Aerosol supply device, aerosol supply system and method

Abstract

The system (100) includes an aerosol delivery system (10) including control circuitry configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol delivery system, determine that the aerosol delivery system has been lost by an owner of the aerosol delivery system based on the one or more conditions, and trigger a loss event to the aerosol delivery system to indicate that the aerosol delivery system has been lost. The one or more conditions may include an amount of light in the vicinity of the aerosol delivery system, an orientation of the aerosol delivery system, an amount of current received from an external power source, a temperature of the aerosol delivery system, or a state of a network connection to a wireless network or an external device.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Electronic aerosol supply systems, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), generally include a reservoir of a raw material liquid containing a formulation that usually contains nicotine, or an aerosol generating material such as a solid material like a tobacco-derived product, and from the aerosol generating material, an aerosol is generated for inhalation by a user, for example, by thermal vaporization. Thus, an aerosol supply system usually includes an aerosol generator configured to aerosolize a portion of the aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol in an aerosol generation region of an air flow path through the aerosol supply system, for example, including a heating element. As the user inhales on the device and power is supplied to the aerosol generator, air is drawn into the device through one or more inlet holes and along the air flow path to the aerosol generation region, where the air mixes with the vaporizing aerosol generator and forms a condensed aerosol. The air drawn through the aerosol generation region proceeds along the air flow path to the mouthpiece and through the mouthpiece for inhalation by the user while carrying a portion of the aerosol together.

[0003] It is common for an aerosol supply system to include two main functional parts, namely an aerosol supply device and a modular assembly that often has an article. Usually, the article includes an article aerosol generating material and an aerosol generator (heating element), while the aerosol supply device part includes longer-life components such as a rechargeable battery, a device control circuit, and a user interface mechanism. The aerosol supply device may also be referred to as a reusable part or a battery part, and the article may also be referred to as a consumable, a disposable / replaceable part, a cartridge, or a cartomizer.

[0004] The aerosol supply device and articles are mechanically coupled to each other at the interface for use, for example, using screw threads, bayonet, latching, or friction-fit fasteners. If the aerosol-generating material in an article is depleted, or if the user wishes to switch to a different article with a different aerosol-generating material, the article may be removed from the aerosol supply device and a replacement article may be installed in place of the device.

[0005] Because aerosol supply systems are handheld, portable devices, users may drop, misplace, or otherwise lose them. If an aerosol supply system does not have a means of determining its own location, it can be very difficult to find it when it is lost without additional information.

[0006] This specification describes various methods aimed at addressing or mitigating some of the issues discussed above. [Overview of the project]

[0007] This disclosure is set forth in the attached claims.

[0008] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply system is provided which includes a control circuit configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system, determine, based on one or more conditions, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, and trigger a loss event to the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is lost.

[0009] One or more conditions may include at least one of the following: the amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by an optical sensor of the aerosol supply system; the orientation of the aerosol supply system, measured by an accelerometer of the aerosol supply system; the amount of current received from an external power source, measured by a current sensor of the aerosol supply system; the temperature of the aerosol supply system, measured by a temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system; and the state of network connectivity with a wireless network or external device.

[0010] Determining that an aerosol supply system has been lost may further be based on status information stored in a database, which includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and a previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. The control circuit may further be configured to update the database based on one or more statuses and trigger events.

[0011] A loss event may include sending an indication to an external device that the aerosol supply system is lost and / or cutting off power to the aerosol generator.

[0012] The control circuit may be further configured to determine the location of the aerosol supply system in response to the determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. The location of the aerosol supply system may be determined using the GPS interface of the aerosol supply system. The location of the aerosol supply system may be determined based on one or more signals received from an external device. The loss event may include sending an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system to the external device.

[0013] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system is provided, comprising a control circuit configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system, determine, based on one or more conditions, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, and trigger a loss event to the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is lost.

[0014] According to some embodiments described herein, a method is provided for operating an aerosol supply system, which includes monitoring one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system, determining, based on one or more conditions, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, and triggering a loss event to the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is lost.

[0015] Furthermore, a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium is provided that includes instructions for performing the above method when executed by a processor.

