Safe charging interruption

Abstract

FIELD: battery charging.SUBSTANCE: method for charging a battery in an aerosol generating system. A method for charging a battery includes the steps of initiating charging of the battery, monitoring an electrical parameter indicating the charging rate, and determining the charging rate by monitoring a change in the electrical parameter over a given period of time. The determined charging rate is compared with a reference rate, which is determined by the expected change in the monitored electrical parameter. However, if the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, battery charging stops.EFFECT: increasing the safety of charging a lithium-ion battery in an aerosol generating system by detecting charging problems at early stages of the charging process.14 cl, 10 dwg

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for safely charging a battery in an aerosol-generating system and to an aerosol-generating system implementing said method. The present invention also relates to an aerosol-generating device and a charging case for use in the aerosol-generating system.

[0002] Commonly known aerosol-generating systems are portable, electrically powered, and typically contain rechargeable batteries to provide the necessary electrical power. It is crucial to charge the battery in an aerosol-generating system safely; otherwise, the battery may become unstable, potentially leading to catastrophic failure of the aerosol-generating device. This is especially important for aerosol-generating systems, as these systems typically generate heat and are used in close proximity to the user's body.

[0003] One of the frequently used safety elements in battery charging controllers is the so-called "safety timer." This safety element determines the battery's charging time and terminates charging if the battery is still charging after a specified period of time.

[0004] The problem with the traditional "safety timer" function is that a system fault (such as a battery fault) may occur at the beginning of the charging cycle. However, a safety timer allows the charge controller to charge the battery for a specified period of time. The specified time period after which charging will be stopped can be set, for example, to ten hours. Therefore, if the battery fails at the beginning of the charging cycle, the battery could be allowed to continue charging for the full ten hours, which could lead to catastrophic failure of the aerosol-generating device.

[0005] It would therefore be desirable to provide more sophisticated charging safety features that could help avoid catastrophic failures when charging a battery in an aerosol generating system.

[0006] Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide a charging method that could help detect charging problems early in the charging process.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for charging a battery in an aerosol generating system is provided. The method comprises the following steps:

[0008] - initiate battery charging;

[0009] - Monitoring the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0010] - determining the battery charging speed;

[0011] - compare the determined charging speed with the reference charging speed; and

[0012] - If the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, stop charging the battery.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of charging a battery in an aerosol generating system is provided, the method comprising:

[0014] initiate battery charging;

[0015] Monitoring the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0016] determining the charging rate of the battery by monitoring the change of the electrical parameter over a specified period of time; and

[0017] comparing the detected charging rate with a reference charging rate, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by changing the monitored electrical parameter,

[0018] If the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, stop charging the battery.

[0019] By detecting the charging rate during the charging process, abnormal charging can be detected in advance. Thus, using the method of the present invention, the charging process can be interrupted, completely stopped, or reduced to a safe level upon detection of critical charging rates. Thus, the present invention avoids prolonged charging of faulty batteries. Thus, the present invention helps reduce the likelihood of potentially hazardous situations associated with charging batteries used in aerosol-generating systems.

[0020] The power supply may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium-ion battery, such as lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), lithium titanate (LTO), or lithium polymer (LiPo) battery. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that provides for the storage of a sufficient amount of energy for one or more use sessions; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate an aerosol for a period of approximately four to ten minutes, or approximately six minutes, or for several periods of approximately six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a specified number of puffs or individual activations of the heating element.

[0021] The reference charging rate may be the expected charging rate. The charging process of a rechargeable battery may involve various charging modes. These modes may vary depending on the method of supplying power to the battery.

[0022] In embodiments, the charging modes of the charging process may include a pre-charge mode, a current regulation mode, and a voltage regulation mode.

[0023] In pre-charge mode, the first constant current (called the "pre-charge current") can be applied. This pre-charge current can be applied until the battery output voltage reaches the pre-charge voltage threshold.

[0024] In constant current regulation mode, a second constant current (called the "regulation current") can be applied. The regulation current applied in constant current mode can be greater than the precharge current applied in precharge mode. The regulation current can be applied until the battery output voltage reaches the regulation voltage threshold. Therefore, constant current regulation mode can be used whenever the battery output voltage is between the precharge voltage threshold and the regulation voltage threshold.

[0025] After completing the pre-charge mode and constant current regulation mode, the constant voltage regulation mode can be used. In this mode, a constant voltage (referred to as "regulation voltage") can be applied to the battery while the charging current is gradually reduced. The regulation voltage can be applied until the charging current drops to the termination current level. When the charging current reaches the termination current level, this indicates that the battery has reached the desired charging state. Once this desired charging state is reached, the battery can be considered fully charged and charging can be stopped.

[0026] The parameter or parameters indicating the battery charging rate to be monitored and the reference charging rate can be selected depending on the charging mode used. The parameter or parameters indicating the charging rate can be the battery output voltage and / or the current consumed by the battery during charging. The charging rate can be determined based on the electrical parameter being monitored.

[0027] In charging modes that use constant current, such as pre-charge and constant current regulation modes, the charging rate parameter can be the output voltage of the battery being charged. In most of these charging modes, the battery output voltage typically increases linearly over time. The increase in output voltage decreases toward the end of constant current regulation mode, when the output voltage approaches the regulation threshold.

[0028] In voltage regulation mode, a constant voltage is applied. In this charging mode, the charging rate parameter can be the current consumed by the battery being charged. In voltage regulation mode, the current consumed can decrease exponentially over time.

[0029] The charging rate may be determined by any suitable method known to one skilled in the art. To determine the charging rate, an electrical parameter indicative of the battery charging rate may be monitored. In embodiments, the battery charging rate may be obtained by monitoring the change in the electrical parameter over a given period of time. In one illustrative example, the change in the electrical parameter may be zero; in other words, monitoring the change in the electrical parameter may include observing that no change in the electrical parameter occurs. This may indicate a malfunction, and thus charging may be terminated accordingly. Monitoring the electrical parameter may include determining the electrical parameter at a first point in time and determining the electrical parameter at a second point in time.In one example, the parameter indicating the charging rate is the power or energy supplied to the battery during charging, or the battery's state of charge. The power or energy supplied to the battery during charging can be monitored over time, and thus the battery's charging rate can be determined. High power or energy supplied to the battery over a certain period of time indicates a high charging rate, while low power or energy supplied to the battery over a certain period of time indicates a low charging rate. Additionally or alternatively, the battery's state of charge can be monitored over time, and thus the charging rate can be determined.A faster increase in the battery's state of charge over a given time interval indicates a higher charging rate, while a slower increase in the battery's state of charge over a given time interval indicates a lower charging rate.

