Aerosol generating device having a direction sensor

Abstract

An aerosol generating device (100) is disclosed that includes an orientation sensor (102) configured to detect an orientation of the device, a user interface (104) configured to receive user input, and a controller (106) configured to enable or disable the user interface. The controller is configured to enable the user interface to accept user input if the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predetermined orientation range. The controller is further configured to disable the user interface if the detected orientation is determined to be outside the predetermined orientation range.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device having a direction sensor for improving safety. [Background technology]

[0002] There is a need for aerosol generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes, that have safety enhancements and energy conservation features. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an aerosol generating device that can address some of these requirements. [Means for solving the problem]

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device is provided, comprising an orientation sensor configured to detect an orientation of the device, a user interface configured to receive user input, and a controller configured to enable the user interface to accept the user input when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predetermined orientation range, and further configured to disable the user interface when the detected orientation is determined to be outside the predetermined orientation range.

[0005] In this way, the safety of the device is improved since the user interface of the device cannot be activated unintentionally. The user interface only accepts input when the device is oriented in a particular orientation (preferably a standard orientation corresponding to normal use). Thus, the possibility of the device being operated unintentionally when the device is not oriented in an orientation associated with normal use (e.g., when the device is in a user's bag or pocket) is reduced. Advantageously, the device remains active when the user interface is disabled and can continue to perform other functions (e.g., communication with the user's phone over Bluetooth), but the user interface of the device is disabled.

[0006] Preferably, the controller is configured to enable the user interface to accept user input when the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predetermined orientation range for a predetermined time.

[0007] In this way, the safety of the device is further improved, since the user interface will only accept input when the device remains in a particular orientation for a particular length of time (which may indicate normal use in the user's hand). If the device is only momentarily within the predetermined orientation range for less than the predetermined time, the device will not activate, which may occur if the device is stored in a bag while traveling. This may also improve the energy efficiency of the device, since it will not activate if it is only momentarily within the predetermined orientation range.

[0008] Preferably, the user interface is configured to activate a heating function of the device. In this way, the user can indicate when he or she wants to use the heating function of the device to generate an aerosol, but only when the device is within a predetermined orientation range. This improves the safety of the device, since activating the heating function of the device requires a conscious decision by the user. Thus, the heating function is less likely to be activated accidentally.

[0009] Preferably, the user interface includes buttons, thus requiring the user to actively engage with the device in order to operate it, thereby reducing the likelihood of unintentional activation when the device is in a bag, pocket, etc. (which can easily happen with push buttons).

[0010] Preferably, the orientation sensor includes a gyroscope. In this way, it is possible to accurately detect the orientation of the device.

[0011] Preferably, the predetermined orientation range includes orientations in which the longitudinal axis of the device is confined within a cone defined about the vertical axis. In this way, the user interface can be enabled when facing an orientation that is most likely to match the orientation of the intended use. Of course, a user may hold the aerosol generating device in a variety of ways, and may hold the device in different ways in different situations. However, it has been found that the majority of intended uses of the device correspond to the device being held such that the longitudinal axis of the device is within a cone defined about the vertical axis.

[0012] The angle between the cone and the vertical axis may be at least 20 degrees, possibly at least 40 degrees or 60 degrees, and most preferably at least 80 degrees. This has been found to accommodate the most different styles of use in different situations from the most different user types.

[0013] Preferably, the device includes a mouthpiece and the predetermined orientation is an orientation in which the mouthpiece faces upwards. In this context, "facing upwards" shall mean that the longitudinal axis of the device extends through the mouthpiece such that it is inclined upwards relative to a horizontal plane. This will in most cases be the preferred orientation of the device when in use.

[0014] Preferably, the device is configured to receive and heat a consumable. Thus, the device may be used to heat multiple aerosol-forming substances. The consumable may include a tobacco substrate, which may be a solid or semi-solid capable of being heated without combustion. In alternative scenarios, the consumable may include other types of substrates, for example a vaporizable liquid substrate held in a reservoir.

