Aerosol supply device

Abstract

An aerosol supply device is provided. The aerosol supply device comprises a display device (200), the display device comprising a light source (202), a first reflector (204) configured to reflect at least partially the light from the light source, and a second reflector (206) configured to reflect at least partially the light from the first reflector to illuminate the display device.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device and method.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these tobacco-burning articles by creating products that release compounds without burning. An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating rather than burning the material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol supply device comprising a display device, the display device comprising a light source, a first reflector configured to at least partially reflect light from the light source, and a second reflector configured to at least partially reflect light from the first reflector to illuminate the display device.

[0004] The second reflector may be configured to reflect light from the first reflector back to the first reflector, and the first reflector may be configured to at least partially transmit light to illuminate the display device.

[0005] The first reflector may comprise a reflective region and a transmissive region, the light source being configured to send light to the reflective region, and the second reflector being configured to reflect light from the first reflector to the transmissive region.

[0006] The transmissive region may be configured to transmit a larger proportion of the incident light than the reflective region.

[0007] The transmissive region may be arranged adjacent to the reflective region.

[0008] The transparent region may have an opening.

[0009] The aerosol supply device may include an additional permeable area.

[0010] The first reflector may be provided with a reflective coating.

[0011] The first reflector is made of plastic material.

[0012] The plastic material is also PET.

[0013] The second reflector may be included in the printed circuit board.

[0014] The second reflector may include a reflective coating on the printed circuit board.

[0015] The printed circuit board may support the light source.

[0016] The first reflector and the second reflector may be approximately parallel to each other.

[0017] The aerosol supply device may include a housing.

[0018] The housing may have an opening, and the display device is at least partially positioned in the opening.

[0019] According to a second embodiment, an aerosol supply system is provided, comprising an aerosol supply device and an article containing an aerosol generating material.

[0020] A third aspect provides a method for providing a display from an aerosol supply device, comprising the steps of: sending light from a light source; reflecting the light from a first reflector; and reflecting the light from a second reflector to illuminate a display device.

[0021] Here, embodiments will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a front view of an aerosol supply system. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view of a display device. [Figure 3] It is a front view of a display device.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0023] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating material" is a material that can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosol generating material can be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain, for example, an active substance and / or a flavorant. The aerosol generating material may include any plant-based material such as a tobacco-containing material, and may include, for example, one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol generating material may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine depending on the product. The aerosol generating material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, gel, or wax. The aerosol generating material may also be, for example, a combination or blend of materials. The aerosol generating material may also be known as a "smokable material".

[0024] The aerosol generating material may include a binder and an aerosol former. Optionally, an active substance and / or a filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water is also present, and one or more other components of the aerosol generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material substantially does not contain plant-based materials. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material substantially does not contain tobacco.

[0025] The aerosol generating material may include an "amorphous solid" or may be an "amorphous solid". The amorphous solid may be a "monolithic solid". In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid such as a liquid within the amorphous solid. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may include, for example, from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% of an amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% of an amorphous solid.

[0026] The aerosol generating material may include an aerosol generating film. The aerosol generating film may include, or may be, a sheet that can optionally be shredded to form shredded sheets. The aerosol generating sheet or shredded sheet may not substantially contain tobacco.

[0027] According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustion" aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol generating material (or its components) of the aerosol supply system is neither combusted nor burned in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0028] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustion aerosol supply system such as a powered non-combustion aerosol supply system.

[0029] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not a requirement.

[0030] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0031] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of one or more aerosol-generating materials that can be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0032] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0033] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials and configured for use with non-combustible aerosol supply devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0034] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system, for example, the non-combustible aerosol supply device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, an electrical power source or a heat-generating power source. In some embodiments, the heat-generating power source includes a carbon substrate to which energy can be supplied to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or heat-transferring material adjacent to the heat-generating power source.

[0035] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system may include a consumable receiving area, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a suction port, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0036] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, aerosol generating material storage area, aerosol generating material transfer component, aerosol generator, aerosol generating area, housing, packaging material, filter, suction nozzle and / or aerosol modifier.

[0037] An aerosol generating device can accept an article containing an aerosol-generating material for heating. In this context, “article” refers to a component that contains or is contained in the aerosol-generating material at the time of use, which is heated to volatilize the aerosol-generating material, and optionally, other components at the time of use. The user may insert the article into the aerosol generating device before the article is heated to generate an aerosol, after which the user inhales the aerosol. The article may be of a predetermined or specific size, for example, configured to be placed in a heating chamber of a device sized to accept the article.

