Aerosol supply system

Abstract

The aerosol delivery system (1) includes a consumable (2) and an aerosol delivery device (4) configured to receive the consumable (2). The aerosol delivery device (4) includes a receptacle (8) for receiving the consumable. A cover (103) is also provided, the cover (103) being movable between a first closed position C1 in which the cover at least partially covers the receptacle (8) and a second open position C2 in which the cover at least partially exposes the receptacle (8). A first portion (79), such as a light source (81) or an aerosol generator (40), or a sensor (101) is configured to be controlled in response to determining that the cover has moved to the second position C2. In this manner, the first portion (79) is operated in response to determining that the cover (103) is open, and power of the aerosol delivery system (1) can be saved by not previously operating the portion (79).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol supply system, such as, but not limited to, a nicotine delivery system (e.g., an electronic cigarette, etc.).

Background Art

[0002] Electronic aerosol supply systems often employ an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or more generally an aerosol supply device. Such an aerosol supply system typically includes a fluid or liquid reservoir containing a formulation that typically contains nicotine but not necessarily, or a solid material such as a tobacco-based product, that encloses an aerosolizable material (also referred to as an aerosol-generating material), from which vapor / aerosol is generated, for example by thermal vaporization, for inhalation by a user. Thus, an aerosol supply system will typically include a vaporizer (also referred to as an aerosol generator) configured to aerosolize a portion of the aerosolizable material to produce vapor, for example, comprising a heating element.

[0003] When vapor is generated, the vapor can pass through a flavoring material to add flavor to the vapor (if the aerosolizable material itself is not flavored), and then the (flavored) vapor can then be delivered to the user from the aerosol supply system via a mouthpiece. A potential drawback of existing aerosol supply systems and related aerosol supply devices is that they are not always easily distinguishable with respect to certain types of consumables intended to be used as part of a particular use of the aerosol supply system, especially for people with visual impairments and / or in situations where visibility is reduced.

[0004] Accordingly, this specification describes various methods that attempt to help address or mitigate some of these problems through the implementation of an aerosol supply system that implements sensors to determine predetermined characteristics of any consumable proposed for use in an aerosol supply system (such as the composition of the aerosol-generating material inside the consumable) before the system uses this consumable to generate any aerosol.

[0005] This specification also describes an aerosol supply system that can receive a cartridge / consumable within a receptacle of an aerosol supply device by an aerosol supply system. The receptacle is configured to be covered by the cover when not in use so that when the cover is moved to expose the receptacle, this movement of the cover is detected and subsequently triggers an operation of a part of the aerosol supply system, such as an operation relating to the aerosol generator of the aerosol supply system or an operation of a sensor configured to sense a portion of the consumable configured to be received within the receptacle. In this way, the efficiency of the aerosol supply system can be increased through these operations related to the position / movement of the cover. [Overview of the project]

[0006] According to a first aspect of a particular embodiment, an aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, the aerosol supply system comprising a consumable and an aerosol supply device configured to receive the consumable, The aerosol supply device is equipped with a receptacle for receiving consumables. The aerosol supply system is a cover, A first position in which the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, A second position in which the cover exposes at least partially the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. It has a movable cover between, The aerosol supply system further comprises a first part, the operation of which is controlled by the aerosol supply system, and the aerosol supply system is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and In response to the determination that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply system is activated. It is structured in such a way. An aerosol supply system is provided.

[0007] According to a second aspect of a particular embodiment, an aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, wherein the aerosol supply device is A receptacle for receiving consumables, It's a cover, A first position in which the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, A second position in which the cover exposes at least partially the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. A movable cover between, A first part comprising a first part whose operation is controlled by an aerosol supply device, wherein the aerosol supply device is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and In response to the determination that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply device is activated. It is structured in such a way. An aerosol supply device is provided.

[0008] According to a third aspect of a particular embodiment, a method for controlling the operation of a portion of an aerosol supply system, wherein the aerosol supply system comprises consumables and an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprises a receptacle for receiving the consumables, and the method is Moving the cover of the aerosol supply system from a first position where the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle and prevents the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, to a second position where the cover at least partially exposes the first end and allows the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device inside the receptacle, Determining that the cover has moved to the second position, In response to determining that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply system is activated, A method is provided that includes this.

[0009] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described as merely examples with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] A schematic perspective view shows an aerosol supply system comprising a cartridge and an aerosol supply device (shown separately) according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a schematic exploded perspective view of the components of the aerosol supply system cartridge. [Figure 3A] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of one of the housing sections of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system. [Figure 3B] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the housing section of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system. [Figure 3C] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of yet another section of the housing of the cartridge in the aerosol supply system. [Figure 4A] Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of the partition element of the cartridge in the aerosol supply system. [Figure 4B] Schematically shows a plan view of a partition element of a cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 5A] Schematically shows a perspective view of one of the elastic plugs of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 5B] Schematically shows another perspective view of the elastic plug of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 5C] Schematically shows a plan view of the elastic plug of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 6A] Schematically shows a perspective view of the bottom cap of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 6B] Schematically shows a plan view of the bottom cap of the cartridge of the aerosol supply system of FIG. 1. [Figure 7] Schematically shows an embodiment of an aerosol supply system according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8A] Schematically shows an embodiment of an aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device and a consumable / cartridge having a portion configured to be sensed by itself, according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8B] Schematically shows the embodiment of FIG. 8A in which the consumable is positioned within the receptacle of the aerosol supply device, according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 8C] Schematically shows the embodiment of FIG. 8A in which the consumable is positioned within the receptacle of the aerosol supply device and is covered and enclosed by a cover, according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9A] Schematically shows an embodiment of an aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device and a consumable / cartridge configured to be at least partially positioned within the receptacle of the aerosol supply device, according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 9B]Figure 9A schematically shows an embodiment according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure in which the consumables are at least partially located within the receptacle of the aerosol supply device. [Figure 10A] An aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device and a consumable / cartridge configured to be at least partially positioned within a receptacle of the aerosol supply device, wherein the cartridge is configured to be inductively heated by comprising a susceptor within the cartridge, is schematically shown. [Figure 10B] Figure 10A schematically shows an embodiment according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure in which the consumables are at least partially located within the receptacle of the aerosol supply device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Specific examples and embodiments of aspects and features are discussed / described herein. Some aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and are not discussed / described in detail for the sake of brevity. Therefore, it will be understood that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented according to any prior art for implementing such aspects and features.

[0012] This disclosure relates to non-combustible aerosol supply systems (such as e-cigarettes). According to this disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply system is a system in which the aerosolizable material (or its components) constituting the aerosol supply system is not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate delivery to the user. The aerosolizable material, which may also be referred herein as an aerosol-generating material or aerosol precursor material, is a material that can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or energized in any other way, for example. The aerosolizable material may also be flavored in some embodiments.

[0013] Throughout the following explanation, the terms “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may be used at times, but it should be understood that this term can be used interchangeably with “aerosol delivery system.” Note that an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), does not require the presence of nicotine in the aerosolizable material.

[0014] In some embodiments, the aerosol supply system is a hybrid device configured to generate an aerosol using a combination of aerosolizable materials, one or more of which may be heated. In some embodiments, the hybrid device comprises a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may include, for example, tobacco or non-tobacco products.

[0015] Typically, a (non-combustible) aerosol supply system may comprise a cartridge / consumable component and a body / reusable / aerosol supply device component configured to engage releasably with the cartridge / consumable component.

[0016] The aerosol supply system may be provided with means for supplying power to a vaporizer therein, and an aerosolizable material transport element for receiving the aerosolizable material to be vaporized. The aerosol supply system may also be provided with a reservoir for containing the aerosolizable material, and in some embodiments, a further reservoir for containing a flavoring material for flavoring the vapor produced from the aerosol supply system.

[0017] In some embodiments, the vaporizer may be a heater / heating element capable of interacting with the aerosolizable material to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosolizable material to form a vapor / aerosol. In some embodiments, the vaporizer may be able to generate an aerosol from the aerosolizable material without heating. For example, the vaporizer may be able to generate a vapor / aerosol from the aerosolizable material without applying heat to the material, for example, via one or more of the following: vibration, mechanical, pressurizing, or electrostatic means.

[0018] In some embodiments, the delivered substance may be an aerosolizable material that may comprise an active ingredient, a carrier component, and optionally one or more other functional components.

[0019] The active ingredient may comprise one or more physiological and / or olfactory active ingredients contained in the aerosolizable material to achieve a physiological and / or olfactory response in the user. The active ingredient may be selected from, for example, nutritional supplements, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. The active ingredient may be naturally occurring or obtained by synthesis. The active ingredient may comprise, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or components, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active ingredient may comprise components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco or another plant substance. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a physiological active ingredient and may be selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g., nicotine ditrate / nicotine bitrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, or mixtures thereof.

