AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE AND SYSTEM

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Phase entry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2023/055811 filed Mar. 7, 2023, which claims priority to GB Application No. 2203180.1 filed Mar. 8, 2022, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol provision devices and systems, a consumable for use in an aerosol provision system, a method of providing an aerosol and an aerosol provision means.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol provision systems which generate an aerosol for a user to inhale are well known in the art. Such systems are generally battery powered and contain an aerosol provision device comprising the battery and an aerosol generator, and a consumable. The aerosol can be generated in a variety of ways. For example, the aerosol may be generated by heating a substrate to form a vapor which subsequently condenses in passing air so to form a condensation aerosol. Alternatively, the aerosol might be generated by mechanical means, vibration etc. so that the substrate becomes dispersed in passing air so as to form an aerosol.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device. The device comprises an aerosol generator which comprises two or more aerosol generating zones, a controller and an aerosol outlet position AO. Each aerosol generating zone has a geometric center and the geometric center of an aerosol generating zone is spaced a distance CD from position AO. Each of the aerosol generating zones is a member of one of a plurality of aerosol generating groups, and each aerosol generating group comprises at least one aerosol generating zone. The mean of the distance CDs for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is the group distance GCD, the mean of the group distance GCDs for all the aerosol generating groups is a distance MGCD, and the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGCD. The controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device, in which the device comprises an aerosol generator which comprises two or more aerosol generating zones, a controller and an aerosol outlet position AO, in which each aerosol generating zone has a surface area CA, each of the aerosol generating zones is a member of one of a plurality of aerosol generating groups, each aerosol generating group comprises at least one aerosol generating zone, the sum of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area TCA, the mean of the areas TCA for all of the aerosol generating groups is MTCA, and the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 15.0% of the area MTCA, and the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a consumable suitable for use with an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and in which the aerosol provision device comprises a position AO. The consumable comprises a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material, and each of the discrete portions has a geometric center. When the consumable is located in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO the geometric center of a discrete portion is spaced a distance PD from position AO. Each of the discrete portions is a member of one of a plurality of portion groups. The mean of the distance PDs for all the discrete portions contained in a portion group is the group distance GPD, the mean of the group distance GPDs for all the portion groups is a distance MGPD, and the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGPD.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a consumable suitable for use with an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and in which the device comprises a position AO, in which

• • the consumable comprises a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material, each portion of aerosol generating material has a surface area PA,
  • each portion of aerosol generating material is a member of one of a plurality of portion groups, each portion group comprises at least one portion of aerosol generating material,
  • the sum of the surface area PA for all the portions of aerosol generating material contained in a portion group is area TPA,
  • the mean of the areas TPA for all of the portion groups is MTPA, and
  • the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 15.0% of the area MTPA

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device for use with a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure in which the device comprises an aerosol generator configured to heat at least a portion of the aerosol generating material supported on the support.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device and a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and a consumable.

According to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of generating aerosol from a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure using an aerosol provision device with at least one aerosol generator disposed to heat, but not burn, the discrete portions in use; wherein at least one aerosol generator is a resistive heater element or a magnetic field generator and a susceptor.

According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of generating aerosol from a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure using an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure in which the controller activates the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure in which the controller activates the aerosol generating groups according to a predetermined sequence and each aerosol generating group is activated on receipt of a signal to activate the next aerosol generating group.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of providing a non-zero number of separate aerosols in which the method comprises providing a aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure, providing at least one consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure, causing the device to activate the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group the non-zero number of times, in which the non-zero number is two or more, and at least one characteristic of the aerosol generated on each activation of the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group is the same for each activation of the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group.

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of embodiments of the disclosure given by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an aerosol provision device according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a second schematic view of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1 with the casing of the device treated as transparent;

FIG. 3 shows a first plan view of a first embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a second plan view of the first embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a second plan view of the second embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 shows a second plan view of the third embodiment of the chamber of the aerosol provision device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic first plan view of an embodiment of a consumable suitable for use with the aerosol provision device of FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 10 shows a second plan view of the consumable of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a schematic first plan view of an embodiment of a consumable suitable for use with the aerosol provision device of FIGS. 1 and 5;

FIG. 12 shows a second plan view of the consumable of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a schematic first plan view of an embodiment of a consumable suitable for use with the aerosol provision device of FIGS. 1 and 7; and

FIG. 14 shows a second plan view of the consumable of FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device. The device comprises an aerosol generator which comprises two or more aerosol generating zones, a controller and an aerosol outlet position AO. Each aerosol generating zone has a geometric center and the geometric center of an aerosol generating zone is spaced a distance CD from position AO. Each of the aerosol generating zones is a member of one of a plurality of aerosol generating groups, and each aerosol generating group comprises at least one aerosol generating zone. The mean of the distance CD for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is the group distance GCD, the mean of the group distance GCD for all the aerosol generating groups is a distance MGCD, and the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGCD. The controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

The distance CD for each aerosol generating zone may be different.

In an embodiment of the above embodiment, the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 12.5% of the distance MGCD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 10.0% of the distance MGCD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 7.5% of the distance MGCD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 5.0% of the distance MGCD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 2.5% of the distance MGCD.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device, in which the device comprises an aerosol generator which comprises two or more aerosol generating zones, a controller and an aerosol outlet position AO, in which each aerosol generating zone has a surface area CA,

• • each of the aerosol generating zones is a member of one of a plurality of aerosol generating groups, each aerosol generating group comprises at least one aerosol generating zone,
  • the sum of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area TCA,
  • the mean of the areas TCA for all of the aerosol generating groups is MTCA, and
  • the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 15.0% of the area MTCA, and
  • the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

The surface area CA for each aerosol generating zone may be different.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol provision device may be a non-combustible aerosol provision system. 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.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energized so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol modifying agent.

An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the device further comprises an aerosol outlet, and the aerosol outlet position AO is the geometric center of the aerosol outlet.

An aerosol outlet is an aperture or void through which aerosol my exit the space or region in which the aerosol is generated, and through which the aerosol passes toward a position in which the aerosol is inhaled by a user or the aerosol is vented to the atmosphere if the user does not want to inhale all of the aerosol.

In an alternative embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol outlet position AO coincides with the geometric center of an aerosol outlet of a consumable when that consumable comprises an aerosol outlet and is located in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the device when the device and consumable are in use or ready for use.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generating zones are zones within the aerosol generator which are each configured to be able to cause aerosol to be generated by aerosol generating material independently or in combination with one or more of the other aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone is a heater. In some embodiments at least one aerosol generating zone is a resistance heater. In some embodiments at least one aerosol generating zone is an induction heater, the coil of an induction heater, or the susceptor of an induction heater.

The aerosol outlet is a two dimensional aperture through which aerosol caused to be generated by the aerosol generator exits the part of the aerosol generator within which the aerosol is generated.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol outlet is an end of a conduit or passage along which the aerosol passes to exit the part of the aerosol generator within which the aerosol is generated.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generator includes a chamber within which the aerosol is generated, the chamber is defined by one or more elements of the aerosol generator and one of those elements defines the aerosol outlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one of the chamber elements is a chamber wall.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the chamber further comprises an air inlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the air inlet has a geometric center located at a position AI, and the position AI has the same relationship to the aerosol generating zones as the aerosol generating zones have to aerosol outlet position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the chamber further comprises a plurality of air inlets.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, one of the plurality of air inlets has its geometric center located at position AI.

It is to be understood that the geometric center of an object, surface or a space is the arithmetic mean position of all the points in that object, surface or space. It is to be further understood that the mean of two or more distances or areas is calculated by dividing the sum of the distances or areas by the number of those distances or areas.

The geometric center of the aerosol outlet is located at position AO and is the arithmetic mean position of all the points in the aerosol outlet.

The aerosol provision device of the present disclosure includes a plurality of aerosol generating groups with each group including at least one aerosol generating zone. A feature of an aerosol generating group is that when the controller operates to cause generation of aerosol, the controller will activate all the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group. The order and timing of activation of the individual aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group is discussed below.

For the purposes of calculating the location of the geometric center of an aerosol generating zone, the aerosol generating zone is considered to be two dimensional and to constitute the surface of the aerosol generating zone to which aerosol generating material is or can be exposed when the device of the present disclosure is in use.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone has a surface area CA, the sum of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area TCA, the mean of the areas TCA for all of the aerosol generating groups is MTCA, and the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 15.0% of the area MTCA.