[0015] Preferably, the device includes an opening configured to receive a solid consumable and the predetermined orientation is an orientation in which the opening faces upwards. In this manner, the device may be used to heat a plurality of solid aerosol-forming substances that are insertable into the device by a user.

[0016] Preferably, the controller is configured to disable the user interface immediately if the detected orientation is determined to be outside the predetermined orientation range. In this manner, the safety of the device is significantly improved since the device is configured to disable the user interface immediately when the user determines that no further operation of the device is required at the end of a puff or when the user inadvertently misoperates the device. "Immediately" in this context shall mean without any delay intentionally induced by design.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of using an aerosol generating device is provided, comprising the steps of detecting an orientation of the device using an orientation sensor, and if the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predetermined orientation range, using a controller to enable a user interface to accept user input, and if the detected orientation of the device is determined to be outside the predetermined orientation range, using the controller to disable the user interface.

[0018] In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable memory medium is provided that includes executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of determining an orientation of the device based on data from an orientation sensor, enabling a user interface to accept user input using a controller if the detected orientation of the device is determined to be within a predetermined orientation range, and disabling the user interface using the controller if the detected orientation is determined to be outside the predetermined orientation range. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing a control sequence in one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a predetermined orientation region in one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in a first orientation of the device; [Diagram 5] 5 is a schematic diagram of the device shown in FIG. 4 in a second orientation. [Figure 6] 5 is a schematic diagram of the device shown in FIG. 4 in a third orientation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The aerosol generating device 100 includes an orientation sensor 102 configured to detect the orientation of the aerosol generating device 100, a user interface 104 configured to receive user input to operate components of the aerosol generating device 100, a controller 106, a heater 108 configured to heat a consumable 110, a data storage medium 112, and a battery 114 configured to provide power to the components of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0022] The orientation sensor 102 is configured to detect the orientation of the aerosol generation device 100. More specifically, the orientation sensor 102 is configured to measure the angle that the longitudinal axis of the device makes with a vertical axis.

[0023] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the orientation sensor 102 may include one or more sensors. Examples of suitable sensors include, but are not limited to, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, or any combination thereof. The orientation sensor 102 is logically connected to the controller 106. The orientation sensor 102 is configured to provide a continuous stream of data indicative of time series orientation data to the controller 106. The frequency with which orientation data is provided from the orientation sensor 102 is a design characteristic.

[0024] The user interface 104 is configured to receive user input to operate components of the aerosol generating device 100. More specifically, the user interface 104 is configured to operate the heater 108. The user interface 104 includes any interface suitable for receiving user input. Examples of suitable interfaces include any combination of buttons, switches, touch screens, or any other method of receiving recognizable input from a user. In general, user interfaces such as these may be accidentally activated, such as when placed in a user's pocket or bag.

[0025] The controller 106 is configured to receive data from the orientation sensor 102 and is configured to enable or disable the user interface 104. The controller 106 has a timing function, which allows it to measure the time that the aerosol generating device 100 has been oriented in a particular direction. The controller 106 is a microcontroller in a preferred embodiment.

[0026] The heater 108 is configured to heat the consumable 110, which includes an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material may include a tobacco substrate, which may be a solid or semi-solid that can be heated without combustion. In alternative scenarios, the consumable 110 may include other types of substrates, for example, a vaporizable liquid substrate held in a reservoir.

[0027] If the aerosol generating device 100 is a non-combustion heating device, the heater 108 may be further configured to heat a solid consumable 110 received through the opening. The solid consumable 110 may include tobacco. Solid consumables known in the art may include a mouthpiece portion or may simply include an end from which a user can inhale the aerosol.

[0028] The heater 108 may be an electrical resistance heater, a convection heater, an induction heater, a laser heater, or any heating device known in the art. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the heater 108 may have multiple heating stages, for example, a pre-heat stage and a main heating stage. The user interface 104 is configured to activate the heater 108 to a particular heating stage.

[0029] The data storage medium 112 is configured to store data from the components of the aerosol generating device 100. The data storage medium 112 may include a RAM or ROM storage device, or similar devices known to those skilled in the art. The controller 106 may include a data storage medium 112 as is well known in the art.