[0020] In some embodiments, the active ingredient is an olfactory active ingredient and may be selected from “flavorings” and / or “flavoring agents” that can be used to create a desired taste, aroma, or other somatosensory sensation in products intended for adult consumers, where local regulations permit. In some examples, such ingredients may be called flavorings, flavoring agents, flavoring materials, coolants, heating agents, and / or sweeteners.These are naturally occurring flavorings, plant substances, extracts of plant substances, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaves, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, mint, anise, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berries, red berries, cranberries, peaches, apples, oranges, mangoes, clementines, lemons, limes, etc.). Tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, kurt, eggplant, betel nut, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-yi Orchid, sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, peppermint oil from any of the Mentha species, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazelnut, hibiscus, bay leaf, mate, orange peel, rose, tea such as green or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, blackcurrant, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, maji It may contain other additives such as chollum, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, calvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), as well as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant-based substances, or breath fresheners.They may be imitations, synthetics, or natural raw materials, or blends thereof. They may be extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, etc.) in any suitable form. The additives may include one or more of the following: jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, bell pepper, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint oil from any species of the Mentha genus; flavor enhancers; bitter taste receptor site blockers; sensory receptor site activators or stimulants; sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol); and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant substances, or breath fresheners. They may be imitations, synthetics, natural raw materials, or blends thereof. They may be in any preferred form, e.g., oil, liquid, or powder.

[0021] In some embodiments, the flavoring material (flavor) may include menthol, spearmint, and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor may include flavor components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus, and / or red berry. In some embodiments, the flavor may include eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor may include flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor may include a sensory stimulant, which is intended to achieve somatosensory perception that is normally chemically induced and perceived by stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) in addition to, or instead of, the aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents that produce heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effects. A preferred thermal agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a preferred cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol or WS-3.

[0022] The carrier component may comprise one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the carrier component may comprise one or more of the following: glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0023] One or more other functional ingredients may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0024] As described above, aerosol supply systems (e-cigarettes) often comprise a modular assembly that includes both reusable components (body or aerosol supply device) and replaceable consumable components (cartridges). Devices that conform to this type of two-component modular configuration may generally be called two-component devices. Electronic cigarettes also commonly have a substantially elongated shape. To provide specific examples, certain embodiments of the disclosure described herein may comprise this type of substantially elongated two-component device employing consumable components. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein can also be equally applied to other electronic cigarette configurations, such as modular devices comprising three or more components, based on so-called box-type mod high-performance devices, which typically have a more box-like shape, as devices that conform to other overall shapes.

[0025] Accordingly, with reference to Figure 1, a schematic perspective view of an exemplary aerosol delivery system (e-cigarette) 1 according to a particular embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Terms relating to the relative positions of various aspects of the e-cigarette (e.g., top, bottom, upward, downward, apex, bottom, etc.) are used herein in relation to the orientation of the e-cigarette as shown in Figure 1 (unless the context indicates otherwise). However, it will be understood that this is merely for the sake of clarity and is not intended to indicate that there is an arbitrary required orientation for the e-cigarette in use.

[0026] The e-cigarette 1 (aerosol supply system 1) comprises two main components: a cartridge 2 and an aerosol supply device 4. Although the aerosol supply device 4 and cartridge 2 are shown separately in Figure 1, they are coupled together during use.

[0027] The cartridge 2 and the aerosol supply device 4 are coupled by establishing mechanical and electrical connections between the cartridge 2 and the aerosol supply device 4. The specific manner in which the mechanical and electrical connections are established is not primarily important to the principles described herein and may be established according to the prior art, for example, based on threaded, bayonet, latching, or friction-fitting mechanical fastenings using appropriately positioned electrical contacts / electrodes to properly establish electrical connections between the two parts. For example, in the electronic cigarette 1 shown in Figure 1, the cartridge comprises a mouthpiece 33, a mouthpiece end 52, and an interface end 54, and is coupled to the aerosol supply device by inserting the interface end portion 6 of the interface end of the cartridge into the corresponding receptacle 8 / receiving section of the aerosol supply device. The interface end portion 6 of the cartridge includes a projection 56 that engages with a corresponding stopper in the inner surface of the receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 in order to tightly fit into the receptacle 8 and provide a releaseable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the aerosol supply device. An electrical connection is established between the aerosol supply device and the cartridge via a pair of electrical contacts on the bottom of the cartridge (not shown in Figure 1) and corresponding spring-loaded contact pins in the base of the receptacle 8 (not shown in Figure 1). As stated above, the particular manner in which the electrical connection is established is not important to the principles described herein, and in practice, some embodiments may have no electrical connection at all between the cartridge and the aerosol supply device, for example, because the transmission of power from the reusable component to the cartridge may be wireless (e.g., based on electromagnetic induction technology).

[0028] The electronic cigarette 1 (aerosol supply system) has a substantially elongated shape extending along its longitudinal axis L. When the cartridge is coupled to the aerosol supply device, the total length of the electronic cigarette in this example (along the longitudinal axis) is approximately 12.5 cm. The total length of the aerosol supply device is approximately 9 cm, and the total length of the cartridge is approximately 5 cm (i.e., there is an overlap of approximately 1.5 cm between the interface end portion 6 of the cartridge and the receptacle 8 of the aerosol supply device when they are coupled to each other). The electronic cigarette has a cross-section that is roughly elliptical, widest near the center of the electronic cigarette and curves and tapers towards the end. The cross-section near the center of the electronic cigarette has a width of approximately 2.5 cm and a thickness of approximately 1.7 cm. The end of the cartridge has a width of approximately 2 cm and a thickness of approximately 0.6 mm, while the other end of the electronic cigarette has a width of approximately 2 cm and a thickness of approximately 1.2 cm. The outer housing of the electronic cigarette is formed from plastic in this example. It will be understood that the specific size and shape of the electronic cigarette and the material used to make it are not of primary importance to the principles described herein and may differ in different embodiments. That is, the principles described herein can be equally applied to electronic cigarettes having different sizes, shapes, and / or materials.

[0029] The aerosol supply device 4 may be broadly conventional in terms of the function of the aerosol supply device and general construction techniques, according to certain embodiments of the present disclosure. In the example of Figure 1, the aerosol supply device 4 comprises a plastic outer housing 10 including a receptacle wall 12 defining a receptacle 8 for receiving the end of a cartridge as described above. The outer housing 10 of the aerosol supply device 4 in this example has a substantially elliptical cross-section that conforms to the shape and size of the cartridge 2 at the interface of the two parts to provide a smooth transition between the two parts. The receptacle 8 and the end portion 6 of the cartridge 2 are symmetrical when rotated 180° so that the cartridge can be inserted into the aerosol supply device in two different orientations. The receptacle wall 12 includes two aerosol supply device air inlet openings 14 (i.e., holes in the wall). These openings 14 are positioned to align with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled to the aerosol supply device. One of the different openings 14 aligns with the air inlet 50 of the cartridge in a different orientation. It will be understood that in some embodiments, the cartridge may not have rotational symmetry so that it can be coupled to the aerosol supply device in only one orientation, while in other embodiments, the cartridge may have a higher degree of rotational symmetry so that it can be coupled to the aerosol supply device in more orientations.

[0030] The aerosol supply device further comprises a battery 16 for supplying operating power to the electronic cigarette, a control circuit configuration 18 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a user input button 20, an indicator light 22, and a charging port 24.

[0031] In this example, the battery 16 is rechargeable and may be a conventional type, for example, one commonly used in electronic cigarette lighters and other applications requiring a relatively high current supply for a relatively short period of time. The battery 16 can be recharged via a charging port 24, which may have, for example, a USB connector.

[0032] In this example, the input button 20 is a conventional mechanical button having a spring-loaded component that can be pressed by a user to establish electrical contact in the circuit configuration below. In this regard, the input button can be considered an input device for detecting user input, for example, to trigger aerosol generation, and the specific mode in which the button is implemented is not important. For example, in other embodiments, other forms of mechanical buttons or touch-sensitive buttons (e.g., based on capacitive or optical sensing technology) may be used, or there may be no button at all, and the device may rely on a puff detector to trigger aerosol generation.

[0033] The indicator light 22 is provided to give the user a visual indication of various characteristics related to the electronic cigarette lighter, such as the operating status (e.g., on / off / standby), and other characteristics such as battery life or fault status. Different characteristics may be indicated by different colors and / or different flashing sequences, for example, according to common prior art.

