Aerosol generating devices with usage restrictions

Abstract

An aerosol generating device is described that includes a device control circuit and an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to the device control circuit for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article, the device control circuit being configured to receive restriction parameters indicative of restrictions on using the aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol, and the device control circuit being configured to control the energy storage unit based on the restriction parameters such that operation of the aerosol generating device by a user to generate an aerosol is restricted in accordance with the restriction parameters.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of aerosol generating devices and systems for generating aerosols. In particular, the present disclosure relates to electronic aerosol generating devices and systems configured to generate aerosols based on heating at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article or substrate. The present disclosure also relates to uses of such aerosol generating devices or systems, methods of operating such aerosol generating devices or systems, corresponding computer programs, and non-transitory computer-readable media storing such computer programs. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that a user can use to consume or experience, for example, in one or more use sessions, an aerosol generated by heating an aerosol-generating substrate or an aerosol-generating article comprising such a substrate. Of course, aerosol-generating devices can generate aerosol by other means, such as, for example, by vibration, by spraying, or by other means.

[0003] Exemplary aerosol-generating substrates may comprise solid substrate materials, such as tobacco or tobacco cast leaf (TCL) materials. Substrate materials, for example, can often be assembled with other elements or components to form a substantially rod-shaped aerosol-generating article. Such rods or aerosol-generating articles may be configured in a shape and size to be at least partially inserted into an aerosol-generating device, and may include, for example, a heating element for heating the aerosol-generating article and / or the aerosol-generating substrate. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol-generating substrate may comprise one or more liquids and / or solids that may be supplied to the aerosol-generating device, for example, in the form of a cartridge or container. Exemplary aerosol-generating articles may include a cartridge or container that contains or is fillable with a liquid and / or solid substrate, which may vaporize during aerosol consumption by a user upon heating of the substrate. Typically, such cartridges may be coupled, attached, or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly attached to the aerosol-generating device and refilled by inserting a liquid and / or solid substrate material into the cartridge.

[0004] To generate an aerosol during use or consumption, a user typically activates a user interface of the aerosol-generating device, thereby triggering the supply of electrical energy to one or more aerosol-generating means or aerosol generators, such as one or more heating elements or heat sources, to heat at least a portion of the aerosol-generating substrate or article. At least a portion of the aerosol-generating means or aerosol generator, e.g., at least a portion of the heating elements, may be disposed within the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a portion of the aerosol-generating means or aerosol generator, e.g., at least a portion of the heating elements, may be disposed within the aerosol-generating article.

[0005] Exemplary heating elements can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating, and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from, or stored in an energy storage unit of the aerosol generating device. Exemplary energy storage units can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more supercapacitors, one or more accumulators, or other types of energy storage units.

[0006] Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to supply electrical energy to one or more other aerosol-generating means, aerosol engines, or aerosol generators to generate the aerosol. For example, the aerosol-generating device and / or aerosol-generating article may comprise one or more vibrating elements, one or more vibrating meshes, one or more atomizing devices, or other means for generating an aerosol.

[0007] In particular, if the aerosol generating device is frequently used or operated to generate aerosol, the quality of the energy storage unit or its ability to store electrical energy may decrease over time, and after a certain life or service life of the energy storage unit, the aerosol generating device, or at least the energy storage unit, may need to be replaced. For example, the life or service life of the energy storage unit, and therefore the life or service life of the aerosol generating device, may be adversely affected by excessive charging and / or discharging of the energy storage unit, which may be caused by excessive use or overuse of the aerosol generating device by a user.

[0008] Therefore, it may be desirable to provide an improved aerosol generating device or system, for example, one that has an improved lifespan or service life.

[0009] This is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Optional features are provided by the dependent claims and the following description. Summary of the Invention

[0010] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol generation device configured to generate an aerosol. The aerosol generation device includes a device control circuit and an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to the device control circuit for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article. Optionally, the device control circuit may be operably coupled to the energy storage unit. The device control circuit is configured to receive a restriction parameter indicating a restriction on use of the aerosol generation device to generate an aerosol. The device control circuit is further configured to control the energy storage unit based on the restriction parameter such that operation of the aerosol generation device by a user to generate an aerosol is restricted in accordance with the restriction parameter.

[0011] The energy storage unit and / or device control circuitry may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one aerosol generating means or at least one aerosol generator to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. Exemplary aerosol generators or means may include one or more heating elements, one or more heat sources, one or more vibrating elements, one or more vibrating meshes, and one or more atomizing devices.

[0012] For example, the energy storage unit and / or device control circuitry may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one heating element to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article that is connectable to the aerosol-generating device, for example, based on heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article.

[0013] The aerosol-generating device of the present disclosure may specifically refer to or refer to an electronic aerosol-generating device. Furthermore, exemplary aerosol-generating articles may be formed in a rod shape and at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Alternative exemplary aerosol-generating articles may include a container or cartridge that may be fixedly attached to or removably coupled to the aerosol-generating device. Typically, a liquid, solid, or mixture of solid and liquid aerosol-generating substrates may be contained within or inserted into such an aerosol-generating article and heated to generate an aerosol. Any and all forms and designs of aerosol-generating articles, as well as other forms and designs, may be used with the aerosol-generating devices and systems of the present disclosure.

[0014] Generally, the device control circuitry may be configured to control one or more device functions of the aerosol generating device. In particular, the device control circuitry may include one or more processors configured to receive and / or process the restriction parameters. The device control circuitry may be configured to operatively control the aerosol generating device and / or its energy storage unit based on the restriction parameters. Optionally, controlling the operation of one or more device functions and / or the energy storage unit may include generating and / or providing one or more control signals to one or more components of the aerosol generating device, such as the energy storage unit.

[0015] In an exemplary configuration, the device control circuitry may be configured to receive the restriction parameters based on retrieving or obtaining the restriction parameters from a data repository or memory of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the restriction parameters may be received or obtained from a computing device and / or a companion device communicatively coupleable to the aerosol generating device. As described further below, exemplary computing devices communicatively coupleable to the aerosol generating device may include a server, a server network, a smartphone, a mobile device, a smart device, or other type of computing device.

[0016] As used herein, a limiting parameter may include, for example, operational data or information for operatively controlling an aerosol generating device and / or its energy storage unit based on processing the limiting parameter by device control circuitry. A limiting parameter may indicate a limit on the use or operation of the aerosol generating device to generate aerosol by a user. A limit on the use of an aerosol generating device may refer to or indicate a limit or restriction on the generation of aerosol by a user using the aerosol generating device. In other words, a limiting parameter may indicate or represent a consumption limit or operational limit that limits the use or operation of the device to generate aerosol, thereby preventing further aerosol consumption by the user.

[0017] Generally, the limiting parameter may correlate with, be convertible to, and / or be indicative of one or more operational parameters related to, associated with, and / or involved in the operation of the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol. This may include one or more operational parameters directly or indirectly associated with the generation of aerosol by the aerosol generating device. For example, the limiting parameter may be time-based, energy-based, and / or use- or consumption-based. Alternatively, or additionally, the limiting parameter may estimate a limit on using the aerosol generating device, which limit may be one or more of time-based, energy-based, and use-based. These and other aspects are described in further detail herein.

[0018] Typically, an aerosol generating device can be operated by a user to consume or experience aerosol over multiple use sessions using one or more aerosol-generating articles, and the energy storage unit may be recharged multiple times over multiple charging cycles. Here, a charging cycle may refer to the process by which the energy storage unit can be charged from a minimum energy level or “depleted state” to a maximum energy level or “fully charged” state. As a result of charging and discharging the energy storage unit, the quality of the energy storage unit or its ability to store electrical energy may decrease or be adversely affected over time. After a certain life or service life of the energy storage unit, the aerosol generating device, or at least the energy storage unit, may be replaced to ensure full functionality of the aerosol generating device, for example, to ensure that a sufficient amount of electrical energy can be stored in the energy storage unit to heat the heating element and generate aerosol. Excessive charging and / or discharging of the energy storage unit, which may be caused by overuse or excessive use of the aerosol generating device by a user, may further adversely affect the life or service life of the energy storage unit and the aerosol generating device.

[0019] Such adverse effects on the life or service life of the energy storage unit may advantageously be avoided or at least mitigated by an aerosol generating device according to the present disclosure, particularly by limiting use of the aerosol generating device based on the limiting parameters. In other words, limiting a user's use or operation of the aerosol generating device to generate aerosol based on the limiting parameters may advantageously increase or improve the life or service life of the energy storage unit, and may also improve or increase the life or service life of the aerosol generating device. Due to the increased lifespan, the sustainability of the aerosol generating device may also be significantly improved, for example, reducing the environmental impact caused by disposal of the aerosol generating device or the energy storage unit.

[0020] As used herein, an energy storage unit of an aerosol generating device may be configured to store or may store electrical energy that can be supplied to at least one heating element to generate an aerosol. Optionally, the energy storage unit may be rechargeable, for example, by connecting the aerosol generating device to a power source or a companion device. For example, the energy storage unit may be recharged by connecting the aerosol generating device to a companion device or power source via a cable or inductive coupling. It should be noted that an aerosol generating device may include multiple energy storage units. Thus, references to a single energy storage unit herein above and below include multiple energy storage units.

[0021] In one embodiment, the energy storage unit may include one or more batteries, accumulators, capacitors, supercapacitors, or other types of energy storage units for storing electrical energy, such as an energy storage unit configured to store potential energy associated with changes in the composition of internal chemical elements or molecules of the energy storage unit. Also, combinations of any of the foregoing types of energy storage units may be implemented in the aerosol generating devices of the present disclosure.

[0022] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may include a user interface operable by a user to activate or operate the aerosol generating device to generate aerosol. Exemplary user interfaces may include buttons, switches, a touch display, an audio interface, a gesture control interface, or a combination thereof. When a usage limit of the aerosol generating device indicated by the restriction parameters has not been reached, the device control circuitry may be operable to receive one or more user inputs from the user interface and, respectively, operate or power a heating circuit including a heating element to generate aerosol in accordance with the one or more user inputs. In particular, in response to activation of the user interface, electrical energy may be supplied to at least one heating element to heat at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article and generate aerosol. When a usage limit of the aerosol generating device indicated by the restriction parameters has been reached while a limit or condition for using the aerosol generating device indicated by the restriction parameters has not been reached or is not met, the device control circuitry may configure the energy storage unit to limit or prevent aerosol generation, regardless of, for example, one or more user inputs received at the user interface indicating a user's desire to generate aerosol.

[0023] Alternatively, or additionally, when the limit for using the aerosol generation device indicated by the limit parameter is reached, the device control circuitry may configure the aerosol generation device and / or energy storage unit to an inoperable state in which the device is inoperable by the user to generate aerosol.Alternatively, or additionally, when or if the limit for using the aerosol generation device indicated by the limit parameter is not reached, the device control circuitry may configure the aerosol generation device and / or energy storage unit to an operable state in which the aerosol generation device is operable by the user to generate aerosol.

[0024] In one example, the limit parameter may indicate an amount of electrical energy available to a user to generate an aerosol. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the energy storage unit based on the limit parameter such that the energy available to a user to generate an aerosol may be limited in accordance with the limit parameter. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user to generate an aerosol based on the limit parameter. The device control circuitry may be configured to control one or both of the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit to limit use of the device to generate an aerosol in accordance with the amount of electrical energy available to a user indicated by the limit parameter.

[0025] As used herein, the amount of electrical energy available to a user for generating aerosol may refer to or indicate the amount of electrical energy that can be drawn from an energy storage unit and / or supplied to a heating element in response to, for example, one or more user inputs requesting aerosol generation or consumption in one or more use sessions. By associating a limit parameter with the amount of electrical energy available for generating aerosol, the heating element or heating circuit may not be powered once the device usage limit indicated by the limit parameter is reached, thereby effectively limiting or preventing aerosol consumption or generation. Also, by limiting the amount of available electrical energy, thereby extending the useful life or lifetime of the energy storage unit and the aerosol generating device, excessive charging and discharging can be effectively avoided.

[0026] The use session may be a finite use session, i.e., a use session having a beginning and an end. The duration of a use session, as measured by time, may be affected by use during the use session. The duration of a use session may have a maximum duration determined by the longest time from the start of the use session. If one or more monitored parameters reach a predetermined threshold before the longest time from the start of the use session, the duration of the use session may be shorter than the maximum time. As an example, the one or more monitored parameters may include one or more of i) the cumulative number of puffs in a series taken by the user since the start of the use session, and ii) the cumulative volume of aerosol emitted from the aerosol-forming substrate or article since the start of the use session.

