Aerosol supply device

Abstract

This relates to an aerosol supply device for generating an inhalable medium. [Solution] The aerosol supply device comprises a power source, at least one heating element for generating an aerosol, and temperature monitoring means configured to monitor the temperature of the heating element. In an operable configuration, the device is configured to control the supply of power to the heating element, such that it supplies power to the heating element to initially raise the temperature of the heating element to a first threshold temperature, the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element has reached the first threshold temperature, by removing the power supplied to the heating element so that the temperature of the heating element drops to a second threshold temperature, and the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element has dropped to the second threshold temperature, by supplying power to the heating element so that the temperature of the heating element rises toward the first threshold temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device for generating an inhalable medium. Background

[0002] Smoking products such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke.

[0003] Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to products that burn tobacco by creating products that generate an inhalable medium without burning.

[0004] An example of such a product is a so-called e-cigarette device. Such devices typically contain an aerosolizable substance that is liquid, which is heated and vaporized to produce an inhalable vapor or aerosol. This liquid may contain nicotine and / or flavorings and / or aerosol forming substances such as glycerol. Such known e-cigarette devices typically do not contain or use tobacco. Summary

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol supply device comprising a power source, at least one heating element for generating an aerosol, and temperature monitoring means configured to monitor the temperature of the heating element, wherein when in an operable configuration, the device supplies power to the heating element to first raise the temperature of the heating element to a first threshold temperature, and when the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element is at the first threshold temperature, removes the power supplied to the heating element so that the temperature of the heating element drops to a second threshold temperature, and when the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element has dropped to the second threshold temperature, supplies power to the heating element so that the temperature of the heating element rises towards the first threshold temperature, and is configured to control the supply of power to the heating element.

[0006] The heating element may be a coil. The aerosol supply device may further include a puff detector, and the device may be configured to be operable or nonoperable based on the input from the puff detector.

[0007] The device may be configured to repeat one or more steps of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention so that, once the temperature of the heating element reaches a first threshold temperature, the temperature of the heating element remains above a second threshold temperature and below the first threshold temperature.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention provides a method for supplying power to a heating element for an aerosol generating device, the method comprising: monitoring the temperature of the heating element; initially supplying power to the heating element to raise its temperature to a first threshold temperature; when the temperature of the heating element reaches the first threshold temperature, removing the power supplied to the heating element to lower its temperature to a second threshold temperature; and when the temperature of the heating element reaches the second threshold temperature, increasing the power supplied to the heating element to raise its temperature toward the first threshold temperature.

[0009] The method may include the step of initially supplying power to the heater when a puff detector detects that the user is inhaling the device.

[0010] The method may further include the step of repeating one or more steps according to the second embodiment, such that once the temperature of the heating element reaches a first threshold temperature, the temperature of the heating element remains above a second threshold temperature and below the first threshold temperature. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal view of an example of an aerosol supply device. [Figure 2]Figure 2 is a schematic graph illustrating the relationship between coil temperature and battery charge over time in an example of a conventional aerosol supply device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic graph showing the temperature of the coil and the battery charge over time in an exemplary aerosol supply device. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an exemplary method for operating an aerosol supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. Detailed explanation

[0012] Referring to Figure 1, an exemplary aerosol supply device 100 is shown. The aerosol supply device 100 is an inhalation device (i.e., the user uses it to inhale the aerosol supplied by the device 100), and the device 100 is a handheld device. The device 100 is an electronic device.

[0013] In general terms, the device 100 volatilizes the aerosol-generating material 20 to produce vapor or aerosol for inhalation by the user. In this example, the aerosol-generating material 20 is a liquid, such as e-cigarette liquid, but in other examples, the aerosol-generating material may be another type of aerosolizable substance, such as a gel.

[0014] In some examples, the device may be a hybrid device in which the aerosol generated therein passes through an additional substance before being inhaled by the user. In some examples where the device is a hybrid device, the additional substance may include flavoring components. The additional substance may flavor or alter the properties of the aerosol passing through the substance. The additional substance may include, for example, tobacco, or consist of tobacco. If the additional substance includes tobacco, the aerosol may be flavored or otherwise altered by organic compounds and / or other compounds or compositions from this substance.

[0015] In at least some cases, vapor is generated, and at least some of the vapor then condenses to form an aerosol before it leaves the aerosol supply device 100.