For the purposes of calculating the surface area of an aerosol generating zone, the aerosol generating zone is considered to be two dimensional and to constitute the surface of the aerosol generating zone to which aerosol generating material is or can be exposed when the device of the present disclosure is in use.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 12.5% of the area MTCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 10.0% of the area MTCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 7.5% of the area MTCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 5.0% of the area MTCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 2.5% of the area MTCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone has a surface area CA, the mean of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area MCA, and the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 15.0% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 12.5% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 10.0% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 7.5% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 5.0% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 2.5% of the area MCA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one aerosol generating group contains a different non-zero number of aerosol generating zones to the non-zero number of aerosol generating zones contained in at least one other aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one aerosol generating group contains one aerosol generating zone, and at least one aerosol generating group contains at least two aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, one aerosol generating group contains one aerosol generating zone, and at least one aerosol generating group contains at least two aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, two aerosol generating groups contain one aerosol generating zone, and at least one aerosol generating group contains at least two aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, three aerosol generating groups contain one aerosol generating zone, and at least one aerosol generating group contains at least two aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating group that does not contain one aerosol generating zone contains two aerosol generating zones.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, there are at least three aerosol generating groups.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating groups in a specific order.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller activates the aerosol generating groups in an order stored in a memory accessed by the controller.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller activates the aerosol generating groups in an order entered into the controller by a user via a user interface. In such embodiments the different aerosol generating groups may provide different user experiences when the device of the present disclosure is in use. The user may thus decide what user experience they wish to experience and/or the order of experiences they wish to experience. The user may enter the next aerosol generating group to be activated, or they may enter the sequence in which two or more aerosol generating groups are to be activated.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the user interface may comprise one or more buttons or other input means.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the user interface may include a means for communicating with a separate device, for example a mobile phone, tablet device, or computer that may be used to formulate commands for the controller.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the user interface may communicate with the separate device via a suitable communication means such as, for example, a wifi system, Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID) labels, or other short-range wireless technology.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller activates the aerosol generating groups in an order entered into the controller by a machine readable feature located on a consumable that is placed into the device. In some embodiments the machine readable feature may be, for example, physical surface features such as patterns of upstanding features or depressions on a face of the consumable, a bar code or a quick response (QR) code.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group in a predetermined order.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group is activation of all the aerosol generating zones in that aerosol generating group at substantially the same time or at the same time.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is activation of the aerosol generating zones starting with the aerosol generating zone with the largest distance CD and sequentially activating the aerosol generating zones in order of decreasing distance CD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is activation of the aerosol generating zones starting with the aerosol generating zone with the smallest distance CD and sequentially activating the aerosol generating zones in order of increasing distance CD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the period of time between the activation of the first aerosol generating zone to be activated and the activation of the second or a subsequent aerosol generating zone in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is at least partially a function of one or more of

• • the distance CD for the second or a subsequent aerosol generating zone, and
  • the surface area CA of the second or a subsequent aerosol generating zone.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone in an aerosol generating group remains activated for a predetermined length of time.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone in an aerosol generating group remains activated for the same predetermined length of time.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined length of time for which an aerosol generating zone remains activated is at least partially a function of one or more of

• • the distance CD for the aerosol generating zone,
  • the surface area CA of the aerosol generating zone, and
  • when the aerosol generating zone was activated relative to any other aerosol generating zones in the same aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group, and the activation causes the aerosol generating zones to heat to one or more predetermined temperatures.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the device further comprises one or more means for determining the temperature to which one or more of the aerosol generating zones has been heated.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature is the same for each aerosol generating zone.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature for at least one of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is different to the predetermined temperature of at least one other aerosol generating zone in that aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature for at least one of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group is different to the predetermined temperature of at least one of the aerosol generating zones in a different aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group, and the activation causes the aerosol generating zones to heat following a predetermined temperature profile.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature profile is the same for each aerosol generating zone.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the predetermined temperature profile for at least one of the aerosol generating zones is different to the predetermined temperature profile of at least one other aerosol generating zone in the same aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating zones of at least one aerosol generating group to heat to a different predetermined temperature or with a different predetermined temperature profile than the predetermined temperature or predetermined temperature profile of at least one other aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the device further comprises an aerosol generation chamber for receiving a consumable, the chamber is at least partially defined by one or more chamber walls, and at least one aerosol generating zone is located on or within a chamber wall.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the chamber and consumable are so configured that the consumable may only be placed in the chamber when the consumable has a predetermined orientation relative to the chamber.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the chamber and consumable are so configured that the consumable may be placed in the chamber when the consumable is in one of a plurality of predetermined orientations relative to the chamber.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the device is provided with a means to reorientate the consumable within the chamber.

An advantage of configuring the chamber and the consumable so that the consumable may only be placed within the chamber when it is in one of one or more predetermined orientations relative to the chamber is that this ensures that the aerosol generating zones are in predetermined positions relative to the consumable when the consumable is within the chamber. In this context, within the chamber includes wholly within the chamber or within the chamber to the extent required by the design and configuration of the device for the satisfactory operation of the device of the present disclosure. As such, the consumable can be configured so that aerosol generating material supported on the consumable are located adjacent the aerosol generating zones when the consumable is in a predetermined orientation.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generator comprises a line of symmetry and the line of symmetry passes through the aerosol outlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generator comprises a first and a second line of symmetry and the first line of symmetry passes through the aerosol outlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the first line of symmetry is perpendicular to the second line of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the positions of the aerosol generating zones within the device are symmetrical around one or both lines of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generating zones within an aerosol generating group are symmetrical around one or both lines of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the position AO lies on the first or the second line of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there is an air inlet with a geometrical center at position AI, the position AI lies on the same line of symmetry as position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there are a plurality of air inlets and one of the air inlets has a geometrical center at position AI, the position AI lies on the same line of symmetry as position AO, and the other air inlets are located symmetrically around the line of symmetry which includes position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there are a plurality of air inlets the air inlets are located symmetrically around the first line of symmetry.

One of the advantages of the device of the present disclosure is that when the device is in use a uniform and consistent user experience is achieved. In greater detail, the treatment of the aerosol generating zones as each being a part of an aerosol generating group, allows the provision of a consistent aerosol experience to the user. This is because the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group are, on average, the same or approximately the same distance away from the aerosol outlet as the aerosol generating zones in each of the other aerosol generating groups. This has the effect that the amount of time the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group spends in the part of the device in which it is generated/the distance that aerosol travels through the part of the device in which it is generated, and as such the amount of aerosol that will condense before the aerosol is extracted from the device as a result of a user drawing from the device, will be constant or approximately constant.

A further advantage of some embodiments of the present disclosure is that use of the aerosol generating zones as part of aerosol generating groups allows for a high degree of control of the total length of time over which an aerosol generating group produces aerosol. This has a direct correlation with the length of time over with aerosol may be withdrawn from the aerosol generating device through the aerosol outlet.

The consumable of the present description may be alternatively referred to as an article.

In some embodiments, the consumable comprises aerosol-generating material. The consumable may comprise an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, an aerosol-modifying agent, one or more active constituents, one or more flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and/or one or more other functional materials.

The apparatus for heating the aerosol-generating material with which the consumable is to be used is a part of a non-combustible aerosol provision system. Non-combustible aerosol provision systems release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials.

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.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energized so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a consumable suitable for use with an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure. The aerosol provision device comprises a position AO. The consumable comprises a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material, and each of the discrete portions has a geometric center. When the consumable is located in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO the geometric center of a discrete portion is spaced a distance PD from position AO. Each of the discrete portions is a member of one of a plurality of portion groups. The mean of the distance PD for all the discrete portions contained in a portion group is the group distance GPD, the mean of the group distance GPD for all the portion groups is a distance MGPD, and the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGPD.

The distance PD for each discrete portion may be different.

For the purposes of calculating the geometric center of a discrete portion, the discrete portion is considered to be two dimensional and the discrete portion is the surface of the discrete portion which is exposed to or adjacent an aerosol generating zone when the consumable of the present disclosure is in use.

The predetermined position and orientation of the consumable relative to position AO corresponds to a position in which the consumable is located when the device of the first aspect of the presence disclosure is in use.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a consumable suitable for use with an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure in which the device comprises an aerosol outlet position AO, in which the consumable comprises a plurality of discrete portions of aerosol generating material, each portion of aerosol generating material has a surface area PA, each portion of aerosol generating material is a member of one of a plurality of portion groups, each portion group comprises at least one portion of aerosol generating material, the sum of the surface area PA for all the portions of aerosol generating material contained in a portion group is area TPA, the mean of the areas TPA for all of the portion groups is MTPA, and the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 15.0% of the area MTPA.

The surface area PA for each discrete portion may be different.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 12.5% of the distance MGPD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 10.0% of the distance MGPD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 7.5% of the distance MGPD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 5.0% of the distance MGPD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 2.5% of the distance MGPD.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each discrete portion has a surface area PA, the sum of the surface area PA for all the discrete portions contained in a portion group is area TPA, the mean of the areas TPA for all the portion groups is MTPA, and the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 15.0% of the area MTPA.

