Display control and system for aerosol generation devices

Abstract

A non-combustion aerosol generating device is disclosed, the non-combustion aerosol generating device comprising a display for displaying a predetermined image visible to a user in an active area of ​​the display, and control circuitry configured to detect an orientation of the aerosol generating device and control the display such that the predetermined image is displayed based on the detected orientation. A non-combustion aerosol generating system comprising the non-combustion aerosol generating device according to the present invention is also disclosed, along with a method of controlling a non-combustion aerosol delivery device.

Description

【Technical Field】 【0001】 This specification relates to a non-combustible aerosol generating device, a non-combustible aerosol generating system, and a method of controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device. Background 【0002】 Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars produce tobacco smoke by burning the tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternative delivery devices for these articles by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such delivery devices include so-called "non-combustible heat-not-burn" products, or tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products, which release compounds by heating rather than burning a substrate. For example, a tobacco heating device may heat an aerosol generating substrate, which may be tobacco or another non-tobacco product that may or may not contain nicotine, to form an aerosol by heating the substrate without burning it. Summary 【0003】 According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustible aerosol generating device comprising a display for displaying a predefined image visible to a user in an operating area of the display, and a control circuit configured to detect the orientation of the aerosol generating device and control the display so that the predefined image is displayed based on the detected orientation. 【0004】 The control circuit may comprise a sensor for detecting the orientation of the device. The control circuit may also include a display driver configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicating the detected orientation and display a predefined image based on the signal received from the sensor. The sensor may be an accelerometer or an accelerometer coupled to a gyroscope. 【0005】 The sensor and the display driver can be configured to maintain the orientation of the displayed predefined image regardless of changes in the orientation of the device. 【0006】 The display driver may be configured to change the displayed predetermined image to another predetermined image based on the detected change in the device's orientation. 【0007】 A display driver can be configured to deactivate the display when the device remains in the same orientation for a predetermined period of time. In this example, the display controller may be configured to reactivate the display to display a predetermined image based on the detected orientation of the device when the device's orientation changes from the same orientation. 【0008】 The control circuit can also be configured to detect the working area of ​​the covered display and deactivate the area. 【0009】 In some embodiments, the control circuit may be configured to move an image that was previously visible in the working area of ​​the display to another exposed area of ​​the display before the said area is deactivated. 【0010】 The display may be a touch-sensitive display. In this example, the control circuit may be configured to deactivate the area of ​​the display that is touched. 【0011】 The display can be a light-sensing display. In that case, the control circuit can be configured to deactivate a portion of the display when a predetermined minimum light level is detected. 【0012】 In some embodiments, the device may include a second display for displaying an image visible to the user in the working area of ​​the second display. 【0013】 If another display is provided, the display driver may be configured to move images that were previously visible in the working area of ​​the display to the second display before the display is deactivated in response to being covered. 【0014】 The control circuit may be configured to completely deactivate the display when the working area of ​​the display is covered, so that the image is displayed only on the second display. 【0015】 The control circuit may be configured to detect the operating area of ​​the covered second display and to deactivate the covered area of ​​the second display. 【0016】 In some embodiments, the second display can be a touch-sensitive display. In that case, the control circuit can be configured to deactivate the area of ​​the second display that is touched. 【0017】 Alternatively, the display can be a light-sensing display. In this case, the control circuit can be configured to deactivate a portion of the display when a predetermined light level is detected. 【0018】 According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-combustible aerosol generating device is provided, comprising a display for displaying an image visible to a user in the working area of ​​the display, and a control circuit for controlling the display, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the working area of ​​the covered display and deactivate the area. 【0019】 A non-combustible aerosol supply device having a control circuit configured to detect the area of ​​the covered display may or may not be capable of changing the display based on the orientation of the device. 【0020】 In any embodiment, the device may include a housing having an outer surface. The display may be mounted on the outer surface. 【0021】 The outer surface of the housing may have a undulating shape, and the display can be configured to conform to the undulating shape of the outer surface of the housing. 【0022】 The housing can be tubular, and its outer surface may extend at least 90 degrees, at least 180 degrees, or 360 degrees around the longitudinal axis. 