Aerosol Delivery System

Abstract

An aerosol delivery system is provided that includes a chamber that receives at least a portion of the consumable through an aperture therein. A visual indicator is disposed about the aperture to provide user feedback.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol delivery system. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol supply / delivery systems generally contain a reservoir of aerosol-generating material, such as a solid, liquid or part of a gel, or a precursor liquid, and / or may contain active substances and / or flavorings, from which an aerosol or vapor is generated for inhalation by a user, for example by thermal evaporation. Thus, an aerosol supply system / electric smoking system typically comprises a heating chamber or aerosol generation chamber that houses an aerosol generator, for example a heating element, arranged to vaporize or aerosolize a portion of an aerosolizable material (e.g. a solid material such as tobacco) to generate a vapor or aerosol in the aerosol generation chamber. When a user inhales on the device, power is supplied to the heating element, and air is drawn into the device through an inlet hole and along an inlet air channel that leads to the aerosol generation chamber, where the air mixes with the vaporized precursor material to form a condensed aerosol. An outlet air channel leads from the aerosol generation chamber to an outlet in the mouthpiece, and as the user inhales on the mouthpiece, air drawn into the aerosol generation chamber continues along the outlet flow path to the mouthpiece outlet, carrying the aerosol along with it for inhalation by the user. Some aerosol delivery systems may also include a flavoring element in the air flow path through the device to impart additional flavoring. Such devices may also be referred to as hybrid devices, and the flavoring element may include, for example, a portion of a solid aerosol-generating material, such as tobacco, and / or a flavoring material disposed in the air flow path between the aerosol generation chamber and the mouthpiece, such that the aerosol / condensation aerosol drawn through the device passes through a portion of the solid material before exiting the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user. In some aerosol delivery systems, the aerosol-generating material includes a feedstock liquid contained in a cartridge or pod that also contains a heating element and an aerosol generation chamber, and the cartridge is mechanically and electrically connected to a control unit for use. The control unit includes a battery and control circuitry that together power the heating element via the cartridge.

[0003] Some aerosol supply / delivery systems include one or more visual indicators that provide visual feedback to a user regarding one or more aspects of the operation or status of the device. Such feedback may include, for example, information regarding whether the system is on or off, the selected operating mode, how much electrical energy / charge or aerosol generating material remains in the aerosol supply system, the temperature of the heating element, or the intensity with which the user is inhaling with the device. Such information may be shown before, during, and / or after the user puffs with the aerosol supply device. The visual indicators used to display such information may include a display panel including an array of pixels. Alternatively or additionally, one or more lighting elements, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs), may be provided to provide visual feedback. The visual indicators (sometimes referred to herein as visual feedback indicators) are typically configured to provide visual feedback on an exterior portion of the housing of the aerosol supply system. Such housings may include one or more openings and / or one or more transparent or translucent portions to allow the user to see visual feedback emitted by visual indicators disposed within the housing.

[0004] The inventors have recognized that it would be advantageous to provide visual feedback to a user while the user is performing a puff on the aerosol delivery system and / or immediately before or after the user performs a puff on the aerosol delivery system. In such a scenario, the inventors have recognized that conventional configurations for providing visual feedback to an aerosol delivery device may not provide an easily visible or intuitive means of displaying feedback to a user regarding their placement in the aerosol delivery system. Various approaches that attempt to help address or mitigate at least some of the problems discussed above are described herein. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol delivery system is provided that includes a chamber that receives at least a portion of a consumable through an aperture therein, and a visual indicator disposed about the aperture that provides user feedback.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a consumable is provided that is configured for insertion into a hole in an aerosol delivery system, where an outer portion of the consumable is configured to modify an appearance of visual feedback provided by a visual indicator disposed about the hole.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of providing a visual indicator for an aerosol delivery system, the method including providing a chamber in the aerosol delivery system to receive a consumable through an aperture therein, and providing a visual indicator to provide user feedback, the visual indicator being positioned around the aperture.

[0008] It will be understood that the features and aspects of the disclosure described herein with respect to the first and other aspects of the disclosure are equally applicable to the disclosed embodiments according to the other aspects of the disclosure and may be combined therewith as appropriate, not limited to the specific combinations described above.

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a schematic diagram of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] 1 is a schematic diagram of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6] 1 is a schematic diagram of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 8] 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 9] 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross section of the mouthpiece end of an aerosol delivery device and a consumable portion including a visual feedback altering means, showing a visual indicator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] [Detailed Description] Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be conventionally implemented and, for the sake of brevity, will not be discussed / described in detail. Thus, it will be understood that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0012] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol supply / delivery system (the present disclosure may also relate to a vapor delivery system). Throughout the following description, the terms "electrical smoking system", "non-combustion heating" system, or "tobacco heating product" may be used in some cases, but it will be understood that these terms can be used interchangeably with aerosol supply / delivery system / device and electronic aerosol supply / delivery system / device. Furthermore, as is common in the art, "aerosol" and "vapor" and related terms such as "vaporize", "volatilize" and "aerosolize" can generally be used interchangeably.

[0013] Aerosol delivery systems often, but not always, comprise a modular assembly that includes both a reusable "device" portion and a replaceable "consumable" portion. Typically, the replaceable consumable portion includes an aerosol-generating material that is heated to generate an aerosol, and the reusable portion includes a power source (e.g., a rechargeable power source), control circuitry, and a heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion when coupled to the reusable portion. In such embodiments, heat is generally transferred from a heater in the reusable device portion to a portion of the consumable portion to aerosolize / volatilize the aerosol-generating material in the heated portion of the consumable portion, or electrical power or a magnetic field is transferred to the consumable portion to cause an aerosol generator in the consumable portion to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. Thus, the consumable portion, in some cases, includes elements associated with heating the aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion. For example, the consumable part may include a susceptor that may be inductively heated by a magnetic field generator / drive coil arrangement in the reusable device part to aerosolize the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part, and / or the consumable part may include a heating element that receives power from the reusable device part via an electrical interface between the reusable device part and the consumable part when the consumable part and the reusable device part are coupled together for use. The consumable part may be configured to be partially or fully inserted into the reusable device part for use, for example, by inserting the consumable part into a chamber / receiving recess in the reusable device part, which may include an aerosol-generating or heating chamber located in the housing of the reusable device part. Such a chamber may be accessed through a hole / opening located in the outer casing of the reusable device part. When the aerosol-generating material in a given consumable part is exhausted or when a user desires to change to a different consumable part having a different aerosol-generating material, the consumable part may be removed from the reusable device part by retracting it from the chamber through the hole, and a replacement consumable part may be coupled in its place to the reusable device part.Devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration are commonly referred to as "two-part" devices.

[0014] It is common for aerosol delivery systems / devices (and the reusable device portions and consumable portions that contain them) to have a generally elongated shape. To provide a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein are considered to include such generally elongated two-part devices that employ a reusable device portion that includes a heater and a consumable portion that includes an aerosol-generating material. However, it will be appreciated that the basic principles described herein can be equally employed in a variety of aerosol delivery system configurations, such as single-part devices or modular devices including more than two parts, refillable and disposable devices, as well as devices according to other overall shapes, for example based on so-called "box mod" smart devices, which typically have a more box-like shape, and so-called "pod mod" devices, which generally comprise a cartridge housing a heater and a supply of aerosol generating material, often in liquid form, that is partially inserted into a chamber in the reusable device part such that, when the cartridge is received in the chamber, abutment of electrical contacts in the cartridge with electrical contacts disposed in the chamber of the reusable device part establishes an electrical connection between the cartridge and the control circuitry of the reusable device part. More generally, it will be appreciated that certain embodiments of the present disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems that are configured and operable to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein, and that the constructional aspects of aerosol delivery systems configured to provide functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure are not of primary importance.

[0015] 1 is a cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system / non-combustion heated device 1 according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. The aerosol delivery system 1 includes two main components: a reusable device portion 2 and a replaceable consumable / cartridge / cartomizer portion 4.

[0016] During normal use, the reusable part 2 and the consumable part 4 are removably coupled / attached together by partially or fully inserting the consumable part 4 into a chamber 50 of the reusable device part 2, which includes a heater chamber area / heating area 53. The chamber 50 may be considered a heating / heater chamber in the sense that the consumable part 4 is configured to be heated by the reusable device part 2 while it is at least partially received in the chamber, e.g., by a heater included in the reusable part 2, which heats the consumable part 4, or by the reusable part 2 providing energy (i.e., electrical energy) to the consumable part 4 to cause heating of the heater included in the consumable part 4. FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the reusable device part 2 with the consumable part 4 partially received in the chamber 50. The chamber 50 includes a cylindrical tube extending from an outer housing surface of the reusable device part into the reusable device part 2. In this example, the chamber extends into the device from the outer surface of the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2, which is defined as the uppermost part of the reusable device part when a user holds it in their hand for use, and the chamber 50 extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the reusable device part 2. A hole 51 communicates between the chamber 50 and the outer surface of the device.

