Hybrid-powered aerosol-generating device

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device (100) comprises a rechargeable electrical power source (2) and at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31-1, 31-2,...) combined with one another for supplying electrical power to a heater (20) of the device. A power management system (1, 7) first activates supply of a first electrical power (HTR-PW1) from the rechargeable electrical power source to the heater, and then activates supply of a second electrical power (HTR-PW2) from the at least one fuel cell reactor unit to the heater. A first mean power value of the first electrical power is higher than a second mean power value of the second electrical power. Such power management combines short desired pre-heating time, as allowed by the high output power of rechargeable electrical power source, with high energy storage capacity, as allowed by using a fuel cell assembly.

Description

[0001] HYBRID-POWERED AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE

[0002] The invention relates to a hybrid-powered aerosol-generating device.

[0003] - BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION -

[0004] Some already-existing small-size aerosol-generating devices are powered by non-replaceable electrical power sources (e.g., a lithium-ion secondary battery fixed inside device). Internally to each of these devices, the power source supplies electrical power to a heater for generating aerosol to be inhaled by a user of the device. Using a non-replaceable electrical power source has several advantages, including:

[0005] - the design of the aerosol-generating device is simpler, since it is not necessary to have an opening and releasable electrical connection suitable for the user to replace the current electrical power source when discharged with a new one;

[0006] - using a fixed electrical power source within each aerosol-generating device avoids that the manufacturer of the device has to ensure safety of a replacement operation to be performed by the user and to control of the type of the newly installed electrical power source;

[0007] - there is no need for the manufacturer to design the device in a way that it can support a wide range of power sources;

[0008] - as a result of the preceding reasons, the unit cost price of the aerosolgenerating device can be lower; and

[0009] - the manufacturer of the aerosol-generating device can control the quality of the power source that is used because it is enclosed initially within the device.

[0010] However, new regulations in the context of sustainability prohibit using non-replaceable power sources in electronic appliances may also apply to aerosol-generating devices. It is then an issue to have power sources that can be used in aerosol-generating devices with the following features:

[0011] - the dimensions of the electrical power supply system should be small enough for being compatible with those of the aerosol-generating device;

[0012] - the total cost of the aerosol-generating device should not be significantly increased;

[0013] - the type and quality of a rechargeable electrical power source to be incorporated in each aerosol-generating device should be ensured by the manufacturer of the device; and

[0014] - any replacement operation to be performed by the user of the aerosolgenerating device should be safe.

[0015] Therefore, one object of the present invention consists in providing a new aerosol-generating device which addresses the above-listed issues.

[0016] An additional object of the present invention consists in maintaining short heating times for delivering aerosol although no non- electrical power source is used, but allowing implementing a rechargeable electrical power source having reduced energy storage capacity.

[0017] - SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION -

[0018] For meeting at least one of these objects or others, a first aspect of the present invention proposes an aerosol-generating device that comprises internally to a casing of this aerosol-generating device:

[0019] - a heater adapted for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate when supplied with electrical power;

[0020] - a rechargeable electrical power source connected for supplying a first electrical power to the heater;

[0021] - at least one fuel cell reactor unit adapted for producing electrical power when supplied with hydrogen, and connected for supplying a charging electrical power to the rechargeable electrical power source during a recharge operation; - an hydrogen source, suitable for forming a fuel cell assembly in combination with the at least fuel cell reactor unit, and arranged for supplying hydrogen to said at least one fuel cell reactor unit; and

[0022] - a power management system configured for controlling supply of electrical power to the rechargeable electrical power source and to the heater.

[0023] Because the aerosol-generating device of the invention combines a rechargeable electrical power source and at least one fuel cell reactor unit, it is said hybrid-powered. This hybrid structure avoids implementing a non- rechargeable electrical power source and allows using a rechargeable electrical power source which has reduced energy storage capacity. Indeed, this rechargeable electrical power source can be recharged from the at least one fuel cell reactor unit internally to the aerosol-generating device. In addition, the overall energy storage means that are implemented, comprised of the rechargeable electrical power source and the hydrogen source, can be of small size thanks to the high energy concentrations which are provided by existing hydrogen storage technologies.