[0034] The control circuit configuration 18 is preferably configured / programmed to control the operation of the electronic cigarette in accordance with established techniques for controlling the electronic cigarette and to provide conventional operating functions. The control circuit configuration (processor circuit configuration) 18 can be considered to logically comprise various subunits / circuit components related to different modes of operation of the electronic cigarette. For example, depending on the functions provided in different embodiments, the control circuit configuration 18 may include a power control circuit configuration for controlling the supply of power from the battery / power source to the cartridge in response to user input, a user programming circuit configuration for establishing configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, and other functional unit / circuit configuration-related functions according to the principles described herein and conventional modes of operation of the electronic cigarette, such as an indicator light display drive circuit configuration and a user input detection circuit configuration. It will be understood that the functions of the control circuit configuration 18 can be provided in various different ways, for example, using one or more preferably programmed programmable computers and / or one or more preferably configured application-specific integrated circuits / circuit configurations / chips / chipsets configured to provide the desired functions.

[0035] Figure 2 is an exploded schematic perspective view of cartridge 2 (disassembled along the longitudinal axis L). Cartridge 2 comprises a housing 32, an air channel seal 34, a partition element 36, an outlet pipe 38, a vaporizer / heating element 40, an aerosolizable material transport element 42, a plug 44, and an end cap 48 having a contact electrode 46. Figures 3 to 6 show some of these components in more detail.

[0036] Figure 3A is a schematic cutaway view of the housing portion 32 along the longitudinal axis L at the thinnest point of the housing portion 32. Figure 3B is a schematic cutaway view of the housing portion 32 along the longitudinal axis L at the widest point of the housing portion 32. Figure 3C is a schematic view of the housing portion along the longitudinal axis L from the interface end 54 (i.e., a view from below in the orientation of Figures 3A and 3B).

[0037] Figure 4A is a schematic perspective view of the partition element 36 seen from below. Figure 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the upper part of the partition element 36 seen from below.

[0038] Figure 5A is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from above, and Figure 5B is a schematic perspective view of the plug 44 from below. Figure 5C is a schematic diagram of the plug 44 along the longitudinal axis L as seen from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e., a view from above relative to the orientations in Figures 1 and 2).

[0039] Figure 6A is a schematic perspective view of the end cap 48 from above. Figure 6B is a schematic diagram of the end cap 48 along the longitudinal axis L as viewed from the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge (i.e., from above).

[0040] The housing portion 32 in this example comprises a housing outer wall 64 and a housing inner tube 62 formed from a single molded polypropylene piece. The housing outer wall 64 defines the appearance of the cartridge 2, and the housing inner tube 62 defines a portion of the air channel through the cartridge. The housing portion is open at the interface end 54 of the cartridge and closed at the suction end 52 of the cartridge, except for a suction opening / aerosol outlet 60 from the suction port 33 which is in fluid communication with the housing inner tube 62. The housing portion 32 includes an opening within the side wall that provides an air inlet 50 for the cartridge. The air inlet 50 in this example is approximately 2 mm 2The outer surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing portion 32 includes the aforementioned projection 56 which engages with a corresponding stopper in the inner surface of the receptacle wall 12 defining the receptacle 8 in order to provide a releasable mechanical engagement between the cartridge and the aerosol supply device. The inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing portion includes further projections 66 which act to provide a contact stopper for positioning the partition element 36 along the longitudinal axis L when the cartridge is assembled. The outer wall 64 of the housing portion 32 further includes a hole which provides a latch recess 68 which is arranged to receive a corresponding latch projection 70 in the end cap in order to secure the end cap to the housing portion when the cartridge is assembled.

[0041] The outer wall 64 of the housing portion 32 includes a double-wall section 74 that defines a gap 76 that is in fluid communication with the air inlet 50. The gap 76 provides a portion of the air channel through which the cartridge passes. In this example, the double-wall section 74 of the housing portion 32 defines an air channel through which the gap passes within the housing outer wall 64 parallel to the longitudinal axis and has a cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of approximately 3 mm 2 The arrangement is such that the gap / part of the air channel 76 defined by the double-wall section of the housing extends downward to the open end of the housing 32.

[0042] The air channel seal 34 is a silicone molded product in the form of a tube having a through hole 80. The outer wall of the air channel seal 34 includes a circumferential ridge 84 and an upper collar 82. The inner wall of the air channel seal 34 also includes a circumferential ridge, but these are not visible in Figure 2. When the cartridge is assembled, the air channel seal 34 is fitted into the housing inner tube 62 with the end of the housing inner tube 62 partially extending into the through hole 80 of the air channel seal 34. The through hole 80 of the air channel seal has a diameter of approximately 5.8 mm in the relaxed state of the air channel seal, while the end of the housing inner tube 62 has a diameter of approximately 6.2 mm, thereby forming a seal when the air channel seal 34 is stretched to receive the housing inner tube 62. This seal is facilitated by the ridge on the inner surface of the air channel seal 34.

[0043] The outlet tube 38 comprises a tubular section having an inner diameter of approximately 8.6 mm and a wall thickness of approximately 0.2 mm, for example, made of ANSI 304 stainless steel or polypropylene. The bottom end of the outlet tube 38 includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots 88, the ends of which have semicircular recesses 90. When the cartridge is assembled, the outlet tube 38 rests on the outer surface of the air channel seal 34. The outer diameter of the air channel seal is approximately 9.0 mm in the relaxed state, thereby forming a seal when the air channel seal 34 is compressed and fitted inside the outlet tube 38. This seal is facilitated by a ridge 84 on the outer surface of the air channel seal 34. A collar 80 on the air channel seal 34 provides a stopper for the outlet tube 38.

[0044] The aerosolizable material transport element 42 includes a capillary core, and the vaporizer (aerosol generator) 40 includes a resistance wire heater wound around the capillary core. In addition to a portion of the resistance wire wound around the capillary core, the vaporizer includes electrical lead wires 41 that pass through holes in a plug 44 and reach contact electrodes 46 mounted on an end cap 54, thereby enabling power to be supplied to the vaporizer via an electrical interface established when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol supply device. The vaporizer lead wires 41 may include the same material as the resistance wire wound around the capillary core, or may include a different material (e.g., a lower resistance material) connected to the resistance wire wound around the capillary core. In this example, the heater coil 40 includes a nickel-iron alloy wire, and the core 42 includes a bundle of glass fibers. The vaporizer and aerosolizable material transport element may be provided according to any prior art and may include different forms and / or different materials. For example, in some embodiments, the core may include a fibrous or solid ceramic material, and the heater may include a different alloy. In other examples, the heater and wick may be combined in the form of, for example, a porous and resistant material. More generally, it will be understood that the aerosolizable material transport elements and vaporizers of specific properties are not primarily important to the principles described herein.

[0045] When the cartridge is assembled, the core 42 is received in the semicircular recess 90 of the outlet tube 38, so that the central portion of the core around which the heating coil is wound is inside the outlet tube, while the end portion of the core is outside the outlet tube 38.

[0046] The plug 44 in this example comprises a single molded silicone product and may be elastic. The plug comprises a base portion 100, with an outer wall 102 extending upward from the base portion 100 (i.e., toward the mouthpiece end of the cartridge). The plug further comprises an inner wall 104 extending upward from the base portion 100 and surrounding a through hole 106 passing through the base portion 100.

[0047] The outer wall 102 of the plug 44 fits to the inner surface of the housing 32, thereby forming a seal between the plug 44 and the housing 32 when the cartridge is assembled. The inner wall 104 of the plug 44 fits to the inner surface of the outlet tube 38, thereby forming a seal between the plug 44 and the outlet tube 38 when the cartridge is assembled. The inner wall 104 includes a pair of diametrically opposed slots 108, the ends of which have semicircular recesses 110. Extending outward from the bottom of each slot in the inner wall 104 (i.e., away from the longitudinal axis of the cartridge) is a cradle section 112, molded to receive a section of the aerosolizable material transport element 42 when the cartridge is assembled. The slot 108 and semicircular recess 110 provided by the inner wall of the plug 44 and the slot 88 and semicircular recess 90 of the outlet tube 38 are aligned such that the slot 88 in the outlet tube 38 receives each of the cradles 112, and the respective semicircular recesses in the outlet tube and plug cooperate to define a hole through which the aerosolizable material transport element passes. The size of the hole provided by the semicircular recess through which the aerosolizable material transport element passes closely corresponds to the size and shape of the aerosolizable material transport element, but is slightly smaller, so that the elasticity of the plug 44 brings about some compression. This allows the aerosolizable material to be transported along the aerosolizable material transport element by capillary action, while limiting the extent to which the aerosolizable material that is not transported by capillary action can pass through the opening. As described above, the plug 44 includes a further opening 114 in the base portion 100 through which the vaporizer contact lead wires 41 pass when the cartridge is assembled. The bottom of the plug's base includes spacers 116 that maintain an offset between the remaining surface of the base and the end cap 48. These spacers 116 include openings 114 through which the carburetor's electrical contact leads 41 pass.