[0017] Broadly speaking, the reusable device part 2 is configured to generate an aerosol that is inhaled by a user by heating one or more aerosol-generating materials, typically in the consumable part 4, either directly by one or more heating elements associated with the heating region 53 of the chamber 50, or by delivering electrical energy or a magnetic field to the consumable part 4 to activate an aerosol generator, such as a heating element in or on the consumable part 4. In use, a user inserts the consumable part 4 into the chamber 50 of the reusable device part through the hole 51 and then activates the reusable device part 2, for example with the button 14, causing the reusable device part 2 to power the aerosol-generating element from the power source / battery 26 and aerosolize the aerosol-generating material(s) contained within the consumable part 4 for inhalation by the user. The user then sucks on the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4, which extends from the hole 51 in the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2, to inhale the aerosol generated by the reusable device part 2. As the user draws on the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion 4, air is drawn into the air inlet 24 located on the exterior surface of the reusable portion 2, through the air inlet channel 25, and into the heated region 53 of the chamber 50, where it enters the at least one air inlet 42 of the consumable portion 4 and causes vapor / aerosol to be generated by aerosolization / heating of a portion of the aerosol-generating material 43 contained within the consumable portion 4. For purposes of a specific example, Figure 1 illustrates diagrammatically a heating element 48 disposed about the heated region 53 of the chamber 50 that transfers heat to a portion of the consumable portion 4 containing the aerosol-generating material 43, as described further herein. The generated vapor / aerosol travels through the consumable portion 4 toward the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2 (from which mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion 4 extends), where aerosol droplets condense from the vapor / aerosol or further condense from the vapor / aerosol to form a condensed aerosol that exits from the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion 4 for inhalation by the user.

[0018] The reusable portion 2 includes an outer housing having an opening that defines an air inlet 24, a power source 26 (e.g., a battery) that provides operating power for the aerosol delivery system, a control circuit 22 that controls and monitors the operation of the e-cigarette, optional user input buttons 14, an optional display 16, and a visual display / visual indicator 28. The outer housing of the reusable device portion 2 may be formed, for example, from a plastic or metal material, or any other material known to those skilled in the art. To provide a specific example, the reusable device portion 2 may have a length of approximately 80 mm in some embodiments, and the consumable portion 4, when inserted into the chamber 50, extends from the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion by approximately 10-30 mm, such that the overall length of the aerosol delivery system 1 when the consumable portion and the reusable device portion are coupled together is approximately 90-110 mm. The consumable portion 4 may have a diameter of approximately 80 mm. However, as previously noted, it will be understood that the overall shape and scale of an aerosol delivery system implementing an embodiment of the present disclosure is not critical to the principles described herein.

[0019] Power source 26, in this example, is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, e.g., a lithium ion battery, of the kind typically used in aerosol delivery systems, such as non-combustion heating devices, tobacco heating devices, e-cigarettes, and other applications requiring the delivery of relatively high currents for relatively short periods of time. Power source 26 may be recharged by a charging connector within the housing of the reusable portion, including, for example, a micro USB or USB-C connector, which may also provide an interface for data transfer between controller 22 and an external processing device, such as a smartphone or personal computer.

[0020] User input button 14 may be optionally provided and in this example is a conventional mechanical button, including, for example, a spring-loaded component that a user can press to establish electrical contact. In this regard, input button 14 may be considered an input device that detects user input, and the particular manner in which the button is implemented is not important (e.g., the button may include a capacitive touch sensor and / or a touch-sensitive display element). Multiple such buttons may be provided, with one or more buttons assigned to functions such as switching aerosol delivery system 1 on and off, adjusting user settings such as power provided from power source 26 to aerosol generator 48, and / or selecting one or more device modes. However, including a user input button is optional, and in some embodiments, such a button may not be included.

[0021] An optional display unit 16 may be provided on the exterior of the housing of the reusable device portion 2 in some cases. If included, the display unit 16 may include a pixelated or non-pixelated display unit (including, for example, a single LED, an array of LEDs, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display, an electroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an e-ink display) connected to the controller 22. Those skilled in the art may implement such a display according to any technique known in the art. Such a display may be used to display to a user usage information regarding the use of the aerosol delivery system 1. Exemplary forms of usage information that may be displayed to a user via the optional display unit 16 are further described herein.

[0022] At least one visual indicator / visual feedback indicator 28 is provided with a display area visible on the exterior surface of the housing of the reusable device portion 2, and is configured to provide visual feedback to the user regarding one or more aspects of the operation or status of the device. Such visual feedback may include, for example, information regarding whether the system is on or off, the selected operating mode, how much charge or aerosol generating material is remaining in the system, the temperature of the heating element, or the strength at which the user is inhaling with the device (e.g., obtained from an airflow sensor as described further herein). Such information may be shown before, during, and / or after a puff or session with the aerosol delivery device. The visual indicator used to display such information may include a display panel having a plurality of pixels, including, for example, an LCD, LED, OLED, AMOLED, ELD, PDP, e(electronic) ink display, or any other form of pixelated display panel known to those skilled in the art. Additionally or alternatively, the visual indicator 28 may include one or more non-pixelated display elements, such as one or more LEDs. If visual indicator 28 includes one or more LEDs, the color of each LED can be selected from among a set of LED colors known to those of skill in the art, and / or LEDs configured to exhibit more than one color can be used (e.g., one or more RGB LEDs can be used). As described further herein, at least one visual indicator 28 may further comprise one or more light-guiding elements, such as one or more light pipes, optical fibers, or other transparent or translucent light-transmitting elements, configured to guide visual feedback signals from one or more light-emitting visual feedback elements located within the housing of reusable device portion 2 to one or more display areas viewable on, in, or through a housing surface of reusable device portion 2.

[0023] The controller 22 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system to provide not only conventional operational functions of the aerosol delivery system in accordance with established techniques for controlling such devices, but also functionality according to embodiments of the present disclosure as further described herein. The controller (processor circuit) 22 may be considered to logically include various sub-units / circuit elements associated with various aspects of the operation of the aerosol delivery system 1. In this example, the controller 22 comprises a power control circuit that controls the supply of power from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 in response to user input, a user programming circuit that establishes configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, and other functional units / circuits associated with functionality according to the principles described herein and conventional operational aspects of the aerosol delivery system, such as a display driver circuit and a user input detection circuit. It will be appreciated that the functionality of the controller 22 can be provided in a variety of different ways, for example, using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more appropriately configured application specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality. The controller 22 may include a wireless transceiver and associated control circuitry to enable data transfer between the reusable device portion 2 and an external computing device, such as a smartphone or personal computer (not shown), by wireless transfer protocols such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC) or Zigbee. The controller 22 also includes one or more data storage elements (e.g., memory elements such as ROM or RAM elements) that can be used to store data associated with the use of the aerosol delivery system, by established techniques for data storage and transfer.

[0024] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the reusable device portion 2 may include an airflow sensor 30, such as a pressure sensor or a flow sensor (e.g., a hot wire anemometer) electrically connected to the controller 22 and in fluid communication with a portion of the airflow path between the air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41. The airflow sensor 30 may, for example, be located in a wall of the air inlet channel 25 or chamber 50 and / or may extend at least partially into or across a portion of the airflow path defined by the air inlet channel 25 or chamber 50. In some embodiments, a combined airflow and temperature sensor is used that allows the temperature of the airflow in a portion of the airflow path within the device to be determined. In some embodiments, the airflow sensor 30 includes a so-called "puff sensor" in that a signal from the airflow sensor 30 is used by the controller 22 to detect when the user is puffing on the device. In some embodiments, detection of the user's puff by the controller 22 (e.g., by the controller 22 detecting a signal from the airflow sensor 30 indicative of the pressure and / or flow rate in the airflow path between the air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41 and determining whether it is above or below a predetermined threshold) is used to control the supply of power to the aerosol generator / heater 48. Thus, the controller 22 may allocate power from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 in response to at least the signal it receives from the airflow sensor 30. The particular manner in which the signal output from the airflow sensor 30 is used by the controller 22 to control the supply of power from the power source 26 to the aerosol generator 48 (which may include a measurement by the controller 22 of the capacitance, resistance, or other property of the airflow sensor) may be implemented according to any technique known to one of skill in the art (e.g., by supplying to the aerosol generator 48 an amount of power proportional to a property (e.g., pressure, flow rate, and / or velocity) of the airflow through the aerosol delivery system as determined based on the signal output by the airflow sensor 30).In some instances, the signal received from the pressure sensor (i.e., the aerosol generator 48 is "puff actuated") is used by the controller 22 to switch the power supply to the aerosol generator 48 on and / or off (e.g., by providing power if the airflow parameter value determined based on the signal received from the airflow sensor 30 is on one side of a predetermined threshold and not providing power if the airflow parameter value is on the other side of the predetermined threshold). In other embodiments, the power supply to the aerosol generator 48 is controlled through other means (e.g., by button 14) and the power delivery is altered based on a signal received by the controller 22 from the airflow sensor (e.g., adjusted in proportion to the airflow parameter determined based on the signal received from the airflow sensor 30). However, it will be understood that the inclusion of an airflow sensor is optional and in some embodiments, an airflow sensor is not included. In such an embodiment, power to the aerosol generator 48 may be switched on and off by the button 14, or may be switched on by the button 14 and power to the aerosol generator 48 may be switched off by the controller 22 after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. For example, when the controller 22 detects a predetermined input signal (e.g., including provided by the button 14 or by an appropriate sensor detecting that a user has inserted the consumable portion 4 into the chamber 50), the controller may begin powering the aerosol generator 48 from the battery 26 and may start a timer. When the elapsed time / duration of operation on the timer reaches a predetermined threshold (e.g., 210 seconds), the controller 22 may stop powering the aerosol generator 48. The duration of operation of the aerosol generator 48 at a given power level may be set based on the time it takes the aerosol generator 48 to aerosolize / volatilize a predetermined amount of the aerosol-generating material 48 in the consumable portion 4.An appropriate activation duration (i.e., the time from activation of the aerosol generator 48 after which the controller 22 automatically turns off the power supply to the aerosol generator 48) can be determined for a given consumable portion 4 using experimentation or modeling.