【0023】 The display may also extend longitudinally over substantially the entire length of the housing. 【0024】 The control circuit may include memory to store predetermined images that will be displayed. 【0025】 The display can be configured to show an image comprising at least one of the following: a solid color, a pattern, an animation, or a graphic. The image can be a still image and / or a moving image. 【0026】 One or more displays may be OLED, Flexi-TFT, Display, OLCD, E-ink (or EPD), AMOLED, or PMOLED displays. Not all displays are of the same type. 【0027】 According to another aspect of the present invention, a non-combustible aerosol generation system is provided, comprising a non-combustible aerosol generation device according to the present invention and a non-combustible aerosol product that can be accepted into the non-combustible aerosol generation device. 【0028】 According to another aspect of the present invention, a control circuit for controlling a display to display a predetermined image visible to a user in an operating area of the display includes a step of detecting an orientation of the device and a step of controlling the display to display a predetermined image based on the detected orientation, and a method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol supply device is provided. 【0029】 Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 【Brief Description of the Drawings】 【0030】 [Figure 1] It is a perspective view of an example of a non-combustible aerosol generating device for heating a smoking material according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a longitudinal sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A of the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to some embodiments. [Figure 4] It is a schematic sectional view taken along line A-A of the devices shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 according to some other embodiments. [Figure 5] It is a diagram of steps related to a method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a diagram of steps related to a method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Description 【0031】 According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol supply system is a system in which an aerosol generating constituent material (or its components) of the aerosol supply system is not burned or ignited in order to facilitate delivering at least one substance to a user. 【0032】 In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is an e-cigarette, also known as a vaping system or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a necessary condition. 【0033】 In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustible heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system. 【0034】 In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system for generating an aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials (one or more of which may be heated). Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may, for example, contain tobacco or a non-tobacco product. 【0035】 Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables such as articles for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device. The aerosol-generating material is a material that can generate an aerosol when, for example, it is heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. 【0036】 In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply device 1 may include a region for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating region, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. 【0037】 In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, a coating, a filter, a suction port, and / or an aerosol modifier. 【0038】 Referring to Figure 1, a perspective view is shown of an example of a non-combustible aerosol generating system comprising a device 1 and an article 5 accepted into the device 1. The device 1 is configured to heat a smoking material to volatilize at least one component of the smoking material for inhalation by a user. The non-combustible aerosol generating device 1 is a so-called "non-combustible heating" device 1. The device 1 in this example has a generally elongated cylindrical outer housing 2 with a circular cross-section. The outer housing 2 has an open end 3, also called the mouth end. The outer housing 2 may be formed from an insulating material. A particularly preferred material is polyether ether ketone (PEEK), but other plastics or other insulating materials, including, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), may be used. The outermost surface of the outer housing 2 may have a decorative coating, such as a metallic finish. 【0039】 Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the device 1 for heating the smoking material 5 shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the device 1 can be considered to consist of two main components: a device portion or aerosol generating device 1, and a consumable portion or aerosol generating product (generally indicated by the smoking material 5). The device portion 1 and the consumable portion 5 are engageable with each other (as shown in Figures 1 and 2) so that the consumable portion 5 can be engaged with / inserted into the device portion 1. The device 1 has a heating chamber 4 that houses the smoking material 5 to be heated and vaporized during use. The smoking material 5 may be in the form of a consumable and can be removably inserted by the user into the open end 3 of the device 1. The article 5 may be a generally elongated cylinder, such as a rod. During use, the article 5 is inserted into the housing 2 such that the end of the article 5 protrudes from the device 1 through the open end 3 of the housing 2, and as a result, the user can place their lips over the article 5 to inhale the aerosol generated by the device 1. 【0040】 Device 1 comprises an electronic device / power chamber 6 housing an electrical control circuit 7 and a power supply 8. In this example, the heating chamber 4 and the electronic device / power chamber 6 are adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis XX of Device 1. The electrical control circuit 7 may include a controller, such as a microprocessor configuration configured and positioned to control the heating of the smoking material 5, and incorporates a display driver 15 for controlling images displayed on one or more displays forming part of Device 1, as will be described in more detail below. 