercapacitor as a power source in an aerosol supply device offers the opportunity to reduce capacity (and thus reduce aerosol suction counts or THP usage period counts) without causing any significant inconvenience to the user, because lower capacity supercapacitors (e.g.) Figure 5 The charging time for cells #1, #3, and #4 in the aerosol supply system can be significantly shorter than that of conventional batteries (e.g., cell #5) and even shorter than that of larger capacity supercapacitors (e.g., cell #6). In other words, instead of following the historical trend of increasing cell capacity compared to previous generations of devices, using supercapacitors as a power source in an aerosol supply system offers the opportunity to further reduce charging time (i.e., the time it takes to fully charge a cell from 0% to 100%) by prioritizing reducing charging time rather than prioritizing the number of pumping / usage periods between charges.

[0086] Therefore, in some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol supply system may include a power source comprising at least one supercapacitor (e.g., a hybrid supercapacitor, such as a LIC) with a charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes. Here, the term "charging time" should be understood to mean the time taken to fully charge a cell from 0% to 100%. In such embodiments, the reduction in charging time compared to prior art devices is achieved in part by using a supercapacitor instead of, for example, a conventional lithium-ion battery, and further reduced in part by selecting a lower-capacity supercapacitor cell. Thus, in such embodiments, in addition to having a charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes, the supercapacitor may also have a capacity such that, in a fully charged state (i.e., when 100% charged), the supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 80 pumps.

[0087] This advantage is Figure 6 This has been proven in the text. Figure 6 A graph showing the relationship between 5A charging time and cycle number (charge / discharge cycle number) in minutes was plotted for cells #1 to #6. Charging time can be understood as the time it takes for a cell to charge from one state to another. (See the reference above.) Figure 5The starting point for measuring charging time can be referred to as the "discharge state," and the ending point (i.e., after charging is complete) can be referred to as the "charging state." It will be understood that the discharge state and charging state can be defined differently depending on the test criteria used to measure charging time. In this exemplary embodiment, charging time is measured starting when the cell is in a state of charge (SOC) where its output voltage is at (or slightly below) the minimum voltage required for the controller to operate in the device. This starting point can be referred to as the "discharge state" or even the "fully discharged state," although in the latter case it should be understood that, in practice, even when the output voltage drops below the minimum operating voltage required by the device controller, the cell will still hold a limited amount of charge. Similarly, the charging state can be understood as the state where the cell cannot store any more charge, and therefore can be referred to as the "fully charged state" or 100% SOC.

[0088] In this exemplary embodiment, the 5A charging time for cells #1 to #4 and #6 is achieved by charging the cells with a constant current of 5A until the output voltage of the cells reaches a certain value. Figure 5 The charging time is measured by charging the cell at the corresponding upper limit specified in the "Voltage Range" column, and then continuing to charge at a constant voltage (i.e., keeping the voltage at the upper limit) until the current drops to 0.5A. For cell #5, due to the limitations of the exemplary e-cigarette device used, the charging time is measured by charging the cell at a constant current of 1.11A (equivalent to a C-rate of 3C for cell #5) until the cell's output voltage reaches 4.4V, and then continuing to charge at a constant voltage of 4.4V until the current drops to 0.11A (0.1C rate).

[0089] like Figure 6 As shown, the charging times of cells #1, #3, and #4 are significantly shorter than those of cells #5 and #6, thus providing greater convenience to users by reducing the time they must wait before the device is fully charged. Specifically, each of cells #1, #3, and #4 has an aerosol suction count of 80 or fewer, meaning that when fully charged, the cell is configured to store enough charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 80 suctions. Furthermore, cells #1, #3, and #4 each have a 5A charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes. In some exemplary embodiments, the supercapacitor may have a charging time of less than or equal to 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, or 4 minutes (e.g., cells #1, #3, and #4 each have a 5A charging time of 3.7 minutes or less). In some exemplary embodiments, the supercapacitor may have an aerosol suction count of 50 or fewer (e.g., cells #1 and #3 have aerosol suction counts of 48 and 50, respectively).