[0016] These and other aspects will become apparent from the detailed description below. In this regard, certain parts of the description should not be read in isolation from other parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] Herein, embodiments of the present invention will be described simply as examples with reference to the attached drawings. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an aerosol supply system. [Figure 2] This is a schematic diagram of a system equipped with an aerosol supply system. [Figure 3] This is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for operating an aerosol supply system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0018] This specification discusses / describes aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments. Some aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments may have been realized prior art, and for simplicity, these will not be discussed / described in detail. Therefore, it will be understood that aspects and features of articles and systems discussed herein that are not described in detail may be realized according to any prior art techniques for realizing such aspects and features.

[0019] This disclosure relates to a vapor supply system, which may also be referred to as an e-cigarette, or aerosol supply system. Throughout the following description, the terms “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may be used as appropriate, but it should be understood that these terms may be used synonymously with “aerosol supply system” and “electronic aerosol supply system.”

[0020] As described above, an aerosol supply system (e-cigarette) often comprises a modular assembly that includes both a reusable part (aerosol supply device) and a replaceable (disposable) or refillable cartridge part, referred to as an article. Systems that conform to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as a two-part system or device. Elongated shapes are also common for e-cigarettes. For the purpose of providing specific examples, the particular embodiments of the Disclosure described herein include this type of generally elongated two-part system using a refillable cartridge. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein may also be applied to other e-cigarette configurations, for example, modular systems with more than two parts as devices that conform to other overall shapes, such as high-performance devices of so-called box-mods, which usually have a more box-like shape, or even to systems with one part in which the aerosol supply device and article are integrally formed with each other.

[0021] Figure 1 is a highly schematic (not to exact scale) diagram of an exemplary aerosol supply system 10, such as an e-cigarette, to which the embodiments are applicable. The aerosol supply system 10 has a generally cylindrical shape extending along the longitudinal axis or y-axis as indicated by the axes (although embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to e-cigarettes configured in other shapes and arrangements), and comprises two main components, namely an aerosol supply device 20 and an article 30.

[0022] Article 30 comprises or consists of an aerosol-generating material 32, which is intended to be partially or entirely consumed by the user during use. Article 30 may also comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area 39, an aerosol-generating material transfer component 37, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece 35, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0023] Article 30 may also include an aerosol generator 36, such as a heating element, which generates heat to cause the aerosol-generating material 32 to generate an aerosol during use. The aerosol generator 36 may include, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor. It should be noted that the aerosol generator 36 may also be part of an aerosol supply device 20, in which case Article 30 may include an aerosol-generating material storage area 39 for the aerosol-generating material 32 so that the aerosol-generating material 32 can be transferred to the aerosol generator 36 in the aerosol supply device 20 when Article 30 is coupled with the aerosol supply device 20. It should be understood that the aerosol generator 36 may include aerosol generators other than heaters. More generally, an aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some other embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, an aerosol generator may be configured to expose the aerosol-generating material to one or more of the following: vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0024] An aerosol - generating material is a material that can generate an aerosol when, for example, heated, irradiated, or energized by any other method. The aerosol - generating material 32 may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain, for example, an active substance and / or a flavorant. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material 32 may alternatively include an "amorphous solid" which may be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non - fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, inside. In some embodiments, the aerosol - generating material 32 may include, for example, from about 50 wt%, 60 wt% or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt% or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0025] The aerosol - generating material includes one or more components such as one or more active substances and / or flavorants, one or more aerosol - forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials such as a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and / or an antioxidant.

[0026] The active substance used herein may be a bioactive material that is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological reaction. The active substance may be selected, for example, from nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactive agents. The active substance may be naturally occurring or obtained synthetically. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or their components, derivatives, or combinations. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another phytochemical.

[0027] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0028] The aerosol supply device 20 includes a power source 14, such as a battery, configured to supply power to the aerosol generator 36. The power source 14 in this example may be rechargeable and of a conventional type, such as those commonly used in e-cigarettes and other applications requiring a relatively high current supply for a relatively short period of time. The power source 14 may be recharged, for example, via a charging port (not shown) which may have a USB connector.