[0025] In some embodiments, the hole 51 in the reusable part 2 through which the consumable part 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 can be opened and closed by a door (not shown) that is movable between a closed position and an open position to allow the insertion of the consumable part 4 into the reusable device part 2 when in the open position. The door can be flush with the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device part and is configured to slide along an axis between the open and closed positions or to pivot between the open and closed positions. When a user slides or pivots the door into either the open or closed position, a spring or magnet can bias the door to the open and closed positions to hold the door in either the open or closed position.

[0026] The reusable part 2 typically includes an aerosol generator 48 disposed near the heated region 53 of the consumable chamber 50. The aerosol generator is an element or device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4, for example by heating. Thus, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 includes a heater configured to expose the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 to thermal energy to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured such that the aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator 48 may be configured to expose the aerosol-generating material in the consumable part 4 to one or more vibrations, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy to volatilize the aerosol-generating material. It will be appreciated that in a two-part device such as that shown in FIG. 1, some parts of the aerosol generator 48 may be in either the reusable device part 2 and / or the consumable part 4. It will be further understood that in some cases, the consumable portion 4 may include a cartridge housing an electrically powered aerosol generator (e.g., a heater), and in addition to or instead of the aerosol generator 48 in the reusable device portion 2, the reusable device portion 2 may include an electrical interface including electrical contacts disposed within the chamber 50 that electrically connect the power source 26 and controller 22 in the reusable device portion 4 to the aerosol generator in the consumable portion 4 when the consumable portion 4 is fully or partially received within the chamber 50.

[0027] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the aerosol generator 48 including at least one heating element is formed as a cylindrical tube having a hollow internal heating chamber and configured to provide thermal energy in use to a heating region 53 of a chamber / receiving recess 50 into which a consumable portion 4 including an aerosol-generating material 43 is inserted for heating. As described further herein, the heating element may directly form part of the tube including the chamber 50 or may be disposed around or near the heating region 53 of the tube including the chamber 50. Various configurations are possible for the aerosol generator / heater 48. In some embodiments, the heater 48 may include a single heating element (e.g., a resistive trace, track and / or winding) or may be formed from multiple heating elements aligned longitudinally or transversely (e.g., radially) relative to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50. Each of the one or more heating elements included in the heater 48 may be annular or cylindrical or at least partially annular or cylindrical in circumference. The heating element(s) may comprise one or more thin film heaters comprising one or more resistive tracks in a heat-resistant substrate, including, for example, a polyimide film. The heating element(s) may comprise ceramic materials, including, for example, aluminum nitride or silicon nitride ceramics, which may be laminated and sintered with one or more heat-generating layers to form a heater according to techniques known in the art. Other heater configurations are possible, including, for example, induction heating elements, infrared heater elements that heat by emitting infrared radiation, or resistive heating elements formed, for example, by resistive electrical windings. In the latter case, the resistive windings may be disposed around a ceramic, metal or heat-resistant polymer tube, or may be embedded in such a tube that either contains or is disposed around the heating region 53 of the chamber 50, for dissipating heat to a cavity within the heating region 53. The battery 26 is electrically connected to provide power to the heating element when needed to heat the aerosolizable material within the consumable 4 under the control of the control circuit 22 (to volatilize the aerosolizable material without burning it, as discussed further herein).

[0028] The rate at which the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion is vaporized by the aerosol generator / heater 48 will depend on the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 48. Power can thus be applied to the aerosol generator 48 to selectively generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material within the consumable portion 4, and the rate of aerosol generation can be varied by varying the amount of power supplied to the aerosol generator 48, for example, by pulse width and / or frequency modulation techniques under the control of the controller 22.

[0029] In some embodiments, at least one heating element included in the aerosol generator 48 is supported by and surrounds a thermally conductive tube, formed for example from stainless steel, that includes a portion of the wall of the chamber 50 that receives at least a portion of the consumable portion 4. At least the portion of the tube near the heating element(s) may be considered to include the heating region 53 of the chamber 50. The inner diameter of the tube that includes the chamber 50 is sized relative to the diameter of the consumable portion 4 that is inserted into the tube. The tube may be slightly tapered (not shown) from a wider diameter at the bore 51 to a narrower diameter at the base of the chamber distal to the bore 51, so that as the consumable portion 4 is slid into the chamber 50, the end distal to the mouthpiece 41 is slightly radially compressed as the consumable portion 4 reaches the end of its travel into the chamber 50, gradually retaining the consumable portion 4 within the chamber 50. This configuration can prevent the consumable portion 4 from accidentally sliding out of the reusable device portion 4, for example, if the reusable device portion 4 is inverted during use. The chamber 50 can also be slightly flared or have chamfered edges to allow the consumable portion to be easily guided into the chamber 50. The chamber 50 thus acts as an elongated support for the consumable portion 4 containing the aerosol generating material during use. The diameter of the chamber 50 at the heating region 53 is generally selected to closely match the diameter of the consumable portion 4, ensuring contact between the outer surface of the consumable portion 4 and a substantial portion of the inner surface of the heating region 53 of the chamber 50, allowing sufficient transfer of heat from the heating element or elements included in the aerosol generator 48 to the consumable portion 4.

[0030] In embodiments in which the aerosol generator 48 includes a heater, the tube that includes the heated region 53 of the chamber 50 includes a material that transfers heat from the heater 48 to the consumable portion 4, and typically includes a metal or metal alloy, such as one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, plain carbon steel, mild steel, ferritic stainless steel, molybdenum, copper, and bronze. In other embodiments, the portion of the tube that includes the heated region 53 of the chamber 50 may be made of a different material, so long as it is thermally conductive. Other heating elements 48 may be used in other embodiments. For example, the heating element 48 may include a susceptor (e.g., a portion of the tube that includes the chamber 50) that is inductively heated when exposed to a magnetic field generated by one or more magnetic field generators, such as a drive coil (not shown) disposed within the reusable portion 2.

[0031] Typically, when the aerosol generator 48 includes one or more heating elements, the aerosol generator 48 is sized relative to the distribution of aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion 4 such that substantially all of the aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion is heated during use when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the reusable device portion 2 (e.g., the longitudinal extent of the heating region 53 through the axis of the chamber 50 may match the longitudinal extent of the distribution of aerosol-generating material 43 in the consumable portion 4 when the consumable portion 4 is received in the chamber 50 for use). In some embodiments, the one or more heating elements included in the aerosol generator 48 may be arranged such that select zones of aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion 4 can be independently heated, e.g., sequentially (in time) or together (simultaneously), as desired (e.g., by disposing independently controllable heating elements along the length of the chamber 50, including the heating region 53).

[0032] As described further herein, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube that includes, is embedded in, or surrounds the heated region 53 of the chamber 50. The chamber formed by the inner portion of the tube that includes the heated region 53 is typically in fluid communication with a hole 51 in the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2 via a non-heated region 52 (sometimes referred to as an extended region / chamber) of the chamber 50. In such embodiments, the non-heated region 52 includes a tubular body having a first open end adjacent to or including the hole 51 and a second open end adjacent to the heated chamber region 53 of the chamber 50. In this manner, the non-heated region 52 and the heated region 53 can be considered tubular portions of the chamber 50 that are arranged end-to-end. Generally, the diameters of the expanded region 52 and heated region 53 will be matched at their interface to ensure smooth passage of the non-mouthpiece end of the consumable portion 4 through the non-heated region 52 and into the heated region 53. The non-heated / expanded region 52 and heated region 53 of the tube containing the chamber 50 may be formed separately and connected by a mechanical joining process, or may be integrally formed. In some embodiments, the non-heated region 52 has a flared cross-section (not shown) that widens as it exits the bore 51, and a generally constant inner diameter cross-section near its interface with the heated region 53.

[0033] In some embodiments, the consumable portion 4 is in the form of a cylindrical rod having or containing aerosol-generating material 43 at an end distal to the mouthpiece 41 at a portion of the consumable portion 4 that is within the heated region 53 of the chamber 50 when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the reusable device portion 2. To provide a specific example, in one embodiment, the consumable portion 4 has a diameter of approximately 8 mm and a length of approximately 84 mm. The depth of the chamber 50 of the reusable device portion is sized relative to the length of the consumable portion 4 such that the mouthpiece end 41 of the consumable portion 4 typically extends out of the hole (e.g., 10 mm, 20 mm, 30 mm or more) when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use. Thus, the mouthpiece end of the consumable portion 4 typically extends out of the hole 51 from the reusable device portion 2. The consumable portion 4 may include a filter / cooling element 44 disposed between the mouthpiece 41 and the region of the aerosol-generating material 43 to filter / cool the aerosol. The consumable portion 4 is typically circumferentially wrapped with a wrapper / outer layer (not shown) that may include a paper material, and / or a metal foil, and / or a polymer film such as Natureflex™. The outer layer of the consumable portion 4 may be permeable to allow heated volatiles from the aerosol-generating material 43 to escape the consumable portion 2 before reaching the mouthpiece 41. In some embodiments, the wrapper may include a metallic material in the vicinity of the aerosol-generating material 43 that is configured to act as a susceptor that is heated by induction by one or more magnetic field generators / drive coils (not shown) in the reusable device portion 2 to heat the aerosol-generating material 43 by inductive heating. For example, in such an embodiment, the aerosol generator 48 may include one or more magnetic field generators / drive coils configured to cause inductive heating of a metallic wrapper of the consumable 4 and / or one or more susceptor elements embedded within the aerosol-generating material 43 in the consumable portion 4 to cause heating of the aerosol-generating material 43 in the consumable portion 4.It will be appreciated that the configuration of the consumable portion 4 described above is exemplary and that those skilled in the art may vary the overall structure of the consumable portion according to techniques known in the art.