[0090] By utilizing lower-capacity supercapacitors in this manner to further reduce charging time, in some exemplary embodiments, the aerosol supply device may therefore include a power source comprising at least one supercapacitor (e.g., a hybrid supercapacitor, such as a LIC) with a total energy storage capacity of less than or equal to 450 mAh. Figure 5 The configurations of cells #1 through #4 are as follows. In some such embodiments, the total energy storage capacity can be between 200 mAh and 300 mAh, as in the case of cells #1, #3, and #4.

[0091] Similarly, by utilizing lower-capacity supercapacitors in this manner, the volume and / or mass of the battery cells can be further reduced, resulting in more compact and / or lightweight devices. For example, in some exemplary embodiments, an aerosol supply device may include a power source comprising at least one supercapacitor (e.g., a hybrid supercapacitor, such as a LIC) having a mass of less than or equal to 20 grams (e.g., cell #1 has a mass of 9.39 g, while cell #3 has a mass of 19.51 g). In some exemplary embodiments, an aerosol supply device may include a power source comprising a volume of less than or equal to 10 cm³. 3 For example, less than or equal to 9, 8, 7, or 6 cm 3 (For example, cell #1 has 5.31cm) 3 At least one supercapacitor (e.g., a hybrid supercapacitor, such as a LIC) of volume.

[0092] As described above, the charging time of the aerosol supply system can be reduced by using a relatively low-capacity supercapacitor as the power source for the aerosol generator. In some exemplary embodiments, the supercapacitor cell can be selected based on its discharge or charge capacity and the number of aerosol suction counts that the cell can achieve in the intended aerosol supply system. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol supply system includes at least one power source comprising a supercapacitor having a discharge capacity of no more than 180 mAh between a first output voltage limit and a second output voltage limit, and in a charging state, the supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 80 suctions.

[0093] For example, such as Figure 5 As shown, when measured at a C-rate of 0.2C, cells #1, #3, and #4 all have a discharge capacity of less than 180 mAh (equivalent to a current of <1A for each of cells #1, #3, and #4). Furthermore, as... Figure 7As shown, cells #1, #3, and #4 all have a charging capacity of less than 150 mAh (as measured at a charging current of 5A). Meanwhile, as in Figure 8 As shown above, when in relation to Figure 5 When tested under the specified conditions, cells #1, #3 and #4 each provided a vapor draw count of no more than 80 draws (i.e., a draw lasting 3 seconds with a 30-second pause between draws).

[0094] In some exemplary embodiments, when tested under these conditions, the battery cell can provide an aerosol aspiration count of more than 80 aspirations, such as no more than 90, 100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170, 180, 190, or 200 aspirations (e.g., battery cell #2 provides an aerosol aspiration count of 176 aspirations). Furthermore, in some exemplary embodiments, the battery cell can provide an aerosol aspiration count of less than 80 aspirations, such as no more than 50, 60, or 70 aspirations (e.g., battery cells #1 and #3 both provide an aerosol aspiration count of no more than 50 aspirations).

[0095] Figure 9 A table is shown that lists the results already taken against Figure 5 The charging rate (C-rate) shown for each of the six battery cells listed (i.e., cells #1 to #6) is displayed. For example... Figure 9 As shown, cells #1, #3, and #4 can support significantly higher C-rates than other cells (especially cells #5 and #6), partly due to their lower capacity compared to cells #5 and #6 (i.e., since the equivalent C-rate for a given current depends on the cell's capacity). A higher C-rate equates to a shorter charging time; therefore, cells #1, #3, and #4 can charge to their capacity much faster than cells #5 and #6 because they can be charged at a higher C-rate.

[0096] Based on the above references Figures 5 to 9 Using one or more of the aforementioned criteria to select supercapacitor cells for use as a power source in an aerosol supply system can further reduce the charging time of the aerosol supply system.