[0027] The amount of available electrical energy may be indicated or defined by a limit parameter on any suitable absolute or relative scale. For example, the limit parameter may indicate or be provided as a fraction, percentage, or portion of the nominal capacity or amount of electrical energy storable in the energy storage unit. Alternatively, or additionally, the amount of electrical energy available to the user may be provided in absolute terms, for example, based on specifying one or more of the current, voltage, operating time, or other operating parameters. Alternatively, or additionally, the limit parameter may indirectly limit the amount of energy available to the user, for example, based on specifying or defining usage limits regarding the number of use sessions in which the aerosol generating device can be used, the number of aerosol-generating articles that can be used or consumed with the device, and the number of puffs or inhalations the user can take using the aerosol generating device.

[0028] In one embodiment, the limiting parameters may indicate one or more predetermined values ​​for one or more operating parameters related to, associated with, and / or involved in the operation of the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol. For example, the one or more operating parameters may be involved in providing electrical energy from an energy storage unit to a heating element to generate the aerosol. Generally, the one or more operating parameters may include one or more operating parameters related to charging the energy storage unit and / or one or more operating parameters related to discharging the energy storage unit.

[0029] It should be noted that the limiting parameter may include multiple elements, each representing at least one predetermined value of at least one operational parameter associated with, related to, and / or involved in the operation of the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol. Alternatively, or additionally, multiple limiting parameters may be utilized, each representing at least one predetermined value of at least one operational parameter.

[0030] In an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined value of an operating parameter may refer to, include, or indicate a threshold or threshold value of the operating parameter.

[0031] For example, the device control circuitry may be configured to monitor one or more operating parameters during use or operation of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to determine whether one or more predetermined values ​​or thresholds for one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters have been reached. This may include comparing one or more values ​​of the one or more monitored operating parameters with one or more predetermined values ​​or thresholds for one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters.

[0032] As an example, the limiting parameter may refer to one or more of the following operating parameters: a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit; a predetermined charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit to recharge it; a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the energy storage unit's internal chemical elements; and a predetermined number of charging cycles for which the energy storage unit can be charged. Other exemplary operating parameters directly or indirectly related to the use or operation of the aerosol generating device to generate aerosol may be a predetermined number of use sessions that can be used to generate aerosol; a predetermined operating time for which the aerosol generating device can be used to generate aerosol; a predetermined number of aerosol-generating articles that can be used with or consumed by the aerosol generating device; a predetermined number of puffs or inhalations that a user can take; a predetermined amount of aerosol-generating substrates or articles available for use with the aerosol generating device, e.g., a predetermined range including a start date and an end date; and an amount of energy drawn from the energy storage unit for aerosol generation. Any one or more of the aforementioned operating parameters, as well as other operating parameters, may be considered or reflected by limiting parameters and used to estimate the usage limits of the aerosol generating device.

[0033] In one embodiment, the device control circuitry may be configured to determine, based on the limiting parameters, one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy that can be provided to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged to.

[0034] Optionally, determining the predetermined parameter based on the limit parameter may include deriving a predetermined value or threshold for the parameter from the limit parameter. For example, the device control circuitry may process the limit parameter to calculate or compute one or more predetermined values ​​or thresholds for one or more operating parameters, such as a predetermined value or threshold for output voltage, a predetermined value or threshold for charge energy available for delivery to the energy storage unit, a predetermined value or threshold for the potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with changes in the composition of the energy storage unit's internal chemistry, and a predetermined or threshold number of charge cycles for which the energy storage unit is capable of charging. As described in more detail above and below herein, other predetermined values ​​or thresholds for other operating parameters may alternatively or additionally be determined based on the limit parameter.

[0035] Alternatively, or additionally, determining the predetermined parameters based on the limiting parameters may include determining whether one or more values ​​of the one or more operating parameters correspond to, match, and / or are equal to one or more predetermined or threshold parameter values ​​indicated or defined by the limiting parameters.

[0036] In general, one or more predetermined or threshold parameter values ​​for one or more operating parameters may be represented by the limit parameters and optionally derived therefrom by the device control circuitry. Exemplary, non-limiting predetermined or threshold parameter values ​​that may be represented by and / or derived from the limit parameters are a minimum output voltage of the energy storage unit, a maximum charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a maximum charging time, a maximum charging current, and a maximum charging voltage of the energy storage unit. Other exemplary, non-limiting thresholds that may be defined by limiting parameters may include one or more of: a maximum decrease in the output voltage of the energy storage unit; a potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit; a maximum number of charging cycles for which the energy storage unit can be charged; a maximum operating time for which the aerosol generating device may be used to generate aerosol; a maximum range of dates for which the aerosol generating device may be used to generate aerosol, e.g., including a start and end date or period; a maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles that may be used or consumed with the aerosol generating device; a maximum number of puffs or inhalations that a user may take; a maximum amount of aerosol-generating substrate that may be used with the aerosol generating device; and a maximum amount of energy that may be drawn from the energy storage unit for aerosol generation.

[0037] In one example, the device control circuitry may be configured to limit use of the aerosol generating device at an output voltage below a minimum output voltage indicated or defined by a limiting parameter, where the minimum output voltage may optionally differ from a nominal minimum output voltage, such as a nominal output voltage according to the nominal characteristics of the energy storage unit. Thus, the discharge of the energy storage unit may be modified with respect to the nominal characteristics of the energy storage unit to control the aerosol generating device or the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameter.

[0038] As one example, the limiting parameter may indicate a minimum output voltage of the energy storage unit that is higher than the nominal output voltage of the energy storage unit. The device control circuitry may monitor, measure, track, and / or determine the output voltage or actual output voltage of the energy storage unit during use of the device and compare it to the minimum output voltage indicated by the limiting parameter. When the actual output voltage reaches or falls below the minimum output voltage, the device control circuitry may configure the device or energy storage unit into an inoperable state in which no aerosol may be generated by the user. In this example, the amount of energy drawn from the energy storage unit by the user may be limited by the limiting parameter.

[0039] Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to limit and / or control the amount of energy that can be supplied to, stored in, and / or stored in the energy storage unit during one or more charging cycles. For example, the device control circuitry may be configured to control one or more charging parameters for charging or recharging the energy storage unit, which may also be referred to herein as operating parameters related to charging the energy storage unit. Exemplary charging parameters controllable by the device control circuitry include a charging voltage, which may refer to the voltage applied across the energy storage unit during charging of the energy storage unit during one or more charging cycles; a charging current, which may refer to the current supplied to the energy storage unit during charging of the energy storage unit during one or more charging cycles; a charging time, which may refer to the time or duration over which the energy storage unit is charged during one or more charging cycles; and a number of charging cycles that may be performed. As an example, the limiting parameters may indicate and / or define one or more of a maximum charging energy, a maximum charging current, a maximum charging voltage, a maximum charging time, and a maximum number of charging cycles. Optionally, the device control circuitry may derive one or more of the above-mentioned thresholds from the limiting parameters.

[0040] During charging of the energy storage unit, one or more of the actual charging voltage, actual charging energy, actual charging current, actual charging time, and actual number of charging cycles may be determined by the device control circuit and compared with one or more corresponding thresholds indicated by the limiting parameters. When one or more of these thresholds are reached, charging or recharging of the energy storage unit may be terminated or prohibited by the device control circuit. Because one or more charging parameters defined by the limiting parameters may differ from corresponding nominal values, the energy storage unit may be charged with an amount of electrical energy less than the nominal maximum amount, which may theoretically be storable in the energy storage unit. Therefore, the amount of electrical energy storable in the energy storage unit, and therefore the amount of energy available to a user for generating aerosols, may be effectively and reliably limited based on the limiting parameters. Furthermore, excessive charging and discharging may be prevented, thereby effectively avoiding or at least reducing degradation of the energy storage unit.

[0041] As described above, characteristics of one or more charge cycles may be modified based on limit parameters related to a nominal charge cycle of the energy storage unit. Here, a charge cycle may refer to a process by which the energy storage unit may be charged from a minimum energy level or “depleted state” to a maximum energy level or “fully charged” state. The modification related to the nominal charge cycle of the energy storage unit estimated by the limit parameters may include one or both of a modification of the minimum energy level and a modification of the maximum energy level of one or more charge cycles. For example, the charge cycle may be changed, altered, or modified based on the limit parameters such that a minimum energy level at which the energy storage unit is in a depleted state may differ from a nominal minimum energy level of the energy storage unit or a physically depleted state. Alternatively, or additionally, the charge cycle may be changed, altered, or modified based on the limit parameters such that a maximum energy level at which the energy storage unit is in a fully charged state may differ from a nominal maximum energy level of the energy storage unit or a physically fully charged state.

[0042] In an exemplary embodiment, the limit parameter may represent a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, which may represent an open circuit voltage. For example, the predetermined output voltage may represent the output voltage of the energy storage unit when the heating element is turned off or the heating circuit is open, such as during charging or when the aerosol generating device is turned off.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit indicated by the limit parameter may represent a closed circuit voltage of the energy storage unit, for example, the predetermined output voltage may represent the output voltage of the energy storage unit when the heating element is turned on or the heating circuit is closed, such as during use of the aerosol generating device for aerosol consumption.

[0044] In one embodiment, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user by controlling charging of the energy storage unit over one or more charging cycles of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameter. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the charging process and / or the amount of electrical energy that can be supplied to, stored in, and / or stored in the energy storage unit over one or more charging cycles, such that the amount of energy that can be drawn from the energy storage unit and / or supplied to the heating element can be limited in accordance with the limiting parameter. Thus, degradation of the energy storage unit can be prevented, and operation of the aerosol generation device by a user to generate an aerosol can be effectively limited in accordance with the amount of electrical energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit.

[0045] In exemplary embodiments, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge of the energy storage unit, request a recharge of the energy storage unit, disable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation based on limiting parameters.

[0046] For example, the device control circuitry may be configured to determine one or more actual values ​​of the one or more operating parameters and compare the one or more actual values ​​to one or more predetermined values ​​of the one or more operating parameters indicated or defined by the limit parameters. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharging of the energy storage unit, request a recharging of the energy storage unit, disable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation based on the comparison.

[0047] As an example, the device control circuitry may be configured to monitor one or more operating parameters, which may include determining actual or current values ​​of the one or more operating parameters. Furthermore, the device control circuitry may be configured to compare one or more monitored or determined values ​​of the one or more operating parameters with one or more predetermined or threshold values ​​for the one or more operating parameters indicated by, defined by, and / or derived from the limit parameters. When at least one of the actual values ​​of at least one operating parameter corresponds to, matches, and / or equals at least one of the predetermined or threshold values ​​for the at least one operating parameter, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge of the energy storage unit, request a recharge of the energy storage unit, or disable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation. Alternatively, or additionally, upon determining that the predetermined or threshold value has not been reached, the device control circuitry may enable the aerosol generation device for aerosol generation.

[0048] Thus, to control the amount of electrical energy storable in the energy storage unit, the device control circuitry may terminate and / or signal completion of a charge cycle such that a predetermined amount of electrical energy, as indicated or defined by the limit parameter, may be available to the user for generating an aerosol, where the charge cycle may be terminated at an energy level that is less than or equal to the nominal maximum energy level of the energy storage unit, e.g., the maximum capacity of the energy storage unit.

[0049] Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may signal the user that the energy storage unit is empty and trigger and / or request recharging of the energy storage unit, thereby controlling the amount of electrical energy drawn from the energy storage unit and / or available to the user for generating aerosol. Here, recharging of the energy storage unit may be triggered at an energy level equal to or exceeding that of a fully depleted energy storage unit. Thus, recharging of the energy storage unit may be initiated before the energy storage unit is completely empty or physically depleted, thereby limiting the amount of electrical energy available to the user for generating aerosol.

[0050] Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol generating device may be shut down or disabled for aerosol generation based on the limiting parameter. For example, the supply of electrical energy from the energy storage to the heating element or heating circuit may be inhibited by the device control circuitry in accordance with or based on the limiting parameter. For example, the aerosol generating device may be shut down when a limit for using the device indicated by the limiting parameter is reached. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol generating device may be activated or enabled for aerosol generation or for further use if a limit for using the device indicated by the limiting parameter is not reached.