[0034] In some embodiments, the aerosol generator 48 includes at least one heating element configured to transfer heat to the consumable portion 4 (according to the techniques for heating described further herein) and at least one magnetic field generator / drive coil configured to inductively heat at least one susceptor element included in the consumable portion 4 (according to the techniques described further herein). In such embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 43 may include a plurality of aerosol-generating materials, where at least a first aerosol-generating material of the plurality of aerosol-generating materials is heated by heat transferred from the aerosol generator 48 to the consumable portion 4 and at least a second aerosol-generating material of the plurality of aerosol-generating materials is heated by one or more susceptors included in or on the consumable portion 4.

[0035] If the aerosol generator 48 is configured to heat the consumable portion 4, the temperature of the portion of the aerosol generator 48 and / or the heated area 53 of the chamber 50, or the consumable portion 4, or any portion of the reusable device portion 2 may be detected by the controller 22 using one or more temperature sensors. For example, the heating element included in the aerosol generator 48 may include a material having a temperature coefficient of resistance characteristic such that the resistance varies with temperature. To estimate the temperature of the aerosol generator 48 based on the measured resistance, the controller 22 may determine the resistance of the heating element by known techniques and compare this result to a look-up table obtained by experiment or modeling relating heating element resistance to temperature. Alternatively or additionally, one or more temperature sensing elements, such as thermistors, may be located near the heated area 53 (e.g., attached to or embedded in a tube including the heated area 53 of the chamber 50), and the thermistors may be connected to the controller 22 so that the controller 22 can monitor the temperature of the consumable portion 4 and / or the heated area 53. The temperature of the air in the air inlet channel 25 may also be monitored by one or more temperature sensors (eg, a combination temperature and pressure sensor or a thermistor) as well.

[0036] Typically, the primary flow path for heated volatile components produced by heating of the aerosol-generating material 43 by the heater 48 is axially through the consumable portion 4, through the filter / cooling element 44 (if included), and to the user's mouth via the open end of the mouthpiece 41. However, some of the volatile components may escape from the consumable portion 4, through its permeable outer wrapper, and into the space surrounding the consumable portion 4 in the unheated chamber region 52 (e.g., the space formed by the optional air gap (not shown) between the outer surface of the consumable 4 and the inner surface of the chamber 50 in the flared portion of the unheated / expanded chamber region 53).

[0037] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating material" 43 generally includes materials that, upon heating, produce volatile components, typically in the form of a vapor or an aerosol. An "aerosol-generating material" may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. An "aerosol-generating material" may include, for example, one or more of tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extracts, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. An aerosol-generating material may be in the form of ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, reconstituted aerosol-generating material, liquid, gel, amorphous solid, gelled sheet, powder, or mass, and the like. An "aerosol-generating material" may also include other non-tobacco products and may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. An "aerosol-generating material" may include one or more humectants, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

[0038] As noted above, the aerosol-generating material 43 may include an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous), or a "dry gel." An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material includes about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid, up to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material consists of an amorphous solid.

[0039] In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is a non-liquid aerosol-generating material and the reusable device portion is for heating the non-liquid aerosol-generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material.

[0040] Once all or substantially all of the volatilizable component(s) of the aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion 4 have been depleted, the user can remove the consumable portion 4 from the reusable device portion 1 and dispose of the consumable portion 4. The user can then reuse the reusable device portion 2 with another consumable portion 4. However, in other respective embodiments, the consumable portion 4 and the reusable device portion 2 may be disposed of together once the volatilizable component(s) of the aerosol-generating material have been depleted. The consumable portion 4 may be configured with an amount of aerosol-generating material that is configured to be heated and depleted over a single heating cycle (e.g., 210 seconds of actuation duration) or may be configured with an amount of aerosol-generating material that is configured to be depleted over multiple heating cycles. In the latter case, the consumable portion 4 may be considered to be a reusable consumable portion 4.

[0041] In some embodiments, the consumable portion 4 may be sold, supplied or otherwise provided separately from the reusable device portion 2 with which it is usable. However, in some embodiments, one or more of the reusable device portion 2 and the consumable portion 4 may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or assembly, possibly with further components such as cleaning equipment.

[0042] As described further herein, there are several classes of information regarding the status or usage of the aerosol generation system 1 that the controller 22 may indicate to the user via one or more feedback mechanisms / indicators included in the reusable device 1. Such information may be referred to as "feedback" or "usage information" and may be indicated to the user using one or more of the visual indicators 28 (described further herein), the display unit 16, an audible feedback mechanism (such as a microphone), or a tactile feedback mechanism (such as an eccentric rotating mass actuator). The feedback / usage information indicated to the user via the visual, audible and / or tactile feedback mechanisms / indicators may include any of the following non-exhaustive list of classes of information: Information regarding the status of the battery 26, including, but not limited to, the remaining energy of the battery (e.g., expressed as a percentage of the energy that the battery would contain if fully charged), whether the battery 26 is below a charge threshold, e.g., 75%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 10%, or 5% of full charge, the output voltage of the battery, the number of charging cycles, the temperature of the battery, the maximum output power, the number of heating cycles remaining before the battery is depleted, or an indication of an error condition of the battery. As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these parameters may be determined and / or estimated by the controller 22 coupled to the battery 26 in a variety of ways, according to techniques known in the art. Information regarding airflow in the aerosol delivery system, including, but not limited to, the length of a puff or session, or the intensity or duration of a puff, for example, an indication of the pressure drop during a user's inhalation, the air flow rate or air flow velocity during a user's inhalation, the air temperature in a portion of the air flow path between the air inlet 24 and the mouthpiece 41, or the elapsed time or total duration of a user's puff. Such information may be established by the controller 22 based on signals received from the airflow sensor 30. As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these parameters may be determined and / or estimated by the controller 22 connected to the airflow sensor 30 in a variety of ways, according to techniques known in the art. Information regarding the operation and status of the aerosol generating element 48, including, but not limited to, an indication of the actual power currently delivered to the aerosol generating element 48 or delivered during a previous heating cycle, a current power setting (e.g., a power level stored in the controller 22, either by default or by a user, or in any other manner, and that will be applied to the aerosol generating element 48 in a forthcoming heating cycle), an indication of an error condition in the aerosol generating element 48, a binary indication of whether the aerosol generating element 48 is operational, or an indication of the temperature of the heater that comprises the aerosol generating element 48. As one skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these parameters can be determined and / or estimated by the controller 22 connected to the aerosol generating element 48 in a variety of ways, according to techniques known in the art. Information regarding usage statistics of the aerosol delivery system, including, but not limited to, an indication of the number of puffs within a predetermined time period, an indication of the number of sessions within a predetermined time period, an indication of the average puff or session length, and an indication of the average puff intensity or duration.

[0043] Generally, one or more parameter values including feedback / usage information are converted by the controller 22 into a representation for display to the user at the visual indicator 28. In this regard, it will be understood that various representations can be used to visually represent the feedback / usage information. For example, a parameter value including usage information may be represented as an absolute value or as a position of the value with respect to a predefined range. For example, the temperature measured by the controller 22 according to the techniques further described herein for a heating element included in the aerosol generator 48 may be represented as an absolute value such as 200 °C, to give one non-limiting example. Such a value may also be represented with respect to a position within a predefined range of values, so that, for example, 200 °C may be represented as the midpoint between 150 °C and 250 °C, or as three-quarters of the way between 125 °C and 225 °C. Thus, the representation in the former example may include a representation in the form of "1 / 2" or "50%" or (50 / 100), and the representation in the latter example may include a representation of "3 / 4" or "75%" or (75 / 100). Multiple ranges may be used to map the absolute value of a parameter to one or more classes. For example, "low" may be defined as a class of heating element temperature (t) where 50 < t ≤ 150 °C, "medium" may be defined as a class of temperature where 150 < t ≤ 250 °C, and "high" may be defined as a class of temperature where 250 < t ≤ 350 °C. Thus, in this scheme, a temperature of t = 200 °C detected by the controller 22 may be mapped by the controller 22 to the "medium" class. In some embodiments, a parameter value including usage information may be assigned to one of two classes depending on whether it is above or below a predefined threshold when a binary classification (e.g., "1" or "0", or "on" or "off", or "yes" or "no") is given for the value.Although these examples have been described with respect to usage information including parameter values ​​for temperature associated with the aerosol delivery system 1, it will be understood that similar approaches may be used for representing any other form of usage information, including but not limited to those further described herein.

[0044] It will be appreciated that the parameter values, including the usage information, may be displayed by the visual indicator 28 using one or more visual representations. For example, in a visual indicator including a pixelated display area (e.g., an LCD display panel, etc.), the parameter values ​​may be represented alphanumeric (e.g., by displaying the temperature as "200°C" in an array of pixels). Values ​​or value classes may also be assigned to one or more display colors using a predefined mapping (e.g., using a color map that maps a range of colors to values / classes within a predefined range of values / classes). For example, each of the above-mentioned set of classes may be assigned a different color (e.g., green for "low", orange for "medium", red for "high"), and if there are only two classes, the class to which the displayed parameter value belongs may be indicated by a simple binary indicator. For example, if the visual indicator 28 includes a display having one or more lighting elements (e.g., a backlit LCD display or one or more LEDs), the visual indicator 28 may be illuminated by the controller 22 when the parameter value exceeds a predetermined threshold and not illuminated by the controller 22 when the parameter value is below the predetermined threshold, or the display may be controlled to show a first color when the parameter value exceeds the predetermined threshold and a second color when the parameter value is below the predetermined threshold.