For the purposes of calculating the surface area of a discreet portion, the discreet portion is considered to be two dimensional and the discreet portion is the surface of the discreet portion which is exposed to or adjacent an aerosol generating zone when the consumable of the present disclosure is in use.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 12.5% of the area MTPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 10.0% of the area MTPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 7.5% of the area MTPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 5.0% of the area MTPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 2.5% of the area MTPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each discrete portion has a surface area PA, the mean of the surface area PA for all the discrete portions contained in a portion group is area MPA, and the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 15.0% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 12.5% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 10.0% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 7.5% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 5.0% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 2.5% of the area MPA.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable further comprises an aerosol outlet, the aerosol outlet has a geometric center, and the geometric center of the aerosol outlet is located in the same position as the position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable further comprises a mouthpiece, and the aerosol outlet is in fluid communication with the mouthpiece.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the mouthpiece is integral with and formed of the same material as the aerosol outlet of the consumable.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol outlet includes a socket, and the mouthpiece may be reversibly or permanently engaged with the socket.

An advantage to having a mouthpiece integral with the consumable is that it helps to ensure a good flow path for aerosol to pass from the space or volume in which the aerosol is generated to the user's mouth. This is because there is less chance of leakage compared with when the mouthpiece is part of the device in which the consumable is used.

A further advantage is that of increased hygiene because the mouthpiece will be disposed of when consumable is spent. This is in contrast to arrangements in which the mouthpiece may ne used for multiple consumables because in such arrangements there is a risk that the user does not clean the mouthpiece or does not clean the mouthpiece sufficiently well to render the mouthpiece hygienic. A hygienic mouth piece is advantageous for the wellbeing of the user and such a mouthpiece is lees likely to introduce any undesirable flavors to the aerosol before the user inhales it.

Forming the mouthpiece as an integral part of the consumable has a further advantage that means that it can be made from the same or a similar material to the rest of the consumable. This has the effect that it is likely that the mouthpiece will heat up at a similar rate to the rest of the consumable which will reduce the propensity for condensation to form on the mouthpiece. This will assist in providing consistent sessions/user experiences between different consumables.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one portion group contains a different non-zero number of discrete portions to the non-zero number of discrete portions contained in at least one other portion group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one portion group contains one discrete portion, and at least one portion group contains at least two discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, one portion group contains one discrete portion, and at least one portion group contains at least two discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, two portion groups contain one discrete portion, and at least one portion group contains at least two discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, three portion groups contain one discrete portion, and at least one portion group contains at least two discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each portion group that does not contain one discrete portion contains two discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the composition of the discrete portions in at least one portion group is different to the composition of the discrete portions in at least one other portion group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the discrete portions are an aerosol generating material film.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable comprises at least one support, and each support supports at least one discrete portion.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable comprises one support and the support supports all of the discrete portions.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the support supports all of the discrete portions on one surface of the support.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable comprises two or more supports, and at least one support supports all of the discrete portions it supports on one surface of that support.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one support is a substantially flat sheet material.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one support is a sheet material, and the sheet material is formed into a three dimensional shape.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one sheet material is formed into a tube.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one support is rod shaped. In such embodiments the or at least one of the supports is a long thin shape where the dimensions of the support in two orthogonal directions that are both perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the support (the width and thickness) are both significant. Alternatively described, in such embodiments the or at least one support is not a sheet, strip or ribbon of material.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the tube or rod has a longitudinal extent and the cross section of the tube or rod in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extent is circular, approximately circular, square, approximately square, polygonal, or approximately polygonal.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one support comprises a susceptor.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the susceptor is a metal or a metal alloy.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the susceptor is aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the susceptor is a foil or film.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the support is a laminate material.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one layer of the laminate is a susceptor. In some embodiments at least one other layer of the laminate material is formed from paper, card or a plastics material.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable further comprises a cover, and at least one discrete portion is overlaid by the cover.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or at least one support supports at least one portion of the cover, at least one volume is defined between the or at least one support and the cover, and at least one of the volumes is so configured that at least one discrete portion releases aerosol into that volume when that discrete portion is caused to generate aerosol. This has an advantage that the cover can retain the aerosol in a desired location and prevent aerosol traveling to undesirable locations. In some embodiments, the cover prevents aerosol entering the device and, as a result, reduces the risk that aerosol will condense in the device. This assists in the cleanliness and hygiene of the device.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least two volumes are defined between the or at least one support and the cover, and each of the volumes is so configured that at least one discrete portion releases aerosol into that volume when that discrete portion is caused to generate aerosol.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, at least one volume is so configured that all the discrete portions of a portion group releases aerosol into that volume when the discrete portions of the portion group are caused to generate aerosol.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, a non-zero number of volumes are defined between the or at least one support and the cover, the non-zero number of volumes equates to the number of discrete portions, and each volume is associated with one of the discrete portions. In such embodiments, each discrete portion releases aerosol into the volume associated with the discrete portion when that discrete portion is caused to generate aerosol.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, there are at least two volumes, and at least two of those volumes are in fluid communication with each other via one or more passages, and the one or more passages are defined between the or at least one support and the cover. In some embodiments the passages join the volumes associated the all of the discrete portions in a portion group. The layout and configuration of the passages can assist in the provision of a consistent user experience for each of the portion groups.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable further comprises an air inlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the cover comprises an air inlet.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the air inlet has a geometric center located at a position AI, and the position AI has the same relationship to the discrete portions as the discrete portions have to aerosol outlet position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable or cover further comprises a plurality of air inlets.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, one of the plurality of air inlets has its geometric center located at position AI.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the consumable comprises a line of symmetry and the line of symmetry passes through the aerosol outlet when the consumable is located in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the aerosol generator further comprises a second line of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the first line of symmetry is perpendicular to the second line of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the position of the discreet portions relative to each other is symmetrical around one or both lines of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the position AO lies on the first or the second line of symmetry.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there is an air inlet with a geometrical center at position AI, the position AI lies on the same line of symmetry as position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there are a plurality of air inlets and one of the air inlets has a geometrical center at position AI, the position AI lies on the same line of symmetry as position AO, and the other air inlets are located symmetrically around the line of symmetry which includes position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, where there are a plurality of air inlets the air inlets are located symmetrically around the first line of symmetry.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision device for use with a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure in which the device comprises an aerosol generator configured to heat at least a portion of the aerosol generating material supported on the support.

According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device and a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and a consumable.

According to a eighth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure and a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone is adjacent a discrete portion when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone has a surface area CA and each discrete portion has a surface area PA, and the surface areas CA and PA are equal, or the difference between the smaller and larger of those surface areas is less than 15.0%, less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, or less than 5.0% of the smaller surface area.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, each aerosol generating zone wholly overlies the adjacent discrete portion, or each aerosol generating zone is wholly overlain by the adjacent discrete portion.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the geometric center of each aerosol generating zone is adjacent the geometric center of a discrete portion when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

According to a ninth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of generating aerosol from a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure using an aerosol provision device with at least one aerosol generator disposed to heat, but not burn, the discrete portions in use; wherein at least one aerosol generator is a resistive heater element or a magnetic field generator and a susceptor.

According to a tenth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of generating aerosol from a consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure using an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure in which the controller activates the aerosol generating zones of one or more aerosol generating groups on receipt of a signal to do so.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure in which the controller activates the aerosol generating groups according to a predetermined sequence and each aerosol generating group is activated on receipt of a signal to activate the next aerosol generating group in that sequence.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or each signal is generated by a user of the aerosol provision device.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the or each signal is generated by a puff detection device on detection of a user taking a puff from the aerosol provision device by the puff detection device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure there is provided a method of providing a non-zero number of separate aerosols in which the method comprises providing a aerosol provision device according to the first or second aspect of the present disclosure, providing at least one consumable according to the third or fourth aspect of the present disclosure, causing the device to activate the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group the non-zero number of times, in which the non-zero number is two or more, and at least one characteristic of the aerosol generated on each activation of the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group is the same for each activation of the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the non-zero number is the number of aerosol generating groups in the aerosol provision device.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the characteristic is the same if the difference between the value of the characteristic for an activation of the aerosol generating zones of an aerosol generating group and the average value of that characteristic over the non-zero number of times is less than 15.0%, less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the average value of that characteristic over the non-zero number of times.

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments, the characteristic is one of volume of aerosol, temperature of aerosol, duration of availability of the aerosol, density of aerosol droplets, or proportion of one or more constituent ingredients in the aerosol. The value of any of the characteristics can be measured using known techniques.

Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or semi-solid (such as a gel) which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavorants.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder, such as a gelling agent, and an aerosol former. Optionally, a substance to be delivered and/or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent, such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be in the form of an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise a binder, such as a gelling agent, and an aerosol former. Optionally, a substance to be delivered and/or filler may also be present. The aerosol-generating film may be substantially free from botanical material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1 mm. For example, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

The aerosol-generating film may be formed by combining a binder, such as a gelling agent, with a solvent, such as water, an aerosol-former and one or more other components, such as one or more substances to be delivered, to form a slurry and then heating the slurry to volatilize at least some of the solvent to form the aerosol-generating film.