[0048] The end cap 48 comprises a polypropylene molded product in which a pair of gold-plated copper electrode posts 46 are mounted.

[0049] The ends of the electrode posts 44 on the bottom side of the end cap are substantially coplanar with the interface end 54 of the cartridge provided by the end cap 48. These are the portions of the electrodes to which the correspondingly aligned spring contacts in the aerosol supply device 4 connect when the cartridge 2 is assembled and connected to the aerosol supply device 4. The ends of the electrode posts on the inside of the cartridge extend away from the end cap 48 into the hole 114 in the plug 44 through which the contact lead wires 41 pass. The electrode posts are slightly larger than the hole 114 and include chamfers on their upper ends to facilitate insertion into the hole 114 in the plug, and the plug maintains a pressure contact with the vaporizer's contact lead wires.

[0050] The end cap has a base section 124 and an upright wall 120 that fits the inner surface of the housing 32. The upright wall 120 of the end cap 48 is inserted into the housing 32, and as a result, when the cartridge is assembled, the latch projection 70 engages with the latch recess 68 in the housing 32, snapping the end cap 48 into the housing. The top of the upright wall 120 of the end cap 48 abuts against the periphery of the plug 44, and the lower surface of the spacer 116 on the plug also abuts against the base section 124 of the plug, thereby pressing against the elastic portion 44 when the end cap 48 is attached to the housing, and maintaining the elastic portion 44 in a slightly compressed state.

[0051] The base portion 124 of the end cap 48 includes a peripheral lip 126 that extends beyond the base of the upright wall 112, having a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the outer wall of the housing portion at the interface end of the cartridge. The end cap also includes an upright positioning pin 122, which aligns with a corresponding positioning hole 128 in the plug to help establish their relative positions during assembly.

[0052] The partition element 36 comprises a single molded polypropylene product and includes a partition 130 and a collar 132 formed by a projection extending from the partition 130 toward the interface end of the cartridge. The partition element 36 has a central opening 134 through which the outlet pipe 38 passes (i.e., the partition is positioned around the outlet pipe 38). In some embodiments, the partition element 36 may be formed integrally with the outlet pipe 38. When the cartridge is assembled, the upper surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44 engages with the lower surface of the partition 130, and in turn the upper surface of the partition 130 engages with a projection 66 on the inner surface of the outer wall 64 of the housing portion 32. Thus, the partition 130 prevents the plug from being pushed too far into the housing portion 32; i.e., the partition 130 is fixedly positioned along the longitudinal axis of the cartridge by the projection 66 within the housing portion, and thus provides a fixed surface to press against the plug. The collar 132, formed by projections from the partition wall, includes a first pair of opposing projections / tongues 134 that engage with corresponding recesses on the inner surface of the outer wall 102 of the plug 44. Projections from the partition wall 130 further provide a pair of cradle sections 136 configured to engage with corresponding ones of the cradle section 112 within the part 44 when the cartridge is assembled and further defines an opening through which the aerosolizable material transport element passes.

[0053] When cartridge 2 is assembled, an air channel is formed that extends from the air inlet 50 through the cartridge to the aerosol outlet 60. Starting from the air inlet 50 in the side wall of the housing 32, the first section of the air channel is provided by a gap 76 formed by a double-wall section 74 in the outer wall 64 of the housing 32 and extends from the air inlet 50 toward the interface end 54 of the cartridge through the plug 44. The second portion of the air channel is provided by the gap between the base of the plug 44 and the end cap 48. The third portion of the air channel is provided by a hole 106 through the plug 44. The fourth portion of the air channel is provided by the inner wall 104 of the plug around the vaporizer 40 and the region in the outlet pipe. This fourth portion of the air channel is also called the aerosol / aerosol generation region and is the primary region where aerosols are generated during use. The air channel from the air inlet 50 to the aerosol generation region may be called the air inlet section of the air channel. The fifth portion of the air channel is provided by the remainder of the outlet pipe 38. A sixth portion of the air channel is provided by an inner tube 62 of the outer housing that connects the air channel to an aerosol outlet 60 located at the end of the intake port 33. The air channel from the aerosol generation region to the aerosol outlet may be called the aerosol outlet section of the air channel.

[0054] Furthermore, when the cartridge is assembled, a reservoir 31 for the aerosolizable material is formed by the space outside the air channel and inside the housing portion 32. The aerosolizable material may be filled during manufacturing, for example, through a filling hole that is subsequently sealed, or by other means. The specific properties of the aerosolizable material are not particularly important to the principles described herein, for example with respect to the composition of the aerosolizable material, and generally any conventional aerosolizable material of the type standardly used in electronic cigarettes may be used. This disclosure may refer to a liquid as the aerosolizable material, which may be a conventional e-liquid as described above. However, the principles of this disclosure apply to any aerosolizable material that has the ability to flow and may include liquids, gels, or solids, and in the case of solids, a plurality of solid particles may be considered to have the ability to flow when considered as a bulk.

[0055] The reservoir is closed at the interface end of the cartridge by the plug 44. The reservoir includes a first region above the partition wall 130 and a second region below the partition wall 130, within the space formed between the air channel and the outer wall of the plug. The aerosolizable material transport element (capillary core) 42 passes through semicircular recesses 108, 90 in the plug 44 and outlet tube 38, which engage with each other as described above, and through openings in the walls of the air channel provided by cradle sections 112, 136 in the plug 44 and partition element 36. Thus, the end of the aerosolizable material transport element extends into the second region of the reservoir, from which it draws the aerosolizable material through the opening in the air channel into the vaporizer 40, where it is then vaporized.

[0056] In standard use, cartridge 2 is coupled to aerosol supply device 4, which is activated to supply power to the cartridge via contact electrodes 46 in the end cap 48. The power then flows to vaporizer 40 through connecting lead wires 41. Thus, the vaporizer is electrically heated, thereby vaporizing a portion of the aerosolizable material from the aerosolizable material transport element near the vaporizer. This generates an aerosol within the aerosol-generating region of the air passage. The aerosolizable material vaporized from the aerosolizable material transport element is replaced by more aerosolizable material drawn from the reservoir by capillary action. While the vaporizer is operating, the user inhales over the mouthpiece end 52 of the cartridge. This draws air through it, regardless of which aerosol supply device air inlet 14 aligns with the cartridge air inlet 50 (depending on the orientation in which the cartridge is inserted into the aerosol supply device receptacle 8). Next, air enters the cartridge through the air inlet 50, passes along the gap 76 between the double-wall section 74 of the housing 32, passes between the plug 44 and the end cap 48, and then enters the aerosol generation region surrounding the vaporizer 40 through the hole 106 in the base 100 of the plug 44. The incoming air mixes with the aerosol generated from the vaporizer to form a condensed aerosol, which is then drawn in along the outlet pipe 38 and the inside of the housing 62 before exiting through the inlet outlet / aerosol outlet 60 for user inhalation.

[0057] Figures 1 to 6B above show possible configurations of aerosol supply system 1 configured to produce aerosols suitable for use in the context of this disclosure (potentially together with other forms of aerosol supply systems).

[0058] Next, referring to Figures 7 to 10B, the disclosure also provides other uses and embodiments of the aerosol supply system 1 that can complement these embodiments of the aerosol supply system illustrated and described above with reference to Figures 1 to 6B.

[0059] Therefore, referring first to Figures 7 to 8C, according to some embodiments, an aerosol supply system 1 for generating an aerosol is provided, the aerosol supply system 1 comprising a consumable 2 and an aerosol supply device 4 configured to receive the consumable 2. Although not necessarily required, the consumable 2 may be structurally and functionally related to any of the aforementioned cartridges / consumables. Similarly, the aerosol supply device / control unit 4 may be structurally and functionally related to any of the aforementioned aerosol supply devices / control units.

[0060] According to these embodiments, the aerosol supply device 4 may include a sensor 101 for sensing a portion 71 of the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is received by the aerosol supply device 4. In this way, the sensor 101 may be configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumable 2.

[0061] Therefore, at a general level, the application of these embodiments is to facilitate the aerosol supply system 1 and / or aerosol supply device 4 in a state where the characteristics of consumable 2 can be identified prior to any operation of consumable 2.

[0062] At a general level, it should be understood that various different sensor configurations may be employed to sense the consumable part 71, depending on the properties of the part 71. For example, according to some embodiments such as the embodiment in Figure 7A, the sensor 101 may include an optical sensor such as a camera in a very specific embodiment.