[0051] In yet another example, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum charge energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit to charge the energy storage unit, and the device control circuitry may be configured to control the charge energy supplied to the energy storage unit based on the maximum charge energy indicated by the limit parameter. For example, the device control circuitry may be configured to determine one or more actual values ​​of charge energy supplied to the energy storage unit during charging or recharging of the energy storage unit and compare the determined one or more actual values ​​of charge energy with the maximum charge energy defined by the limit parameter. Optionally, the actual value of the charge energy may be monitored or determined over time, e.g., continuously or at discrete moments, during charging of the energy storage unit. Further optionally, upon determining that the actual charge energy equals or exceeds the maximum charge energy, the device control circuitry may terminate the charge cycle, terminate charging of the energy storage unit, and / or signal completion of the charge cycle to a user. For example, completion of the charge cycle may be signaled by providing an acoustic, tactile, and / or optical signal to a user via a user interface of the aerosol generating device, a computing device, and / or a companion device communicatively coupled to the aerosol generating device. By limiting the amount of energy stored or storable in the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameters, the energy storage unit can be protected from overcharging while effectively limiting the use of the device for aerosol consumption, and the useful life of the energy storage unit and the aerosol generating device can be improved or increased.

[0052] In one embodiment, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the charging energy based on controlling one or more of the charging time, charging voltage, and charging current of the energy storage unit. Here, the charging time may refer to the time or duration that the charging voltage and charging current are supplied to the energy storage unit, for example, during one or more constant current phases of a constant current-constant voltage charging sequence of a charging cycle. The charging current may refer to the current supplied to the energy storage unit during charging, for example, during one or more constant current phases of a charging cycle. The charging voltage may refer to the voltage supplied to the energy storage unit during charging, for example, during one or more constant current or constant voltage phases of a charging cycle. For example, one or more of the charging voltage, charging current, and charging time may be controlled, varied, and / or kept constant by the device control circuitry during charging of the energy storage unit, such that a predetermined amount of electrical energy can be stored in the energy storage unit as indicated by the limiting parameter.

[0053] In further examples, the device control circuitry may be configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit, terminate charging of the energy storage unit, and / or signal completion of the charging cycle to a user when the device control circuitry determines that the charging energy delivered to the energy storage unit equals or exceeds the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameter. For example, the device control circuitry may determine one or both of a charging current and a charging voltage and calculate the charging energy delivered to the energy storage unit over a charging time until the delivered charging energy equals the predetermined maximum charging energy.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit, terminate charging of the energy storage unit, and / or signal the end of the charging cycle to a user when the device control circuitry determines that the charging current, charging time, and charging voltage of the energy storage unit equal or exceed one or more of the maximum charging current, maximum charging time, and maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters.

[0055] In yet another example, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum number of charge cycles for which the energy storage unit can be charged, and the device control circuitry may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user based on limiting the number of charge cycles for the energy storage unit according to the limit parameter. For example, the device control circuitry may be configured to track or monitor the actual number of charge cycles, which may correspond to the number of times the energy storage unit has been charged from a minimum to a maximum energy level. The device control circuitry may optionally compare the determined actual number of charge cycles with the maximum number indicated by the limit parameter. Further optionally, the device control circuitry may disable and / or shut down the aerosol generation device if it determines that the actual number of charge cycles reaches or exceeds the maximum number. Limiting the number of charge cycles can effectively and reliably limit the number of times a user can generate aerosol using the aerosol generation device while also preventing wear on the energy storage unit.

[0056] In an exemplary configuration, the aerosol generating device may include a data store storing multiple predetermined configurations of the energy storage associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy storage, and the device control circuitry may be configured to select one of the multiple predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameters and configure the energy storage to the selected configuration. Here, a capacity level may refer to, correlate to, and / or be associated with a particular amount of electrical energy that can be stored in and / or is stored in the energy storage. The one or more predetermined capacity levels may be provided in relative terms, for example, as a fraction, percentage, or portion of a nominal capacity level of the energy storage. Alternatively, the capacity level may be provided as an absolute capacity or energy level.

[0057] According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may include an energy storage controller, and the device control circuitry may be configured to control the energy storage based on configuring the energy storage controller according to the limiting parameters. For example, the device control circuitry may configure the energy storage and / or the energy storage controller to a selected configuration based on setting one or more of a maximum charging time, a maximum charging current, a maximum charging voltage, and a maximum number of charging cycles in the energy storage controller. This may enable dynamic adjustment of the energy storage configuration according to the limiting parameters, for example, if the limiting parameters change over time or after a certain period of time.

[0058] As described above, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user based on controlling the discharge of the energy storage unit in one or more charge cycles of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameters.

[0059] For example, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum number of usage sessions during which the aerosol generating device can operate or be used by a user to generate aerosol, and the device control circuitry may be configured to disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, or request a recharge of the energy storage unit when the aerosol generating device determines that the number of usage sessions in which it has operated to generate aerosol equals or exceeds the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter. In one embodiment, the device control circuitry may determine, monitor, and / or track the number of usage sessions, which may correspond to the number of times the aerosol generating device has been used by a user to generate aerosol, or the number of actual usage sessions, and compare the determined number of actual usage sessions with the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter. When the maximum number of usage sessions is reached, the device control circuitry may disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, and / or request a recharge of the energy storage unit, such that further use of the aerosol generating device may be prohibited until, for example, the limit parameter is changed or the number of usage sessions is reset.

[0060] It should be noted that a new aerosol-generating article may be used in each use session, or the same aerosol-generating article may be used in multiple use sessions, and thus the number of use sessions may be the same as or different from the number of aerosol-generating articles.

[0061] The aerosol generating device may optionally include a counter for counting the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has been used to generate aerosol. Furthermore, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the energy storage unit based on comparing the number of usage sessions indicated by the counter with the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limiting parameter. Such a counter may be implemented in hardware and / or software. For example, the counter may be implemented as a mechanical or electronic counter. Optionally, the counter may be configured to persistently store the number of usage sessions, e.g., store the number of usage sessions regardless of whether electrical energy is supplied to the counter. Based on such a counter, the number of usage sessions may be reliably monitored, and usage of the device may be reliably limited in accordance with the limiting parameter.

[0062] Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol generating device may optionally include a counter for counting the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles used in the aerosol generating device. Further, the device control circuitry may be configured to control the energy storage unit based on comparing the number of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the counter with a maximum number of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the limit parameter. Alternatively or additionally, a counter may be used to count the number of inhalations or puffs.

[0063] In an exemplary embodiment, the limit parameter may indicate a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit. Further, the device control circuitry may be configured to measure the output voltage of the energy storage unit and compare the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit to the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter. The predetermined output voltage may indicate or refer to, for example, a threshold output voltage or a minimum output voltage of the energy storage unit. Here, the output voltage or predetermined output voltage may refer to the open circuit voltage or the closed circuit voltage of the energy storage unit.

[0064] In further examples, the device control circuitry may be configured to disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, and / or request a recharge of the energy storage unit when it determines that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or less than the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter. Thus, the device control circuitry may monitor or track the output voltage, compare the output voltage to a minimum output voltage, as indicated by the limit parameter, and disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, and / or request a recharge of the energy storage unit when it determines that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or less than the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter.

[0065] In yet another example, the device control circuitry can be configured to control the discharge rate of the energy storage unit based on a limiting parameter. For example, the limiting parameter may indicate a predetermined or threshold discharge rate, and the device control circuitry can be configured to determine the actual discharge rate and compare it to the predetermined discharge rate to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user for generating the aerosol. Here, the discharge rate may be given, for example, as a number of discharge cycles per given period, and a discharge cycle may refer to the depletion of the energy storage unit from a maximum energy level to a minimum energy level.

[0066] In another exemplary embodiment, the limit parameter may indicate a percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit, and the device control circuitry may be configured to disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, and request a recharge of the energy storage unit upon determining that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit is equal to or greater than the percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored indicated by the limit parameter. For example, the percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit may correlate to and / or refer to a percentage of the nominal storage capacity or maximum nominal capacity of the energy storage unit. Furthermore, the percentage may be given in absolute or relative terms, e.g., as a percentage of the maximum nominal amount of energy that can be physically or theoretically stored in the energy storage unit. Thus, use of the aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol may be limited by limiting the amount of electrical energy that can be drawn from the energy storage unit and supplied to the heating element to generate the aerosol.

[0067] In one example, the limit parameter may indicate a certain percentage of a maximum or nominal amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage, and the device control circuitry may determine, monitor, and / or track the energy drawn from the energy storage. Upon determining that the energy drawn from the energy storage is equal to or less than the percentage indicated by the limit parameter, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following: disable the energy storage; signal that the energy storage is empty; trigger a recharge; or request a recharge of the energy storage. Thus, only a certain percentage of energy may be used by the user to generate aerosol, and when this certain percentage is used, operation of the aerosol generating device may be disabled, for example, by forcing a recharge of the energy storage, but the energy storage may not be completely physically depleted.

[0068] In yet another example, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum operating time for which the aerosol generating device may be operated by a user to generate aerosol, and the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following when the device control circuitry determines that the operating time of the aerosol generating device equals or exceeds the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, or request a recharge of the energy storage unit. For example, the operating time of the aerosol generating device may refer to the amount of time the aerosol generating device is operated by a user to generate aerosol in one or more use sessions, and may be determined, monitored, and / or tracked by the device control circuitry. Further, the device control circuitry may compare the determined operating time with the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter. Optionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following when the device control circuitry determines that the operating time of the aerosol generating device equals or exceeds the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, or request a recharge of the energy storage unit. Thus, the use of an aerosol generating device to generate aerosols can be significantly limited by limiting the time or duration that the aerosol generating device can be operated to generate aerosols.

[0069] Alternatively, or in addition, the limiting parameter may indicate a period of time during which the aerosol generating device may be used to generate aerosol. For example, the limiting parameter may indicate one or more of a start date from which the device is operable to generate aerosol to an end date during which the aerosol generating device is operable to generate aerosol. The start date and / or end date may be given, for example, as a particular day and month of a year.

[0070] In yet another exemplary implementation, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles that the aerosol generating device may be used with by a user, and upon determining that the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles used with the aerosol generating device equals or exceeds the maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the limit parameter, the device control circuitry may be configured to do one or more of the following: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, or request a recharge of the energy storage unit.

[0071] For example, the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles used in the aerosol generating device for aerosol consumption may be monitored and / or tracked by the device control circuitry. Furthermore, the device control circuitry may compare the determined number or amount of aerosol-generating articles with a maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles indicated by a limiting parameter. Optionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger a recharge, or request a recharge of the energy storage unit upon determining that the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles equals or exceeds the maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the limiting parameter. Thus, use of the aerosol generating device to generate aerosol can be reliably limited by limiting the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles that can be used with the aerosol generating device.

[0072] In exemplary embodiments, the device control circuitry may be configured to retrieve the restriction parameters from a data repository of the aerosol generation device. In other words, the restriction parameters may be stored in the data repository of the aerosol generation device. Optionally, retrieving the restriction parameters may include reading the restriction parameters from the data repository. Further optionally, multiple restriction parameters may be stored in the data repository, and one of the restriction parameters may be selected by the device control circuitry, for example, based on a control signal received from a computing device or companion device communicatively coupled to the aerosol generation device and / or based on one or more user inputs.

[0073] In an exemplary configuration, the aerosol generating device may include a communication interface for communicatively coupling the aerosol generating device to a computing device, and the restriction parameters may be received from the computing device via the communication interface. The communication interface may be configured for one or both of wired and wireless communication with the computing device. For example, the communication interface may include one or more of a BUS interface, a cable interface, a Bluetooth interface, a wireless local area network interface, an infrared communication interface, a near field communication interface, an Internet communication interface, or any other suitable type of communication interface. Additionally, multiple computing devices may be communicatively coupled to the aerosol generating device via the communication interface, for example, using the same or different types of communication protocols.

[0074] In one embodiment, the computing device includes at least one of a server and a mobile device. A server may also refer to multiple servers, e.g., a server network. Alternatively, or additionally, a mobile device may refer to a smartphone, laptop, tablet, wearable, smart device, or any other type of mobile computing device. The server and / or the mobile device may include a communication interface for communicatively coupling the server and / or the mobile device to the aerosol generating device, e.g., for transmitting restriction parameters or corresponding control signals to the aerosol generating device.

