Aerosol-Generating Device Providing Gesture Initiation of a Status Query

This application is a continuation of and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/003,045, filed Dec. 22, 2022, which is a U.S. national stage application of PCT/EP2021/068098, filed Jun. 30, 2021, and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from EP20183296.1, filed Jun. 30, 2020, the entire contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The invention relates to aerosol-generating devices configured to generate an aerosol during a usage session, and to methods of using such devices.

Aerosol-generating devices configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco containing substrate, are known in the art. Typically, an inhalable aerosol is generated by the transfer of heat from a heat source to a physically separate aerosol-forming substrate or material, which may be located within, around or downstream of the heat source. An aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid substrate contained in a reservoir. An aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may be a component part of a separate aerosol-generating article configured to engage with an aerosol-generating device to form an aerosol. During consumption, volatile compounds are released from the aerosol-forming substrate by heat transfer from the heat source and entrained in air drawn through the aerosol-generating article. As the released compounds cool, they condense to form an aerosol that is inhaled by the consumer.

Some aerosol-generating devices comprise a power source such as a battery for providing energy to generate the aerosol. As many aerosol-generating devices are intended to be hand-held device, there is a limit on the space available within the device to accommodate the power supply. Thus, some aerosol-generating devices are configured to supply a finite number of user experiences before their power source needs to be replaced or recharged.

Some aerosol-generating devices are configured to provide user experiences that have a finite duration. For example, an aerosol-generating device may be configured to operate for a predetermined period of time in any single usage session. Aerosol-generating devices configured to be used with separate aerosol-generating articles may be configured to operate in discrete usage sessions lasting no longer than the time taken to deplete the aerosol-forming substrate within an individual aerosol-generating article.

A traditional combustible cigarette has a combustion line that moves along the cigarette as it is consumed and thereby provides a user with a constant visual indication of the progress through a user experience. A user is thus able to judge at any point in time how much of the cigarette is available to be consumed. In many aerosol-generating devices, such judgement is more difficult. Some devices provide an indication that a usage session will end shortly before the end of such a session, but this does not provide a user with information regarding progress of the usage session during the usage session. Information regarding progress may be particularly useful to a user where duration of a usage session is controlled by more than one parameter.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device is configured to generate the aerosol during a usage session. The aerosol-generating device comprises an indicator system, a motion detection unit configured to detect movement of the device and identify a gesture associated with the detected movement, and a controller. In response to the gesture being identified by the motion detection unit, the controller is configured to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of progress of the usage session or the number of usage sessions available.

The motion detection unit may be configured to detect movement of the device and identify a first gesture associated with the detected movement and a second gesture different to the first gesture associated with the detected movement. In response to the first gesture being identified by the motion detection unit, the controller may be configured to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of progress of the usage session. In response to the second gesture being identified by the motion detection unit the controller may be configured to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of the number of usage sessions available.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device is configured to generate the aerosol during a usage session. The aerosol-generating device comprises an indicator system, a motion detection unit, and a controller. The motion detection unit is configured to detect movement of the device and identify a first gesture associated with the detected movement and a second gesture different to the first gesture associated with the detected movement. In response to the first gesture being identified by the motion detection unit, the controller is configured to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of progress of the usage session. In response to the second gesture being identified by the motion detection unit the controller is configured to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of the number of usage sessions available.

An aerosol-generating device is typically a hand-held device. An aerosol-generating device may, for example, have dimensions similar to a traditional cigar, or a traditional cigarette. A user may find it desirable to be able to check how many usages sessions the device is capable of delivering before needing a recharge. For example, a user may wish to know how many usage sessions are available before attempting to insert a consumable aerosol-generating article. Advantageously, the user can pick up the device and make a predetermined gesture with the device to obtain an indication of the number of usage sessions available. Such a predetermined gesture may become automatic on the user's part, with the benefit that a user is less likely to try and initiate a usage session when there is insufficient power available for the device to complete a usage session.