[0029] The aerosol supply device 20 includes a device control circuit 28 configured to control the operation of the aerosol supply system 10 and to provide conventional operating functions in accordance with established techniques for controlling aerosol supply systems such as e-cigarettes. The device control circuit (processor circuit) 28 may be thought to logically comprise various subunits / circuit elements associated with various modes of operation of the e-cigarette. For example, depending on the functionality provided in various implementation examples, the device control circuit 28 may comprise a power control circuit for controlling the supply of power from the power supply 14 to the aerosol generator 36, a user programming circuit for establishing configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, and other functional units / circuit-related functionalities relating to the principles described herein and conventional modes of operation of e-cigarettes. It will be understood that the functionality of the device control circuit 28 may be provided in various different ways, for example, by using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computers and / or one or more appropriately configured application-specific integrated circuits / circuit configurations / chips / chipsets configured to provide the desired functionality.

[0030] The aerosol supply device 20 has an interface configured to facilitate coupling between the aerosol supply device 20 and the article 30 by accepting the article 30. The interface is located on the surface of the aerosol supply device 20.

[0031] The housing of article 30 has a surface configured to be received by an interface in the aerosol supply device 20 in order to facilitate coupling between article 30 and the aerosol supply device 20. The surface of the article may be configured to be a size and / or shape that is a mirror image of the size and / or shape of the interface in order to facilitate coupling between the aerosol supply device 20 and article 30. For example, the interface may have a cavity, chamber or other space in the surface of the aerosol supply device 20. In this case, the surface of article 30 may be configured to be a size and shape that is a mirror image of the size and shape of the cavity in order to insert the surface of article 30 into the cavity.

[0032] Although not shown, the interface of the aerosol supply device 20 and the surface of the article 30 may have complementary mechanisms for reversibly attaching and fitting the article 30 to the aerosol supply device 20, such as screw threads, bayonet mounts, latching or friction-fit fasteners, or other fastening means.

[0033] The interface also includes one or more connectors, such as contact electrodes, which are connected to the control circuit 28 and the power supply 14 via wires. Article 30 also includes one or more connectors, such as contact electrodes, which are connected to the aerosol generator 36 via wires. During use, the aerosol supply device 20 and article 30 are coupled when article 30 is accepted by the interface of the aerosol supply device 20. As a result, the connectors in article 30 mate with the connectors in the aerosol supply device 20, enabling power and current to be supplied from the power supply 14 of the aerosol supply device 20 to the aerosol generator 36 of article 30.

[0034] The housing of article 30 has a surface configured to engage with an interface in the aerosol supply device 20 in order to facilitate coupling between article 30 and the aerosol supply device 20. In other words, the aerosol supply device 20 is configured to receive article 30 through the interface, and the surface of the article is in the vicinity of the interface in the aerosol supply device 20 when article 30 is received by the interface.

[0035] The aerosol supply system 10 includes one or more air inlets 21 located in one or more of the aerosol supply devices 20 and articles 30. During use, as the user inhales into the mouthpiece 35, air is drawn in through the air inlets 21 into the aerosol supply system 10 and along the airflow path 23 to the aerosol generator 36, where the air mixes with the vaporized aerosol generating material 32 to form a condensed aerosol. The air drawn in through the aerosol generator 36 proceeds along the airflow path 23 to the mouthpiece 35, carrying a portion of the aerosol with it, and then exits through the mouthpiece 35 for inhalation by the user.

[0036] As a specific example, article 30 comprises a housing (formed, for example, from a plastic material), an aerosol generating material storage area 39 formed within the housing for storing an aerosol generating material 32 (which may be a liquid containing or not containing nicotine in this example), an aerosol generating material transfer component 37 (which in this example is a wick formed, for example, from glass, cotton fiber, or ceramic material, configured to transport the liquid from the reservoir using capillary action), an aerosol generating area for housing an aerosol generator 36, and a mouthpiece 35. Although not shown, a filter and / or an aerosol modifier (such as a flavoring material) may be placed on or near the mouthpiece 35. The aerosol generator 36 in this example is formed from an electrically resistive material (such as NiCr8020) spirally wound around the aerosol generating material transfer component 37 and includes a heater element placed in the air passage 23. The area around the combination of the heating element and the wick is the aerosol generating area of ​​article 30.

