Aerosol generating device with intuitive user interface

Abstract

An aerosol generating device comprising a heating assembly comprising a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article, the aerosol generating article having multiple resistive tracks provided on a surface thereof; and an electric circuitry comprising a pair of electrical contacts arranged to be in contact with the surface of the aerosol generating article; wherein the electric circuity is arranged to measure a resistance of a surface path between the pair of electrical contacts, and to control an operation of the aerosol generating device based on the measured resistance.

Description

[0001] Aerosol generating device with intuitive user interface

[0002] [ Technical Field]

[0003] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device , and more particularly to an aerosol generating device for heating an aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user .

[0004] [Background]

[0005] Commonly available aerosol generating devices generate an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol generating substrate , comprised in an aerosol generating article such as a tobacco stick, to a temperature typically in the range 150 ° C to 300 ° C, in a heating compartment of a heating assembly . Heating the aerosol generating substrate to a temperature within this range , without burning or combusting the aerosol generating substrate , generates a vapor which typically cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user of the aerosol generating device .

[0006] Typically, an aerosol generating device include a user interface by which the user inputs commands for controlling the aerosol generating device . The user interface typically comprises one or more actuation elements such as buttons , slider controls or control knobs . Using the user interface , the user may input commands such as switching the aerosol generating device on or of f , increasing or decreasing the amount of power provided to the heating assembly and the like . In order to provide the user access to a wide range of commands , the user interface comprises either multiple di f ferent actuation elements or allows di f ferent ways o f operating the actuation elements such as long-pressing a button or pressing a combination of buttons simultaneously . Such arrangements are generally more complex and thus les s intuitive to use .

[0007] There is , therefore , a need to provide an aerosol generating device with a more intuitive user interface .

[0008] US 2021 / 007401 Al discloses an apparatus for generating aerosol from an aerosoli zable medium . The apparatus comprises : a housing; a chamber for receiving an article comprising aerosoli zable medium and including a marker ; and a controller . The controller is configured to receive : a first input indicative of a rate of movement of the article , received in use , in the chamber ; and a second input indicative of a parameter of said article . At least the second input is determined based on the marker .

[0009] [ Summary]

[0010] The novel aerosol generating device is arranged such that a user may use the aerosol generating article inserted thereinto in order to control an operation of the aerosol generating article . The aerosol generating article may thus serve as an intuitive user interface .

[0011] One embodiment relates to an aerosol generating device comprising a heating assembly comprising a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article , the aerosol generating article having multiple resistive tracks provided on a surface thereof ; and an electric circuitry comprising a pair of electrical contacts arranged to be in contact with the surface of the aerosol generating article ; wherein the electric circuity is arranged to measure a resistance of a surface path between the pair of electrical contacts , and to control an operation of the aerosol generating device based on the measured resistance ; and wherein, when the surface path includes one of the multiple resistive tracks , a closed electrical circuit with the pair of electrical contacts is formed .

[0012] Further preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims .

[0013] [Brief description of the drawings ]

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention, which are presented for better understanding the inventive concepts , but which are not to be seen as limiting the invention, will now be described with reference to the figures in which :

[0015] Fig . 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Fig . 2 shows a perspective view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Fig . 3A shows a perspective view of an aerosol generating article having a cylindrical form according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig . 3B shows a rolled-out version of the cylindrical portion of the surface of an aerosol generating device having a cylindrical form according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Fig . 4A shows a plot of the measured resi stance over time when rotating the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention clockwise ;

[0019] Fig . 4B shows a plot of the measured resi stance over time when rotating the aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention counterclockwise ;

[0020] Fig . 5A shows a rolled-out version of a cylindrical portion of a surface of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Fig . 5B shows a rolled-out version of a cylindrical portion of a surface of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Fig . 5C shows a rolled-out version of a cylindrical portion of a surface of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] Fig . 5D shows a rolled-out version of a cylindrical portion of a surface of an aerosol generating article according to an embodiment of the present invention .

[0024] [ Detailed description]

[0025] The present invention shall now be described in conj unction with speci fic embodiments . The speci fic embodiments serve to provide the skilled person with a better understanding but are not intended to in any way restrict the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims . In particular, the embodiments described independently throughout the description can be combined to form further embodiments to the extent that they are not mutually exclusive .