A user may be engaged in other activities, for example a conversation, while using the aerosol-generating device. In such circumstances, a user may wish to monitor progress of a usage session in a discrete and non-intrusive manner. For example, it may be beneficial if a user can instigate a status query, and obtain an indication of progress of a usage session, by moving the device in a predetermined gesture.

Where a user does not have appropriate feedback regarding progress of a usage session, there may be an inclination for the user to consume interact with the aerosol-generating device at a greater frequency. For example, if a user is unsure how much of their usage session remains, they may take more frequent puffs than they otherwise would, resulting in a more rapid depletion of the aerosol-forming substrate and, potentially, an earlier termination of their usage session than they would otherwise desire. The ability to use a gesture to discretely instigate a status query to monitor progress of a usage session may make a user more relaxed during the usage session and, therefore, make the user experience more enjoyable.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to be used for a plurality of discrete usage sessions. For example, the plurality of discrete usage sessions may be between 2 and 20 discrete usage sessions. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to provide an integral number of usage sessions when the battery is fully charged, the integral number being between 2 and 20. The ability to instigate a status query and receive an indication representative of number of remaining usage sessions may allow a user to determine whether or not they need to recharge their device, for example before leaving home with the device.

The number of usage sessions available may be determined with respect to energy available in the power supply. The controller may be configured to query the power supply and receive information regarding a parameter, such as charge level of the power supply, or voltage of the power supply, that enable determination of the number of usage sessions available to be delivered without further charging.

In response to the gesture, for example the second gesture, being identified by the motion detection unit, the controller may be configured to receive information indicative of energy available in the power supply, and to control the indicator system to output a user detectable indication indicative of number of usage sessions available.

The power supply may be a battery and the energy available in the power supply may be the charge available in the battery.

The motion detection unit may comprise an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope for detecting motion of the device.

Gestures identified by the motion detection unit are preferably simple gestures that are easy for a user to repeatedly perform. The gesture, for example the first gesture or the second gesture, that is identified by the motion detection unit may be a gesture selected from the list comprising; lifting the device to a vertical position, shaking the device, tapping the device a predetermined number of times, for example double tapping the device, raising the device, twirling the device, and moving the device in a specific pattern.

The indicator system may comprise a light emitting indicator for providing a visual indication of number of usage sessions available, a visual indication of progress of the usage session, or for providing both a visual indication of number of usage sessions available and a visual indication of progress of the usage session.

The indicator system may comprise a haptic feedback unit for providing a haptic indication of number of usage sessions available, a haptic indication of progress of the usage session, or for providing both a haptic indication of number of usage sessions available and a haptic indication of progress of the usage session.

The indicator may comprise both a light emitting indicator and a haptic output unit to provide both visual and haptic indications.

The indicator system may separately or in addition comprise an audio feedback unit for providing an audible indication of number of usage sessions available, an audible indication of progress of the usage session, or for providing both an audible indication of number of usage sessions available and an audible indication of progress of the usage session.

An aerosol-generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device is configured to generate the aerosol during a usage session progressing through a plurality of sequential phases between a usage session start and a usage session stop. The aerosol-generating device comprises a timer, a haptic output unit, and a controller. Progress of the usage session through the plurality of sequential phases is controlled by the controller in response to timing signals from the timer and in response to signals representative of a monitored user interaction parameter. The controller is configured to control the haptic output unit to emit a different haptic output during each of the plurality of sequential phases to indicate progress of the usage session.

A hand-held aerosol-generating device has limited surface area on which to mount or otherwise locate information displays, such as indicators. Thus, displays that comprise a large number of display units, such as a large number of light emitting units, take up a significant area on the surface of a typical aerosol-generating device. Furthermore, displays that comprise a large number of display units also consume a large amount of energy. A typical aerosol-generating device has limited space for a power supply such as a battery and, thus, features that require high energy consumption require larger capacity, and therefore physically larger, power supplies. More complicated displays, such as screens, may be configurable to display a wide range of information, but also consume large amounts of energy and present other associated design complexities due to the need for a complicated electronic architecture and requirements to provide adequate power to the display and dissipate heat generated by the display.