【0041】 The electrical control circuit 7 can receive signals from, for example, a puff activation sensor (not shown) that can detect changes in pressure or airflow that occur during use, for example, when the user begins to inhale the smoking material 5. The electrical control circuit 7 can then operate to heat the smoking material 5 "on demand" when needed. Various configurations are available for the puff activation sensor, including, for example, thermistors, electromechanical devices, mechanical devices, optical devices, opticmechanical devices, and micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based sensors. Alternatively, device 1 may have a manually operable switch for the user to initiate puffing. 【0042】 The power source 8 may be a battery, which may be a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries. A particularly preferred type of battery 8 is a LiFePO4 battery. The battery 8 is electrically coupled to one or more heating elements 10 of the heating chamber 4 and, when needed, supplies power under the control of the electrical control circuit 7 to heat and vaporize the smoking material 5 without burning it. In this example, the battery 8 is located within the printed circuit board of the electrical control circuit 7. In other examples, the battery 8 and the electrical control circuit 7 may be arranged differently, for example, adjacent to each other along the longitudinal axis XX of the device 1. 【0043】 The heating chamber 4 is housed within a heater support sleeve 9, which in turn is housed within an outer housing 2. In this example, the heater support sleeve 9 is a generally elongated cylinder with a circular cross-section. In one example, the heater support sleeve 9 is a double-walled or "vacuum" sleeve, having an outer cylindrical wall and an inner cylindrical wall, which are joined to each other at their respective ends. 【0044】 In one example of device 1, the heater support sleeve 9 contains multiple heating elements or heater segments 10. In this example, the heater segments 10 are aligned along or parallel to the longitudinal axis XX of the heater support sleeve 9. The electrical control circuit 7 is configured to supply power to the heater segments 10 to heat the smoking material article 5. 【0045】 The device 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a display 12 for displaying an image 12a (represented by the letter "A" in Figure 1) visible to the user in the working area of ​​the display 12. 【0046】 Although the display 12 is shown protruding from the housing 2 in Figures 1 and 2, it will be understood that the display 12 may be fitted into the housing 2 and made flush with the outer surface of the housing 2 to give the appearance of being integrally formed with the housing 2. By integrating the display 12 around the device 1 and fitting the display 12 into the surface of the housing 2, the device 1 can be made to have the same shape as conventional devices, and thus the user can maintain familiarity. 【0047】 The "non-working area" refers to the area of ​​the display 12 that is not displaying an image and is therefore switched off or in a non-working state. When the device 1 is switched off completely and nothing is displayed, the entire display 12 can be considered to form a non-working area. When the device 1 is working and image 12a is displayed on a portion of the display 12, the remaining part of the display 12 where image 12a is not displayed can be considered a non-working area. 【0048】 As shown in Figure 1, the display 12 may be wrapped around or extend around the housing 2, resulting in a snug fit to the contour of the housing 2. Ideally, even if the display 12 is attached or wrapped around the housing 2 during manufacturing, it will have the appearance of forming at least part of the housing 2 rather than being a separate component. The display 12 may have flexibility so that it can be deformed during manufacturing and assembly to take on or resemble the contour of the outer surface of the housing 2. 【0049】 The display 12 may extend at any angle around the longitudinal axis of the housing 2. However, it is preferable that the display 12 extends at least 90 degrees, at least 180 degrees, or 360 degrees around the housing 2, as shown in Figure 1. The display 12 may also extend along the entire length of the housing, or substantially over its entire length, in the longitudinal direction (XX) of the housing 2, so that the housing 2 is completely covered by the display 12, or at least a major portion of the housing 2 is covered. However, there may be areas not covered by the display 12, such as the mouthpiece or on / off button. In Figures 1 and 2, substantially the entire length of the device 1 is covered by the display 12, with only the shorter portions 13, 14 of the housing remaining uncovered at both ends of the device 1. 【0050】 Figure 3 is a simplified cross-sectional view cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX and along line AA in Figure 2, showing the housing 2 and the display 12 wrapped around the housing 2. The display 12 is shown enlarged for clarity. As seen in Figure 3, a single screen extends 360 degrees around the housing 2, so that each end 12b of the display 12 faces the other. 【0051】 In certain situations, the display 12 may have elastic flexibility, which may allow pressure to be applied to the display 12 to temporarily deform it, thereby activating a mechanical or pressure-sensitive button, i.e., an on / off button, located beneath the display 12. A figure or other image or mark may be displayed on the display 12 to indicate to the user the location and / or state of a button located beneath the display 12. The figure or image may change when a button is activated. The display 12 may be a flexible display 12 to facilitate the formation of a curved display surface. In particular, a flexible display 12 can be bent to provide a curved display surface. Once the display 12 is fixed to the housing 2 or otherwise bonded, the display 12 may no longer be able to bend, for example, once the display 12 is attached to the housing 2 at least partially or entirely. 