Aerosol supply device

Abstract

An aerosol supply device comprising: an aerosol generator; a processor for controlling the aerosol generator to generate an aerosol; a power module connectable to a power source; and a reset circuit configured to reset the processor in response to the power module being connected to the power source.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device and method. Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars, etc., burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide substitutes for these tobacco-burning articles by manufacturing products that release compounds without burning. An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating but not burning a material. The material can be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine. Summary of the invention

[0003] According to a first aspect, an aerosol supply device is provided, comprising: an aerosol generator; a processor for controlling the aerosol generator to generate an aerosol; a power module connectable to a power source; and a reset circuit configured to reset the processor in response to the power module being connected to the power source.

[0004] The reset circuit may include a capacitor configured to charge to reset the processor when the power module is connected to a power source.

[0005] The reset circuit may include a transistor, wherein current flowing from the capacitor during charging of the capacitor causes the transistor to change state to reset the processor.

[0006] The current flowing from the capacitor during its charging period can cause the transistor to go into saturation, thereby resetting the processor.

[0007] The reset circuit may be configured to provide a reset signal to a reset pin of the processor to reset the processor.

[0008] The reset signal may be a low signal.

[0009] The reset circuit may also be configured to reset the processor in response to further user input.

[0010] The aerosol supply device may comprise a device communicator configured to receive further user input from an external device.

[0011] The aerosol supply device may comprise a user input element configured to receive further user input.

[0012] The reset circuit may be configured to receive a reset input from the processor in response to further user input.

[0013] The reset input may cause the transistor state to change to reset the processor.

[0014] The aerosol supply device may include a haptic motor, wherein the processor is configured to control the haptic motor.

[0015] The aerosol supply device may include a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a heater of the aerosol generator, wherein the processor is configured to control the aerosol generator based on the temperature of the heater sensed by the temperature sensor.

[0016] The reset circuit may not include an integrated circuit.

[0017] According to a second aspect, an aerosol supply system is provided, the aerosol supply system comprising an article and an aerosol supply device, wherein the article comprises an aerosol generating material.

[0018] According to a third aspect, there is provided a method, the method comprising:

[0019] connecting a power module of the aerosol supply device to a power source; and

[0020] In response to the power module being connected to the power source, the processor is reset using the reset circuit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 shows a front view of an aerosol supply system;

[0023] Figure 2 a schematic diagram showing the circuitry of the aerosol supply device; and

[0024] Figure 3 A method of resetting a processor of an aerosol supply device is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating material" is a material that can generate an aerosol, for example, when heated, radiated, or stimulated in any other way. For example, the aerosol generating material can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain active substances and / or flavors. The aerosol generating material can include any plant-based material (such as a tobacco-containing material), and can, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol generating material can also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. The aerosol generating material can be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, gel, wax, etc. The aerosol generating material can also be, for example, a combination or mixture of materials. The aerosol generating material can also be referred to as a "smokable material".

[0026] The aerosol generating material can include a binder and an aerosol forming agent. Optionally, an activating agent and / or a filler can also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water is also present, and one or more other components of the aerosol generating material can be soluble or insoluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is substantially free of plant material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

[0027] The aerosol generating material may include or may be an "amorphous solid". The amorphous solid may be a "monolithic solid". In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid (such as a liquid) within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may, for example, include from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0028] The aerosol-generating material may comprise an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise or may be a sheet material, which is optionally shredded to form fragments. The aerosol-generating sheet material or fragments may be substantially free of tobacco.

[0029] According to the present disclosure, a "non-flammable" aerosol delivery system is a system in which constituent aerosol generating materials of the aerosol delivery system (or components thereof) do not burn or ignite to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0030] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as an electrically powered non-flammable aerosol supply system.

[0031] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vapor device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not required.

[0032] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0033] In some embodiments, the non-flammable aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that uses a combination of aerosol generating materials to generate an aerosol, one or more of which can be heated. Each of these aerosol generating materials can be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and a solid aerosol generating material. The solid aerosol generating material can include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0034] Generally, 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.