[0037] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a system 100 comprising an aerosol supply system 10, where the same reference numerals are used in Figures 1 and 2 to indicate the same components. The system 100 comprises the aerosol supply system 10, an external computing device 40, and a network 50. The external device 40 may be a device associated with the aerosol supply system 10, such as a mobile device, a handheld computing device, or another electronic device. The external device 40 is configured to communicate with the aerosol supply system 10 via the network 50. For example, the external device 40 may have a communication interface configured to communicate with the control circuit 28 of the aerosol supply device 20 via the network. The external device 40 and the aerosol supply system 10 may communicate using a suitable wireless communication protocol such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth®, RFID, or NFC.

[0038] The external device 40 may be associated with the user of the aerosol supply system 10, and as a result, the aerosol supply system 10 and the external device 40 may be associated with each other, for example, through the user profile of the user of the aerosol supply system 10.

[0039] As described above, the aerosol supply system 10 includes a control circuit 28. The control circuit 28 is configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system 10.

[0040] One or more conditions of the aerosol supply system 10 may include the amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10, the orientation, motion and / or acceleration of the aerosol supply system 10, the amount of current received from an external power source, the temperature of the aerosol supply system 10, and / or the state of network connectivity with a wireless network or external device 40. These conditions may be measured, detected or otherwise determined by one or more sensors. One or more sensors may be located on article 30, on the aerosol supply device 20, or a combination thereof. The control circuit 28 is configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system 10 based on information or measurements from one or more sensors.

[0041] The amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10 may be measured by an optical sensor of the aerosol supply system 10. In other words, the optical sensor is configured to measure the amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10. When the aerosol supply system 10 is placed in direct sunlight, the amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10 detected by the optical sensor will be higher than when the aerosol supply system 10 is placed in a dark room, cupboard, drawer, or other enclosed space. The optical sensor may also be shielded or covered by the user of the aerosol supply system 10, for example, by the user's hand or lips, when the user of the aerosol supply system 10 is performing suction or blowing into the aerosol supply system 10.

[0042] The orientation, motion, and / or acceleration of the aerosol supply system 10 may be measured by an accelerometer of the aerosol supply system 10. In other words, the accelerometer is configured to measure the orientation of the aerosol supply system 10 and is, for example, a 6-axis or 9-axis accelerometer, a MEMS accelerometer, or an IMU. The orientation of the aerosol supply system 10 measured by the accelerometer may indicate whether the aerosol supply system 10 is positioned on a horizontal, flat surface, or whether the aerosol supply system 10 is in a different orientation, for example, whether the article 30 is facing substantially downward. The accelerometer may also be configured to measure the motion of the aerosol supply system 10 and thus detect whether the aerosol supply system 10 is stationary, moving at a constant speed, or undergoing acceleration or deceleration.

[0043] The amount of current received from an external power source may be measured by a current sensor in the aerosol supply system 10. In other words, the current sensor is configured to measure the amount of current received from an external power source. If the power supply or battery 14 of the aerosol supply system 10 needs to be recharged, the aerosol supply system 10 may be connected to an external power source to recharge the power supply or battery 14. The current sensor may be placed between the power supply 14 and the charging port of the aerosol supply system 10 to measure the flow of current between the external power source and the power supply 14 (i.e., to measure or otherwise detect when the aerosol supply system 10 is connected to the external power supply 14). As is understood, electrical devices are typically recharged from an electrical socket or power pack, and users typically recharge their devices in the same location(s), such as a USB or other port on a desktop computer, or an electrical socket in a living room or bedroom. Therefore, the current sensor can detect when the power supply 14 of the aerosol supply system 10 is being recharged, or when the aerosol supply system 10 is connected to an external power source, which can indicate the location of the aerosol supply system 10.

[0044] The temperature of the aerosol supply system 10 may be measured by a temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system 10. In other words, the temperature sensor is configured to measure the temperature of the aerosol supply system 10. For example, the temperature sensor may be placed on or near the outer surface of the aerosol supply system 10 to measure the ambient temperature around the aerosol supply system 10. Additionally or alternatively, the temperature sensor may be placed on or near the aerosol generator 36 to detect the temperature of the aerosol generator. While the temperature inside a building is usually regulated to a comfortable temperature for its occupants (e.g., between 18°C ​​and 28°C), the ambient temperature around the aerosol supply system 10 may indicate whether the aerosol supply system 10 is located inside or outside the building.