【0052】 In another embodiment, the display 12 forms an integral part of the housing 2, i.e., the display 12 and the housing 2 are a single integrated component, and as a result, the display 12 performs two functions: displaying an image and defining a structural housing that includes the components of system 1, and therefore the display 12 itself forms the outer surface of device 1. 【0053】 The display 12 can be powered by the device battery 8. Alternatively, the display 12 may have its own separate power source, such as another rechargeable battery (not shown) housed within the housing 2. The device battery 8 and the display battery may be rechargeable together or independently of each other. The display 12 is initially kept "on," especially when a display 12 that requires minimal power, such as an E-ink type display, is used, and is switched off only when, for example, power is low or when the device 1 has not been used for a long period of time. 【0054】 In some embodiments, two or more displays 12 can be located elsewhere on the device, that is, two displays 12 can be arranged side by side. If a second or further display is provided, it may have the same or similar structure as the first display 12. 【0055】 The first and second displays 12 or the images 12a displayed on each may be controlled by the display driver 15 of the control circuit 7 so that there is some correlation between the displayed images, that is, one of the displays 12 may start a video to complement a different video on the other display 12, providing an attractive and interesting overall appearance. Alternatively, one of the displays 12 may be used primarily to provide the user with feedback or information about the state of device 1, and the other display 12 may be used to display a graphic or image. 【0056】 Each of the displays 12 can extend or wrap around a longitudinal axis (XX) at least 90 degrees, at least 180 degrees, or 360 degrees to provide a curved and / or undulating display surface. Each of the second displays 12 may extend longitudinally (XX) over at least a portion of the length of the housing 2. 【0057】 Figure 4 is a simplified cross-sectional view of an embodiment of multiple displays, cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis XX and along line AA in Figure 2. In Figure 4, two displays are wrapped around a housing. The first display 12 extends around the housing over 180 degrees, and the other display 20 extends around the housing 2 over the remaining 180 degrees. The corresponding ends of each display 12, 20 face each other, but it will be understood that there may be a gap between the ends 12b and 20b of each facing display 12, 20. 【0058】 The display driver 15 of the control circuit 7 can be configured to control the display 12 or each of the displays 12 to display a predetermined image on the display 12 or on each of the displays 12. 【0059】 The control circuit 7 may include a memory 17 for storing the display 12 or a predetermined image displayed on each display 12. 【0060】 It will be understood that the display 12 or the images displayed by each display 12 may include, comprise, or consist solely of, at least one of the following: a solid color, a pattern, an animation, a graphic representation, or any text or other markings. 【0061】 In certain embodiments, the control circuit 7 may be configured to control the displays so that one of the displays 12 displays a still image and the other displays a moving image. Any suitable still image may be any image that can be displayed on the displays 12. The still image may include cartoon-like images or realistic images. The still image may be displayed in color on part of all of the displays 12. 【0062】 Any suitable video may be an image that can be displayed on the display 12(s). The video may be displayed on the display 12 as a continuous motion or change. For example, the brightness or color of various pixels may change. The video may include cartoon-like images, live-action images, or lifelike videos (for example, using computer-generated graphics). 【0063】 If two or more displays 12 are provided, they may be of the same type. However, each of the displays, or some of the displays 12, may be of different types. For example, at least one of the displays may be an OLED, Flexi-TFT, OLCD, E-ink (or EPD), AMOLED (active matrix organic light-emitting diode display), or PMOLED display. The type of display 12 depends on the nature of the image being displayed. 【0064】 These displays 12 may include, for example, a plurality of pixels arranged in an array that can form an image. The display(s) 12 can be used to display various images at different times. The images may be still images or moving images, and may be a series of still images or an encoded moving image. The display(s) 12 may display one or more displayable elements, selectable elements, and colors. The display(s) 12 may be a color display. 【0065】 The control circuit 7 of the aerosol generation display 1 includes a display driver 15, a communication interface, a controller (e.g., a microprocessor or microcontroller), and a memory 17 for storing the displays 12 or the data and images displayed by each display 12. The control circuit 7 can be operably coupled to one or more of the displays 12 to facilitate various functions of the aerosol generation display 1. 【0066】 One or more controllers of the control circuit 7 described herein may include a processor such as a central processing unit (CPU), a computer, a logic array, or other device that can be instructed to put data into or out of the aerosol generation display 1. The controller includes one or more computing devices having memory, processing, and communication hardware. The functions of the controller can be performed by hardware and / or as computer instructions on a non-temporary computer-readable storage medium. 