[0045] Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, values ​​and / or classes of values ​​may be represented by a particular pattern displayed by visual indicator 28. For example, values / ranges of values ​​may be mapped to particular frequencies at which the brightness and / or color of the visual feedback displayed by the visual feedback device may be adjusted. For example, the "low" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses with a frequency of 3 Hz, the "medium" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses of the same duration with a frequency of 6 Hz, and the "high" class described above may be mapped to a pattern of "on" pulses of the same duration with a frequency of 6 Hz. Each "on" pulse may include controller 22 controlling visual indicator 28 to display a predetermined form of visual feedback in display area 281 for a certain pulse duration (e.g., showing a solid color indicator for 0.1 s), with visual indicator 28 being controlled not to display said predetermined form of visual feedback between pulses (e.g., display area 281 of visual indicator 28 may be controlled to emit light during an on pulse and not emit light between "on" pulses). Alternatively, in some embodiments, the pattern associated with a value or class for a parameter value may include adjusting between a first color during each "on" pulse and a second color between the "on" pulses, and / or adjusting between a first brightness / lightness during each "on" pulse and a second lower brightness / lightness between the "on" pulses. Different pulse frequencies may be mapped to different ranges for the displayed usage information / feedback parameter (e.g., a different pulse frequency may be assigned to each of the multiple classes discussed above), or the pulse frequency may be determined by the parameter value f=x *The pulse "on" time may be controlled by the controller 22 to vary continuously as it varies according to a function such as f, where f is the pulse frequency, x is the value of the displayed parameter, and c is a scaling constant. The pulse "on" time may be set to any suitable predetermined value or may be scaled as a function of the parameter x.

[0046] It will be appreciated that the use of color and / or binary indicia (such as illuminating or not illuminating a display area of ​​the visual indicator) and / or the use of temporary illumination patterns to represent parameter values ​​can be particularly useful in allowing parameters to be displayed by visual indicators 28 that do not allow for alphanumeric display (e.g., non-pixelated displays such as a single LED and / or light pipes as described further herein). However, it will be appreciated that in pixelated displays that allow for alphanumeric display of parameter values, an indication of color to represent a value and / or a binary indicia to represent a value and / or a temporary display pattern may be used either in place of or in conjunction with the alphanumeric representation.

[0047] The inventors have recognised that certain configurations may be particularly advantageous for the placement of the visual indicator 28 associated with the aerosol delivery system 1. In particular, the inventors have recognised that providing the visual indicator / visual feedback indicator 28 with a display / display area 281 that is positioned / extending around the hole 51 through which the consumable portion 4 is received may provide certain advantages with respect to visibility of the usage information displayed by the visual indicator 28.

[0048] 2 shows a schematic representation of a portion of the reusable device part 2 corresponding to the upper left portion of the reusable device part 2 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1. Clearly, FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a portion of the outer housing of the reusable device part 2 in which the hole 51 is located and in which the consumable part 4 is received. The portion of the consumable part 4 that extends from the hole 51 when the consumable part 4 is received in the chamber 50 is shown diagrammatically using hatched lines. The surface area 29 of the housing of the reusable device part 2 surrounding the hole 51 is shown. It will be appreciated that in various embodiments the hole 51 may be located in any suitable position on the outer housing of the reusable device part and the surface area 29 surrounding the hole 51 may be flat or curved or any other shape. In many embodiments, the surface area 29 of the housing surrounding the hole is oriented generally perpendicular to the long axis of the consumable chamber 50 and forms what may be considered the mouthpiece "end" of the reusable part that is visible to the user when the reusable device part 2 is held upright with the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable part 4 to take a puff on the device. In Figures 1 and 2, the reusable part 2 comprises an elongated "box" such that the surface area 29 surrounding the hole 51 comprises a rectangular surface area oriented perpendicular to the long axis of the reusable device part 2, however, it will be understood that this configuration is exemplary and the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device part, including the surface area 29, may be circular, elliptical, polyhedral, or any other suitable shape. Typically, the mouthpiece end face comprises a surface of the housing of the aerosol delivery system that is oriented generally perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber in which the consumable part 4 is configured to be received and / or the mouthpiece end face comprises a surface of the housing of the aerosol delivery system that is oriented generally perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the consumable part 4. Typically, the circumference of the mouthpiece end surface 29 will correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the reusable device portion 2 along a substantial proportion of its length.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the visual indicator 28 disposed around the hole 51. The visual indicator 28 includes a display area 281 that is visible to a user and at or through which visual feedback / usage information (e.g., representations of usage information as further described herein) may be displayed under the control of the controller 22. The display / display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 (some or all of which may be configured to display visual feedback to a user, such as an illuminated signal) may be continuous with, inlaid into, or extending outward from the surface contour of the surrounding surface area 29. In some embodiments, the housing of the reusable device portion 2 near the surrounding surface area 29 may be transparent or semi-transparent, such that the display area 281 of the visual indicator 28, where the visual feedback is displayed, may be visible to a user through the housing of the reusable device portion 2; thus, in such embodiments, a semi-transparent or transparent portion of the housing of the reusable device portion 2 may be disposed between the visible / display portion 281 of the visual indicator 28 and an outer surface of the reusable device portion 2. In general, the "visible portion" or "display area" of a visual indicator includes an area configured to display a representation of a parameter, including usage information, to a user, and may include a pixelated display area and / or a surface area configured to emit light. In some cases, the visible portion or display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 (some or all of which may be configured to display usage information) includes all or substantially all of the mouthpiece end surface area 29 surrounding the hole 51, said display area 281 typically being oriented substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the chamber 50 so as to enable a user to view the visual feedback provided in the visual indicator 28 when viewing the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2 along the central axis of the chamber 50.

[0050] In the example shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, the hole 51 is circular and the display / display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 has an annular shape that generally surrounds the hole 51 (i.e., extends continuously around the hole). Although the display area 281 is typically continuous around the hole (in the sense that the visual indicator 28 has a display / display area that forms an enclosed loop around the hole 51), this is not the case in all embodiments, as described further herein, and thus the display may extend partially or completely around / around the hole 51. In general, the display area 281 follows the contour of the surface area 29 surrounding the hole 29. In some embodiments, the display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 may include all or substantially all of the mouthpiece end surface of the reusable portion. In FIG. 2, the hole 51 is circular, but it will be understood that in other cases the hole 51 may have other shapes (e.g., elliptical, rectangular, or polyhedral) and at least the inner boundary of the display area 281 closest to the hole 51 may closely follow the shape of the hole 51 and may either be continuous with the hole or separated from the hole by an annular housing portion. The inner and outer boundaries of the display area 281 may follow the same contour (e.g., in FIG. 2, the inner and outer regions defined in the plane of the surface area 29 with respect to the hole 51 are both circular, forming an annular 2D (two-dimensional) display area with a constant radial thickness in the plane of the surface area 29). In other embodiments, the inner and outer boundaries of the display area 281 may have various shapes. For example, the inner boundary may be a circle shaped to be continuous with the hole 51 and the outer boundary may be a rectangle that includes all or substantially all of the area extent of the mouthpiece end surface 29 of the reusable device 2 oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50.

[0051] The visual indicator 28 may be formed in a variety of ways. For example, the visual indicator 28 may include a pixelated display / display area 281, including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, an active matrix organic light emitting diode (AMOLED) display, an electroluminescent display (ELD), a plasma display panel (PDP), an e-ink display, or any other form of display known to those skilled in the art. In this regard, the visual indicator may include one or more lighting elements (e.g., the visual indicator may be a backlit display panel, such as a pixelated LED display panel), or may rely on external lighting for visual feedback displayed on the display area 281 viewed by a user (as may be the case with some e-ink display panels). The former class of visual indicators may be considered "actively illuminated" visual indicators, and the latter class of visual indicators may be considered "passive" visual indicators.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the display of the feedback mechanism disposed around the hole 51 may be subdivided into a plurality of display regions that can be independently controlled, optionally, by the controller 22. FIG. 3 schematically shows the visible portion of an exemplary visual indicator 28 disposed around the hole 51 when viewed parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber 50. In this embodiment, the display of the visual indicator 28 takes an annular form and is subdivided into four quadrants / display regions 281A, 281B, 281C, and 281D, each covering approximately 90 degrees of the circumference of the display. These quadrants may be contiguous or separated from each other around the hole. Each of the four quadrants may be separately actuated by the controller 22 to display usage information according to the techniques further described herein. For example, the actuation and / or illumination of the contiguous quadrants / display regions 281A-281D (e.g., in the direction of the hatching arrow) may be used to indicate the value of a parameter including usage information associated with the aerosol supply system 1 based on a mapping between each quadrant / display region and a predetermined range of values for a particular parameter. For example, if the usage information displayed by the visual indicator includes the elapsed time t in a heating cycle with a predetermined duration of T seconds, the controller 22 may illuminate only quadrant 281A when t ≤ (T / 4), quadrants 281A and 281B when (T / 4) < t ≤ (T / 2), quadrants 281A, 281B, and 281C when (T / 2) < t ≤ (2T / 3), and quadrants 281A, 281B, 281C, and 281D when (T2 / 3) < t. It will be understood that the same principle may be applied to display any other parameter associated with the use of the device (e.g., temperature, flow rate, or power level further described herein). Although four quadrants are shown in FIG. 3, it will be further understood that, in principle, the visual indicator may be subdivided into any number of individual display regions to provide a finer granularity in the display of each parameter value for a predetermined range of values.In some embodiments, a predefined range of values ​​(e.g. defined as a range between a minimum and a maximum value) for a given parameter may be grouped into several contiguous non-overlapping classes, each having equally sized subranges, the number of classes being equal to the number of individual individually controllable display areas 281 available in the visual indicator. Each display area may then be assigned to a given class, such that classes representing a series of subranges are mapped to individual display areas 281 at a series of positions around the hole 51. For a given current value of a parameter value displayed in the visual indicator 28, the controller 22 first determines which class the parameter value belongs to and then activates the individual display area corresponding to said class, and may optionally activate all individual display areas corresponding to all classes covering a range of values ​​below the given current value. "Activation" of the display area in this context may follow any of the techniques described further herein for displaying usage information, including a binary indication (such as illuminating or not illuminating the display area 281 depending on the parameter value), displaying a particular color based on a predefined mapping of different colors to different parameter values, and / or modulating the brightness and / or color of the visual feedback provided in the display area 281 with a modulation frequency that is a function of the parameter value.

