Aerosol provision system

Abstract

To provide an aerosol provision system.SOLUTION: An aerosol provision system 10 includes an aerosol generator 36 configured to aerosolize an aerosol generation material 38. The aerosol provision system 10 includes a sensor 25 which detects suction of the aerosol provision system 10 by a user of the aerosol provision system 10 and outputs to a control circuit 28 a corresponding suction detection signal. The control circuit 28 determines indication of a quantity of components delivered to a user from the aerosol generation material 38 during suction on the basis of the suction detection signal, compares indication of the delivered components with threshold, and provides the user with a notification based on comparison between the indication of the delivered component quantity and threshold.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply system.

Background Art

[0002] An electronic aerosol supply system such as an electronic cigarette generally contains an aerosol generating material such as a reservoir of a raw material liquid containing a formulation typically containing nicotine, or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, and from that material, an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example, by thermal vaporization. Thus, the aerosol supply system typically comprises an aerosol generator, for example a heating element, arranged to aerosolize a part of the aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol in an aerosol generating region of an air passage through the aerosol supply system. When the user inhales with the device and power is supplied to the aerosol generator, air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes and along the air passage to the aerosol generating region. In the aerosol generating region, the air mixes with the vaporized aerosol generator to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generating region continues along the air passage to the mouthpiece, carrying a part of the aerosol with it and exiting through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user.

[0003] The aerosol supply system generally comprises a modular assembly that often has two main functional parts, namely an aerosol supply device and a disposable / replaceable consumable part. Typically, the consumable comprises a consumable aerosol generating material and an aerosol generator (heating element), and the aerosol supply device part comprises longer-lived items such as a rechargeable battery, a device control circuit, and user interface features. The aerosol supply device may also be referred to as a reusable part or battery section, and the consumable may also be referred to as a disposable part, cartridge, or cartomizer.

[0004] The aerosol supply device and the consumable are mechanically coupled at an interface for use, for example, using a thread, bayonet, latch or friction fitting fixture. When the aerosol product material of the consumable is exhausted, or when the user wishes to switch to a different consumable having a different aerosol generating material, the consumable can be removed from the aerosol supply device and a replacement consumable can be attached to the device instead.

[0005] A potential drawback of the aerosol supply system is the lack of means for the user to monitor the usage situation of the aerosol supply system. This can lead to overuse of the system by the user. Similarly, the user may have little understanding of how the system is being used, such as when or how frequently the system is being used.

[0006] This specification describes various techniques aimed at addressing some of the above problems or helping to mitigate some of them.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present disclosure is defined in the appended claims.

[0008] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply system is provided. The aerosol supply system includes an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize an aerosol generating material. The aerosol supply system also includes a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system and output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol generating material to the user during inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal, compare the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a threshold value, and provide a notification to the user based on the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value.

[0009] The comparison with the threshold value of the indication of the amount of the delivered component may be made based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material during each inhalation over a predetermined period (for example, 1 hour, 24 hours, or 1 week).

[0010] The comparison with the threshold value of the indication of the amount of the delivered component may be made after each inhalation. The comparison with the threshold value of the indication of the amount of the delivered component may be made during each inhalation, for example, at predetermined intervals during inhalation.

[0011] The determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user may be based on the concentration of the component in the aerosol-generating material. The component may be nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamin, melatonin, or cannabinoid.

[0012] A notification may be provided to the user when the indication of the amount of the delivered component exceeds the threshold value.

[0013] A notification may be provided to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a plurality of threshold values.

[0014] The control circuit may be configured to determine a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user. The default user behavior may be determined over one inhalation. The control circuit may be configured to determine the time between inhalations based on an inhalation detection signal and determine the default user behavior based on the time between an inhalation and the next inhalation. The default user behavior may be determined over a plurality of inhalations, and the time between each of the plurality of inhalations is shorter than a predetermined time. The default user behavior may be determined over a continuous period. The threshold value may be determined based on the determined default user behavior.

[0015] The notification may be provided in an aerosol supply system and / or an application of a remote device. The notification may be a tactile notification. The parameters of the tactile notification may be adjustable by the user. The notification may be configurable by the user.

[0016] According to some embodiments described herein, a system is provided that includes an aerosol supply system configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The system determines an indication of the amount of components delivered to a user from the aerosol-generating material aerosolized by an aerosol generator during inhalation based on an inhalation detection signal received from a sensor of the aerosol supply system, compares the indication of the amount of components with a threshold, and also includes a computer configured to provide a notification to the user based on a comparison of the indication of the amount of components delivered and the threshold.

[0017] A method of operating some embodiments described herein is provided. The method includes receiving an inhalation detection signal from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of an aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system, determining, based on the inhalation detection signal, an indication of the amount of components delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material aerosolized by an aerosol generator during inhalation, comparing the indication of the amount of components with a threshold, and providing a notification to the user based on a comparison of the indication of the amount of components delivered and the threshold. A computer-readable storage medium including instructions is also provided. When executed by a processor, the instructions perform the above method.

[0018] These and other aspects will become apparent from the following detailed description. In this regard, specific sections of the description should not be read in isolation from other sections.

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3A

Figure 3B

Figure 3C

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] In this specification, specific examples, embodiments, and features are discussed / described. Some aspects and features of the specific examples and embodiments can be implemented as before, and these aspects and features will not be discussed / described in detail for the sake of brevity. Therefore, it will be understood that aspects and features of the articles and systems discussed in this specification that are not described in detail can be implemented according to any conventional technique for implementing such aspects and features.

[0022] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol supply system, which may also be referred to as an aerosol supply system such as an e-cigarette. Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" are sometimes used, but it will be understood that this term may be used synonymously with an aerosol supply system and an electronic aerosol supply system.

[0023] As described above, an aerosol supply system (e-cigarette) often comprises a modular assembly that includes both a reusable portion (aerosol supply device) and a replaceable (disposable) cartridge portion referred to as a consumable. Systems that conform to this type of two-part modular configuration are sometimes generally referred to as two-part systems or devices. Electronic cigarettes also generally have an overall elongated shape. To provide a specific example, a particular embodiment of the disclosure described herein includes this type of overall elongated two-part system that employs a disposable cartridge. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein may be similarly employed in other electronic cigarette configurations, such as modular systems that include more than two parts, as devices adapted to other overall shapes, for example, so-called box mod high-performance devices that typically have a more box-like shape.

