Smoking Substitute Devices and Associated Methods, Systems and Apparatuses

This application is continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/549,436, filed Dec. 21, 2021, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/066388, filed Jun. 12, 2020, which claims priority to EP19179932.9, filed Jun. 13, 2019; EP19179906.3 filed Jun. 13, 2019; and EP19179899.0 filed Jun. 13, 2019. The entire contents of each of the above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The present disclosure relates to smoking substitute devices. In particular, although not exclusively, to apparatus and methods for controlling operation of a smoking substitute device.

The smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself.

Conventional combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco comprising shreds of tobacco which is surrounded by a wrapper, and usually also a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The filter typically comprises a filtration material which is circumscribed by a plug wrap. The wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined together by a wrapped band of tipping paper that circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod. A conventional cigarette of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette.

Combustion of organic material such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful by-products. There have been proposed various smoking substitute devices in order to avoid the smoking of tobacco.

Such smoking substitute devices can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine.

Smoking substitute devices may comprise electronic systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a “vapor”) that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavorings without, or with fewer of, the odor and health risks associated with traditional smoking.

In general, smoking substitute devices are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and tobacco products. Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles (also referred to as a “consumables”) that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.

The popularity and use of smoking substitute devices has grown rapidly in the past few years. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit tobacco smoking, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking substitute devices as desirable lifestyle accessories. Some smoking substitute devices are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end. Other smoking substitute devices do not generally resemble a cigarette (for example, the smoking substitute device may have a generally box-like form).

There are a number of different categories of smoking substitute devices, each utilizing a different smoking substitute approach. A smoking substitute approach corresponds to the manner in which the substitute system operates for a user.

One approach for a smoking substitute device is the so-called “vaping” approach, in which a vaporizable liquid, typically referred to (and referred to herein) as “e-liquid”, is heated by a heating device to produce an aerosol vapor which is inhaled by a user. An e-liquid typically includes a base liquid as well as nicotine and/or flavorings. The resulting vapor therefore typically contains nicotine and/or flavorings. The base liquid may include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin.

A typical vaping smoking substitute device includes a mouthpiece, a power source (typically a battery), a tank for containing e-liquid, as well as a heating device. In use, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heating device, which heats the e-liquid to produce an aerosol (or “vapor”) which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.

Vaping smoking substitute devices can be configured in a variety of ways. For example, there are “closed system” vaping smoking substitute devices which typically have a sealed tank and heating element which is pre-filled with e-liquid and is not intended to be refilled by an end user. One subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute devices include a main body which includes the power source, wherein the main body is configured to be physically and electrically coupled to a consumable including the tank and the heating element. In this way, when the tank of a consumable has been emptied, the main body can be reused by connecting it to a new consumable. Another subset of closed system vaping smoking substitute devices are completely disposable, and intended for one-use only.

There are also “open system” vaping smoking substitute devices which typically have a tank that is configured to be refilled by a user, so the device can be used multiple times.

An example vaping smoking substitute device is the Myblu™ e-cigarette. The Myblu™ e-cigarette is a closed system device which includes a main body and a consumable. The main body and consumable are physically and electrically coupled together by pushing the consumable into the main body. The main body includes a rechargeable battery. The consumable includes a mouthpiece, a sealed tank which contains e-liquid, as well as a heating device, which for this device is a heating filament coiled around a portion of a wick which is partially immersed in the e-liquid. The device is activated when a microprocessor on board the main body detects a user inhaling through the mouthpiece. When the device is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to the heating device, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapor which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.

Another example vaping smoking substitute device is the blu PRO™ e-cigarette. The blu PRO™ e-cigarette is an open system device which includes a main body, a (refillable) tank, and a mouthpiece. The main body and tank are physically and electrically coupled together by screwing one to the other. The mouthpiece and refillable tank are physically coupled together by screwing one to the other, and detaching the mouthpiece from the refillable tank allows the tank to be refilled with e-liquid. The device is activated by a button on the main body. When the device is activated, electrical energy is supplied from the power source to a heating device, which heats e-liquid from the tank to produce a vapor which is inhaled by a user through the mouthpiece.

Another approach for a smoking substitute system is the so-called Heated Tobacco (“HT”) approach in which tobacco (rather than an “e-liquid”) is heated or warmed to release vapor. HT is also known as “heat not burn” (“HNB”). The tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. The vapor may contain nicotine and/or flavorings. In the HT approach the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e., the tobacco does not undergo combustion.

