Aerosol Generation Device

The present invention relates to aerosol generation devices, and more specifically aerosol generation device power systems.

Aerosol generation devices such as electronic cigarettes and other aerosol inhalers or vaporisation devices are becoming increasingly popular consumer products.

Heating devices for vaporisation or aerosolisation are known in the art. Such devices typically include a heating chamber and heater. In operation, an operator inserts the product to be aerosolised or vaporised into the heating chamber. The product is then heated with an electronic heater to vaporise the constituents of the product for the operator to inhale. In some examples, the product is a tobacco product similar to a traditional cigarette. Such devices are sometimes referred to as “heat not burn” devices in that the product is heated to the point of aerosolisation, without being combusted.

Problems faced by known aerosol generation devices include providing effective power management, as well as improving usability.

An object of the invention is to address providing effective power management, and improving usability, amongst others.

In a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol generation device comprising a heating cavity configured to receive and aerosolise an aerosol generating substrate, wherein the heating cavity comprises a heater component and a sensor configured to sense an aerosol generating substrate received in the heating cavity, and wherein the aerosol generation device further comprises an energy storage module and a controller configured to:

Before insertion into the heating cavity, the aerosol generating substrate can be at an ambient temperature (for example, room temperature). Because the aerosol generating substrate is colder than the pre-heated heater component, which has been heated the predetermined temperature (for example, in the range of 230 to 320° C., or preferably in the range 260 to 320° C.), the insertion of the aerosol generating substrate can cause a drop in the heater component temperature. This temperature drop can cause the heater component to drop below a suitable temperature for aerosol generation. If the operator then inhaled upon the device, such a decreased temperature could cause a negative user experience. By monitoring a parameter in response to determining that an aerosol generating substrate has been received in the heating cavity, and powering the heater component until the monitored parameter meets a predetermined requirement, the heater component is re-heated to the predetermined temperature to compensate this temperature drop. This improves the user experience by ensuring that the heater component is adequately pre-heated before the operator inhales upon the device.

Preferably, the monitored parameter is a timer, and the predetermined requirement is met when a predetermined time has elapsed after initiating monitoring the parameter.

In this way, the heater component can be efficiently and accurately re-heated to the predetermined temperature by powering the heater component for a predetermined period of time.

Preferably, the monitored parameter is a heater temperature and the predetermined requirement is met when the heater temperature is equal to or greater than a target temperature after initiating monitoring the parameter.

In this way, the heater component can be efficiently and accurately re-heated to the predetermined heater temperature by powering the heater component until the monitored heater temperature reaches the predetermined temperature.

Preferably, the controller is configured to control the aerosol generation device perform an action when the monitored parameter meets the predetermined requirement.

Preferably, the action comprises controlling a power flow from the energy storage module to the heater component to maintain the heater component at a predetermined temperature for a heating phase where an aerosol is generated for inhalation by an operator.

In this way, the heating phase of the aerosolisation session, in which the operator inhales the aerosol, does not begin until the heater component is sufficiently re-heated after the temperature drop due to the insertion of the aerosol generating substrate. As such, the user experience is improved by ensuring that the aerosol is being generated using the predetermined temperature, for inhalation.

Preferably, the action further comprises controlling an indicator of the aerosol generation device to provide an output indicating that the monitored parameter meets the predetermined requirement and the aerosol generation device is readied for the heating phase.

In this way, the operator is made aware that the heater has been re-heated in response to the insertion of the substrate, the device is ready to begin the heating phase, and the operator can begin to inhale the generated aerosol. The provision of this state information of the device improves the usability.

Preferably, the sensor is a temperature sensor and the controller is configured to monitor the temperature of the heater component using the temperature sensor and determine that an aerosol generating substrate has been received in the heating cavity in response to a decrease in the monitored temperature.

In this way, a change of temperature due to the insertion of the cooler aerosol generating substrate can be used to determine the presence of the substrate. This obviates the need to include a separate sensor for determining the insertion, thereby simplifying the device design and manufacture by reducing the number of required components.

Preferably, the aerosol generation device comprises a holding unit configured to receive and aerosolise the aerosol generating substrate, and a charging unit that is connectable to the holding unit, and wherein the charge storage module comprises a first charge storage module and a second charge storage module;

In this way, the aerosol generation device can be realised as a two-part system with a holding unit and charging unit. Operational flexibility can be provided through powering the heater component using the first charge storage module when the holding unit is not connected to the charging unit, or through powering the heater component using the second charge storage module when the holding unit is connected to the charging unit.

Preferably, the controller is configured to power the heater component by:

Typically, pre-heating the heater component requires a higher level of power consumption than maintaining the heater component at a predetermined temperature for aerosolisation. As such, the second charge storage module in the charging unit can be used to power the more power intensive pre-heating phase, and the first charge storage module in the holding unit can be used to power the less power intensive heating phase where the temperature is maintained. Consequently, only a smaller charge storage module may be needed as the first charge storage module, meaning that the holding unit can be dimensioned to be smaller. In this way, the operator only has to lift a smaller holding unit to their mouth for inhalation of the aerosol, thereby improving usability.

Preferably, the controller is configured to power the heater component by:

In this way, the operator can elect to keep the holding unit connected to the charging unit for the heating phase where the temperature is maintained. This is advantageous as it allows for the charge stored in the first charge storage module in the holding unit to be preserved for a subsequent aerosolisation session.

Preferably, the controller is configured to power the heater component by:

In this way, operational flexibility can be provided by the operator only needing to use the holding unit for the aerosolisation session.

Preferably, the heating cavity is configured to receive an aerosol generating substrate that is substantially planar in shape; and

Configuring the cavity to receive an aerosol generating substrate that is substantially planar or flat in shape is advantageous in that a heater component and heating cavity are provided, combined with substantially planar aerosol generation substrate, that are very compact in physical size. This improves the usability of the device through being smaller and more comfortable for the operator to hold.