[0045] The status of the network connection with the wireless network 50 or the external device 40 may be determined by the control circuit 28 or by a separate communication interface operably coupled to the control circuit 28. This status may include one or more of the following: the signal strength of the Wi-Fi connection to a particular wireless network, the number of wireless networks available for connection, the identification information of each of the wireless networks available for connection, the number of external devices available for Bluetooth and / or NFC connection, the identification information of each of the external devices available for Bluetooth and / or NFC connection, and / or the signal strength of the Bluetooth and / or NFC connection.

[0046] The control circuit 28 is configured to determine, based on one or more circumstances, that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost by its owner. In other words, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine, using one or more circumstances of the aerosol supply system, that the aerosol supply system has been lost, dropped, or otherwise misplaced by its user or owner.

[0047] As described above, the amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10, the orientation and / or motion of the aerosol supply system 10, the amount of current received from the external power supply, and the ambient temperature and / or temperature near the aerosol generator 36 may provide indications of the state or condition of the aerosol supply system 10, such as whether the aerosol supply system 10 is on a flat surface, charging, or inside or outside a building or enclosed space. The condition of the aerosol supply system 10 allows the control circuit 28 to determine if the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost. For example, if the orientation of the aerosol supply system 10 changes rapidly and / or if a sudden deceleration is detected (e.g., by an accelerometer), this may indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 has been dropped. Similarly, if no movement or acceleration of the aerosol supply system 10 is detected for an extended period, and the amount of light near the aerosol supply system 10 suddenly decreases, and an external device 40 such as a mobile phone moves out of Bluetooth connection range, this may indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 was accidentally left in the room or building, and the lights went out when the owner of the aerosol supply system 10 left the room or building.

[0048] The control circuit 28 may also be configured to determine additional information as part of determining that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost. The additional information may include the time, day of the week, date, the last known location of the aerosol supply system 10, the expected weather and / or temperature, or any other information that may be relevant to determining that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost. The time, day of the week, and date may be determined using the clock of the control circuit 28; the last known location of the aerosol supply system 10 may be determined by maintaining a database of known locations of the aerosol supply system 10, or by sending a request to an external device 40, such as a mobile device, handheld computing device, or other electronic device associated with the user and communicating with the aerosol supply system 10 as described above; and the expected weather and / or temperature may be determined by sending a request to the external device 40, or by communicating with a remote server, for example, via the communication interface of the control circuit 28 using a network 50.

[0049] The control circuit 28 may also be configured to determine that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost by its owner, based on status information stored in a database, for example, in the memory of the control circuit 28. The status information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system 10 and a previous determination that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost. The previous determination that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost may be made by the control circuit 28, or by the owner of the aerosol supply system 10 or by an external device such as an external device 40. If the determination was made by the owner or an external device, the control circuit 28 is provided with an indication that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost, for example, by input to the input device of the aerosol supply system 10 or by a notification received from the external device 40 via the network 50 (for example, by wireless connection). The status information includes a correlation between a status previously monitored by the control circuit 28 and the previous number of times or events in which the aerosol supply system 10 was determined to be lost. The situation information may also include any additional information determined by the control circuit 28 when it is determined that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost, such as the time, day of the week, date, the last known location of the aerosol supply system 10, and the expected weather and / or temperature.

[0050] For example, it may have been previously determined that the user of the aerosol supply system 10 charges the aerosol supply system 10 in the same location at night (i.e., on a bedside table between 22:00 and 07:00). During this time, the current sensor measures the amount of current received from the external power supply, the accelerometer measures or detects that the aerosol supply system 10 is oriented horizontally without movement or acceleration, the temperature sensor measures the ambient temperature corresponding to the room temperature (e.g., 18-24°C), and the optical sensor measures zero or a small amount of light because the aerosol supply system 10 is in a substantially dark room. This correlation between the information received from each sensor and the time allows the control circuit 28 to determine that the aerosol supply system 10 is in its normal nighttime charging position. It may also have been previously determined that the user of the aerosol supply system 10 picks up the aerosol supply system 10 and disconnects it from the external power supply at a similar time range each day (e.g., between 07:00 and 08:00 each day, corresponding to the user's waking time). This may be determined by monitoring the movement of the aerosol supply system using an accelerometer, and by a current sensor indicating that current is no longer being received from the external power source.