[0026] Fig . 1 shows an aerosol generating device 1 and an aerosol generating article 4 . The aerosol generating device 1 comprises a heating assembly 2 comprising a heating compartment 3 arranged to receive the aerosol generating article 4 . The aerosol generating article 4 has multiple resistive tracks (not shown) provided on a surface thereof . The aerosol generating device 1 further comprises an electric circuitry comprising a pair of electrical contacts . The pair of electrical contacts is arranged to be in contact with the surface of the aerosol generating article 4 . The electric circuity is arranged to measure a resistance of a surface path between the pair of electrical contacts , and to control an operation of the aerosol generating device 1 based on the measured resistance .

[0027] The aerosol generating device 1 may comprise a power source . The power source may provide power to the heating assembly 2 and the electric circuitry . The power source may be a DC power source such as a battery . Alternatively, the power source may be an AC power source . The power supply may apply a predetermined voltage to the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b, wherein the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b may be energi zed continuously or periodically .

[0028] The aerosol generating device 1 may be an electronic cigarette using the aerosol generating article 4 as a consumable . The aerosol generating article 4 may comprise an aerosol generating substrate such as tobacco . Such an aerosol generating article 4 is typically referred to as a tobacco stick . The aerosol generating article 4 may further comprise an enclosure for storing the aerosol generating substrate therein and the outer surface of the enclosure may be the surface on which the multiple resistive tracks are provided, and which can get in contact with the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b .

[0029] The heating assembly 2 may comprise a heater arranged to heat the aerosol generating substrate comprised within the aerosol generating article 4 received in the heating compartment 3 . The generated aerosol may then be discharged from the aerosol generating article 4 and may be inhaled by a user . The heater may be an induction heater such as an induction coil . Alternatively, the heater may be a resistive heater such as a heating pin insertable into the aerosol generating article 4 . The heating assembly 2 may heat the aerosol generating substrate to a temperature , for example , in the range 150 ° C to 300 ° C .

[0030] The heating compartment 3 may have a longitudinal axi s defining a longitudinal direction, as indicated by the dashed line in Fig . 1 , and may be formed of a metal cup having an internal space to receive the aerosol generating article 4 , and a film heater or any other form of heater may be attached to the metal cup . Alternatively, other heat-resistant materials including polymers and ceramics may be used to form the heating compartment 3 . One example of a heat-resistant polymers is polyether ether ketone ( PEEK) . The aerosol generating article 4 may be inserted into and removed from heating compartment 3 by moving the aerosol generating article 4 along the longitudinal direction .

[0031] The aerosol generating article 4 may protrude outside the aerosol generating device 1 , and the heating compartment 3 may further be arranged to allow the aerosol generating article 4 to be rotated therein . In Fig . 1 , clockwise and counterclockwise rotations are indicated by the arrows in, wherein the axis of rotation is the longitudinal axis . The user may grab the protruding portion of the aerosol generating article 4 in order to rotate the aerosol generating article 4 .

[0032] The protruding portion of the aerosol generating article 4 may comprise markings indicating angular orientations of the multiple resistive tracks . For example , by aligning one o f the markings with a reference mark provided on a housing of the aerosol generating device 1 , the user may align the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b with a corresponding resistive track .

[0033] Fig . 2 shows a perspective view of the aerosol generating article 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention showing clockwise and counterclockwise rotations of an aerosol generating article 4 .

[0034] The aerosol generating device 1 may further comprise one or more status LEDs 6 indicating the operation of the aerosol generating device 1 . As shown in Fig . 2 , the one or more status LEDs 6 may be arranged on the housing of aerosol generating device 1 such that a user may easily read of f a current status .

[0035] The aerosol generating article 4 may have a cylindrical form and the multiple resistive tracks may be provided on the cylindrical portion of the surface . The multiple resistive tracks may be isolated from each other, and their resistance may be di f ferent from each other . A mutual isolation of the multiple resistive tracks may be achieved by ensuring that any two of the multiple resistive tracks do not overlap or intersect each other .