Preferably, the major internal faces comprise a ceramic material and the heating elements are arranged on or embedded in the ceramic material.

In this way, a compact heating cavity is provided, with well-distributed heat directed to the substrate.

As an alternative preference, the cavity is configured to receive an aerosol generating substrate that is rod shaped.

In this way, an aerosol generation device is provided that offers a user-experience familiar to consumers of traditional cigarettes.

In a second aspect, there is provided an aerosol generation system comprising the aerosol generation device of the first aspect and the aerosol generating substrate.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of operating an aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device comprising:

The method of the third aspect can include the preferable features of the aerosol generation device of the first aspect, as appropriate.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by one or more processors of an aerosol generation device, the aerosol generation device comprising:

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of the fourth aspect can include the preferable features of the aerosol generation device of the first aspect, as appropriate.

show various arrangements of a first exemplary aerosol generation device(also known as a vapour generating device, vaping device, or electronic cigarette) comprising a handpiece(also referred to as a holding unit) and a charging unit. The handpieceis removably connectable to the charging unit. This can be considered a “two-part” aerosol generation device, with the two parts being the handpieceand the charging unit.

The handpiececomprises a first charge storage module, and a heater(also referred to as a heater component). The first charge storage moduleis configured to power the heaterto aerosolise an aerosol generating substrate (not shown), as described in more detail with respect to. An aerosol generating substrate can be considered as a substrate from which an aerosol is generated, by heating. The handpiecealso has a mouthpieceupon which an operator inhales during an aerosolisation session to inhale the generated aerosol.

The charging unitcomprises a second charge storage modulethat is configured to charge the first charge storage moduleand power the heater.

The first charge storage modulecan be one or more batteries or supercapacitors, or a combination thereof. The first charge storage modulecan be a fast-charging battery, for example a battery with chemistry such as lithium titanate (LTO). Batteries of this type are able to deliver the high current required at the beginning of an aerosolisation session and have superior safety properties.

The second charge storage modulecan be one or more batteries or supercapacitors, or a combination thereof. In an example, the second charge storage modulecan be a single high energy density lithium-ion battery (or for example a battery using NMC—lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide—chemistry) with moderate power capability. In another example, the second charge storage modulecan be a combination of a high energy density lithium-ion battery with low power capabilities, and a high power battery (such as LTO, or lithium iron phosphate LFP) or a supercapacitor module.

In the following description, the first charge storage module is referred to as the handpiece battery, and the second charge storage module is referred to as the charging unit battery. However, the skilled person will readily understand that each of these can be one or more batteries, supercapacitors, or a combination thereof.

The charging unit batteryhas a larger charge storage capacity than the handpiece battery. That is, the charging unit batterycan hold more charge the handpiece battery. The handpiece batterymay be capable of powering the heaterto aerosolise a first number of aerosol generating substrates, and the charging unit batterymay be capable of powering the heaterto aerosolise a second number of aerosol generating substrates, wherein the second number is greater than the first number. For example, the handpiece batterymay be capable of powering the heaterto aerosolise two aerosol generating substrates, and the charging unit batterymay be capable of powering the heaterto aerosolise twenty aerosol generating substrates.

In this way, the handpiececan be dimensioned to be smaller than the charging unitto be more comfortable for an operator to hold during an aerosolisation session. The larger charging unitcan then be used to charge the handpiecebetween aerosolisation sessions, or during aerosolisation sessions, when the charging unit and handpiece are in connection. As such, there is a technical advantage in the provision of an aerosol generation device that has a smaller and more user-friendly handpiecefor aerosolisation sessions that can power a large number of sessions without needing to be connected to an external power source.

The charging unitis dimensioned to receive and accommodate the handpiecewithin an opening in the charging unit. The charging unit batteryconnects by connectors in the charging unit opening to corresponding connectors in the handpiecewhen the handpiece is received in the charging unit. A controller in the handpieceor the charging unitcan detect a signal between the handpiece connectors and the charging unit connectors and control a power flow from the charging unit batteryto the handpiece battery. A power flow as discussed herein can be considered as a flow of electric charge, or a current, from one element to another. In this way, when the operator inserts the handpieceinto the charging unit, the handpiece batteryand charging unit batteryare brought into connection so that the handpiece batterycan be charged by the charging unit batterythrough the connection between the connectors. As such, the charging unitcan be considered as a charging case for the handpiece. Likewise, power can flow from the charging unit batteryto the heaterby the connectors, to power the heaterusing the charging unit battery.

The charging unit batterycan store enough charge to fully recharge the handpiece batterya plurality of times. The charging unit batterycan itself be charged from an external power source, such as a power bank or mains source, by a connection such as a USB cable, or through connection to a docking station.

shows the handpieceremoved from the charging unitso that they are not in connection with one another.shows the handpiecereceived in and connected to the charging unit. In the example of, the mouthpieceof the handpieceextends outwardly from the charging unit. In this way, the operator can perform an aerosolisation session whilst the handpieceis housed within the charging unit.

Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the charging unitand handpiececan be configured so that the handpiececan pivot outwardly from the charging unit, whilst still connected to the charging unit, by a hinged connection at the end of the handpieceaway from the mouthpiece, as shown in. This can provide greater access to the handpiecewhilst still connected to the charging unit.

show the handpieceof the first exemplary aerosol generation devicein more detail.shows the handpiecewith the connected mouthpiece portion.shows an aerosol generating substrateconfigured for use with the handpieceof.shows a heating chamberof the handpieceofwith the aerosol generating substrateof, andshows the heating chamberin more detail.shows the mouthpiece portionof the handpieceofin more detail.