Controller for non-combustible aerosol supply system, apparatus for non-combustible aerosol supply system, non-combustible aerosol supply device, non-combustible aerosol supply system, and method.

Abstract

The controller (116) is configured to determine a value indicative of the amount of available aerosol-generating material (110a) in the non-combustion aerosol delivery system (100, 110). The controller is configured to determine an operational state of the non-combustion aerosol delivery system and, if the controller determines that the system is in a first operational state, determine a value indicative of the amount of available aerosol-generating material remaining in the system by a first process, where the first operational state indicates that the aerosol-generating material is being depleted and the system is not being operated by the user to deliver generated aerosol to the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a controller for a non-combustion aerosol supply system, a device for a non-combustion aerosol supply system, and a non-combustion aerosol supply device and a non-combustion aerosol supply system.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars produce tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use.

[0003] Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to smoking articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds from aerosol-forming materials without burning the materials.

[0004] An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating the material without burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products that may or may not contain nicotine.

[0005] Another example is the so-called e-cigarette device. In an e-cigarette device, the aerosol-forming material is typically a liquid, which is heated and vaporized to create a vapor or aerosol that can be inhaled. The liquid may contain aerosol-forming materials such as nicotine and / or flavoring and / or glycerol. Known e-cigarette devices typically do not contain or use tobacco materials.

[0006] It is desirable to provide a method for monitoring the use of the aerosol-forming material within the device to users of electronic non-combustion aerosol supply devices such as those described above.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a controller configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, wherein the controller determines the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, and if the controller determines that the system is in a first operating state, it is configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material remaining in the system by a first process, wherein the first operating state is when the aerosol-generating material is wear and tear A controller is provided to indicate that the system is not being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user.

[0008] The controller may be configured to determine, when the controller determines that the system is in a second operating state, a second process different from the first process, which determines a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material remaining in the system, the second operating state indicating that the system is being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user.

[0009] The controller may be configured to determine the operating state of the system based on inputs received from detectors for detecting user interaction with the system.

[0010] The controller may be configured to determine the operating state of the system by determining from the input received from the detector whether the user is sucking into the system.

[0011] The controller may be configured to receive data from the detector indicating one or more parameters of the suction detected in the system.

[0012] The controller may be configured to determine operating parameters related to aerosol-generating elements within the system and to determine that the system is in a first state based on these operating parameters.

[0013] The first process involves determining an initial value that indicates the amount of aerosol-generating material available in the system, and setting the initial value to a first value for the duration that the system is determined to be in a first state. wear and tear speed( wear and tear This may also include applying the rate of decrease to the state.

[0014] First wear and tear The rate may be based on one or more properties of one or more of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, aerosol generating material, and consumables containing the aerosol generating material.

[0015] The controller may be configured to determine a first rate based on one or more current operating parameters of the system, such as the temperature of a heater assembly configured to heat the aerosol-generating material or the temperature of the aerosol-generating material itself.

[0016] The second process involves determining an initial value that indicates the amount of aerosol-generating material available in the system, and setting the initial value to the second value for the duration that the system is determined to be in the second state. wear and tear This may also include applying speed.

[0017] The controller, based on data indicating one or more parameters of the detected suction received from the detector, performs a second wear and tear It may be configured to determine the speed.

[0018] The second process may include determining an initial value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material available in the system, and decreasing the initial value by a predetermined amount when user inhalation is detected in the system.

[0019] The controller may be configured to send a value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material remaining in the system to an indicator displayed to the user.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for a non-combustion aerosol supply system, comprising a controller according to the first aspect of the present invention, an indicator for displaying an indication of a value indicating the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material in the system, and a detector for detecting user interaction with the system.

[0021] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustion aerosol supply device comprising a controller according to the first aspect of the present invention or an apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0022] The non-combustion aerosol supply device may be for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material containing tobacco by heating the aerosol-generating material containing tobacco instead of burning it.

[0023] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a non-combustion aerosol supply system comprising a non-combustion aerosol supply device according to the third aspect of the present invention and a consumable containing an aerosol-generating material.

[0024] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for determining a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in a non-combustion aerosol supply system, comprising the steps of determining an operating state of the non-combustion aerosol supply system, and when the controller determines that the system is in a first operating state, determining a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the system by a first process, wherein the first operating state indicates that the aerosol-generating material is wear and tear being consumed and the system is not being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] [Figure 1]A schematic partial cross-sectional view of an exemplary non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising a non-combustible aerosol supply device having an indicator for displaying a value indicating the remaining amount of available aerosol-generating material within the system. [Figure 2] A schematic top view of the exemplary system shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] A schematic partial cross-sectional view of another exemplary non-combustible aerosol supply system having an indicator for displaying a value indicating the remaining amount of available aerosol-generating material within the system. [Figure 4] A schematic front view of the exemplary systems shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. [Figure 5] A flowchart of an exemplary method implemented by a controller.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0026] FIG. 1 shows a non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising a non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 is a suction device (i.e., the user uses the suction device to inhale the aerosol generated by the device 100), and the device 100 is a handheld device. The device 100 is an electronic device. The system comprises the device 100 and a consumable 110 containing an aerosol-generating material 110a. Broadly speaking, the device 100 may be used to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material 110a within the consumable 110, and the aerosol may be inhaled by the user of the device 100.

[0027] In at least some examples, vapor is created and the vapor then at least partially condenses to form an aerosol before exiting the non-combustible aerosol supply device for inhalation by the user.