[0030] The difference between the electrical parameter values ​​measured at two points in time can be divided by the time difference between the two points in time. The resulting ratio of the difference between the two electrical parameter values ​​and the time difference can indicate the current charging rate.

[0031] The electrical parameter can be monitored at regular intervals. The intervals can be adapted to the type of battery being charged. The intervals can be adapted to the type of power source used to charge the battery. The intervals can be adapted to the predetermined charging scheme to be used to charge the battery.

[0032] The electrical parameter can be monitored every second. The electrical parameter can be monitored every ten seconds. The electrical parameter can be monitored every twenty seconds. The electrical parameter can be monitored every minute, every five minutes, every ten minutes, every half hour, every hour, or every two hours. It is preferable that the time interval between each electrical parameter monitoring be less than the expected maximum time the battery should be charged.

[0033] The method may include determining a charging rate by monitoring the charging state of the battery, by monitoring the voltage at the output of the battery, or by monitoring the charging current applied to charge the battery.

[0034] The method may include determining a charging rate by monitoring a plurality of electrical parameters indicative of a charging rate of a battery.

[0035] The method may include determining a charging rate by monitoring the battery's state of charge and the battery's output voltage. The method may include determining a charging rate by monitoring the battery's state of charge and the charging current used to charge the battery. The method may include determining a charging rate by monitoring the battery's state of charge, the battery's output voltage, and the charging current used to charge the battery. The parameter or combination of these parameters indicating the battery's charging rate used at a given time may be selected depending on the currently applied charging mode.

[0036] The battery charging rate can be determined by monitoring the change in an electrical parameter over a specified period of time. Monitoring the electrical parameter may involve determining the electrical parameter at a first point in time and determining the electrical parameter at a second point in time. The difference in the electrical parameter values ​​determined at the two points in time can be divided by the time difference between the two points in time. The resulting ratio of the difference in the two electrical parameter values ​​to the time difference can indicate the current charging rate. If the parameters are monitored at regular intervals, the difference in successive electrical parameter values ​​can be used as a measure of the charging rate.

[0037] The expected change in the monitored electrical parameter may depend on the duration of the measurement interval. The shorter the interval, the smaller the expected change in the monitored electrical parameter.

[0038] The currently applied charging rate, as described above, can then be compared with the reference charging rate. The reference charging rate can be determined based on the charging pattern stored in the aerosol generating system's storage unit. The reference charging rate can be determined based on the average of previous charging processes. Previous charging processes can also be used to modify the stored standard charging pattern. By taking into account previous charging processes for a given battery, the reference charging rate can be adjusted to better match the charging process for that battery.

[0039] The reference charging rate can be determined based on the change in the monitored electrical parameter. For example, the reference charging rate can be determined by the change in the battery output voltage, or the reference charging rate can be determined by the change in the current applied to charge the battery. The actual battery charging rate can then be determined by measuring the electrical parameter (such as the battery output voltage or the current applied to charge the battery) at two or more points in time and calculating the change in the electrical parameter. If the calculated change in the measured electrical parameter deviates from the change in the electrical parameter determined by the reference charging rate, charging may be terminated. For example, if the calculated change in the measured electrical parameter is lower than the change in the electrical parameter determined by the reference charging rate, this may indicate a malfunction in the charging system.Consequently, charging can be terminated or prevented. In one illustrative example, there may be no observable change in the electrical parameter, and the reference charging rate can be defined as a non-zero change in the electrical parameter. In this case, the change in the electrical parameter will be less than the reference charging rate, and thus charging can be terminated accordingly.

[0040] The reference charging rate can be determined mathematically. The reference charging rate can be determined through a linear or nonlinear relationship between the parameter indicating the charging rate and time.

[0041] For example, in pre-charge mode, a relatively linear relationship between battery voltage and charging time is expected. Accordingly, the following linear equation can be used to determine the relationship between battery voltage and charging time:

[0042] (1)

[0043] whereV b - battery output voltage, t - time, and amic - coefficients. The value of "m" may, for example, depend on system parameters such as the current flowing into the battery and the battery temperature.

[0044] In contrast, in voltage regulation mode, the relationship between charging current and time can be better approximated by a nonlinear equation. Specifically, in voltage regulation mode, the charging current can be assumed to decrease exponentially over time. Therefore, it may be more appropriate to estimate the charging current using the following exponential equation:

[0045] (2)

[0046] whereI C - charging current, t- time, am- coefficient.

[0047] In pre-charge mode, determining the reference charging speed may include the following steps.

[0048] In the first step, the battery's output voltage can be determined. In the next step, the voltage difference (dV) between the specified precharge threshold and the output voltage is determined. In the following step, the reference time (dT) expected to be required to charge the battery from the output voltage to the precharge threshold voltage is determined. The expected time to reach the precharge threshold can be determined assuming that the standard charging process is carried out under standard operating conditions. This information can be obtained during a separate calibration step of the battery sample during manufacturing. The reference charging rate can be calculated by dividing dV by dT.

[0049] In constant current charging mode, the determination of the reference charging rate can be done in a similar way.

[0050] In the first step, the battery output voltage can also be determined. In the next step, the voltage difference (dV) between the specified voltage regulation threshold and the output voltage is determined. In the next step, the reference time (dT) expected to be required to charge the battery from the output voltage to the voltage regulation threshold is determined. The reference charging rate can also be calculated by dividing dV by dT.

[0051] The reference dT time may depend on the current used to charge the battery. For example, if the current used to charge the battery is higher, the expected charging time will be shorter, and therefore the reference dT time will be shorter. Conversely, if the current used to charge the battery is lower, the expected charging time will be longer, and therefore the reference dT time will be longer.

[0052] In voltage regulation charging mode, determining the reference charging rate may include the following steps.

[0053] In the first step, the current (I RC ) charging the battery. In an additional step, the difference (dI) between the current (I RC ) charging and current (I TC ) completion. The next step is to determine the reference time (dT) that is expected to be required to charge the battery until the current (I RC ) charging will not be equal to the current (I TC ) completion. The reference charging rate can be calculated by dividing dI by dT.

[0054] The reference dT time may depend on the current available for charging the battery, such as the current available from a power source (e.g., USB) or the battery pack used to charge the battery. For example, if the current available for charging the battery is higher, the expected charging time will be shorter, and therefore the reference dT time will be shorter. Conversely, if the current available for charging the battery is lower, the expected charging time will be longer, and therefore the reference dT time will be longer.