[0097] An exemplary embodiment has been described, wherein the aerosol supply system includes at least one power source, which includes a supercapacitor, such as those referenced above. Figures 1 to 3 and Figures 5 to 9The cells #1 to #4 are described in the text. Supercapacitors are extremely durable compared to alternative technologies and can operate for more than 10,000 cycles. In some such embodiments, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to operate for a number of charge and discharge cycles greater than or equal to 10,000 cycles, and in some embodiments greater than or equal to 20,000 cycles. The maximum number of charge and discharge cycles a cell can withstand before its performance degrades beyond a defined limit (e.g., when the cell's capacity drops to a percentage below its initial capacity (when new), or when the cell fails) may be referred to as the cell's "cycle life" or "operating life". In some exemplary embodiments, after the stated number of charge and discharge cycles (e.g., 10,000 or 20,000 cycles), at least one supercapacitor is still able to store sufficient charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for at least 80 pumping cycles.

[0098] Therefore, exemplary embodiments have been described, wherein the aerosol supply device includes at least one power source, the at least one power source including at least one supercapacitor configured to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for generating aerosols from aerosol-generating materials. An example of such an aerosol supply device is schematically shown in [illustration]. Figure 10 The device 1000 includes at least one supercapacitor power supply 1001 and circuit 1002 (e.g., similar to the above reference). Figure 1 The circuit described is referenced in 102 or above. Figure 3 The circuits 304 and 306 are described. Circuit 1002 can control the power flow from the supercapacitor power supply to the aerosol generator 1003 for generating aerosols from the aerosol generating material 1011. According to an embodiment, the aerosol generator 1003 and / or the aerosol generating material 1011 may be included in the aerosol supply device 1000, or may be included in a physically separate consumable 1010, which may be removably engaged with the device 1000 such that the consumable can be removed and replaced as needed (e.g., when the aerosol generating material 1011 has been used up, or if the aerosol generator 1003 is no longer inoperable).

[0099] The various embodiments described herein are provided only to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. It should be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or on the equivalents of the claims, and other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. In addition to those specifically described herein, various embodiments of the invention may suitably include, consist of, or substantially consist of suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, devices, etc., or suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, devices, etc. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

[0100] Aspects of the invention are set forth in the following numbers, which form part of the specification: Item 1. An aerosol supply device for providing aerosol during suction at the aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprising: At least one power source, comprising at least one supercapacitor configured to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for generating aerosols from aerosol-generating materials. The at least one supercapacitor is a lithium-ion capacitor (LIC), comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the anode and / or cathode comprises one or more dopants.

[0101] Item 2. The aerosol supply device according to Item 1, wherein the cathode comprises one or more of the following: activated carbon, heteroatom-doped carbon, or graphene.

[0102] Item 3. The aerosol supply device according to Item 1 or 2, wherein the cathode comprises one or more of the following as one or more dopants: lithium cobalt oxide (LCO); lithium manganese oxide (LMO); lithium iron phosphate (LFP); lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP); lithium nickel aluminum oxide (NCA); and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).

[0103] Item 4. An aerosol supply device according to Item 1, 2 or 3, wherein the anode comprises one or more of the following: lithium pre-doped graphite carbon; hard carbon and / or soft carbon; lithium titanate (LTO); and iron oxide (Fe2O3).

[0104] Item 5. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein the one or more dopants comprise one or more cationic dopants.

[0105] Item 6. The aerosol supply device according to Item 5, wherein the one or more cationic dopants comprise one or more of the following: Na; K; Mg; Zn; Ca; Fe; Al; Y; Cr; Mo; Te; Zr; Si; Sn; Ti; Ru; V; W; Ta; Ga; and Nb.

[0106] Item 7. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the one or more dopants include one or more anionic dopants.

[0107] Item 8. The aerosol supply device according to Item 7, wherein the one or more anionic dopants comprise one or more of the following: F; Cl; S; N; Si; B; and P.