[0035] In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to consumables comprising an aerosol generating material and configured for use with a non-flammable aerosol supply device.Throughout the present disclosure, these consumables are sometimes referred to as articles.

[0036] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system, such as a non-flammable aerosol supply device thereof, may include a power source and a controller. For example, the power source may be an electrical power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source includes a carbon matrix that can be excited to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol generating material or a heat transfer material near the exothermic power source.

[0037] In some embodiments, a non-flammable aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving a consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0038] In some embodiments, consumables used with a non-flammable aerosol supply device may include an aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material delivery component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a wrapping paper, a filter, a mouthpiece and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0039] The aerosol supply device may receive an article comprising an aerosol generating material for heating. An "article" in this context is a component comprising or containing the aerosol generating material used (which is heated to volatilize the aerosol generating material), and optionally other components used. A user may insert the article into the aerosol supply device, after which the article is heated to generate an aerosol, which the user then inhales. For example, the article may have a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be disposed within a heating chamber of a device that is sized to receive the article.

[0040] refer to Figure 1The aerosol supply system 10 includes an aerosol supply device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The aerosol supply system 10 also includes a replaceable article 110, which includes an aerosol generating material. In general, the aerosol supply device 100 can be used to heat the article 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium, which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

[0041] The aerosol supply device 100 includes a body 102. A housing mechanism surrounds and accommodates various components of the body 102. A product hole 104 is formed at one end of the body 102, through which a product 110 can be inserted to be heated by an aerosol generator 116.

[0042] The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or switch that, when pressed, causes the device 100 to operate. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 150.

[0043] The aerosol generator 116 defines a longitudinal axis that is aligned with the axis of the article 110 .

[0044] In use, the article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 116 where the article may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 116 .

[0045] The device 100 includes a device for heating an aerosol generating material. The device includes an aerosol generating component, a controller (control circuit) and a power source. The device forms a part of the body 102. The aerosol generating component is configured to heat the aerosol generating material of the product 110 inserted through the product hole 104, so that an aerosol is generated by the aerosol generating material. The power source provides electricity to the aerosol generating component, and the aerosol generating component converts the provided electrical energy into thermal energy for heating the aerosol generating material. The power source can be, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries) and alkaline batteries.

[0046] The power source may be electrically coupled to the aerosol generating assembly to provide power when needed and under the control of the controller to heat the aerosol generating material. The control circuit may be configured to enable and disable the aerosol generating assembly based on user input. The user input may be via pressing a button or opening a door of the device (e.g., a door covering a consumable receiving container). The control circuit may be configured to automatically enable and disable, for example, upon insertion of an article.

[0047] The aerosol generating assembly may include multiple components that heat the aerosol generating material via an induction heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating a conductive heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. The induction heating assembly may include an induction element (e.g., one or more induction coils) and a device for passing a varying current (such as an alternating current) through the induction element. The varying current in the induction element generates a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) appropriately positioned relative to the induction element and generates eddy currents in the susceptor. The susceptor has a resistance to the eddy current, so the eddy current flows against the resistance so that the susceptor is heated by Joule heating. In the case where the susceptor includes a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat can also be generated by hysteresis losses in the susceptor, that is, heat is generated by changing the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material due to alignment with a varying magnetic field. Compared to heating, for example, by conduction, in induction heating, heat is generated in the susceptor, thereby allowing rapid heating. In addition, no physical contact is required between the induction element and the susceptor, thereby allowing increased freedom of construction and application.

[0048] refer to Figure 2 , shows a circuit 200 included in the aerosol supply device 100. It should be understood that the aerosol supply device 100 includes Figure 2 The circuit 200 includes a processor 202 (also referred to as a control module or a main control module), a power module 204, and a reset circuit 206 (also referred to as a reset control module).

[0049] The processor 202 is configured to control various components of the aerosol supply device 100, including, for example, the aerosol generator 116, a haptic motor (not shown), and indicators such as LEDs (not shown). The processor 202 is configured to receive data from various components of the aerosol supply device 100, including, for example, a temperature sensor (for sensing the temperature of the aerosol generator 116 to allow control of the aerosol generator) and a memory (not shown).