[0028] In this regard, it should be noted that, generally speaking, vapor is a substance in a gaseous state at a temperature below its critical temperature; that is, vapor can be condensed into a liquid by increasing the pressure without lowering the temperature, for example. On the other hand, generally speaking, aerosols are colloids of fine solid particles or droplets in the air or another gas. A "colloid" is a substance in which microscopically dispersed insoluble particles are suspended in another substance.

[0029] For convenience, the term "aerosol" as used herein should be interpreted as meaning aerosol, vapor, or a combination of aerosol and vapor.

[0030] Aerosol-generating materials are materials capable of generating aerosols when heated, irradiated, or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of solids, liquids, or gels, which may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include an "amorphous solid," which is sometimes referred to as an "amorphous solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of holding some fluid, such as a liquid, internally. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

[0031] The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active substances and / or fragrances, one or more aerosol-forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0032] The active substances used herein may be bioactive materials intended to achieve or enhance physiological responses. The active substances may be selected from, for example, nutritional supplements, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. The active substances may be obtained spontaneously or synthetically. The active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as vitamin B6 or vitamin B12 or vitamin C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or components, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substances may also include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco, cannabis, or another plant.

[0033] In some embodiments, the active substance includes nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance includes caffeine, melatonin, or vitamin B12.

[0034] One or more other functional materials may include one or more of the following: pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0035] The aerosol-forming material may contain one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may contain one or more of the following: glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, mesoerythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a mixture of diacetins, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyline, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0036] Consumables are articles containing or consisting of aerosol-generating materials, where part or all of the article is intended to be consumed during use by the user. Consumables may also include one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Consumables may also include an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which releases heat during use to generate an aerosol in the aerosol-generating material. The heater may include, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor.

[0037] In the exemplary device 100 shown in Figure 1, the aerosol-generating material 110a of the consumable 110 contains tobacco. The device 100 is configured to generate an aerosol from the tobacco by heating it without combustion. In such examples, the device 100 may be called a tobacco heating device or tobacco heating product (THP).

[0038] Device 100 comprises a housing 102 that houses various components of device 100. The housing 102 has an opening 104 at one end and a receiving portion 112 for receiving a consumable 110. The opening 104 allows the consumable 110 to be inserted into the receiving portion 112 through the opening 104. During use, the consumable 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the receiving portion 112 and heated by the heating assembly 120. Device 100 may also include a lid or cap 106 to cover the opening 104 when the consumable is not in position. In Figure 1, the cap 106 is shown in an open configuration. In the example, the cap 106 may move between an open configuration and a closed configuration, for example, by sliding. Figure 2 shows a top view of device 100.

[0039] In one example, the receiving section 112 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube into which a consumable 110 containing an aerosol-generating material 110a is inserted and heated. However, different configurations for the receiving section 112 are also possible. In this example, the consumable 110 is an elongated cylindrical rod, but in other examples, the consumable 110 may be any other suitable shape. In the example of Figure 1, the consumable 110 is inserted into the receiving section 112, and the proximal end of the consumable 110 (closest to the user during use) protrudes from the device 100 through an opening 104 in the housing 102. This allows the user to contact the proximal end of the consumable 110 during use and inhale the generated aerosol through the consumable 110. In the example, the consumable 110 may include filter material and / or cooling elements (not shown). For example, the proximal end of the consumable 110, which is configured to protrude from the opening 104 and act as a mouthpiece, may include filter material. In some examples, the consumable 110 is completely contained within the receiving portion 112 so as not to protrude outside the device 100. In such examples, the user may inhale the generated aerosol through the opening 104, for example, via a mouthpiece connected to the housing 102.

[0040] Device 100 comprises one or more aerosol-generating elements for generating an aerosol by adding energy to an aerosol-generating material. In the example in Figure 1, the device comprises a heater assembly 120 configured to heat the aerosol-generating material 110a when a consumable 110 is placed in the receiving portion 112. The heater assembly 120 may comprise one or more heating elements (not shown). In one example, the heater assembly 120 comprises one or more resistive heating elements, each configured to generate heat through resistive losses when current flows through it. The heater assembly 120 may be located inside or outside the receiving portion 112. For example, the heater assembly 120 may comprise a thin-film heater wrapped around the surface of the receiving portion 112. In the example, the heater assembly 120 may be formed as a single heater or from a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 112. The receiving portion 112 may be annular or tubular, or its periphery may be at least partially annular or partially tubular. The receiving portion 112 may be formed from, for example, a thermally conductive material, and a thin-film heater may be wrapped around the outer surface of the receiving portion 112. In one example, the receiving portion 112 is defined by a stainless steel support tube. The receiving portion 112 is sized such that substantially the entire aerosol-generating material 110a in the consumable 110 is located within the receiving portion 112 during use, and as a result substantially all of the aerosol-generating material 110a can be heated. The receiving portion 112 may be configured to independently heat a selected area of ​​the aerosol-generating material 110a.