【0067】 The controller's processor may include one or more of the following: a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or equivalent individual or integrated logic circuits. In some examples, the processor may include multiple components, such as one or more microprocessors, one or more controllers, one or more DSPs, one or more ASICs, and / or one or more FPGAs, and any other individual or integrated logic circuits. Functions attributed to the controller or processor in this specification may be embodied as software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. Although described herein as a processor-based system, alternative controllers may achieve desired results by utilizing other components such as relays and timers, either alone or in combination with a microprocessor-based system. 【0068】 The exemplary systems, methods, and interfaces can be executed using one or more computer programs using a computing device which may include one or more processors and / or memory 17. The program code and / or logic described herein can be applied to input data / information to perform the functions described herein and generate desired output data / information on the display 12 or each display 12. It will be readily apparent that controller functions such as those described herein can be embodied in any manner known to those skilled in the art. 【0069】 The control circuit 7 can be used to enable various modes of the aerosol generating device 1. One example is to provide a visual artistic effect to the operating mode, in which case a video may be displayed on one or more displays 12 in response to the operation of the system 1, for example, by an actuator or puff sensor. The controller, upon detecting a puff and optionally receiving a puff profile, can collect memory addresses associated with the visual artistic effect displayed on the displays 12 or each of the displays 12. Data associated with the visual artistic effect can be retrieved from memory at those memory addresses. This data can then be used to display or show the visual artistic effect on the displays 12 or each of the displays 12. 【0070】 Other image data, such as user information or user messages, may be retrieved in a similar manner, for example, in response to user actions other than puffing, i.e., in response to a change in the orientation of the device or in response to a part of the display being covered. 【0071】 In some embodiments, the display 12 or each display 12 can be a touch-sensitive display, which can be a capacitive touch-sensitive display, a resistive touch-sensitive display, or a force-sensing resistor display. The touch-sensitive display can be used as a communication interface to display one or more user-selectable elements in response to user touch. The touch-sensitive display 12 of the aerosol supply device 1 can further increase the interaction, reconfigurability, and customization of the sensory experience provided by the aerosol generating device 1. It is conceivable that shapes or information can be manipulated or moved across the display 12 in response to finger gestures, as is often achievable using displays that accompany smartphones. The user may also be able to activate various functions of the device 1 by using the screen as input, i.e., by performing various gestures such as tapping and swiping on the display 12. The touch-sensitive components can be embodied using any preferred technology, such as capacitive touch sensing or resistive touch sensing. 【0072】 According to a particular embodiment, the control circuit 7 is configured to detect the orientation of the device 1 and control the display 12 so that a predetermined image, such as an image stored in the memory 17 of the device 1, is displayed. Depending on the orientation of the device 1 detected by the control circuit 7, the control circuit 7 can display a different image, or, rather than changing the entire image, it can change at least a part of the appearance or look of the displayed image. 【0073】 The control circuit 7 may include a sensor 16 capable of detecting the orientation of device 1, and the display driver 15 may receive a signal from the sensor indicating the detected orientation of device 1. The sensor 16 may be an accelerometer, or an accelerometer and gyroscope working together to determine the movement of device 1 to different orientations along with the orientation of device 1. 【0074】 As is known to those skilled in the art, accelerometers measure the linear acceleration of motion and can be used to detect orientation, such as the orientation of a smartphone. Gyroscopes add further breadth to the information provided by accelerometers by tracking rotation or twist. 【0075】 The display driver 15 can maintain the orientation of a predetermined image displayed regardless of changes in the orientation of device 1. This means that even if device 1 is moved by the user, the displayed image or information remains in the same position or in the "correct orientation," essentially remaining stationary, regardless of whether device 1 is moved to a different orientation. In particular, if the user rolls device 1 between their fingers, the information on display 1 can remain in the same orientation; that is, device 1 moves, but the image remains essentially stationary. 【0076】 The display driver 15 can change the image currently displayed on the display 12 to another predetermined image depending on the orientation of device 1. 【0077】 Furthermore, the display driver 15 can be configured to deactivate the display 12 when device 1 remains in the same orientation for a predetermined period of time. In this case, the display driver 15 can reactivate the display 12 when device 1 is picked up or moved and its orientation changes. 【0078】 Figure 4 shows the steps relating to a method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to the above embodiment of the present invention. This control method includes the steps of detecting the orientation of the device in step S1 and controlling the display to display a predetermined image based on the detected orientation in step S2. 