[0055] Battery charging may be terminated if the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate by at least a specified deviation. The specified deviation value may be determined taking into account the circumstances under which the charging rate is determined. In particular, the accuracy of the charging rate determination and the expected typical and therefore acceptable variations in the charging rate may be taken into account. The specified deviation value may be selected based on the operating environment, for example, based on temperature sensor readings. The specified deviation from the reference charging rate may be up to 40 percent of the reference charging rate. The specified deviation from the reference charging rate may be up to 25 percent of the reference charging rate. The specified deviation from the reference charging rate may be up to 10 percent of the reference charging rate.

[0056] The reference charging rate can be defined as the range of charging rates between a lower charging rate threshold and / or an upper charging rate threshold. The lower charging rate threshold and / or the upper charging rate threshold can be selected appropriately for any given battery and power source available for charging. A range that is too narrow can increase the charge controller's sensitivity, but can also increase the risk that otherwise acceptable changes in charging rate will erroneously cause the charging process to stop. A charge rate range that is too wide can reduce the charge controller's sensitivity and slow down the recognition of erroneous charging processes.

[0057] When determining the available charging speed range, the lower threshold value of the charging speed and / or the upper threshold value of the charging speed may be determined by multiplying the determined reference charging speed by a scaling factor. The scaling factor for determining the lower threshold value of the charging speed may be defined as (1-X), where X may be up to 0.9, where X may be up to 0.8, where X may be up to 0.6, where X may be up to 0.4, where X may be up to 0.2, and where X may be up to 0.1.

[0058] The scaling factor for determining the upper threshold value of the charging speed can be defined as (1+X), where X can be up to 0.9, where X can be up to 0.8, where X can be up to 0.6, where X can be up to 0.4, where X can be up to 0.2, and where X can be up to 0.1.

[0059] The X parameter used to define the scaling factor for the lower charging rate threshold can be identical to the X parameter used to define the upper charging rate threshold. When there is a linear relationship between the monitored parameter and time, it may be advantageous to use a symmetrical definition of the lower and upper charging rate thresholds. Conversely, for a nonlinear relationship between the monitored parameter and time, it may be advantageous to use an asymmetrical definition of the lower and upper charging rate thresholds.

[0060] In some embodiments, it may be sufficient to determine only the lower charging speed threshold or only the upper charging speed threshold. In either case, excessively slow or excessively fast charging can be detected and used to identify faulty charging processes.

[0061] In embodiments in which the reference charging rate is determined by a linear or nonlinear equation, the monitored electrical parameter can be continuously recorded over time. The recorded values ​​can then be matched by calculating an approximation equation. For example, if a linear relationship between the monitored parameter and time is expected in accordance with the above-mentioned equation (1), the monitored relationship between the battery voltage and time can be calculated to best fit the following equation:

[0062] (3)

[0063] These two functions can then be compared to each other to calculate a value that determines the similarity between the two functions. One way to determine the similarity between two functions is to perform a cross-correlation between the two functions. The lower the cross-correlation output value, the higher the similarity between the recorded charging rate and the reference charging rate. If the difference between the recorded charging rate and the reference charging rate exceeds a threshold, this may indicate a system malfunction, and charging can be terminated accordingly.

[0064] Defining upper and lower charging rate thresholds can be a simple and effective mechanism for defining the range of acceptable charging rates during charging. This method is particularly effective for charging modes in which only minor changes in charging rates are expected. However, if the relationship between the monitored electrical parameter and time is nonlinear, large changes in charging rate are expected in a given charging mode. This means that the upper and lower charging rate thresholds should be set appropriately, taking into account the highest and lowest charging rates that may occur.

[0065] To further improve the sensitivity of the method, one or more charging modes can be divided into multiple charging segments. The reference charging rates, as well as the upper and lower charging rate thresholds, can be different for each segment of the corresponding charging mode. For example, a given charging mode can be divided into two, three, four, or even more charging segments. The idea here is to divide a nonlinear charging mode into multiple segments, each of which more closely approximates the linear relationship.

[0066] It may be particularly advantageous to divide a charging mode that utilizes the current regulation mode into two or more segments. The first segment may be defined to accommodate a constant and relatively high charging rate. The second segment may be defined to encompass the nonlinear portion of this charging mode. Thus, a higher upper charging rate threshold may be applied in the first segment compared to the upper charging rate threshold used in the second segment. A higher lower charging rate threshold may also be applied in the first segment compared to the lower charging rate threshold used in the second segment. If only one pair of charging rate thresholds were selected for this charging mode, the lower charging rate threshold for the second segment and the upper charging rate threshold for the first segment could be selected for the full charge mode.This will result in a wide range of acceptable charging speeds, which will increase the time it takes to detect a charging problem and delay the charging process. Instead, by dividing the mode into multiple segments, the sensitivity of the method can be increased, and erroneous charging processes can be detected earlier.

[0067] It is possible that a violation of one of the charging thresholds may be an abnormal violation. In this case, it is neither necessary nor desirable to stop the charging process. Therefore, to avoid premature termination of the charging process, multiple violations of any given charging threshold may be required. This way, only a repeated violation of any of the charging thresholds initiates termination of the charging process. The required number of violations can be freely selected depending on the conditions of the respective aerosol-generating system. The number of detected violations that can lead to termination of the charging process may be, for example, five, ten, or fifteen. Violations may also be required to be consecutive or non-consecutive. It may also be possible to use a combination of consecutive and non-consecutive violations to determine the trigger threshold.For example, charging may be terminated if five consecutive violations or ten non-consecutive violations are detected.

[0068] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an aerosol generating system is provided, which comprises a battery and a charge controller. The aerosol generating system is configured to perform the charging method as described above. For this purpose, the charge controller is configured to initiate battery charging and monitor an electrical parameter indicating the battery charging rate. The charge controller is further configured to determine the battery charging rate and compare the determined charging rate with a reference charging rate. If the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate, the charge controller is configured to terminate battery charging.

[0069] The charge controller may be configured to determine the battery charging rate by monitoring the change in an electrical parameter over a specified period of time and comparing the determined charging rate with a reference charging rate, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by the change in the monitored electrical parameter. If the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate, battery charging is terminated.

[0070] An aerosol-generating system may comprise an aerosol-generating device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-generating system may further comprise a charging case. The charging case may be a portable charging case. The charging case may be configured to connect to the aerosol-generating device for charging.

[0071] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating device" refers to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-generating device may interact with one or both of an aerosol-generating article containing the aerosol-forming substrate and a cartridge containing the aerosol-forming substrate. In some examples, the aerosol-generating device may heat the aerosol-forming substrate to promote the release of volatile compounds from the substrate. An electrically powered aerosol-generating device may include an atomizer, such as an electric heater, for heating the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol.