A typical HT smoking substitute system may include a device and a consumable. The consumable may include the tobacco material. The device and consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes components in the tobacco material to be released as vapor. A vapor may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material (this carrier may for example include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerin) and additionally volatile compounds released from the tobacco. The released vapor may be entrained in the airflow drawn through the tobacco.

As the vapor passes through the consumable (entrained in the airflow) from the location of vaporization to an outlet of the consumable (e.g., a mouthpiece), the vapor cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user. The aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds.

In HT smoking substitute systems, heating as opposed to burning the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HT approach may reduce the odor and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.

There may be a need for improved design of smoking substitute systems, in particular HT smoking substitute systems, to enhance the user experience and improve the function of the HT smoking substitute system.

An example of the HT approach is the IQOS™ smoking substitute device from Philip Morris Ltd. The IQOS™ smoking substitute device uses a consumable, including reconstituted tobacco located in a wrapper. The consumable includes a holder incorporating a mouthpiece. The consumable may be inserted into a main body that includes a heating device. The heating device has a thermally conductive heating knife which penetrates the reconstituted tobacco of the consumable, when the consumable is inserted into the heating device. Activation of the heating device heats the heating element (in this case a heating knife), which, in turn, heats the tobacco in the consumable. The heating of the tobacco causes it to release nicotine vapor and flavorings which may be drawn through the mouthpiece by the user through inhalation.

A second example of the HT approach is the device known as “Glo”™ from British American Tobacco p.l.c. Glo™ comprises a relatively thin consumable. The consumable includes leaf tobacco which is heated by a heating device located in a main body. When the consumable is placed in the main body, the tobacco is surrounded by a heating element of the heating device. Activation of the heating device heats the heating element, which, in turn, heats the tobacco in the consumable. The heating of the tobacco causes it to release nicotine vapor and flavorings which may be drawn through the consumable by the user through inhalation. The tobacco, when heated by the heating device, is configured to produce vapor when heated rather than when burned (as in a smoking apparatus, e.g., a cigarette). The tobacco may contain high levels of aerosol formers (carrier), such as vegetable glycerine (“VG”) or propylene glycol (“PG”).

The present inventor(s) have observed that most smoking substitute devices currently on the market are configured to operate in isolation of other devices, which limits the functions the smoking substitute devices can perform. Moreover, they have observed that smoking substitute devices require intelligent management, to prevent wasting power when they are not in active use, for example during transportation. Furthermore, they have observed that, as smoking substitute devices become more sophisticated, user expectations increase in terms of his or her smoking substitute device monitoring operational parameters for itself. It is helpful for the user to be provided with accurate and timely information regarding operation of his or her smoking substitute device, for example regarding liquid reservoir or consumable pod refill level or the transmission of component data from a smoking substitute device to a mobile device can be an important function that the user may wish to protect and maintain during operation of the smoking substitute device. Other data acquisition, storage and transmission functions may also be important to the user.

The present disclosure has been devised in light of the above considerations.

At its most general, the present disclosure provides a device and method that enable intelligent, sophisticated control of a smoking substitute device and ensure that power is not used unnecessarily, when the device is not in active use, or when certain functions are not required. The smoking substitute device can be configured so that it enters a shipping mode, in which it can restrict power supply to one or more auxiliary components within the device, in order to prevent power being used by them at a time at which a user will not require them. The restriction may comprise limiting the power supply to the auxiliary component or entirely preventing it. The device may be configured to transition from a shipping mode to an active mode, when it detects that the user wishes to use the device, or that the user has otherwise performed an action or combination of actions (e.g., a predetermined combination of actions) to indicate that the device should enter an active mode.

The smoking substitute device may be configured to distinguish between a time at which no inhalations are being detected because, for example, the device is in transport—for example, after manufacture and testing and before first purchase or first use of the device by a user—and a time at which because the device is owned/possessed by a user, but no inhalations are being detected due to the user's usage choices.

The smoking substitute device may be configured to require detection of more than one action or condition, for it to transition to active mode. For example, it may require detection of an inhale and activation of another sensor or detector, for example the detection of a valid resistance coil being coupled to the main body of the device, which is indicative that a consumable has been inserted into the device. By requiring this double layer of detection, the device helps to avoid a false transition out of shipping mode. Therefore, power conservation is improved.

According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided smoking substitute device comprising a body housing a power source, an auxiliary component, and an airflow sensor for detecting airflow through the body. The body includes a coupling portion arranged to receive a consumable. The body is selectively operable in a shipping mode and an active mode. In the active mode, the power source is configured to supply power to the auxiliary component. In the shipping mode, the power source is restricted from supplying power to the auxiliary component. The body(/smoking substitute device) is configured to transition from the shipping mode to the active mode upon detection of at least two of: a consumable received in the coupling portion; a flow of air through the body; connection of a charging interface to the smoking substitute device.