[0024] According to the invention, the power management system is configured for, during a use session of the aerosol-generating device, first activating supply of the first electrical power from the rechargeable electrical power source to the heater according to a first mean power value, and then activating supply of a second electrical power from the fuel cell assembly to the heater according to a second mean power value, the first mean power value being higher than the second mean power value. Thus, it possible to have sufficient instant electrical power available for starting aerosol generation with short heating time from a substrate which is initially at ambient temperature. Indeed, the rechargeable electrical power source has sufficient output power capacity to produce initial heating of the aerosol-generating substrate within a short duration, and continuing heating with electrical power from the fuel cell assembly allows keeping enough energy in the rechargeable electrical power source for a next power supply to the heater from this rechargeable electrical power source if required before next recharge operation. In this way, the invention combines the respective advantages of the rechargeable electrical power source, i.e. high output power value, and of the fuel cell assembly, i.e. high energy storage capacity, optimally for allowing rapid aerosol availability for vaping, in particular for a first puff after the aerosol-generating substrate has been heated-up from ambient temperature. Generally fuel cells tend to be degraded when large current outputs, so this allocation among the rechargeable electrical power source and the fuel cell assembly may also lead to prevent fuel cell degradation.

[0025] Preferably, the power management system may be further configured so that supplying the heater with the first electrical power from the rechargeable electrical power source is limited to a pre-heating duration before a first puff is drawn through the aerosol-generating device in the use session. It is further configured so that supplying the heater with the second electrical power from the fuel cell assembly corresponds to a vaping duration subsequent to the preheating duration. Such power supply management saves energy consumption from the rechargeable electrical power source, so that this latter remains available in a greater extent for a next pre-heating operation before next recharge operation.

[0026] Generally for the invention, the hydrogen source may be adapted for accommodating an amount of hydrogen precursor, and for producing hydrogen from the amount of hydrogen precursor. In particular, it may be adapted for accommodating a magnesium-based hydrogen precursor amount, and for contacting this magnesium-based hydrogen precursor amount with water or humidity-containing air for producing hydrogen.

[0027] Whatever a type of the hydrogen precursor, the casing may advantageously be provided with an opening suitable for the amount of hydrogen precursor to be removably inserted into the casing through the opening and accommodated in the hydrogen source. This allows easy and rapid replacement of a currently depleted cartridge of hydrogen precursor with a new one, by removal and insertion through the opening in the casing. Further advantageously, the aerosol-generating device may be arranged so that insertion of the amount of hydrogen precursor into a housing of the hydrogen source initiates or activates a gas-connection from this housing to the at least one fuel cell reactor. Simpler, more rapid and safer replacement of the amount of hydrogen precursor is thus possible.

[0028] According to a possible invention improvement concerned when the amount of hydrogen precursor can be removably inserted into the casing through an opening and accommodated in the hydrogen source, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a display and be configured for indicating to a user, by means of the display, a number of pods each containing an amount of the aerosol-generating substrate, that can be vaped using the aerosol-generating device loaded with the amount of hydrogen precursor that is currently accommodated in the hydrogen source. Thus, the user is informed about the pod number he can vape before exchanging the hydrogen precursor amount with a new one. Possibly, various amounts of hydrogen precursor may be available for being loaded into the aerosol-generating device, each corresponding to a different number of vaped pods, and the device displays this pod number in each case.

[0029] Again generally for the invention, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a first airpath, preferably including a one-way valve, arranged for conducting humidity-containing air from an exterior of the casing to the hydrogen source. Then, the first airpath may be arranged close to the heater or pass through this heater, so that the humidity-containing air conducted by the first airpath is heated by the heater before arriving to the hydrogen source. In this way, operation of the hydrogen source may be thermally boosted.