[0051] At a later point in time, for example during the day (i.e., several hours later), the control circuit 28 may determine, based on new information received from one or more sensors, that the aerosol supply system 10 is still in its nighttime charging position and therefore lost. For example, information received from the accelerometer and current sensor may still indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 is still substantially flat and receiving current from an external power source, with no motion or acceleration detected, while information received from the optical sensor may indicate a high level of light near the aerosol supply system 10. In this case, the control circuit 28 may determine that the high level of light is due to the time of day, while the information received from the accelerometer and current sensor may still indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost because it is in its nighttime charging position at an unusual time (i.e., based on a correlation between the previously monitored status of the aerosol supply system and the current status of the aerosol supply system).

[0052] In another illustrative example, it may be determined that the user of the aerosol supply system 10 places the aerosol supply system 10 in a bag or case at the same or similar time on a weekday (i.e., between 08:00 and 08:30) to transport it, for example, to the workplace. During this time, the current sensor measures that no current is being received from an external power source, the accelerometer measures or detects that the aerosol supply system 10 is oriented in a specific direction, for example, with the article 30 substantially facing upwards, while also detecting the movement of the aerosol supply system 10, the temperature sensor measures the ambient temperature, and the optical sensor measures zero or a small amount of light because the aerosol supply system 10 is in a closed space. At a later point, for example, in the evening or at night (i.e., several hours later or a day later), the control circuit 28 may determine, based on new information received from one or more sensors, that the aerosol supply system 10 is still in the bag or case. For example, the information received from the accelerometer and current sensor may still indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 is in a specific orientation and that it is not receiving current from an external power source. The optical sensor may still measure zero or a small amount of light, and the accelerometer may measure that there is no motion because the aerosol supply system is positioned in a specific orientation. In this case, the control circuit 28 may determine that it is highly likely that the aerosol supply system 10 has been left in the bag or case, and therefore the aerosol supply system 10 is still located in the bag or case.

[0053] These are two illustrative examples of monitoring one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system 10 over a long period (i.e., several hours) which may be used to determine if the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost, and in particular, how a database of condition information may be used to compare the current condition of the aerosol supply system with previous condition information. It will be understood that a similar correlation between the current condition of the aerosol supply system and condition information may be used to determine if the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost.

[0054] Similarly, the control circuit 28 may determine that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost based on monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems over a short period of time (e.g., a few seconds or a few minutes). For example, if an accelerometer measures motion and / or acceleration followed by sudden deceleration and little to no further motion, the control circuit 28 may determine that the aerosol supply system 10 has not been dropped and picked up by its owner, and therefore has been lost by its owner.

[0055] As described above, the control circuit 28 is configured to determine, based on one or more monitored conditions of the aerosol supply system 10, that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost by its owner. In this case, the control circuit 28 is configured to trigger a loss event to indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost.

[0056] A loss event may include cutting off power to the aerosol generator 36 of the aerosol supply system 10. In other words, the control circuit 28 is configured to prevent current or power from being supplied to the aerosol generator 36 from the power source or battery 14 of the aerosol supply system 10. This prevents the aerosol supply system 10 from being used to generate aerosols until, for example, the aerosol supply system 10 is found and unlocked by a user.

[0057] A loss event may also include sending an indication to an external device that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost. For example, the control circuit 28 may send an indication to an external device 40 via a Wi-Fi network such as network 50 to indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost. The external device 40 may be configured to provide the owner or user with an indication that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost, for example, by displaying a message on the display screen of the external device 40. This allows the owner of the aerosol supply system 10 to be notified that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost.

[0058] The control circuit 28 may also be configured to determine the location of the aerosol supply system 10 in response to the determination that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost. For example, the control circuit 28 may determine the location of the aerosol supply system 10 using the GPS interface of the aerosol supply system 10. The control circuit 28 may also determine the location of the aerosol supply system 10 based on one or more signals received from an external device. For example, if the aerosol supply system 10 is connected to a Wi-Fi network, the control circuit 28 may determine the location of the aerosol supply system 10 based on one or more signals received via the Wi-Fi network. Similarly, if the aerosol supply system 10 is within Bluetooth, BLE, or NFC range of another device, the control circuit 28 may send a location request to that other device and determine the location of the aerosol supply system 10 based on the response received from that other device.