[0036] Fig . 3A shows such a configuration of the aerosol generating article 4 with an exemplary arrangement of resistive tracks and Fig . 3B shows the corresponding rolled-out version of the cylindrical portion of the surface . Here , the surface of the aerosol generating article 4 may comprise three di f ferent resistive tracks .

[0037] Each of the multiple resistive tracks may be provided as conductive strips . Furthermore , one or more of the conductive strips may be arranged to have a plurality of windings . As shown in Figs . 3A and 3B, a first resistive track may be provided by a straight-line conductive strip without windings , a second resistive track may be provided by a straight-line conductive strip with three windings and a third resistive track may be provided by a straight-line conductive strip with five windings .

[0038] The total length of each of the multiple resistive tracks may determine the resistance of the corresponding resistive track, wherein the total length is proportional to the resistance . The multiple resistive tracks may be arranged to be ordered with respect to their resistances . As shown in Figs . 3A and 3B, the three resistive tracks are order by increasing resistance from left to right , wherein the first resistive strip has the lowest resistance , and the third resistive track has the largest resistance .

[0039] The pair of electrical contacts may be aligned parallel to the cylindrical portion of the surface of the aerosol generating article 4 . In other words , the linear distance between the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b may be parallel to the longitudinal axis . For example , the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b may contact any one of the three resistive tracks shown in Fig . 3B at the circular-shaped endpoints .

[0040] The surface path is a path on the surface of the aerosol generating article 4 , wherein a first contact 5a of the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b determines a first endpoint o f the surface path and a second contact 5b of the pair o f electrical contacts 5a, 5b determines a second endpoint o f the surface path . The surface path may be a path which is conductive such that an electrical current can flow through the surface path from the first contact 5a to the second contact 5b, or from the second contact 5b to the first contact 5a . The surface path may be a path which is non- conductive such that no electrical current can flow through the surface path and the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b are electrically isolated .

[0041] The multiple resistive tracks may be arranged such that the surface path includes one of the multiple resistive tracks , depending on an angular orientation of the aerosol generating article 4 inside the heating compartment 3 . That is , the aerosol generating article 4 may be either inserted or rotated such that the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b comes in contact with one of the multiple resistive tracks . When the surface path includes one of the multiple resistive tracks , a closed electrical circuit with the pair of electrical contacts may be formed . In this case , the surface path may be a path which is conductive . In other words , the surface path between the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b may conduct an electrical current through the one resistive track . The electrical current may be measured to determine the resistance of the surface path including the one resistive track .

[0042] Likewise , the aerosol generating article 4 may be either inserted or rotated such that the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b does not come in contact with any one of the multiple resistive tracks . In that case , the surface path between the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b is non-conductive and no electrical current flows between the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b .

[0043] The electric circuitry may further be arranged to detect a rotation of the aerosol generating article 4 based on interrupts of the closed electrical circuit . The aerosol generating device 1 may further comprise a storage unit configured to store one or more values of the measured resistance . The one or more values of the measured resistance may each be stored together with information indicative of a time of the corresponding measurement . This way, storage unit may store a time-ordered ( sequential ) list of resistance measurements . The electric circuitry may be configured to store a measured resistance in the storage unit in response the detecting a rotation of the aerosol generating article 4 .

[0044] The electric circuitry may be configured to , when the rotation of the aerosol generating article 4 is detected, compare the measured resistance with one or more previously measured resistances . When the multiple resistive tracks are arranged to be ordered with respect to their resistances , the electric circuitry may determine whether the rotation is in clockwise direction on in counterclockwise direction . The electric circuitry may then be configured to control an operation of the aerosol generating device 1 based on the determination of whether the rotation is in clockwise direction on in counterclockwise direction .

[0045] For example , when the multiple resistive tracks are order by increasing resistance from left to right , as shown in Figs . 3A and 3B, the electric circuitry may determine that the aerosol generating article 4 is rotated clockwise in response to measuring a sequence comprising at least three di f ferent measured resistances which increasing magnitude . Fig . 4A shows a plot of the measured resistance over time when rotating the aerosol generating article 4 of Figs . 3A and 3B clockwise .

[0046] Likewise , the electric circuitry may determine that the aerosol generating article 4 is rotated counterclockwise in response to measuring a sequence comprising at least three di f ferent measured resistances which decreasing magnitude . Fig . 4B shows a plot of the measured resistance over time when rotating the aerosol generating article 4 of Figs . 3A and 3B counterclockwise .