[0024] As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but is not limited to) aerosol supply devices and corresponding aerosol supply systems such as e-cigarettes and electronic cigarettes.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a very schematic view (not to scale) of an exemplary aerosol supply system 10, such as an e-cigarette, to which an embodiment is applicable. The aerosol supply system has an overall cylindrical shape and extends along a longitudinal axis or y-axis as indicated by the axis (however, aspects of the present invention are applicable to e-cigarettes configured in other shapes and configurations), and includes two main components, namely, an aerosol supply device 20 and a consumable 30.

[0026] The consumable 30 is an article that contains or consists of the aerosol - generating material 38, and part or all of the article is intended to be consumed during use by the user. The consumable 30 may comprise one or more other components such as an aerosol - generating material storage location, an aerosol - generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol - generating location, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece 35, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0027] The consumable 30 may also comprise an aerosol generator 36, such as a heating element, that releases heat to cause the aerosol - generating material 38 to generate an aerosol during use. The aerosol generator 36 may include, for example, a combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor. Note that the aerosol generator 36 can be part of the aerosol supply device 20, and in this case, it should be noted that the consumable 30 can include an aerosol - generating material storage location for the aerosol - generating material 38 such that when the consumable 30 is coupled to the aerosol supply device 20, the aerosol - generating material 38 can be moved to the aerosol generator 36.

[0028] The aerosol - generating material 38 is a material that can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or excited by other means. The aerosol - generating material 38 may or may not contain an active substance and / or a flavorant, and may be in the form of, for example, a solid, a liquid, or a gel. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material 38 may include an "amorphous solid". The "amorphous solid" may also be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non - fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may hold some fluid such as a liquid within the amorphous solid. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material may include, for example, from about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0029] The aerosol generating material 38 includes one or more active substances and / or flavorants, one or more aerosol forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials such as a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0030] The active substance used herein may be a physiologically active material. A physiologically active material is a material aimed at achieving or enhancing a physiological reaction. The active substance can be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, and psychoactive agents. The active substance may be of natural origin or synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their constituents, derivatives, or combinations. The active substance may include one or more constituents, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0031] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0032] The aerosol supply device 20 includes a power source 14 such as a battery configured to supply power to the aerosol generator 36. The power source 14 in this example may be a conventional type such as a rechargeable one and of the kind commonly used in applications that require the supply of relatively large currents in relatively short periods, such as in electronic cigarettes. The battery 14 can be recharged using, for example, a charging port (not shown) that may include a USB connector.

[0033] The aerosol supply device 20 includes a control circuit 28 configured to monitor and / or control the operation of the aerosol supply system 10 and to provide conventional operating functions in accordance with established techniques for controlling an aerosol supply system such as an electronic cigarette. The control circuit (processor circuit) 28 can be logically considered to include various sub-units / circuit elements associated with various aspects of the operation of the electronic cigarette. For example, depending on the functions provided in various implementations, the control circuit 28 may include a power control circuit for controlling the power supply from the power source 14 to the aerosol generator 36, a user programming circuit for establishing configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, and may also include functions associated with other functional units / circuits in accordance with the principles described herein and aspects of the conventional operation of the electronic cigarette. The functions of the control circuit 28 can be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more appropriately configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuit(s) / chip(s) / chip set(s) configured to provide the desired functions.

[0034] The aerosol supply device 20 shown in FIG. 1 includes one or more air inlets 21. During use, when the user inhales through the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn into the aerosol supply device 20 through the air inlet 21 and along the air passage 23 to the aerosol generator 36. In the aerosol generator 36, the air mixes with the vaporized aerosol-generating material 38 to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generator 36 continues along the air passage 23 to the mouthpiece 35, carrying a portion of the aerosol with it and exiting through the mouthpiece 35 for inhalation by the user. It will be understood that the one or more air inlets may be formed in the consumable 30 such that the air passage 23 is entirely contained within the consumable 30, or that the aerosol supply device 20 and the consumable 30 may each include at least a portion of the one or more air inlets 21 and the air passage 23.

[0035] As a specific example, the consumable 30 includes a housing (for example, formed from a plastic material), a reservoir formed within the housing for containing an aerosol-generating material 38 (which may be a liquid that may or may not contain nicotine in this example), an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37 (in this example, a wick formed of, for example, glass or cotton fiber, or a ceramic material and configured to transport liquid from the reservoir using capillary action), an aerosol-generating location, and a mouthpiece 35. Although not shown, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier (such as a flavor-imparting material) may be placed within or near the mouthpiece 35. The consumable in this example includes a heater element formed from an electrical resistance material (such as NiCr8020) that is wound helically around the aerosol-generating material transfer component 37 and placed in the air passage 23. The location around the combination of the heating element and the wick is the aerosol-generating location of the consumable 30. The consumable includes appropriate electrical contacts for connection to electrical contacts provided on the aerosol supply device 20 so that power can be directly supplied to the heater element.

[0036] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a further example of the aerosol supply system 10, and the same reference numerals are used for similar elements between the aerosol supply system 10 shown in Figure 1 and the aerosol supply system 10 shown in Figure 2.

[0037] The aerosol supply system 10 of Figure 2 includes a sensor 25 configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 by a user of the aerosol supply system 10. For example, the sensor 25 may be a flow sensor, a microphone, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a touch sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or any other type of sensor suitable for directly or indirectly detecting or inferring inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 by a user of the aerosol supply system 10. The sensor 25 shown in Figure 2 is part of the aerosol supply device 20, but this is not essential. In other embodiments, the sensor 25 may be part of the consumable 30.