[0063] Therefore, the sensor 101 can be configured to sense a portion 71 of the consumable 2 when the consumable 2 is received by the aerosol supply device 4. With respect to the nature of the portion 71, according to some embodiments, the portion may include the outer surface 73 of the consumable 2, such as the outer surface of the base 75 of the consumable 2 according to some specific embodiments.

[0064] In particular, in embodiments where the sensor 101 is an optical sensor, according to some embodiments, the portion 71 may include a suitable appearance to enable sensing of this portion 71. Accordingly, in this regard, and according to some embodiments, the portion includes a mark 71A, a pattern 71B, a barcode, and / or a QR code 71C (as shown in the embodiment of Figure 8A). Thus, at a more general level, according to some embodiments, the portion 71 may be machine-readable.

[0065] To facilitate sensing of the portion 71 in use and to avoid the portion 71 otherwise occupying too much space on the consumable 2, it has been found that the portion 71 may have a maximum dimension of 30 mm or less, according to some narrower embodiments, a maximum dimension of 20 mm or less, in even narrower embodiments, a maximum dimension of 15 mm or less, and / or according to some even narrower embodiments, a maximum dimension of 10 mm or less. In this specification, the term “maximum dimension” means that none of the maximum length / maximum width / maximum thickness of the portion 71 shall exceed the amount cited in millimeters.

[0066] If a portion 71 is adopted, as described above, the portion 71 may include the outer surface 73 of the consumable 2, or may be positioned on such outer surface 73 of the consumable 2, such as via a portion 71 having a label that can be attached to the consumable, such as the outer surface 73 of the consumable 2, and / or by forming the outer surface 73 of the consumable 2.

[0067] The precise position of portion 71 can be varied considerably towards the surface of consumable 2, as needed, in embodiments such as the one shown in Figure 7, where portion 71 is potentially positioned on the interface end 54 and / or base 75 of consumable 2.

[0068] However, regardless of the position of the portion 71, the function of the portion 71 can be improved insofar as the aerosol supply device 4 and / or aerosol supply system 1 are configured such that the portion 71 faces and / or is exposed to and / or readable by the sensor 101 when the consumable 2 is received by the aerosol supply device 4.

[0069] According to some embodiments, to support the above, the aerosol supply device 4 according to some embodiments may include a receptacle 8 configured to receive a consumable 2. According to some embodiments, the receptacle 8 may include a first end 9 for inserting the consumable 2 into the receptacle 8 and a second end 11 opposite the first end 9. In this way, the receptacle may have a side wall 12 (receptacle wall) between the first end 9 and the second end 11.

[0070] When such a receptacle 8 is employed, in order to better protect the sensor from accidental damage during use, according to some embodiments, the sensor 101 may be recessed into the side wall 12 and / or second end 11, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 7 and 8A to 8C.

[0071] However, regardless of the position of the sensor 101, and insofar as the sensor 101 is employed, as described above, the sensor 101 is configured to output sensor data so that the aerosol supply device 4 can use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumable 2. As for what these predetermined characteristics are, obviously, they can be several different. For example, according to some embodiments, the predetermined characteristics may include the composition of the aerosol-generating material inside the consumable 2, and / or the predetermined characteristics may include the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material inside the consumable (which may be solid, liquid, and / or gel aerosol-generating material as needed, depending on the embodiment of the consumable being used). In this way, and insofar as the predetermined characteristics can be determined, the aerosol supply device 4 and / or aerosol supply system 1 may be configured to take appropriate action in response to this determination. For example, according to a very specific embodiment, in response to determining predetermined characteristics of consumable 2, the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to select a predetermined power profile or predetermined power setting for the aerosol generator 40 (for example, to correspond to a specific flavor or amount of aerosol-generating material in consumable 2). According to some embodiments, the predetermined characteristics may explicitly, alternatively / additionally include an indication of whether the consumable is authorized (or legitimate). In this way, the aerosol supply device may be configured to prevent the aerosol generator 40 from being operated by the aerosol supply device 4 until the aerosol supply system 1 determines the predetermined characteristics of consumable 2 and / or until the aerosol supply system 1 determines that consumable 2 is authorized. This may be particularly useful in preventing any accidental damage to the aerosol supply device 4 by attempting to generate an aerosol from a counterfeit consumable or some other form of inferior consumable 2 that is otherwise illegal.These embodiments may also be useful insofar as they better prevent accidental combustion of the flavor(s) of an aerosol-generating material by applying an inappropriate heating regime to the specific flavor(s) of the aerosol-generating material.

[0072] According to some embodiments, in order to better protect the consumable 2 and any adopted sensor 101 in use, and insofar as the receptacle 8 can be employed, according to some embodiments, for example as shown in the embodiments of Figures 8A to 8C, the receptacle 8 may be configured to completely contain the consumable 2 when it is received by the aerosol supply device. To assist this protection, according to some embodiments, the aerosol supply system 1 may additionally / alternatively include a cover 103, the cover 103 being movable between a first position C1 in which the cover 103 at least partially covers the first end 9 of the receptacle 8 and prevents the consumable 2 from being inserted into (or removed from) the receptacle 2, and a second position C2 in which the cover 103 at least partially exposes the first end 9 of the receptacle 8 and allows the consumable 2 to be received by (or removed from) the aerosol supply device 4.

[0073] To the extent that cover 103 is employed, according to some embodiments, the cover may be removable from the aerosol supply device 4. This can be achieved, for example, by making the cover 103 (which may also be described as a cap in such embodiments) feasible to attach to the aerosol supply device 4, such as via threads and / or interference fits, according to very specific embodiments. According to some embodiments, the cover 103 may be configured to close the first end 8 of the receptacle at a first position C1. However, in some embodiments, the aerosol supply device 4 may include cover 103, as shown in the embodiments of Figures 8A to 8C.

[0074] With regard to how any adopted cover 103 may move between a first position C1 and a second position C2, according to some embodiments, the cover 103 may be slidable from the first position to the second position, as in the embodiments shown in Figures 8A to 8C, Figures 9A to 9B, and Figures 10A to 10B. However, obviously, according to some embodiments, any adopted cover 103 may be configured to rotate between the first position C1 and the second position C2 and / or to perform any other movement(s) between the first position C1 and the second position C2.

[0075] Therefore, insofar as the cover 103 can be employed, the cover 103 may help to better protect some of the components of the aerosol supply system, such as any inside the receptacle 8, particularly when the aerosol supply system 1 is not in use, such as in the positions shown in the embodiments of Figures 8A, 9A, and 10A.

[0076] Even if the cover 103 is employed, a further potential use of the cover 103 is that it may be configured to control the operation of a sensor (or more generally, some other part / component 79 of the aerosol supply device 4, as described later) in response to the cover 103 determining that it has moved i) between a first position C1 and a second position C2, ii) from the first position C1 to the second position C2, and / or iii) from the second position C2 to the first position C1.

[0077] For example, according to some embodiments, the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to activate the sensor 101 in response to the cover 103 being positioned (determined to be) in a second position C2. Thus, according to some related embodiments, the aerosol supply device may be configured to activate the sensor 101 while the cover 103 is in the second position C2 and / or to deactivate the sensor in response to the cover being positioned in a first position C1. Accordingly, according to these examples, the position of the cover 103 may determine the operation of the sensor 101 (or more generally, some other part / component of the aerosol supply device 4), and thus facilitate the conservation of power in the aerosol supply device 4 so that power is supplied to the sensor 101 (or other part / component 79 such as the aerosol generator 40, or the light source 81 inside the receptacle 8) only when it is expected that the sensor (or other component) will be activated.

[0078] Therefore, as an example, the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to activate the sensor 101 in response to the cover 103 being positioned in the second position C2, thereby enabling the sensor 101 to be activated at the time when the user can next insert the consumable 2 into the receptacle 8, for example, as shown in the positions in Figures 8B, 9C, or 10B.

[0079] As another example, the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to operate the aerosol generator 40 in response to the cover 103 being positioned at the second position C2.

[0080] In yet another example, the aerosol supply device 4 may be configured to activate a light source 81 within the receptacle in response to the cover 103 being positioned in a second position C2. In this way, the operation of the light source 81 may facilitate the user being able to see exactly where and how to insert the consumable 2 within the receptacle 8.

[0081] For completeness, the aerosol supply device 4 and the aerosol supply system 1 may be configured to operate any part 79 or component of the aerosol supply device 4 in response to the cover 103 being positioned at the second position C2, so that this function of the aerosol supply device 4 and the aerosol supply system 1 may be employed regardless of whether the sensor 101 and / or part 71 described above are employed.

[0082] With regard to the above disclosure, if a portion 79 of the components of the aerosol supply device 4 is configured to act based on the position of the cover 103, any such act may be immediate, or, in some embodiments, may act after a predetermined time has elapsed since the aerosol supply system 1 (or aerosol supply device 4) determined that the cover 103 has moved to the relevant position.