【0079】 In addition to displaying an image based on the orientation of device 1, the control circuit 7 may also be configured to reduce power consumption by detecting the working areas of the covered display 12 and deactivating those areas. Thus, in addition to changing the displayed image based on the orientation of the device, the display driver 15 may also be configured to determine which parts or areas of the display 12 are covered, i.e., as a result of device 1 being in the user's hand, or because device 1 is partially or completely inside a case or container. 【0080】 In certain embodiments, the display driver 15 of the control circuit 7 may be configured to move an image that was previously visible in the working area of ​​the display 12 to another area of ​​the display 12 that is still exposed, before the area is deactivated because the display 12 is covered. 【0081】 The display 12 may be touch-sensitive, and the control circuit 7 may be configured to deactivate any area of ​​the display 12 that is touched. Alternatively, the display 12 may include a light sensor or be a light-sensing display. Furthermore, the control circuit 7 may be configured to detect local temperature changes that may occur as a result of the device 1 being in the user's hand and to deactivate any area of ​​the display 12 that exceeds a predetermined temperature. In that case, the control circuit 7 may be configured to deactivate an area of ​​the display 12 when a predetermined minimum light level is detected in a particular area or part of the display 12. If the display 12 includes user-selectable elements, these elements may also be moved from one part of the display 12 to another, or from one display 12 to another, based on the orientation of the device, i.e., regardless of the orientation of the device, so that the user-selectable elements remain facing the user. 【0082】 In any embodiment, device 1 may include a second display for displaying an image visible to the user in the working area of ​​the second display. There may also be multiple displays. In that case, the control circuit 7 may be configured to move an image that was previously visible in the working area of ​​one display 12 to another display before that display 12 is deactivated in response to being covered. When device 1 is held in its normal orientation when in use, i.e., in an orientation in which the longitudinal axis XX is maintained substantially horizontally, the two displays 12 may extend around a portion of the longitudinal axis of the housing 2 so as to form a “top” display 12 and a “bottom” display, respectively. If the device is rolled or moved around the longitudinal axis, information may move from the top display to the bottom display and vice versa. 【0083】 Rather than deactivating an area of ​​display 12, the display driver 15 can detect that part or all of display 12 is covered, and therefore deactivate the entire display 12 and move all the images that were displayed before deactivation to another display 12. 【0084】 The second or any other display 12 may also have areas that are deactivated when covered, similar to the first display 12. For example, the second or any other display may be a touch-sensitive display, and the control circuit may be configured to deactivate the area of ​​the second display that is touched. 【0085】 According to another embodiment, the control circuit 7 can be configured to detect the working area of ​​the covered display 12 and deactivate the area, that is, to deactivate it without changing the image based on the detected orientation of the device 1. 【0086】 Figure 5 shows the steps relating to a method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to the above embodiment of the present invention. This control method includes, in step S3, detecting the operating area of ​​a covered display, and in step S4, deactivating the area. 【0087】 While the above has focused in part on "non-combustion heating" type aerosol generating devices, it should be understood that the principles described herein are not limited to this type of aerosol generating device. For example, one or more displays 12 may be provided in an aerosol generating device configured to vaporize a liquid raw material (this may be achieved by using a liquid transport element or wick to vaporize a small amount of liquid drawn from a liquid reservoir containing a large amount of liquid). Such aerosol generating devices are typically called vaping systems or electronic nicotine delivery systems (END). Such systems consist of device parts and cartridges (an example of consumable parts). 【0088】 The cartridge comprises a housing (e.g., formed of a plastic material), an aerosol-generating material storage area (or liquid reservoir), an aerosol-generating material transfer component (or wicking element, e.g., formed of porous ceramic or a bundle of fibers such as cotton) configured to be in fluid communication with the aerosol-generating material storage area, and an aerosol generator (which may include a heating element, e.g., a resistance heating wire wound around the wicking element). The aerosol-generating material transfer component is configured to supply the aerosol-generating material (liquid) from the aerosol-generating material storage area to the aerosol generator. The air / aerosol path extends from the inlet to the outlet of the cartridge (which may coincide with the mouthpiece portion of the cartridge intended to be inserted into the user's mouth during use). The air / aerosol path passes beside / near the aerosol generator, and as a result, vapors generated from the aerosol generator may be drawn into the air passing through the air / aerosol path to be delivered to the user. Thus, the area surrounding the aerosol generator forms an aerosol-generating area. The device portion comprises suitable components for enabling and controlling aerosol generation, such as an electronic device / power chamber (similar to the electronic device / power chamber 6) including an electrical control circuit (similar to the electrical control circuit 7) and a power supply (similar to the power supply 8). Power can be supplied from the device portion to consumables to cause the aerosol generator to generate aerosols (for example, by supplying current to the aerosol generator via electrical contacts provided on a cartridge that engage with electrical contacts of the device portion). 