[0038] The sensor 25 can be configured to detect inhalation based on the flow rate of air through one or more of the air inlets 21 or through the air passage 23 of the aerosol supply system 10. Alternatively, the sensor can include a pressure sensor or a light sensor in the mouthpiece 35 configured to detect when the user's lips are placed around the mouthpiece 35, or a pressure sensor or a light sensor placed on the aerosol supply device 20 configured to detect when the user places a hand around the aerosol supply device 20.

[0039] In some examples, there are two or more sensors 25. As described above, for example, there may be a sensor 25 placed close to the air inlet and a sensor 25 close to a part of the air passage 23, the aerosol generator 36, and / or the mouthpiece 35. Thus, each sensor is configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10. When there are two or more sensors 25, there may be included two or more types of sensors and / or multiple sensors of the same type.

[0040] In response to detecting an inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 by a user of the system, the sensor 25 is configured to output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to the control circuit 28. In some embodiments, the sensor 25 is configured to continuously output the inhalation detection signal or to periodically output the inhalation detection signal, such as every 0.01 seconds, every 0.1 seconds, or every 1 second. When the sensor 25 periodically outputs the inhalation detection signal, in some implementations, the period between subsequent outputs of the inhalation detection signal can be set to be less than or equal to the average or typical length of a user's inhalation (e.g., 2 - 5 seconds), thereby ensuring that inhalations are not missed. In any case, when an inhalation of the system is detected by the sensor 25, the inhalation detection signal changes. For example, the inhalation detection signal is a binary representation indicating whether an inhalation of the system has been detected. For example, "1" indicates that an inhalation has been detected, and "0" indicates that no inhalation has been detected. Alternatively, the inhalation detection signal may correspond to the inhalation level or intensity detected by the sensor 25. That is, the inhalation detection signal can provide an indication of the draw intensity detected by the sensor 25. For example, if the sensor 25 is a microphone or a flow sensor, the inhalation detection signal can provide an indication of the air velocity or mass flow rate through the aerosol supply system 10, thereby providing an indication of the magnitude or intensity of the inhalation by the user. In some embodiments, the inhalation detection signal corresponds to the signal detected by the sensor 25. That is, the inhalation detection signal represents the raw output from the sensor 25 to which no filtering or processing has been applied by the sensor 25.

[0041] The inhalation detection signal is set to 0 when inhalation is not detected by sensor 25, and may correspond to the inhalation level or intensity detected by sensor 25 when inhalation is detected. In some embodiments, sensor 25 is configured to output an inhalation detection signal only when inhalation is detected. That is, sensor 25 is configured to output an inhalation detection signal in response to detecting inhalation of the system, and sensor 25 is configured to stop outputting the inhalation detection signal when inhalation is no longer detected by sensor 25.

[0042] Figures 3A - 3C show graphs of the inhalation detection signal output by sensor 25 over time. In the example shown in Figure 3A, sensor 25 continuously outputs an inhalation detection signal, and the inhalation detected by sensor 25 corresponds to the period during which the inhalation detection signal is greater than the detection threshold 301. In the example shown in Figure 3B, the inhalation detection signal 305A output by sensor 25 is "0" until time point 302 corresponding to the time when sensor 25 detects inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 by the user. The above can represent either the absence of an output inhalation detection signal or the inhalation detection signal being output with a value of "0". Between time points 301 and 302 corresponding to the time when sensor 25 detects inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 by the user, the inhalation detection signal 305B output by sensor 25 is "1". That is, sensor 25 outputs an inhalation detection signal to indicate that inhalation has been detected. After time point 303, the inhalation detection signal 305A output by sensor 25 becomes "0", indicating that sensor 25 has stopped detecting inhalation. As described above, the above can represent either the absence of an output inhalation detection signal or the inhalation detection signal being output with a value of "0". In the example shown in Figure 3C, when inhalation is not detected by sensor 25, the inhalation detection signal 305A is set to "0", and when sensor 25 detects inhalation, the inhalation detection signal 305C corresponds to the signal recorded by sensor 25.

[0043] As described above, the sensor 25 is configured to output an inhalation detection signal to the control circuit 28. In response to receiving the inhalation detection signal, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal. As will be appreciated, the amount of aerosol delivered to the user during inhalation (broadly construed, the amount of the aerosol-generating material 38) varies depending on various factors such as the duration of inhalation, the type of the aerosol-generating material 38 to be aerosolized, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36, the amount of power delivered to the aerosol generator 36, and the velocity or mass flow rate of air through the aerosol supply system 10. As described above, the aerosol-generating material 38 includes one or more components. Accordingly, the amount of each of the one or more components delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation also varies depending on the amount of aerosol delivered to the user during inhalation. Accordingly, the control circuit is configured to use the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25 to determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal.

[0044] In some embodiments, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the duration of inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25, and this duration can then be used to determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-forming material 38 to the user during inhalation. That is, the control circuit 28 can be configured to determine the elapsed time of inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25. As described above, the sensor 25 may be configured to continuously or periodically output an inhalation detection signal to the control circuit. Further, the control circuit uses the changes in these signals described above, for example, starts an inhalation timer when the inhalation detection signal changes for the first time, and stops the inhalation timer when the inhalation detection signal changes for the second time, so as to be configured to determine the duration of inhalation. The control circuit 28 can be configured to start the inhalation timer when it receives the first non-zero inhalation detection signal, or when it receives the first inhalation detection signal indicating that inhalation is detected by the sensor 25, such as at time 302 in FIGS. 3B and 3C. The control circuit 28 can be configured to stop the inhalation timer when it receives the next inhalation detection signal with a zero value, or when it receives the next inhalation detection signal indicating that the sensor 25 has stopped detecting inhalation, such as at time point 303 in FIGS. 3A to 3C. Taking FIGS. 3A to 3C as an example, the duration of inhalation determined by the control circuit 28 is the elapsed time between time point 302 and time point 303.