[0083] For example, according to some embodiments, in response to determining that the cover has moved to a second (or first) position C2, the aerosol supply system 1 may be configured to operate a portion 79 of the aerosol supply system (whether this portion is, for example, the aerosol generator 40, the light source 81 described above, and / or the sensor 101, if such a portion is employed) after a predetermined time has elapsed following the aerosol supply system's determination that the cover 103 has moved from the first position C1 to the second position C2 (or from the second position to the first position). With respect to some embodiments, the predetermined time may include at least 0.5 seconds, 0.7 seconds, 1 second, 1.5 seconds, 2 seconds, 3 seconds, 4 seconds, and / or 5 seconds. Thus, taking the case where the portion to be operated is the aerosol generator 40 or any employed sensor 101 as an example, the time delay (predetermined time) can therefore take into account the fact that it may take some time for the user to open the cover 103 and place the consumable 2 into the receptacle 8. Therefore, by taking this delay into account and thus setting a time delay (a predetermined time), the battery consumption of the aerosol supply device 4 can be reduced by not unnecessarily supplying power to a part 79 of the aerosol supply system during the time when the user has not yet inserted the consumable 2 into the receptacle 8.

[0084] Similarly, according to some embodiments, the predetermined time may include 20 seconds or less, 15 seconds or less, 12 seconds or less, 10 seconds or less, 8 seconds or less, 7 seconds or less, and / or 5 seconds or less, depending on the embodiment. Therefore, by providing this maximum timer period, it is possible to set a suitable upper limit for the time delay, and it can be reasonably expected that the user will place the consumable 2 into the receptacle 8 by that time.

[0085] However, in some embodiments, such as when the aerosol supply device 2 includes a light source 81 inside the receptacle (to help the user see inside the receptacle 8), according to some embodiments, it may be unnecessary to introduce a time delay, such that the aerosol supply system (or aerosol supply device 4) may be configured to immediately, i.e., without time delay, operate a portion of the aerosol supply system 79 (such as a light source) in response to the determination that the cover has moved to a second position C2.

[0086] With regard to the positioning of the aforementioned portion 79 of the aerosol supply device 4 (whether or not this is, for example, the aerosol generator 40, the light source 81, or the sensor 101), according to some embodiments, in order to help protect the portion 79 during use, the portion 79 may be positioned toward or thereto the side wall and / or the second end 11 of the receptacle 8. According to some particular embodiments, the portion 79 may be positioned 30 mm or less, 25 mm or less, 20 mm or less, 15 mm or less, and / or 10 mm or less from the second end 11 of the receptacle 8. In this way, several advantages may be provided, in particular, in terms of better positioning the portion 79 away from the first end 9 of the receptacle (where the portion 79 may otherwise be susceptible to damage). However, in practice, if part 79 includes a light source 81, positioning this light source near the second end 11 can help the user directly look into this end of the receptacle 8, and can also provide an element of discretion to better obscure the light from the light source contained within the receptacle 8. Similarly, if part 79 includes a sensor 101, positioning this sensor 101 near the second end 11 can help improve the accuracy of the sensor so that it does not sense the consumable 8 unless it is fully inserted into the receptacle 8, as opposed to being partially inserted or misinserted.

[0087] To further protect part 79 and to facilitate insertion of consumable 2 into the receptacle, the receptacle 8 (and / or consumable 2) may be substantially cylindrical.

[0088] In relation to the retention of the consumable 2 within the receptacle 8 during use, this retention can be facilitated, according to some embodiments, by an aerosol supply device 4 having at least one retaining portion 83 or a plurality of retaining portions 83A to 83F for gripping the consumable 2 received within the receptacle 8. According to some embodiments, if a plurality of retaining portions 83A to 83F are provided, the plurality of retaining portions 83A to 83F may be configured to surround the consumable and / or, in certain embodiments, further to grip a plurality of different circumferential portions of the consumable 2 received within the receptacle 8.

[0089] According to some embodiments, each retaining portion may protrude into the receptacle 8, such as by retaining portions that protrude from the side wall 12 of the receptacle 8 (as shown in embodiments of Figures 7 to 10B), in order to assist in gripping the consumable 2 and to improve the strength of each retaining portion 83.

[0090] Insofar as any retaining portion 83 is employed, the gripping effect of the retaining portion can be better distributed around the consumable to better prevent any damage to the consumable 2, according to some embodiments, by each retaining portion extending between the first end 9 and the second end 11 of the receptacle 8, and, in some more specific embodiments, by each retaining portion extending at least 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, and / or at least 90% of the distance between the first end 9 and the second end 11 of the receptacle 8. Here, it has been found that a distance of at least 70% demonstrates a particularly beneficial grip.

[0091] If any retaining portion 83 is used, in some embodiments these retaining portions 83 may also help protect the portion 79 from accidental damage. This can be achieved by positioning the portion 79 (which may be multiple) (such as the aerosol generator 40, any light source 81, and / or the sensor 101) between multiple retaining portions 83.

[0092] Therefore, with respect to any part 79 that potentially comprises an aerosol generator 40, it will be understood that any adopted aerosol generator 40 does not necessarily have to be positioned as part of the consumable 2. In this regard, for example, according to some embodiments, the aerosol supply device 4 may comprise an aerosol generator 40. For example, according to some embodiments, the aerosol generator 40 may comprise a tubular aerosol generator 40 that is positioned within a receptacle 8 and / or configured to at least partially surround the consumable 2 when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device 4 within the receptacle. In this way, when the aerosol generator 40 is then operated, the aerosol generator 40 may aerosolize the aerosol-generating material in the consumable (for example, via heat transferred from the aerosol supply device 4 to the aerosol-generating material in the consumable 2 [potentially tubular]) (for example, via heat transferred from the aerosol supply device 4 to the aerosol-generating material in the consumable 2 from the [potentially tubular] heating element).

[0093] According to some embodiments, the aerosol supply system 1 may include an induction heating component or a wireless heating component for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, as shown, for example, in the embodiments of Figures 10A to 10B. According to such embodiments, the aerosol supply device 4 and / or receptacle 8 may include a coil 40A configured to induction heat a susceptor 40B located within a consumable, the susceptor 40B configured to heat the aerosol-generating material in the consumable 2 to generate an aerosol. Thus, the aerosol generator may include a susceptor 40B.

[0094] Regardless of the form of aerosol generator 40 employed, it can be understood, in some embodiments, that the operation of the aerosol generator 40, or in fact the operation of the aerosol supply device or any other part 79 of the aerosol supply system, may be controlled based on the determined position of the cover 103. It can be understood that several different configurations may be employed to make this determination, such as by using a suitable form of sensor or detection circuit that can sense or determine the position of the cover 103. For completeness, a specific embodiment is shown in the embodiments of Figures 8A to 10B. In this particular embodiment, the aerosol supply device 4 includes a first contact 105A for detecting the cover 103, which contacts the cover 103 when the cover is in a first position C1. In this embodiment, the aerosol supply device 4 also includes a second contact 105B for detecting the cover 103, which contacts the cover 103 when the cover is in a second position C2. Other detection circuit configurations of different embodiments may be used as needed. For example, by using a capacitive or inductive circuit, it may be possible to determine the relative position of a part / component by the cover 103, such as when a part / component by the cover is moved and then sensed using the capacitive or inductive circuit to determine whether the cover 103 is in a first position C1 or a second position C2.

[0095] Therefore, it can be seen from the above that an effective form of the aerosol supply system is provided by the fact that the operation of a portion 79 of the aerosol supply system and / or aerosol supply device can be controlled based on the determined position of the cover 103 by the aerosol supply device 4. Accordingly, an aerosol supply system 1 for generating an aerosol is described, comprising a consumable 2 and an aerosol supply device 4 configured to receive the consumable. The aerosol supply device 4 comprises a receptacle 8 for receiving the consumable, and the aerosol supply system 1 comprises a cover 103 that is movable between a first position C1 in which the cover 103 at least partially covers a first end 9 of the receptacle 8, preventing the consumable 2 from being inserted into the receptacle 8, and a second position C2 in which the cover 103 at least partially exposes the first end 9, allowing the consumable 2 to be received by the aerosol supply device 4 in the receptacle 8. The aerosol supply system further comprises a (first) part 79, the operation of which is controlled by the aerosol supply system, which determines that the cover 103 has moved from a first position C1 to a second position C2, and operates the (first) part 79 in response to the determination that the cover 103 has moved to the second position C2.

