Aerosol delivery device that monitors usage data

Abstract

As an aerosol delivery device, the aerosol delivery device comprises: a sensor configured to monitor the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user; and a controller configured to establish usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; and the controller is further configured to control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems. Background Technology

[0002] Aerosol delivery systems, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), generally contain an aerosol generating material, such as a reservoir of source liquid, from which an aerosol or vapor for inhalation by a user is generated, for example, through thermal evaporation. Accordingly, the aerosol delivery system will typically include an aerosol generator, for example, an aerosol generation chamber containing a heating element, and the aerosol generator is arranged to evaporate or aerosolize a portion of the precursor material to generate vapor or aerosol in the aerosol generation chamber. When a user inhales toward the device and power is supplied to the evaporator, air is drawn into the device through an inlet opening and along an inlet air channel connected to the aerosol generation chamber, where the air mixes with the evaporated precursor material to form a condensation aerosol. There is an outlet air channel connecting the aerosol generating chamber to the mouthpiece outlet, and when a user inhales into the mouthpiece, the air drawn into the aerosol generating chamber continues along the outlet flow path to the mouthpiece outlet, carrying the aerosol along with it for inhalation by the user. Some electronic cigarettes may also include flavor elements in the air flow paths passing through the device to impart additional flavors.Such devices may sometimes be referred to as hybrid devices, and flavor elements may include, for example, a tobacco portion arranged in the airflow path between the aerosol generating chamber and the mouthpiece, so that the aerosol / condensed aerosol inhaled through the device passes through the tobacco portion before exiting the mouthpiece for user inhalation.

[0003] Aerosol generation systems may be operable to determine how to control the operating patterns of the device during future operation using previous usage data. In such aerosol generation systems, there is interest in optimizing the storage and use of usage data. Various approaches intended to help resolve or mitigate at least some of the issues discussed above are described herein.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an aerosol delivery device is provided, wherein the aerosol delivery device comprises: a sensor configured to monitor a usage pattern of an aerosol delivery system by a user; and a controller configured to establish usage data based on monitoring a usage pattern of an aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; and the controller is further configured to control an operating pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data.

[0005] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method for controlling an aerosol delivery device comprising a sensor and a controller is provided, the method comprising the steps of: using the sensor to monitor a usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user; using the controller to establish usage data based on monitoring a usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; and using the controller to control the aerosol delivery system so as to control an operating pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data.

[0006] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided that includes instructions for performing a method according to a second aspect when executed by a processor.

[0007] It will be understood that the features and aspects of the present invention described above in relation to the first and other aspects of the present invention are equally applicable to embodiments of the present invention according to other aspects of the present invention as well as to the specific combinations described above, and can be appropriately combined with them. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0008] Now, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described merely as examples with reference to the accompanying drawings:. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol delivery system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a data communication environment, wherein the aerosol delivery system is configured to transmit and receive data with one or more external electronic devices. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operating aspects of an aerosol delivery system according to the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary profile of monitored parameters based on monitoring the usage pattern of an aerosol delivery device across multiple puffs of the aerosol delivery device. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an additional exemplary profile of monitored parameters based on monitoring the usage pattern of an aerosol delivery device across multiple puffs of the aerosol delivery device. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0009] Aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments are discussed and described herein. Some aspects and features of specific examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and are not discussed or described in detail for the sake of brevity. Accordingly, it will be understood that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein that are not described in detail may be implemented according to any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

[0010] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapor delivery systems), such as nebulizers or e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may be used from time to time, but it will be understood that these terms may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery systems / devices and electronic aerosol delivery systems / devices. Furthermore, as is customary in the art, the terms "aerosol" and "vapor," and related terms such as "evaporate," "volatilize," and "aerosolize" may generally be used interchangeably.

[0011] Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, but not always, comprise a modular assembly containing both a reusable part and a replaceable (disposable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part includes aerosol-generating material and an evaporator, while the reusable part will include a power supply (e.g., a rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be understood that these different parts may include additional elements depending on their function. For example, the reusable device part will often include a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge part will include a temperature sensor to assist with temperature control in some cases. The cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit during use, for example, using screw threads, bayonets, or magnetic couplings with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in the cartridge is depleted or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the control unit and a replacement cartridge may be attached in its place. Systems conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part devices.

[0012] Electronic cigarettes generally have an elongated shape. To provide a specific example, the specific embodiments of the present disclosure described herein will be considered to include this type of generally elongated two-part device utilizing disposable cartridges. However, it will be understood that the basic principles described herein may be equally applied to devices conforming to other overall shapes based on different aerosol delivery system configurations, such as single-part devices or modular devices comprising more than two parts, refillable devices, and single-use disposable devices, as well as, for example, so-called box-mod high-performance devices having a typically more box-shaped form. More generally, it will be understood that the specific embodiments of the present disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems operatively configured to provide functions according to the principles described herein, and that the structural aspects of the aerosol delivery systems configured to provide functions according to the specific embodiments of the present disclosure are not of great importance.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosol delivery system (1) according to specific embodiments of the present disclosure. The aerosol delivery system (1) comprises two main components, namely a reusable part (2) and a replaceable / disposable cartridge part (4). The cartridge part (4) is an example of an aerosol-generating article or consumable. Under normal use, the reusable part (2) and the cartridge part (4) are disengaged from each other at an interface (6). When the cartridge part is depleted, or when the user simply wishes to switch to a different cartridge part, the cartridge part is removed from the reusable part, and a replacement cartridge part may be attached to the reusable part in its place. The interface (6) may be established according to existing techniques based on threaded, magnetic, or bayonet fastening, which provide structural, electrical, and air flow path connections between the two parts and have electrical contacts and openings appropriately arranged to properly establish electrical connections and air flow paths between the two parts, for example. The specific manner in which the cartridge portion (4) is mechanically mounted to the reusable portion (2) is not important to the principles described herein, but for specific examples, it is assumed herein to include magnetic coupling (not shown in FIG. 1). It will also be understood that in some embodiments, the interface (6) may not support electrical and / or air flow path connections between the individual portions. For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator may be provided to the reusable portion (2) rather than the cartridge portion (4), or the transfer of power from the reusable portion (2) to the cartridge portion (4) may be wireless (e.g., based on electromagnetic induction), and an electrical connection between the reusable portion and the cartridge portion is not required.Additionally, in some embodiments, airflow through the electronic cigarette does not pass through the reusable portion, and accordingly, no airflow path connection between the reusable portion and the cartridge portion is required. In some cases, when the reusable portion (2) and the cartridge portion (4) are combined for use, a portion of the airflow path may be limited at the interface between portions of the reusable portion (2) and the cartridge portion (4).

[0014] According to a specific embodiment of the present disclosure, the cartridge portion (4) may be approximately conventional. In FIG. 1, the cartridge portion (4) comprises a cartridge housing (42) formed of a plastic material. The cartridge housing (42) supports other components of the cartridge portion and provides a mechanical interface (6) with the reusable portion (2). The cartridge housing is generally circularly symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis to which the cartridge portion is coupled to the reusable portion (2). In this example, the cartridge portion has a length of about 4 cm and a diameter of about 1.5 cm. However, it will be understood that specific geometric shapes, and more generally overall shapes and materials used, may differ in different embodiments.