[0045] Alternatively, the inhalation duration can also be determined based on information included in the inhalation detection signal, such as a time stamp associated with each inhalation detection signal. For example, in the cases shown in FIGS. 3B or 3C, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the inhalation duration using the time stamp of the first non-zero inhalation detection signal received (at time point 302) and the time stamp of the next inhalation detection signal with a zero value received (at time point 303). Alternatively, in the example shown in FIG. 3A, the control circuit 28 uses the time stamp of the first inhalation detection signal exceeding the detection threshold 301 received from the sensor 25 corresponding to time point 302 in FIG. 3A and the time stamp of the next inhalation detection signal indicating that the detection threshold received from the sensor is not exceeded, corresponding to time point 303 in FIG. 3A, to determine the inhalation duration.

[0046] In some embodiments, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the time between one inhalation and the next based on the inhalation detection signal. That is, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the elapsed time from one inhalation to the next inhalation following this inhalation. The above can be achieved using the same techniques as described above for determining the inhalation duration, such as using a timer, information included in the inhalation detection signal, or the period of the output of the inhalation detection signal.

[0047] The control circuit 28 can also be configured to determine one or more operating parameters of the aerosol supply system 10 that can be used when determining an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation. For example, the operating parameter may be the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 36 by the power source 14. In this case, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation based on an indication of the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 36 by the power source 14 during inhalation. For example, the indication of the amount of power supplied may be the power delivered to the aerosol generator 36 during inhalation, or the amount of voltage and / or current supplied to the aerosol generator 36 during inhalation, or it may be a power setting of the aerosol generator 36 during inhalation such as an integer from 1 to 10, or "1" for a low value, "2" for an intermediate value, and "3" for a high value. The amount of aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 36 during inhalation varies depending on the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 36, and thus an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation can be determined more accurately by taking the amount of power into account during the calculation.

[0048] Alternatively, or in addition, the control circuit 28 may subsequently be used to determine one or more other operating parameters of the aerosol supply system 10, such as the amount of charge of the power source 14, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36 or the temperature near the aerosol generator 36, the amount and / or velocity of the airflow through the aerosol supply system 10, and / or the indication of the amount of components delivered from the aerosol generating material 38 to the user during inhalation. The operating parameters may vary or fluctuate during inhalation (for example, a decrease in the amount of charge of the power source 14 or an increase in the temperature of the aerosol generator 36). Thus, the determination of the operating parameters by the control circuit 28 may correspond to the maximum, minimum, or average, modeled, or median value of the operating parameters during inhalation. Similarly, the indication of the operating parameters may represent one or more of the value of the operating parameters at the start of inhalation, the value of the operating parameters at the end of inhalation, the maximum value of the operating parameters during inhalation, the minimum value of the operating parameters during inhalation, and the average, modeled, and / or median value of the operating parameters during inhalation.

[0049] The determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol - generating material 38 may also be based on other factors such as the concentration of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38. For a given amount of aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 36 from the aerosol - generating material 38, it will be understood that the amount of the component in the resulting aerosol will vary depending on the concentration, i.e., the amount of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38. As described above, the component may be an active substance such as nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoid, or their constituent substances, derivatives, or combinations. The component may be a flavorant, an aerosol - forming material, or a functional material such as a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, or an antioxidant. Thus, in order to improve the accuracy of the determination, the concentration of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38 can be considered when determining the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol - generating material 38. The concentration of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38 may be provided to the control circuit by the user, for example, by entering the concentration into a user - input device associated with the aerosol supply system 10, or the control circuit 28 may be configured to determine the concentration of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38, for example, in response to the consumable 30 being attached to the aerosol supply system. The consumable 30 may include an electronic chip or tag such as an RFID tag that can be read by the control circuit 28 to determine not only the concentration of the component in the aerosol - generating material 38 but also other characteristics of the consumable such as the manufacturer or consumable identification information, one or more flavorants or other components included in the aerosol - generating material 38, and the volume or mass of the aerosol - generating material 38 in the consumable 30.

[0050] As described above, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine an indication of the amount of the component to be delivered. The indication may represent the actual amount of the component delivered, such as the mass or volume of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during inhalation. For example, the control circuit 28 can be configured to use an algorithm or a look-up table to determine the amount of the component delivered during inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal. The algorithm or the look-up table may be based on empirical data regarding the aerosol supply system 10, such as the maximum or average mass flow rate of air through the air passage 23, or the amount of the component delivered for a standard inhalation profile (referred to as the 55 / 3 / 30 profile) such as 55 ml of air in an inhalation of 3 seconds every 30 seconds. If the amount of the component delivered for the standard inhalation profile is known, this amount can be converted using a look-up table or an algorithm to determine the amount of the component delivered for inhalations with different profiles, such as the duration of inhalation, the volume of the aerosol delivered, the amount of power delivered to the aerosol generator 36, and / or the temperature of the aerosol generator 36.

[0051] Alternatively, the indication of the amount of the component delivered during inhalation may be in relation to the amount of the component delivered, such that the indication of the amount of the component delivered is compared with the capacity of the aerosol-generating material storage location, such as when the indication of the amount of the component delivered indicates the amount of the component remaining in the aerosol-generating material storage location and / or the amount of the aerosol-generating material. For example, the indication may be a percentage of the total amount of the aerosol-generating material present in the aerosol-generating material storage location when the aerosol-generating material storage location is full.

[0052] In some embodiments, the indication of the amount of the component delivered during inhalation is an evaluation on a fixed scale, such as an integer or real number from 0 to 10 (where 0 is the lowest value and 10 is the highest value). However, different forms and scales of particle size can also be used. In this case, an indication of 2 represents that a small amount of the component has been delivered during inhalation, and an indication of 10 represents that the maximum amount of the component has been delivered. This evaluation can be calculated by multiplying the indication of the operating parameter during inhalation by the duration of inhalation and applying one or more conversion factors, or by any other suitable calculation technique. By using an evaluation based on such a scale, comparisons between indications from different inhalations can be made without requiring the calculation to be as accurate or detailed as when the indication corresponds to the actual amount of the component delivered.