[0016] In this regard, it should be noted that vapor is generally a gaseous substance at temperatures below its critical temperature, which means, for example, that vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing its pressure without lowering its temperature. On the other hand, aerosols are generally colloids of fine solid particles or droplets in air or another gas. A "colloid" is a substance in which dispersed, insoluble particles are thoroughly suspended within another substance when viewed under a microscope.

[0017] For the sake of simplicity, as used herein, the term aerosol should be understood as an aerosol, a vapor, or a combination of an aerosol and a vapor.

[0018] Returning to Figure 1, the device 100 in this example comprises a main body 300, a cartridge 200, and a mouthpiece 50. In some examples, the cartridge 200 may be detachable from the main body 300, while in other examples, the cartridge 200 may not be detachable from the device 100, or the device 100 may not include the cartridge 200, but instead have a specific compartment containing an aerosolizable substance in another part of the device, for example, within the main body 300.

[0019] The cartridge 200 is for containing the aerosol-generating material 20, which in this case is a liquid 20, but may be another type of aerosolizable substance, while the main body 300 supplies power to and controls the device 100. The device 100 further comprises heating means 240 for heating the aerosol-generating material (liquid 20 in the example of Figure 1) to generate an aerosol flow 30 for inhalation by the user.

[0020] The cartridge 200 includes a reservoir 220 for containing liquid 20. The reservoir 220 may be an annular chamber surrounding a central opening 290 through which the generated aerosol flows out of the mouthpiece 50 for inhalation by the user. In the example of Figure 1, a heating means 240 for aerosolizing the liquid 20 is located within the cartridge 200, but in some examples, the heating means 240 may be separate from the cartridge 200. In some examples, the heating means 240 may be located within the main body portion 300 of the device 100. In some examples, the heating means 240 may be separately detachable from the device 100 for removal and replacement, for example, when it is desired to replace the heating means 240. In this example, the heating means 240 includes at least one heating element 250 and at least one wick (not shown) for supplying liquid 20 from the liquid reservoir 220 to at least one heating element 250.

[0021] The heating element 240 may be called an "atomizer" in some examples, and a liquid cartridge equipped with an "atomizer," such as cartridge 200, may be called a "cartomizer."

[0022] The main body portion 300 of the device 100 includes a power supply 320 that supplies power to various components of the device 100, including the heating means 240, by being electrically connected to the components. The power supply 320 may be a battery such as a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery, and may also be referred to as battery 320 in this specification.

[0023] The controller 330 may comprise a microchip and associated circuitry, which is also provided in the main body 300 to control the operation of various components of the device 100, including supplying power to the heating means 240, as will be discussed in more detail below. User input means 340, such as one or more control buttons, may be provided outside the second housing 310 for the user to operate the controller 330.

[0024] The liquid 20 is preferably a liquid that can volatilize at a suitable temperature, preferably within the range of 100 to 300 °C, or more particularly around 150 to 250 °C, so as to help maintain the low power consumption of the system 100. Suitable materials include those that are conveniently used in e-cigarette devices, including, for example, propylene glycol and glycerol (also known as glycerin). In some examples, the aerosol-generating material contains nicotine, while in other examples, the aerosol-generating material does not contain nicotine. The aerosol-generating material may contain flavorants in some examples.

[0025] Thus, during use, the user inhales through the mouthpiece 50, and air is drawn in from one or more air inlets 111. The device 100, including the heating means 240, may be configured to be operable by a user operating the control button 340. In some examples, an input from a puff detector (not shown), known per se, may be used to determine whether the device 100 is in an operable configuration. During operation, the liquid 20 is drawn from the liquid reservoir 220 through at least one wick, and the liquid 20 is volatilized by the heating means 240 by heating to generate an aerosol. The generated aerosol mixes with the air flowing in from the air inlet 111 to generate an aerosol stream 30.

[0026] The heating element 250 may be a resistive heating element, for example, a linear heating element or a coil. In the preferred examples described herein, at least one heating element 250 is a heating coil 250. In some examples, the heating means 240 may comprise two or more heating elements, and in such examples, each heating element may be a heating coil. The device 100 comprises temperature monitoring means 260 for monitoring the temperature of the heating element 250. The temperature monitoring means 260 may comprise any suitable temperature sensing means, such as an electrical thermometer or means for measuring the resistivity of the heating element 250.