[0015] Within the cartridge housing (42), there is a reservoir (44) that holds an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol-generating material is a material capable of generating an aerosol when, for example, heated, irradiated, or supplied with energy in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel that may or may not contain, for example, active substances and / or flavoring agents. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include plant material such as tobacco. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material capable of retaining some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming material may comprise, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% of an amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of an amorphous solid. The aerosol-forming material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials. The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more components capable of forming an aerosol.In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming agent material is glycerin (e.g., vegetable glycerin), glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, It may include one or more of lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. One or more other functional materials may include one or more of pH adjusters, colorants, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants. The aerosol-generating material may be present on or within a support to form a substrate. The support may be, for example, paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, recycled material, plastic material, ceramic material, composite material, glass, metal, or metal alloy, or may include the same.

[0016] One or more active ingredients may include physiological and / or olfactory active ingredients incorporated in an aerosolizable material to achieve a physiological and / or olfactory response of the user. The active ingredients may be selected from, for example, nutraceuticals, nootropics, and psychoactives. In some embodiments, the active ingredient is a physiologically active ingredient and may be selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g., nicotine ditartrate / nicotine bitartrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, other alkaloids such as caffeine, cannabinoids, or mixtures thereof. Cannabinoids are a type of natural or synthetic chemical compound that acts on cannabinoid receptors (i.e., CB1 and CB2) on cells that inhibit the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. Two of the most important cannabinoids are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabinoids occur naturally in plants such as cannabis (phytocannabinoids), naturally in animals (endocannabinoids), and can be artificially produced (synthetic cannabinoids). Cannabinoids are cyclic molecules that exhibit specific characteristics such as the ability to easily cross the blood-brain barrier, low toxicity, and few side effects.Cannabis species express more than 85 different phytocannabinoids and are divided into subcategories including cannabigerols, cannabichromenes, cannabidiols, tetrahydrocannabinols, cannabinols and cannabinodiols, and other cannabinoids. The cannabinoids found in cannabis are cannabigerol (CBG), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN), cannabinodiol (CBDL), cannabicyclol (CBL), cannabivarin (CBV), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabichromevarin (CBCV), cannabigerovarin (CBGV), and cannabigerol monomethyl ether (CBGM). Cannabinerolic acid, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabinol propyl variant (CBNV), cannabitriol (CBO), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), and tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid (THCV A) are included, but not limited to.

[0017] In the example schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, a reservoir (44) configured to store a supply of liquid aerosol generating material is provided. In this example, the liquid reservoir (44) has an annular shape having an outer wall defined by a cartridge housing (42) and an inner wall defining an air flow path (52) through the cartridge portion (4). The reservoir (44) is closed at each end by end walls to hold the aerosol generating material. The reservoir (44) may be formed according to conventional techniques and, for example, may include a plastic material and be molded integrally with the cartridge housing (42).

[0018] The cartridge portion further includes an aerosol generator (48) positioned toward the end of the reservoir (44) opposite the mouthpiece outlet (50). The aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to apply thermal energy to the aerosol generating material to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to apply one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy to the aerosol generating material.

[0019] In a two-part device as illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be understood that the aerosol generator may be in either the reusable part (2) or the cartridge part (4). For example, in some embodiments, the aerosol generator (48) (e.g., a heater) may be included in the reusable part (2) and comes into close contact with a portion of the aerosol generating material within the cartridge (4) when the cartridge is combined with the reusable part (2). In such embodiments, the cartridge may contain a portion of the aerosol generating material, and the aerosol generator (48) including the heater is at least partially inserted into or at least partially surrounds a portion of the aerosol generating material when the cartridge (4) is combined with the reusable part (2).

[0020] In the example of FIG. 1, the wick (46) in contact with the heater (48) extends laterally across the cartridge air flow path (52), and its ends extend into the reservoir (44) of the liquid aerosol generating material through openings in the inner wall of the reservoir (44). The openings in the inner wall of the reservoir are sized to roughly match the dimensions of the wick (46) to provide a reasonable seal against leakage from the liquid reservoir into the cartridge air flow path without excessive compression of the wick, which could be detrimental to fluid transfer performance.

[0021] The wick (46) and the heater (48) are arranged within the cartridge air flow path (52) such that the area of ​​the cartridge air flow path (52) around the wick (46) and the heater (48) effectively defines the evaporation area for the cartridge portion (4). The aerosol generating material in the reservoir (44) penetrates the wick (46) through the ends of the wick extending into the reservoir (44) and is drawn along the wick by surface tension / capillary action (i.e., wicking). In this example, the heater (48) comprises an electrically resistive wire coiled around the wick (46). In the example of FIG. 1, the heater (48) comprises a nickel-chromium alloy (Cr20Ni80) wire and the wick (46) comprises a glass fiber bundle, but it will be understood that the specific aerosol generator configuration is not important to the principles described herein. When in use, power is supplied to the heater (48) to evaporate a predetermined amount of aerosol generating material (aerosol generating material) that is drawn near the heater (48) by the wick (46). Next, the evaporated aerosol generating material can be mixed into the air drawn from the evaporation area toward the mouthpiece outlet (50) along the cartridge air flow path for user inhalation.

[0022] As mentioned above, the rate at which the aerosol generating material is evaporated by the evaporator (heater) (48) will depend on the amount of power (power level) supplied to the heater (48). Accordingly, power can be applied to the heater to selectively generate an aerosol from the aerosol generating material within the cartridge portion (4), and additionally, the aerosol generating rate can be changed by changing the amount of power supplied to the heater (48), for example through pulse width and / or frequency modulation techniques.

[0023] The reusable part (2) includes an outer housing (12) having an opening that defines an air inlet (28) for the e-cigarette, a power source (26) (e.g., a battery) for providing operating power for the electronic cigarette, a control circuit / controller (22) for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a first user input button (14), a second user input button (16), and a visual display (24).

[0024] The outer housing (12) may be formed of, for example, plastic or metal material and has a circular cross-section that generally matches the shape and size of the cartridge portion (4) to provide a smooth transition between the two portions at the interface (6) in this example. In this example, the reusable portion has a length of about 8 cm, so that the total length of the e-cigarette when the cartridge portion and the reusable portion are combined is about 12 cm. However, as previously mentioned, it will be understood that the overall shape and scale of the electronic cigarette implementing the embodiments of this disclosure are not important to the principles described herein.

[0025] The air inlet (28) is connected to the air flow path (51) through the reusable part (2). Eventually, the reusable part air flow path (51) is connected to the cartridge air flow path (52) across the interface (6) when the reusable part (2) and the cartridge part (4) are connected to each other. Thus, when a user inhales through the mouthpiece opening (50), air is drawn through the air inlet (28) along the reusable part air flow path (51) across the interface (6), through the aerosol generating area near the aerosol generator (48) (where evaporated aerosol generating material is mixed into the air flow), and then drawn along the cartridge air flow path (52) and exits through the mouthpiece opening (50) for user inhalation.

[0026] In this example, the power source (26) is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example, the type commonly used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring the provision of relatively high currents over a relatively short period. The power source (26) may be recharged via a charging connector of the reusable part housing (12), for example, a USB connector.

[0027] First and second user input buttons (14, 16) may be provided, and in this example, are conventional mechanical buttons including a spring-loaded component that a user can press to establish an electrical contact. In this regard, the input buttons may be considered as input devices for detecting user input, and the specific way in which the buttons are implemented is not important. The buttons may be assigned to functions such as turning the aerosol delivery system (1) on and off, and adjusting user settings such as power supplied from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48). However, including user input buttons is optional, and in some embodiments, buttons may not be included.