The slurry may be heated to remove at least about 60 wt %, 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 85 wt % or 90 wt % of the solvent.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises an aerosol-generating film that is an amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. The amorphous solid may be substantially non-fibrous. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may, for example, comprise from about 50 wt %, 60 wt % or 70 wt % of amorphous solid, to about 90 wt %, 95 wt % or 100 wt % of amorphous solid.

The amorphous solid may be substantially free from botanical material. The amorphous solid may be substantially tobacco free.

A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the susceptor by resistive heating as a result of electric eddy currents. The susceptor may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the susceptor. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator.

The susceptor may comprise a ferromagnetic metal such as iron or an iron alloy such as steel or an iron nickel alloy. Some example ferromagnetic metals are a 400 series stainless steel such as grade 410 stainless steel, or grade 420 stainless steel, or grade 430 stainless steel, or stainless steel of similar grades. Alternatively, the susceptor may comprise a suitable non-magnetic, in particular paramagnetic, conductive material, such as aluminum. In a paramagnetic conductive material inductive heating occurs solely by resistive heating due to eddy currents. Alternatively, the susceptor may comprise a non-conductive ferrimagnetic material, such as a non-conductive ferrimagnetic ceramic. In that case, heat is only generated by hysteresis losses. The susceptor may comprise a commercial alloy like Phytherm 230 (with a composition (in % by weight=wt %) with 50 wt % Ni, 10 wt % Cr and the rest Fe) or Phytherm 260 (with a composition with 50 wt % Ni, 9 wt % Cr and the rest Fe).

In an embodiment of any of the above embodiments the aerosol-generating material comprises an active substance.

The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, terpenes of non-cannabinoid origin, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

The active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term “botanical” includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibers, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like. Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v.,Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Memtha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material comprises a flavor or flavorant.

As used herein, the terms “flavor” and “flavorant” refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavor materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, Ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavor enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

In some embodiments, the flavor comprises menthol, spearmint and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and/or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavor comprises flavor components extracted from cannabis.

In some embodiments, the flavor may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

The aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol generating agent. In some embodiments the aerosol generating agent may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate. In particular examples, the aerosol generating agent comprises glycerol.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent comprises one or more polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol and glycerin; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and/or aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 0.1 wt %, 0.5 wt %, 1 wt %, 3 wt %, 5 wt %, 7 wt % or 10% to about 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt %, 35 wt %, 30 wt % or 25 wt % of an aerosol generating agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis). The aerosol generating agent may act as a plasticiser. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 0.5-40 wt %, 3-35 wt % or 10-25 wt % of an aerosol generating agent.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 20 wt %, 25 wt %, 27 wt % or 30 wt % to about 60 wt %, 55 wt %, 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt %, or 35 wt % of an aerosol generating agent (DWB). For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 10-60 wt %, 20-50 wt %, 25-40 wt % or 30-35 wt % of an aerosol generating agent.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may comprise up to about 80 wt %, such as about 40 to 80 wt %, 40 to 75 wt %, 50 to 70 wt %, or 55 to 65 wt % of an aerosol generating agent (DWB).

The aerosol generating material may also comprise a gelling agent. In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises a hydrocolloid. In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from the group comprising alginates, pectins, starches (and derivatives), celluloses (and derivatives), gums, silica or silicones compounds, clays, polyvinyl alcohol and combinations thereof. For example, in some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more of alginates, pectins, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, xanthan gum guar gum, carrageenan, agarose, acacia gum, fumed silica, PDMS, sodium silicate, kaolin and polyvinyl alcohol. In some cases, the gelling agent comprises alginate and/or pectin, and may be combined with a setting agent (such as a calcium source) during formation of the aerosol generating material. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise a calcium-crosslinked alginate and/or a calcium-crosslinked pectin.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises one or more compounds selected from cellulosic gelling agents, non-cellulosic gelling agents, guar gum, acacia gum and mixtures thereof.

In some embodiments, the cellulosic gelling agent is selected from the group consisting of: hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and combinations thereof.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more of hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), carboxymethylcellulose, guar gum, or acacia gum.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises (or is) one or more non-cellulosic gelling agents, including, but not limited to, agar, xanthan gum, gum Arabic, guar gum, locust bean gum, pectin, carrageenan, starch, alginate, and combinations thereof. In preferred embodiments, the non-cellulose based gelling agent is alginate or agar.

In some embodiments, the gelling agent comprises alginate, and the alginate is present in the aerosol generating material in an amount of from 10-30 wt % of the aerosol generating material (calculated on a dry weight basis). In some embodiments, alginate is the only gelling agent present in the aerosol generating material. In other embodiments, the gelling agent comprises alginate and at least one further gelling agent, such as pectin.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises from about 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, 20 wt % or 25 wt % to about 60 wt %, 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt % or 35 wt % of a gelling agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 1-50 wt %, 5-45 wt %, 10-40 wt % or 20-35 wt % of a gelling agent.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises from about 20 wt % 22 wt %, 24 wt % or 25 wt % to about 30 wt %, 32 wt % or 35 wt % of a gelling agent (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 20-35 wt % or 25-30 wt % of a gelling agent.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt % or 20 wt % to about 60 wt %, 50 wt %, 40 wt %, 30 wt % or 25 wt % of a gelling agent (DWB).

For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 10-40 wt %, 15-30 wt % or 20-25 wt % of a gelling agent (DWB).

In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises gelling agent and filler, taken together, in an amount of from about 10 wt %, 20 wt %, 25 wt %, 30 wt %, or 35 wt % to about 60 wt %, 55 wt %, 50 wt %, or 45 wt % of the aerosol generating material. In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises gelling agent and filler, taken together, in an amount of from about 20 to 60 wt %, 25 to 55 wt %, 30 to 50 wt %, or 35 to 45 wt % of the aerosol generating material.

In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises gelling agent (i.e. without taking into account the amount of filler) in an amount of from about 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, 20 wt %, 25 wt %, 30 wt %, or 35 wt % to about 60 wt %, 55 wt %, 50 wt %, or 45 wt % of the aerosol generating material. In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises gelling agent (i.e. without taking into account the amount of filler) in an amount of from about 5 to 60 wt %, 20 to 60 wt %, 25 to 55 wt %, 30 to 50 wt %, or 35 to 45 wt % of the aerosol generating material.

In some examples, alginate is comprised in the gelling agent in an amount of from about 5 to 40 wt % of the aerosol generating material, or 15 to 40 wt %. That is, the aerosol generating material comprises alginate in an amount of about 5 to 40 wt % by dry weight of the aerosol generating material, or 15 to 40 wt %. In some examples, the aerosol generating material comprises alginate in an amount of from about 20 to 40 wt %, or about 15 wt % to 35 wt % of the aerosol generating material.

In some examples, pectin is comprised in the gelling agent in an amount of from about 3 to 15 wt % of the aerosol generating material. That is, the aerosol generating material comprises pectin in an amount of from about 3 to 15 wt % by dry weight of the aerosol generating material. In some examples, the aerosol generating material comprises pectin in an amount of from about 5 to 10 wt % of the aerosol generating material.

In some examples, guar gum is comprised in the gelling agent in an amount of from about 3 to 40 wt % of the aerosol generating material. That is, the aerosol generating material comprises guar gum in an amount of from about 3 to 40 wt % by dry weight of the aerosol generating material. In some examples, the aerosol generating material comprises guar gum in an amount of from about 5 to 10 wt % of the aerosol generating material. In some examples, the aerosol generating material comprises guar gum in an amount of from about 15 to 40 wt % of the aerosol generating material, or from about 20 to 40 wt %, or from about 15 to 35 wt %.

In examples, the alginate is present in an amount of at least about 50 wt % of the gelling agent. In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises alginate and pectin, and the ratio of the alginate to the pectin is from 1:1 to 10:1. The ratio of the alginate to the pectin is typically >1:1, i.e. the alginate is present in an amount greater than the amount of pectin. In examples, the ratio of alginate to pectin is from about 2:1 to 8:1, or about 3:1 to 6:1, or is approximately 4:1.

The aerosol generating material may be formed by (a) forming a slurry comprising components of the aerosol generating material or precursors thereof, (b) forming a layer of the slurry, (c) setting the slurry to form a gel, and (d) drying to form an aerosol generating material.

The (b) forming a layer of the slurry typically comprises spraying, casting or extruding the slurry. In examples, the slurry layer is formed by electrospraying the slurry. In examples, the slurry layer is formed by casting the slurry.