[0053] The determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user may be performed during the inhalation itself. That is, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the indication of the amount of the component delivered during the inhalation while the inhalation is being performed, as if the determination is in progress during the inhalation. Thus, the determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered is performed when an inhalation detection signal is received from the sensor 25. For example, as described above, the control circuit 28 may be configured to start the determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered in response to receiving an inhalation detection signal from the sensor 25, or in response to a change in the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25. In this case, both determinations of the indication of the amount of the component delivered continue until an inhalation detection signal is no longer received from the sensor 25, or until the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25 changes for the second time. Alternatively, the determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered may be performed after the inhalation is completed.

[0054] Using the indication of the amount of the component delivered during inhalation, the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during each inhalation in a predetermined period such as 1 minute, 1 hour, 1 day, 1 week, or a period longer than 1 week can be determined. For example, the control circuit 28 can be configured to determine the indication of the amount of the component delivered during each inhalation in a continuous period. Thereafter, the indications of the amount of the component delivered during each inhalation can be summed to determine the indication of the total amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during that continuous period. As understood, the continuous period is intended to mean the period of time immediately preceding any point in time. For example, a continuous 24-hour period represents the 24-hour period immediately preceding any point in time (i.e., the most recent 24 hours at any point in time). Similarly, the determination can be made over a continuous period of 1 hour, 1 day (24 hours), 1 week (7 days), or other periods.

[0055] Furthermore, the determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during a predetermined period may also be based on the time between each inhalation during the predetermined period. For some components, the amount of the residual component in the user's body tissue decreases over time as the component is absorbed, decomposed, excreted, or depleted from the user's body tissue in another way. By considering the time between each inhalation and the duration of each inhalation in the predetermined period, the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during the predetermined period can indicate the amount of the residual component in the user's body tissue rather than the amount of the component delivered to the user during the predetermined period.

[0056] As will be appreciated, many users of the aerosol supply system 10 do not take a single inhalation with the aerosol supply system 10, but rather conduct a session with the aerosol supply system 10. A session is a plurality of inhalations within a period such as 1 to 2 minutes, and sometimes a longer period such as 5 or 10 minutes. Thus, the control circuit 28 can be configured to determine an indication of the amount of components delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user over a plurality of inhalations. The time between each of the plurality of inhalations is shorter than a predetermined time. The predetermined time may be set and changed by the user or the control circuit 28, or may be a fixed value based on, for example, empirical data. The predetermined time may be less than 1 minute, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or longer than 10 minutes. As described above, the predetermined time can be defined as the duration for which each inhalation within the most recent predetermined period is considered by the control circuit to be part of a session. Alternatively, the predetermined time can be set such that the time between each inhalation must be shorter than the predetermined time for the inhalation to be considered by the control circuit 28 to be part of the same session. In this case, a session timer can be implemented to determine whether an inhalation is part of a session. The session timer starts when an inhalation detection signal indicates that an inhalation has been detected by the sensor. Also, the session timer stops when the duration between one inhalation and the next exceeds the predetermined time. Alternatively, as described above, a time stamp associated with each inhalation detection signal can be used to determine an indication of the amount of components delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user over a session. The determination of the indication of the amount of components delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user during a session may also be based on the inhalation detection signals received for each inhalation during the session and the time between each inhalation during the session. As described above, this determination can be performed for each inhalation of the session. For example, a separate determination is performed during or after each inhalation of the session. Alternatively, the determination may be performed once, either during the session or after the entire session has been completed.

[0057] The control circuit 28 is configured to compare the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a threshold value. The threshold value can be, for example, the safe usage limit of the component and / or the aerosol-generating material 38, or, for example, corresponding to the safe usage limit for the inhalation of the aerosol supply system 10 to prevent one or more of the components of the aerosol supply system 10 from overheating or drying, and can be set based on the amount of the component delivered per puff (puff threshold). Alternatively, the threshold value can correspond to a session threshold and a daily threshold that may respectively correspond to the safe usage limit of the component and / or the aerosol-generating material, or the safe usage limit of the aerosol supply system for a session and a 24-hour period. Although the above refers to a "safe" usage limit, it should be understood that the above may not necessarily refer to the medically approved maximum dose of the component and / or the aerosol-generating material 38, but rather, for example, a recommended dose slightly below the medically approved maximum dose. Further, the threshold value can be adjusted and / or set (either directly or automatically) by the user. Thus, more generally, the threshold value typically represents the amount of the component and / or the aerosol-generating material 38 over a given period (e.g., one inhalation, one minute, one hour, etc.) that is below the medically approved maximum amount for a given period.

[0058] As described above, the determination of the indication of the amount of the delivered component may be made during inhalation. In this case, the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value may be made continuously or periodically (such as every second or every five seconds, etc.) during inhalation. That is, the indication of the amount of the delivered component is always determined during inhalation, and the value of the indication of the amount of the delivered component at the current time is compared with the threshold value. Alternatively, comparing the indication of the amount of the delivered component with the threshold value may be made after each inhalation. In this case, the determination of the indication of the amount of the delivered component can be made either during or after inhalation.

[0059] The control circuit 28 is configured to provide a notification to the user based on a comparison of the indication of the delivered component amount with a threshold value. For example, the notification can be provided in the aerosol supply system 10 by activating an indicator light, emitting a sound from a speaker, displaying a message on a display screen of the aerosol supply device 20 and / or the consumable 30, etc. The notification can also be a tactile notification in the aerosol supply system 10, such as vibration or force feedback. For example, the vibration can be generated by an eccentric rotating mass (ERM) or a piezoelectric actuator within the aerosol supply device 20 and / or the consumable 30, or the force can be generated by a motor within the aerosol supply device 20 and / or the consumable 30. This notification can also be a change in the operating mode of the aerosol supply system 10 that the user will notice, such as stopping, disabling, or otherwise preventing the supply of power to the aerosol generator 36. For example, the aerosol generator 36 can be disabled for a certain period of time, such as 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 1 minute, or more than 1 minute.