[0028] A display (24) may be provided to provide a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the aerosol delivery system, such as current power setting information, power residual power, etc. The display may be implemented in various ways. In this example, the display (24) includes a conventional pixelated LCD screen that can be driven to display desired information according to existing technologies. In other embodiments, the display may include one or more individual indicators, such as LEDs, arranged to display desired information, for example, through specific colors and / or flash sequences. More generally, the method of providing the display and using the display to display information to the user is not important to the principles described herein. For example, some embodiments may not include a visual display, may include other means for providing information to the user regarding the operating characteristics of the aerosol delivery system, for example using audio signaling, or may not include any means for providing information to the user regarding the operating characteristics of the aerosol delivery system.

[0029] The controller (22) is appropriately configured / programmed to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system to provide the normal operating functions of the aerosol delivery system according to established techniques for controlling such devices, as well as to provide functions according to embodiments of the present disclosure as further described herein. The controller (processor circuit) (22) may be considered to logically include various subunits / circuit elements associated with different aspects of operation of the aerosol delivery system (1). In this example, the controller (22) includes a power supply control circuit for controlling the power supply from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48) in response to user input, a user programming circuit (20) for establishing configuration settings (e.g., user-defined power settings) in response to user input, as well as other functional units / circuits associated with functions according to the existing operating aspects of electronic cigarettes and the principles described herein, such as a display driving circuit and a user input detection circuit. It will be understood that the function of the controller (22) may be provided in various different ways, for example, by using one or more appropriately programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more appropriately configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuits / chips(s) / chipsets(s) configured to provide the desired function. The function of the controller (22) is further described herein. For example, the controller (22) may include an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a microcontroller for controlling an aerosol delivery device. The microcontroller or ASIC may include a CPU or a microprocessor. The operation of the CPU and other electronic components is generally controlled at least partially by software programs executed on the CPU (or other components).Such software programs can be stored in non-volatile memory, such as ROM, which can be integrated into the microcontroller itself or provided as a separate component. The CPU can access ROM to load and execute individual software programs as needed and when necessary.

[0030] The reusable part (2) includes an air flow sensor (30) electrically connected to the controller (22). In most embodiments, the air flow sensor (30) includes a so-called "puff sensor" in that the air flow sensor (30) is used to detect when a user puffs against the device. In some embodiments, the air flow sensor includes a switch in the electrical path that provides power from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48). In such embodiments, the air flow sensor (30) generally includes a pressure sensor configured to close the switch when receiving a certain range of pressures, so that when the pressure near the air flow sensor (30) drops below a threshold value, current can flow from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48). The threshold value may be set to a value determined by experiment to correspond to a characteristic value associated with the user's puffing initiation. In other embodiments, the air flow sensor (30) is connected to a controller (22), and the controller distributes power from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48) according to a signal received from the air flow sensor (30) by the controller (22). The specific method used by the controller (22) to control the power supply from the power source (26) to the aerosol generator (48) based on the signal output from the air flow sensor (30) (which may include measurements of the capacitance, resistance, or other characteristics of the air flow sensor made by the controller (22)) may be performed according to any approach known to those skilled in the art.

[0031] In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the air flow sensor (30) is mounted on a printed circuit board (31), but this is not mandatory. The air flow sensor (30) may include any sensor configured to determine the air flow characteristics of the air flow path (51) placed between the air inlet (28) and the mouthpiece opening (50), for example, a pressure sensor or transducer (e.g., a membrane or solid-state pressure sensor), a combined temperature and pressure sensor, or a microphone sensitive to changes in air pressure including acoustic signals (e.g., an electret-type microphone). The air flow sensor is located within a sensor cavity (32) comprising an internal space defined by one or more chamber walls (34). The sensor cavity (32) may be referred to herein as a sensor chamber (32) (these terms may be used interchangeably) and comprises an area within one or more chamber walls (34) where an air flow sensor (30) may be located in whole or in part. In some embodiments, the air flow sensor (30) is mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) (31) comprising one of the chamber walls of a sensor housing containing the sensor chamber / cavity (32). A deformable membrane is positioned across an opening that communicates between the sensor cavity (32) holding the sensor (30) and a portion of the air flow path positioned between the air inlet (28) and the mouthpiece opening (50). The deformable membrane covers the opening and is attached to one or more of the chamber walls according to an approach further described herein.

[0032] As further described herein, the aerosol delivery device (1) includes a communication circuit configured to enable data transmission between the aerosol delivery device (1) and the additional electronic device(s) by allowing a connection to be established with one or more additional electronic devices (e.g., a storage / charging case and / or a refill / charging dock). In some embodiments, the communication circuit is integrated into the controller (22), and in other embodiments, it is implemented separately (e.g., including separate custom integrated circuit(s) / circuit / chip(s) / chipset(s)). For example, the communication circuit may include a separate module for the controller (22) that provides a dedicated data transmission function for the aerosol delivery device while connected to the controller (22). In some embodiments, the communication circuit is configured to support communication between the aerosol delivery device (1) and one or more additional electronic devices via a wireless interface. The communication circuit may be configured to support wireless communication between the aerosol delivery device (1) and other electronic devices, such as a case, a dock, a computing device such as a smartphone or PC, a base station supporting cellular communication, a relay node providing a forward connection to the base station, a wearable device, or other portable or stationary devices supporting wireless communication. Wireless communication between the aerosol delivery device (1) and additional electronic devices may be configured according to known data transmission protocols such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, Wifi Direct, GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, NFC, and RFID.More generally, it will be understood that any wireless network protocol may, in principle, be used to support wireless communication between the aerosol delivery device (1) and additional electronic devices. In some embodiments, the communication circuit is configured to support communication between the aerosol delivery device (1) and one or more additional electronic devices via a wired interface. This may replace or be added to the configuration for wireless communication presented above. The communication circuit may include any suitable interface for wired data connection, such as USB-C, Micro-USB, or Thunderbolt interfaces. More generally, it will be understood that the communication circuit may include any wired communication interface that enables data transmission according to, for example, a packet data transfer protocol, and may include an array of pins or contact pads configured to engage with cooperating pins or contact pads on a dock, case, cable, or other external device that may be connected to the aerosol delivery device (1).

[0033] Now, referring to FIG. 2, an aerosol delivery device (1) (or more generally any delivery device described elsewhere in this invention) may operate within a broader delivery system / aerosol delivery system comprising one or more of a smartphone (100), a dock (200) (e.g., a storage / charging case or a home refill and / or charging station), a personal computer (PC) (300) or a wearable device (400) (e.g., a smart watch), and a server (1000) (communications with the server may be supported via the Internet or other packet data connection (500)). Electronic devices included in the system may communicate with the aerosol delivery device (1) directly (indicated by solid arrows) or indirectly (indicated by dashed arrows). Such a delivery system / aerosol delivery system may be referred to as a delivery ecosystem / aerosol delivery ecosystem.