In some examples, (b) and/or (c) and/or (d), at least partially, occur simultaneously (for example, during electrospraying). In some examples, (b), (c) and (d) occur sequentially.

In some examples, the slurry is applied to a support. The layer may be formed on a support.

In examples, the slurry comprises gelling agent, aerosol-former material and active substance. The slurry may comprise these components in any of the proportions given herein in relation to the composition of the aerosol generating material. For example, the slurry may comprise (on a dry weight basis):

• • gelling agent and, optionally, filler, wherein the amount of gelling agent and filler taken together is about 10 to 60 wt % of the slurry;
  • aerosol-former material in an amount of about 40 to 80 wt % of the slurry; and
  • optionally, active substance in an amount of up to about 20 wt % of the slurry.

The setting the gel (c) may comprise supplying a setting agent to the slurry. For example, the slurry may comprise sodium, potassium or ammonium alginate as a gel-precursor, and a setting agent comprising a calcium source (such as calcium chloride), may be added to the slurry to form a calcium alginate gel.

In examples, the setting agent comprises or consists of calcium acetate, calcium formate, calcium carbonate, calcium hydrogencarbonate, calcium chloride, calcium lactate, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the setting agent comprises or consists of calcium formate and/or calcium lactate. In particular examples, the setting agent comprises or consists of calcium formate. It has been identified that, typically, employing calcium formate as a setting agent results in an aerosol generating material having a greater tensile strength and greater resistance to elongation.

The total amount of the setting agent, such as a calcium source, may be 0.5-5 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis). Suitably, the total amount may be from about 1 wt %, 2.5 wt % or 4 wt % to about 4.8 wt % or 4.5 wt %. It has been found that the addition of too little setting agent may result in an aerosol generating material which does not stabilise the aerosol generating material components and results in these components dropping out of the aerosol generating material. It has been found that the addition of too much setting agent results in an aerosol generating material that is very tacky and consequently has poor handleability.

When the aerosol generating material does not contain tobacco, a higher amount of setting agent may need to be applied. In some cases the total amount of setting agent may therefore be from 0.5-12 wt % such as 5-10 wt %, calculated on a dry weight basis. Suitably, the total amount may be from about 5 wt %, 6 wt % or 7 wt % to about 12 wt % or 10 wt %. In this case the aerosol generating material will not generally contain any tobacco.

In examples, supplying the setting agent to the slurry comprises spraying the setting agent on the slurry, such as a top surface of the slurry.

Alginate salts are derivatives of alginic acid and are typically high molecular weight polymers (10-600 kDa). Alginic acid is a copolymer of β-D-mannuronic (M) and α-L-guluronic acid (G) units (blocks) linked together with (1,4)-glycosidic bonds to form a polysaccharide. On addition of calcium cations, the alginate crosslinks to form a gel. It has been found that alginate salts with a high G monomer content more readily form a gel on addition of the calcium source. In some cases therefore, the gel-precursor may comprise an alginate salt in which at least about 40%, 45%, 50%, 55%, 60% or 70% of the monomer units in the alginate copolymer are α-L-guluronic acid (G) units.

In examples, the drying (d) removes from about 50 wt %, 60 wt %, 70 wt %, 80 wt % or 90 wt % to about 80 wt %, 90 wt % or 95 wt % (WWB) of water in the slurry.

In examples, the drying (d) reduces the cast material thickness by at least 80%, suitably 85% or 87%. For instance, the slurry is cast at a thickness of 2 mm, and the resulting dried aerosol generating material has a thickness of 0.2 mm.

In some examples, the slurry solvent consists essentially of or consists of water. In some examples, the slurry comprises from about 50 wt %, 60 wt %, 70 wt %, 80 wt % or 90 wt % of solvent (WWB).

In examples where the solvent consists of water, the dry weight content of the slurry may match the dry weight content of the aerosol generating material.

The aerosol generating material may comprises a flavor. Suitably, the aerosol generating material may comprise up to about 80 wt %, 70 wt %, 60 wt %, 55 wt %, 50 wt % or 45 wt % of a flavor. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise at least about 0.1 wt %, 1 wt %, 10 wt %, 20 wt %, 30 wt %, 35 wt % or 40 wt % of a flavor (all calculated on a dry weight basis). For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 1-80 wt %, 10-80 wt %, 20-70 wt %, 30-60 wt %, 35-55 wt % or 30-45 wt % of a flavor. In some cases, the flavor comprises, consists essentially of or consists of menthol.

The aerosol generating material may comprise a filler.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises less than 60 wt % of a filler, such as from 1 wt % to 60 wt %, or 5 wt % to 50 wt %, or 5 wt % to 30 wt %, or 10 wt % to 20 wt %.

In other embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises less than 20 wt %, suitably less than 10 wt % or less than 5 wt % of a filler. In some cases, the aerosol generating material comprises less than 1 wt % of a filler, and in some cases, comprises no filler.

In some such cases the aerosol generating material comprises at least 1 wt % of the filler, for example, at least 5 wt %, at least 10 wt %, at least 20 wt % at least 30 wt %, at least 40 wt %, or at least 50 wt % of the filler. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises 5-25 wt % of the filler.

The filler, if present, may comprise one or more inorganic filler materials, such as calcium carbonate, perlite, vermiculite, diatomaceous earth, colloidal silica, magnesium oxide, magnesium sulphate, magnesium carbonate, and suitable inorganic sorbents, such as molecular sieves. The filler may comprise one or more organic filler materials such as wood pulp, cellulose and cellulose derivatives (such as methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)). In particular cases, the aerosol generating material comprises no calcium carbonate such as chalk.

In particular embodiments which include filler, the filler is fibrous. For example, the filler may be a fibrous organic filler material such as wood pulp, hemp fiber, cellulose or cellulose derivatives (such as methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)).

Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that including fibrous filler in an aerosol generating material may increase the tensile strength of the material. This may be particularly advantageous in examples wherein the aerosol generating material is provided as a sheet, such as when an aerosol generating material sheet circumscribes a rod of aerosolizable material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material does not comprise tobacco fibers. In particular embodiments, the aerosol generating material does not comprise fibrous material.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and/or flavors, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material additionally comprises an active substance. For example, in some cases, the aerosol generating material additionally comprises a tobacco material and/or nicotine. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises powdered tobacco and/or nicotine and/or a tobacco extract.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise 5-60 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of a tobacco material and/or nicotine. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, 20 wt % or 25 wt % to about 70 wt %, 60 wt %, 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt %, 35 wt %, or 30 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of an active substance. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, 20 wt % or 25 wt % to about 70 wt %, 60 wt %, 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt %, 35 wt %, or 30 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of a tobacco material. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 10-50 wt %, 15-40 wt % or 20-35 wt % of a tobacco material. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 3 wt % or 4 wt % to about 20 wt %, 18 wt %, 15 wt % or 12 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 1-20 wt %, 2-18 wt % or 3-12 wt % of nicotine.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material comprises an active substance such as tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise 5-60 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of tobacco extract. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 15 wt %, 20 wt % or 25 wt % to about 60 wt %, 50 wt %, 45 wt %, 40 wt %, 35 wt %, or 30 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) tobacco extract. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 10-50 wt %, 15-40 wt % or 20-35 wt % of tobacco extract. The tobacco extract may contain nicotine at a concentration such that the aerosol generating material comprises 1 wt % 1.5 wt %, 2 wt % or 2.5 wt % to about 6 wt %, 5 wt %, 4.5 wt % or 4 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. In some cases, there may be no nicotine in the aerosol generating material other than that which results from the tobacco extract.

In some embodiments the aerosol generating material comprises no tobacco material but does comprise nicotine. In some such cases, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 1 wt %, 2 wt %, 3 wt % or 4 wt % to about 20 wt %, 18 wt %, 15 wt % or 12 wt % (calculated on a dry weight basis) of nicotine. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise 1-20 wt %, 2-18 wt % or 3-12 wt % of nicotine.

In some cases, the total content of active substance and/or flavor may be at least about 0.1 wt %, 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 20 wt %, 25 wt % or 30 wt %. In some cases, the total content of active substance and/or flavor may be less than about 90 wt %, 80 wt %, 70 wt %, 60 wt %, 50 wt % or 40 wt % (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

In some cases, the total content of tobacco material, nicotine and flavor may be at least about 0.1 wt %, 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, 20 wt %, 25 wt % or 30 wt %. In some cases, the total content of active substance and/or flavor may be less than about 90 wt %, 80 wt %, 70 wt %, 60 wt %, 50 wt % or 40 wt % (all calculated on a dry weight basis).

The aerosol-generating composition may comprise one or more active substances. In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises one or more active substances, e.g. up to about 20 wt % of the aerosol generating material. In examples, the aerosol generating material comprises active substance in an amount of from about 1 wt %, 5 wt %, 10 wt %, or 15 wt % to about 20 wt %, 15 wt %, 15 wt % or 5 wt % of the aerosol generating material.