[0096] Moving away from cover 103 and returning to the provision of an optional adopted sensor 101 for use in determining predetermined characteristics of a consumable by the aerosol supply device, it will be understood that, according to some embodiments, the sensor 103 may be coupled with an optional control circuit configuration 18 provided by the aerosol supply device 4 and / or the aerosol supply system 1 to facilitate the determination process, in some embodiments. For example, as shown in embodiments from Figures 7 to 10B, according to some embodiments, the aerosol supply system 1 may include a control circuit configuration 18 configured to receive sensor data from the sensor 103 and to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumable 2.

[0097] After the predetermined characteristics of the consumable 2 are determined, appropriate actions may be taken to correspond to the determined specific characteristics. For example, according to some embodiments, in response to the determination of the predetermined characteristics of the consumable 2, the control circuit configuration 18 and / or aerosol supply device 4 or more generally the aerosol supply system 1 may be configured to control the operation of the aerosol generator 40, such as by changing / increasing / decreasing the power supplied to the aerosol generator (e.g., to correspond to a specific predetermined flavor of the aerosol-generating material detected in the consumable using sensor 101), and / or by changing / increasing / decreasing the aerosol generation rate from the aerosol supply system (e.g., to correspond to a predetermined low or high level of residual aerosol-generating material detected in the consumable using sensor 101).

[0098] As described above, when the sensor 101 is employed, the operation of a particular embodiment may include the aerosol supply system 1 (or device 4) being configured to prevent the aerosol generator 40 from operating until the aerosol supply system (device) has determined predetermined characteristics of the consumable. Thus, this function acts as a safety feature to better prevent any accidental operation of the aerosol generator in the event that the aerosol generator is inappropriate (for example, because it has been detected that a predetermined small amount of aerosol-generating material remains in the consumable, and / or because an unauthorized / counterfeit consumable has been detected, and / or more simply because no consumable has been detected at all).

[0099] Therefore, understanding the above, the result is an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, the aerosol supply system comprising consumables and an aerosol supply device configured to receive the consumables, The aerosol supply device includes an optical sensor for sensing a portion of a consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device, the portion including the outer surface of the consumable. The sensor is configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device is configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumables. The aerosol supply system is described.

[0100] An aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, wherein the aerosol supply device is Sensor for sensing the outer surface portion of a consumable configured to be received by an aerosol supply device. Equipped with, The sensor is configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device is configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumables. Aerosol supply devices are also described.

[0101] Also described are consumables for use in an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, wherein the consumable comprises an outer surface portion configured to be received into a receptacle of an aerosol supply device when the consumable is being used to generate an aerosol, and the outer surface portion includes a mark configured to be sensed for determining predetermined properties of the consumable.

[0102] A method for determining predetermined characteristics of consumables in an aerosol supply system, wherein the method is: The aerosol supply system receives consumables within the aerosol supply device, The sensing of a portion of a consumable when it is received by an aerosol supply device using a sensor provided by the aerosol supply device, wherein the portion includes the outer surface of the consumable. Outputting sensor data from the sensor, The aerosol supply device uses sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of consumables, Methods including this are also described.

[0103] An aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, comprising: a consumable; and an aerosol supply device configured to receive the consumable; The aerosol supply device is equipped with a receptacle for receiving consumables. The aerosol supply system is a cover, A first position in which the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, A second position in which the cover exposes at least partially the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. It has a movable cover between, The aerosol supply system further comprises a first part, the operation of which is controlled by the aerosol supply system, and the aerosol supply system is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and In response to the determination that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply system is activated. It is structured in such a way. The aerosol supply system is also described.

[0104] An aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, wherein the aerosol supply device is A receptacle for receiving consumables, It's a cover, A first position in which the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, A second position in which the cover exposes at least partially the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. A movable cover between, A first part comprising a first part whose operation is controlled by an aerosol supply device, wherein the aerosol supply device is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and In response to the determination that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply device is activated. It is structured in such a way. Aerosol supply devices are also described.

[0105] A method for controlling the operation of a part of an aerosol supply system, wherein the aerosol supply system comprises consumables and an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprises a receptacle for receiving the consumables, and the method is Moving the cover of the aerosol supply system from a first position where the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle and prevents the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, to a second position where the cover at least partially exposes the first end and allows the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device inside the receptacle, Determining that the cover has moved to the second position, In response to determining that the cover has moved to the second position, the first part of the aerosol supply system is activated, Methods including this are also described.

[0106] Therefore, with this in mind, the above disclosure, along with other embodiments described from the claims set forth below, may obviously relate to additional embodiments described in the following numbered clauses at the end of this specification.

[0107] [WB1]Also described is an aerosol supply system 1 comprising a consumable 2 and an aerosol supply device 4 configured to receive the consumable 2. The aerosol supply device 4 comprises a receptacle 8 for receiving the consumable. A cover 103 is also provided, which is movable between a first closed position C1 in which the cover 103 covers the receptacle 8 at least partially and a second open position C2 in which the cover exposes the receptacle 8 at least partially. A first part 79, such as a light source 81 or an aerosol generator 40, or a sensor 101, is configured to be controlled in response to a determination that the cover has moved to the second position C2. In this way, power to the aerosol supply system 1 can be saved by not pre-operating the first part 79, so that it is activated in response to a determination that the cover 103 has been opened.

[0108] To address a variety of issues and to advance the technology, this disclosure illustrates various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be carried out. The advantages and features of this disclosure are merely representative samples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented solely to aid understanding and to teach the claimed invention(s). The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described in this disclosure should not be considered as limitations to the scope of this disclosure as defined by the claims or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modified without departing from the scope of the claims. Various embodiments may suitably include, be composed of, or essentially consist of, various combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein, and it should be understood that features of dependent claims (or any dependent clauses enumerated herein) may be combined with features of independent claims (or independent clauses) in combinations other than those expressly described in the claims or clauses. This disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future. Accordingly, any substitution of features from the claims may be combined as necessary and / or combined with any substitution of features from the enumerated provisions of this Spec.

[0109] Set of Consistency Clauses 1. An aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, comprising: a consumable; and an aerosol supply device configured to receive the consumable, The aerosol supply device includes an optical sensor for sensing a portion of a consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device, the portion including the outer surface of the consumable. The sensor is configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device is configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumables. Aerosol supply system.

[0110] 2. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 1, wherein the aerosol supply device comprises a receptacle configured to receive consumables.

[0111] 3. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 2, wherein the receptacle is configured to completely contain the consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device.

[0112] 4. The receptacle, A first end for inserting consumables into the receptacle, The second end opposite the first end, The side wall between the first end and the second end, An aerosol supply system as described in Clause 2 or 3, comprising:

[0113] 5. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 4, wherein the sensor is recessed within the side wall.

[0114] 6. The aerosol supply system according to clause 4 or 5, wherein the sensor is recessed within the second end.

[0115] 7. The aerosol supply system It's a cover, A first position in which the cover covers at least partially the first end and prevents the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, A second position in which the cover exposes at least partially the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device. A movable cover between An aerosol supply system as described in any one of clauses 4 to 6, further comprising:

[0116] 8. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 7, wherein the cover is removable from the aerosol supply device.

[0117] 9. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 7, wherein the aerosol supply device comprises a cover.

[0118] 10. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 9, wherein the cover is slidable from a first position to a second position.

[0119] 11. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 7 to 10, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to control the operation of a sensor in response to the determination that the cover has moved between a first position and a second position.

[0120] 12. An aerosol supply system according to any one of Clauses 7 to 11, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to activate an optical sensor in response to the cover being positioned in a second position.

[0121] 13. An aerosol supply system according to any one of Clauses 7 to 12, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to operate an optical sensor while the cover is in a second position.

[0122] 14. An aerosol supply system according to any one of the clauses 7 to 13, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to disable an optical sensor in response to the cover being positioned in a first position.

[0123] 15. An aerosol supply system according to any one of Clauses 7 to 14, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to disable the optical sensor while the cover is in a first position.

[0124] 16. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 7 to 15, wherein the sensor is located on the side wall.

[0125] 17. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 7 to 16, wherein the sensor is located at the second end.

[0126] 18. An aerosol supply system as described in any one of clauses 4 to 17, wherein the sensor is located within 30 mm of the second end.

[0127] 19. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 2 to 18, wherein the sensor is located within a receptacle.

[0128] 20. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 2 to 19, wherein the receptacle is substantially cylindrical.

[0129] 21. An aerosol supply system according to any one of Clauses 2 to 20, wherein a portion of the consumable is configured to be positioned within a receptacle when the consumable is received by an aerosol supply device.

[0130] 22. An aerosol supply system according to any one of Clauses 2 to 21, wherein the aerosol supply device comprises at least one holding portion for gripping a consumable received in a receptacle.

[0131] 23. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 22, wherein at least one retaining portion includes a plurality of retaining portions for gripping a consumable received within a receptacle.

[0132] 24. The aerosol supply system according to Clause 23, wherein the sensor is positioned between multiple holding parts.