[0053] The embodiment shown diagrammatically in Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2, can be understood from Figure 2, and illustrates an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown diagrammatically in Figure 3, in which visual indicator 28 includes a display having a plurality of display areas 281-288 arranged around hole 51. In the embodiment shown diagrammatically in Figure 4, each display area is arranged along a circular path around hole 51, such that a display including a plurality of display areas 281 is arranged around / extends around hole 51. Each of display areas 281-288 may be contiguous with its adjacent display area, such that visual indicator 28 includes a contiguous display extending around hole 51, or may be spaced apart around the circular path along which they lie, providing a plurality of spatially separated display areas (e.g., spaced apart by 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or more than 5 mm). The display areas 281-288 may be contiguous with the rim of the hole 51 or may be radially separated from the edge of the hole 51 by a certain distance (e.g., 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, or more than 5 mm). In some embodiments, the visual indicator 28 may include multiple display areas 281-288 each including an LED embedded in or disposed inside the outer housing of the reusable device portion 2, with light from the LED being transmitted for display to the user through a hole in the outer housing or through a light transmissive element such as a light pipe or fiber optic element passing through the outer housing, with several portions of the light transmissive element visible on the outer surface 29 of the reusable device portion 2 disposed around the hole 51. When the display of the visual indicator 28 includes multiple independently controllable display areas 281-288, the controller 22 may be configured to display usage information on the display according to the techniques described with respect to the embodiment shown generally in FIG. 3.

[0054] In some embodiments, the display of the visual indicator is disposed / extends around the hole 51 in a non-continuous manner. Although FIG. 4 shows the visual indicator 28 including a plurality of display areas 281-288 arranged in a continuous path around the hole, some portions of the outer housing of the reusable device portion 2 separate each display area from adjacent display areas, such that the display of the visual indicator 28 includes a plurality of separate visible / display areas separated by areas of the outer surface 29 of the reusable device portion 2 where visual feedback is not displayed by the controller 22. FIG. 5, which is distinct from FIGS. 2 and 4, also shows the visual indicator 28 not continuous around the hole 51. However, in this embodiment, the visual indicator 28 includes a single continuous display area, rather than multiple display areas as shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the visible display area of ​​the visual indicator 28 includes an annular display portion having a cutout 290 (e.g., a non-display portion of the outer housing of the reusable device portion) that extends a certain angular range around the circumference of the annular display portion. Generally, the cutouts occupy an angular range <50% around the circumference of the annular display portion of the visual indicator 28, although it will be appreciated that any suitable value may be selected. Typically, the display extending around the hole 51 includes one or more display areas 281 that extend around a path around the hole 51, such that the display including the display areas extends continuously or non-continuously around an angular range of ≧Π radians around the hole.

[0055] The visual indicator 28 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5 includes an annular display having circular inner and outer boundaries. However, in other embodiments, the visual indicator / display disposed around the hole 51 may have other geometric shapes. For example, the displays of the visual indicator 28 may be disposed continuously or partially continuously along a notional path around the hole 51 having an oval, triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polyhedral outline. Alternatively, the displays may be disposed continuously or partially continuously along a notional path around the hole 51 having a freeform outline.

[0056] In some embodiments, visual indicator 28 includes at least two concentrically arranged display areas that are independently controllable by controller 22, such that controller 22 can independently control the display of visual feedback / usage information in each display area. Thus, different instances of usage information (e.g., different representations of one or more parameter values ​​that comprise the usage information) may be displayed simultaneously or alternately in each display area by controller 22, although it will be understood that the usage information displayed in each of the two or more concentric display areas may be the same.

[0057] 6, which is distinct from FIG. 2, illustrates diagrammatically a hole 51 around which a visual indicator including two concentric display areas 281, 282 is disposed / extending. The two display areas 281 and 282 may be implemented according to any of the techniques described further herein (e.g., each may include a single contiguous display area or may include multiple display areas, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and / or each display area 281 or 282 may be contiguous around the hole 51, as shown in FIG. 2, or non-contiguous around the hole 51, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5). The first display area 281 is disposed around a first path around the hole 51 (i.e., extends around the hole 51), and the second display area 282 is disposed around a second path around the hole 51 outward from the first path (i.e., extends around the hole 51). 6, the first and second paths are circular, and both the first and second viewing areas 281 and 282 have annular geometric shapes. However, as described further herein, it will be understood that each of the multiple concentric viewing areas of the visual indicator 28 can have a variety of shapes, and thus the inner and outer boundaries of the viewing portions 281 and 282 of the visual indicator 28 can follow differently shaped paths. For example, in some embodiments, the first viewing area 281 of the visual indicator 28 (i.e., the viewing area closest to the hole 51) can include a circular ring, and the second viewing area 282 can include some or substantially all of the remaining surface area 29 of the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2 (e.g., including a rectangular outer area and a circular inner area). It will be understood that the inner boundary of the second display portion 282 may be adjacent to the outer boundary of the first display portion 281, or the first display area and the second display area may be separated by a non-display area of ​​the housing of the reusable device portion 2 disposed between the inner boundary of the second display portion 282 and the outer boundary of the first display portion 281.

[0058] FIG. 7 shows a schematic longitudinal cross-section of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1 with a visual indicator 28 having two concentric display areas 281 and 282 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, FIG. 7 may be considered to show a cross-section of the arrangement shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of the reusable device portion 2 along the axis of the chamber 50 showing the visual indicator 28 including the display areas 281 and 282 extending around the hole 51. In this exemplary embodiment, the display areas 281 and 282 both include pixelated display screens (e.g., LCD screens) having pixelated display surfaces disposed facing outward from the exterior of the reusable device portion 2. Both display areas 281 and 282 are electrically connected to the controller 22, which independently controls each of them to display usage information according to principles described further herein. However, it will be understood that each of the multiple display areas 281, 282 included in the visual indicator 28 may be implemented according to any pixelated or non-pixelated display technique described herein. As shown in FIG. 6, the first display area 281 and the second display area 282 of the visual indicator 28 both include annular display areas, however this configuration is exemplary and the display areas can have a wide variety of shapes, as described further herein. The display areas of the visual indicator 28 are positioned to extend around the opening 51 of the chamber 50 in a manner described further herein. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the visual indicator 28 is sized such that the diameter of the hole through the first display area 281 fits snugly (e.g., provides a snug or clearance fit with) the outer diameter of the tube 54, including the portion of the chamber 50 near the opening 51 (e.g., at the mouthpiece end of the tube 54). The second indicating area 282 is disposed around both the bore 51 and the first indicating area 281 and is sized such that the inner diameter of the second indicating area 282 closely matches the outer diameter of the first indicating area 282. Thus, upon assembly of the reusable device portion, the visual indicator 28 can be sleeved over the mouthpiece end of the tube 54 that contains a portion of the chamber 50.The outer housing of the reusable device portion will typically be shaped with a channel recessed around the hole 51 or a cutout around the hole 51 that is shaped to receive the visual indicator 28 such that when the visual indicator 28 is attached to the reusable device portion 2, the outer surface of the one or more display areas will be flush with the surface area 29 of the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2. Typically, the outer surfaces of the multiple display areas included in the visual indicator 28 will also be flush with each other. However, in other embodiments, the outer surfaces of the first display area 281 and the second display area 282 may extend from the surrounding surface 29 or may be recessed into the surrounding surface, provided that they are visible to the user. Typically, the first display area and the second display area are nested display areas (in that one is disposed inside the other). The concentric viewing areas 281 and 282 may not be contiguous with each other or with the hole 51, and as described herein, in various embodiments, the viewing areas 281 and 282 may be separated from the rim of the hole 51 or from each other by an intervening non-visible area of ​​the outer housing of the reusable device portion 2 between them. Although Figure 7 shows a visual indicator 28 including two concentric / nested viewing areas 281 and 282, it will be understood that in other embodiments any number of viewing areas may be used.