[0041] In other examples, the heater assembly 120 may be configured to heat the consumable 110 by an induction heating process. For example, the heater assembly 120 may include a susceptor element (not shown) configured to be heated by induction heating. In an example where the heater assembly 120 includes a susceptor element, the heater assembly 120 may also include one or more induction elements configured to penetrate the susceptor element and generate a fluctuating magnetic field that causes heating of the susceptor element by generating eddy currents and / or magnetic hysteresis within the susceptor element. In such an example, the susceptor element may at least partially surround the consumable 110. For example, the susceptor element may form a tube that at least partially defines the receiving portion 112. In other examples, the susceptor element may be located inside the receiving portion 112 when in use, for example, the susceptor element may be located inside the consumable 110. In an example using induction heating, there may be two or more susceptor elements configured to heat the consumable 110. For example, multiple susceptor elements may be arranged along the longitudinal axis of the receiving portion 112 to heat different parts of the consumable 110. The heater assembly 120 in the example may also include multiple inductive elements, such as inductor coils, each inductive element may be configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field for heating one of the corresponding susceptor elements. The susceptor elements(s) may be formed from any suitable material that can be inductively heated, such as a metal or metal alloy, such as steel. In some configurations, the susceptor elements(s) may include or be formed entirely from a ferromagnetic material, which may include one or a combination of exemplary metals such as iron, nickel, and cobalt. In some configurations, the susceptor elements(s) may include or be formed entirely from a non-ferromagnetic material, such as aluminum.

[0042] Device 100 may include a user-operable control element 108, such as a button or switch, which activates the operation of Device 100 when pressed. Device 100 includes an electronic device 114 comprising a controller 116 and a power source 118, such as a battery. The controller 116 may include, among other things, a processor configured to determine the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in Device 100, as will be described in more detail below.

[0043] The power source 118 may be a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Suitable battery examples include, for example, lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), alkaline batteries, and / or similar. The battery 118 is electrically coupled to one or more heaters to heat the aerosol-generating material without burning it, and supplies power as needed under the control of the controller 116.

[0044] During use, device 100 may be switched on and / or off by the user using button 108. In this example, when device 100 is switched on using button 108, power from power supply 118 (such as a battery in device 100) is supplied to heater assembly 120, resulting in the heating of consumable 110 and the generation of an aerosol flow from consumable 110.

[0045] During use, the user sucks on the proximal end of the consumable 110 inserted into the device 100, drawing air into the device 100 through one or more air inlets (not shown). The device 100 generates an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material 110a contained in the consumable 110. One or more air inlets and the consumable 110 are in fluid contact with the receiving portion 112, and the air flowing in through one or more air inlets mixes with the aerosol generated from the consumable 110 to create an aerosol flow. When the user sucks on the consumable 110, the aerosol flow is drawn towards the proximal end of the consumable 110 due to the user's suction.

[0046] In the example shown in Figure 1, device 100 includes an indicator 180 configured to display to the user an indication of the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a within device 100. Indicator 180 may include one or more indicator elements, such as one or more LEDs, configured to light up or turn off to indicate the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a within device 100. Indicator 180 may also be, for example, a display panel having multiple indicator elements. In the example, indicator 180 may, as an alternative or additional means, notify the user of the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a within device 100 by other means, such as emitting a sound or tactile signal. For example, indicator 180 may indicate whether the usable aerosol-generating material 110a is at a low level or completely gone. wear and tear To indicate that this has happened, it may be configured to emit a warning sound or vibrate. For example, a tactile signal indicating the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material can be provided by frequency or intensity. In another example, a dynamic interface may be provided that indicates a change in the amount of aerosol-generating material by changing or altering its shape or color.

[0047] As described above, in the example shown in Figure 1, the aerosol-generating material 110a is a solid material such as a tobacco-containing material that is heated without being burned to produce an aerosol. Furthermore, the portion of the consumable 110 containing the heated aerosol-generating material 110a may be located inside the receiving portion 112 and therefore may not be visible to the user when the device 100 is in use. Consequently, by looking at the device 100 and / or the consumable 110, for example, it may not be clear to the user how long the aerosol-generating substance 110a contained in the consumable 110 remains usable.

[0048] For example, when the device 100 generates an aerosol from the consumable 110 during a usage session, the aerosol-generating material 110a is usually depleted, i.e., it becomes unsuitable for producing an aerosol suitable for inhalation by the user. When the aerosol-generating material 110a is depleted, the consumable 110 may completely stop producing aerosols, or, in this example, the consumable 110 may continue to produce aerosols, but the quality of the aerosol (e.g., the amount or type of aerosolized particles produced from the material 110a mixed in the aerosol stream) may be reduced, resulting in an aerosol that is no longer of a quality suitable for inhalation by the user, and at this point, the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a in the consumable 110 is completely depleted. wear and tear It may be determined that it did.

[0049] The amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a is determined at a rate that at least partially depends on one or more factors, such as the volume of aerosol generated from the consumable 110 or the temperature reached when the aerosol-generating material 110a in the consumable 110 is heated, throughout the entire usage session. wear and tear There are things that need to be done.

[0050] The indicator 180 is configured to display an instruction based on a signal received from the controller 116, which allows the user to see when the aerosol-generating material 110a has been used up and / or how much of the aerosol-generating material 110a remains available throughout the usage session. The instruction shown by the indicator 180 changes throughout the usage session to indicate that the amount of available aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in the device 100 decreases as the usage session progresses.

[0051] Therefore, at the start of a usage session, for example, when the device 100 is activated and the heater assembly 120 is turned on with the consumable 110 newly inserted, the indicator 180 may display a first value indicating that all of the aerosol-generating material 110a is available. As the usage session progresses and the aerosol-generating material 110a wear and tear The indicator 180 then displays an updated value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in the device 100. The updated value is determined by the controller 116 and may decrease from the initial maximum value at the start of the usage session to a lower value as the usage session progresses. The value indicating the amount of remaining usable material 110a may eventually decrease to a value indicating that all of the aerosol-generating material 110a has been used up. The initial value may depend on the type of consumable 110 being used. In an example, the controller 116 may be configured to detect when a new consumable 110 has been received by the device 100 and accordingly set the value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a in the device 100 to an initial value corresponding to the consumable 110.