[0038] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol supply system 10 comprises an aerosol supply device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol supply system 10 further comprises a replaceable article 110 containing the aerosol-generating material. Schematically, the aerosol-forming device 100 may be used to heat the article 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium to be inhaled by a user of the device 100.

[0039] The aerosol forming device 100 comprises a main body 102. The housing structure surrounds and accommodates various components of the main body 102. An article opening 104 is formed at one end of the main body 102, into which an article 110 can be inserted for heating by the aerosol generator 116.

[0040] Device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or switch, which operates Device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on Device 100 by operating the switch 150.

[0041] The aerosol generator 116 defines a longitudinal axis that aligns with the axis of the article 110.

[0042] The aerosol forming device 100 includes a display device 200.

[0043] During use, article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 116 and may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 116.

[0044] Device 100 includes an apparatus for heating an aerosol-generating material. The apparatus includes an aerosol-generating assembly, a controller (control circuit), and a power source. The apparatus forms part of the main body 102. The aerosol-generating assembly is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material of an article 110 inserted through an article opening 104 so that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material. The power source supplies power to the aerosol-generating assembly, which converts the supplied electrical energy into thermal energy for heating the aerosol-generating material. The power source may be a battery, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries.

[0045] The power source may be electrically connected to the aerosol generation assembly and may supply power under the control of a controller when needed to heat the aerosol generation material. The control circuit may be configured to start and stop the aerosol generation assembly based on user input. User input may be made by pressing a button or by opening a door on the device (e.g., a door covering a consumable receiving receptacle). The control circuit may be configured to start and stop automatically, for example, when an item is inserted.

[0046] An aerosol generation assembly may comprise various components for heating an aerosol generation material by an induction heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating a conductive heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. An induction heating assembly may comprise an induction element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a variable current, such as an alternating current, through the induction element. The variable current in the induction element generates a fluctuating magnetic field. The fluctuating magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) suitably positioned relative to the induction element, generating eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to eddy currents, and therefore, the eddy currents flow against this resistance, causing the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating. If the susceptor contains a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses within the susceptor, i.e., by a change in the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of alignment with the fluctuating magnetic field. In induction heating, compared to, for example, conduction heating, heat is generated inside the susceptor, enabling rapid heating. Furthermore, since no physical contact is required between the inductive element and the susceptor, it allows for greater flexibility in construction and application.

[0047] The display device 200 displays optical signals that indicate a status (e.g., charging status, heating status) and / or provide notifications to the user (e.g., ready for use notification and session end notification).

[0048] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the display device 200 includes a light source 202. The light source 202 is a light-emitting diode (LED). The light source 202 faces outward from the aerosol supply device 100. The light source 202 is configured to send light outward from the aerosol supply device 100. The light source 202 is configured to send light in a direction substantially perpendicular to the housing 212 of the aerosol supply device 100.

[0049] The display device 200 includes a first reflector 204. The display device 200 also includes a second reflector 206. The first reflector 204 has a reflective region 207 and transparent regions 208a and 208b. The transparent regions 208a and 208b include a first transparent region 208a and a second transparent region 208b (also called an additional transparent region). The first transparent region 208a includes a first opening 208a. The second transparent region 208b includes a second opening 208b.

[0050] The reflective region 207 is located outside the light source 202. The reflective region 207 and the light source 202 are aligned with each other so that the light source 202 directs light directly to the reflective region 207. The first transmission region 208a is displaced from the reflective region in a first direction. The first direction is parallel to the direction in which the housing 212 of the aerosol supply device extends. The second transmission region 208b is displaced from the reflective region in a second direction. The second direction is parallel to the direction in which the housing 212 of the aerosol supply device extends. The second direction is opposite to the first direction. The first transmission region 208a and the second transmission region 208b are on opposite sides of the reflective region 207.

[0051] The transmission regions 208a and 208b are configured to transmit a larger proportion of incident light than the reflection region 207. The transmission regions 208a and 208b are configured to allow light to pass through more easily than the reflection region 207. The reflection region 207 is configured to reflect more light than the transmission regions 208a and 208b.

[0052] The first reflector 204 is formed of a translucent material. In this example, the first reflector 204 is formed of plastic, more specifically, polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The first transmissive region 208a has at least one opening to enhance light transmission. The second transmissive region 208b has at least one opening to enhance light transmission.

[0053] The first reflector 204 is substantially planar. The second reflector 206 is substantially planar. The first reflector 204 is substantially parallel to the second reflector 206. The first reflector 204 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the light source 202 is configured to emit light. The first reflector 204 is substantially parallel to the housing 212. The second reflector 206 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the light source 202 is configured to emit light. The second reflector 206 is substantially parallel to the housing 212.