[0072] According to one embodiment of the invention, an aerosol generating device is provided for use with an aerosol generating system. The aerosol generating device comprises a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery to an external power source, and a main controller for controlling the power supply from the rechargeable battery to an electric heater. The aerosol generating device further comprises a charge controller. The charge controller may be contained in the main controller of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, the charge controller may be contained in an IC battery charger of the aerosol generating device.

[0073] By incorporating a charge controller into the aerosol generator, the aerosol generator's charging versatility is increased. In these embodiments, the charging process can be controlled by circuitry within the aerosol generator. Charging is simply accomplished by connecting the aerosol generator to a suitable external power source.

[0074] The external power source can be an AC adapter that accepts AC input from the mains and outputs DC voltage suitable for charging the rechargeable battery. Typically, the power source provides a DC output voltage of approximately 5 volts.

[0075] The first power interface for connecting to a power source can be any suitable connection device. The connection device can be a USB interface, such as USB-A or USB-C.

[0076] The aerosol-generating device may comprise a host microcontroller. The host microcontroller may be configured to perform the required functions of the aerosol-generating device, such as supplying power to a heater from a battery so that an aerosol can be generated from an aerosol-generating substrate. The host microcontroller may further comprise a charge controller. Thus, the host microcontroller may also be configured to perform and control the charging process of the aerosol-generating device's rechargeable battery.

[0077] The aerosol generating device may also include a separate IC battery charger. If an IC battery charger is provided, the IC battery charger may be configured to perform and control the charging process of the aerosol generating device's rechargeable battery.

[0078] The aerosol generating device's rechargeable battery provides power to the main microcontroller and heater, so that the aerosol generating device can be used when it is no longer connected to a power source.

[0079] According to one embodiment of the invention, a charging case for the aerosol-generating device described above is provided. The charging case may comprise a rechargeable battery and a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source. The charging case may comprise a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol-generating device. The charging case may further comprise a charge controller for charging the rechargeable battery of the aerosol-generating device.

[0080] With a charge controller in the charging case, there's no longer a need to house the charge controller in the aerosol generator. Therefore, the aerosol generator requires fewer electronic circuits. This can reduce the manufacturing complexity of the aerosol generator. At the same time, the cost efficiency of the aerosol generator manufacturing process can be improved.

[0081] Alternatively, the external power source may be an AC adapter that accepts AC input from the power grid and outputs DC voltage. The first power interface for connecting the charging case to the power source may be any suitable connection device. This connection device may be a USB interface, such as USB-A or USB-C.

[0082] The second power supply for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device may also be any suitable connection means, and may also be a USB interface.

[0083] According to one embodiment of the invention, a charging case for the aerosol-generating device described above is provided. The charging case may comprise a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source. The charging case may comprise a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol-generating device. The charging case may further comprise a host microcontroller comprising a charge controller for charging the rechargeable battery of the charging case. Alternatively, the charging case may comprise a battery charger IC comprising a charge controller for charging the rechargeable battery of the charging case.

[0084] The charging case's main microcontroller may be configured to perform the charging case's required functions. Such functions may include downloading data from the aerosol-generating device. The main microcontroller may also be configured to communicate with an external device, such as a computer. The main microcontroller may be configured to transfer data downloaded from the aerosol-generating device to the external device, such as a computer, via a USB interface.

[0085] The present invention is defined in the claims. However, a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples is provided below. Any one or more features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0086] Example A: A method of charging a battery in an aerosol generating system, the method comprising:

[0087] - battery charging initiation;

[0088] - Monitoring the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0089] - determining the battery charging speed;

[0090] - compare the determined charging speed with the reference charging speed; and

[0091] - If the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, stop charging the battery.

[0092] Example A': A method of charging a battery in an aerosol generating system, the method comprising:

[0093] initiate battery charging;

[0094] Monitoring the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0095] determining the charging rate of the battery by monitoring the change of the electrical parameter over a specified period of time; and

[0096] compare the detected charging speed with the reference charging speed, where the reference charging speed is determined by the change of the monitored electrical parameter;

[0097] If the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, stop charging the battery.

[0098] Example B: The method according to example A or example A', wherein a plurality of parameters indicating the charging speed of the battery are monitored.

[0099] Example C: The method according to example A or example A', wherein the parameters indicating the charging speed are the charging state of the battery and the output voltage of the battery.

[0100] Example D: The method according to example A or example A', wherein the parameters indicating the charging rate are the state of charge of the battery and the charging current applied to the battery.

[0101] Example E: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the reference charging rate is the expected charging rate.

[0102] Example F: The method according to any of the previous examples or example B, wherein the battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

[0103] Example G: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein charging of the battery is stopped if the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate by at least a predetermined deviation value.

[0104] Example H: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the charging process includes different charging modes.

[0105] Example I: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the charging process includes a pre-charging mode, a current regulation mode, and a voltage regulation mode.

[0106] Example J: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the monitored parameter indicating the charging rate of the battery is selected depending on the charging mode applied.

[0107] Example K: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the parameter indicating the charging rate is the voltage at the battery output, the current applied to the battery, the energy supplied to the battery, the power supplied to the battery, or the state of charge of the battery.

[0108] Example L: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein monitoring the electrical parameter includes determining the electrical parameter at a first time and determining the electrical parameter at a second time.

[0109] Example M: ​​The method according to example L, where determining the charging rate of the battery includes calculating the ratio of the change in the electrical parameter determined at the first time and the second time, and the time difference between the first time and the second time.

[0110] Example N: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the reference charging rate is determined based on a charging scheme stored in a data storage unit of the aerosol generating system.

[0111] Example O: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the reference charging rate is determined as a change in the monitored electrical parameter.

[0112] Example P: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein determining the charging rate includes monitoring the change in the electrical parameter between the first time and the second time.

[0113] Example Q: The method according to any one of example O and example P, wherein the method further comprises determining that the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate by determining that the change in the monitored electrical parameter is less than the change in the monitored electrical parameter determined by the reference charging rate.

[0114] Example R: The method according to any of the previous examples, where in the pre-charge mode and / or in the current-controlled charging mode, determining the reference charging rate includes the steps of:

[0115] - determining the voltage at the battery output

[0116] - determining the difference dV between the output voltage and the set threshold voltage for the corresponding charging mode,

[0117] - defining the reference time dT for charging the battery from the output voltage to the threshold voltage value,

[0118] - Calculate the reference charging rate by dividing dV by dT.

[0119] Example S: The method according to example R, where the reference time dT depends on the current applied to charge the battery.