[0133] 25. The aerosol supply system according to clause 23 or 24, wherein each retaining portion protrudes into the receptacle.

[0134] 26. An aerosol supply system according to any one of clauses 22 to 25, further dependent on at least clause 4, wherein each retaining portion protrudes from the side wall of the receptacle.

[0135] 27. An aerosol supply system according to any one of the clauses 22 to 26, further dependent on at least clause 4, wherein each retaining portion extends between the first and second ends of the receptacle.

[0136] 28. An aerosol supply system described in any preceding clause, in part, including the mark.

[0137] 29. An aerosol supply system described in any preceding clause, in which a portion includes a pattern.

[0138] 30. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein a portion of the system has a maximum dimension of 30 mm or less.

[0139] 31. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein a portion of the system has a maximum dimension of 20 mm or less.

[0140] 32. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein a portion of the system has a maximum dimension of 10 mm or less.

[0141] 33. An aerosol supply system described in any preceding clause, in part, which is machine-readable.

[0142] 34. Any consumables described in any preceding clause, including any label attached to the consumable.

[0143] 35. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, including an optical sensor or camera.

[0144] 36. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein the predetermined characteristics include the composition of aerosol-generating material inside the consumables.

[0145] 37. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein the predetermined characteristics include the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material inside the consumables.

[0146] 38. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, including any indication of whether the consumables are approved or not, with predetermined characteristics.

[0147] 39. The aerosol supply system Sensor data is received from the sensor, and Sensor data is used to determine predetermined characteristics of consumables. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, comprising a control circuit configuration as described above.

[0148] 40. The aerosol supply system further comprises an aerosol generator for generating aerosols, and the control circuit configuration is, The operation of the aerosol generator is controlled in response to the determination of predetermined characteristics of the consumables. The aerosol supply system described in Clause 39 is further configured as follows.

[0149] 41. An aerosol supply system as described in any preceding clause, wherein the aerosol supply system is configured to prevent the aerosol generator from operating until the aerosol supply device has determined the predetermined characteristics of the consumables.

[0150] 42. An aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, wherein the aerosol supply device is It includes a sensor for sensing the outer surface portion of a consumable configured to be received by an aerosol supply device, The sensor is configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device is configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumables. Aerosol supply device.

[0151] 43. The aerosol supply device described in Clause 42, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to prevent the aerosol generator from operating by the aerosol supply device until the aerosol supply device has determined predetermined characteristics of the consumables.

[0152] 44. A consumable for use in an aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, wherein the consumable comprises an outer surface portion configured to be received into a receptacle of an aerosol supply device when the consumable is being used to generate an aerosol, and the outer surface portion includes a mark configured to be sensed for determining predetermined characteristics of the consumable.

[0153] 45. A consumable item comprising a body portion and a mouthpiece portion, wherein the body portion includes a mark, as described in Clause 44.

[0154] 46. ​​Consumables as described in Clause 44 or 45, whose external portion includes a label attached to the consumable.

[0155] 47. Consumables described in any one of clauses 44 to 46, whose external parts are configured to be machine-readable.

[0156] 48. A consumable item as described in any one of the clauses 44 to 47, wherein the consumable item comprises an aerosol generator for aerosolizing an aerosol-generating material.

[0157] 49. Consumables that are substantially cylindrical in shape, as described in any one of clauses 44 to 48.

[0158] 50. A consumable according to any one of the clauses 44 to 49, comprising a reservoir for an aerosol-generating material configured to be aerosolized to produce an aerosol.

[0159] 51. A consumable according to any one of the clauses 44 to 50, wherein the consumable comprises a heating element configured to be heated to generate an aerosol.

[0160] 52. A consumable item as described in Clause 51, which includes a susceptor as a heating element.

[0161] 53. A method for determining predetermined characteristics of consumables in an aerosol supply system, wherein the method is: The aerosol supply system receives consumables within the aerosol supply device, The sensing of a portion of a consumable when it is received by an aerosol supply device using a sensor provided by the aerosol supply device, wherein the portion includes the outer surface of the consumable. Outputting sensor data from the sensor, The aerosol supply device uses sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of consumables, Methods that include...

[0162] 54. The method further includes a control circuit configuration with an aerosol supply device, and the control circuit configuration is Receiving sensor data output from the sensor, Determining predetermined characteristics of consumables using sensor data, The method described in Article 53, which is to carry out the following.

[0163] 55. The method is Controlling the operation of the aerosol generator in response to the determination of predetermined characteristics of consumables. The method described in Clause 53 or 54, further including the method described in Clause 53 or 54.

[0164] 56. Receiving consumables within an aerosol supply device by an aerosol supply system further includes receiving consumables within a receptacle of the aerosol supply device, Some of the consumables are located within the receptacle. The method described in any one of clauses 53 to 55.

[0165] 57. The method is The aerosol supply system prevents the aerosol generator from operating until it has determined the predetermined characteristics of the consumables. The method described in any one of the clauses 53 to 56, further including the method described in any one of the clauses 53 to 56.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply system for generating an aerosol, comprising: a consumable; and an aerosol supply device configured to receive the consumable, The aerosol supply device comprises a receptacle for receiving the consumables, The aerosol supply system is a cover, The cover has a first position in which it at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle. The cover has a second position that at least partially exposes the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. It has a movable cover between, The aerosol supply system further comprises a first part, the operation of which is controlled by the aerosol supply system, and the aerosol supply system is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and After the aerosol supply system determines that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the first part of the aerosol supply system is activated. It is structured in such a way. Aerosol supply system.

2. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for sensing a second portion of the consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device.

3. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes an optical sensor.

4. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the second portion includes the outer surface of the consumable.

5. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the second portion of the consumable is configured to be positioned within the receptacle when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device.

6. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the second portion has a maximum dimension of 30 mm or less.

7. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the second part includes a label attached to the consumable.

8. The aerosol supply system according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is configured to output sensor data, and the aerosol supply device is configured to use the sensor data to determine predetermined characteristics of the consumable.

9. The aerosol supply system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined characteristics include one or more of the composition of the aerosol generating material inside the consumable, the remaining amount of the aerosol generating material inside the consumable, and an indication of whether or not the consumable is approved.

10. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first part includes a light source within the receptacle to help a user view inside the receptacle.

11. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the first portion includes an aerosol generator of the aerosol supply device for generating an aerosol.

12. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured to completely contain the consumable when the consumable is received by the aerosol supply device.

13. The aforementioned receptacle, The first end for inserting the consumable into the receptacle, The second end opposite to the first end, The side wall between the first end and the second end, The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, comprising:

14. The aerosol supply system according to claim 13, wherein the first portion is positioned within 30 mm of the second end.

15. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is substantially cylindrical in shape.

16. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the cover is configured to be removed from the aerosol supply device at the second position.

17. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply device comprises the cover, and the cover is slidable from the first position to the second position.

18. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply device comprises at least one holding portion for gripping the consumable received in the receptacle.

19. The aerosol supply system according to claim 18, wherein the at least one holding portion includes a plurality of holding portions for gripping the consumable received in the receptacle, and the first portion is positioned between the plurality of holding portions.

20. The aerosol supply device comprises at least one holding portion for gripping the consumable received in the receptacle, The aerosol supply system according to claim 13, wherein each retaining portion extends at least 50% of the distance between the first end and the second end of the receptacle.

21. The aerosol supply system according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply system is configured to prevent the aerosol generator from operating until the aerosol supply system determines that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position.

22. An aerosol supply device for an aerosol supply system for generating aerosols, wherein the aerosol supply device is A receptacle for receiving consumables, It's a cover, The cover has a first position in which it at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle, preventing the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle. The cover has a second position that at least partially exposes the first end, allowing the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device within the receptacle. A movable cover between, A first part comprising a first part whose operation is controlled by the aerosol supply device, wherein the aerosol supply device is It is determined that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and After the aerosol supply system determines that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, and after a predetermined time has elapsed, the first part of the aerosol supply device is activated. It is structured in such a way. Aerosol supply device.

23. A method for controlling the operation of a portion of an aerosol supply system, wherein the aerosol supply system comprises consumables and an aerosol supply device, the aerosol supply device comprises a receptacle for receiving the consumables, and the method is The steps include moving the cover of the aerosol supply system from a first position in which the cover at least partially covers the first end of the receptacle and prevents the consumable from being inserted into the receptacle, to a second position in which the cover at least partially exposes the first end and allows the consumable to be received by the aerosol supply device inside the receptacle, A step of determining that the cover has moved to the second position, After the aerosol supply system determines that the cover has moved from the first position to the second position, the aerosol supply system operates the first part of the aerosol supply system after a predetermined time has elapsed. Methods that include...

Images