[0030] In one embodiment of the invention, the data storage medium 112 may be configured to store data regarding a range of predetermined orientations of the aerosol generating device 100 and / or a predetermined time during which the aerosol generating device 100 must be oriented in a particular orientation. The controller 106 is logically connected to the data storage medium 112 and configured to access data from the data storage medium 112 and the orientation sensor 102.

[0031] The battery 114 is configured to power the components of the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 114 may include a replaceable alkaline battery, a rechargeable lithium ion battery, or a similar battery known to those skilled in the art.

[0032] 2 is a flow chart showing a control sequence in one embodiment of the present invention. In step 202, the orientation sensor 102 detects the orientation of the aerosol generating device 100. The orientation sensor 102 is configured to provide a continuous stream of data indicative of time series orientation data to the controller 106. Data regarding the current orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is fed from the orientation sensor 102 to the controller 106. The orientation data may be provided in a variety of formats, for example in polar coordinates of the device's longitudinal axis relative to a vertical axis, or simply in the angle between the device's longitudinal axis and the vertical axis.

[0033] In step 204, the controller 106 receives data from the orientation sensor 102 regarding the current orientation of the aerosol generating device 100. The controller 106 is configured to read data stored in the data storage medium 112. The data storage medium 112 is configured to store data including preferred operating ranges.

[0034] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of a predetermined orientation range in one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the preferred orientation range of operation is bounded by the surface of a cone 302 centered about a vertical axis (in this case the y-axis). The cone 302 in this example makes an angle of 80 degrees with respect to the vertical axis. Figure 3 shows a first example orientation 306, which is within the cone 302 and therefore within the predetermined orientation range. Figure 3 also shows a second example orientation 304, which is outside the bounding surface of the cone 302 and therefore outside the predetermined orientation range.

[0035] The data stored on the data storage medium 112 indicates the boundaries of a predefined orientation range 302. This may be simply a matter of storing angles in a polar or cylindrical coordinate system. In the example of Figure 3, the angle subtended by the cone 302 is 80 degrees, but in alternative embodiments the angle may be 60 degrees, 40 degrees, or 20 degrees.

[0036] In step 206, the controller 106 is configured to determine whether the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is within a predetermined orientation range based on a comparison of the orientation data received from the orientation sensor 102 with data including the predetermined orientation range stored in the data storage medium 112.

[0037] The controller 106 is configured to immediately disable the user interface 104 in step 208 if it determines that the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is not within the predetermined orientation range. "Immediately" in this context means that there is no delay intentionally caused by design. Once disabled, the user cannot provide user input to the user interface 104 and cannot operate the components of the aerosol generating device 100. Even if the user interface 104 is disabled, the device as a whole can remain active. For example, the device 100 can be active with respect to other processing operations and communication with other third party devices (e.g., the user's smartphone) can be active. In contrast, it is advantageous as a safety feature to have the user interface 104 used to activate the heating function disabled.

[0038] 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention in which the device is oriented in a first orientation 404. In the first orientation 404, the orientation of the aerosol generation device 100 is not within a predetermined range of orientations, and the controller 106 is therefore configured to disable the user interface 104 when this condition is detected.

[0039] The controller 106 may disable the user input interface 104, for example, by the controller 106 opening a switch (not shown) to prevent the transfer of signals from the user input interface 104 to components of the aerosol generation device 100. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various circuit components known in the art may be used to achieve the desired disabling of the user input interface 104 by the controller 106.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the orientation sensor 102 may be configured to send warning data to the controller 106 upon detecting that the orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is outside a predetermined orientation range. The controller 106 disables the user input interface 104 a short time after receiving the warning data.

[0041] If the controller 106 determines in step 206 that the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is within the predetermined orientation range, then the controller 106 is configured to detect the time that the aerosol generating device 100 was within the predetermined orientation range in step 210. Thus, the controller 106 may start a timer as soon as it determines that the orientation of the device is within the predetermined orientation range.