A haptic output unit may be configured to emit a haptic output representative of current usage session phase in response to a user input. For example, a user may initiate a status query by, for example, pressing a button on the aerosol-generating device. The haptic output representative of the current usage session may then be emitted in response to the status query.

The haptic output unit may comprise a haptic actuator or haptic motor, for example an eccentric rotating mass actuator. A haptic output may be in the form of one or more vibrations or buzzes that are detectable by a user holding the device.

The haptic output unit may be configured to emit a haptic output representative of current usage session phase in response to a transition from one of the plurality of sequential phases to a subsequent one of the plurality of sequential phases. Thus, a haptic signal may be automatically emitted on transition from one phase to a subsequent phase. This may provide a user with an ongoing haptic indication of progress of the usage session.

The usage session may be a finite usage session, that is a usage session having a start and an end. The duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session. The duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from start of the usage session. The duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum duration if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session.

An aerosol-generating device capable of being queried and providing feedback indicative of progress of a usage session may allow a user to discretely monitor progress of a usage session while continuing other activities, such as conversing with others.

A usage session may be determined as a period of finite duration within which a user can obtain a user experience. The usage session may, for example extend between a start of the usage session, which may be termed, for example, a session start, and an end of the usage session, which may be termed, for example, a session stop. The session start may be determined to be the moment that the aerosol-generating device is actuated. For example, a user may manually initiate a usage session by actuating the aerosol-generating device, for example by pressing a button that actuates the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to automatically initiate a usage session, for example in response to an aerosol-generating article being engaged with the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that the usage session has a maximum duration determined by a timer. A maximum duration may ensure that a usage session is ended without further input from a user. An aerosol-generating device configured to provide a usage session having a maximum duration helps to maintain quality of the user experience by preventing a user from attempting to generate aerosol when an aerosol-forming substrate has been depleted. A usage session having a maximum duration also helps ensure safety, as an actuation system, typically involving a heater, is not left in an activated state in the event that a user forgets that a usage session has started. A usage session having a maximum duration also requires a user to make a conscious decision to start a further usage session, which may help the user to control aerosol intake.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising the aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to receive a cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate, for example a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to receive a heated aerosol-generating article comprising a solid aerosol-forming substrate.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to detect the presence of the aerosol-generating article. Sensors or detectors in the device may detect the presence of the article and may be able to discriminate one article configured to be used with the device and another article configured to be used with the device. The device may be able to discriminate articles configured for use with the device and other articles not configured for use with the device. The device may be able to prevent initiation of a usage session if the aerosol-generating article is not an article configured for use with the device.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that the usage session is terminated if the aerosol-generating article is removed from the aerosol-generating device. Thus, in such a configuration, a usage session may be ended before a maximum duration in the event that a user removes an article from the device during a usage session. This may improve both safety and user experience.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to monitor a user interaction parameter indicative of use of the aerosol-generating device during the usage session. The usage session may be configured to be terminated if the user interaction parameter reaches a predetermined threshold. Thus, in such a configuration, a usage session may be ended before a maximum duration in the event that a monitored user interaction parameter reaches a threshold before a maximum duration of the usage session is reached. In the event that a user has been using the device heavily during the usage session the aerosol-forming substrate may be depleted more quickly than would be the case if the user had not been using the device heavily. Thus, the ability to monitor and terminate the usage session when a user interaction parameter reaches a predetermined threshold may improve the user experience by preventing aerosol generation from a depleted aerosol-generating article. To continue use, a user may need to replace the article and start a further usage session.