[0050] In the present example, the processor 202 comprises a microcontroller. The processor 202 comprises a reset pin 208 and an additional reset pin 209 (other pins of the processor 202 not shown). As described below, the processor 202 is configured to reset upon receiving a reset signal at the reset pin 208. The processor 202 is configured to reset upon receiving an additional reset signal at the additional reset pin 209. To reset, the processor 202 is configured to shut down and restart. During the reset, the processor 202 may be configured to clean up its memory, such as cleaning up error states. During the reset, the processor 202 may provide an indication (e.g., tactile or light) to the user when restarting.

[0051] The power module 204 can be connected to a power source (not shown) via a power connector (not shown). The power connector can include a charging port (e.g., a USB port) to connect to the power source. The power source can be a direct current (DC) power source. Connecting the power source to the power module 204 in this manner can allow the energy storage device (e.g., a battery, not shown) of the aerosol supply device 100 to be charged.

[0052] The reset circuit 206 includes a capacitor 210. The capacitor 210 is electrically connected to the power module 204.

[0053] The reset circuit 206 includes a switch 214. The switch 214 is configured to selectively connect the additional reset pin 209 to ground. The switch 214 may include a user controllable element 150.

[0054] The reset circuit 206 includes a transistor 212. A capacitor 210 is electrically connected to the transistor 212. The capacitor 210 is electrically connected to the base of the transistor 212. The capacitor 210 is connected between the power module 204 and the transistor 212. The transistor 212 is connected to the reset pin 208. The collector of the transistor 212 is connected to the reset pin 208. The transistor 212 is connected between the capacitor 210 and the processor 202. There may be some components connected between the power module 204, the capacitor 210, and the processor 202, and there is no need for directional connections between these components.

[0055] The reset circuit 206 includes a number of other components, such as resistors and capacitors, some of which are Figure 2 The description of these components is omitted. The reset circuit 206 does not include an integrated circuit.

[0056] refer to Figure 3 , a method 300 for operating the aerosol supply device 100 is shown. The method 300 includes a device operation step 302, a power module connection step 304, a command reception step 306, a power module reset step 308 and a command reset step 310.

[0057] In the device operation step 302, the processor 202 controls the components of the aerosol supply device 100 according to normal operation. For example, the processor 202 controls the aerosol generator 116 to generate an aerosol.

[0058] The power source is not connected to the power module 204. This means that the capacitor 210 is not charged and the voltage Vbe between the base and the emitter of the transistor 212 is 0. This makes the reset pin 208 float without providing an input. In addition, no input is provided via the switch 214, which makes the additional reset pin 209 float. Therefore, no signal is sent to the reset pin 208 or the additional reset pin 209, and the processor 202 is not reset.

[0059] The connection of the power module 204 to the power source can be made in a power module connection step 304. The capacitor 210 begins to charge and can be considered a closed circuit for a short period of time. The current passes through the capacitor 210 to the base of the transistor 212. This causes the transistor to enter a saturated state, thereby providing a low voltage signal (referred to as a reset signal) to the reset pin 208. This causes the processor 202 to reset in the reset step 308 as described above.

[0060] After the capacitor 210 is fully charged, the voltage on the capacitor 210 is equal to the power source voltage, and no current flows through the capacitor 210. This means that no current flows to the base of the transistor 212, and the transistor enters a cut-off state. The voltage at the reset pin 208 changes from low to high, and the processor 202 restarts. In this example, this is a hard reset. After the processor 202 restarts, the aerosol supply device 100 returns to the device operation step 202.

[0061] Thus, the charging time of capacitor 210 determines the reset time of processor 202 (ie, the time between shutting down and restarting processor 202 ), and reset circuit 206 may be configured to provide a desired reset time.

[0062] When the aerosol supply device 100 is in the device operation step 302, the user input via the switch 214 causes the aerosol supply device 100 to enter the command receiving step 306. In the command receiving step 306, the switch 214 is closed, which causes a low voltage signal (i.e., an additional reset signal) to be provided to the additional reset pin 209. This causes the processor 202 to perform a command reset step 310.