[0034] An exemplary aerosol delivery device (1), such as an electronic cigarette, can communicate directly with one or more other classes of devices in a broader aerosol delivery ecosystem, including but not limited to a smartphone (100), a dock (200) (e.g., a rechargeable case or a home refill and / or charging station), a personal computer (PC) (300), or a wearable device (400) (e.g., a smartwatch). In a similar manner, an aerosol delivery device (10), such as an electronic cigarette, can communicate directly with other devices of the same class, i.e., other aerosol delivery devices. As mentioned above, these devices can cooperate in any suitable configuration to form a delivery system (1). Such communication may be supported by a wired communication circuit of the aerosol delivery device (1) (e.g., using an interface such as USB-C, Micro-USB, Thunderbolt, or other wired communication interfaces further described herein) or a wireless communication circuit of the aerosol delivery device (1) (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, Wifi Direct, GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, NFC, or RFID module, or other wireless communication interfaces further described herein). The aerosol delivery device (1) may be configured to be connected to devices of different classes among other classes of devices using different wired or wireless communication protocols, and a data connection between the aerosol delivery device (10) and any given second device may be established using wired and / or wireless. It will be understood that other classes of devices included in the broader delivery system may include communication circuits for wired or wireless data transmission similar to those further presented herein in relation to the aerosol delivery device (1).Accordingly, a smartphone (100), a dock (200) (e.g., a home refill and / or charging station), a personal computer (PC) (300), a wearable device (400) (e.g., a smartwatch), or a server (1000) may be equipped with a communication circuit including a Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, Wifi Direct, GSM, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, LTE, NFC, RFID, or other wireless transmission module, and / or a wired interface such as a USB-C, micro-USB, Thunderbolt, or other wired interface. The communication circuit of the aerosol delivery device (1) (implemented as a single module or separate modules) may enable the aerosol delivery device (1) to communicate with devices of different classes among additional classes using different wired and / or wireless data transmission protocols.

[0035] The aerosol delivery device (1) and devices of other classes of the delivery system may communicate directly or indirectly with the server (1000) through a network such as the Internet (500) or other suitable packet data protocols known to those skilled in the art (e.g., those presented in 3GPP standards for cellular wireless communications). The aerosol delivery device (1) may establish such communication directly using one of the wireless communication protocols further described herein to communicate with a communication node / transceiver infrastructure (e.g., a 'base station' or 'evolved node-B' in LTE terms) that provides a connection with the server (1000) (e.g., via a backhaul communication link). Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol delivery device (1) may establish communication with the server (1000) through another device of the delivery system (1), and the other device communicates with the server (1000) (e.g. via the Internet (500)) using, for example, a wired or wireless communication protocol, to relay data to or from the aerosol delivery device (1), to record communications with the aerosol delivery device (1), or to exchange inferred information about the aerosol delivery device (1) when no connection to the aerosol delivery device (1) is established.Other devices within the delivery ecosystem, such as a smartphone (100), a dock (200), or a point of sale system / personal computer (PC) (300), may optionally serve as a hub for one or more aerosol delivery devices (1) having only short-range transmission capabilities (e.g., provided by a communication circuit including a Bluetooth or RFID module). Thus, such a hub can extend the battery life of the aerosol delivery device (1) while enabling data exchange between the aerosol delivery device (1) and additional devices of the aerosol delivery system (1) (e.g., a server (1000)).

[0036] Devices of other classes of the aerosol delivery system (1), such as a smartphone (100), a dock (200), a personal computer (or, for example, a point of sale management system) (300) and / or a wearable device (400), may also communicate indirectly with the server (1000) through a relay device that performs aspects of its own function or acts on behalf of the aerosol delivery system (1) (e.g., as a relay or co-processing unit). These devices may also transmit data to each other directly or indirectly through any of the wired or wireless communication protocols further presented herein. Accordingly, in embodiments of the present disclosure, a given first and second device of the delivery system may generally be in a connected state or a disconnected state. The disconnected state may also be referred to as an idle state, in which a given first device may not be detectable by other second devices (i.e., the first device does not transmit any signal that can determine its presence and / or identity), or may be available to establish a connection with the second device (i.e., may advertise its presence / identity using a beacon / advertising signal). In the connected state, the first and second devices are configured so that data can be transmitted from the first device to the second device (e.g., 'uplink' transmission) and / or from the second device to the first device (e.g., 'downlink' transmission). Thus, the establishment of a connection between the first device and the second device may be considered to include the establishment of any state in which the two devices can exchange data regardless of the direction of data transmission. Non-limiting examples of connection states include the establishment of an RRC connection state according to the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard, or a coupling / pairing state according to the Bluetooth standard.If the first and second devices of the delivery system are configured to communicate wirelessly, the transition from a disconnected state to a connected state will generally follow the procedure as follows. In the initial inquiry phase, the first device (e.g., aerosol delivery device (1)) establishes the presence of the second device (e.g., smartphone (100) or case (200)) by receiving a beacon signal or other identification signal / message from the second device. In the authentication phase, the first and second devices exchange messages to establish information regarding the data transmission protocol to be used for data exchange (e.g., including coding and encryption parameters to be used when exchanging data packets). In the data transmission phase, the first and second devices transmit data through a wireless interface established according to an agreed data transmission protocol (e.g., Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID, or other protocols further described herein). This data transmission may be bidirectional or unidirectional. The data communication process for wired communications may be approximately similar, except for the difference that data is transmitted through a wired interface, unlike a wireless interface. Additional aspects of implementation for establishing wireless and wired communications can be found in standard literature on communication protocols, such as those additionally listed herein.

[0037] In terms of monitoring the use of an aerosol delivery device, storing usage data, and establishing parameters for controlling the operation of the aerosol delivery device based on such usage data, the references herein regarding the function of the controller (22) of the aerosol delivery device may be 'offloaded' to a processor or controller associated with an external electronic device having a wired or wireless data connection to the aerosol delivery device, as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 and described in the accompanying text. If some or all of the computer operations occur in the external electronic device, the resulting parameters determined for controlling the aerosol delivery device may be appropriately transmitted back to the aerosol delivery device via the wired or wireless data connection. Accordingly, throughout the entire disclosure, where (i) an operation in which user inputs, such as the selection of parameters and device modes, are provided to a user input interface of a reusable device part (2), (ii) an operation in which information is displayed to a user on a display of a reusable device part (2), and (iii) an operation in which information is processed by a controller (22) (e.g., determining a method to control at least one aspect of the operation of an aerosol delivery system based on the target operating characteristics of the aerosol delivery system and identification information for a cartridge / consumable part), one or more of these functions may be performed by an external electronic device (e.g., a smartphone, a refill / charging dock or case, a personal computer (PC), a wearable device (e.g., a smart watch) or a server) configured to connect the aerosol delivery system (1) and the external electronic device via a wired or wireless communication protocol using a wired or wireless data interface between the two electronic devices.

[0038] A controller (22) of an aerosol delivery device is configured to monitor at least one aspect of the use of the aerosol delivery device by a user. For example, inhalation events (also referred to herein as 'puffs') may be detected based on signals received by the controller from an activation device including an air flow sensor (30). If the air flow velocity (and / or pressure drop) detected by the air flow sensor (30) increases beyond a predetermined threshold, the controller (22) may determine that a puff has started, and the puff start time is stored in a memory element associated with the controller (22). If the air flow velocity (and / or pressure drop) detected by the air flow sensor (30) falls back below a predetermined threshold (or a second different threshold taking into account sensor hysteresis), the controller (22) may determine that a puff has ended. The puff end time may also be stored in a memory element associated with the controller (22). This timing information may be used to determine the duration of each of the multiple puffs and the delay between subsequent puffs. At the puff start time and the puff end time, the power supply to the heater (48) may be initiated and terminated by the controller.

[0039] As mentioned above, a button (14) representing the form of a manual activation device may be located on the outer housing of the main body (20). The button (14) may be implemented using any suitable mechanism operable to be manually activated by a user—e.g., a mechanical button or switch, a capacitive or resistive touch sensor, etc. In other embodiments, the aforementioned puff start and end times may be determined based on the times when the user presses and releases the button (14), respectively, and power supply to the heater (48) is started and ended at these same times.