[0047] The aerosol generating article 4 may comprise a paper wrapping and the one or more of the multiple resistive tracks may be printed onto the paper wrapping . For example , the cylindrical portion of the surface of the aerosol generating article 4 may be formed by the paper wrapping . The material of the paper wrapping may be non-conductive .

[0048] Figs . 5A to 5D show rolled-out versions of the cylindrical portions of the surfaces of various aerosol generating articles , each having a di f ferent layout of the multiple resistive tracks provided thereon . In each of the layouts , the multiple resistive tracks are order by increasing resistance from left to right . In Fig . 5A, the multiple resistive tracks have di f ferent numbers of windings . In Fig . 5B, the multiple resistive tracks have a common endpoint provided as a conductive strip going around the cylindrical portion of the surface perpendicular to the longitudinal axis . In Fig . 5C, the multiple resistive tracks di f fer in the longitudinal length of their windings . In Fig . 5D, the multiple resistive tracks di f fer in their thickness .

[0049] The electric circuitry may control an operation of the aerosol generating device 1 such as switching the aerosol generating device 1 on or of f , increasing or decreasing the amount of power provided to the heating assembly 2 and the like .

[0050] The operation may comprise selecting a power profile and providing power to the heating assembly 2 according to the selected power profile . Furthermore , the power profile may indicate that no power is to be provided to the heating assembly 2 , when the measured resistance is outside a predetermined range . For example , when the surface path does not include one of the multiple resistive tracks , no electrical current flows between the pair of electrical contacts 5a, 5b and the measured resistance become infinite . In this case , the measured resistance is outside the predetermine range , which may, for example , be defined as the range given by the minimum and maximum value of resistances of the resistive tracks .

[0051] [Reference Signs ]

[0052] 1 aerosol generating device heating assembly heating compartment aerosol generating articlea, 5b pair of electrical contacts status LED(s)

Claims

Claims :

1. An aerosol generating device (1) comprising: a heating assembly (2) comprising a heating compartment(3) arranged to receive an aerosol generating article(4) , the aerosol generating article (4) having multiple resistive tracks provided on a surface thereof; and an electric circuitry comprising a pair of electrical contacts (5a, 5b) arranged to be in contact with the surface of the aerosol generating article (4) ; wherein the electric circuity is arranged to measure a resistance of a surface path between the pair of electrical contacts (5a, 5b) , and to control an operation of the aerosol generating device (1) based on the measured resistance; and wherein, when the surface path includes one of the multiple resistive tracks, a closed electrical circuit with the pair of electrical contacts (5a, 5b) is formed.

2. The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating article (4) has a cylindrical form and the multiple resistive tracks are provided on the cylindrical portion of the surface.

3. The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the pair of electrical contacts (5a, 5b) are aligned parallel to the cylindrical portion.The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of claim 2 to 3, wherein the multiple resistive tracks are arranged such that the surface path includes one of the multiple resistive tracks, depending on an angular orientation of the aerosol generating article (4) inside the heating compartment (3) . The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating article (4) protrudes outside the aerosol generating device (1) , and the heating compartment (3) is further arranged to allow the aerosol generating article (4) to be rotated therein. The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operation comprises selecting a power profile and providing power to the heating assembly (2) according to the selected power profile . The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the power profile indicates that no power is to be provided to the heating assembly (2) , when the measured resistance is outside a predetermined range. The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating device (1) further comprises one or more status LEDs (6) indicating the operation of the aerosol generating device (1) • The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the multiple resistive tracksare isolated from each other and their resistance are different from each other. The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the multiple resistive tracks are arranged to be ordered with respect to their resistances. The aerosol generating device (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol generating article (4) comprises a paper wrapping and the one or more of the multiple resistive tracks are printed onto the paper wrapping . The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the material of the paper wrapping is non- conductive . The aerosol generating device (1) according to an of the preceding claims, wherein each of the multiple resistive tracks are provided as conductive strips. The aerosol generating device (1) according to according to claim 13, wherein one or more of the conductive strips are arranged to have a plurality of windings.

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