[0060] Alternatively, or in addition, the notification can also be provided by an application on the remote device. For example, a user of the aerosol supply system 10 may have a remote device that is associated with, but separate from, the aerosol supply system 10. The control circuit 28 is configured to communicate with this remote device by, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ANT+, Wi-Fi, or other suitable wireless communication methods. The control circuit 28 can be configured to communicate with the remote device such that the notification is provided to the user on the remote device, such as by an application installed on the remote device. For example, a message can be displayed on the display screen of the remote device, a display light can be activated, a sound can be emitted from a speaker, or a tactile notification means can be provided to the remote device as described above. The remote device can include any suitable electronic device that can be communicably coupled to the aerosol supply system 10. For example, the remote device may include a mobile device (such as a smartphone), a PDA, a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, a smartwatch, etc.

[0061] Furthermore, one or more parameters associated with the notification may be adjusted by the user. For example, the user can adjust the number, brightness, and / or color of the activated display lights, the volume, pitch, and / or duration of the emitted sound, and / or the displayed message. The user can also adjust one or more parameters of the tactile notification. For example, the user can adjust the vibration provided by an actuator, or the duration, magnitude, and / or pattern of the force provided by a motor.

[0062] This notification may be configurable by the user. That is, the user can adjust one or more parameters associated with the notification in the aerosol supply system 10 and / or the remote device, regardless of whether the notification is provided by the aerosol supply system 10 or the remote device. For example, even if the notification itself is provided by the aerosol supply system 10, the user can use the application of the remote device to adjust one or more of the parameters associated with the notification. For example, the user can disable the notification during inhalation so that the notification is received only when inhalation is not detected by the sensor 25.

[0063] In some embodiments, the control circuit 28 is configured to provide a notification to the user when an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation exceeds a threshold value. The indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation may represent a ratio or percentage of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation that is compared to the threshold value. For example, the indication may be a percentage of the threshold value, such as 10%, 20%, 50%, 80%, or 110%. The notification is provided to the user when the percentage exceeds 100%. In embodiments where the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value is performed during inhalation, the notification can be provided to the user during inhalation as soon as the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user exceeds the puff threshold value.

[0064] Alternatively, the notification may be provided to the user when the indication of the amount of the delivered component is within a range of the threshold value, such as 50%, 75%, or 90% of the threshold value. This ensures that the notification is provided to the user before exceeding the threshold value. In this case, the notification can indicate to the user how close the indication of the amount of the delivered component is to the threshold value, for example, by displaying the ratio of the values, or by visual means such as a progress bar, or by lighting a specific number of indicator lights of the aerosol supply system or the remote device.

[0065] In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery system 10 is configured to display or otherwise communicate to the user an indication of the amount of the delivered component. For example, the above-described progress bar or the like can be displayed to the user. The progress bar may be always displayed or may be displayed in response to a user request for this information. However, when the indication of the amount of the delivered component is within a threshold range or exceeds the threshold, the control circuit 28 provides a notification to the user. For example, when 100% represents the threshold and the progress bar occupies 90%, the control circuit 28 can provide a notification to the user. This notification may be, for example, a change in the display (e.g., the color of the progress bar may change), or a tactile or audible notification may be provided.

[0066] In some embodiments, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine a default user behavior based on an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user. That is, the control circuit 28 is configured to detect a pattern in one or more inhalations by the user based on an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user. The default user behavior can also be determined from data determined by the control circuit 28 for one or more inhalations, such as the duration of the inhalation, the duration of the session, the time between inhalations, the amount of power delivered to the aerosol generator 36 during the inhalation, the power level or setting of the aerosol generator 36 for the inhalation, and the type and / or concentration of one or more of the components in the aerosol-generating material 38, which are used to generate an indication of the amount of the delivered component. Next, these patterns are used to set the user behavior to default regarding the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 during the inhalation.

[0067] The default user behavior can be determined over one inhalation such that the default user behavior relates to a normal inhalation performed by the user with the aerosol supply system 10. For example, when the user first uses the aerosol supply system 10, i.e., when only one inhalation has been detected, the default user behavior can correspond to the indication of the amount of the component delivered for that inhalation. As the user performs more inhalations with the aerosol supply system 10, the normal inhalation performed by the user with the aerosol supply system 10 is refined by being able to update the default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered for each subsequent inhalation.

[0068] It is also possible to determine the default user behavior over one session using the indication of the amount of the component delivered for each inhalation. That is, the default user behavior is determined over a plurality of inhalations. As described above, the time between each of the plurality of inhalations is shorter than a predetermined time. It is also possible to determine the default user behavior over another period such as the continuous period or the continuous 24-hour period, one week, one month, and / or one year using the indication of the amount of the component delivered for each inhalation.

[0069] Furthermore, the control circuit 28 can continuously update the determined default user behavior based on the change in the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user for a plurality of inhalations over time. For example, if the control circuit 28 is configured to determine the time between one inhalation and the next based on an inhalation detection signal, the default user behavior can also be determined based on the time between that inhalation and the next. From the above, for example, when the user performs a series of puffs, for example, whether there is an extended time between sessions such that the session is, for example, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or longer than 1 hour, or whether the user performs a small number of inhalations, such as one or two, but at more regular intervals, such as every 10 or 20 minutes, a pattern of the user's behavior can be detected. Similarly, the collected data enables the control circuit 28 to identify specific times when the user makes more inhalations, such as in the morning or evening, or whether the number and duration of inhalations during a session change throughout the day. For example, the user may have a session in the morning that includes a plurality of long inhalations at a high power setting, while the evening session includes fewer and shorter inhalations at a lower power setting. The user may make more inhalations on weekdays, but over a month or a year, the data may indicate that the user is performing fewer inhalations, for example, by trying to reduce the use of the aerosol supply system 10. Such default behavior can be determined based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user for a plurality of inhalations.

[0070] As described above, for some components, the amount of the residual component in the user's body tissue decreases over time as the component is absorbed, decomposed, excreted, or depleted from the user's body tissue in another way. The indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material 38 to the user can indicate the amount of the residual component in the user's body tissue over a predetermined period, rather than the amount of the component delivered to the user. Therefore, the default user behavior may also be based on the amount of the residual component in the user's body tissue.