[0040] If the aerosol delivery device (1) includes an air flow sensor (30), the controller (22) can monitor the user inhalation intensity output by the air flow sensor (30) associated with each of the plurality of puffs and store this in a memory element. This may include, for example, the maximum inhalation intensity during each puff, or a time-varying profile of the inhalation intensity during each puff. The power supplied to the heater during each puff may also be monitored and stored in a memory element. The power supplied to the heater by the controller (22) may be adjusted by the user per puff or per session using a user input interface associated with the aerosol delivery device, or, for example, an external electronic device such as a smartphone (100) having a data connection to the aerosol delivery device. For example, the power level to be supplied to the heater can be selected via a software application (APP) running on a smartphone (100), and this power level is displayed on a controller (22) via a wireless data connection between the smartphone (100) and the aerosol delivery device as further described herein.

[0041] In the present disclosure, the term 'inhalation session' may be used to refer to a sequence of a user's inhalations (i.e., puffs). The sequence may correspond to a characteristic pattern, such as a high-to-low volume sequence of puffs, where the volume of aerosol delivered per puff generally decreases over subsequent puffs. Alternatively, an inhalation session may correspond to a predetermined number or range of inhalations to an aerosol delivery device by the user. For example, a session may be defined as 10 inhalations or 8 to 12 inhalations. Additionally, or alternatively, a session may be defined by a predetermined time from the initial inhalation to the aerosol delivery device by the user. For example, the predetermined time may be 4 minutes. Thus, a session may be defined as when the total number of inhalations reaches 8 to 12 and / or when the elapsed time from the first inhalation reaches 4 minutes. The values ​​for the predetermined number of inhalations and the predetermined times are provided purely as examples, and it should be understood that other numbers and times may be appropriately used in other embodiments.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, in embodiments of the present disclosure, an inhalation session may be separated from another session by a non-use period, and the first session is considered completed and the second subsequent session started when the critical duration between the last puff of the first session and the first puff of the second session is longer than the critical duration. For example, the critical duration may be selected to be easily understood by the user (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, or 55 minutes, or more preferably a period in the range of 5 to 45 minutes, or more preferably a period in the range of 10 to 30 minutes, much more preferably a period in the range of 15 to 20 minutes), or may be selected according to pharmacokinetic criteria such as the so-called half-life of the active substance contained in the aerosol generating material aerosolized by the aerosol delivery device. Accordingly, the inhalation session may include a characteristic pattern and / or be separated from other sessions by a threshold duration of non-use, and the usage data may include information regarding the number of puffs in each of the plurality of sessions and the duration of each of the plurality of sessions over the period during which N puffs are taken against the device.

[0043] In embodiments of the present disclosure, usage data / usage information may include parameters derived based on detecting other interactions between the aerosol delivery system and the user that are not directly related to inhalation but are nevertheless recorded in relation to a timeline of puffs to the device. For example, usage data may include the following:

[0044] ● Data regarding the position over time of an external electronic device, such as an aerosol delivery device or a smartphone, based on GPS position tracking over time according to GPS tracking approaches known to those skilled in the art, over a period spanning multiple N puffs.

[0045] ● Data related to the selection of parameters or manual input of data by a user for an aerosol delivery device or an electronic device of an aerosol delivery system. For example, the usage data may include a record of how the user adjusted the level of power supplied to the heater (48) of the aerosol delivery device over a period spanning multiple N puffs.

[0046] ● Data related to physical interactions between an aerosol delivery device and a user that are not directly related to airflow through the device. For example, sensors suitable for monitoring the user's skin temperature when the user grasps the device, or, to give a few non-limiting examples, the acceleration of the device over a period spanning multiple N puffs, may be positioned on the outer housing of the aerosol delivery device according to approaches known to those skilled in the art.

[0047] The inventors have recognized that it may be desirable to optimize the amount of usage data held by the controller of the aerosol delivery device in terms of the overheads involved in storing and processing such data. In particular, in a situation where the controller (22) is configured to monitor multiple aspects of the use of the aerosol delivery device so that multiple types of usage data (e.g., puff characteristics, session characteristics, device location characteristics, and user input characteristics) are established, such monitoring may result in the generation of a significant proportion of data that needs to be stored in the memory elements of the controller (22). In terms of simplifying the controller (22) to reduce costs and / or power consumption of the battery / power supply (26), it may be desirable to optimize the amount of data to be stored in order to find a trade-off between the storage of raw monitoring data sufficient to enable the establishment of meaningful usage data indicating the user's characteristic behavior and the amount of storage space required to store such data. Furthermore, even in cases where there are no technical requirements limiting the available storage space for storing usage data, it may be desirable to optimize the amount of usage data in consideration of establishing a method to control the operating mode of an aerosol delivery system based on the established usage data. The inventors recognized that processing overheads for the controller of the aerosol delivery system can be minimized by optimizing the amount of usage data used to establish a method to control the operating modes of the aerosol delivery system.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of an approach according to the present disclosure, wherein, in the first step (S1), the usage pattern of an aerosol delivery system by a user is monitored using a sensor. In the second step (S2), usage data is established based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs. In the third step (S3), the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system is controlled by a controller based on the established usage data.

[0049] In embodiments of the present disclosure, usage data is established based on monitoring one or more usage patterns over a period spanning a puff count N, comprising 20 to 150 puffs. In some embodiments, the actual puff count N may be selected to be characteristic of the user usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device. It has been recognized that the user's use of the device may follow an alternative cycle pattern having characteristic periodicity. For example, the user may generally use the aerosol delivery device over sessions of puffs that have similar characteristics in terms of characteristics such as session length, average inhalation intensity of puffs in a session, average length of puffs in a session, and other parameters. Other usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device may be similar over each of the first and second periods of equal length, wherein the length of the period includes a characteristic puff count N. Thus, usage patterns such as the location pattern of the device and the pattern of user inputs to the device (e.g., variations in heater power settings) may generally be similar in both the first and second periods, each period approximately including a characteristic puff count N. For example, if the period including N puffs corresponds to approximately 24 hours, the usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device by the user during consecutive periods can be assumed to be similar based on the assumption that the user generally follows a similar routine and experiences similar interaction patterns with the aerosol delivery device on a daily basis.

[0050] Accordingly, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, a puff count N of 20 to 150 is established, during which usage data is established based on monitoring the use of the aerosol delivery system. Within the range of 20 to 150 puffs, a suitable value for N can be established in one of a number of different methods as further described herein. FIG. 4 schematically illustrates an exemplary profile of a parameter monitored over a puff count for an aerosol delivery device based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery device. The monitored parameter relates to any usage pattern described herein and may vary depending on the individual context in which the approach is implemented. Specific parameters are not considered particularly important and will differ in different embodiments. Thus, in one non-limiting example, the monitored parameter is the average puff duration. FIG. 4 shows that the magnitude of the average puff duration (which may be a window average over multiple puffs) follows a cycle pattern, and accordingly, the first plurality of puffs N i Across, the average puff duration starts higher and N i Schematically illustrates the gradual decrease during the puffs. The user [uses] the next set of puffs (set N i+1 As it moves to ), the average puff duration moves again to a higher value, and again N i+1 It descends again across the puffs. This cycle is N i+2 This is repeated again over subsequent cycles of puffs. Fig. 4 shows sets N of puffs. i , N i+1 and N i+2 Multiple puffs N each, containing the same number of puffs i , N i+1 and N i+2 It shows that the parameter profile monitored across is the same, but N i , N i+1 and Ni+2 There may be slight variations between each puff count and between the profiles of the monitored parameters (e.g., puff duration). Importantly, the profiles of the monitored parameters follow a general cyclic characteristic having a characteristic periodicity in terms of the number of puffs N in each cycle. Accordingly, in the embodiments of the present disclosure, usage data established based on monitoring usage patterns (via monitored parameters) over a plurality of puffs N can be assumed to represent the use of the device in different periods (e.g., in the example of FIG. 4, a plurality of puffs N i is multiple puffs N i+1 and N i+2 (Indicates usage across).