[0052] The controller 116 is configured to determine the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in the device 100 for display by the indicator 180. The controller 116 determines, for example, that all of the usable aerosol-generating material 110a in the consumable 110 under given operating conditions of the device 100 is available. wear and tear The controller may be programmed to determine the time required to complete the process. For example, to make such a determination, the controller 116 may have data available to the controller 116 that is derived from test data or theoretical models. For example, the controller 116 may have data available to the controller 116 obtained by testing the device 100 under various operating conditions, and this data will enable the controller 116 to determine if the aerosol-generating material 110a completes the process under the current operating conditions. wear and tear It becomes possible to determine the time it will take to do it.

[0053] In this example, the controller 116 may be configured to determine whether the device 100 is in a first operating state, the first operating state being when the aerosol generating material 110a wear and tear However, this indicates that device 100 is not being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user. Controller 116 is configured to determine a value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in device 100 by the first process when device 100 is in the first state. For example, even during periods when the user is not inhaling with device 100, the heater assembly 120 still heats the aerosol-generating material 110a and the material 110a wear and tear This may occur. For example, when the user is not inhaling with device 100, the heater assembly 120 may be maintained at a temperature lower than the temperature used to generate aerosols when the user is inhaling with device 100. In this example, the heater assembly 120 may not be actively powered, but residual heat may still affect material 110a. wear and tear It is possible that the temperature remains such that it continues to heat. For example, the power to the heater assembly 120 may have been switched off a little while ago, but the heater assembly 120 heats the material 110a wear and tear It may remain at a temperature that causes this. Therefore, even though device 100 is not operating to deliver the aerosol that is inhaled by the user to the user, during such a period the aerosol generating material 110a wear and tear This is possible. In the example, the controller 116 may adjust the instructions regarding the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a to take this into consideration.

[0054] To determine the operating state of device 100, the controller 116 may be configured to determine that a user is interacting with device 100. In one example, the non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 includes a detector 122a for detecting user-device interaction. In one example, the detector 122a is configured to communicate a signal to the controller 116. For example, the detector 122a may be configured to send a signal to the controller 116 when it detects user interaction with device 100. The detector 122a may be connected to the controller 116 via a suitable electrical connection. Thus, the controller 116 is configured to receive a signal from the detector 122a and can perform calculations and / or control the operation of device 100 based on the received signal.

[0055] In the example in Figure 1, the detector 122a is a puff detector configured to detect when a user is inhaling with the device 100. The puff detector 122a may be configured to detect, for example, airflow or pressure changes indicating that a user is inhaling with the consumable 110. For example, the puff detector 122a may be in fluid contact with the receiving section 112, thereby being configured to measure the airflow within the receiving section 112 caused by a user inhaling with the consumable 110. The puff detector 122a may be configured to detect the duration and magnitude of the user's inhalation with the device 100. For example, the puff detector 122a may be configured to detect parameters such as airflow velocity within the receiving section and / or parameters indicating the total volume of air / aerosol inhaled during one puff (one puff is one inhalation).

[0056] The controller 116 may be configured to decrease a value indicating the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a at a first rate when the heater assembly 120 is operating and no aspiration is detected by the puff detector 122a. The first rate may be a predetermined rate determined, for example, through testing of the device 100. The first rate may depend on factors of use of the device 100 and consumables 110, such as the temperature reached when the material 110a is heated by the heater assembly 120, the type and / or amount of aerosol-generating material 110a used, whether the consumables 110 contain a filter or cooling element, and if so, the type of filter or cooling element contained in the consumables 110, and one or more of the percentage of material 110a being heated by the device 100 at any particular time. In the example, the first rate may also depend on the amount of remaining usable material 110a. For example, the aerosol-generating material 110a wear and tear The rate may increase as the amount of available material decreases. Alternatively, when more aerosol-generating material 110a remains, for example, due to more material 110a being heated by the heater assembly 120, the aerosol-generating material 110a will be generated at a faster rate, depending on the type of consumables and / or material 110a. wear and tear There are things that need to be done.

[0057] In the example, the controller 116 may have a plurality of different first predetermined speeds available to the controller 116, corresponding to different usage parameters of device 100, and the plurality of different first predetermined speeds may be stored, for example, in a memory device (not shown) in the control electronic equipment 114 or can be determined by the controller 116.

[0058] The controller 116 may be configured to update a value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material 110a in the device by a second process different from the first process when the device 100 is in a second state indicating that the device 100 is operating to deliver aerosols to the user. For example, the controller 116 may be configured to decrease a value indicating the amount of remaining available aerosol-generating material 110a by a second process when the detector 122a detects user interaction with the device 100. For example, the controller 116 may be configured to decrease the value indicating the amount of remaining available aerosol-generating material 110a by a predetermined amount for each detected inhalation. The predetermined amount is the amount of available material 110a when a typical puff is performed from the consumable 110. wear and tear This amount may be, for example, based on measurements obtained from a system including the device 100 and consumables 110 during use.

[0059] The controller 116 may be configured to decrease a value indicating the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a at a second rate over the duration of the detected aspiration. In an example, the controller 116 uses the input received from the detector 122a to determine the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a during the detected user interaction. wear and tear The amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a may be determined. For example, the controller 116 may determine the duration of detected user inhalation based on the input received from the puff detector 122a. The controller 116 may be configured to decrease a value indicating the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a based on the determined duration of detected user inhalation and a second rate.