As an example, the user interaction parameter may be indicative of user puffs taken during the usage session. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a puff counting mechanism to determine number of user puffs taken during the usage session. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to terminate the usage session when the number of user puffs taken during the usage session reaches a predetermined threshold. Thus, a usage session may comprise a limited number of puffs that can be taken by a user. A usage session may be terminated before a maximum duration determined by a timer if the number of puffs taken during the usage session reaches the predetermined threshold before a maximum duration determined by a timer. Thus, in the event that a user depletes an aerosol-forming substrate by taking a large number of puffs in a short space of time, the user experience is maintained by preventing puffs being taken after the aerosol-forming substrate has been depleted.

Where the length of a usage session is determined by more than one threshold, for example a maximum duration determined by a time threshold and a threshold determined by one or more user interaction parameter, a representative indication of progress through the usage session becomes more complicated.

The usage session is determined to comprise a plurality of sequential phases. Progress of the usage session as a whole may be determined relative to progress through the plurality of sequential phases. The plurality of sequential phases may be at least three sequential phases, or at least four sequential phases. For example, the plurality of sequential phases may comprise at least five sequential phases, or at least six sequential phases. The greater the number of phases a usage session is divided into, the greater the accuracy of a progress indication during the session. However, if the number of phases is too great, the indication of progress may become confusing and of little practical benefit to a user.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that any, or each, of the plurality of sequential phases has a phase duration defined by a phase start and a phase end. The aerosol-generating device may be configured such that any, or each, of the plurality of sequential phases has a maximum phase duration determined by a timer. Thus, any, or each, of the plurality of sequential phases may end when a monitored period of time reaches a predetermined threshold for the phase, if the phase has not ended sooner.

A first phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a first phase duration, for example defined by a first phase start and a first phase end. The first phase may be deemed to start at the session start of the usage session.

Where the aerosol-generating device comprises a heater, the first phase may include a heating period in which a heating element increases in temperature from an ambient temperature to an operational temperature for generating an aerosol.

A first phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a first phase duration, for example defined by a first phase start and a first phase end, in which the first phase may be deemed to start at the end of a pre-phase heating period, the pre-phase heating period starting at the session start. The pre-phase heating period may be a heating period in which a heating element increases in temperature from an ambient temperature to an operational temperature for generating an aerosol.

A second phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a second phase duration defined by a second phase start and a second phase end. The second phase may start at the end of the first phase.

A third phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a third phase duration defined by a third phase start and a third phase end. The third phase may start at the end of the second phase. The usage session may end at the end of the third phase. Thus, the usage session may be divided into three phases, each phase having its own duration, with the usage session ending at the end of the third phase. Progress through the usage session may then be determined by determining which phase the usage session is in at any time during the usage session.

The usage session may be divided into more than three phases.

A fourth phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a fourth phase duration defined by a fourth phase start and a fourth phase end. The fourth phase may start at the end of the third phase.

The usage session may end at the end of the fourth phase. Thus, the usage session may be divided into four phases, each phase having its own duration, with the usage session ending at the end of the fourth phase. Progress through the usage session may then be determined by determining which phase the usage session is in at any time during the usage session.

The usage session may be divided into more than four phases. A fifth phase of the plurality of sequential phases has a fifth phase duration may be defined by a fifth phase start and a fifth phase end. The fifth phase may start at the end of the fourth phase. The usage session may end at the end of the fifth phase.

The usage session may be divided into more than five phases. A sixth phase of the plurality of sequential phases may have a sixth phase duration defined by a sixth phase start and a sixth phase end. The sixth phase may start at the end of the fifth phase. The usage session may end at the end of the sixth phase.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to monitor a user interaction parameter indicative of use of the aerosol-generating device during the usage session. A duration of any, or each, of the plurality of sequential phases may be controlled with reference to the monitored user interaction parameter. Preferably, a duration of any, or each, of the plurality of sequential phases is controlled with reference to the user interaction parameter and at least one further parameter. The at least one further parameter is preferably passage of time determined by a timer.