[0027] The controller 330 monitors the temperature of the heating element 250 via the temperature monitoring means 260, and monitors the control means 340 and / or the puff detector to determine whether to configure the device 100 into an operable configuration. In a preferred example, the controller 330 receives an input indicating that the user has activated the device 100 from the control means 340 or from the puff detector. The controller 330 then supplies power to the heating element 250 and functions to raise the temperature to the operating temperature for aerosol generation when measured by the temperature control means 260.

[0028] Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the temperature profile of a heating element, i.e., a heating coil, in a prior art configuration. In such an example, when the operation of the device 100 is detected (time 0), for example by a puff detector or by the user control means 340, the device 100 is configured to supply power to the heating coil 250 to raise its temperature from the starting temperature to the operating temperature 510. The operating temperature 510 may be a temperature suitable for the coil 250 to generate an aerosol. In this prior art configuration, by continuously supplying power to the coil 250 by the device 100, the temperature of the coil 250 continues to rise even after reaching the operating temperature, and the temperature may continue to rise while the device 100 remains in operation, for example while the puff detector continuously detects that the user is puffing on the device 100. Figure 2 schematically shows how the energy supplied from the power supply 320 continues to increase over the time the device 100 is in operation because power is continuously supplied to the heating coil 250 in this prior art configuration. This is shown in Figure 2 as the charge level of the battery 320 that is continuously consumed over the time the device 100 is in operation.

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram showing the temperature profile of the heating coil 250 according to the present invention. In this example, the controller 330 is configured to supply power to the heating means 250, in this example the heating coil 250, to raise the temperature of the heating coil 250 from the starting temperature (time 0) to a first threshold temperature 610. The controller 330 is configured to detect user operation of the device 100, preferably through user control means 340, or in some examples through detection of a user attempting to inhale from the device via a puff detector.

[0030] When the operation of device 100 is detected (time 0), the controller 330 is configured to supply power to the heating coil 250 to raise the temperature of the coil 250 and aerosolize the liquid 20. The controller 330 is configured to supply power to raise the temperature of the heating coil 250 to a first threshold temperature 610.

[0031] The controller 330 is configured to monitor the temperature of the coil 250 via the temperature monitoring means 260, and when the controller detects that the temperature of the coil 250 is a first threshold temperature 610 (700 in Figure 3), the controller 330 is configured to remove the power supplied to the coil 250. This removal of power when the temperature of the coil 250 reaches the first threshold temperature 610 in this example allows the temperature of the coil to drop to a second threshold temperature 620.

[0032] It should be noted that in some examples, device 100 may begin generating aerosols at 700 when the coil reaches a first threshold temperature 610. However, device 100 may also generate aerosols before the coil temperature reaches the first threshold temperature 610. In some examples, the second threshold temperature 620 may be the lowest temperature at which the coil 250 is suitable for generating aerosols, or in other examples, the second threshold temperature 620 may be different from this lowest temperature. For example, the second threshold temperature 620 may be higher than the lowest temperature at which aerosols are suitable.

[0033] In this example, between 700 and 720, the device 100 remains operational, allowing the temperature of the coil 250 to decrease while the coil 250 aerosolizes the liquid 20 (because the power supplied to the coil 250 is removed). When the measured coil temperature reaches the second threshold temperature 620 (at 720), the controller 330 resumes supplying power to the coil 250. This resumption of power serves to raise the temperature of the coil 250 from the second threshold temperature 620 to the first threshold temperature 610.

[0034] When the temperature of coil 250 rises and again reaches the first threshold temperature 610 (at 720), power is again removed from the coil, allowing the temperature of coil 250 to decrease again toward the second threshold temperature 620. The repeated cycle of supplying power to and removing power from the coil allows the coil temperature to fluctuate between the first threshold temperature 610 and the second threshold temperature 620 while the device 100 remains operational, for example, while the puff detector detects that the user is puffing on the device 100, or in other examples, while the user continuously operates the device 100 via the control means 340. Since power is not continuously supplied in the example of Figure 3, the energy from the power supply 320 is available over the service life at a lower average rate, and the charge of the battery 320 is depleted at a lower rate than in exemplary configurations such as the one shown in Figure 2, where power is continuously supplied to the heating coil 250.