[0060] The second speed may be, for example, a predetermined speed. The predetermined value for the second speed may be determined by testing or by using modeling in a manner similar to that described above for the first speed. For example, the device 100 and consumable 110 are such that when the user inhales the consumable 110, the aerosol-generating material 110a is typically wear and tear Tests may be conducted to measure the rate at which it occurs. In another example, data may be collected from a user's usage session, for example, the number of puffs, the duration of the puffs, and the manner in which the device 100 was used, and from this data a typical aerosol-generating material 110a during inhalation. wear and tear The speed can be determined.

[0061] The aerosol-generating material 110a is more rapidly aerated when the user is inhaling it with the device 100. wear and tear Therefore, it can be expected that the second speed will typically be higher than the first speed.

[0062] In other examples, the controller 116 may determine a second velocity based on input from the puff detector 122a and / or other determined usage parameters indicating user suction in the device 100. For example, the puff detector 122a may be configured to measure the airflow velocity over the duration of the detected suction and provide the airflow velocity to the controller 116. Thus, the controller 116 determines the velocity of the material 110a over the duration of the detected puff based on the airflow velocity measured by the puff detector 122a over the duration of the puff. wear and tear A second one to use when making a decision wear and tear The speed may be determined. For example, the faster the airflow velocity, the more rapidly the aerosol is drawn from the consumable 110a, and as a result the aerosol-generating material 110a is drawn more rapidly. wear and tearThis may indicate that there is a possibility of this happening. Therefore, the second velocity may be higher for puffs with a higher measured airflow velocity and lower for puffs with a lower measured airflow velocity. In the example, the controller 116 may determine the size of the puff, for example, the amount of air / aerosol drawn in from the consumable 110 during the puff, and the controller 116 may reduce the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a based on the determined puff size.

[0063] In some examples, instead of the controller 116 determining the puff size from airflow velocity and duration data, the puff detector 122a may provide the controller 116 with a single input indicating the detected puff size which can be used by the controller 116. The puff size and the aerosol-generating material 110a wear and tear The relationship between quantity and value may be predetermined and available for retrieval by the controller 116. The controller 116 can provide accurate indication of the actual amount of aerosol-generating material 110a used in a puff by adjusting a value indicating the amount of remaining available aerosol-generating material 110a based on the measured puff data. This allows for more accurate instructions to be provided to the user.

[0064] Figure 3 shows a second exemplary device 200 having the same components as those described above for device 100, except that device 200 has a contact detector 122b instead of a puff detector 122a. The contact detector 122b is configured to detect contact between the user and device 100. For example, the detector 122b may be configured to detect when the user brings their lips close to the proximal end of the consumable 110 to inhale an aerosol. The contact detector 122b may be a capacitive touch sensor or the like. In another example where device 200 includes a mouthpiece (not shown), the contact detector 122b may be located inside or adjacent to the mouthpiece to detect user contact with the mouthpiece.

[0065] The second exemplary device 200 operates in the same manner as described above for device 100, with reference to Figure 1, except that in the second exemplary device 200, the contact detector 122b is replaced by a puff detector 122a. The contact detector 122b may provide the controller 116 with an indication of when the user is interacting with device 200. Thus, the controller 116 can determine whether the user is interacting with device 200 or not, and can determine a value indicating the amount of usable material 110a remaining in device 200, as in any of the examples above. The controller 116 may be configured to determine from the input from the contact sensor 122b that the user is interacting with device 200, and in some examples, this determination may be treated as an indication that the user is sucking on device 200. In the example, when the contact sensor 122b detects user interaction during a usage session, the controller 116 uses the second wear and tear A speed may be applied. In the example, the contact sensor 122b may be able to measure the duration of suction but not the magnitude of suction. Therefore, the controller 116 may use a predetermined second speed that is independent of the magnitude of suction. Alternatively, in another example, the controller 116 may be configured to decrease a value indicating the usable amount of aerosol-generating material 110a by a predetermined amount for each user interaction detected by the second detector 122b, in the manner described for the puff detector 122a.

[0066] In other examples, the exemplary non-combustible aerosol supply devices described herein may include one or more different types of detectors configured to detect user-to-consumer interaction with the consumable 110. For example, the exemplary device may include both a puff detector and a contact sensor, both configured to detect user interaction with the device. In another example, the exemplary device may be configured to detect that a user is interacting with the consumable 110. For example, the consumable 110 may include a conductive material, and the device 100 may include a conductive plate and a detection circuit configured to determine a change in capacitance between the conductive material in the consumable and the conductive plate when a user touches the consumable. This detection circuit may be used as a means to detect that a user is in contact with the consumable 110 with the user's lips and to indicate that the user is inhaling with the consumable 110. Furthermore, the exemplary device may include a detector for detecting the type of consumable inserted into the device, and after detection, the type of consumable is used to determine how the aerosol-generating material 110a is used throughout the entire session. wear and tear This may be used by the controller 116 when deciding whether to do so.

[0067] Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of an exemplary non-combustible aerosol supply device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. Descriptions of the features of device 100, as described with reference to Figure 4, may be similar to those of a second exemplary device 200. In Figure 4, the indicator 180 comprises a plurality of indicator elements 180a. In this example, the indicator elements 180a are a plurality of lights, such as LEDs, that are switched on or off to indicate the amount of aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in device 100. In this example, when a consumable 110 is newly inserted into the device, all the lights illuminate, and the lights 180a then indicate the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a throughout the usage session. wear and tearAs this progresses, the lights are switched off sequentially, starting with the rightmost light, as seen in Figure 4. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram representing a total of 10 indicator elements 180a, of which 8 are lit, indicating that the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material 110a is 70-80% of the amount at the start of the usage session. In other examples, the illumination 180a may start off unlit and be switched on sequentially as the value indicating the remaining amount of aerosol-generating material 110a in the device 100 decreases.