[0071] The control circuit 28 can be configured to determine or change the above threshold based on the default user behavior, so that the operation of the aerosol supply system 10 can be customized to suit the user or adjusted in another way. Alternatively, or in addition, the user can additionally control the operation of the aerosol supply system 10 by, for example, providing an input to the input device of the aerosol supply device 20 or the consumable 30, or using the application of the associated remote device, and being able to change one or more of the thresholds.

[0072] The control circuit 28 can also be configured to change the operating mode of the aerosol supply system 10, such as the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 36 by the power source 14, the temperature of the aerosol generator 36, the sensitivity or detection threshold of the sensor 25, the color and / or number of the lit optical indicators, and / or the volume, pitch, and / or duration of the sound emitted by the aerosol supply device 20, based on the default user behavior.

[0073] If it is determined that the user makes a long inhalation, for example, exceeding 10 seconds, the control circuit 28 can be configured to change the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 36 by the power supply 14 during inhalation to prevent drying or overheating of the aerosol generator 36. The power supplied to the aerosol generator 36 can be set to an initial value or a power setting and then decreased as the inhalation continues. Alternatively, if it is determined that the user makes a very small or mild inhalation, for example, at a low air velocity or mass flow rate, the control circuit 28 can be configured to change the sensitivity or detection threshold of the sensor 25 to ensure that the user's inhalation is properly detected.

[0074] As described above, FIG. 4 shows a system 400 comprising an aerosol supply system 10 configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material 38. The system 400 also comprises a computer 40 configured to receive an inhalation detection signal from the sensor 25 and, based on the inhalation detection signal received from the sensor 25 of the aerosol supply system 10, determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosolized aerosol-generating material 38 by the aerosol generator 36 to the user during inhalation. The computer 40 is also configured to compare the indication of the amount of the component with a threshold value and provide a notification to the user based on the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value.

[0075] As described above and as shown in FIG. 4, the computer 40 may be a remote device associated with the user and communicating with the aerosol supply system 10. Thus, it will be understood that the functions of the control circuit described herein, such as determination of the indication of the amount of the delivered component, determination of the default user behavior, comparison of the indication of the amount of the component with the threshold value, and provision of a notification to the user, can be performed by a computer 40 separate from the aerosol supply system 10, such as a remote device.

[0076] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method 500 for determining the amount of components delivered to a user of the aerosol supply system 10. The method begins at step 501, where an inhalation detection signal is received from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system. At step 502, based on the inhalation detection signal, an indication of the amount of components delivered to the user from the aerosolized aerosol-generating material by the aerosol generator during inhalation is determined. At step 503, the indication of the amount of components is compared to a threshold value. At step 504, a notification is provided to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of components delivered and the threshold value.

[0077] The method 500 shown in FIG. 5 can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium as instructions, and thus, when the instructions are executed by a processor, the method 500 described above is executed. The computer-readable storage medium may be non-transitory.

[0078] As described above, it has been explained that the indication of the amount of the delivered component is compared with a threshold value, and then a notification to the user is provided based on the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value. However, in some implementations, a plurality of threshold values (for example, two) may be provided, and it should be understood that the control circuit 28 is configured to compare the indication of the amount of the delivered component with each of the threshold values. For example, when the amount of the delivered component exceeds a first amount, a notification can be provided to alert the user that a first level of the component has been delivered. If use continues, the amount of the delivered component may exceed a second amount, and at the point when the second amount is exceeded, a subsequent notification can be provided to alert the user that a second level of the component has been delivered. Alternatively, the first threshold value and the second threshold value can also define a range of the amount of the delivered component for which no notification is issued. When the amount of the delivered component exceeds or falls below this range, the control circuit 28 can appropriately provide a notification. In the context of the lower threshold value, this lower threshold value can be set by the user according to, for example, a nicotine cessation program, and thus the notification can provide the user with a message stating that the amount of the delivered component is below the threshold value. The notification and / or operation performed by the control circuit 28 may be the same or different for the comparison of the delivered component compared with different threshold values.

[0079] As described above, the present disclosure relates to (but is not limited to) an aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol supply system also comprises a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system and output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to determine, based on the inhalation detection signal, an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during inhalation, compare the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a threshold value, and provide a notification to the user based on the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold value.

[0080] Accordingly, an aerosol supply system, a system comprising the aerosol supply system and a computer, a method of operating the aerosol supply system, and a computer-readable storage medium are described.

[0081] The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative samples of the embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations of the scope of the invention defined by the claims or equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. The various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of an appropriate combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. other than the elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. detailed herein. Further, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