【0089】 According to this disclosure, one or more displays may be provided on the device portion of the vaping system described above (in substantially the same manner as described above with respect to the “non-combustion heating” system). In addition to or instead of this, these or one or more displays may be provided on a cartridge. The cartridge may be configured to receive electrical input from the device portion to control one or more displays of the cartridge (if any). Alternatively, the cartridge may have its own power supply and / or controller for controlling one or more displays of the cartridge (if any). 【0090】 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 do not exhaust all embodiments or preclude other embodiments. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered to limit the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or to limit equivalents of the claims, and it will be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist solely of, or substantially consist of, the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those described in detail herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

[Claim 1] A display for displaying images visible to the user within the display's working area, Control circuit for controlling the display and Equipped with, A non-combustible aerosol generating device, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the operating area of ​​the covered display and deactivate the area. [Claim 2] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect the orientation of the aerosol generating device and to control the display so that a predetermined image is displayed based on the detected orientation. [Claim 3] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the control circuit comprises a sensor for detecting the orientation of the aerosol generating device, and a display driver configured to receive a signal from the sensor indicating the detected orientation and to display a predetermined image based on the signal. [Claim 4] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the sensor and the display driver are configured to maintain the orientation of the displayed predetermined image with respect to gravity, regardless of changes in the orientation of the aerosol generating device. [Claim 5] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the display driver is configured to change the displayed predetermined image to another predetermined image based on a detected change in the orientation of the aerosol generating device. [Claim 6] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the display driver is configured to deactivate the display when the aerosol generating device remains in the same orientation for a predetermined period of time. [Claim 7] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 6, wherein the display driver is configured to reactivate the display to display a predetermined image based on the detected orientation of the aerosol generating device when the orientation of the aerosol generating device changes from the same orientation. [Claim 8] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit is configured to move an image that was previously visible in the working area of ​​the display to another exposed area of ​​the display before the area is deactivated. [Claim 9] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the display is a contact-sensing display, and the control circuit is configured to deactivate the area of ​​the display that has been touched. [Claim 10] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 8, wherein the display is a light-sensing display, and the control circuit is configured to deactivate a region of the display when a predetermined minimum light level is detected. [Claim 11] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, further comprising the second display for displaying an image visible to the user in the operating area of ​​the second display. [Claim 12] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 11, wherein the control circuit is configured to move an image that was previously visible in the operating area of ​​the display to the second display before the display is deactivated in response to being covered. [Claim 13] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the control circuit is configured to completely deactivate the display when the operating area of ​​the display is covered, so that as a result the image is displayed only on the second display. [Claim 14] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 11, wherein the control circuit is configured to detect an operating area of ​​the covered second display and to deactivate the covered area of ​​the second display. [Claim 15] A non-combustible aerosol generation system comprising a non-combustible aerosol generation device according to claim 1, and a non-combustible aerosol product that can be accepted into the non-combustible aerosol generation device. [Claim 16] A method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, The steps include detecting the orientation of the aerosol generating device, A step of controlling the display to display a predetermined image based on the detected orientation. A method that includes this. [Claim 17] A non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, comprising a housing having an outer surface, wherein the display is mounted on the outer surface. [Claim 18] The non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 17, wherein the outer surface of the housing has an uneven shape, and the display is configured to conform to the uneven shape of the outer surface of the housing. [Claim 19] A method for controlling a non-combustible aerosol generating device according to claim 1, A method comprising the steps of having the covered display detect an operating area and deactivating the area.

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