[0054] The display device 200 comprises a printed circuit board (PCB) 210. A light source 202 is mounted on the PCB 210. The PCB 210 supports the light source 202. A second reflector 206 forms part of the PCB 210. The second reflector 206 has a reflective coating on the PCB 210. The PCB 210 is configured to supply power to the light source 202.

[0055] The housing 212 accommodates various components of the aerosol supply device 100. The housing 212 has a housing opening 214. The display device 200 is placed in the housing opening 214. The display device 200 is mounted in the housing opening 214 so as to extend through the housing opening 214.

[0056] When in use (for example, when user notification or status update is required), the light source 202 sends light outward from the housing 212, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 2. The light proceeds to the first reflector 204. More specifically, the light from the light source 202 proceeds mainly to the reflection area 207. Some of the light passes through the reflection area 207, thereby making the reflection area 207 appear illuminated to the user.

[0057] A portion of the light is reflected by the reflection region 207. The light reflected by the reflection region 207 travels inward. The light reflected by the reflection region 207 travels towards the second reflector 206. The second reflector 206 reflects the light back to the first reflector 204.

[0058] As light travels between the first reflector 204 and the second reflector 206, the light does not travel exactly perpendicular to the first reflector 204 and / or the second reflector 206 (for example, because not all of the light from the light source 204 is included in the luminous flux, so some of the light is diffused when reflected, and / or because the first reflector 204 and / or the second reflector 206 are not exactly perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the light from the light source 204). As a result, the light travels toward the transmission regions 208a and 208b, with some of the light traveling toward the first transmission region 208a in the first direction and some of the light traveling toward the second transmission region 208b in the second direction.

[0059] In some examples, the light may be reflected multiple times between the first reflector 204 and the second reflector 206, and it will be understood that a portion of the light is transmitted through the first reflector 204 with each reflection. A portion of the light reflected from the second reflector 206 reaches the transmission regions 208a and 208b and is transmitted through them. A portion of the light may also be reflected by the transmission regions 208a and 208b.

[0060] Light enters the first reflector 204 at all points, and the first reflector 204 transmits a portion of the light at each point. As a result, the display device 200 appears to illuminate the entire first reflector 204.

[0061] In the embodiments described above, the aerosol supply device comprises a heating component which is an induction heating component. In embodiments, other types of heating components are used, such as resistance heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above, and therefore a detailed description is omitted. In such configurations, the aerosol generation assembly comprises a resistance heating generator which includes components for heating a heating element by a resistance heating process. In this case, a current is applied directly to the resistance heating component, and the resulting flow of current within the heating component heats the heating component by Joule heating. The resistance heating component includes a resistive material configured to generate heat when a suitable current passes through the resistance heating component, and the heating assembly comprises electrical contacts for supplying current to the resistive material.

[0062] In the embodiment, the heating element forms the resistive heating component itself. In the embodiment, the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example, by conduction.

[0063] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may, may consist of, or may essentially consist of, appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. an aerosol supply device equipped with a display device, wherein the display device is Light source and A first reflector configured to reflect at least partially the light from the light source, A second reflector configured to reflect at least partially the light from the first reflector to illuminate the display device, An aerosol supply device comprising the above features.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the second reflector is configured to reflect light from the first reflector back to the first reflector, and the first reflector is configured to transmit the light at least partially to illuminate the display device.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein the first reflector comprises a reflective region and a transmissive region, the light source is configured to send light to the reflective region, and the second reflector is configured to reflect light from the first reflector to the transmissive region.

4. The aerosol supply device according to claim 3, wherein the transmission region is configured to transmit a larger proportion of incident light than the reflection region.

5. The aerosol supply device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the transmission region is arranged adjacent to the reflection region.

6. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the permeable region is provided with an opening.

7. An aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 3 to 6, comprising an additional permeable region.

8. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first reflector is provided with a reflective coating.

9. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first reflector is formed of a plastic material, and optionally, the first reflector is formed of PET.

10. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the second reflector is included in a printed circuit board.

11. The aerosol supply device according to claim 10, wherein the second reflector comprises a reflective coating on the printed circuit board.

12. The aerosol supply device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the printed circuit board supports the light source.

13. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first reflector and the second reflector are substantially parallel to each other.

14. An aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a housing, wherein the housing comprises a housing opening, and the display device is at least partially disposed in the housing opening.

15. An aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 and an article containing an aerosol generating material.

16. A method for providing a display from an aerosol supply device, The steps of sending light from a light source, The steps include reflecting the aforementioned light from the first reflector, The steps include reflecting the aforementioned light from a second reflector to illuminate the display device, Methods that include...

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