[0030] Similarly, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a second airpath arranged for conducting air from an exterior of the casing to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit. Then, the second airpath may be arranged close to the heater or pass through this heater, so that the air conducted by the second airpath is heated by the heater before arriving to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit. In this way operation of the at least one fuel cell reactor unit may be thermally boosted.

[0031] Again generally for the invention, the aerosol-generating device may be arranged so that the power management system activates or disables a hydrogen-transferring duct that connects the hydrogen source to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit, depending on the fuel cell assembly being currently supplying electrical power or not. This can improve safety of hydrogen supply to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit.

[0032] Again generally for the invention, the at least one fuel cell reactor unit may be of a micro fuel cell technology, in particular based on thin film and foil processing or based on printed circuit board technology. These technologies can provide fuel cell assemblies which are low-cost and / or not cumbersome. Such fuel cell assemblies especially suit for being used within aerosol-generating devices.

[0033] According to a possible arrangement of the invention aerosol-generating device, it may have a proximal end from which a user of this aerosol-generating device inhales the aerosol, and a distal end opposed to the proximal end. Then, the heater and the at least one fuel cell reactor unit may preferably be closer to the proximal end than the distal end, and the rechargeable electrical power source and the hydrogen source may be closer to the distal end than the proximal end. Such arrangement makes it easier to have the first and / or second airpath(s) previously mentioned passing close to or through the heater. Also when the casing is provided with the opening for exchanging the hydrogen precursor amount, this opening may be located at the distal end of the aerosol-generating device.

[0034] Finally and again generally for the invention, the rechargeable electrical power source may be of a lithium-ion secondary battery type.

[0035] These and other features of the invention will be now described with reference to the appended figures, which relate to preferred but not-limiting embodiments of the invention.

[0036] - BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -

[0037] Figure 1 is a general diagram of an aerosol-generating device according to the invention.

[0038] Figure 2 is a time-diagram of an electrical power supply to heater, implemented within the aerosol-generating device of Figure 1 .

[0039] Figure 3 shows a possible arrangement for an aerosol-generating device according to the invention.

[0040] Figure 4 shows a possible implementation for displaying a number of pods of aerosol-generating substrate that can be vaped without exchanging a currently loaded amount of hydrogen precursor.

[0041] For clarity sake, element sizes which appear in these figures do not correspond to actual dimensions or dimension ratios. Also, same reference numbers which are indicated in different ones of these figures denote identical elements of elements with identical function.

[0042] - DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION -

[0043] With reference to Figure 1 , an aerosol-generating device 100 comprises a charger module 1 , noted CH-IC for charger integrated circuit, a rechargeable electrical power source 2, a fuel cell assembly 3, and optionally the additional following components: a DC-DC converter 4, possibly of voltage-boost circuit type, a current-limiter 5, noted C.L., a USB-C receptacle 6, a microcontroller unit 7, noted MCU, a power switch 8, for example of MOSFET type, and a heater 20.

[0044] The heater 20 may be of any technology implemented in aerosolgenerating devices, including resistance-based, induction-based and based on irradiation with a light beam. It is arranged for heating an amount of aerosolgenerating substrate 201 that has been loaded into the aerosol-generating device 100.

[0045] The charger module 1 may be provided with the following electrical terminals or connections:

[0046] - an input terminal, noted VBIIS, for receiving DC-power,

[0047] - an output terminal, noted SYS, for delivering electrical power,

[0048] - a battery-connection terminal, noted BAT, for delivering DC-power during a recharge operation or receiving DC-power during a power-supply operation, - a enabling terminal, noted CE with upper horizontal bar, configured for prohibiting electrical power transmission from the VBUS-terminal, and

[0049] - a serial data connection, noted SDA, and a serial clock connection, noted SCL, for example in accordance with Inter-Integrated Circuit (l2C) communication protocol.

[0050] The rechargeable electrical power source 2 may be of a lithium-based type, for example with nominal maximum output voltage value of about 4.2 V (volt), corresponding to nominal maximum charge state of this rechargeable electrical power source. The rechargeable electrical power source 2 is connected to the BAT-terminal of the charger module 1 .