[0120] Example T: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein in the voltage controlled charging mode, determining the reference charging rate includes the steps of:

[0121] - determining the IRC battery charging current,

[0122] - determining the difference dI between the charging current IRC and the termination current ITC,

[0123] - determine the reference time dT for charging the battery until the charging current is equal to the termination current,

[0124] - Calculate the reference charging rate by dividing dI by dT.

[0125] Example U: The method according to example T, where the reference time dT depends on the current available to charge the battery.

[0126] Example V: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the reference charging rate is defined as a range of charging rates between a lower threshold charging rate and / or an upper threshold charging rate.

[0127] Example W: The method according to example V, wherein the lower threshold value of the charging speed and the upper threshold value of the charging speed are determined by multiplying the determined reference charging speed by a scaling factor.

[0128] Example X: The method according to example W, wherein the scaling factor for determining the lower threshold value of the charging speed is determined as (1-X), and wherein the scaling factor for determining the upper threshold value of the charging speed is determined as (1+X), and wherein X can be up to 0.9, wherein X can be up to 0.8, wherein X can be up to 0.6, wherein X can be up to 0.4, wherein X can be up to 0.2, and wherein X can be up to 0.1.

[0129] Example Y: The method according to example X, where the parameter X for determining the scaling factor of the lower threshold value of the charging speed and the upper threshold value of the charging speed is the same.

[0130] Example Z: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the charging mode is divided into a plurality of segments, and wherein the reference charging rate and the upper and lower charging threshold values ​​are different for each segment of the corresponding charging mode.

[0131] Example ZA: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by a linear or non-linear relationship between a parameter that indicates the charging rate and time.

[0132] Example ZB: The method according to example ZA, wherein successively monitored values ​​of the electrical parameter indicative of the charging rate of the battery are recorded, and wherein these recorded values ​​are compared with reference charging rates in accordance with a linear or non-linear relationship between the parameter indicative of the charging rate and time.

[0133] Example ZC: The method according to any of the previous examples, wherein charging is stopped only after it has been detected that the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate at least a predetermined number of times.

[0134] Example ZD: The method according to example ZC, wherein charging is stopped only after it has been detected that the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate at least 5 times, at least 10 times, or at least 15 times.

[0135] Example ZE: A charge controller for an aerosol generating system, wherein the charge controller is configured to:

[0136] - initiate battery charging;

[0137] - tracking the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0138] - determining the battery charging speed;

[0139] - comparing the determined charging speed with the reference charging speed; and

[0140] - Stop charging the battery if the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed by at least the set deviation value.

[0141] Example ZE': A charge controller for an aerosol generating system, wherein the charge controller is configured to:

[0142] - initiate battery charging;

[0143] - tracking the electrical parameter indicating the battery charging speed;

[0144] - determining the battery charging rate by monitoring the change in electrical parameter over a specified period of time;

[0145] - comparing the determined charging rate with a reference charging rate, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by changing the monitored electrical parameter; and

[0146] - Stop charging the battery if the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed by at least the set deviation value.

[0147] Example ZF: An aerosol generating device comprising a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery to an external power source, and a main controller for controlling the power supply from the rechargeable battery to an electric heater;

[0148] wherein the main controller comprises a charge controller according to Example ZE or Example ZE' for charging the rechargeable battery;

[0149] or an aerosol generating device comprising a battery charger IC comprising a charge controller according to example ZE or example ZE' for charging a rechargeable battery.

[0150] Example ZG: A charging case for an aerosol generating device, comprising a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source; and a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device;

[0151] wherein the charging case further comprises a charge controller according to example ZE or example ZE' for charging the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device.

[0152] Example ZH: A charging case for an aerosol generating device, comprising a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source; and a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device;

[0153] wherein the charging case further comprises a main microcontroller comprising a charge controller according to example ZE or example ZE' for charging the rechargeable battery of the charging case;

[0154] or a charging case, comprises a battery charger IC comprising a charge controller according to example ZE or example ZE' for charging a rechargeable battery of the charging case.

[0155] Features described with respect to one embodiment may be equally applied to other embodiments.

[0156] Next, examples will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0157] Fig. 1 is a typical charging process according to the prior art;

[0158] Fig. 2 - the first stage of the charging method;

[0159] Fig. 3 - the second stage of the charging method;

[0160] Fig. 4 - determination of the permissible range of charging speed in constant current regulation mode;

[0161] Fig. 5 - determination of the permissible range of charging speed in the constant voltage regulation mode;

[0162] Fig. 6 - the advantage of the method in terms of time;

[0163] Fig. 7 - modification of the charging method;

[0164] Fig. 8 - structure of the aerosol generating system;

[0165] Fig. 9 - an aerosol generating system containing a charging case; and

[0166] Fig. 10 - modification of the aerosol generating system according to Fig. 9.

[0167] Figure 1 shows a typical charging process 10 of a lithium-ion battery. The charging process essentially includes three different charging modes. These charging modes are called a pre-charge mode 20, a constant current control mode 22, and a constant voltage control mode 24. In the final stage, which is called charging completion 26 in Figure 1, charging of the rechargeable battery is completed.

[0168] In Fig. 1, charging current 30 is shown as a dark gray line, and battery voltage 32 is shown as a light gray solid line. Assuming that charging process 10 applies to a sufficiently discharged battery, charging process 10 begins with pre-charge mode 20.

[0169] In pre-charge mode 20, the first constant current called "current (I PC ) 34 pre-charge." Current (I PC ) pre-charge current can be around 5 mA or higher. In one example, the current (I PC) pre-charge current can be about 10% of the current applied in constant current regulation mode. This pre-charge current 34 is applied until the battery voltage 32 reaches the voltage threshold 36 (V PC ) pre-charge. Threshold voltage (V PC ) pre-charge voltage may be approximately 2 V to 4 V, approximately 2.5 V to 3 V, approximately 3 V, or approximately 2 V or less.

[0170] In the next charging mode, constant current regulation mode 22, a second constant current called “current 38 (I RC ) regulation." Current (I RC ) regulation can range from 50 mA to 4 A. In this charging mode, the battery voltage 32 initially increases almost linearly. When the battery voltage 32 approaches 40 (V Reg) regulation, the increase in the battery voltage 32 slows down. The regulation voltage can be from 3 V to 4.5 V. In particular, the regulation voltage can be approximately 3.6-3.7 V if the battery contains lithium iron phosphate. The regulation voltage can be approximately 4-4.5 V if the battery contains lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA).