[0059] In some embodiments, the one or more display areas of the visual indicator / visual feedback indicator 28 are implemented using a light guiding arrangement, where one or more light guiding elements are arranged to guide light from one or more light emitting elements (e.g., one or more LEDs) arranged within the reusable device part 2 to a display area / area visible on the outside of the reusable device part 2 and arranged around the hole 51. FIG. 8 is distinguished from FIG. 7 and shows a schematic longitudinal cross section of the reusable device part 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As in FIG. 7, the first display area 281 of the visual indicator 28 is arranged around the hole 51 as in FIG. 7. However, in this embodiment, the visual indicator 28 includes a first light guide arranged in the form of an annular tube configured to guide a light signal from an illumination element 2811 within the housing of the reusable device part 2 to the display area 281 visible on the outer surface of the reusable device part 2. An end face of the light guide includes the first display area 281 arranged at the mouthpiece end of the reusable device part 2. In the example shown in FIG. 8 , the lighting element 2811 (e.g., one or more LEDs) is disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) 221 that includes a portion of the controller 22. The portion of the visual indicator 28 that is disposed within the housing of the reusable device portion 2 is shaped to be attached to the PCB 221, for example, by providing a recess in the visual indicator 28 into which the lighting element 2811 is received, said recess having a light receiving surface that receives light from the lighting element and a mating surface around the recess that may be mechanically fixed or adhesively bonded to the surface of the PCB. Multiple lighting elements 2811, for example LEDs of different colors (or one or more RGB LEDs), may be provided to allow the color of the visual feedback provided by the visual indicator 28 to be adjusted by the controller 22. Each of the one or more light transmitting portions / light guides of the visual indicator 28 includes a transparent or translucent material, such as a polymer or glass material, that allows light to travel between the lighting element 2811 and the display area of ​​the visual indicator 28.As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, some portions of the outer wall of each light guide may be angled / chamfered to direct light from the lighting element(s) 2811 to the display area 281. Typically, the surfaces of the light guides, except for the light receiving and display surfaces, are configured to promote reflection of light within the light guide. This may be achieved, for example, by selecting the refractive index of the light guide relative to air and / or the surrounding material of the reusable device portion (e.g., housing material) to promote total internal reflection of light along the path(s) within the visual indicator 28 between the lighting element(s) 2811 and the display area around the hole 51. This may be enhanced by surface treatment of the light guide, such as polishing and / or providing a reflective coating (e.g., a metal coating) for all of the outer surfaces, except for the light receiving and display areas 281 located at the mouthpiece end of the reusable device portion 2. Some or all of the light guides of the visual indicator 28 may be translucent to diffuse / scatter light received from the lighting element 2811. The visual indicator 28, including light pipes / light guides, may be mechanically clamped or coupled to a PCB 221 included in the controller 22 and / or may be mechanically attached to a portion of the housing of the reusable device portion 2 and / or may be mechanically attached to a portion of the tube 54, including a portion of the chamber 50. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a wide range of mechanical fastening, adhesive bonding, heat welding and other fastening techniques may be applied to attach one or more visual indicators at predetermined locations within the reusable device portion 2.

[0060] The visual indicator 28 shown in FIG. 8 is disposed around a tube 54 that includes a portion of the chamber 50 such that at least a display area 281 of the visual indicator is disposed around the hole 51. FIG. 8 further illustrates an optional second light guide included in the visual indicator 28, which is generally constructed in the same manner as the first light guide, but is disposed concentrically with the first light guide, such that the two light guides include concentric display areas 281 and 282 disposed around the hole 51. In the example shown diagrammatically in FIG. 8, both light guides include a light transmissive region that includes a tube of circular cross section that is sized so that the first light guide (indicated by hatching) sleeves over the tube 54 that includes the portion of the chamber 50 near the hole 51 and the second light guide (indicated by dots) sleeves over the first visual light guide. In this manner, the first light guide and the second light guide include nested light guides, configured such that one is at least partially contained within the other to provide nested display areas 281 and 282. As further described herein with respect to Figures 2-6, the indication areas 281 and 282 may include any shape, and the shape of each indication area generally also includes the cross-sectional shape of the light guide portion of the visual indicator that extends toward the chamber 50 toward the reusable device portion 2.

[0061] As described further herein, the display area 281 closest to the hole 51 around which it is disposed may be spaced apart from the hole 51, or the display area 281 may be continuous with the rim of the hole such that the inner edge of the display area 281 actually forms the perimeter of the hole 51. The light guides / pipes used to form the display areas may be integrally formed with one another (e.g., by thermoplastic or plastic molding techniques), and typically a layer of reflective material is disposed between each of the two or more light guides to prevent light leakage therebetween. In a single light guide, a layer of reflective material and / or a layer of opaque material may be incorporated in the light path between the lighting element(s) 2821 and a display disposed on the outer surface of the reusable device portion 2. Providing such layers (e.g., by co-molding them to the light guide during manufacture) segments the light guide into individual light-transmitting regions, thereby defining separate light paths between each of the multiple subsets of the lighting element(s) 2821 and each of the multiple display areas. Thus, in one example, if the light guide includes a tubular light-transmitting region of annular cross-section having an end face that includes an annular display region, the light-transmitting region may be segmented into multiple segments by disposing a reflective / opaque layer that extends radially from the inner annular surface to the outer annular surface of the light-transmitting region and parallel to the centerline of the tube. Thus, the cross-section of the tubular light-transmitting region of the light guide may resemble the configuration shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3, in which multiple individual quadrants / display regions are defined. By providing a separate lighting element (or lighting elements), such as one or more LEDs, in optical communication with each of the individual light-transmitting regions (e.g., by mounting the lighting element and light guide to PCB 221, or by embedding the lighting element(s) in the light guide or receiving the lighting element(s) in a recess disposed on the surface of the light guide), the controller 22 may independently illuminate each individual light-transmitting region to provide different display patterns that represent usage information in the display region 281 of the visual feedback element according to the techniques described further herein.

[0062] In some embodiments, the consumable portion 4 is configured with an area that modifies the visual feedback emitted by the visual indicator 28 associated with the reusable device portion 2. For example, the consumable portion 4 may be provided with a reflective surface coating that reflects the visual feedback emitted by the display of the visual indicator 28 disposed around the hole 51 through which the consumable portion 4 is received for use. FIG. 9 is distinguished from FIG. 8 and shows a schematic configuration in which a single visual indicator 28 including a light guide is disposed around the hole 51 of the chamber 50 of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1. The inner diameter of the light-transmitting tube portion 61 of the visual indicator 28 in this example is sized to provide an interference fit with the outer diameter of the tube 54 including the mouthpiece end of the chamber 50. The consumable portion 4 includes an outer light-modifying area 44 disposed on the surface of the consumable portion 4 at the mouthpiece end of the consumable portion 4 that is shown received in the hole 51 and extends from the hole 51 when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, when the consumable portion 4 is inserted into the chamber 50 for use, the light-modifying region 44 may extend partially from within the chamber 50 to the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion. In this example, light emitted by the light-emitting element 2811 is reflected / transmitted / diffused along one or more paths within the visual feedback element 281. At least a portion of the light signal is emitted as visual feedback from the display surface / area of ​​the visual feedback element along one or more paths 62 directed towards the outer surface of the consumable portion 4. The incoming light signal along the paths 62 interacts with the light-modifying region 44 where it is reflected / re-emitted as modified visual feedback 63.

[0063] The light-altering region 44 of the consumable portion 4 can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the light-altering region includes a reflective surface, such as a metallic surface (e.g., including a metallic foil such as silver or gold foil). In some embodiments, the light-altering region 44 includes a holographic wrap / film. In some embodiments, the light-altering region 44 includes one or more light-guiding elements configured to receive light from the one or more visual feedback elements, pass it through a portion of the consumable portion 4, and re-emit it at a surface of the consumable portion 4. For example, one or more fiber optic or light pipe elements may be disposed within a mouthpiece end of the consumable portion 4, with the light-receiving region disposed at a location near the display region of the visual indicator 28 when the consumable portion 4 is received in the reusable device portion 2. The light-emitting region of the one or more fiber optic or light pipe elements may be disposed, for example, around a rim of the mouthpiece 41 of the consumable portion 4, such that light emitted by the visual indicator 28 is received by the one or more fiber optic or light pipe elements and re-emitted at the display region around the rim of the mouthpiece 41. In some embodiments, the display area of ​​the visual indicator is disposed within an inner annular surface of tube 54 that comprises a portion of chamber 50 and is configured to be optically coupled to a receiving area of ​​one or more fiber optic or light guide elements disposed on a surface of consumable portion 4. In such embodiments, the display area of ​​visual indicator 28 may be blocked from view when consumable portion 4 is received in bore 51, such that the optical signal / visual feedback emitted by visual indicator 28 is only visible at the surface area of ​​consumable portion 4 when one or more fiber optic or light pipe elements re-emit the signal / feedback as modified visual feedback.

[0064] The light-altering region 44 of the consumable portion 4 may be configured such that a change in the visual feedback emitted by the visual indicator 28 is related to one or more characteristics of the consumable portion 4. For example, the light-altering region 44 may be configured to change the color of the incident signal 62 emitted by the visual indicator 28, the color change being used to indicate the type of aerosol-generating material 43 included in the consumable portion 4.

[0065] The display region of the visual indicator 28 may be configured to optimize the delivery of the light signal from the visual indicator(s) 281 to the light-altering region 44 of the consumable portion 4. For example, if the light-altering region 44 comprises a reflective / holographic surface region of the consumable portion 4, the display region of the visual indicator 28 may be angled such that a vector normal to the surface of the display region at a given point on the surface of the display region point toward a portion of the light-altering region 44. For example, if the display region comprises an annular display region around the hole 51, the display region may include a chamfered display region such that an inner periphery of the display region is fitted into the reusable device portion 2 relative to an outer periphery of the display region.