In some embodiments, the body(/smoking substitute device) may be configured to transition from the shipping mode to the active mode upon detection of: a consumable received in the coupling portion; and a flow of air through the body.

In some embodiments, the smoking substitute device(/body) may be configured so that it will only transition from the shipping mode to the active mode if it detects at least two of: a consumable received in the coupling portion; a flow of air through the body; connection of a charging interface to the smoking substitute device. In other embodiments, there may be additional combinations of actions that will cause the smoking substitute device(/body) to transition from the shipping mode to the active mode.

In some embodiments, the smoking substitute device(/body) may be configured so that it will only transition from the shipping mode to the active mode if it detects both a consumable received in the coupling portion and a flow of air through the body. In other embodiments, there may be additional combinations of actions that will cause the smoking substitute device(/body) to transition from the shipping mode to the active mode.

The smoking substitute device may be configured so that the power source is also restricted from supplying power to a heating element within the device, when it is in shipping mode, to prevent or restrict smoking substitute action. For example, in embodiments in which the consumable includes a heating element, the smoking substitute device may be configured so that the power source is restricted from supplying power to the consumable, as well as to the auxiliary component, when it is in shipping mode.

The coupling portion may be configured to electrically couple with the consumable. For example, the coupling portion of the body may comprise an electrical interface for electrically connecting to an electrical interface of a consumable. For example, the electrical interface may comprise a pair of electrical contacts. The body may be configured to monitor an electrical property the coupling portion to detect whether or not a consumable is received in the coupling portion. For example, the body may be configured to determine that the body is electrically coupled with a consumable by detecting a change in any of current or voltage or resistance at the electrical interface.

The coupling portion may be configured to mechanically couple with the consumable. Any suitable mechanical coupling may be employed, for example an interference fit, a screw fit, a snap fit, a bayonet fit, a push fit, or an interlocking fit.

When the body is in the shipping mode, the power supply from the power source to the auxiliary component may be prevented. Alternatively, when the body is in the shipping mode, the power supply from the power source to the auxiliary component may be restricted or limited. For example, the body may be configured to supply power to the auxiliary component at a restricted low level when the body is in shipping mode. Alternatively, or additionally, the body may be configured to supply power to the auxiliary component for a restricted period of time after the body has entered shipping mode.

The auxiliary component may comprise any suitable component, within a smoking substitute device, the function or purpose of which is auxiliary, or additional, to the device's core function of heating a liquid or tobacco for smoking substitute action. For example, the auxiliary component may comprise a communications interface such as a wireless interface, for example a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth™ interface. For example, the auxiliary component may comprise a position or orientation sensor such as an accelerometer, a magnetometer or a gyroscope. For example, the auxiliary component may comprise a user interface such as an LED screen, light or audio emitter. For example, the auxiliary component may comprise a data reader such as a bar code reader, for example for reading data from a consumable inserted into the smoking substitute device.

The airflow sensor may be positioned in an airflow channel extending through the body of the smoking substitute device. The smoking substitute device may be provided with or without a button or a switch, for activating its operation. Therefore, it may not require a dedicated user input component (e.g., actuation of a button or switch) in order to switch the device on. Instead, it may rely on the detection of an inhale by the airflow sensor, preferably in combination with another detection such as the detection of a consumable being received in the coupling portion, in order to activate operation of the device for a smoking substitute action.

The smoking substitute device may be configured to transition from the active mode to the shipping mode if the airflow sensor does not detect a flow of air through the body for a predetermined period of time.

The smoking substitute device may include a charging port. The charging port may be located on the body. The connection of a charging interface to the smoking substitute device may be detected upon the charging interface (e.g., inserted into or otherwise physically connected) being physically connected to the charging port. The connection of a charging interface to the smoking substitute device may be detected upon the charging interface supplying power to the smoking substitute device via the charging port.

The charging interface may, for example, be a cable (e.g., a USB cable, in which case the charging port may be a USB port) or a charging station (e.g., a docking station).

The smoking substitute device may be configured to detect whether a consumable is received in the coupling portion and, in accordance with that detection, either transition from the active mode to the shipping mode after a first predetermined period of time, if it has detected that a consumable is received in the coupling portion and if the airflow sensor does not detect a flow of air through the main body; or to transition from the active mode to the shipping mode after a second, different predetermined period of time, if it has detected that a consumable is not received in the coupling portion and if the airflow sensor does not detect a flow of air through the main body. The first time period may be longer than the second time period.