[0059] The loss event may also include sending an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system 10 to an external device, along with or instead of an indication that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost. As described above, the control circuit 28 may send an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system 10 to an external device via a Wi-Fi network such as network 50. In this case, the external device 40 may be configured to provide the owner or user with an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system 10, for example, by displaying a message on the display screen of the external device 40. This not only notifies the owner of the aerosol supply system 10 that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost, but may also provide the location of the aerosol supply system 10, and as a result, the user can retrieve the aerosol supply system 10 from that location.

[0060] As described above, determining that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost may also be based on the status information stored in the database. The control circuit 28 may update the status information stored in the database based on one or more circumstances, trigger events, and / or determined locations used to determine that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost. This ensures that the database is updated each time the control circuit 28 determines that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost.

[0061] The control circuit 28 may also be configured to receive additional location information from the external device 40 and update the status information stored in the database in response to receiving additional status information. For example, if the owner is provided with an indication that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost and / or an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system 10, the external device 40 may be configured to request confirmation from the user that the aerosol supply system 10 is lost and / or has been found or otherwise located at the location of the aerosol supply system 10 determined by the control circuit 28. The user may provide input via the input device of the external device 40 to indicate whether the aerosol supply system 10 is lost and / or has been found at the location determined by the control circuit 28. This indication may then be sent by the external device 40 to the control circuit 28 as part of the additional status information. Additionally or alternatively, the computing device 40 may be configured to request a classification or description of one or more locations where the aerosol supply system 10 has been found or is currently located, such as home, work, sofa, bedside table, or work bag or briefcase. For example, as described above, the control circuit 28 may determine that the aerosol supply system 10 is located in a nighttime charging position, and the user may use an external device 40 to apply the classifications of home, bedroom, and bedside table to this position. The external device 40 may then send the classification(s) to the control circuit 28 as part of additional situational information that the control circuit 28 uses to update the situational information stored in the database. Subsequently, if the control circuit 28 determines that the location of the aerosol supply system 10 corresponds to a nighttime charging position, the control circuit 28 may use the situational information in the database to determine one or more classifications or descriptions for the determined location, and one or more classifications or descriptions may be sent to the external device 40 along with an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system 10.This allows the control circuit 28 to refine its position determination and provide the user with a more accurate and / or understandable explanation of the determined position of the aerosol supply system 10.

[0062] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a method 300 for operating an aerosol supply system, such as an aerosol supply system 10. The method begins in step 310, in which one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system 10 are monitored. In step 320, it is determined that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost by its owner based on one or more conditions. In step 330, a loss event is triggered in the aerosol supply system 10 to indicate that the aerosol supply system 10 has been lost.

[0063] The method shown in Figure 3 may be stored as an instruction in a computer-readable storage medium, and as a result, when the instruction is executed by the processor, the method described above is performed. The computer-readable storage medium may not be temporary. In other words, the method shown in Figure 3 may be computer-implemented. Method 300 may be performed by the aerosol supply device 20, for example by the control circuit 28.

[0064] As described above, the disclosure relates to (but is not limited to) an aerosol supply system comprising a control circuit configured to monitor one or more conditions of the aerosol supply system, determine, based on one or more conditions, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, and trigger a loss event to the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is lost.

[0065] The aerosol supply device, aerosol supply system, and method have been described above.

[0066] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as representative examples of the embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, or to equivalents thereof, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modifications may be made as long as they do not deviate from the scope of the claimed invention. The various embodiments of the invention may consist of, or substantially consist of, appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. Monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, Based on one or more of the above circumstances, it is determined that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, To trigger a loss event for the aerosol supply system, indicating that the aerosol supply system is missing. It includes a control circuit configured to do so, The aforementioned one or more circumstances, The amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by the optical sensor of the aerosol supply system, The orientation of the aerosol supply system is measured by the accelerometer of the aerosol supply system, The amount of current received from an external power source, as measured by the current sensor of the aerosol supply system, The temperature of the aerosol supply system, as measured by the temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system, The state of network connectivity with a wireless network or an external device, and at least one of the following: Aerosol supply system.

2. Monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, Based on one or more of the above circumstances, it is determined that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, To trigger a loss event for the aerosol supply system, indicating that the aerosol supply system is missing. It includes a control circuit configured to do so, Determining that the aerosol supply system has been lost is based on situational information stored in a database, wherein the situational information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and the previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. Aerosol supply system.