[0066] Although FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment in which the visual indicator 28 includes a light pipe, it will be understood that the visual indicator 28 used to provide a light signal to the light-modifying region 44 of the consumable portion 4 may be implemented in any other manner (e.g., using one or more pixelated display elements or LEDs) as further described herein. More generally, where the present disclosure refers to an embodiment in which multiple displays / display regions (e.g., concentric display regions) are provided, it will be understood that each of the multiple visual indicators may be implemented using a different display technology selected from the display technologies described herein or otherwise known to those of skill in the art. Thus, while FIG. 8 illustrates generally an embodiment in which two concentric display regions 281 and 282 include light pipe elements, it will be understood that one of the light pipe elements may be replaced by a pixelated display, or a plurality of LEDs arranged along a path around the hole 51 as generally described in FIG. 4 and the accompanying text, or any of the other exemplary approaches to providing a visual indicator around the hole 51 as further described herein (e.g., with respect to FIGS. 2-7).

[0067] Although the embodiments described herein typically illustrate an aerosolization delivery system in which an aerosol generator included in the reusable device portion 2 aerosolizes (e.g., by heating) an aerosol-generating material in the consumable portion 4, it will be understood that these embodiments are not limiting and the aerosol delivery system described herein may be implemented as a flammable aerosol delivery system, a non-flammable aerosol delivery system, or an aerosol-less delivery system. For example, the approach described with respect to providing one or more visual indicators around the hole 51 of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system may be applied to an aerosol delivery system in which the consumable device portion 4 is a cartomizer that includes a cartridge / heater and an aerosol-generating material supply (e.g., a liquid reservoir), and the chamber 50 of the reusable device portion includes an electrical interface that forms an electrical path between the reusable device portion 2 and the heater of the cartridge / cartomizer 4 when the cartridge / cartomizer 4 is received in the chamber 50. In such embodiments, the term "consumable" may be used to refer to the cartridge / cartomizer and does not necessarily imply that the cartridge / cartomizer is not reusable or refillable. For example, use of the term "consumable" in this context may be considered to refer to the fact that the supply of aerosol generating material within the consumable portion 4 is aerosolized (e.g., "consumed"), regardless of whether the consumable portion 4 can be later refilled with a new supply of aerosol generating material and reused.

[0068] 1-9 and the accompanying text herein describe a configuration in which the visual indicator 28 is disposed on the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion 2 of the aerosol delivery system 1, and is disposed around a hole configured to receive the consumable portion 4 including the mouthpiece, but it will be understood that the approaches described herein may be applied to aerosol delivery systems having modified configurations. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a separate mouthpiece is attached to the portion of the consumable portion 4 that extends from the hole 51 when the aerosol delivery system is in use. For example, a mouthpiece comprising food grade metal and / or plastic material may be press-fitted into the portion of the consumable portion 4 that extends from the hole 51 when the aerosol delivery system is in use. Alternatively or additionally, a separate mouthpiece as described above may be connected to the reusable device portion 4. For example, the consumable portion 4 may be partially or entirely received within the chamber 50, and the mouthpiece may be attached to the reusable device portion (e.g., by threading or press-fitting into the hole 51 of the chamber 50). In some embodiments, the mouthpiece may be attached to the reusable device portion by a sliding or hinged connection to allow the chamber 50 to be accessed for insertion and removal of the consumable portion 4.

[0069] Further, although FIGS. 1-9 show generally embodiments in which the display area of ​​the visual indicator 28 is positioned to be substantially perpendicular to the major axis of the consumable portion 4 (e.g., positioned on the mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion 2), the visual indicator 28 may be positioned around the hole 51 in other ways where the geometry of the reusable device portion 2 is configured differently. For example, in some embodiments, the reusable device portion may not be positioned on the end face of the reusable device portion 2, but may be positioned around the reusable device portion 2 / around the sidewall of the reusable device portion 2. In some embodiments, the reusable device portion 2 may be shaped such that there is no significant mouthpiece end face that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the consumable portion 4 into the chamber 50. In such embodiments, substantially all of the ends of the reusable device portion 2 where the consumable portion 4 is received include holes 51 that receive the consumable portion 4. In some such embodiments, the mouthpiece portion is configured to be connected to the reusable device portion 2 (e.g., by press-fitting or threading into the hole 51, or by being fitted against the end of the reusable device portion 2 by a press-fit). In such an embodiment, the consumable portion 4 may be hidden from the user's view when the mouthpiece is attached (the reusable portion 4 and the mouthpiece connected effectively form an enclosure that houses the consumable portion 4). When the mouthpiece is connected to the reusable device portion 2, the reusable device portion 2 and the mouthpiece may inter-contact with each other such that there is no mouthpiece end face of the reusable device portion 2 oriented perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the consumable portion 4 that positions the visual indicator 28 (e.g., the interface between the mouthpiece and the reusable device portion may form a smooth contoured transition without any significant angular displacement to the surface of the aerosol delivery system). For example, the reusable device portion 4 and the mouthpiece may together form an elongated tubular aerosol delivery system 1, with the entire mouthpiece end configured to be received in the mouth of the user.Even if a separate mouthpiece is not used, the consumable part 4 and the reusable part 2 can still be configured to connect together without a significant mouthpiece end face (e.g., the sidewalls of the reusable device part 2 may be tapered / beveled towards the hole 51 to terminate at a rim around the hole 51). In such an embodiment, the visual indicator 28 may be arranged with a display facing radially outward from the long axis of the reusable device part 2. The visual indicator may be arranged to extend to the end of the reusable device part 2 where the consumable part 4 is received (e.g., with a display portion forming a ring around the hole 51), or may be spaced from the end of the reusable device part 2 by a portion of the housing material that is not configured to provide visual feedback. Such an approach may also be taken where the consumable part 4 includes a cartridge or pod containing a reservoir of aerosol generating material and a heater, and it will be appreciated that in that case the mouthpiece referred to above may form an integral part of said consumable part 4.

[0070] The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in understanding and teaching the features recited in the claims. These embodiments are provided only as a representative sample of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. It is to be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and that other embodiments can be utilized and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. The various embodiments of the invention can suitably include, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Moreover, the present disclosure can include other inventions not currently claimed, but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol delivery system comprising a chamber that receives at least a portion of a consumable through an aperture thereof, the aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from the consumable received in the chamber, the aerosol delivery system further comprising a visual indicator disposed around the aperture for providing user feedback, the visual indicator including at least one lighting element, the visual indicator including at least one light guide configured to direct light from the at least one lighting element to a display disposed around the aperture.

2. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator provides a display that extends partially around the hole.

3. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator provides a display that extends continuously around the hole.

4. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator provides a display disposed about the hole.

5. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hole includes a receiving recess for the consumable, the receiving recess having a central axis, and the planar display area of ​​the visual indicator is oriented approximately perpendicular to the central axis of the receiving recess.

6. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the visual indicator display area is located on a mouthpiece end face of the aerosol delivery system.

7. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator provides a display including a plurality of viewing areas arranged in a path around the hole.

8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the display areas are spaced apart from one another.

9. The aerosol delivery system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one lighting element comprises at least one LED.

10. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the visual indicator comprises a display having a plurality of pixels.

11. 11. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator provides a display including two or more concentric display areas, each disposed in a separate path around the hole.

12. The aerosol delivery system of claim 11 , wherein the concentric display regions comprise a nested set of display regions.

13. 13. The aerosol delivery system of claim 11 or 12, wherein the concentric display areas are coplanar.

14. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light guide comprises a tubular light-transmitting portion disposed about the chamber.

15. The aerosol delivery system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the at least one lighting element is mounted on a printed circuit board.

16. The aerosol delivery system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of display areas comprises independently controllable display areas.

17. 8. The aerosol delivery system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of display areas comprises one of an LED display area, a liquid crystal display area, an organic light emitting diode display area, an active matrix organic light emitting diode display area, an electroluminescent display area, a plasma display panel area, or an electronic ink display area.

18. a consumable configured for insertion into a hole in an aerosol delivery system, an outer portion of the consumable configured to modify an appearance of visual feedback provided by a visual indicator disposed about the hole; A consumable configured to modify the appearance of the visual feedback, wherein the outer portion of the consumable includes a light-guiding structure configured to receive light emitted by a visual indicator positioned around an aperture of an aerosol delivery system and to modify the appearance of the visual feedback by directing the light to a display area positioned on the outer portion of the consumable.

19. The consumable of claim 18 , wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to modify an appearance of the visual feedback includes a reflective coating disposed on an outer surface of the consumable.

20. 20. The consumable of claim 18 or 19, wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to modify the appearance of the visual feedback comprises a hologram disposed on an outer surface of the consumable.

21. The consumable of any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to modify the appearance of the visual feedback is configured to modify the appearance of the visual feedback in a manner selected based on a characteristic of the consumable.

22. The consumable of claim 21 , wherein the outer portion of the consumable configured to change the appearance of the visual feedback is configured to change the appearance of the visual feedback in a manner selected depending on the type of aerosol-generating material contained in the consumable.

23. The consumable of any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the consumable comprises a portion of a solid aerosol-forming material.

24. 24. The consumable product of claim 23, wherein the solid aerosol-forming material comprises tobacco.

25. The consumable of any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the consumable comprises a reservoir of aerosol-forming material comprising a liquid or a gel.

26. A system comprising an aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 17 and a consumable according to any one of claims 18 to 25.

27. 1. A method of providing a visual indicator for an aerosol delivery system, comprising: providing an aerosol delivery system with a chamber adapted to receive at least a portion of a consumable through an aperture therein, the aerosol delivery system configured to generate an aerosol from the consumable received in the chamber; providing a visual indicator to provide user feedback, the visual indicator being positioned around the hole; Including, The method, wherein the visual indicator comprises at least one lighting element, and the visual indicator comprises at least one light guide configured to direct light from the at least one lighting element to a display disposed around the hole.

Images