[0075] Optionally, an application or software may be executed on a server and / or a mobile device, which may allow a user to define the limiting parameters and initiate transmission of the limiting parameters to the aerosol generating device, for example, based on the user's user account and / or based on the aerosol generating device's identification number. Note, however, that the entire limiting parameters may not necessarily be transmitted from the computing device to the aerosol generating device; only corresponding control signals indicating the particular limiting parameters may be transmitted to the aerosol generating device and then loaded from a data repository in the aerosol generating device.

[0076] In yet another exemplary configuration, the aerosol generating device may include a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs, and the restriction parameters may be based on the one or more user inputs received via the user interface of the aerosol generating device. Thus, the restriction parameters may be user-definable via the one or more user inputs.

[0077] In one embodiment, the restriction parameters may be reset, modified, and / or updated based on user input at a user interface. Alternatively, or additionally, the restriction parameters may be reset, modified, and / or updated based on receiving corresponding control signals from a computing device and / or a companion device communicatively coupled to the aerosol generating device.

[0078] In yet another example, the aerosol generating device may be connectable, e.g., operatively and / or communicatively connectable, to a companion device, e.g., to supply electrical energy to the energy storage unit, and the limiting parameters may be received from the companion device upon connecting the aerosol generating device to the companion device.

[0079] The companion device may be configured to at least partially receive the aerosol generating device, for example, to charge the aerosol generating device and / or to store the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device may be configured for wireless charging by the companion device. For example, the companion device and the aerosol generating device may be inductively coupled to charge the energy storage of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to establish an electrical connection with the companion device to charge the energy storage. Thus, the aerosol generating device may be configured to be operably coupled to the companion device to charge the energy storage of the aerosol generating device.

[0080] Alternatively, or additionally, the companion device may comprise a communications interface for communicatively coupling the companion device to the aerosol generating device and for transmitting, for example, limiting parameters or corresponding control signals from the companion device to the aerosol generating device. Optionally, the communicative coupling between the aerosol generating device and the companion device may be established upon operably coupling the aerosol generating device to the companion device for charging the aerosol generating device, or vice versa.

[0081] In one embodiment, the companion device may include a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs, for example, to define restriction parameters at the companion device, which may be transmitted to the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the companion device may be communicatively coupled to a computing device, such as a server or mobile device, and the restriction parameters or corresponding control signals may be received by the companion device from the computing device and then transmitted to the aerosol generating device.

[0082] In an exemplary configuration, the aerosol generating device may include at least a portion of a heating element or heating circuit coupled to an energy storage device and configured to heat at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article. Thus, at least a portion of the heating element and / or at least a portion of the heating control circuit may be integrated into the aerosol generating device. For example, a resistive blade, a resonator, an excitation coil, a microwave generator, or other type of heating element may be at least partially disposed and / or integrated within the aerosol generating device.

[0083] Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol-generating device may be connectable to an aerosol-generating article that includes at least part of a heating element or heating circuit, and the energy storage unit may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one heating element of the aerosol-generating article to generate the aerosol. For example, a resistive blade, resonator, excitation coil, microwave generator, or other type of heating element may be at least partially disposed and / or integrated into the aerosol-generating device and powered or supplied with electrical energy drawn from the energy storage unit of the aerosol-generating device.

[0084] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device as described hereinabove and below, and an aerosol-generating article that is connectable to or connected to the aerosol-generating device and generates an aerosol from at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article (e.g., upon heating). Any disclosure presented hereinabove and below regarding the aerosol-generating device and / or the aerosol-generating article applies equally to the aerosol-generating system, and vice versa.

[0085] Further aspects of the present disclosure relate to the use of the aerosol generating devices and / or systems described herein above and below.

[0086] Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of operating an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device operated according to the method may be an aerosol generating device described hereinabove and below. Accordingly, any feature, function, element, and / or step described hereinabove and below with reference to an aerosol generating device may also be a feature, function, element, and / or step of a method of operating an aerosol generating device, and vice versa.

[0087] An aerosol-generating device operating in accordance with the methods of the present disclosure includes an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to a device control circuit for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate. - receiving, using a device control circuitry of the aerosol generating device, a restriction parameter indicative of a restriction for generating an aerosol using the aerosol generating device; - configuring the energy storage unit based on the restriction parameters using a device control circuit of the aerosol generating device, thereby restricting operation of the aerosol generating device by a user to generate an aerosol in accordance with the restriction parameters.

[0088] The energy storage unit and / or device control circuitry may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one aerosol generating means or aerosol generator to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article that is coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. Exemplary aerosol generators or means may include one or more heating elements, one or more heat sources, one or more vibrating elements, one or more vibrating meshes, and one or more atomizing devices.

[0089] For example, the energy storage unit and / or device control circuitry may be configured to supply electrical energy to at least one heating element to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article that is connectable to the aerosol-generating device, for example, based on heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article.

[0090] Alternatively or additionally, generating the aerosol may be limited in accordance with the limiting parameters. Optionally, configuring the energy store may include controlling the energy store such that operation of the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol is limited in accordance with the limiting parameters.

[0091] In one embodiment, the method may further include controlling an amount of electrical energy available to a user to generate the aerosol based on the constraint parameter. Alternatively, or additionally, configuring the energy store may include controlling an amount of electrical energy available to a user to generate the aerosol based on the constraint parameter.

[0092] In yet another embodiment, the method may further include determining, based on the limiting parameters, one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy deliverable to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of an internal chemical element of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles for which the energy storage unit is chargeable.

[0093] In a further embodiment, the method may further include controlling the amount of electrical energy available to the user by controlling one or more of the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit in one or more charging cycles based on the limiting parameters.

[0094] Optionally, the method may further include one or more of terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signaling completion of the charging cycle, signaling a user that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging of the energy storage unit, requesting recharging of the energy storage unit, disabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation based on the limiting parameters.

[0095] In yet another embodiment, the method may further include determining one or more actual values ​​of the one or more operating parameters, comparing the one or more actual values ​​to one or more predetermined values ​​of the one or more operating parameters indicated or defined by the limit parameters, and one or more of terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signaling completion of the charging cycle, signaling a user that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging of the energy storage unit, requesting recharging of the energy storage unit, disabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation based on the comparison.

[0096] According to one embodiment, the method may further include controlling charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit based on controlling one or more of a charging time, a charging voltage, and a charging current of the energy storage unit.

[0097] Optionally, the method may further include determining, monitoring, and / or tracking the charging energy supplied by the energy storage unit, and terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit in response to determining that the charging energy equals or exceeds a maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameter.

[0098] Further optionally, the method may include terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit upon determining that one or more of a charging current, a charging time, and a charging voltage of the energy storage unit equals or exceeds one or more of a maximum charging current, a maximum charging time, and a maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters.

[0099] Alternatively or additionally, the method may further include limiting one or more of the number of charge cycles of the energy storage unit, the number of usage sessions that the aerosol generating device can use to generate aerosol, the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles that can be used with the aerosol generating device, and the number of inhalations or puffs that the user can take in accordance with the limiting parameters, thereby controlling and / or limiting the amount of electrical energy available to the user.

[0100] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further comprise a data storage unit storing a plurality of predetermined configurations of the energy storage unit associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy storage unit, and the method may further comprise selecting one of the plurality of predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameter and configuring the energy storage unit to the selected configuration.

[0101] Optionally, the method may further include configuring, by the device control circuitry, the energy storage controller according to the limiting parameters.

[0102] In yet another embodiment, the method may further include determining the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol, and, upon determining that the number of usage sessions equals or exceeds the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter, one or more of disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit. Optionally, the method may further include storing the number of usage sessions in a counter, e.g., an electronic or mechanical counter, of the aerosol generating device. Further optionally, the method may include comparing the number of usage sessions indicated by the counter of the aerosol generating device with the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter.

[0103] In yet another embodiment, the method may further include determining the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles used by the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol, and, upon determining that the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles equals or exceeds the maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles usable by the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol, as indicated by the limiting parameter, disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging, and requesting recharging of the energy storage unit. Optionally, the method may further include storing the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles used with the aerosol generating device in a counter, e.g., an electronic or mechanical counter, on the aerosol generating device. Further optionally, the method may include comparing the number or amount of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the counter on the aerosol generating device to the maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the limiting parameter.

[0104] In yet another example, the method may further include measuring an output voltage of the energy storage unit and comparing the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit to a minimum output voltage indicated by the limit parameter, where the output voltage may refer to an open-circuit or closed-circuit output voltage.

[0105] Optionally, the method may further include one or more of disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit in response to determining that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or less than a minimum output voltage indicated by the limit parameter.

[0106] Alternatively, or additionally, the method may include controlling a discharge rate of the energy storage unit based on a limiting parameter, where the discharge rate may be given, for example, as a number of discharge cycles per given period, and a discharge cycle may refer to the depletion of the energy storage unit from a maximum energy level to a minimum energy level.

[0107] In another example, the method may further include determining a decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit, and, upon determining that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit equals or exceeds a percentage of a maximum amount of energy storable in the energy storage unit as indicated by the limit parameter, one or more of disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit.

[0108] In yet another embodiment, the method may further include determining an operating time for which the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol, and, upon determining that the operating time of the aerosol generating device equals or exceeds a maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter, one or more of disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit.

[0109] In an exemplary embodiment of the method, receiving the restriction parameters may include obtaining the restriction parameters from a data repository of the aerosol generating device.

[0110] Alternatively, or additionally, the restriction parameters may be received from a computing device and / or companion device communicatively coupleable or coupled to the aerosol generating device via a communication interface of the aerosol generating device.

[0111] Alternatively or additionally, the method may further include receiving one or more user inputs via a user interface of the aerosol generating device, and the restriction parameters may be based on the one or more user inputs received via the user interface of the aerosol generating device. For example, a user may specify or define the restriction parameters via the user interface. Alternatively or additionally, the device control circuitry may be configured to determine or generate the restriction parameters based on the one or more user inputs.

[0112] In one embodiment, the method may further comprise supplying electrical energy to a heating element of the aerosol-generating device or to a heating element of an aerosol-generating article coupled to the aerosol-generating device.

[0113] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer program which, when executed by an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating system, instructs the aerosol generating device or system to perform the steps of the methods as described herein above and below.

[0114] A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer-readable medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program that, when executed by an aerosol generating device or aerosol generating system, instructs the aerosol generating device or system to perform the steps of the methods as described herein above and below.

[0115] It is emphasized that any feature, step, function, element, technical effect and / or advantage described herein with reference to one aspect applies to any other aspect of the disclosure as well.

[0116] The following are illustrative examples and exemplary embodiments of one or more aspects of the present disclosure. An aerosol-generating device may refer, for example, to an electronic aerosol-generating device or a non-combustion-based device that can be used with various forms or types of aerosol-generating articles. Generally, such electronic devices may be manufactured on a large scale to individually meet the consumption needs of multiple users. Upon completion of use, e.g., consumption of one or more aerosol-generating articles, a user may dispose of the used electronic device in the surrounding environment. If the used electronic device is not disposed of in an appropriate manner, such as recycling, the used electronic device may contaminate the surrounding environment and cause undesirable effects. Therefore, to minimize the environmental impact on the surrounding environment, it may be advantageous to limit the number of aerosol-generating devices manufactured on a large scale. However, if the number of aerosol-generating devices is limited, it may be difficult to meet the demand among multiple users. To address such demand from multiple users, it may be desirable to provide a technical solution that allows a limited number of aerosol-generating devices to be shared among multiple users, as may be achieved by controlling the aerosol-generating device based on limiting parameters, as described herein. Such a solution would improve sustainability and get as much out of each aerosol generating device as possible, without the need to manufacture multiple devices for multiple users.

[0117] Furthermore, in some cases, an aerosol generating device may be overused, and such overusage may result in excessive charge and / or discharge cycles of the energy storage unit, which may affect the useful life of the aerosol generating device. Therefore, it may be desirable to limit the use of the aerosol generating device, for example, to limit the number of charge and / or discharge cycles to improve the useful life of the energy storage unit, as may be achieved by controlling the aerosol generating device based on limiting parameters.

[0118] In other cases, a user may be interested in setting limits on the use of an aerosol-generating device. For example, a user may set a limit on N inhalation experiences, usage sessions, and / or aerosol-generating articles, but may ultimately exceed that limit in the use of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, a user may be interested in optimizing their consumption relative to their usage pattern, and thus, again, a system that prevents use of the device beyond a certain threshold set by the user may be beneficial in controlling their consumption. Based on the limit parameters, use of the device beyond a certain threshold may be advantageously prevented.