[0171] As soon as the voltage reaches 40 (V Reg ) regulation, the 24 V DC voltage regulation mode is used. In this mode, a constant voltage corresponding to 40 V is applied to the battery. REG ) regulation, while the charging current 30 is successively reduced. Voltage 40 (V Reg ) regulation is applied until the charging current 30 drops to a given level corresponding to the current 42 (I TC ) completion of charging. In the graph in Fig. 1, the current level is 42 (ITC ) completion of charging corresponds to current level 34 (I PC ) pre-charge. However, the current 42 (I TC ) the completion of charging may be less than the pre-charge current 34 (I PC ), or current 42 (I TC ) completion of charging may be greater than the current 34 (I PC ) pre-charging.

[0172] When the charging current 30 reaches the current 42 (I TC ) when charging is complete, the battery is considered to have reached the desired state of charge and charging is stopped.

[0173] The charging process 10 according to the prior art, shown in Fig. 1, typically lasts several hours or minutes. Traditional charging systems use a safety element to determine the time. This safety element terminates charging after a predetermined period of time, regardless of the battery's state of charge. This prevents the continuous charging of faulty batteries, which may never reach the desired state of charge (SoC). This safety element reduces the risk of catastrophic failure during charging.

[0174] The purpose of the charging method is to detect charging problems at an early stage and stop charging when such a problem is detected.

[0175] The method is graphically shown using the block diagrams in Fig. 2 and 3. This method is implemented in an aerosol generating system comprising a main microcontroller and an IC battery charger. The first step 50 of the method is illustrated in the block diagram in Fig. 2. At this step, the charge controller determines which charging mode should be applied. After initiating 52 the charging process, the charge controller determines the voltage (V b ) at the battery output at step 54.

[0176] If the voltage (V b ) at the output below the threshold voltage (V PC ) pre-charging, the pre-charging mode is set at step 56.

[0177] If the voltage (V b ) at the output above the threshold voltage value (V PC ) pre-charge, but below voltage (V REG ) regulation, at step 58 the DC regulation mode is set.

[0178] If the voltage (V b) at the output corresponds to voltage V REG regulation or exceeds it, at step 59 the voltage and current regulation mode is set.

[0179] Once the selection of the charging mode in the first step 50 is completed, the charging process continues in the second step 60, as shown in Fig. 3. In the second step 60, the battery charger IC reports the selected charging mode to the main microcontroller (step 62). The main microcontroller then selects a reference (or "expected") charging rate based on the determined charging mode, as shown in step 64 in the flowchart in Fig. 3.

[0180] In the example in Figs. 2 and 3, for each charging mode, the upper and lower charging rate thresholds are stored in the memory of the main microcontroller. In step 64, these stored charging thresholds for the selected charging mode are read from the memory of the main microcontroller. Thus, in this example, the expected charging rate is determined as a range of charging rates.

[0181] After the host microcontroller has selected the expected charging rate for a given charging mode, the host microcontroller monitors the rate at which the battery is charged at regular sampling intervals. This is done by monitoring an electrical parameter indicating the charging rate. Depending on the charging mode, this parameter may be the amplitude of the battery voltage change or the change in the charging current during the sampling time. The corresponding monitored electrical parameter is measured at a first point in time in step 66 of the method. After a pause during the sampling time (step 68), the monitored electrical parameter is measured at a second point in time in step 70 of the method. After confirming that the monitored electrical parameter still corresponds to the selected charging mode (step 72), the charging rate is calculated based on these two electrical parameter measurements in step 74.The charging rate is calculated as the ratio of the difference between two values ​​of the electrical parameter measured at the first and second moments of time and the sampling time dT between these two measurements.

[0182] In the example of Fig. 2 and 3, where the upper and lower threshold values ​​determine the expected charging rate, if the amplitude of the change exceeds the upper or lower threshold value, then charging will be completed at step 76 of the method.

[0183] If the determined charging rate is within the expected charging range, charging will be allowed to continue. For this purpose, the method continues to step 66, determining the charging rate again.

[0184] In one example, the expected charging rates and sampling times (Ts) can be predetermined and stored in memory, each in association with a specific charging mode. For example, the pre-charge mode can be expected to complete after an absolute maximum time of 1 hour (assuming that charging conditions result in a slow charging rate, such as low charging current, low temperature, and high battery capacity). Additionally, the maximum change in battery output voltage can be expected to be equal to the threshold voltage (V). PC) pre-charge minus the lowest reasonable output voltage for the battery, for example, 3 V - 2 V = 1 V. Therefore, the set expected charging rate stored in the memory for the pre-charge mode may be an increase in the battery output voltage of 1 V after 1 hour. Therefore, the expected charging rate can be defined as the difference in battery output voltage, for example, 1 V, and the sampling time (Ts) can be set to 1 hour. Then, if the battery output voltage does not increase by less than 1 V within 1 hour, the controller can detect a problem in the system, and charging can be prevented or stopped.

[0185] The constant current regulation mode can be expected to complete after an absolute maximum time of 3 hours (also under the condition that the charging conditions result in a slow charging rate, such as low current, low temperature, and high battery capacity). In addition, the maximum change in battery output voltage can be expected to be equal to the voltage (V Reg ) regulation minus the threshold value of the pre-charge voltage (V PC), for example, 4.2 V - 3 V = 1.2 V. Therefore, the set expected charging rate stored in the memory for the pre-charge mode may be an increase in the battery output voltage of 1.2 V after 3 hours. Therefore, the expected charging rate can be defined as the difference in battery output voltage, for example, 1.2 V, and the sampling time (Ts) can be set to 3 hours. Then, if the battery output voltage does not increase by less than 1.2 V within 3 hours, the controller can detect a problem in the system, and charging can be prevented or stopped.

[0186] The constant voltage regulation mode can be expected to complete after an absolute maximum time of 2 hours (also provided that the charging conditions result in a slow charging rate, such as low available charging current, low temperature, and high battery capacity). In addition, the maximum change in current applied to charge the battery can be expected to be equal to the current (IRC ) regulation minus current (I PC ) pre-charge, for example, 2 A - 0.2 A = 1.8 A. Therefore, the pre-set expected charging rate stored in the memory for the pre-charge mode may be a decrease in the current applied to charge the battery by 1.8 A after 2 hours. Therefore, the expected charging rate can be defined as the difference in the current applied to charge the battery, for example, 1.8 A, and the sampling time (Ts) can be set to 2 hours. Then, if the current applied to charge the battery has not decreased by a value less than 1.8 V within 2 hours, the controller can detect a problem in the system, and charging can be prevented or stopped.

[0187] In another example, the allowable range of expected charging rates may also be determined as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

[0188] For DC current regulation mode 22, the upper threshold value (TU CR ) charging speed and lower threshold value (TLCR ) charging speeds are set in the following way.