[0063] In the command reset step 310, the processor 202 is restarted in response to the additional reset signal received at the additional reset pin 209. In the present example, in the command reset step 310, the processor 202 performs a software reset. In a software reset (also called a soft reset), the memory may not be cleaned to the same extent as a hard reset, for example, error states are not cleaned. After the command reset step 310, the aerosol supply device 100 returns to the device operation step 302.

[0064] In other examples, the switch 214 may be omitted, and the command receiving step 306 may instead be triggered by a demand within the processor 202 (eg, due to a reset command wirelessly provided to the aerosol supply device 100 ).

[0065] In other examples, the processor 202 may perform a hard reset during the command reset step 310. To accomplish this, the processor 202 may output a high voltage signal from the output pin 214. This may cause the transistor 212 to enter a saturated state, wherein a low voltage signal is transmitted to the reset pin 208, thereby causing a reset as described above with respect to the power module reset step 308.

[0066] In the above-described embodiment, the aerosol supply device includes a heating mechanism, which is an induction heating mechanism. In an embodiment, other types of heating mechanisms are used, such as resistive heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above, so a detailed description will be omitted. In this mechanism, the aerosol generating component includes a resistive heating generator, which includes a component for heating the heating element via a resistive heating process. In this case, an electric current is applied directly to the resistive heating component, and the current generated in the heating component causes the heating component to be heated by Joule heating. The resistive heating component includes a resistive material, which is configured to generate heat when a suitable current passes through it, and the heating assembly includes electrical contacts for supplying current to the resistive material.

[0067] In an embodiment, the heating element itself forms the resistive heating component.In an embodiment, the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example by conduction.

[0068] The multiple embodiments described herein are only used to help understand and teach the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative samples of embodiments, rather than being 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 regarded as limitations on the scope of the invention defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and other embodiments can be used and can be modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. In addition to those specifically described herein, multiple embodiments of the present invention may appropriately include suitable combinations of disclosed elements, parts, features, parts, steps, devices, etc., or be composed of suitable combinations of disclosed elements, parts, features, parts, steps, devices, etc., or be substantially composed of suitable combinations of disclosed elements, parts, features, parts, steps, devices, etc. In addition, the present disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device, comprising: Aerosol generator; a processor for controlling the aerosol generator to generate an aerosol; A power module, which can be connected to a power source; as well as A reset circuit is configured to reset the processor in response to the power module being connected to the power source.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein: The reset circuit includes a capacitor configured to charge when the power module is connected to the power source to reset the processor.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein: The reset circuit includes a transistor, wherein current flowing from the capacitor during charging of the capacitor causes the transistor to change state to reset the processor.

4. The aerosol supply device according to claim 3, wherein: The current flowing from the capacitor during charging of the capacitor causes the transistor to become saturated, thereby resetting the processor.

5. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: The reset circuit is configured to provide a reset signal to a reset pin of the processor to reset the processor.

6. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein: The reset signal is a low signal.

7. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The reset circuit is further configured to reset the processor in response to further user input.

8. An aerosol supply device according to claim 7, comprising a device communicator configured to receive the further user input from an external device.

9. An aerosol supply device according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a user input element configured to receive the further user input.

10. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein: The reset circuit is configured to receive a reset input from the processor in response to the further user input.

11. The aerosol supply device according to claim 10 based on claim 3, wherein: The reset input causes the transistor state to change to reset the processor.

12. An aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a haptic motor, wherein: The processor is configured to control the haptic motor.

13. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a heater of the aerosol generator, wherein: The processor is configured to control the aerosol generator based on a temperature of the heater sensed by the temperature sensor.

14. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein: The reset circuit does not include an integrated circuit.

15. An aerosol supply system comprising an article and an aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the article comprises an aerosol generating material.

16. A method comprising: connecting a power module of the aerosol supply device to a power source; as well as In response to the power module being connected to the power source, a processor is reset using a reset circuit.

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