[0119] Thus, an aerosol generating device of the present disclosure employing usage limitations based on the limiting parameters may advantageously be provided to multiple users at an optimal cost that may be commensurate with the actual use of the device. Alternatively, or additionally, limiting the use of the aerosol generating device may advantageously improve the useful life of the energy storage unit of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, or additionally, the environmental impact of the electronic device may be reduced by sharing the electronic device among different users. Alternatively, or additionally, the limiting parameters may allow a user to set limits on the use of the aerosol generating device, for example, without the risk of forgetting current or past use.

[0120] In a non-limiting example, the restriction parameters may be associated with a user's subscription. For example, a user account may be managed on a computing device, and the account may be associated with a subscription, subscription level, and / or subscription model. Optionally, an aerosol generating device may be associated with the account based, for example, on an aerosol generating device identification number. Thus, the restriction parameters may reflect and / or indicate the subscription, subscription level, and / or subscription model associated with the user and / or the aerosol generating device.

[0121] In one example, the aerosol generating device may be configured to be enabled for a particular subscription limit, such as a particular amount or number of aerosol-generating articles and / or a particular duration of use of the aerosol generating device, as indicated by the limit parameters. Based on completion of the particular subscription limit, the aerosol-generating article may be controlled, such as disabled to prevent further use or enabled to use. In some cases, the device may be controlled, e.g., enabled or disabled, by a computing device and / or companion device communicatively coupled to the aerosol generating device.

[0122] In another example, an aerosol generating device may be configured to be enabled for a particular consumption limit, such as a particular amount or number of aerosol-generating items, based on a subscription of the aerosol generating device to a particular consumption limit and / or based on a restriction parameter. Upon completion of the particular consumption limit reflected by the restriction parameter, the aerosol generating device may be controlled, e.g., disabled to prevent further use or enabled for further use, pursuant to receipt of a subscription renewal and / or corresponding restriction parameter.

[0123] In another example, the aerosol generating device may be configured to be enabled for a specific or predetermined period of time according to a subscription indicated by a restriction parameter for a specific consumption period. The specific period may be determined based on a counter, such as a mechanical or electronic counter. Upon completion of the specific or predetermined period, the aerosol generating device may be controlled, e.g., disabled to prevent further use or enabled for further use, according to receipt of a subscription update and corresponding restriction parameter.

[0124] In yet another example, the aerosol generating device may be configured to be enabled for a specific or predetermined consumption limit within a specific or predetermined consumption period, such as a specific amount or number of aerosol-generating articles utilized within a specific consumption period, based on subscription and / or limit parameters that may indicate a predetermined consumption limit within a specific time period or consumption period. Note that a consumption period may refer to the operating time of the aerosol generating device. [Example]

[0125] The following provides a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples, any one or more of the features of which may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0126] Example 1: An aerosol generating device, comprising: a device control circuit; and an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to the device control circuit for generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article; a device control circuit configured to receive a restriction parameter indicative of a restriction for generating an aerosol using the aerosol generating device; An aerosol generating device, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to control the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameter, thereby limiting operation of the aerosol generating device by a user to generate an aerosol in accordance with the limiting parameter. Example 1a: 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to one or more aerosol generators to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article coupleable to the aerosol generating device. Example 1b: An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 1a, wherein the energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one heating element to heat at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article that can be coupled to the aerosol generating device. Example 1c: An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 1b, wherein the device control circuitry is operably coupled to the energy storage unit. Example 2: An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 1c, wherein the limiting parameter indicates the amount of electrical energy available to the user to generate the aerosol. Example 3: An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 2, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user to generate the aerosol based on the limiting parameters. Example 4: 4. An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the limiting parameters indicate one or more predetermined values ​​for one or more operating parameters associated with operation of the aerosol generating device to generate the aerosol. Example 5: the limiting parameters indicate one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy available to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of an internal chemical element of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles to which the energy storage unit can be charged; and / or An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the device control circuit is configured to determine, based on the limiting parameters, one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged. Example 6: 6. The aerosol generating device of example 5, wherein the predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit indicates the open circuit voltage or the closed circuit voltage of the energy storage unit. Example 7: An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the limiting parameters indicate one or more of a minimum output voltage, a maximum charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a maximum charging time, a maximum charging current, a maximum charging voltage, and a maximum number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged. Example 8: An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user by controlling the charging of the energy storage unit in one or more charging cycles of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameters. Example 9: An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to do one or more of the following based on the limiting parameters: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging of the energy storage unit, request recharging of the energy storage unit, disable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation. Example 10: the device control circuitry is configured to determine one or more actual values ​​of the one or more operating parameters and compare the one or more actual values ​​with one or more predetermined values ​​of the one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 9, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to do one or more of the following based on the comparison: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging of the energy storage unit, request recharging of the energy storage unit, disable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation. Example 11: the limit parameter indicates a maximum charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit for charging the energy storage unit; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 10, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit based on the maximum charging energy indicated by the limiting parameter. Example 12: An aerosol generating device as described in Example 11, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the charging energy based on controlling one or more of the charging time, charging voltage, and charging current of the energy storage unit. Example 13: An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 12, wherein the device control circuit is configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit when it determines that the charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit is equal to or exceeds the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameter. Example 14: An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 13, wherein the device control circuit is configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit when it determines that one or more of the charging current, charging time, and charging voltage of the energy storage unit are equal to or exceed one or more of the maximum charging current, maximum charging time, and maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters. Example 15: a limit parameter indicating a maximum number of charge cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 14, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user based on limiting the number of charging cycles of the energy storage unit in accordance with the limiting parameters. Example 16: a data store storing a plurality of predetermined configurations of the energy store associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy store; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 15, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to select one of a plurality of predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameter, and to configure the energy storage unit to the selected configuration. Example 17: An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 16, further comprising an energy storage controller, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to control the energy storage based on configuring the energy storage controller based on the limiting parameters. Example 18: An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 17, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user by controlling the discharge of the energy storage unit in one or more charging cycles of the energy storage unit based on a limiting parameter. Example 19: the limit parameter indicates a maximum number of use sessions that the aerosol generating device may operate by a user to generate aerosol; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 18, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol is equal to or exceeds the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 20: a counter for counting the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has been used to generate aerosol; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 19, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the energy storage unit based on comparing the number of usage sessions indicated by the counter with the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter. Example 21: the limiting parameter indicates a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 20, wherein the device control circuit is configured to measure the output voltage of the energy storage unit and compare the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit with a predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter. Example 22: An aerosol generating device as described in Example 21, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 23: 23. An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 22, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to control the discharge rate of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameter. Example 24: the limit parameter indicates a percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 23, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit is equal to or exceeds a percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored as indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 25: the limit parameter indicates a maximum operating time that the aerosol generating device may be operated by a user to generate an aerosol; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 24, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the operating time of the aerosol generating device is equal to or exceeds the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 26a: the limit parameter indicates a maximum number of aerosol-generating items that the aerosol generating device may be used by a user; An aerosol generating device described in any one of Examples 1 to 25, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the number of aerosol generating articles used with the aerosol is equal to or exceeds the maximum number of aerosol generating articles indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 26b: An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 1 to 26a, wherein the limiting parameter indicates a period during which the aerosol generating device can be operated to generate an aerosol, and optionally the limiting parameter indicates one or more of a start date from which the device can be operated to generate the aerosol to an end date during which the aerosol generating device can be operated to generate an aerosol. Example 27: 26. The aerosol generating device of any one of Examples 1 to 26b, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to obtain the limiting parameters from a data store of the aerosol generating device. Example 28: further comprising a communications interface for communicatively coupling the aerosol generating device to a computing device; An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 27, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to receive the limiting parameters from a computing device via the communication interface. Example 29: 29. The aerosol generating apparatus of Example 28, wherein the computing device comprises a server or a mobile device. Example 30: further comprising a user interface for receiving one or more user inputs; 30. An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 29, wherein the limiting parameters are based on one or more user inputs received via a user interface of the aerosol generating device. Example 31: the aerosol generating device is connectable to a companion device for providing electrical energy to the energy storage; An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 30, wherein the aerosol generating device is configured to receive the restriction parameters from the companion device when the aerosol generating device is coupled to the companion device. Example 32: An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 31, further comprising at least a portion of a heating element coupled to the energy storage unit and configured to heat at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article. Example 33a: an aerosol-generating device coupleable to an aerosol-generating article including at least a portion of a heating element; 33. An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 32, wherein the energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to at least a portion of the heating element of the aerosol-generating article to generate the aerosol. Example 33b: The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of Examples 1 to 33a, wherein the aerosol comprises nicotine. Example 34: 1. An aerosol generating system comprising: An aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 33b; and an aerosol-generating article coupleable to an aerosol-generating device to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article, optionally based on heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article. Example 34a: 35. An aerosol-generating system as described in Example 34, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate containing nicotine. Example 35: Use of an aerosol generating device according to any one of Examples 1 to 33b and an aerosol generating system according to any one of Examples 34 and 34a to generate an aerosol. Example 36: 1. A method of operating an aerosol generating device including an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to a device control circuit for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating article, comprising: receiving, with a device control circuit, a limit parameter indicative of a limit for generating an aerosol using the aerosol generating device; A method comprising: configuring, using a device control circuit, an energy storage unit based on a restriction parameter, thereby restricting operation of the aerosol generating device by a user to generate an aerosol in accordance with the restriction parameter. Example 36a: 37. The method of example 36, wherein the energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to one or more aerosol generators to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article that is coupleable to the aerosol-generating device. Example 36b: The method of any one of Examples 36-36a, wherein the energy storage unit is configured to supply electrical energy to at least one heating element to heat at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article that is connectable to the aerosol-generating device. Example 36c: The method of any one of Examples 36-36b, wherein the device control circuitry is operably coupled to the energy storage unit. Example 37: The method of any one of Examples 36-36c, further comprising controlling the amount of electrical energy available to the user to generate the aerosol based on the constraint parameter. Example 38: 38. The method of any one of Examples 36-37, further comprising determining, based on the limiting parameters, one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged to. Example 39: 39. The method of any one of Examples 36-38, further comprising controlling the amount of electrical energy available to a user by controlling one or more of the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit in one or more charging cycles based on the limiting parameters. Example 40: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 39, further comprising one or more of terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signaling completion of the charging cycle, signaling to a user that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging of the energy storage unit, requesting recharging of the energy storage unit, disabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation based on the limiting parameters. Example 41: determining one or more actual values ​​of one or more operating parameters; comparing one or more actual values ​​with one or more predetermined values ​​of one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of Examples 36 to 40, further comprising one or more of the following based on the comparison: terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signaling completion of the charging cycle, signaling to a user that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging of the energy storage unit, requesting recharging of the energy storage unit, disabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enabling the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation. Example 42: 42. The method of any one of Examples 36-41, further comprising controlling charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit based on controlling one or more of a charging time, a charging voltage, and a charging current of the energy storage unit. Example 43: 43. The method of any one of Examples 36-42, further comprising: determining a charging energy provided by the energy storage unit; and terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit in response to determining that the charging energy equals or exceeds a maximum charging energy indicated by the limiting parameter. Example 44: 44. The method of any one of Examples 36-43, further comprising terminating a charging cycle of the energy storage unit upon determining that one or more of the charging current, charging time, and charging voltage of the energy storage unit equals or exceeds one or more of the maximum charging current, maximum charging time, and maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters. Example 45: 45. The method of any one of Examples 36-44, further comprising limiting the number of charge cycles of the energy storage unit according to the limiting parameters, thereby controlling the amount of electrical energy available to the user. Example 46: 46. ​​The method of any one of Examples 36 to 45, wherein the aerosol generating device further comprises a data storage unit storing a plurality of predetermined configurations of the energy storage unit associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy storage unit, and the method further comprises selecting one of the plurality of predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameter, and configuring the energy storage unit to the selected configuration. Example 47: 47. The method of any one of examples 36-46, further comprising configuring, by the device control circuitry, the energy storage controller based on the limiting parameter. Example 48: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 47, further comprising determining the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol, and, upon determining that the number of usage sessions is equal to or exceeds the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter, disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging, and requesting recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 49: 48. The method of example 47, further comprising comparing the number of usage sessions indicated by the counter of the aerosol generating device to the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter. Example 50: 50. The method of any one of Examples 36-49, further comprising measuring an output voltage of the energy storage unit and comparing the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit to a minimum output voltage indicated by the limiting parameter. Example 51: The method of example 50, further comprising one or more of disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit in response to determining that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or below a minimum output voltage indicated by the limit parameter. Example 52: 52. The method of any one of Examples 36-51, further comprising controlling the discharge rate of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameter. Example 53: 53. The method of any one of Examples 36-52, further comprising determining a decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit, and, upon determining that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit equals or exceeds a percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit as indicated by the limit parameter, disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering a recharge, and requesting a recharge of the energy storage unit. Example 54: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 53, further comprising determining the operating time the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol, and, upon determining that the operating time of the aerosol generating device equals or exceeds the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter, disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging, and requesting recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 55: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 54, further comprising determining the number of aerosol-generating articles used with the aerosol, and, upon determining that the number of aerosol-generating articles used with the aerosol device equals or exceeds the maximum number of aerosol-generating articles indicated by the limit parameter, disabling the energy storage unit, signaling that the energy storage unit is empty, triggering recharging, and requesting recharging of the energy storage unit. Example 56: 56. The method of any one of Examples 36-55, wherein receiving the restriction parameters comprises obtaining the restriction parameters from a data repository of the aerosol generating device. Example 57: A method described in any one of Examples 36 to 56, wherein the restriction parameters are received from a computing device and / or companion device communicatively coupled to the aerosol generating device via a communication interface of the aerosol generating device. Example 58: The method described in any one of Examples 36 to 57, further comprising receiving one or more user inputs via a user interface of the aerosol generating device, wherein the restriction parameters are based on the one or more user inputs received via the user interface of the aerosol generating device. Example 59: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 58, further comprising supplying electrical energy to a heating element of the aerosol-generating device or to a heating element of an aerosol-generating article coupled to the aerosol-generating device. Example 59a: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 59, wherein the aerosol contains nicotine. Example 59b: The method of any one of Examples 36 to 59a, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-generating substrate that includes nicotine. Example 60: A computer program which, when executed by an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating system, instructs the aerosol generating device or system to perform the steps of the method according to any one of Examples 36 to 59. Example 61: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing the computer program of Example 60.