[0051] The fuel cell assembly 3 has an output terminal 30 which is connected to the VBUS-terminal of the charger module 1 . Possibly, this connection includes the DC-DC converter 4 and current limiter 5 combined in series. At least one of the DC-DC converter 4 and the current limiter 5 may be included into the fuel cell assembly 3. The output terminal 30 corresponds to positive terminal of the fuel cell assembly 3 operating as an electrical power source. The fuel cell assembly 3 comprises at least one fuel cell reactor unit, and the output terminal 30 is then connected to a cathode C of this fuel cell reactor unit. In the exemplifying embodiment shown in Figure 1 , the fuel cell assembly 3 comprises at least two serially-connected fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 and 31 -2. Each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... may be of a known design with a respective cathode C, a respective anode A and a respective intermediate proton-exchange membrane noted PEM. In a well-known manner, the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... may be arranged as a stack for forming the in-series electrical connection within minimum volume. Each fuel cell reactor unit may be of a technology based on thin film and foil processing or based on printed circuit board technology, as known for example from the article entitled “Development of Micro Fuel Cells with Organic Substrates and Electronics Manufacturing Technologies”, Robert Hahn et al., Proceedings - Electronic Components and Technology Conference - June 2008, DOI: 10.1109 / ECTC.2008.4550147.

[0052] The optional USB-C receptacle 6 may be connected to the VBUS- terminal of the charger module 1 in parallel with the fuel cell assembly 3. When used, it allows recharging the rechargeable electrical power source 2 from a power source external to the aerosol-generating device 100. From now on, it is assumed that no external power source is connected to the USB-C receptacle 6. Additionally or alternatively, a receptacle other than USB-C may be implemented.

[0053] In the invention embodiment that is described here, but non-lim itingly, the microcontroller unit 7 and the switch 8 are used for supplying electrical power to the heater 20 from the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1. The microcontroller unit 7 is provided with the following terminals and connections:

[0054] - a power supply terminal, commonly known as VDD, which is connected to the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1 ;

[0055] - several input / output terminals, noted I / O, configured for controlling functionalities external to the microcontroller unit 7, and

[0056] - a serial data connection SDA and a serial clock connection SCL which are connected respectively in a known manner to those of the charger module 1 .

[0057] One of the I / O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to a gate terminal of the switch 8, so as to control electrical power that is transmitted from the SYS-terminal of the charger module 1 to the heater 20. To this end, a drain terminal of the switch 8 may also be connected to the SYS- terminal of the charger module 1 , and a source terminal of the switch 8 may be connected to the heater 20.

[0058] Another one of the I / O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to the enabling terminal of the charger module 1. In this way, the microcontroller unit 7 can initiate and terminate recharge operation of the rechargeable electrical power source 2.