[0051] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, except that in this case, the monitored parameter includes a power level selected by the user (or automatically selected by the controller (22)). Thus, the first plurality of puffs N i Over, a relatively high power is initially supplied to the heater over a first subset of puffs, and thereafter the power level is over a plurality of puffs N i It is gradually reduced over subsequent subsets of puffs at. Multiple puffs N followed by similar power level profiles. i+1 and N i+2 As observed in. Thus, N puffs can be considered as the number of puffs representing the periodicity in which the power level provided to the heater changes (e.g., by input from the user or automatically by the controller (22)). FIGS. 4 and FIGS. 5 refer to the monitored puff duration and the power delivered to the heater, respectively, but it will be understood that any monitored parameter / use parameter described herein may be substituted in other embodiments.

[0052] If the determination of N is based on determining a characteristic period of cycle variation in the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery device by the user, such determination may be performed by a software routine executed in a controller (22) or a processor associated with an external electronic device as shown in FIG. 2. This processing may use data representing the values ​​of monitored parameters over multiple puffs (e.g., performed over several hours, days, or weeks) to determine an appropriate value for N using appropriate algorithms / statistical techniques. For example, approaches utilizing Fourier-based spectral decomposition of monitored parameter data may be used to establish the characteristic periodicity of the monitored parameter with respect to the number of puffs. However, any statistical approach to determine the characteristic periodicity in a time-varying signal may be used.

[0053] In other embodiments, the number of puffs N of a plurality of puffs may include a number of puffs where the average of the monitored parameters is determined to represent the monitored parameters. For example, when averaging parameters across a plurality of puffs to avoid skewing of the mean, such as the mean or median of the monitored parameters, due to the degree of noise in the values ​​of the monitored parameters across the plurality of puffs, a number of puffs N > i may be considered, where i may be determined using statistical approaches known in the art to establish an appropriate sample size to use. A suitable value for N in a given usage pattern may be determined experimentally or by modeling, and may be based on experimental data derived by monitoring usage patterns over time for one or more users using the approaches presented herein. Standard statistical approaches for selecting appropriate sample sizes known to those skilled in the art may be used to select an appropriate value for i.

[0054] An aerosol delivery device according to the present disclosure may, in some cases, 'learn' an appropriate value for N based on monitoring the usage pattern of the device during an initial training period when a user interacts with the device. A software routine executed in a controller (22), or in a processor associated with an external electronic device as illustrated in FIG. 2, may use data representing the value of a monitored parameter over a plurality of puffs (e.g., performed over several hours, days, or weeks) to determine an appropriate value for N according to any of the approaches further presented herein, in which the appropriate value for N is determined based on the analysis of usage data. In some cases, the value of N may be based on monitoring the usage pattern of a plurality of aerosol delivery devices by a plurality of users, and the monitored parameter data derived during such monitoring is collected by the server (1000) via wireless data connections between each of the plurality of aerosol delivery devices and the server (1000) using, for example, data connection approaches further described herein.

[0055] In other embodiments, the value of N may be determined by monitoring the number of puffs over a plurality of individual 24-hour periods and setting N as the average number of puffs per 24-hour period. The inventors have recognized that some values ​​of N provide usage data that particularly indicate the usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device by a user. For example, the value of N is preferably 10 to 300 puffs, or 20 to 250 puffs, or 30 to 200 puffs, or 40 to 175 puffs, 50 to 150 puffs, or 60 to 140 puffs, or 70 to 130 puffs, or 80 to 120 puffs, or 90 to 110 puffs, or 95 to 105 puffs. In some embodiments, the value of N may be 20 to 150 puffs, or 20 to 100 puffs, or 20 to 50 puffs, the latter being particularly suitable when the mode of operation of the aerosol delivery system is controlled on a given day based on previously established usage data on the same day according to any of the approaches further presented herein.

[0056] Once a value for N is determined, this value may be used to control the operation of the aerosol delivery device according to one or more of the following approaches. It will be understood that the value of N (i.e., the number of puffs for which usage data is established based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user) is generally predefined by the controller (22) of the aerosol delivery system. "Predefined" means that the number of puffs used to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system for which usage data is established is determined by the controller (22) before the usage data is acquired and the operation of the aerosol delivery system is controlled based on the usage data.

[0057] In some embodiments, the value of N is used to determine how much monitoring data obtained by monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery device is stored in the memory element of the aerosol supply device. The memory element may be integrated into the controller (22) or may be a standalone memory element (e.g., a micro-SD card or similar flash memory).

[0058] For example, a hardware or virtual buffer included in a memory element associated with a controller (22) may be configured to provide N data slots, each of which may store the value of a monitored parameter associated with an individual puff, and based thereon, the usage data is established according to the approaches further presented herein. When a puff is taken, the value of the monitored parameter associated with the puff may be written to the lead slot of the buffer, and the remaining N-1 values ​​are moved one slot along the buffer (thereby no longer retaining the value associated with the most recent puff in the buffer). Then, the usage data may be re-established based on the updated value of the buffer. For example, if the values ​​stored in the buffer include puff duration values, and the usage data used to control the operation of the aerosol delivery system includes the average of the final N puff duration values, the average may be recalculated after each puff. This approach may be regarded as a window-average approach to generating usage data based on monitoring the usage patterns of an aerosol delivery device, wherein the usage data is a window average over N puffs of monitored parameters derived by monitoring the usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device by a user. As further described herein, it will be understood that this approach may be applied with respect to any usage data associated with each puff. In aerosol delivery devices where the value of N can be updated over time (e.g., N is recalculated hourly, daily, or weekly based on analyzing the variation of monitored parameters over time as further described herein), the size of the buffer may be dynamically changed.This can be advantageous because it allows the storage capacity of the memory element containing the buffer to be optimized so that space not allocated to the buffer can be allocated by the controller for other purposes.

[0059] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a controller (22) of an aerosol delivery system and / or a processor of an external electronic device as further described herein is configured to determine one or more control parameters for controlling the operation of an aerosol delivery device based on usage data derived by monitoring one or more usage patterns of the aerosol delivery device by a user over a period corresponding to N inhalation events or 'puffs' (which may be distributed among M sessions) by the user of the aerosol delivery device.

[0060] The operating modes of the device may be determined by one or more device control parameters, which may include parameters related to the control of a heater or other aerosol generating element; parameters related to the control of visual, auditory and / or tactile indications provided to a user; parameters related to data connectivity, such as uploading usage data from the aerosol delivery device to one or more external devices in a broader aerosol delivery system; or any other parameters for controlling the operating modes of the aerosol delivery device known to those skilled in the art. The device parameters may generally be used as inputs to a controller (22) for changing the operating modes of the aerosol delivery device, or may be used to control the operating modes of one or more external electronic devices, such as those illustrated in FIG. 2 and described in the accompanying description. For example, a device control parameter including a heater control parameter may specify the power level to be supplied from the battery / power source (26) to the heater (48) by the controller (22); Device control parameters including display control parameters may be used by the controller (22) to control providing visual, auditory, or tactile notifications or prompts to the user; device control parameters including interruption control parameters may be used by the controller (22) to control the period during which the user uses the aerosol delivery device to generate aerosols and the period during which it cannot be used. More generally, device control parameters may include any parameters available to the controller (22) of the aerosol delivery system to modify some operating mode of the aerosol delivery system and may be based on the operating modes of aerosol delivery devices known to those skilled in the art.