The active substance may comprise a physiologically and/or olfactory active substance which is included in the aerosol-generating composition in order to achieve a physiological and/or olfactory response.

Tobacco material may be present in the aerosol-generating composition in an amount of from about 50 to 95 wt %, or about 60 to 90 wt %, or about 70 to 90 wt %, or about 75 to 85 wt %.

The tobacco material may be present in any format, but is typically fine-cut (e.g. cut into narrow shreds). Fine-cut tobacco material may advantageously be blended with the aerosol generating material to provide an aerosol-generating composition which has an even dispersion of tobacco material and aerosol generating material throughout the aerosol-generating composition.

In examples, the tobacco material comprises one or more of ground tobacco, tobacco fiber, cut tobacco, extruded tobacco, tobacco stem, reconstituted tobacco and/or tobacco extract.

Surprisingly it has been identified that it is possible to use a relatively large amount of lamina tobacco in the aerosol-generating composition and still provide an acceptable aerosol when heated by a non-combustible aerosol provision system. Lamina tobacco typically provides superior sensory characteristics. In examples, the tobacco material comprises lamina tobacco in an amount of at least about 50 wt %, 60 wt %, 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 85 wt %, 90 wt %, or 95 wt % of the tobacco material. In particular examples, the tobacco material comprises cut tobacco in an amount of at least about 50 wt %, 60 wt %, 70 wt %, 80 wt %, 85 wt %, 90 wt %, or 95 wt % of the tobacco material.

The tobacco used to produce tobacco material may be any suitable tobacco, such as single grades or blends, cut rag or whole leaf, including Virginia and/or Burley and/or Oriental.

In some embodiments the one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, coloring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and/or antioxidants.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may additionally comprise an emulsifying agent, which emulsified molten flavor during manufacture. For example, the aerosol generating material may comprise from about 5 wt % to about 15 wt % of an emulsifying agent (calculated on a dry weight basis), suitably about 10 wt %. The emulsifying agent may comprise acacia gum.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material is a hydrogel and comprises less than about 20 wt % of water calculated on a wet weight basis. In some cases, the hydrogel may comprise less than about 15 wt %, 12 wt % or 10 wt % of water calculated on a wet weight basis. In some cases, the hydrogel may comprise at least about 1 wt %, 2 wt % or at least about 5 wt % of water (WWB).

The aerosol generating material may have any suitable water content, such as from 1 wt % to 15 wt %. Suitably, the water content of the aerosol generating material is from about 5 wt %, 7 wt % or 9 wt % to about 15 wt %, 13 wt % or 11 wt % (WWB), most suitably about 10 wt % . . . . The water content of the aerosol generating material may, for example, be determined by Karl-Fischer-titration or Gas Chromatography with Thermal Conductivity Detector (GC-TCD).

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may consist essentially of, or consist of a gelling agent, water, an aerosol generating agent, a flavor, and optionally an active substance.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may consist essentially of, or consist of a gelling agent, water, an aerosol generating agent, a flavor, and optionally a tobacco material and/or a nicotine source.

In examples, the aerosol generating material consists essentially of, or consists of a gelling agent, aerosol generating agent, active substance, and water. In examples, the aerosol generating material consists essentially of, or consists of a gelling agent, aerosol generating agent, and water.

In examples, the aerosol generating material does not comprise a flavorant; in particular examples, the aerosol generating material does not comprise an active substance.

In some embodiments the aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising:

• • 1-60 wt % of a gelling agent;
  • 0.1-50 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and
  • 0.1-80 wt % of a flavor;
  • wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises 1-80 wt % of a flavor (dry weight basis).

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprising:

• • 1-50 wt % of a gelling agent;
  • 0.1-50 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and
  • 30-60 wt % of a flavor;
  • wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

In alternative embodiments of the aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprises an aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material comprising:

• • 1-60 wt % of a gelling agent;
  • 5-60 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and
  • 10-60 wt % of a tobacco extract;
  • wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises:

• • 1-60 wt % of a gelling agent;
  • 20-60 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and
  • 10-60 wt % of a tobacco extract;
  • wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material comprises 20-35 wt % of the gelling agent; 10-25 wt % of the aerosol-former material; 5-25 wt % of the filler comprising fibers; and 35-50 wt % of the flavorant and/or active substance.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may consist essentially of, or consist of a gelling agent, an aerosol generating agent a tobacco extract, water, and optionally a flavor. In some cases, the aerosol generating material may consist essentially of, or consist of glycerol, alginates and/or pectins, a tobacco extract and water.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating material may have the following composition (DWB): gelling agent (preferably comprising alginate) in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 40 wt %, or about 10 wt % to 30 wt %, or about 15 wt % to about 25 wt %; tobacco extract in an amount of from about 30 wt % to about 60 wt %, or from about 40 wt % to 55 wt %, or from about 45 wt % to about 50 wt %; aerosol generating agent (preferably comprising glycerol) in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 50 wt %, or from about 20 wt % to about 40 wt %, or from about 25 wt % to about 35 wt % (DWB).

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating material comprises about 20 wt % alginate gelling agent, about 48 wt % Virginia tobacco extract and about 32 wt % glycerol (DWB).

The “thickness” of the aerosol generating material describes the shortest distance between a first surface and a second surface. In embodiments where the aerosol generating material is in the form of a sheet, the thickness of the aerosol generating material is the shortest distance between a first planar surface of the sheet and a second planar surface of the sheet which opposes the first planar surface of the sheet.

In some cases, the aerosol-forming aerosol generating material layer has a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1.5 mm, suitably about 0.05 mm to about 1.5 mm or 0.05 mm to about 1.0 mm. Suitably, the thickness may be in the range of from about 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 1.0 mm, 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

In some cases, the aerosol generating material may have a thickness of about 0.015 mm to about 1.0 mm. Suitably, the thickness may be in the range of about 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm or 0.15 mm to about 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

A material having a thickness of 0.1 mm is particularly suitable. The aerosol generating material may comprise more than one layer, and the thickness described herein refers to the aggregate thickness of those layers.

It has been found that if the aerosol-generating material is too thick, then heating efficiency is compromised. This adversely affects the power consumption in use. Conversely, if the aerosol-generating material is too thin, it is difficult to manufacture and handle; a very thin material is harder to cast and may be fragile, compromising aerosol formation in use.

The thickness stipulated herein is a mean thickness for the material. In some cases, the aerosol generating material thickness may vary by no more than 25%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 5% or 1%.

In some examples, the aerosol generating material in sheet form, and absent may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 900 N/m. In some examples, such as where the aerosol generating material does not comprise a filler, the aerosol generating material may have a tensile strength of from 200 N/m to 400 N/m, or 200 N/m to 300 N/m, or about 250 N/m.

Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol generating material is formed as a sheet and then shredded and incorporated into an aerosol generating article. In some examples, such as where the aerosol generating material comprises a filler, the aerosol generating material may have a tensile strength of from 600 N/m to 900 N/m, or from 700 N/m to 900 N/m, or around 800 N/m.

In some examples, the aerosol generating material in sheet form may have a tensile strength of from around 200 N/m to around 2600 N/m. In some examples, the aerosol generating material may have a tensile strength of from 600 N/m to 2000 N/m, or from 700 N/m to 1500 N/m, or around 1000 N/m. Such tensile strengths may be particularly suitable for embodiments wherein the aerosol-generating material comprising the aerosol generating material is formed and incorporated into an aerosol-generating consumable as a sheet.

The aerosol generating material comprising the aerosol generating material may have any suitable area density, such as from 30 g/m² to 350 g/m². In some cases, the sheet may have a mass per unit area of 50-250 g/m², or from about 70 to 210 g/m², or from about 90 to 190 g/m², or suitably about 100 g/m² (so that it has a similar density to cut rag tobacco and a mixture of these substances will not readily separate). In some cases, the sheet may have a mass per unit area of about 30 to 70 g/m², 40 to 60 g/m², or 25-60 g/m² and may be used to wrap an aerosolizable material such as tobacco.

All percentages by weight described herein (denoted wt %) are calculated on a dry weight basis, unless explicitly stated otherwise. All weight ratios are also calculated on a dry weight basis. A weight quoted on a dry weight basis refers to the whole of the extract or slurry or material, other than the water, and may include components which by themselves are liquid at room temperature and pressure, such as glycerol. Conversely, a weight percentage quoted on a wet weight basis refers to all components, including water.

As used herein, the term “sheet” denotes an element having a width and length substantially greater than a thickness thereof. A major surface of the sheet is a surface which extends in both width and length dimensions when the sheet is flat. The sheet may be a strip, for example.