[0059] Possibly, still another one of the I / O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 may be connected to control an external function 21 , for example a light indicator, possibly of LED-type. The fuel cell assembly 3 may further comprise a hydrogen source, formed by combination of a hydrogen precursor amount 32 with a hydrogen generator 33. The hydrogen precursor amount 32 is comprised of a material capable of releasing gaseous hydrogen (H2) when contacted with water (H2O) by the hydrogen generator 33. This material, which is the hydrogen precursor, may be solid or a gel. Water in vapour phase may originate from air and be conducted to the hydrogen generator 33 by a first airpath 36, possibly provided with a one-way valve 37, preferably of a controllable valve type. Such technology for producing hydrogen is well-known. In particular, the hydrogen precursor may be based on magnesium (Mg) or zinc (Zn). For example when magnesium- based, the hydrogen generator 33 combines magnesium hydride (MgFh) initially contained in the hydrogen precursor amount 32 with water (H2O) for producing magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) and hydrogen (H2). A common hydrogen generator 33 may be shared by all the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... or each fuel cell reactor unit may be provided with a separate respective hydrogen generator. Coupling of the hydrogen precursor amount 32 to the hydrogen generator 33 may be performed through a loading operation of a cartridge of the hydrogen precursor amount, as described later in connection with Figure 3. The hydrogen gas generated in this way is conducted from the hydrogen generator 33 to the anode A of each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... through dedicated ducts equipped with controlled valves: duct 34-1 (respectively 34-2,...) with valve 35-1 (resp. 35-2, ... ) for fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 (resp. 31 -2, ... ). Actuators of the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... are connected to one or several further I / O terminals of the microcontroller unit 7 so that this latter can operate the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... for modulating or inhibiting the hydrogen supply to the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... Such hydrogen supply modulation or inhibition allows adjusting or cancelling in real-time the electrical current that flows from the output terminal 30 of the fuel cell assembly 3. For the fuel cell assembly 3 to produce electrical current, the cathode C of each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... is supplied with oxygen (O2) via another dedicated airpath 38. This oxygen may originate from air conducted by the airpath 38. Possibly, both airpaths 36 and 38 may extend in parallel from a common air intake 39, and pass close to or through the heater 20, so that air flowing in each one of the airpaths 36 and 38 is heated before arriving to the hydrogen generator 33 or the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2, , respectively. A water vapour exhaust, not represented, is also provided from the cathode C of each fuel cell reactor unit 31 -1 , 31 -2, ...

[0060] In a recharge operation of the aerosol-generating device 100, electrical power is transferred by the charger module 1 from the fuel cell assembly 3 to the rechargeable electrical power source 2, via the VBUS- and BAT-terminals of the charger module 1. Since the enabling terminal of the charger module 1 follows negative logic, the microcontroller unit 7 initiates the recharge operation by inputting low level signal into the enabling terminal. This charging electrical power is noted CH-PW. Such recharge operation may be controlled by the charger module 1 cooperatively with the microcontroller unit 7. Cooperative operation of the charger module 1 and microcontroller unit 7 is allowed by communication through the serial data connection. In particular, control instructions are sent by the charger module 1 to the microcontroller unit 7 for this latter to adjust the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... and 37. Hydrogen supply to the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 31 -2, ... can be modulated in this way, for example so that an instant charging current ICH that enters into the rechargeable electrical power source 2 matches a target value. During the recharge operation, the current delivered by the fuel cell assembly 3 at its output terminal 30 may vary depending on the instant charge level of the rechargeable electrical power source 2. Once the recharge operation has terminated, the microcontroller unit 7 closes the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... and 37. Simultaneously of alternatively, the termination of the recharge operation can be triggered by the microcontroller unit 7 applying a disabling signal (i.e., high level signal) to the charger module 1. Preferably, recharge operation may be executed when no electrical power is supplied to the heater 20, whatever the power source being the rechargeable electrical power source 2 or the fuel cell assembly 3, i.e. when no pre-heating as described below is going on and no user-applied puff is currently detected. Preferably, recharge operation may be executed when the aerosol-generating device is in idle state.

[0061] Useful operation of the aerosol-generating device 100 corresponds to the microcontroller unit 7 allowing electrical power to be transmitted to the heater 20. This useful electrical power adds to that entering into the microcontroller unit 7 through its VDD-terminal, and also possibly to those delivered to other functionalities such as the light indicator 21 , and the total electrical power thus delivered by the charger module 1 forms a so-called system electrical power. When this system electrical power is higher than a predetermined threshold, it is supplied from the rechargeable electrical power source 2, and when it is lower than the threshold, it is supplied from the fuel cell assembly 3. The first case corresponds to the indication SYS-PW1 in Figure 1 , and the second case corresponds to the indication SYS-PW2. When electrical power supply is to be supplied to the heater 20 according to a mean power value that makes the system electrical power higher than the threshold, then operation with the system electrical power supplied through the BAT-terminal of the charger module 1 is controlled cooperatively by the charger module 1 and the microcontroller unit 7. In particular, the microcontroller unit 7 may then communicate with the charger module 1 by means of serial data connection. Such power supply from the rechargeable electrical power source 2 suits for heating the aerosol-generating substrate 201 from ambient temperature, during a pre-heating duration which is desired to be short enough. The electrical power supplied to the heater 20 in this first way is denoted HTR-PW1 in Figure 1 and constitutes part of the system electrical power SYS-PW1 . For the second case, i.e. the system electrical power lower than the threshold and supplied from the fuel cell assembly 3, operation with the system electrical power supplied through the VBUS-terminal of the charger module 1 is controlled cooperatively by the charger module 1 and the microcontroller unit 7. This suits in particular for maintaining the aerosolgenerating substrate 201 at temperature high enough for generation of the aerosol, during a puff duration or for subsequent puffs after the aerosolgenerating substrate 201 has reached or almost reached the aerosol-generation temperature. The electrical power supplied to the heater 20 in this second way is denoted HTR-PW2 in Figure 1 and constitutes part of the system electrical power SYS-PW2.