3. The aforementioned one or more circumstances, The amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by the optical sensor of the aerosol supply system, The orientation of the aerosol supply system is measured by the accelerometer of the aerosol supply system, The amount of current received from an external power source, as measured by the current sensor of the aerosol supply system, The temperature of the aerosol supply system, as measured by the temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system, The status of the wireless network or network connection with external devices and The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, comprising at least one of the following.

4. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein determining that the aerosol supply system has been lost is further based on status information stored in a database, and the status information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and a previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost.

5. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loss event includes sending an indication to an external device that the aerosol supply system is lost.

6. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the loss event cutting off power to the aerosol generator of the aerosol supply system.

7. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control circuit is further configured to determine the location of the aerosol supply system in response to determining that the aerosol supply system is missing.

8. The aerosol supply system according to claim 7, wherein the position of the aerosol supply system is determined using the GPS interface of the aerosol supply system.

9. The aerosol supply system according to claim 7, wherein the position of the aerosol supply system is determined based on one or more signals received from an external device.

10. The aerosol supply system according to claim 7, wherein the loss event includes sending an indication of the location of the aerosol supply system to an external device.

11. Monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, Based on one or more of the above circumstances, it is determined that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, To trigger a loss event for the aerosol supply system, indicating that the aerosol supply system is missing. It includes a control circuit configured to do so, The aforementioned one or more circumstances, The amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by the optical sensor of the aerosol supply system, The orientation of the aerosol supply system is measured by the accelerometer of the aerosol supply system, The amount of current received from an external power source, as measured by the current sensor of the aerosol supply system, The temperature of the aerosol supply system, as measured by the temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system, The state of network connectivity with a wireless network or an external device, and at least one of the following: Aerosol supply device for aerosol supply systems.

12. A method for operating an aerosol supply system, The steps include monitoring the status of one or more of the aerosol supply systems, A step of determining, based on one or more of the above circumstances, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, The steps include triggering a loss event for the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is missing, and Includes, The aforementioned one or more circumstances, The amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by the optical sensor of the aerosol supply system, The orientation of the aerosol supply system is measured by the accelerometer of the aerosol supply system, The amount of current received from an external power source, as measured by the current sensor of the aerosol supply system, The temperature of the aerosol supply system, as measured by the temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system, The state of network connectivity with a wireless network or an external device, and at least one of the following: method.

13. If executed, A step of monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, A step of determining, based on one or more of the above circumstances, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, The steps include triggering a loss event for the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is missing, and The instructions include a method that includes, The aforementioned one or more circumstances, The amount of light near the aerosol supply system, measured by the optical sensor of the aerosol supply system, The orientation of the aerosol supply system is measured by the accelerometer of the aerosol supply system, The amount of current received from an external power source, as measured by the current sensor of the aerosol supply system, The temperature of the aerosol supply system, as measured by the temperature sensor of the aerosol supply system, The state of network connectivity with a wireless network or an external device, and at least one of the following: Non-temporary computer-readable storage medium.

14. Monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, Based on one or more of the above circumstances, it is determined that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, To trigger a loss event for the aerosol supply system, indicating that the aerosol supply system is missing. It includes a control circuit configured to do so, Determining that the aerosol supply system has been lost is based on situational information stored in a database, wherein the situational information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and the previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. Aerosol supply device for aerosol supply systems.

15. A method for operating an aerosol supply system, The steps include monitoring the status of one or more of the aerosol supply systems, A step of determining, based on one or more of the above circumstances, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, The steps include triggering a loss event for the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is missing, and Includes, The step of determining that the aerosol supply system has been lost is further based on situation information stored in a database, wherein the situation information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and the previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. method.

16. If executed, A step of monitoring the status of one or more aerosol supply systems, A step of determining, based on one or more of the above circumstances, that the aerosol supply system has been lost by the owner of the aerosol supply system, The steps include triggering a loss event for the aerosol supply system to indicate that the aerosol supply system is missing, and The instructions include a method that includes, The step of determining that the aerosol supply system has been lost is further based on situation information stored in a database, wherein the situation information includes a correlation between the previous status of the aerosol supply system and the previous determination that the aerosol supply system has been lost. Non-temporary computer-readable storage medium.

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