[0189] For a given voltage (V b ) at the output at the first stage the difference (dV) is determined CR ) between the given voltage (V b ) batteries and threshold value (V (Reg) ) regulation voltage. Difference (dV CR ) can be very low, for example when charging is approaching the end of the constant current regulation mode. In this case, the difference (dV CR ) can be approximately 0.1 V or higher. The difference (dV CR ) can be high, for example when charging is approaching the onset of constant current regulation mode. In this case, the difference (dV CR ) can be approximately equal to the difference between V REG and d V PC , for example, approximately 2.5 V.

[0190] The next step is to determine the expected time (dT CR ), required to charge the battery from a given voltage (V b ) at the output to voltage (VReg ) regulation. Expected time (dT CR ) can be very small, for example when charging is approaching the end of the constant current regulation mode. In this case, the difference (dT CR ) may be approximately 10 seconds or more. The expected time (dt CR ) can be large, for example when charging is approaching the onset of constant current regulation mode. In this case, the expected time (dT CR ) can be approximately 5 hours. The expected time (dT CR ) will vary depending on the rated capacity of the battery, as larger capacity batteries will take longer to charge and smaller capacity batteries will take less time to charge.

[0191] The expected average charging rate is then calculated as the ratio of dV CR and dT CRThis ratio ensures the normal rate of change of battery voltage 32 over time in the current regulation mode 22. The upper threshold value (TU CR ) charging speed and lower threshold value (TL CR ) charging rates for DC control mode 22 are calculated by multiplying dV CR / dT CR by the scaling factor (1.0+X) and (1.0 - X), respectively. In this case, X is set to be the same and is approximately 0.15 for both the upper and lower threshold values ​​of the charging rate (TU) CR and TL CR ). The expected average charging rate and the threshold values ​​of the charging rate are indicated by dotted and dash-dotted lines in Fig. 4. The dotted line shows the expected average charging rate in the current control mode 22. The dash-dotted lines show the upper and lower threshold values ​​of the charging rate (TU CR , TL CR) for current regulation mode 22, respectively.

[0192] For 24 constant voltage regulation mode, the upper and lower threshold values ​​of charging speed can be set as follows.

[0193] The first step is to determine the expected time (dT VR ), required to charge the battery from the point where the charging current is equal to the regulation current (I RC ), to the point where the charging current is equal to the current I TC completion.

[0194] The next step is to determine the difference (dI VR ) between I RC and I TC , giving dI VR . As mentioned earlier, I TC may account for approximately 10% of I RC . Therefore, dI VR can be approximately 0.9 x I RC . For example, if I RC is equal to 2 A, then dI VR can be 1.8 A.

[0195] The expected average charging rate is then calculated as the ratio dI VR and dT VR .

[0196] This ratio ensures the normal rate of change of charging current over time in voltage regulation mode. The upper and lower threshold values ​​of the charging rate for constant voltage regulation mode are calculated by multiplying dI VR / dT VR by the scaling factors (1.0 + X) and (1.0 - X), respectively. In this case, X is set to be the same and is approximately 0.15 for both the upper and lower threshold values. These charging threshold values ​​are shown in Fig. 5. The dashed-dotted line shows the normal charging rate in the voltage regulation mode. The solid line shows the upper charging rate threshold for the voltage regulation mode. The dotted solid line shows the lower charging rate threshold for the voltage regulation mode.

[0197] The scaling factor can be selected to account for the nonlinear relationship between charging current and time. In voltage regulation mode, X can be selected so that TU VR was higher than the normal rate of change in the first half of this regime (where the rate is highest); and Y can be chosen so that TL VR was lower than the expected rate of change in the second half of this regime (where the rate is slowest).

[0198] The beneficial effect of the charging method is illustrated by the diagram in Fig. 6.

[0199] The diagram in Fig. 6 shows the charging process of a lithium-ion battery and illustrates the charging current 30 and the expected voltage 32 of the battery throughout the entire charging process 10.

[0200] In the example shown in Fig. 6, the voltage V b0 the battery is measured at the first moment of time T0. Based on this measurement, the charge controller will select the constant current control mode 22 and apply a constant current I to the battery RCcharging. The charge controller can then measure the voltage V at a second time T1 b1 batteries. As can be seen in Fig. 6, the voltage V b1 The battery voltage at time T1 is significantly lower than the expected battery voltage at that time. For this reason, the main microcontroller detects at time T1 that the charging rate is much lower than expected. The charge controller interprets this as a sign of a system malfunction and stops further charging of the battery. This allows the detection of a potentially dangerous situation during charging and the implementation of safety measures.

[0201] The traditionally used fixed safety timer approach is only able to detect a fault and stop charging after a period of time T has elapsed. ST , which exceeds the total expected battery charging time. Thus, T STsignificantly exceeds the time T1 during which the method can detect a fault. Accordingly, this method can detect a fault and take corrective action faster than using a traditional system with a fixed safety timer.

[0202] Figure 7 illustrates a method for reducing the time required to identify faults, particularly in nonlinear charging modes. To this end, the nonlinear charging mode is broken down into multiple segments, with each segment more closely conforming to a linear relationship.

[0203] In the example shown in Fig. 7, the current regulation mode is divided into two segments. The first segment has a higher expected charging rate than the second segment. Therefore, a higher upper charging rate threshold may be applied in the first segment compared to the upper charging rate threshold in the second segment. Also, a higher lower charging rate threshold may be applied in the first segment compared to the lower charging rate threshold in the second segment. If only one pair of charging rate thresholds were selected for the current regulation mode, the lower charging rate threshold for the second segment and the upper charging rate threshold for the first segment could be selected, since they represent the highest and lowest expected charging rates. However, this will result in a wide range of acceptable charging rates.Thus, to be identified as an unacceptable charging rate, the charging rate must deviate significantly from the average expected charging rate. This means that it will take longer to detect a charging process fault compared to segmenting the charging mode, as shown in Fig. 7.

[0204] To perform this method, the main microcontroller determines the current charging mode segment by measuring the battery voltage or charging current. Thresholds can then be determined based on these parameters, for example, by consulting a lookup table of charging voltages / currents, each of which is associated with an upper and lower charging rate threshold.

[0205] The same principle can be applied throughout the entire charging cycle and can also be used in voltage regulation mode and / or pre-charge mode.

[0206] Three examples of different architectures of the aerosol generating system 100 implementing this method are shown in Figs. 8-10.

[0207] In Fig. 8, the aerosol generating system 100 comprises an aerosol generating device 110 that can be connected to an external power source 102 for charging.