[0108] Item 9. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 8, wherein at least one supercapacitor comprises a liquid electrolyte.

[0109] Item 10. The aerosol supply device according to Item 9, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises one or more of the following: lithium salts; lithium hexafluoroarsenate LiAsF6; lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide LiFSI; lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide LiTFSI; lithium tetrafluoroborate LiBF4; lithium perchlorate LiClO4; and lithium bis(oxalate)borate LiBOB.

[0110] Item 11. The aerosol supply device according to Item 10, wherein the lithium salt comprises lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6).

[0111] Item 12. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 9 to 11, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a carbonate-based organic solvent.

[0112] Item 13. The aerosol supply device according to Item 12, wherein the carbonate-based organic solvent comprises one or more of the following: ethylene carbonate EC; propylene carbonate PC; ethyl methyl carbonate EMC; diethyl carbonate DEC; dimethyl carbonate DMC; propyl acetate PA; methyl formate MF; methyl acetate MA; ethyl acetate EA; methylpyrrolidone MP; tetrahydrofuran THF; dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO; 1,2-dimethoxyethane DME; and dichloromethane DCM.

[0113] Item 14. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 9 to 13, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises a nitrile organic solvent.

[0114] Item 15. The aerosol supply device according to Item 14, wherein the nitrile organic solvent includes acetonitrile and / or acrylonitrile.

[0115] Item 16. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 9 to 11, wherein the liquid electrolyte includes one or more additives.

[0116] Item 17. The aerosol supply device according to Item 16, wherein one or more additives comprise one or more of the following: vinylene carbonate (VC); vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC); and fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).

[0117] Item 18. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 17, wherein at least one supercapacitor is capable of being charged from a discharged state to a charged state within a charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes, and in the charged state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0118] Item 19. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 18, wherein, between the first output voltage limit and the second output voltage limit, at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of not more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of not more than 400 mAh.

[0119] Item 20. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 19, wherein at least one supercapacitor is configured to operate for a number of charge and discharge cycles greater than or equal to 10,000 cycles, and wherein, after the number of charge and discharge cycles, the at least one supercapacitor is still able to store sufficient charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0120] Item 21. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 20, comprising: The circuit is configured to control the power supply to at least one supercapacitor during a charging operation to charge at least one supercapacitor from a discharging state to a charging state. The circuit is configured to control the power supply to at least one supercapacitor during charging operation so as to charge the at least one supercapacitor at a C rate greater than or equal to 25C. Between the first output voltage limit and the second output voltage limit, the at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of no more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of no more than 400 mAh, and / or wherein, in the charging state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

[0121] Item 22. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 21, wherein at least one supercapacitor is in the form of a cell, the cell having any one of the following cell shapes: cylindrical cell shape, pouch cell shape, rectangular cell shape, and prism cell shape.

[0122] Item 23. An aerosol supply device according to any one of items 1 to 22, wherein at least one supercapacitor is configured to be removable and / or replaceable from the aerosol supply device.

[0123] Item 24. An aerosol supply system, comprising: Consumables; and According to any one of claims 1 to 23, the aerosol supply device is configured to releasably engage with a consumable. The consumables include aerosol generating materials.

[0124] Item 25. The aerosol supply system according to Item 24, wherein the consumables include at least one aerosol generator.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device for providing aerosol during suction at the aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprising: At least one power source, comprising at least one supercapacitor configured to supply power to at least one aerosol generator for generating the aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. Wherein, the at least one supercapacitor is a lithium-ion capacitor LIC, the lithium-ion capacitor LIC includes an anode and a cathode, and wherein the anode and / or the cathode includes one or more dopants.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein, The cathode includes one or more of the following: activated carbon, heteroatom-doped carbon, or graphene.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The cathode includes one or more of the following as dopants: lithium cobalt oxide (LCO); lithium manganese oxide (LMO); lithium iron phosphate (LFP); lithium iron manganese phosphate (LMFP); lithium nickel aluminum oxide (NCA); and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC).

4. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein, The anode comprises one or more of the following: lithium pre-doped graphite carbon; hard carbon and / or soft carbon; lithium titanate (LTO); and iron oxide (Fe2O3).

5. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The one or more dopants include one or more cationic dopants.

6. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein, The one or more cationic dopants include one or more of the following: Na; K; Mg; Zn; Ca; Fe; Al; Y; Cr; Mo; Te; Zr; Si; Sn; Ti; Ru; V; W; Ta; Ga; and Nb.

7. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein, The one or more dopants include one or more anionic dopants.

8. The aerosol supply device according to claim 7, wherein, The one or more anionic dopants include one or more of the following: F; Cl; S; N; Si; B; and P.

9. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The at least one supercapacitor includes a liquid electrolyte.

10. The aerosol supply device according to claim 9, wherein, The liquid electrolyte includes one or more of the following: lithium salts; lithium hexafluoroarsenate LiAsF6; lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide LiFSI; lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide LiTFSI; lithium tetrafluoroborate LiBF4; lithium perchlorate LiClO4; and lithium bis(oxalate)borate LiBOB.

11. The aerosol supply device according to claim 10, wherein, The lithium salt includes lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6).

12. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, The liquid electrolyte includes a carbonate-based organic solvent.

13. The aerosol supply device according to claim 12, wherein, The carbonate-based organic solvent includes one or more of the following: ethylene carbonate EC; propylene carbonate PC; ethyl methyl carbonate EMC; diethyl carbonate DEC; dimethyl carbonate DMC; propyl acetate PA; methyl formate MF; methyl acetate MA; ethyl acetate EA; methyl pyrrolidone MP; tetrahydrofuran THF; dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO; 1,2-dimethoxyethane DME; and dichloromethane DCM.

14. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein, The liquid electrolyte includes a nitrile-based organic solvent.

15. The aerosol supply device according to claim 14, wherein, The nitrile organic solvent includes acetonitrile and / or acrylonitrile.

16. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein, The liquid electrolyte includes one or more additives.

17. The aerosol supply device according to claim 16, wherein, The one or more additives include one or more of the following: vinylene carbonate (VC); vinyl ethylene carbonate (VEC); And fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).

18. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein, The at least one supercapacitor is capable of being charged from a discharged state to a charged state within a charging time of less than or equal to 12 minutes, and in the charged state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

19. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein, Between the first output voltage limit and the second output voltage limit, the at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of no more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of no more than 400 mAh.

20. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein, The at least one supercapacitor is configured to operate for a number of charge and discharge cycles greater than or equal to 10,000, and wherein, after the number of charge and discharge cycles, the at least one supercapacitor is still able to store enough charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

21. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising: The circuit is configured to control the power supply to the at least one supercapacitor during a charging operation to charge the at least one supercapacitor from a discharging state to a charging state. The circuit is configured to control the power supply to the at least one supercapacitor during the charging operation, so as to charge the at least one supercapacitor at a C-rate greater than or equal to 25C. Between the first output voltage limit and the second output voltage limit, the at least one supercapacitor has a discharge capacity of no more than 450 mAh and / or a charging capacity of no more than 400 mAh, and / or wherein, in the charging state, the at least one supercapacitor is configured to store sufficient charge to supply power to the at least one aerosol generator for no more than 200 pumping cycles.

22. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein, The at least one supercapacitor is in the form of a cell, which has any of the following cell shapes: cylindrical cell shape, pouch cell shape, rectangular cell shape, and prism cell shape.

23. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, The at least one supercapacitor is configured to be removed and / or replaced from the aerosol supply device.

24. An aerosol supply system, comprising: Consumables; as well as The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to releasably engage with the consumable. The consumables include the aerosol generating material.

25. The aerosol supply system according to claim 24, wherein, The consumables include the at least one aerosol generator.

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