Aerosol Provision System

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2023/060860 filed Apr. 25, 2023, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2206329.1 filed Apr. 29, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision system and a method of generating an aerosol.

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called “heat not burn” products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Aerosol provision systems, which cover the aforementioned devices or products, are known. Common systems use heaters to create an aerosol from a suitable medium which is then inhaled by a user. Often the medium used needs to be replaced or changed to provide a different aerosol for inhalation. It is known to use induction heating systems as heaters to create an aerosol from a suitable medium. An induction heating system generally consists of a magnetic field generating device for generating a varying magnetic field, and a susceptor or heating material which is heatable by penetration with the varying magnetic field to heat the suitable medium.

Conventional aerosol provision devices comprise a cylindrical heating chamber into which a rod shaped consumable is inserted.

It is desired to provide an improved aerosol provision system.

According to an aspect there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising:

According to various embodiments the aerosol provision system may comprise a user display and/or a user interface. According to an embodiment a first user display may be provided on the charging unit and the aerosol provision device may comprise a user interface and optionally a second user display. The lid may be moveable between a first (open) position and a second (closed) position.

According to an embodiment a user display may be provided on the charging unit and the user display may be visible to a user when the lid is in the second (closed) position and is partially or fully concealed or obscured from sight by the lid when the lid is in the first (open) position. Accordingly, the user display may be provided on the charging unit under the slider such that the user display is only visible when the slider is in the second (closed) position as this is the only interaction that a user needs with the user display on the charging unit e.g. to check the charge status of the charging unit. This location also provides a degree of discretion for the user in the sense that the display is not immediately visible to others and is only primarily visible to the user.

According to embodiments the user display may be activated for an activation time which may be approx. 3 s commencing from the time that the slider is first moved from the first (open) position to the second (closed) position thereby revealing the user display. The user display may be visible, illuminated or otherwise switched ON for the activation time before the user display becomes invisible or is no longer illuminated or is otherwise switched OFF. According to various embodiments the activation time may be in the range <1 s, 1-2 s, 2-3 s, 3-4 s, 4-5 s, 5-6 s, 6-7 s, 7-8 s, 8-9 s or 9-10 s. According to an embodiment the activation time may be in the range of 3-5 s.

Embodiments are contemplated wherein the user display may have a first intensity Iduring an activation time when the user display is switched ON and a second lower intensity Iwhen the user display is either switched OFF or is switched to a low illumination or low power mode of operation.

According to various embodiments a user interface should be understood as a component of the aerosol provision system with which a user may interact, for example, in order to provide an input into the aerosol provision system. For example, the user interface may comprise one or more buttons or touch sensitive panels which a user may touch. A user display should be understood as a component of the aerosol provision system which displays information to the user.

When the lid is moved (e.g. slid or pivoted) from the first (open) position to the second (closed) position (e.g. after an aerosol provision device has been inserted into a cavity of the charging unit) then a user display located, for example, on the charging unit may be activated in order to indicate the charge state or level of charge of the charging unit. As a result, a user is provided with an indication of whether or not the charging unit has sufficient charge in order to partially or fully charge the aerosol provision device. The user display may indicate a warning or an error indication if the aerosol provision device is inserted into the charging unit and the charging unit has a low level of charge or insufficient charge in order to fully recharge the aerosol provision device. The user display may only be activated for a preselected time e.g. <1 s, 1-5 s or 5-10 s in order to save battery life. According to various embodiments the user display may be activated for an activation time of 3-5 s.

Embodiments are contemplated wherein when the lid is moved (e.g. slid or pivoted) from the first (open) position to the second (closed) position (e.g. after an aerosol provision device has been inserted into a cavity of the charging unit) then a user display located, for example, on the charging unit may be activated in order to display other information e.g. the charge status of the aerosol provision device, a cleanliness status of the aerosol provision device, information concerning the battery life of the aerosol provision device, the date and/or time or information related to aerosol generating articles that are suitable for use with the aerosol provision device.

A user may also move the lid from the second (closed) position partially towards the first (open) position but not fully into the first (open) position. The user may then move the lid back into the second (closed) position in order to reactivate the user display.

It will be understood that the user display may only be activated for a period of time i.e. the user display may be turned ON for a period of time (e.g. 3 s) and may then automatically turn OFF.

When the lid is moved (e.g. slid or pivoted) from the second (closed) position to the first (open) position (e.g. in order to allow an aerosol provision device to be removed from the charging unit) then a user display located, for example, on the charging unit may be deactivated in order to save battery life of the charging unit. It is also contemplated that when the lid is moved (e.g. slid or pivoted) from the second (closed) position to the first (open) position then the user display located, for example, on the charging unit may be temporarily activated in order to indicate to the user the remaining battery life of the charging unit. For example, if the charging unit is low on charge or power then the user display may provide a warning indication to the user. The warning indication may alert the user that the charging unit should itself be recharged by being charged either directly or wirelessly with mains power.

When the lid is slid from the first (open) position to the second (closed) position (e.g. after an aerosol provision device is inserted into the cavity of the charging unit) then a user interface located, for example, on the aerosol provision device may be deactivated in order to prevent accidental activation of the aerosol provision device whilst the aerosol provision device is being recharged by the charging unit.