[0061] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the monitored usage mode comprises one or more characteristics of a plurality of user puffs, including N puffs, and the controlled operation mode of the aerosol delivery device is the amount of power supplied to the device's heater in a subsequent puff or session. The characteristics of the N puffs may be considered to represent the demand for aerosol by the user, and accordingly, the usage data may be considered to represent the pattern of such demand. Thus, usage data established across a plurality of N puffs may be used to control the manner in which aerosol is generated in one or more subsequent puffs.

[0062] In one embodiment, usage data for the previous N puffs is used to control the heating duration and / or heater power level in the subsequent puff. For example, after a puff, the average mass loss of the aerosol per puff can be estimated based on calculating the mass loss of the aerosol in each of the previous N puffs, where N is 20 to 100 puffs. The mass loss of the aerosol can be estimated using an air flow velocity determined based on the output of an air flow sensor, as a function of heater power and puff duration. These parameters can be input into an experimentally derived fitted model to quantify the mass loss of the aerosol for different puff lengths, heater power levels, and optionally air flow velocities. Thus, once the average mass loss of the aerosol per puff is estimated based on the previous N puffs, the heating duration and / or heater power level can be controlled in the subsequent puff to target the same mass loss value. This may be based on controlling the power to the heater based on a fitting model targeting the mass loss value, assuming that the puff length and optionally the air flow velocity in subsequent puffs will be the average of the previous N puffs. In other embodiments, the control parameters may not be directly related to heating control, but may be related, for example, to the provision of user displays. For example, based on information regarding the average mass loss of the aerosol in each of the previous N puffs and the amount of aerosol-generating material remaining in the consumable part coupled to the aerosol delivery system, the controller may estimate the number of available remaining puffs by using the assumption that future puffs will be associated with the average mass loss per puff. This estimated number of puffs may be displayed to the user via the user interface of the aerosol delivery device, or via an APP running on a smartphone via a data connection to the aerosol delivery system.

[0063] If the controller is configured to estimate user demand for the next puff or inhalation session by the user, this may be determined by the controller (22) based on any suitable characteristic or combination of characteristics of a plurality of previous puffs, including N puffs, expressed by usage data including information regarding puff start and end times, puff intensity, or power delivered to the heater per puff, which is determined by the controller (22) based on monitored parameters of usage patterns of an aerosol delivery device as further described herein, for example.

[0064] For example, referring to Figure 4, usage data can be derived indicating that the demand for aerosol generally decreases over N puffs based on identifying that the average puff duration of puffs taken by the user follows a decreasing pattern over N puffs.

[0065] In some cases, the value of the control parameter is N i Based on usage data including a profile of monitored parameters across the previous sequence of puffs, N i+1 It can be modified across the sequences of puffs, where sequences N i+1 and N i may or may not overlap. Therefore, for example, if the monitored parameter is the puff duration as in Fig. 4, N i+1 The power delivered to the heater (48) by the controller (22) during the nth puff of the series of puffs may be based on the average puff duration of the previous N puffs (i.e., power P for the nth puff). n silver It can be calculated as, and here (is the average puff duration over the previous N puffs). This approach recognizes that puff duration can indicate user demand for aerosol, and accordingly, longer puffs indicate a higher demand for aerosol. Therefore, increasing the power output in subsequent puffs based on the average duration of the previous N puffs, or providing more aerosol to the user per unit puff time in other ways, can provide a more satisfying experience for the user. Alternatively, N i+1 Power P delivered during the nth puff of the puff series n silver It can be calculated as, where t n is the previous N Puffs series (e.g., Series N i It is the duration of the nth puff among the previous N puffs, or the average duration of multiple puffs centered on the nth puff in the previous N puff series. The latter approach recognizes that if N puffs are the number of puffs representing the periodicity of the device's usage cycle (e.g., in terms of demand for aerosol), user demand at a specific position in the previous cycle (e.g., previous N puffs) may represent user demand at the same position in the current cycle (e.g., current N puffs). Although these examples have been described in terms of monitored parameters including puff duration and control parameters including power supplied to the heater, it will be understood that any suitable monitored parameter or control parameter described herein may be substituted for these examples.

[0066] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the control parameter may be a discontinuation control parameter. The value of the discontinuation control parameter for one or more puffs may be established based on usage data including a characteristic aerosol generation rate based on monitoring puff duration and timing over the previous N puffs. For example, usage data including the amount of aerosol per puff It can be established based on a function such as, where t is the puff duration of the puffs in the plurality of puffs N, and P is the power delivered to the heater for each of the plurality of puffs N. Based on estimating the amount of aerosol delivered in each of the puffs of the previous plurality of N puffs, the controller can establish interruption control parameters used to prevent the user from using the aerosol delivery device to generate aerosol for a specific period. For example, the interruption control method may include preventing the user from generating aerosol for a predefined period if it is determined that the aerosol generation rate in the second plurality of puffs exceeds the aerosol generation rate in the previous plurality of N puffs. For example, the aerosol generation rate over the final N puffs can be calculated as the mass of aerosol per unit time by the controller, for example, based on the power supplied to the heater and the duration of each puff (i.e., using a predefined function relating the heater power to the aerosol generation rate established through modeling and / or experiment), estimating the mass loss of aerosol per puff among the N puffs and calculating the mass loss of aerosol over the elapsed time during which the N puffs were taken. Upon subsequent use of the aerosol delivery device, following the N puffs, the controller can calculate the current aerosol generation rate for the final Q puffs after each puff, where Q <N이다. 예를 들어, Q는 50 회 미만의 퍼프들, 40 회 미만의 퍼프들, 30 회 미만의 퍼프들, 20 회 미만의 퍼프들, 또는 10 회 미만의 퍼프들을 포함할 수 있다.If the aerosol generation rate for the final Q puffs (in terms of aerosol mass per unit time) exceeds the aerosol generation rate for the final N puffs (in terms of aerosol mass per unit time), the controller (22) may establish a suspension control parameter including a lockout period during which the device cannot generate aerosol regardless of user demand. The length of the lockout period (e.g., in terms of seconds, minutes, or hours) may be proportional to the extent that the rate for the final Q puffs exceeds the rate for the final N puffs. In a variation of this manner, the suspension control parameter may be replaced with a power control parameter, and accordingly, power delivery to the heater is increased according to the difference between the aerosol delivery rate during the final Q puffs and the aerosol delivery rate during the final N puffs.

[0067] In any of the embodiments described herein, the controller may be configured to establish usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs, including optionally 20 to 150 puffs, and the controller may be further configured to control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system based on the established usage data, and the selection of usage data to be used is based on the context in which the control of the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system is implemented.