[0127] The embodiments will now be further described with reference to the following figures: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0128] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary charging profile for the energy storage of an aerosol generating device. [Figure 3] 3-5 illustrate exemplary applications of one or more limiting parameters in an aerosol generating device. [Figure 4] Same as above. [Figure 5] Same as above. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 illustrates a method of operating an aerosol generating device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0129] The figures are only schematic and are not to true scale. As a rule, identical or similar parts, elements and / or steps are given identical or similar reference signs in the figures.

[0130] Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary aerosol-generating device 100. The aerosol-generating device 100 in Figure 1 is illustratively shown as part of an aerosol-generating system 1000 that includes optional components such as an aerosol-generating article 200, a companion device 300, a mobile device 400, and a computing device 500. It should be noted that the aerosol-generating device 100 can operate as a standalone device 100 without any of the optional components 200, 300, 400, 500 of the system 1000.

[0131] The aerosol generating device 100 includes one or more energy storage units 102 for storing electrical energy and / or providing electrical energy for generating the aerosol. The one or more energy storage units may be one or more batteries (e.g., lithium-ion batteries). When the energy storage unit 102 is a battery, the cathode material may include lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), lithium manganese oxide (LMO), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), and / or lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA). The anode material may include carbon (e.g., graphite), silicon, and / or lithium titanate (LTO).

[0132] 1 includes at least a portion of a heating circuit 104 having at least one heating element 106 for heating at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article 200 that is connectable to the aerosol-generating device 100. Of course, the heating circuit 104 and the heating element 106 are merely optional. Alternatively, or additionally, at least a portion or the entire heating circuit 104 and / or heating element 106 may be integrated into or disposed within the aerosol-generating article 200.

[0133] 1 as an induction coil configured to inductively heat at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 200, e.g., a susceptor material disposed within the aerosol-generating substrate 202 of the aerosol-generating article 200, it should also be noted that, for purposes of illustration only, at least one heating element 106 may alternatively or additionally be configured for one or more of resistive heating and microwave heating.

[0134] 1 as having a rod-like or tubular shape and as being at least partially insertable through an opening 105 in the housing 107 of the aerosol generating device 100, e.g., into the heated chamber 109 of the aerosol generating device 100, is merely exemplary. In other exemplary designs, the aerosol generating article 200 may be shaped as a container or cartridge that may be fixedly integrated within the aerosol generating device 100 or may be connectable to the device 100.

[0135] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a device control circuit 110 or control circuit 110 operably coupled to the energy storage unit 102. The device control circuit 110 may optionally comprise one or more processors 112 for data processing. The control circuit 110 may optionally comprise a microcontroller comprising a processor, memory, and input / output means.

[0136] Further optionally, the aerosol generating device 100 and / or device control circuitry 110 include a data repository 114 for storing data, such as restriction parameters or other data. Alternatively or additionally, software instructions may be stored in the data repository 114 which, when executed by the device control circuitry 112, instruct the aerosol generating device 100 to perform one or more functions of the device 100, as described herein above and below.

[0137] The aerosol generating device 100 optionally includes a user interface 120 for receiving one or more user inputs from a user, for example, for operating the aerosol generating device 100 to generate aerosol. The user interface 120 is illustratively shown as a button in Figure 1. Any other type of user interface 120, such as an acoustic interface, a tactile interface, a touch interface, a display, or the like, may alternatively or additionally be included in the aerosol generating device 100.

[0138] Further optionally, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a communication interface or circuitry 130 for communicatively coupling the aerosol generating device 100 to one or more optional components of the aerosol generating system 1000, particularly one or more of the companion device 300, the mobile device 400, and the computing device 500.

[0139] As described herein above, one or more communication interface types or protocols may be implemented in the aerosol generating device 100 and its communication interface or circuitry 130. In particular, the communication interface or circuitry 130 may be configured for one or both of wired and wireless communication with one or more of the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and the companion device 300. For example, the communication interface 130 may be based on one or more of BUS communication, cable communication, Bluetooth communication, wireless local area network communication, infrared communication, near field communication, Internet communication, or any other suitable type of communication or communication protocol.

[0140] As described herein above, the aerosol generating device 100 may be optionally coupled to, e.g., at least partially inserted into, a companion device 300 for charging the energy storage unit 102 and / or for storing the aerosol generating device 100. Charging may be based on inductive charging, for example, or may be via an electrical connection.

[0141] The aerosol generating device 100 and / or the device control circuitry 110 are configured to supply electrical energy to the at least one heating element 106 to heat at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 200. Furthermore, the device control circuitry 110 is configured to receive restriction parameters indicative of restrictions on generating an aerosol using the aerosol generating device 100, and the device control circuitry 110 is configured to control the energy storage unit 102 based on the restriction parameters, such that operation of the aerosol generating device 100 by a user to generate an aerosol is restricted in accordance with the restriction parameters.

[0142] The restriction parameters may be received by device control circuitry 110 based on retrieving the restriction parameters from data repository 114. Alternatively, or additionally, the restriction parameters may be based on one or more user inputs received at user interface 120. Alternatively, or additionally, the restriction parameters may be received from any one or more of companion device 300, mobile device 400, and computing device 500.

[0143] Below, various exemplary designs and configurations of the aerosol generating device 100 are described and summarized. In one embodiment, the limiting parameter may indicate the amount of electrical energy, also referred to herein as available energy, available to the user for generating the aerosol, and the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to control the amount of available energy based on controlling one or both of the charging and discharging of the energy storage unit 102.

[0144] Alternatively, or additionally, the limiting parameters may indicate one or more predetermined values ​​for one or more operating parameters associated with the operation of the aerosol generation device 100 to generate an aerosol. For example, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to monitor one or more operating parameters during use or operation of the aerosol generation device 100. Alternatively, or additionally, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to determine whether one or more predetermined values ​​or thresholds for the one or more operating parameters indicated by the limiting parameters have been reached. This may include comparing one or more values ​​of the one or more monitored operating parameters with one or more predetermined values ​​or thresholds for the one or more operating parameters indicated by the limiting parameters.

[0145] As an example, the limiting parameter may indicate one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit to recharge it, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the energy storage unit's internal chemical elements, and a predetermined number of charging cycles for which the energy storage unit can be charged. Other exemplary predetermined values ​​for the operating parameters may include a predetermined number of usage sessions that the aerosol generating device can be used to generate aerosol, a predetermined operating time that the aerosol generating device can be used to generate aerosol, a predetermined number of aerosol-generating articles that can be used with or consumed by the aerosol generating device, a predetermined number of puffs or inhalations that a user can take, a predetermined amount of aerosol-generating substrates or articles available for use with the aerosol generating device, or an amount of energy drawn from the energy storage unit for aerosol generation. Any one or more of the aforementioned operating parameters and other operating parameters may be considered or reflected by the limiting parameter and used to estimate the usage limits of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0146] For example, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to determine one or more actual values ​​of one or more operating parameters and compare the one or more actual values ​​with one or more predetermined values ​​of one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters, and based on the comparison, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to do one or more of the following: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of the charging cycle, signal a user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging of the energy storage unit 102, request recharging of the energy storage unit 102, disable the aerosol generation device 100 for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generation device 100 for aerosol generation.

[0147] In yet another embodiment, the limit parameters may indicate one or more thresholds for one or more operating parameters related to charging or discharging the energy storage unit 102, such as a minimum output voltage, a maximum charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a maximum charging time, a maximum charging current, a maximum charging voltage, and a maximum number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged for, etc. Here, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to a user by controlling the charging of the energy storage unit 102 in one or more charging cycles of the energy storage unit 102 based on the limit parameters.

[0148] For example, device control circuitry 110 may be configured to control the charging energy provided to the energy storage unit based on the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameters. This may include controlling one or more of the charging time, charging voltage, and charging current of the energy storage unit 102. For example, device control circuitry 110 may be configured to terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit 102 when it determines that the charging energy provided to the energy storage unit equals or exceeds the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameters. This may include determining one or more of the charging current, charging time, and charging voltage of the energy storage unit to equal or exceed the maximum charging current, maximum charging time, and maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters.

[0149] Alternatively, or additionally, the limit parameter may indicate a maximum number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit 102 can be charged for, and the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user based on limiting the number of charging cycles of the energy storage unit 102 in accordance with the limit parameter.

[0150] In yet another exemplary configuration, the aerosol generating device 100 includes an energy storage controller 103 that can be configured by the device control circuitry 110 according to or based on the limiting parameters. For example, multiple predetermined configurations of the energy storage 102 associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy storage 102 may be stored in the data store 114, and the device control circuitry may be configured to select one of the multiple predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameters and configure the energy storage 102 and / or the energy storage controller 103 to the selected configuration.

[0151] Alternatively, or additionally, the limiting parameters may be consumption-based or use-based. For example, the limiting parameters may indicate a maximum number of use sessions that the aerosol generating device may be operated by a user to generate aerosol, a maximum operating time, a maximum number or amount of aerosol-generating articles 200 that may be used with the device, and a maximum number of inhalations or puffs that a user may take.

[0152] To this end, the aerosol-generating device 100 may optionally include a counter 115, e.g., a mechanical or electronic counter 115, for determining one or more of the actual number of usage sessions the device 100 was used for, the actual operating time the device 100 was used for, the actual number or amount of aerosol-generating articles 200 used with the device 100, and the number of inhalations or puffs actually taken by the user. Any one or more of these operating parameters may be determined by the device control circuitry 110 and compared to corresponding thresholds indicated by the limit parameters. Upon reaching or exceeding one or more of the thresholds, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to disable the energy storage unit 102, signal that the energy storage unit 102 is empty, trigger a recharge, and / or request a recharge of the energy storage unit 102.

[0153] In yet another embodiment, the limit parameter may indicate a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit 102, and the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to measure the output voltage of the energy storage unit 102 and compare the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit to the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter. Optionally, the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to disable the energy storage unit 102, signal that the energy storage unit 102 is empty, trigger a recharge, and request a recharge of the energy storage unit 102 upon determining that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit 102 is equal to or less than the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter.

[0154] Alternatively or additionally, the limit parameter may indicate a percentage of a maximum or nominal amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit 102, and the device control circuitry 110 may be configured to do one or more of: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit 102 is empty, trigger a recharge, and request a recharge of the energy storage unit when it determines that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit 102 equals or exceeds the percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored indicated by the limit parameter.