When the lid is moved (e.g. slid or pivoted) from the second (closed) position to the first (open) position (e.g. when allowing an aerosol provision device to be removed from the cavity of the charging unit) then a user interface located, for example, on the aerosol provision device may be activated allowing a user to activate the aerosol provision device when the aerosol provision device has been removed from the charging unit.

Optionally, at least a portion of the user display may be located on the charging unit.

For example, a user display may be provided on the charging unit in order to indicate the charge status of the charging unit. The user display may be located on a position on the charging unit such that it is always visible to a user. Alternatively, the user display may be located on the charging unit in a position such that when the lid is in the first (open) position then the lid may partially or fully conceal the user display. The user display provided on the charging unit may provide a user with an indication of the charge level or charging status of the charging unit. The user display may only display the status of the charging unit when an aerosol provision device is located in the cavity of the charging unit and the lid of the charging unit is in a second (closed) position.

When the lid is in the second (closed) position and an aerosol provision device is located in the cavity of the charging unit then electrical power may be supplied to the aerosol provision device from the charging unit and/or data may be transferred to the aerosol provision device from the charging unit and/or data may be transferred from the aerosol provision device to the charging unit.

When the lid is in the first (open) position and an aerosol provision device is not located in the cavity of the charging unit then no attempt may be made by the charging unit to supply electrical power to the aerosol provision device from the charging unit and/or no attempt may be made to transfer data to the aerosol provision device from the charging unit and/or no attempt may be made to transfer data from the aerosol provision device to the charging unit.

Optionally, the user display may be located at a position on the charging unit so as to be visible to a user when the lid is in the first (open) position and also when the lid is in the second (closed) position.

Alternatively, the user display may be located at a position on the charging unit so as to be visible to a user when the lid is in the second (closed) position and to be at least partially concealed or obscured or fully concealed or obscured when the lid is in the first (open) position.

According to arrangements a user display located on the charging unit may be concealed or obscured by the lid when the lid is in the first (open) position or alternatively when the lid is in the second (closed) position.

Optionally, at least a portion of the user display may be located on the aerosol provision device.

The aerosol provision device may comprise a user display which may, for example, comprise one, two or more than two LEDs in order to indicate the charge status of the aerosol provision device.

Optionally, in a mode of operation the user display may be arranged to indicate the charge state of the charging unit.

The user display may be arranged, for example, to indicate that the charge state or level of the charging unit is in the range 0-25%, 25-50%, 50-75% or 75-100% of a full charge. The user display may also indicate a warning if the charging unit is low on charge.

Optionally, in a mode of operation the user display may be arranged to indicate the charge state of the aerosol provision device.

The user display may, for example, indicate that the charge state or level of the aerosol provision device is in the range 0-25%, 25-50%, 50-75% or 75-100% of a full charge. The user display may also indicate a warning if the aerosol provision device is low on charge.

Optionally, in a mode of operation the user display may be arranged to indicate an error or fault status of either the charging unit and/or the aerosol provision device.

For example, the user display may indicate an error or fault status if a determination is made that an attempt was made to connect the charging unit to the mains (either via a wired or wireless connection) but that the charging unit did not regain charge as expected. The user display may indicate an error or fault status if a determination is made that the aerosol provision device was inserted into the cavity of the charging unit and the lid of the charging unit was moved to the second (closed) position in order to activate one or more electrical connections and/or one or more data transfer connections between the charging unit and the aerosol provision device but that there was a failure or a problem with transferring electrical power to the aerosol provision device and/or there was a failure or a problem with data transfer between the charging unit and the aerosol provision device.

Optionally, in a mode of operation the user display may be arranged to indicate the time left of a session of use.

For example, the user display may be provided on the aerosol provision device and may indicate that an expected session of use is 0-25%, 25-50%, 50-75% or 75-100% complete. The user display may comprise a timer which indicates the current duration of a session of use. The user display may comprise a countdown timer which indicates the predicted time remaining of the current session of use.

Optionally, the first position comprises an open position in which the aerosol provision device can be inserted into, and removed from the cavity.

For example, the first position may relate to a position wherein the lid is fully retracted so as to uncover or unblock an entrance aperture into the cavity of the charging unit to the fullest extent possible. When the lid is fully retracted i.e. in the first position then the lid may slide over a user display located on the charging unit.

Optionally, the second position comprises a closed position in which an upper portion of the cavity is closed by the lid.

Optionally, the lid is configured to slide or pivot between the first and second positions.

Optionally, the charging unit may comprise a housing having one or more rails or grooves and the lid may comprise one or more tabs or projections arranged to engage the one or more rails or grooves.

Alternatively, the charging unit may comprise a housing having one or more tabs or projections and the lid may comprise one or more rails or grooves and wherein the one or more tabs or projections engage the one or more rails or grooves.

Optionally, the aerosol provision system further comprises an aerosol generating article.

According to another aspect there is provided a method of generating an aerosol comprising:

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol generating material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol generating material and a solid aerosol generating material. The solid aerosol generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.