[0068] In the example, the indicator 180 may be configured to display a value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in the device 100 with fine particle size. For example, the indicator 180 may indicate, for example, when the aerosol-generating material 110a is completely gone. wear and tear The system may include at least twice or at least three times the typical total number of puffs performed from the consumable 110 before the puffing process, or at least three times the number of indicator elements 180a. In the example, any suitable configuration may be used to display the amount of remaining usable material 110a. For example, a display bar that changes as the amount of usable material 110a decreases, or a screen that displays a percentage number, etc.

[0069] Figure 5 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 1000 performed by the controller 116. Method 1000 is an exemplary method for determining the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in devices 100, 200 for display by indicator 180. In block 1002, the controller 116 determines whether the heater assembly 120 is operating. If the heater assembly 120 is not operating, the aerosol-generating material 110a is not heated. wear and tear It can be assumed that this has not happened, and therefore, it may not be necessary to update the value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a. However, if the controller 116 determines in block 1002 that the heater assembly 120 is operating, the controller 116 proceeds to block 1004.

[0070] In block 1004, the controller 116 determines whether user interaction has been detected by detectors 122a and 122b. That is, as described above, the controller 116 is configured to receive signals from detectors 122a and 122b indicating to the controller 116 when the user is interacting with devices 100 and 200. If no user interaction is detected in block 1004, the controller 116 proceeds to block 1006, where the controller 116 performs the first wear and tear Determine the speed. First wear and tear The rate is the amount of available aerosol-generating material 110a in devices 100, 200 when the heater assembly 120 is operating but the device is not being operated by the user to generate an aerosol that is inhaled by the user. wear and tear This is speed. For example, the heater assembly 120 may be operating, but no user interaction with devices 100, 200 is detected, for example, the user is not sucking on devices 100, 200. As described above, in the example, the first wear and tear The speed may be a predetermined speed that is available to the controller 116, for example, by being stored in a memory device accessible by the controller 116. Determining the first speed in block 1006 may include the controller 116 checking the current usage parameters of devices 100, 200, such as the temperature of the heater assembly 120 or the aerosol generating material 110a, or which part of the consumable 110 is currently being heated by the heater assembly 120. In an example, the controller 116 may then perform a lookup in block 1006 in a predetermined table of first speeds to determine, for example, a first speed appropriate for the current usage parameters of devices 100, 200.

[0071] Once the controller 116 determines a first speed in block 1006, the controller 116 continues to determine a value in block 1008 indicating the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a in devices 100 and 200. The controller 116 may be configured to determine the value indicating the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a in devices 100 and 200 by updating an initial value using the first speed. The initial value may be a value corresponding to a newly inserted consumable, as described above, or a given amount. wear and tear The value may correspond to the consumable item 110.

[0072] In block 1008, when the controller 116 determines an updated value indicating the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a in the device, method 1000 proceeds to block 1010, where the indicator 180 is updated to display the updated value. Method 1000 then returns to block 1002, where the controller 116 checks again whether the heater assembly 120 is operating. The controller 116 may be configured to repeat the method at a set frequency, for example, once per second or multiple times per second. Thus, in such an example, the controller 116 checks the amount of material 110a wear and tear The decrease in the amount of remaining material 110a for display by the indicator 180 may be determined by multiplying the rate (first rate) by a set period during the time that method 1000 is performed (for example, if the controller 116 is configured to perform method 1000 once per second, the set period is 1 second). In some examples, the controller 116 may be configured to repeat the method at a variable frequency. For example, the controller 116 may be configured to increase the frequency at which the method is repeated when a puff is detected. This configuration allows the aerosol-generating material 110a to decrease at a faster rate. wear and tear When it is highly likely that this is the case, a larger particle size can be provided in measuring the amount of remaining aerosol-generating material 110a in the puff.

[0073] In block 1004, if the controller 116 determines that the device is operating to generate an aerosol that will be inhaled by the user, method 1000 proceeds to block 1012. For example, the controller 116 may determine from the inputs from detectors 122a and 122b that a user is interacting with the device 100, and therefore determine that the device 100 is operating to generate an aerosol that will be inhaled by the user. In block 1012, the controller 116 determines a second velocity, the second velocity being such that when the device is operating to generate an aerosol that will be inhaled, the material 110a wear and tear This corresponds to the rate of increase when wear and tear It may also be speed. In the example, determining the second speed in block 1012 is done by the controller 116 using the usage parameters of devices 100 and 200 (as described above with reference to Figure 1 and explained for block 1006). wear and tear This may include determining the speed. In the example, determining the second speed in block 1012 may also include using data inputs from detectors 122a and 122b. For example, in the example of device 100 equipped with puff detector 122a as described above, the second speed may be determined by taking into account airflow data measured by the puff detector 122a during puffing. In one example, the second speed may be based on device usage parameters such as the temperature of the consumable 110 and measured indications regarding the strength of the puff from, for example, airflow velocity data.

[0074] Once the controller 116 determines the second speed in block 1012, the controller 116 proceeds to block 1014 and uses the second speed to determine a value indicating the remaining amount of usable material 110a. In one example, this determination may be made by multiplying the second speed by a set period during the time that method 1000 is performed, as described for block 1008. The controller 116 may then update the indicator 180 in block 1016 with the updated value.