[0208] In the example shown, the power source 102 is an AC power adapter that receives AC input from the network and outputs 5V DC via a USB-C cable. The aerosol generating device 110 comprises a rechargeable lithium-ion battery 112 and a battery charger IC 114 that controls the charging of the battery 112. The battery charger IC 114 receives power from the power interface 116 and transmits it to the battery 112 for charging.

[0209] The aerosol generating device 110 further comprises a main microcontroller 118 for performing the required functions of the aerosol generating device 110, such as providing power to the heater 120 from the battery, so that the aerosol can be generated from the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0210] The battery 112 provides power to the main microcontroller 118 and the heater 120 so that the aerosol generating device 110 can be used when it is no longer connected to the power source 102.

[0211] In the example shown in Fig. 9, the aerosol generating system 100 further comprises a charging case 120. Power from the external power source 102 is used to charge the rechargeable battery 122 in the charging case 120. In turn, the battery 122 of the charging case 120 is used to charge the battery 112 of the aerosol generating device 110. The aerosol generating device 110 has essentially the same structure as in the previous example shown in Fig. 8.

[0212] The charging case 120 contains a battery 122 and a charging IC 124 that controls the charging of the battery 122 in the charging case 120. The battery charger IC 124 receives power from the power interface 126 and transfers it to the battery 122 for charging. The power interface 126 for connecting the power source 102 to the charging case 120 and the power interface 116 for connecting the charging case 120 to the aerosol generating device 110 are identical and both are USB-C type connections.

[0213] The charging case 120 also includes a main microcontroller 128 for performing the necessary functions of the charging case 120, such as downloading data from the aerosol generating device 110 and transmitting this data to an external computer via a USB-C interface.

[0214] The charging case 120 contains a controller 129, which receives power from the battery 122 of the charging case and outputs a predetermined voltage of 5 V to the aerosol generating device 110. As in the example in Fig. 8, the aerosol generating device 110 contains a battery 112 and a battery charger IC 114, which controls the charging of the battery 112 in the aerosol generating device 110. The battery charger IC 114 receives power from its power interface 116 and transmits it to the battery 112 for charging.

[0215] In the example of Fig. 10, the aerosol generating system 100 also includes a charging case 120 and is similar in many respects to the previous example shown in Fig. 9.

[0216] However, in this example, battery charger IC 125, which charges battery 112 of aerosol-generating device 110, is located in charging case 120, rather than in aerosol-generating device 110 itself. Therefore, all electronic control circuits related to the charging process are located in charging case 120. In turn, this means that less circuitry needs to be placed in aerosol-generating device 110. This allows for a reduction in the number of components in aerosol-generating device 110, allowing for a less complex and potentially smaller design of aerosol-generating device 110.

[0217] For the purposes of the present description and the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, amounts, percentages, etc., should be understood as modified in all instances by the term "about." Also, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and include any intermediate ranges therebetween, which may or may not be specifically listed herein. Therefore, in this context, the number A is understood as A ± 10% of A. In this context, the number A can be considered to include numerical values ​​that are within the common standard error for measuring the property that the number A modifies.In some cases, the number A, when used in the appended claims, may vary by the percentages listed above, provided that the amount by which A is varied does not materially affect the essential or novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Furthermore, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points and include any intermediate ranges therebetween, which may or may not be specifically listed herein.

Claims

1. A method for charging a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in an aerosol generating system, the method comprising: - initiation of battery charging; - monitoring of an electrical parameter indicating the battery charging rate; - determining the battery charging rate by monitoring the change in an electrical parameter over a given period of time; and - comparing the determined charging rate with a reference charging rate, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by the expected change in the electrical parameter being monitored; - if the charging speed deviates from the reference charging speed, stop charging the battery.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of parameters indicating the battery charging rate are monitored, The parameters that indicate the charging speed are the state of charge of the battery, the voltage at the battery output and the charging current applied to the battery, and the charging process includes different charging modes, In this case, the monitored parameter indicating the battery charging speed is selected from a set of parameters depending on the charging mode used.

3. The method according to paragraph 2, wherein the charging process includes a pre-charging mode, a current regulation mode and a voltage regulation mode, in this case, in the pre-charge mode and in the constant current control mode, the parameter indicating the charging speed is the voltage at the battery output, and In voltage regulation mode, the parameter indicating the charging speed is the current consumed by the battery.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein charging of the battery is stopped only after it has been detected that the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate at least a predetermined number of times.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein charging of the battery is stopped if the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate by at least a predetermined deviation.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein monitoring the electrical parameter includes determining the electrical parameter at a first point in time and determining the electrical parameter at a second point in time.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein determining the rate of charging of the battery includes calculating the ratio of the change in the electrical parameter determined at the first time and the second time, and the difference in time between the first time and the second time.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reference charging rate is determined based on a charging pattern stored in a data storage unit of the aerosol generating system.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein determining the charging rate includes monitoring the change in the electrical parameter between a first point in time and a second point in time.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, wherein determining that the charging rate deviates from a reference charging rate comprises determining that the change in the monitored electrical parameter is less than the change in the monitored electrical parameter determined by the reference charging rate.

11. A charge controller for an aerosol generating system, wherein the charge controller is configured to: - initiation of charging of a rechargeable lithium-ion battery; - tracking an electrical parameter indicating the battery charging rate; - determining the battery charging rate by tracking the change in the electrical parameter over a given period of time; - comparing the determined charging rate with a reference charging rate, wherein the reference charging rate is determined by the expected change in the electrical parameter being monitored; and - stopping charging the battery if the charging rate deviates from the reference charging rate by at least a specified deviation value.

12. An aerosol generating device comprising a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery to an external power source, and a main controller for controlling the supply of power from the rechargeable battery to an electric heater; wherein the main controller comprises a charge controller according to claim 11 for charging the rechargeable lithium-ion battery; or the aerosol generating device comprises an IC battery charger comprising a charge controller according to claim 11 for charging a rechargeable lithium-ion battery.

13. A charging case for an aerosol generating device comprising a rechargeable battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source; and a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device; wherein the charging case further comprises a charge controller according to claim 11 for charging the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device.

14. A charging case for an aerosol generating device comprising a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a first power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to an external power source; and a second power interface for connecting the rechargeable battery of the charging case to the rechargeable battery of the aerosol generating device; wherein the charging case further comprises a main microcontroller comprising a charge controller according to claim 11 for charging the rechargeable lithium-ion battery of the charging case; or the charging case comprises an IC battery charger comprising a charge controller according to claim 11 for charging the rechargeable lithium-ion battery of the charging case.

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