[0035] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method for operating device 100. Device 100 is activated at 1001 (time corresponding to time 0 shown in Figure 3), and at 1002, power is supplied to coil 250 to raise the temperature of coil 250. At 1003, device 100 monitors the puff detector and, if a puff is detected, maintains device 100 in an operational configuration. If no puff is detected at 1003, the device 100 is switched off. At 1004, controller 330 checks if coil 250 is at a first threshold temperature 610. At 1004, if controller 330 detects that coil 250 is at a first threshold temperature 610, controller 330 (at 1005) removes the power supply to coil 250, allowing the coil temperature to decrease from the first threshold temperature 610 to a second threshold temperature 620 (while continuing aerosol generation). In step 1006, the controller 330 again checks the puff detector and, if a puff is detected, continues operation. If no puff is detected in step 1006, the device 100 is switched off. In step 1007, the controller 330 checks if the coil 250 is at the second threshold temperature 620, and if it detects that the coil 250 is at the second threshold temperature 620, it resumes power supply to the coil 250, and the process continues from step 1002.

[0036] It should be noted that in some examples, the method may include checking whether device 100 is in use at a less frequent frequency than described with reference to Figure 4, for example, by only 1003 or only 1006. As mentioned above, in some examples, device 100 may not have a puff detector, and instead, user control means 340 may be used to detect whether device 100 is in use.

[0037] In the exemplary configuration according to the present invention described herein and shown in Figures 3 and 4, the coil 250 does not periodically receive power from the battery 320. Therefore, the average power level supplied to the coil 250 while the device 100 is operating is lower than the average power level supplied to the coil in the prior art configuration shown in Figure 2. Consequently, the battery charge level may be depleted more slowly, and the battery life may be extended by using the described configuration. In addition, the temperature of the heating coil 250 is maintained within a specified range (between a second threshold temperature 620 and a first threshold temperature 610), and this specified range of temperature may provide, for example, a temperature more suitable for vaporizing the liquid 20 and / or improve the safety of the device 100. The power delivery to the heating element 250 may also be described as "pulsed" in the operation of the device 100 according to the present invention.

[0038] In the examples described herein, when power is supplied to the heating element 250, it should be noted that the supplied power does not have to be a constant value over the time it is supplied, i.e., between 700 and 720 and between 720 and 710. For example, in some examples, a protection circuit module (PCM) may be used, and the power delivered to the heating element 250 between 700 and 720 and between 720 and 710 may include pulsed power delivery.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device comprising a power source, at least one heating element for generating an aerosol, and a temperature monitoring means configured to monitor the temperature of the heating element, wherein the aerosol supply device is in an operational configuration, Power is supplied to the heating element to initially raise the temperature of the heating element to a first threshold temperature. When the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element is the first threshold temperature, the power supplied to the heating element is removed, thereby lowering the temperature of the heating element to the second threshold temperature. When the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element has dropped to the second threshold temperature, it supplies power to the heating element so that the temperature of the heating element rises toward the first threshold temperature. An aerosol supply device configured to control the supply of power to the heating element.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the heating element is a coil.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device further comprises a puff detector, and the device is configured to be in an operable or non-operable configuration based on an input from the puff detector.

4. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the device is configured to repeat one or more steps of claim 1 so that once the temperature of the heating element reaches the first threshold temperature, the temperature of the heating element remains above the second threshold temperature and below the first threshold temperature.

5. A method for supplying power to a heating element for an aerosol generation device, The steps include monitoring the temperature of the heating element, The steps include: first supplying power to the heating element to raise the temperature of the heating element to a first threshold temperature; When the temperature of the heating element reaches the first threshold temperature, the power supplied to the heating element is removed, thereby lowering the temperature of the heating element to a second threshold temperature. When the temperature of the heating element reaches the second threshold temperature, the power supplied to the heating element is increased, thereby causing the temperature of the heating element to rise toward the first threshold temperature. Methods that include...

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of initially supplying power to the heater when a puff detector detects that a user is inhaling the device.

7. The method according to claim 5 or claim 6, further comprising the step of repeating one or more steps of claim 1 so that once the temperature of the heating element reaches the first threshold temperature, the temperature of the heating element remains above the second threshold temperature and below the first threshold temperature.

Images