[0062] The time-diagram of Figure 2 illustrates the electrical power supplied to the heater 20 as just described for a first puff in a vaping session, or for a subsequent puff after the aerosol-generating substrate 201 has cooled down since the previous puff. The x-axis indicates time noted t, and the y-axis indicates the electrical power values noted PW. The overall electrical power supplied to the heater 20 for the first puff is comprised of two contributions: that one denoted HTR-PW1 and as described above, which is supplied first, and thereafter the other one denoted HTR-PW2. The mean power value which corresponds to contribution HTR-PW1 is noted PW1 and may be about 8 W (watt), and the other mean power value which corresponds to contribution HTR-PW2 is noted PW2 and may be about 3 W. Thus, PW1 is higher than PW2, allowing compatibility with desired short pre-heating duration and limited instant electrical power when originating from the fuel cell assembly 3. The pre-heating duration is noted AtpHT in the time-diagram, and AtpuFF is the puff duration. This discussion deals with mean power values since the electrical power supplied to the heater 20 may be adjusted by the microcontroller unit 7 through the switch 8 by implementing pulse-width modulation.

[0063] Preferably, when the microcontroller unit 7 controls power supply to the heater 20 according to the mean power value PW1 , it preferably communicates simultaneously with the charger module 1 , so that the system electrical power can then be supplied only by the rechargeable electrical power source 2. At the end of the pre-hearing duration AtpHT, the microcontroller unit 7 may further communicate with the charger module 1 so that system electrical power can originate through the VBUS-terminal of the charger module 1 .

[0064] Also, the charger module 1 and the microcontroller unit 7 may cooperate for opening or closing the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... , thereby activating or disabling the hydrogen-transferring ducts 34-1 , 34-2, ... , depending on the fuel cell assembly 3 being currently supplying electrical power or not. In particular, the valves 35-1 , 35-2, ... may be controlled in closed state during the pre-heating duration AtpHT.

[0065] For all operations of the aerosol-generating device 100 that involve the fuel cell assembly 3, correct operation of this latter may be monitored by the charger module 1 , possibly referring to pre-recorded reference operation data relating to the fuel cell assembly 3. This applies to the recharge operation as well as defining the threshold for the system electrical power to be supplied either from the rechargeable electrical power source 2 or the fuel cell assembly 3.

[0066] An aerosol-generating device 100 according to the invention is shown in Figure s. It is enclosed in a casing 101 which may have an elongated shape extending between a proximal end PE from which a user can inhale aerosol produced by the device 100 and a distal end DE opposed to the proximal end. The aerosol-generating device 100 may be provided with a chamber 102 at the proximal end PE, suitable for accommodating an aerosol-generating article 200 which comprises the amount of the aerosol-generating precursor 201 to be heated for production of the aerosol. To this end, the heater 20 may be located close to the chamber 102, for heating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 200 during a use session of the device 100. For example, the heater 20 may be shaped as a hollow cylinder which surrounds the chamber 102, although alternative arrangements are also possible for the heater. The aerosolgenerating article 200 can be extracted from the chamber 102 once it is depleted and replaced with a new one of a same amount of aerosol-generating substrate. Using one and same pod of aerosol-generating substrate may correspond to a use session of the device 100, and successive use sessions may correspond to loading successively into the chamber 102 a plurality of aerosol-generating articles 200 all containing the same amount of aerosol-generating substrate.