Therefore, the time period for which the device allows itself to remain “active”, in the absence of an inhalation, may vary dependent on whether or not a consumable is currently inserted in the device. Thus, the device may be configured to use its determination as to whether or not there is a consumable inserted as an indicator of whether or not it is likely that the user intends to use the device again in the short to medium term, and therefore as a determining factor in how long it will wait before transitioning to shipping mode. This also reflects the widely accepted practice of shipping smoking substitute devices, after manufacture and testing, without consumables inserted therein. Therefore, if a smoking substitute device has been in an active mode during testing, once it is packaged up without a consumable, for transportation to a retailer or end user, it may relatively quickly determine that it does not need to be in active mode, and therefore transition to shipping mode.

The active mode of the smoking substitute device may include different sub-modes. For example, it may comprise a first sub-mode, which may be referred to as a “use mode” in which, when the body is in active mode, power can be supplied to the consumable. In particular, if the device is in the use mode, power may be supplied to a heating device in the consumable, to enable liquid or tobacco to be heated for smoking substitute action. For example, the active mode may comprise a second sub-mode, which may be referred to as a “standby mode” in which power is supplied to the auxiliary device but not to the consumable. In such a configuration, the device would therefore not enable liquid or tobacco to be heated for smoking substitute action, when it is in standby mode.

The smoking substitute device may be configured to transition from use mode to standby mode, if the airflow sensor has not detected an inhale, i.e., an airflow through the body, for a pre-determined first period of time. The smoking substitute device may further be configured to transition from standby mode to shipping mode if the airflow sensor has still not detected an inhale after a pre-determined second (additional) amount of time.

The smoking substitute device may be configured to transition from use mode to standby mode if certain operating conditions are met, for example if it is determined that the battery level in the device is running too low to operate both the auxiliary component and the heating device within the consumable.

The smoking substitute device may be configured so that, if it is detected that a consumable is received within the coupling portion of the body of the device, it can transition from use mode to standby mode, if no inhalations have been detected for a predetermined amount of time, but that it should not transition from use mode or standby mode to shipping mode unless it is detected that there is also no consumable received in the coupling portion of the body of the device. Optionally, the device may be configured so that it requires no inhalations to have been detected for a first predetermined amount of time and no consumable to be received in the coupling portion of the body of the device for a second predetermined amount of time (wherein the first and second predetermined amounts of time may be different), before it is allowed to transition from standby mode or use mode (or any other active sub-mode) to shipping mode.

Thus, the device can save power by restricting power to the consumable (and to its heating device) when the device is not being actively used for smoking substitute action, but it can maintain operation of the auxiliary component(s), for example for telemetry or for position/orientation sensing, whilst there is a consumable inserted in the device, since this may be taken as an indicator that the user still intends to use the device again in the short to medium term. The device may also provide a grace period during which it is permissible not to have a consumable received in the device—for example when the user is changing his or her consumable—before the device will transition to shipping mode, in which power to the auxiliary component is restricted.

The device may be configured so that the transition from an active mode to a shipping mode, and/or the transition from a use active sub-mode to a standby active sub-mode, follows different rules for different respective auxiliary components. For example, the device may be configured so that, when the auxiliary component is a position sensor such as an accelerometer, the device can transition from a use sub-mode to a standby sub-mode if no inhalations have been detected for a pre-determined amount of time, regardless of whether a consumable is currently received in the coupling portion of the device. For example, the device may be configured so that when the auxiliary component is a wireless interface, for example a wireless interface configured to communicate with a wireless interface of a mobile device that has an application running on it for managing the smoking substitute device, the device will not transition from a use sub-mode to a standby sub-mode even if no inhalations have been detected for a pre-determined amount of time, if there is a consumable currently received in the coupling portion of the device.

The smoking substitute device may comprise a control unit. It may be comprised within the body of the device. The control unit may be configured to manage signals received from one or more detectors or sensors, and for determining action on the basis of those received signals. The control unit may, for example, receive signals from the airflow sensor and/or from the coupling portion, for example an electrical interface within the coupling portion. The control unit may be further configured to issue instructions to control the supply of power to the auxiliary component and/or to the consumable based on the received sensor/detector signals. For example, it may be configured to only permit power to be supplied to the auxiliary component if it has received positive signals from both the airflow sensor and from the coupling portion to indicate both that an inhalation action has been made and that a consumable is currently received in the coupling portion.