[0042] 5 and 6 are schematic diagrams of the device shown in FIG. 4 in a second orientation 506 and a third orientation 606, respectively. In each of these orientations, the orientation of the aerosol generating device 100 is within a range of predetermined orientations, and the controller 106 is therefore configured to detect the time that the aerosol generating device 100 was within the range of predetermined orientations. In each of these orientations, the mouthpiece 516 and 616, i.e. the opening, of the aerosol generating device 100 faces upwards (i.e., in a positive y direction extending through the horizontal xz plane). The openings 516, 616 are configured to receive tobacco sticks for non-combustion heating devices.

[0043] The controller 106 is configured to compare the detected time, at step 212, to a predetermined time stored in the data storage medium 112. At step 214, the controller 106 calculates whether the detected time is greater than the predetermined time.

[0044] If the controller 106 calculates that the aerosol generating device 100 has been within the predetermined orientation range for less than a predetermined time, the controller 106 disables the user interface 104 (or keeps the user interface 104 disabled) in step 208. In this situation, the user cannot provide user input to the user interface 104 and cannot operate the components of the aerosol generating device 100. This allows the aerosol generating device 100, if a non-combustion heating device, to be used to prevent the device from accidentally heating a consumable, which would unnecessarily waste consumable stick and battery energy.

[0045] If the controller 106 determines that the aerosol generating device 100 has been within the predetermined orientation range for a period of time greater than a predetermined period of time, the controller 106 enables the user interface 104 in step 216. In this situation, a user can provide user input to the user interface 104, which can activate components of the aerosol generating device 100 (e.g., a heater).

[0046] The controller 106 may enable the user input interface 104, for example, by the controller 106 closing a switch (not shown) to allow transfer of a signal from the user input interface 104 to a component of the aerosol generation device 100. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, various circuit components known in the art may be used to achieve the desired enabling of the user input interface 104 by the controller 106.

[0047] Once the user interface is enabled in step 216, the flowchart returns to step 202, thereby enabling the orientation sensor 102 to detect the orientation of the aerosol generation device 100. The frequency at which orientation data is provided from the orientation sensor 102 in step 202 is a design characteristic and may be around 1 Hz in some embodiments.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: An orientation sensor configured to detect the orientation of the aerosol generating device; A user interface configured to receive user input, the user interface being configured to operate a heating function of the aerosol generating device; A controller configured to enable the user interface to accept user input when it is determined that the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device is within a predetermined orientation range, and further configured to disable the user interface when it is determined that the detected orientation is outside the predetermined orientation range; An aerosol generating device including the above.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to enable the user interface to accept user input when it is determined that the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device is within the predetermined orientation range for a predetermined time.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user interface includes a button.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the orientation sensor includes a gyroscope.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the predetermined orientation range includes an orientation in which the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device is limited within a cone defined about a vertical axis.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein an angle formed by the cone and the vertical axis is at least 60 degrees, more preferably at least 80 degrees.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, further including a mouthpiece, wherein the predetermined orientation range includes an orientation in which the mouthpiece faces upward.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, configured to receive and heat a consumable.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, further including an opening configured to receive a solid consumable, wherein the predetermined orientation range includes an orientation in which the opening faces upward.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller is configured to immediately disable the user interface when it is determined that the detected orientation is outside the predetermined orientation range.

11. A method of using an aerosol generator, comprising: detecting the orientation of the aerosol generator using an orientation sensor; when it is determined that the detected orientation of the aerosol generator is within a predetermined orientation range, activating a user interface to receive user input using a controller, the user interface being configured to operate a heating function of the aerosol generator, the step of activating; when it is determined that the detected orientation is outside the predetermined orientation range, deactivating the user interface using the controller; A method comprising the above steps.

12. A computer-readable memory medium containing executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer, detect the orientation of the aerosol generator based on data from an orientation sensor; when it is determined that the detected orientation of the aerosol generator is within a predetermined orientation range, activate a user interface to receive user input using a controller, the user interface being configured to operate a heating function of the aerosol generator, the step of activating; when it is determined that the detected orientation is outside the predetermined orientation range, deactivate the user interface using the controller; A computer-readable memory medium that causes the computer to perform the above steps.

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