The aerosol generating material may comprise a colorant. The addition of a colorant may alter the visual appearance of the aerosol generating material. The presence of colorant in the aerosol generating material may enhance the visual appearance of the aerosol generating material and the aerosol-generating material. By adding a colorant to the aerosol generating material, the aerosol generating material may be color-matched to other components of the aerosol-generating material or to other components of an article comprising the aerosol generating material.

A variety of colorants may be used depending on the desired color of the aerosol generating material. The color of aerosol generating material may be, for example, white, green, red, purple, blue, brown or black. Other colors are also envisaged. Natural or synthetic colorants, such as natural or synthetic dyes, food-grade colorants and pharmaceutical-grade colorants may be used. In certain embodiments, the colorant is caramel, which may confer the aerosol generating material with a brown appearance. In such embodiments, the color of the aerosol generating material may be similar to the color of other components (such as tobacco material). In some embodiments, the addition of a colorant to the aerosol generating material renders it visually indistinguishable from other components in the aerosol-generating material.

The colorant may be incorporated during the formation of the aerosol generating material (e.g. when forming a slurry comprising the materials that form the aerosol generating material) or it may be applied to the aerosol generating material after its formation (e.g. by spraying it onto the aerosol generating material).

In some embodiments of any of the above embodiments, talcum powder, calcium carbonate powder or other powder is applied to the exposed surface of at least one discrete portion of aerosol-generating material. This may reduce the level of tackiness or adhesion of the aerosol-generating material.

In the following discussions of the accompanying drawings, where the same element is present in a more than one embodiment the same reference numeral is used for that element throughout, where there are similar elements similar reference numerals (the same numeral plus a multiple of 100) are used.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 an aerosol provision device 100 for generating an aerosol for inhalation by a user includes an aerosol generator 102, a controller 104, a power source 106, and an aerosol supply element 108 all of which are at least partially housed within a casing 110.

The aerosol generator 102 includes a chamber 112 defined by portions of the side walls 114, 118 (located on the opposite side of the casing to side wall 114), 116, 122 (located on the opposite side of the casing to side wall 116), end wall 120, part of an internal wall 124 that extends between the side walls 114, 118, 116, 122, and a stop wall 140 that extends between the internal wall 124 and the side wall 122. The surface 126 of the side wall 118 that faces the chamber 112 incorporates or supports an array 128 of aerosol generating zones and suitable electrical connections (not shown) to the power source 106 and controller 104.

A slot 136 is formed between the end wall 120 and the side wall 118. The slot allows communication between the atmosphere around the device 100 and the inside of the chamber 112. The slot 136 is also so configured that a suitably configured consumable (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2) may be partially inserted into and withdrawn from the chamber 112 by a user of the device 100. The slot 136, surface 126 and array 128 of aerosol generating zones are so positioned and configured that if the consumable is correctly orientated and the consumable inserted into the chamber 112 is inserted until the consumable abuts the internal wall 124 and stop wall 140, a portion of the consumable will overlie and be in contact with the surface of the array 128 of aerosol generating zones.

The aerosol supply element 108 includes an aerosol outlet 130 which opens onto the chamber 112, a mouthpiece 134 and a passage 132 that allows fluid communication between the aerosol outlet 130 and the mouthpiece 134. The aerosol outlet 130 is defined by the intersection of the face of the internal wall 124 that faces the chamber 112 and the passage 132. That intersection is circular and the geometric center AO of the aerosol outlet is the center of the aerosol outlet 130.

The mouthpiece 134 is configured to be placed between a user's lips so that the user may, when the device 100 is in use, draw aerosol from the chamber 112 and inhale that aerosol.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the array 128 of aerosol generating zones includes thirteen aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2. The thirteen aerosol generating zones are disposed symmetrically around first and second lines of symmetry S1 and S2. The first line of symmetry S1 passes through the geometric center at position AO of the aerosol outlet 130.

Each of the aerosol generating zones has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular aerosol generating zone is calculated by considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 4 shows the representative geometric centers A′, B′, C′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′ of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers A′, B′, C′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′ are a distance CD from position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance CDs are shown (for aerosol generating zones E1 and F2) in FIG. 4.

The device 100 includes eight aerosol generating groups which may be termed AGG(1), AGG(2), AGG(8). The controller is programed to activate the aerosol generating zones in aerosol generating groups 1 to 8 on receipt of a signal to do so. Each of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2 is a member of one of the aerosol generating groups 1 to 8 and the allocation of aerosol generating zones to the aerosol generating groups is shown in the following table:

Aerosol
generating group	Aerosol generating zone(s) in
number	aerosol generating group

1	A
2	B
3	C
4	D1, D2
5	E1, E2
6	F1, F2
7	G1, G2
8	H1, H2

The mean of the distances CD for the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is termed the group distance GCD. For the array 128 of aerosol generating zones shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the GCD for each aerosol generating group is calculated as below:

	Aerosol
	generating
Aerosol	zone(s) in	CDs for the
generating	aerosol	aerosol
group	generating	generating
number	group	group	Group distance GCD
1	A	CD(A)	GCD(1) = CD(A)
2	B	CD(B)	GCD(2) = CD(B)
3	C	CD(C)	GCD(3) = CD(C)
4	D1, D2	CD(D1), CD(D2)	G ⁢ C ⁢ D ⁡ ( 4 ) = C ⁢ D ⁡ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ D ⁡ ( D ⁢ 2 ) 2
5	E1, E2	CD(E1), CD(E2)	G ⁢ C ⁢ D ⁡ ( 5 ) = C ⁢ D ⁡ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ D ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) 2
6	F1, F2	CD(F1), CD(F2)	GCD ⁡ ( 6 ) = CD ⁡ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + CD ⁡ ( F ⁢ 2 ) 2
7	G1, G2	CD(G1), CD(G2)	G ⁢ C ⁢ D ⁡ ( 7 ) = C ⁢ D ⁡ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ D ⁡ ( G ⁢ 2 ) 2
8	H1, H2	CD(H1), CD(H2)	G ⁢ CD ⁡ ( 8 ) = C ⁢ D ⁡ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ D ⁡ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 2

The mean of the group distance GCD(1 to 8) for all the aerosol generating groups is the distance MGCD

MGCD = GCD ⁢ ( 1 ) + GCD ⁢ ( 2 ) + GCD ⁢ ( 3 ) + GCD ⁡ ( 4 ) + GCD ⁡ ( 5 ) + GCD ⁢ ( 6 ) + GCD ⁢ ( 7 ) + GCD ⁡ ( 8 ) 8

The difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGCD.

In other embodiments the difference between each group distance GCD and distance MGCD is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the distance MGCD.

Each aerosol generating zone A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2 has a surface area CA, this can be measured using known techniques.

The sum of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area TCA. The TCA for each aerosol generating group is as shown in the table below:

	Aerosol
	generating
Aerosol	zone(s) in	CAs for the
generating	aerosol	aerosol
group	generating	generating
number	group	group	Group distance TCA
1	A	CA(A)	TCA(1) = CA(A)
2	B	CA(B)	TCA(2) = CA(B)
3	C	CA(C)	TCA(3) = CA(C)
4	D1, D2	CA(D1), CA(D2)	T ⁢ C ⁢ A ⁡ ( 4 ) = C ⁢ A ⁡ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ A ⁡ ( D ⁢ 2 ) 2
5	E1, E2	CA(E1), CA(E2)	T ⁢ C ⁢ A ⁡ ( 5 ) = C ⁢ A ⁡ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ A ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) 2
6	F1, F2	CA(F1), CA(F2)	T ⁢ C ⁢ A ⁡ ( 6 ) = C ⁢ A ⁡ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ A ⁡ ( F ⁢ 2 ) 2
7	G1, G2	CA(G1), CA(G2)	T ⁢ C ⁢ A ⁡ ( 7 ) = C ⁢ A ⁡ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + C ⁢ A ⁡ ( G ⁢ 2 ) 2
8	H1, H2	CA(H1), CA(H2)	TCA ⁡ ( 8 ) = CA ⁡ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁡ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 2

The mean of the areas TCA for all of the aerosol generating groups is MTCA

MTCA = TCA ⁢ ( 1 ) + TCA ⁢ ( 2 ) + TCA ⁢ ( 3 ) + TCA ⁡ ( 4 ) + TCA ⁡ ( 5 ) + TCA ⁢ ( 6 ) + TCA ⁢ ( 7 ) + TCA ⁡ ( 8 ) 8

The difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 15.0% of the area MTCA.

In other embodiments the difference between each area TCA and area MTCA is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the area MTCA.

The mean of the surface area CA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area MCA,

MCA = CA ⁢ ( A ) + CA ⁢ ( B ) + CA ⁢ ( C ) + CA ⁢ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁢ ( D ⁢ 2 ) + CA ⁢ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) + CA ⁢ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁢ ( F ⁢ 2 ) + CA ⁢ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁢ ( G ⁢ 2 ) + CA ⁢ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + CA ⁢ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 13

The difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 15.0% of the area MCA.