[0067] Preferably, the hydrogen precursor amount 32 may be provided as one or several cartridge(s) which can be loaded in a housing 103 provided in the hydrogen source within the casing 101. Thus, a cartridge of the hydrogen precursor currently depleted after usage in combination with the aerosolgenerating device 100 can be exchanged easily with a new one, by removal and insertion by the user into the housing 103 through a dedicated opening 104 provided in the casing 101 . For example, each hydrogen precursor cartridge may be shaped as a plate to be inserted longitudinally through the opening 104, juxtaposed next to one another within the housing 103. Several identical plateshaped cartridges are labelled 32-1 , 32-2, ... in Figure 3. Alternatively, a single cartridge can be used, which has a thickness that may vary depending on the hydrogen-supply capacity of the cartridge. The hydrogen precursor cartridge or cartridges 31 -1 , 32-2, ... that is (are) currently within the housing 103 together form the total hydrogen precursor amount 32. Advantageously, each hydrogen precursor cartridge, the housing 103 and the hydrogen generator 33 may be designed so that cartridge insertion into the housing 103 automatically activates at least one of the hydrogen transfer ducts 34-1 , 34-2, ... between this hydrogen precursor cartridge and the hydrogen generator 33. In this way, each inserted hydrogen precursor cartridge is operatively coupled to the hydrogen generator 33 once it is inserted in the housing 103. For example, insertion of the cartridge pushes spring-loaded flaps which normally close inlets of the transfer ducts 34- 1 , 34-2, ... In the arrangement example of Figure 3, the cartridge housing 103 is located at the distal end DE of the aerosol generating device 100, together with the opening 104. Then, the device components may be arranged in the following way within the casing 101 : the rechargeable electrical power source 2 together with the hydrogen source closer to the distal end DE, and the heater 20 together with the fuel cell reactor units 31 -1 , 32-2, ... closer to the proximal end PE. The air intake 39 may be located at the chamber 102, for example at a top thereof, with the airpaths 36 and 38 passing through or along the heater 20 for connecting the air intake 39 to the hydrogen generator 33 and the fuel cell reactor units 31 - 1 , 31 -2, ...

[0068] Figure 4 illustrates a possible improvement for making the total amount of hydrogen precursor 32 that is currently in the device 100 visible to the user. The opening 104 may be provided with a hinged shutter 105 of a transparent material. Thus, it is possible for the user to see from outside of the device 100, through the shutter 105, the thickness of the hydrogen precursor cartridge which is currently in the housing 103, or the total thickness of the hydrogen precursor cartridges 32-1 , 32-2,... in case of multiple cartridges simultaneously loaded. This thickness may appear in superposition with a scale 106 printed on the shutter 105, which indicates the corresponding number of pods 200 that can be vaped using the currently loaded hydrogen precursor cartridge(s). Put another way, the printed scale for indicating the hydrogen precursor amount 32 that is currently contained in the housing 103 may advantageously be expressed in terms of a number of pods 200 to be vaped. Thus, the transparent shutter 105 and the scale 106 form together a display of the hydrogen precursor amount 32. The example represented in Figure 4 corresponds to a loaded hydrogen precursor amount 32 making it possible to vape six successive pods 200 before next exchange of the hydrogen precursor cartridge(s).