[0068] Accordingly, in some embodiments, the context includes a day of the week, and the usage data includes usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs, on a given day of the week, and the day of the week from which the usage data is derived is a previous instance of the same day of the week on which the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system is controlled based on the usage data. Accordingly, during Monday, the controller may control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system as described herein based on the usage data, and the usage data is established based on monitoring any usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs, as described herein, wherein the usage data is obtained by monitoring the usage pattern during the previous Monday (i.e., 20 to 150 puffs occur between 0000H and 2400H of the previous Monday). It will be understood that the choice of Monday is not important, and that this principle can be applied in the same way to any other day of the week. These embodiments recognize that in many cases, usage may be characteristically different on different dates, and in particular, weekend usage may be characteristically different from weekday usage because the user has different usage patterns depending on whether it is a workday (where the use of the device may be restricted) or a day off (where the use of the device may be less restricted).Therefore, more generally, usage data for a weekend (which may be Saturday or Sunday) may be used to determine how to control the operating mode of the aerosol delivery system on a subsequent weekend (which may also be Saturday or Sunday), and / or usage data for a weekday (which may be any day from Monday to Friday) may be used to determine how to control the operating mode of the aerosol delivery system on a subsequent weekday (which may also be any day from Monday to Friday). Thus, usage data regarding Saturday may be used to control the operating mode of the device on Sunday, or usage data regarding Monday may be used to control the operating mode of the device on Thursday, and so on.

[0069] Much more generally, the context used to determine which usage data to use when controlling the operating mode of an aerosol delivery system may be based on selecting one of multiple characteristic / individual periods, and while the use of the device by the user may generally differ between these types of periods, the use of the device may be similar for different instances of the same type of period. For example, periods when the user is at work, at home, or on vacation may include periods of characteristic / individual types, and the control of the operating mode of the aerosol delivery system in one of these characteristic / individual periods may be based on usage data established by monitoring the usage mode of the aerosol delivery system by the user over multiple puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs, wherein the 20 to 150 puffs occurred during a previous instance of the same type of characteristic / individual period. For example, if it is determined that a user is on vacation (e.g., based on GPS information indicating that the user has traveled to another country or city, or based on the user explicitly indicating that they are on vacation through input to an app running on a smartphone data-connected to the aerosol delivery system, or based on an app running on a smartphone accessing the user's electronic calendar to establish that the user is on vacation), the operation of the aerosol delivery system may be based on user data established when the user was previously determined to be on vacation (through any of the previously mentioned approaches). It will be understood that the reference to vacation is merely an example of the context, and that this concept can be generalized to other individual / characteristic periods (e.g., 'period at work,' 'period at home,' 'period on sick leave,' or any other type of period known to those skilled in the art).

[0070] As described herein, in embodiments of the present disclosure, the context may be determined based on the location of an aerosol delivery system established based on information regarding the location of an external electronic device, such as an aerosol delivery device or a smartphone, based on GPS location tracking via a GPS tracking module located in the aerosol delivery system or smartphone according to GPS tracking approaches known to those skilled in the art, for example. Accordingly, usage data may include usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by the user over a plurality of puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs, when the aerosol delivery system (or user smartphone) is in a specific location or region, and the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system is controlled based on the usage data when the aerosol delivery system (or user smartphone) is located in the same location or region. Accordingly, when an aerosol delivery system or a user smartphone is located in a specific building, street, city, region, or country, the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system may be based on usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by the user over multiple puffs, including 20 to 150 puffs, when the aerosol delivery device or the user smartphone is located in the same building, street, city, region, or country.

[0071] Accordingly, an aerosol delivery device is described, the aerosol delivery device comprising: a sensor configured to monitor the usage pattern of an aerosol delivery system by a user; and a controller configured to establish usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of an aerosol delivery system by a user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; and the controller further configured to control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data.

[0072] The various embodiments described herein are presented merely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided merely as representative samples of the embodiments and are not limited thereto and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may appropriately include, may be composed of, or constitute essentially of, suitable combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Additionally, the present disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future. The delivery system described herein may be implemented as a combustible aerosol delivery system, a non-combustible aerosol delivery system, or an aerosol-free delivery system.

Claims

Claim 1 An aerosol delivery device comprising: a sensor configured to monitor the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user; and a controller configured to establish usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by the user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; wherein the number of puffs of the plurality of puffs is predetermined by the controller, and the controller is further configured to control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data. Claim 2 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the number of puffs of the plurality of puffs is determined based on the number of puffs taken by a user during at least one predefined period. Claim 3 In claim 2, the aerosol delivery device having a duration of 24 hours for the predefined period. Claim 4 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the number of puffs of the plurality of puffs is determined based on establishing characteristic periodicity in the use of the aerosol delivery system by a user, and said periodicity is established based on the analysis of usage data. Claim 5 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the number of puffs of the plurality of puffs is determined based on establishing the number of puffs determined by the average value of a parameter included in the usage data as a characteristic of the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by the user. Claim 6 In claim 5, the operation mode is controlled for a second plurality of puffs based on usage data associated with a first plurality of puffs, and the second plurality of puffs also include 20 to 150 puffs, an aerosol delivery device. Claim 7 In claim 6, the first and second plurality of puffs overlap, an aerosol delivery device. Claim 8 In claim 6, the aerosol delivery device, wherein the mode of operation is controlled for puff n among the second plurality of puffs based on usage data associated with puff n among the first plurality of puffs. Claim 9 In claim 6, the above-mentioned mode of operation is controlled for puff n among the second plurality of puffs based on usage data for a subset of puffs among the first plurality of puffs, and the subset of puffs is centered on puff n among the first plurality of puffs, an aerosol delivery device. Claim 10 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the operating mode is controlled by setting the power level supplied to the atomizer during puffing. Claim 11 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the mode of operation is controlled by determining an aerosol generation rate based on the usage data and determining an aerosol generation rate applied during one or more puffs based on the determined aerosol generation rate. Claim 12 The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the usage data comprises at least one of puff timing, puff duration, puff intensity, and power delivered to the atomizer during each puff. Claim 13 In claim 1, the aerosol delivery device, wherein the usage data includes information regarding the user location of the aerosol delivery device. Claim 14 The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the usage data includes information regarding one or more control parameters input by a user of the aerosol delivery system. Claim 15 The aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the usage data includes information regarding at least one of the user's skin temperature, the user's heart rate, and the acceleration of the device. Claim 16 In claim 1, the aerosol delivery system comprises a transceiver circuit, wherein the transceiver circuit is configured to transmit usage data to an external electronic device through a data communication interface and to receive at least one control parameter for controlling the operation mode of the aerosol delivery system from the external electronic device through the data communication interface, and wherein the control parameter is derived based on the usage data. Claim 17 An aerosol delivery device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to set a current context for the aerosol delivery device and to control the operation pattern of the aerosol delivery system based on established usage data based on monitoring the usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system during a period associated with a previous instance in which the aerosol delivery device is set to be associated with the same context. Claim 18 In claim 17, the context includes a predefined period, an aerosol delivery device. Claim 19 A method for controlling an aerosol delivery device comprising a sensor and a controller, the method comprising the steps of: using the sensor to monitor a usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by a user; using the controller to establish usage data based on monitoring a usage pattern of the aerosol delivery system by the user over a plurality of puffs including 20 to 150 puffs; using the controller to control the aerosol delivery system so as to control an operation pattern of the aerosol delivery device based on the established usage data, wherein the number of puffs of the plurality of puffs is predetermined by the controller. Claim 20 A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that perform the method of claim 19 when executed by a processor. Claim 21 delete Claim 22 delete Claim 23 delete Claim 24 delete Claim 25 delete Claim 26 delete Claim 27 delete Claim 28 delete Claim 29 delete

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