[0075] The method may continue to loop between steps 1002 and 1016 while the user continues to aspirate the consumable 110 and the aspiration is detected by the detector 122a. The controller 116 may then determine a new second speed each time method 1000 is performed, even if, in some examples, it is within the same detected user aspiration. For example, when the controller 116 determines the second speed each time method 1000 is performed, it may take into account changes in airflow velocity across the entire puff. In other examples, the controller 116 may not have to determine the second speed using airflow data, etc., as described above. In such cases, the second speed may be predetermined. For example, the second speed may be based on the usage parameters of devices 100, 200, the controller 116 may perform a lookup in a table of second speeds, or the second speed may simply be a predetermined fixed speed, e.g., a predetermined typical speed of material 110a during aspiration of consumable 110. wear and tear Speed ​​is also acceptable.

[0076] Therefore, the controller 116 can use the exemplary method 1000 to provide an up-to-date indication of the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a for display by the indicator 180. Thus, the user is provided with information indicating how much of the usable material 110a remains, for example, before the end of a usage session is required, or before the provision of new consumables containing unused aerosol-generating material is required.

[0077] In some of the examples described above, the controller 116 is configured to determine the operating state of device 100 based on input from one of the detectors, for example, detectors 122a and 122b, while in other examples, the controller 116 may determine the operating state of device 100 based on operating parameters related to the aerosol-generating elements of device 100. For example, the controller 116 may determine the operating state of the aerosol-generating material 110a based on operating parameters related to the heater assembly 120. wear and tearHowever, the controller 116 may determine that the heater assembly 120 is not operating to deliver an aerosol to be inhaled by the user. For example, the controller 116 may determine that the heater assembly 120 is at a temperature lower than necessary to generate enough aerosol for inhalation by the user, but some of the aerosol generating material 110a wear and tear It may be determined that the temperature is high enough to cause it.

[0078] In some examples, the controller 116 may determine from the temperature of the heater assembly 120 various operating states that the controller 116 can use when determining the remaining amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a. For example, the controller 116 may determine that when the temperature is below a first temperature T1, it is unlikely that an aerosol will be generated from the aerosol-generating material 110a. For example, when the controller 116 determines that the heater assembly 120 is at a temperature below the first temperature T1, the predicted amount of aerosol-generating material 110a wear and tear This determination may be taken into account by setting the speed to zero. Furthermore, if the heater assembly 120 is at a temperature above the first temperature T1 and below the second temperature T2, the second temperature T2 is an operating temperature T sufficient for the aerosol to be delivered to the user in order for the aerosol to be drawn in. op Even when the rate falls below a certain level, the controller 116 ensures that the aerosol generating material 110a is at a given rate wear and tear It may be determined that this will happen. Furthermore, the controller 116 determines that the temperature of the heater assembly 120 will be lowered from the second temperature T2 or a temperature above the second temperature T2 to the operating temperature T op Aerosol-generating materials wear and tear It may be determined that it is rising towards a specific speed. The controller 116 applies to determine the amount of the remaining aerosol-generating material 110a. wear and tearWhen determining the speed, this instruction regarding the operating state of device 100 may be taken into consideration. The controller 116 may also use, for example, the determined temperature of the heater assembly 120 to determine whether the user is using the consumable 110 for suction, and apply that determination when determining the amount of remaining aerosol-generating material 110a. wear and tear The speed may be determined. For example, the controller 116 determines when the temperature of the heater assembly 120 is the operating temperature T. op The controller 116 may determine that the heater assembly 120 is at a temperature T above the operating temperature T, and therefore at a suitable temperature for generating the aerosol to be delivered to the user. The controller 116 may then determine that the temperature of the heater assembly 120 has dropped from T to T-ΔT when the user inhales from the consumable 110. The controller 116 may determine from this temperature drop that puffing is taking place. In a manner similar to that described above, the controller 116 determines that the heater assembly 120 is at an operating temperature T op If the result exceeds the threshold but it is determined that no puffing has been performed, the result will be different from if it is determined that puffing has been performed. wear and tear Speed ​​may be applied.

[0079] As an addition to or alternative to any of the parameters mentioned above, the first wear and tear Speed ​​or second wear and tear The rate may be determined at least in part based on the temperature and / or humidity of the ambient air in which the device 100 is operating. For example, in some examples, any of these parameters may be such that the aerosol generating material 110a is heated but not delivering aerosols to the user, or heated and delivering aerosols to the user. wear and tear This can affect the speed at which it occurs.

[0080] In the example described above, device 100 includes an indicator 180, and controller 116 is configured to send a value to indicator 180 indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 100a remaining in device 100 for display by indicator 180. However, in other examples, controller 116 may be configured, either as an alternative or additional, to send a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material 110a remaining in device 100 for display by a separate device such as a smartphone.

[0081] The above examples have been described with reference to non-combustible aerosol supply devices that generate aerosols by heating solids, such as tobacco-containing materials. However, in other examples, the exemplary methods described above may be used with non-combustible aerosol supply devices that generate aerosols by heating other types of materials, such as liquids or gels. For example, the methods described herein may be particularly useful when applied to non-combustible aerosol supply devices that heat solid materials, where it may be difficult for the user to know how much solid material remains available. However, such methods may also be useful when used with non-combustible aerosol supply devices that heat liquids or gels, etc., especially when the liquid or gel is not visible to the user. For example, when used with liquid aerosol-generating materials, the methods described herein can provide a useful alternative to using an indicator that shows the measured level of the liquid in a liquid reservoir, etc.