[0155] With continued reference to Figure 1 and subsequent Figures 2-5, exemplary and illustrative use cases and embodiments of an aerosol generating device 100 according to the present disclosure are summarized, which may be implemented alone or in combination with any of the above-described functions of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 includes an energy storage unit 102 and device control circuitry 110. The device control circuitry 110 may be configured to control the energy available to a user to a particular or predetermined value based on limiting parameters.

[0156] The limiting parameter may optionally be based on a user's subscription, subscription model, or subscription level. For example, based on an active subscription, the available energy of the energy storage unit 102 for operating the aerosol generating device 100 may be controlled to a higher energy value, e.g., to be used for N number of usage sessions by the user. Based on the termination of the active subscription and / or the limiting parameter, the energy of the energy storage unit 102 may be reduced to a lower energy value, e.g., to provide M number of usage sessions, where M may be less than N. Based on further activation of the subscription and corresponding receipt of the limiting parameter at the aerosol generating device 100, the energy of the energy storage unit 102 may again be controlled to a higher energy value. In one embodiment, based on the subscription, the available energy of the energy storage unit 102 may be controlled by the server 500 or the computing device 500, e.g., through a secure channel.

[0157] Such embodiments may rely on controlling the energy available to a user by controlling the charging and / or discharging processes of energy storage 102. As used herein, available energy may refer to the energy available to a user to operate a device, e.g., to operate device 100, typically before a new battery charging process or cycle may be forced by device 100 or device control circuitry 110 based on limiting parameters.

[0158] Limiting the charging process may be achieved, for example, by limiting the charging time, charging current, and / or charging voltage of energy storage unit 102, and optionally by signaling to the user that device 100 is ready for use, even though, in theory, energy storage unit 102 could be further charged. In another example, the same effect may be achieved by keeping the charging time fixed and reducing the charging current and / or charging voltage. Reducing the charging energy may limit the available battery energy and, therefore, may limit use of device 100 to a fewer number of usage sessions before another charge may be required or forced.

[0159] For example, the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and / or the companion device 300 may include or communicate with a subscription server that transmits limiting parameters, optionally in encrypted form, to the aerosol generating device 100. The limiting parameters may define, for example, one or more of a maximum charging time, a maximum charging current, a maximum charging voltage, and a maximum charging energy. For example, these parameters or values ​​may be defined for the constant current phase of a constant current-constant voltage charging sequence or cycle. Optionally, the device control circuitry 110 may configure the energy storage controller 103 based on the limiting parameters to control the charging process or one or more charging cycles.

[0160] 2 shows an example charging profile for the energy storage unit 102 of the aerosol generating device 100. Such or similar charging profiles may be stored in one or more of the aerosol generating device 100, the companion device 300, the mobile device 400, and the computing device 500. Here, the x-axis represents charging time in arbitrary units, the left y-axis represents charging energy in arbitrary units, and the right y-axis represents the ratio or percentage of energy available for generating aerosol relative to the nominal energy or capacity storable in the energy storage unit 102.

[0161] As an example, the energy storage unit 102 may be usable for a nominal maximum number of usage sessions, such as 20 usage sessions, using the entire energy nominally storable in the energy storage unit 102. Only a maximum number of five usage sessions may be allowed, which may be converted to a fraction, percentage, or level of 25% of the available energy, as may be determined by the device control circuitry 110 based on a limiting parameter, e.g., based on processing of data related to the charging profile and / or based on processing of the limiting parameter. Alternatively, or additionally, the charging profile may be stored in the companion device 300, the mobile device 400, and / or the computing device 500, and a corresponding value may be determined and transmitted to the aerosol generating device 100 in the form of a limiting parameter or a corresponding control signal.

[0162] The device control circuitry 110 may then impose a specific maximum charging time indicated by a limiting parameter, such as X minutes, as shown in FIG. 2. The defined maximum charging time may therefore enable charging the energy storage unit 102 with a maximum charging energy of Y mWh, which may be stored in one or more charging cycles in the energy storage unit 102 and used to generate aerosol over five usage sessions (see FIG. 2). Similarly, the aerosol generating device 100 may be configured based on a limiting parameter for, for example, 50% usage of the energy of the energy storage unit 102, corresponding to 10 usage sessions, 75% corresponding to 15 usage sessions, or any other percentage or fraction of the nominal storage capacity of the energy storage unit. Alternatively, or additionally, the charging current and / or charging voltage may be varied while optionally holding the charging time constant.

[0163] 3-5 illustrate exemplary application of one or more limiting parameters in the aerosol generating device 100. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates several limiting parameters a, b, and c in relation to the energy available for generating aerosol in any unit. Here, FIG. 3 illustrates the correlation between available energy and corresponding limiting parameters a, b, and c, which may optionally be associated with different levels of subscription. In a first case, the aerosol generating device 100 may be provided with a predetermined amount of energy available to the energy storage unit 102 and / or available to the user, such as 500 mAh of energy, due to or estimated by limiting parameter a, which may correspond to a first level of subscription. In one example, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the energy storage unit 102 to limit the charged or discharged energy to 500 mAh according to a selected limiting parameter or subscription level. Based on the utilization of energy defined by limiting parameter a, e.g., 500 mAh, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off. To switch on the aerosol generating device further, the user may update the subscription service and / or update the limiting parameters of the aerosol generating device 100, for example with limiting parameters b or c, which may be associated with higher energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit 102 and / or used by the user to generate aerosol. In another example, limiting parameter a may allow continuous utilization of the associated energy, meaning that after each recharge, a predetermined amount corresponding to limiting parameter a, for example 500 mAh, may be available for use. The user may then decide to continue recharging at a certain frequency or to update limiting parameters b or c associated with higher energy levels, which would reduce the frequency of recharges for the same overall consumption.

[0164] In a further embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may have a second amount of energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit 102 and / or used to generate aerosol, such as, for example, 1000 mAh of energy corresponding to a second level of subscription. In other words, the available energy of the energy storage unit 102 of the aerosol generating device 100 may be set or increased to 1000 mAh of energy based on the limit parameter b. In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the energy storage unit 102, such as by sending a command to the energy storage unit 102 associated with the aerosol generating device to increase the available energy to a predetermined value indicated by the limit parameter b, such as 1000 mAh at the second level of subscription. The increased available energy may allow a user to consume a greater number of aerosol-generating articles 200 or use the aerosol generating device 100 for a longer period of time before recharging. Similar to the embodiment with the limit parameter a, the available energy defined by the limit parameter b may be achieved by controlling the charging and / or discharging process. Based on the discharge of available energy indicated by limit parameter b, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off, disabled, or even kept active to allow a greater amount of available energy after each charging cycle compared to the previous example having limit parameter a.

[0165] Similar to the two previous examples with limiting parameters a and b, the aerosol generating device may be provided with a limiting parameter c associated with a higher available energy, such as 1500 mAh of available energy. The limiting parameter c may be loaded by subscribing to a third level subscription and / or receiving a corresponding limiting parameter c or control signal at the aerosol generating device 100.

[0166] In certain cases, the aerosol generating device 100 may remotely communicate with a computing device 500, such as a cloud server, to receive information associated with the limiting parameters and associated with available energy, such as information associated with the voltage, current, and / or power of the energy storage unit 102. In such cases, the computing device 500 may control the aerosol generating device 100, e.g., communicate commands, based on the limiting parameters and / or information associated with the subscribed available energy stored on the computing device 500. The available energy may be related to one or more of a change in the energy storage unit's opening voltage, the energy storage unit's charging current, the storage unit's charging time, or the potential energy of the energy storage unit 102 based on a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit 102. In one embodiment, various ranges of available energy storage capacity or energy may be preset or predefined within the aerosol generating device 100. Based on the discharge of the available energy, the aerosol generating device 100 may be controlled, such as disabled to prevent further use, or enabled based on updated or updated limiting parameters. Alternatively or additionally to the computing device 500, the mobile device 400 or the companion device 300 may be used to transmit the restriction parameters to the aerosol generating device 100.

[0167] 1, the aerosol generating device 100 may include an energy storage controller 103. The device control circuitry 110 may be configured to communicate with a computing device 500, a mobile device 400, and / or a companion device 300 to send and receive limiting parameters and / or information associated with the energy storage 102. Multiple configurations of the aerosol generating device 100 or the energy storage 102 may be stored in the data storage 114, e.g., first, second, and third configurations.

[0168] In a first configuration, the aerosol generating device 100 may be configured with an initial available energy, e.g., 500 mAh, to use M aerosol-generating articles or usage sessions. When the limiting parameters and associated available energy are uploaded to the aerosol generating device 100, operation up to the utilization of the available energy may be permitted and prohibited as the available energy is utilized. In the latter case, updated limiting parameters may be sent to the aerosol generating device 100 to further utilize the aerosol generating device 100. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol generating device 100 may be further operated with the same available energy until the limiting parameters can be updated and / or replaced, e.g., until the aerosol generating device 100 is configured in an upgraded configuration corresponding to an upgraded subscription level or a downgraded configuration corresponding to a downgraded subscription level.

[0169] In an upgraded configuration, based on higher energy available for generating aerosol, e.g., 1000 mAh, the aerosol generating device 100 may be used for, e.g., N increased experiences, aerosol-generating articles, and / or use sessions, for N use sessions, where N may be greater than M, compared to a default configuration associated with limiting parameters indicating M number of experiences, aerosol-generating articles, and / or use sessions. Once the corresponding limiting parameters and the available energy indicated thereby are uploaded or received by the aerosol generating device 100, such configurations may be configured in the same or similar manner as described above.

[0170] In a limited or downgraded configuration, the aerosol generating device may be operated for a limited number of O experiences, usage sessions, and / or aerosol-generating articles, where O may be less than M compared to the default number of M experiences, usage sessions, and / or aerosol-generating articles. Based on the user's interests and / or limitation parameters, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the energy storage unit 102 to charge and / or discharge the limited energy. Once the corresponding limitation parameters and the available energy indicated thereby are uploaded or received by the aerosol generating device 100, such configurations may be configured in the same or similar manner as described above.

[0171] In another example, available energy may be controlled by limiting the discharge or discharge process based on a limit parameter and, optionally, a subscription level associated therewith. The limiting of the discharge process may be achieved based on a consumption-based or usage-based limit parameter. This may be done, for example, by using the limit parameter to define the number of aerosol-generating articles, number of usage sessions, and / or number of inhalations possible for a user after the energy storage unit 102 is charged, and by signaling to the user that the device 100 requires further charging, even though, in theory, the energy storage unit 102 could be further discharged. In other words, recharging may be forced based on the limit parameter.

[0172] For example, the limit parameters may determine a maximum number of aerosol-generating articles, a maximum number of usage sessions, and / or a maximum number of inhalations allowed before forcing a recharge, optionally based on the subscription level and the number of devices 100 owned by the user. This number may be passed over an encrypted secure channel, for example, from the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, or the companion device 300 to the device control circuitry 110 of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 and / or the device control circuitry 110 may include a counter 115 that is set to a number defined by the limit parameters and that may be decremented with each increase in the corresponding operating parameter, number of aerosol-generating articles, number of usage sessions, and / or number of inhalations, respectively. When the maximum number indicated by the limit parameters is reached, the device control circuitry 110 may prevent further initiation of heating sequences and may force a signal to the interface 120 to notify the user of the need for recharging.

[0173] Alternatively, or additionally, the output voltage, such as the open circuit voltage, of the energy storage unit 102 may be measured. As soon as the measured output voltage decreases to a predetermined value indicated by the limit parameter, the device control circuit 110 may again force a recharge and / or prompt the user to recharge.

[0174] For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may be controlled by controlling the rate of discharge of the available energy of the energy storage unit 102 based on the limiting parameters and, optionally, based on the subscription level associated therewith. For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the energy storage unit 102 to allow discharge of a certain percentage, such as 20% of the nominal energy or storage capacity of the energy storage unit 102, based on a particular limiting parameter and / or subscription level. Based on the discharge of a certain percentage, such as 20% of the nominal energy or storage capacity of the energy storage unit 102, the aerosol generating device 100 may prompt the user to update the limiting parameters to use the remaining portion of the nominal energy of the energy storage unit 102, for example, 80%. Based on the complete discharge of the energy storage unit 102, the aerosol generating device may be controlled, such as disabled to prevent further use, or enabled for recharging, based on the updated limiting parameters and / or updated subscription for further use.