[0082] The present disclosure includes the following aspects. [Claim 1] An aerosol supply system, comprising: an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize an aerosol-generating material; a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system and output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to a control circuit; and wherein the control circuit is configured to: determine an indication of the amount of a component delivered from the aerosol-generating material to the user during the inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal; compare the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a threshold; An aerosol supply system configured to provide a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the component delivered with the threshold value. [Claim 2] Comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered with the threshold value is performed based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol generating material to the user during each inhalation in a predetermined period, the aerosol supply system according to claim 1. [Claim 3] The predetermined period is 1 hour, 24 hours, or 1 week, the aerosol supply system according to claim 2. [Claim 4] Comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered with the threshold value is performed after each inhalation, the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. [Claim 5] Comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered with the threshold value is performed during the inhalation, the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. [Claim 6] Comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered with the threshold value is performed at a predetermined interval during the inhalation, the aerosol supply system according to claim 5. [Claim 7] Determining the indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol generating material to the user is further based on the concentration of the component in the aerosol generating material, the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. [Claim 8] The component is nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamin, melatonin, or cannabinoid, the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. [Claim 9] When the indication of the amount of the component delivered exceeds the threshold value, the notification is provided to the user, the aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. [Claim 10] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material. [Claim 11] The aerosol supply system according to claim 10, wherein the default user behavior is determined for one inhalation. [Claim 12] The aerosol supply system according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the time between the inhalation and the next inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal, and determining the default user behavior is also based on the time between the inhalation and the next inhalation. [Claim 13] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the default user behavior is determined over a plurality of inhalations, and the time between each of the plurality of inhalations is shorter than a predetermined time. [Claim 14] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the default user behavior is determined over a continuous period. [Claim 15] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the threshold value is determined based on the determined default user behavior. [Claim 16] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the notification is provided by the aerosol supply system. [Claim 17] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the notification is provided by an application of a remote device. [Claim 18] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the notification is a tactile notification. [Claim 19] The aerosol supply system according to claim 18, wherein the parameters of the haptic notification are adjustable by the user of the aerosol supply system. [Claim 20] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the notification is configurable by the user. [Claim 21] The aerosol supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the notification is provided to the user based on a comparison of the indication of the amount of the delivered component with a plurality of threshold values. [Claim 22] An aerosol supply system configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, a computer, comprising, wherein the computer is Based on an inhalation detection signal received from a sensor of the aerosol supply system, during inhalation, determine an indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material aerosolized by the aerosol generator, compare the indication of the amount of the component with a threshold value, A system configured to provide a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the delivered component with the threshold value. [Claim 23] A method of operating an aerosol supply system, comprising: receiving an inhalation detection signal from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system; based on the inhalation detection signal, during the inhalation, determining an indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol-generating material aerosolized by the aerosol generator; comparing the indication of the amount of the component with a threshold value; providing a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the delivered component with the threshold value; and including. [Claim 24] A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, Receiving an inhalation detection signal from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol supply system by a user of the aerosol supply system; Based on the inhalation detection signal, determining an indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosolized aerosol-generating material by the aerosol generator during the inhalation; Comparing the indication of the amount of the component with a threshold; Providing a notification to the user based on the comparison between the indication of the amount of the delivered component and the threshold; A computer-readable storage medium for performing a method comprising the above.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize an aerosol-generating material; a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol delivery system by a user of the aerosol delivery system and output a corresponding inhalation detection signal to a control circuit; Equipped with The control circuit determining an indication of the amount of constituent delivered from the aerosol forming material to the user during the inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal; comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered to a threshold value; providing a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the ingredient delivered to the threshold value; determining a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material, wherein determining the default user behavior comprises detecting a pattern in one or more inhalations by the user; the threshold value is determined based on the determined default user behavior. Aerosol delivery system.

2. 2. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the threshold value is based on an indication of the amount of the component delivered from the aerosol generating material to the user during each inhalation during a predetermined period of time.

3. 3. The aerosol delivery system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined period of time is one hour, 24 hours, or one week.

4. 4. An aerosol delivery system according to claim 1, wherein comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the threshold value occurs after each inhalation.

5. 4. An aerosol delivery system according to claim 1, wherein comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the threshold value occurs during inhalation.

6. 6. The aerosol delivery system of claim 5, wherein comparing the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the threshold value occurs at predetermined intervals during the inhalation.

7. 7. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the determination of the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material is further based on the concentration of the component in the aerosol generating material.

8. 8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the component is nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, a vitamin, melatonin, or a cannabinoid.

9. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the notification is provided to the user when the indication of the amount of the component delivered exceeds the threshold value.

10. 10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the default user behavior is determined over one inhalation, such that the default user behavior relates to a normal inhalation performed by the user.

11. An aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control circuit is configured to determine the time between the inhalation and the next inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal, and also to determine a default user behaviour based on the time between the inhalation and the next inhalation to detect a pattern of the user's behaviour.

12. 12. An aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the default user behaviour is determined over multiple inhalations to determine the default user behaviour over a session, and the time between each of the multiple inhalations is less than a predetermined time.

13. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the default user behaviour is determined over a continuing period of time.

14. The threshold value is a user input device in the aerosol delivery device of the system; a user input device in a consumable of the system; Applications on associated remote devices, 14. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the aerosol delivery system is modifiable by the user via one or more of:

15. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the notification is provided by the aerosol delivery system.

16. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the notification is provided in an application on a remote device.

17. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the notification is a tactile notification.

18. 20. The aerosol delivery system of claim 17, wherein a parameter of the tactile notification is adjustable by the user of the aerosol delivery system.

19. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the notification is configurable by the user.

20. 20. The aerosol delivery system of claim 19, wherein the notification is configurable by the user interacting with an application on a remote device.

21. 21. The aerosol delivery system of claim 20, configurable to disable the notification during inhalation such that notification is received only when inhalation is not detected by the sensor.

22. 22. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the notification is provided to the user based on a comparison of the indication of the amount of the component delivered to a plurality of threshold values.

23. an aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material; A computer, wherein the computer: determining an indication of an amount of a component delivered to a user from the aerosol generating material aerosolized by an aerosol generator during inhalation based on an inhalation detection signal received from a sensor of the aerosol delivery system; determining a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material, wherein determining the default user behavior includes detecting a pattern in one or more inhalations by the user; comparing the indication of the amount of the ingredient to a threshold, the threshold being determined based on the determined default user behavior; The system is configured to provide a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the threshold value.

24. 1. A method of operating an aerosol delivery system, comprising: receiving an inhalation detection signal from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol delivery system by a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining an indication of a quantity of a component delivered to the user from an aerosol-generating material aerosolized by an aerosol generator during the inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal; determining a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material, wherein determining the default user behavior comprises detecting a pattern in one or more inhalations by the user; comparing the indication of the amount of the ingredient to a threshold value, the threshold value being determined based on the determined default user behavior; providing a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the ingredient delivered to the threshold value; A method comprising:

25. A computer-readable storage medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, receiving an inhalation detection signal from a sensor configured to detect inhalation of the aerosol delivery system by a user of the aerosol delivery system; determining an indication of a quantity of a component delivered to the user from an aerosol-generating material aerosolized by an aerosol generator during the inhalation based on the inhalation detection signal; determining a default user behavior based on the indication of the amount of the component delivered to the user from the aerosol generating material, wherein determining the default user behavior comprises detecting a pattern in one or more inhalations by the user; comparing the indication of the amount of the component to a threshold value, the threshold value being determined based on the determined default user behavior, thereby tailoring operation of the aerosol delivery system to the user; providing a notification to the user based on the comparison of the indication of the amount of the ingredient delivered to the threshold value; A computer-readable storage medium for performing a method, comprising:

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