[0082] In the above example, the aerosol generating material is contained in the consumable 110, but in other examples, the aerosol generating material may not be contained in the consumable, and may be placed, for example, in the receiving part of the device, or loosely placed or contained in, for example, a cartridge or pod.

[0083] As used herein, the terms “flavoring” and “flavoring” may refer to materials that can be used to create a desired taste or aroma in products intended for adult consumers, where permitted by local regulations. These materials include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie (trademark), 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, jasmine). The materials may also include other additives such as summin, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, bell pepper, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or peppermint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or receptor site stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant substances, or breath fresheners. These materials may be imitations, synthetic or natural ingredients, or mixtures thereof. These materials may be in any preferred form, such as oil, liquid, solid, or powder. For example, a liquid, oil, or other such fluid flavoring can be impregnated into a porous solid material to impart flavor and / or other properties to the porous solid material. Thus, the liquid or oil is a component of the material into which the liquid or oil is impregnated.

[0084] The embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative examples of the present invention. Any feature described with respect to any one embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features described, or in combination with one or more features of any other embodiment or any combination of any other embodiment. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may be adopted without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. [Item of the invention] [Item 1] A controller configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, It is configured to determine the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, A controller configured such that, if the controller determines that the aerosol-generating material is being consumed and the non-combustible aerosol supply system is in a first operating state indicating that the non-combustible aerosol supply system is not being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user, the controller determines by a first process a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material remaining in the non-combustible aerosol supply system. [Item 2] The controller according to item 1, wherein, if the controller determines that the non-combustible aerosol supply system is in a second operating state indicating that the non-combustible aerosol supply system is being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user, the controller is configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material remaining in the non-combustible aerosol supply system by a second process different from the first process. [Item 3] The controller according to item 1 or 2, configured to determine the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system based on input received from a detector for detecting user interaction with the non-combustible aerosol supply system. [Item 4] The controller according to item 3, configured to determine the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system by determining from the input received from the detector whether the user is inhaling the non-combustible aerosol supply system. [Item 5] The controller according to item 4, configured to receive data from the detector indicating one or more parameters of the suction detected in the non-combustion aerosol supply system. [Item 6] It is configured to determine the operating parameters related to the aerosol generating element in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, A controller according to any one of items 1 to 5, configured to determine that the non-combustible aerosol supply system is in the first operating state based on the operating parameters related to the aerosol generating element. [Item 7] A controller according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein the first process includes determining an initial value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, and applying a first consumption rate to the initial value for a period of time during which the non-combustible aerosol supply system is determined to be in a first operating state. [Item 8] The controller according to item 7, wherein the first consumption rate is based on one or more properties of one or more of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, the aerosol generating material, and consumables comprising the aerosol generating material. [Item 9] The controller according to item 8, configured to determine the first consumption rate based on one or more current usage parameters of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as the temperature of a heater assembly configured to heat the aerosol-generating material or the temperature of the aerosol-generating material. [Item 10] The controller according to any one of items 2 to 9, wherein the second process includes determining an initial value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, and applying a second consumption rate to the initial value for a period of time during which the non-combustible aerosol supply system is determined to be in the second operating state. [Item 11] The controller according to item 10, configured to determine the second consumption rate based on data indicating one or more parameters of the detected suction received from the detector. [Item 12] The controller according to any one of items 2 to 9, wherein the second process includes determining an initial value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, and decreasing the initial value by a predetermined amount when inhalation by a user in the non-combustible aerosol supply system is detected. [Item 13] A controller according to any one of items 1 to 12, configured to send a value indicating the amount of aerosol-generating material remaining in the non-combustible aerosol supply system to an indicator displayed to the user. [Item 14] Apparatus for a non-combustion type aerosol supply system, A controller as described in any one of items 1 to 13, An indicator that displays a value indicating the amount of remaining usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, A detector for detecting user interaction with the non-combustion type aerosol supply system and A device equipped with the following features. [Item 15] A non-combustible aerosol supply device comprising a controller as described in any one of items 1 to 13 or the apparatus as described in item 14. [Item 16] A non-combustion aerosol supply device according to item 15, for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material containing tobacco by heating the material rather than burning it. [Item 17] A non-combustible aerosol supply system comprising a non-combustible aerosol supply device as described in item 15 or 16, and consumables including an aerosol generating material. [Item 18] A method for determining a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, The steps include determining the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, If the controller determines that the non-combustible aerosol supply system is in a first operating state, indicating that the aerosol-generating material is being consumed and the non-combustible aerosol supply system is not being operated by the user to deliver the generated aerosol to the user, the first process includes the step of determining a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system. Methods that include...

Claims

1. A controller configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in a non-combustible aerosol supply system, It is configured to determine the operating state of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, If the controller determines that the aerosol-generating material is being consumed and the non-combustible aerosol supply system is in a first operating state indicating that the user is not operating the non-combustible aerosol supply system to deliver the generated aerosol to the user, the controller is configured to determine a value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material remaining in the non-combustible aerosol supply system through a first process. A controller wherein the first process includes determining an initial value indicating the amount of usable aerosol-generating material in the non-combustible aerosol supply system, and applying a first consumption rate to the initial value for a period of time during which the non-combustible aerosol supply system is determined to be in a first operating state.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the first consumption rate is based on one or more properties of one or more of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, the aerosol generating material, and consumables comprising the aerosol generating material.

3. The controller according to claim 2, configured to determine the first consumption rate based on one or more current usage parameters of the non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as the temperature of a heater assembly configured to heat the aerosol-generating material or the temperature of the aerosol-generating material.

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