[0175] In yet another embodiment, the limiting parameters may be time-based. FIG. 4 illustrates several limiting parameters a, b, and c in terms of operating time in arbitrary units. Here, FIG. 4 illustrates the correlation between operating time and the corresponding limiting parameters a, b, and c. Here, operating time may refer to the period during which the device 100 is used for aerosol generation. Alternatively, or additionally, operating time may be correlated with the subscribed period of use of the aerosol generating device 100. The operating time may be a specific hour, day, week, month, or year, which may be set on a counter 115, such as a mechanical or electronic counter, which may be located within the aerosol generating device 100. In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may integrally include a counter 115 for setting or determining the predetermined operating time, as indicated by the limiting parameters a, b, and c.

[0176] In another example, the aerosol generating device 100 may be in remote communication with an electronic counter that may be stored on the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and / or the companion device 300. The electronic counter may determine information associated with the start date of the aerosol generating device 100, the end date of the aerosol generating device 100, and optionally the user's subscription period, and store the determined information on the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and / or the companion device 300. Based on the determined information, the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and / or the companion device 300 may remotely disable the aerosol generating device 100 without further interaction with the aerosol generating device 100 by the user.

[0177] For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may be operated with the limiting parameters illustrated in FIG. 4 , which may be associated with, for example, a first subscription period or a first operating time for a first level subscription. Upon completion of the first subscription period or first operating time indicated by limiting parameter a, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off or deactivated for further use. To further turn on the aerosol generating device 100, the user may update the limiting parameters, for example, renew the subscription service for the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 may be configured to enable or disable use based on the limiting parameters, which may be stored in the counter 115 and / or the data repository 114 of the aerosol generating device 100 as a predetermined maximum operating time.

[0178] In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 may be operated with a limiting parameter b, as illustrated in FIG. 4, which may be associated with a second subscription period or a second operating time. The second operating time may be longer than the first operating time. Upon completion of the second operating time, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off. To further turn on or activate the aerosol generating device 100, the user may update the limiting parameter, for example, by updating the subscription service for the aerosol generating device 100.

[0179] In another example, the aerosol generating device 100 may be operated with a limiting parameter c, as illustrated in FIG. 4 , which may be associated with a third subscription period or a third operating time. The third operating time may be longer than the first operating time and the second operating time. Upon completion of the third operating time, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off. To further turn on or activate the aerosol generating device 100, the user may update the limiting parameter, for example, renew the subscription service for the aerosol generating device 100. Additional limiting parameters indicating additional operating times may be implemented as well.

[0180] In yet another example, the restriction parameters may be consumption-based or use-based and time-based. Figure 5 shows on the y-axis the number of use sessions, the number of aerosol-generating articles 200, the number of inhalations, and / or any other measurable quantity representing aerosol generation using the device 100. The x-axis of Figure 5 shows the operating time in any units. Both operating parameters, i.e., the predetermined number and the predetermined operating time, may be defined by one or more restriction parameters a, b, c, d applied by the device 100 to limit its use for aerosol generation. Each bar in Figure 5 may represent a particular restriction parameter a, b, c, d, which may optionally be associated with a different level of subscription.

[0181] Based on whether limit parameters a, b, c, and d are activated within the device 100, the duration and maximum number of use sessions, inhalation, and / or aerosol-generating articles may vary. For example, limit parameter a may define a week of operation, with a maximum of 20 use sessions permitted during the first operation period. After the maximum number of use sessions is completed, the user may need to wait for the first period to complete or update the limit parameter, e.g., to one of parameters b, c, or d. Alternatively, or additionally, limit parameter a may be reset, e.g., by resubscribing to this level. Furthermore, based on the completion of the maximum number of use sessions within the first operation period, the aerosol generating device 100 may be turned off or disabled. To further turn on the aerosol generating device, the user may update the limit parameter, e.g., by updating a subscription service for the aerosol generating device 100.

[0182] In an exemplary configuration, one or more of the timestamp or time of the start of an operating time interval, the duration of the corresponding operating time, and optionally the predetermined amount or number of use sessions, articles, and / or inhalations may be transmitted to the aerosol generating device 100 from one or more of the computing device 500, the mobile device 400, and the companion device 300 in the form of one or more limit parameters. The device control circuitry 110 may decode and store the limit parameters in permanent memory or data repository 114, e.g., flash memory, and may utilize an internal real-time clock to define the actual start and end times of the operating time or period. To track the amount or number, e.g., use sessions, the device control circuitry 110 may increment a counter 115, e.g., a register in memory or flash memory, and compare the value to a maximum number defined by the limit parameters before the end of the operating time is reached.

[0183] As described above, the restriction parameters may be received by the aerosol generating device 100 via one or more of the user interface 120, the companion device 300, the mobile device 400, and the computing device 500. Thus, use of the aerosol generating device 100 may be controlled indirectly via one or more of the devices 300, 400, and 500. For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may be coupled to the computing device 500 directly or indirectly via one or more of the mobile device 400 and the companion device 300. One or both of the mobile device 400 and the companion device 300 may receive the restriction parameters from the computing device 500 and, optionally, may send lock and / or unlock signals or commands to the aerosol generating device 100 via a secure channel using the communication interface 130, such as a Bluetooth Low Energy connection.

[0184] An unlock command may instruct the device control circuitry 110 to enable aerosol generation by the aerosol generating device 100, while a lock command may prevent aerosol generation. These commands may be used, for example, to set a flag, such as a 1 or 0, in the data store 114 of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, a "1" may be associated with a "device locked" state, and a "0" may be associated with a "device unlocked" state.

[0185] Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol generating device 100 may be locked and / or unlocked by a publicly available distribution box on the street or in a shop, where the aerosol generating device 100 is unlocked according to the restriction parameters. Alternatively or additionally, use of the device 100 for aerosol generation may be controlled by a plug-in SIM card, which may include, for example, a permanent memory storing restriction parameter information and, optionally, an associated subscription. The memory may be accessed by the device control circuitry 110 of the aerosol generating device 100 to retrieve the restriction parameters, for example, to enable initiation of a heating sequence or to indicate the need for additional recharging. Alternatively or additionally, use of the aerosol generating device 100 may be controlled by the mobile device 400, the companion device 300, and / or the computing device 500 based on scratching a scratch card to make hidden restriction parameters or corresponding codes visible and inserting the restriction parameters or codes into the respective devices 300, 400, and 500 to transmit them to the aerosol generating device 100. The limiting parameters or codes may be exchanged for an encrypted token, decoded by the device control circuitry 110 of the aerosol generating device 100 and optionally stored in the data repository 114 .

[0186] In one embodiment, as described above, the counter 115 of the aerosol generating device 100 may be implemented to, among other things, allow a predetermined number of use sessions, aerosol-generating articles 200, and / or inhalations. The predetermined number limit parameter may be stored in the data repository 114 or in the device's memory, and each time the device 100 is used to generate or inhale an aerosol, the respective number stored in the counter 115 may be decremented. When the counter 115 reaches zero, the aerosol generating device 100 may reject the user's request for further aerosol generation, as described above. Conversely, the counter 115 may be incremented and compared to the predetermined value indicated by the limit parameter after each increment.

[0187] Counter 115 may optionally be enabled, reset, or reloaded by one or more user inputs at user interface 120, companion device 300, mobile device 400, and computing device 500.

[0188] Figure 6 illustrates a method of operating an aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 may be, for example, one of the exemplary aerosol generating devices 100 described above with reference to any of Figures 1-5.

[0189] In step S1, restriction parameters indicating restrictions on using the aerosol generating device 100 to generate an aerosol are received by the device control circuitry 110 of the aerosol generating device 100. This may include processing the restriction parameters in the device control circuitry 110.

[0190] In step S2, the energy storage unit 102 of the aerosol generating device 100 is configured with the device control circuit 110 based on the limiting parameters, thereby limiting the operation of the aerosol generating device 100 by the user to generate aerosol in accordance with the limiting parameters.

[0191] It should be noted that, as discussed above, any one or more features, functions, and configurations of the aerosol generating device 100 may be implemented as optional, supplemental, or alternative steps in the method of FIG.

[0192] For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and the like are to be understood in all instances as modified by the term "about" or "substantially." Also, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically recited herein. Thus, in this context, the number A is understood as A ± 20% of A. Within this context, the number A may be considered to include values ​​within the normal standard error for measurement of the property for which the number A varies. Also, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically recited herein.

[0193] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description is exemplary or representative and not restrictive, and the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and by practice of the invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0194] In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting their scope.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a device control circuit; and an energy storage unit configured to provide electrical energy to the device control circuit to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article; the device control circuitry is configured to receive a restriction parameter indicative of a restriction on generating an aerosol using the aerosol generating device; An aerosol generating device, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the energy storage unit based on the restriction parameter, thereby restricting operation of the aerosol generating device by a user to generate an aerosol in accordance with the restriction parameter.

2. the limiting parameter indicates the amount of electrical energy available to the user to generate an aerosol; 2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user for generating an aerosol based on the limiting parameter.

3. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the limiting parameters indicate one or more predetermined values ​​for one or more operating parameters associated with the operation of the aerosol generating device to generate an aerosol.

4. the limiting parameters indicate one or more of a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy available to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of an internal chemical element of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles the energy storage unit can be charged to; and / or An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device control circuit is configured to determine, based on the limiting parameters, one or more of the following: a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit, a predetermined charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit, a predetermined potential energy of the energy storage unit associated with a change in the composition of the internal chemical elements of the energy storage unit, and a predetermined number of charging cycles that the energy storage unit can be charged.

5. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the amount of electrical energy available to the user by controlling the charging of the energy storage unit in one or more charging cycles of the energy storage unit based on the limiting parameters.

6. the device control circuitry is configured to determine one or more actual values ​​of one or more operating parameters and compare the one or more actual values ​​with one or more predetermined values ​​of the one or more operating parameters indicated by the limit parameters; 6. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to do one or more of the following based on the comparison: terminate a charging cycle of the energy storage unit, signal completion of a charging cycle, signal the user that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging of the energy storage unit, request recharging of the energy storage unit, disable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation, and enable the aerosol generating device for aerosol generation.

7. the limiting parameter indicates a maximum charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit for charging the energy storage unit; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the device control circuit is configured to control the charging energy that can be supplied to the energy storage unit based on the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameter.

8. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device control circuit is configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit when it determines that the charging energy supplied to the energy storage unit is equal to or exceeds the maximum charging energy indicated by the limit parameters, and preferably the device control circuit is configured to terminate the charging cycle of the energy storage unit when it determines that one or more of the charging current, charging time, and charging voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or exceeds one of the maximum charging current, maximum charging time, and maximum charging voltage indicated by the limit parameters.

9. a data store storing a plurality of predetermined configurations of the energy store associated with one or more predetermined capacity levels of the energy store; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the device control circuit is configured to select one of the plurality of predetermined configurations based on the limiting parameter, and to configure the energy storage unit to the selected configuration.

10. the limit parameter indicates a maximum number of use sessions that the aerosol generating device may operate by the user to generate aerosol; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the number of usage sessions in which the aerosol generating device has operated to generate aerosol is equal to or exceeds the maximum number of usage sessions indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit.

11. the limiting parameter indicates a predetermined output voltage of the energy storage unit; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the device control circuit is configured to measure the output voltage of the energy storage unit and compare the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit with the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter, and preferably when the device control circuit determines that the measured output voltage of the energy storage unit is equal to or lower than the predetermined output voltage indicated by the limit parameter, the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit.

12. the limiting parameter indicates a percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored in the energy storage unit; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the decrease in energy stored in the energy storage unit is equal to or exceeds the percentage of the maximum amount of energy that can be stored indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit.

13. the limiting parameter indicates a maximum operating time that the aerosol generating device can be operated by the user to generate aerosol; An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the device control circuit is configured to do one or more of the following when it determines that the operating time of the aerosol generating device is equal to or exceeds the maximum operating time indicated by the limit parameter: disable the energy storage unit, signal that the energy storage unit is empty, trigger recharging, and request recharging of the energy storage unit.

14. An aerosol generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the device control circuitry is configured to obtain the restriction parameters from a data storage unit of the aerosol generating device and / or from one or more of a computing device and a companion device communicatively connectable to the aerosol generating device via a communication interface of the aerosol generating device.

15. 1. An aerosol generating system comprising: An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 14; An aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating article coupleable to an aerosol-generating device so as to generate an aerosol from at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article.

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