Claims

CLAIMS1. An aerosol-generating device (100) comprising internally to a casing (101 ) of the aerosol-generating device:- a heater (20) adapted for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate (201 ) when supplied with electrical power;- a rechargeable electrical power source (2) connected for supplying a first electrical power (HTR-PW1 ) to the heater (20);- at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31-2, ... ) adapted for producing electrical power when supplied with hydrogen, and connected for supplying a charging electrical power (CH-PW) to the rechargeable electrical power source (2) during a recharge operation;- an hydrogen source, suitable for forming a fuel cell assembly (3) in combination with the at least fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ), and arranged for supplying hydrogen to said at least one fuel cell reactor unit; and- a power management system (1 , 7) configured for controlling supply of electrical power to the rechargeable electrical power source (2) and to the heater (20), characterized in that the power management system (1 , 7) is configured for, during a use session of said aerosol-generating device (100), first activating supply of the first electrical power (HTR-PW1 ) from the rechargeable electrical power source (2) to the heater (20) according to a first mean power value (PW1 ), and then activating supply of a second electrical power (HTR-PW2) from the fuel cell assembly (3) to the heater according to a second mean power value (PW2), the first mean power value being higher than the second mean power value.

2. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1 , wherein the power management system (1 , 7) is further configured so that supplying the heater (20) with the first electrical power (HTR-PW1 ) from the rechargeable electrical power source (2) is limited to a pre-heating duration before a first puff is drawn throughsaid aerosol-generating device in the use session, and so that supplying the heater with the second electrical power (HTR-PW2) from the fuel cell assembly (3) corresponds to a vaping duration subsequent to the pre-heating duration.

3. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen source is adapted for accommodating an amount of hydrogen precursor (32), and for producing hydrogen from the amount of hydrogen precursor.

4. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 3, wherein the hydrogen source is adapted for accommodating a magnesium-based hydrogen precursor amount (32), and for contacting the magnesium-based hydrogen precursor amount with water or humidity-containing air for producing hydrogen.

5. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 3 or 4, wherein the casing (101 ) is provided with an opening (104) suitable for the amount of hydrogen precursor (32) to be removably inserted into the casing through the opening and accommodated in the hydrogen source.

6. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 5, arranged so that insertion of the amount of hydrogen precursor (32) into a housing (103) of the hydrogen source initiates or activates a gas-connection from said housing to the at least one fuel cell reactor (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ).

7. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 5 or 6, further comprising a display (105, 106) and configured for indicating to a user of the aerosol-generating device, by means of the display, a number of pods (200) each containing an amount of the aerosol-generating substrate (201 ), that can be vaped using said aerosol-generating device loaded with the amount of hydrogen precursor (32) that is currently accommodated in the hydrogen source.

8. The aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first airpath (36), preferably including a one-way valve (37), arranged for conducting humidity-containing air from an exterior of the casing (101 ) to the hydrogen source.

9. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 8, wherein the first airpath (36) is arranged close to the heater (20) or passes through said heater, so that the humidity-containing air conducted by said first airpath is heated by said heater before arriving to the hydrogen source.

10. The aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, further comprising a second airpath (38) arranged for conducting air from an exterior of the casing (101 ) to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 - 2, ... ).11 . The aerosol-generating device (100) of claim 10, wherein the second airpath (38) is arranged close to the heater (20) or passes through said heater, so that the air conducted by said second airpath is heated by said heater before arriving to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ).

12. The aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, arranged so that the power management system (1 , 7) activates or disables a hydrogen-transferring duct (34-1 , 34-2, ... ) that connects the hydrogen source to the at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ), depending on the fuel cell assembly (3) being currently supplying electrical power or not.

13. The aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 -2, ... ) is of a micro fuel cell technology, in particular based on thin film and foil processing or based on printed circuit board technology.

14. The aerosol-generating device (100) of one of the preceding claims, having a proximal end (PE) from which a user of said aerosol-generating device inhales the aerosol, and a distal end (DE) opposed to the proximal end, wherein the heater (20) and the at least one fuel cell reactor unit (31 -1 , 31 -2,... ) are closer to the proximal end than the distal end, and the rechargeable electrical power source (2) and the hydrogen source are closer to the distal end than the proximal end.

15. The aerosol-generating device (100) of claims 5 and 14, wherein the opening (104) in the casing (101 ) is located at the distal end (DE) of the aerosolgenerating device.

Images