In other embodiments the difference between each area CA and area MCA is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the area MCA.

The controller 106 includes a central processing unit (not shown) and a memory (not shown) which are powered by power source 106. The controller is configured to activate the aerosol generating groups in a specific order. The instructions that cause the activation of the aerosol generating groups in the specific order are either previously stored in the memory, or are input into the controller by a user or other data input means and then stored in the memory.

Where the instructions are input by the user, the instructions may be entered directly via one or more interface devices (not shown), for example one or more buttons or other user operable interface. Alternatively, the user may enter the instructions indirectly, for example into a mobile phone, tablet or similar communication or computing device (not shown) which then passes the instructions to the controller 104/memory, for example via Bluetooth or a similar communication system.

Alternatively, a user may cause a mobile phone, tablet or similar communication or computing device to obtain a set of instructions for use by the controller from the internet or other data source. Once obtained, those instructions are transferred to the controller 104/the memory. In some embodiments, the instructions may be input into the mobile phone, tablet or similar communication or computing device from a code, for example a bar code or Quick Recognition (QR) code carried on or associated with a consumable for use with the aerosol provision device 100 or the packaging for such a consumable.

Alternatively, the device 100 may include a suitable input means (not shown) that is adapted to read machine readable data located on a consumable.

The controller 104 performs the instructions concerning activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group on receipt by the controller of a signal that indicates that an aerosol generating group should be activated. That signal is generated by a user pushing button 138 (shown in FIG. 1). In other non-illustrated embodiments other signal generating devices, for example a puff detector may be used to send the signal to the controller 104 that the next aerosol generating group should be activated when the puff detector detects a puff.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the instructions stored in the memory cause the controller 104 to activate the aerosol generating groups in the order AGG(1), AGG(2), AGG(3), AGG(4), AGG(5), AGG(6), AGG(7), AGG(8). In other embodiments the aerosol generating groups may be activated in other orders.

The instructions for controller 104 stored in the memory (not shown) may also include instructions as to how to activate the aerosol generating zones in each aerosol generating group. The instructions may relate to one or more of (i) the order in which the aerosol generation zones are to be activated, (ii) the length of time for which the aerosol generation zones are to be activated, and/or (iii) a heating profile which activation of one or more of the aerosol generating zones is to follow.

The instructions stored in the memory may be different for each aerosol generating group, or different for at least one aerosol generating group compared to at least one other of the aerosol generating groups. For example the instructions for heating the aerosol generating zones in each of aerosol generating groups AGG(1), AGG(2), and AGG(3), each of which contain only one aerosol generating zone, may be different to the instructions for aerosol generating groups AGG(4), AGG(5), AGG(6), AGG(7), and AGG(8) each of which includes two aerosol generating zones.

In the above example the instructions for each of aerosol generating groups AGG(1), AGG(2), and AGG(3) may be that the aerosol generating zone is heated according to a heating profile in which the aerosol generating zone is heated for a first period of time by passing a first power through the aerosol generating zone, then heated for a second period of time by passing a second, lower, power through the aerosol generating zone, and then the power to the aerosol generating zone is turned off.

In the above example, the instructions for each of aerosol generating groups AGG(4), AGG(5), AGG(6), AGG(7), and AGG(8) may be that (i) at time X (where time X is the time at which the controller 104 detects the activation signal from button 136) the aerosol generating zone closest to the position AO (or aerosol generating zone H1 in the case of AGG(8)) is heated according to a second heating profile in which the aerosol generating zone is heated for a third period of time by passing a first power through the aerosol generating zone, then heated for a fourth period of time by passing a second, lower, power through the aerosol generating zone, and then the power to the aerosol generating zone is turned off; and (ii) a fifth period of time after time X, the aerosol generating zone furthest from the position AO (or aerosol generating zone H2 in the case of AGG(8)) is heated according to the second heating profile.

It will be appreciated that the controller 104 can be provided with instructions that allow for a wide range of heating times and/or heating profiles.

In some embodiments, the predetermined order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group is activation of all the aerosol generating zones in that aerosol generating group at substantially the same time. For example for AGG(7) the aerosol generating zones are activated/power is supplied to aerosol generating zones G1 and G2 at the same time.

In some embodiments, the order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is activation of the aerosol generating zones starting with the aerosol generating zone with the largest distance CD and sequentially activating the aerosol generating zones in order of decreasing distance CD. For example for AGG(4) power is supplied to aerosol generating zone D2 at time Y and then to aerosol generating zone D1 at time Y plus a period of time. The period of time between the activation of aerosol generating zone D2 and the activation of aerosol generating zone D1 is a function of both the distance CD for aerosol generating zone D1, and the surface area CA of aerosol generating zone D1.

In some embodiments, the order of activation of the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group that contains more than one aerosol generating zone is activation of the aerosol generating zones starting with the aerosol generating zone with the smallest distance CD and sequentially activating the aerosol generating zones in order of increasing distance CD. For example for AGG(5) power is supplied to aerosol generating zone E1 at time Y and then to aerosol generating zone E2 at time Y plus a predetermined period of time. Aerosol generating zones E1 and E2 may each remain activated for the same predetermined length of time, or may be activated for different lengths of time.

The controller 104 may process instructions to activate the aerosol generating zones in an aerosol generating group so that the aerosol generating zones to heat to one or a range of predetermined temperatures. For example in aerosol generating group AGG(6) aerosol generating zone F1 may be heated to temperature T1 and aerosol generating zone F2 may be heated to temperature T2. Such instructions provide advantages if the aerosol generating material to be heated by the aerosol generating zone F1 is of a different composition to the aerosol generating material to be heated by the aerosol generating zone F2.

In an alternative example the predetermined temperature T to which the aerosol generating zones are heated is the same for each aerosol generating zone. For example each of aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2 are heated to the same temperature T when they are caused to heat.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, these Figures show a second embodiment of an array 228 of aerosol generating zones which includes twenty three aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2, M1, M2, N1, N2. The twenty three aerosol generating zones are disposed symmetrically around first and second lines of symmetry S1 and S2. The first line of symmetry S1 passes through the geometric center at position AO of the aerosol outlet.

Each of the aerosol generating zones has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular aerosol generating zone is calculated considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 6 shows the approximate geometric centers A′, B′, C′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′, J1′, J2′, K1′, K2′, L1′, L2′, M1′, M2′, N1′, N2′ of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2, M1, M2, N1, N2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers A′, B′, C′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′, J1′, J2′, K1′, K2′, L1′, L2′, M1′, M2′, N1′, N2′ are a distance CD from position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance CDs are shown (for aerosol generating zones A/B/C and D1) in FIG. 6.

The device 100 includes thirteen aerosol generating groups (AGG(1) to AGG(13)) and the controller is programed to activate the aerosol generating zones in aerosol generating groups 1 to 13 on receipt of an appropriate signal to do so. Each of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2, M1, M2, N1, N2 is a member of one of the aerosol generating groups 1 to 13 and the allocation of aerosol generating zones to the aerosol generating groups is shown in the following table:

Aerosol
generating group	Aerosol generating zone(s) in
number	aerosol generating group

1	A
2	B
3	C
4	D1, D2
5	E1, E2
6	F1, F2
7	G1, G2
8	H1, H2
9	J1, J2
10	K1, K2
11	L1, L2
12	M1, M2
13	N1, N2

The features and methods of making the calculations related to those features for array 228 are the same as described for array 128 which are described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 other than the different numbers of Aerosol generating zones and aerosol generating groups.

With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, these Figures show a third embodiment of an array 328 of aerosol generating zones which includes twenty aerosol generating zones A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2. The twenty aerosol generating zones are disposed symmetrically around first and second lines of symmetry S1 and S2. The first line of symmetry S1 passes through the geometric center AO of the aerosol outlet.

Each of the aerosol generating zones has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular aerosol generating zone is calculated by considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 8 shows the approximate geometric centers A′, B′, C1′, C2′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′, J1′, J2′, K1′, K2′, L1′, L2′ of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers A′, B′, C1′, C2′, D1′, D2′, E1′, E2′, F1′, F2′, G1′, G2′, H1′, H2′, J1′, J2′, K1′, K2′, L1′, L2′ are a distance CD from position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance CDs are shown (for aerosol generating zones E1 and J1) in FIG. 8.

The device 100 includes eleven aerosol generating groups (AGG(1) to AGG(11)) and the controller is programed to activate the aerosol generating zones in aerosol generating groups 1 to 11 on receipt of an appropriate signal to do so. Each of the aerosol generating zones A, B, C1, C2, D1, D2, E1, E2, F1, F2, G1, G2, H1, H2, J1, J2, K1, K2, L1, L2 is a member of one of the aerosol generating groups 1 to 11 and the allocation of aerosol generating zones to the aerosol generating groups is shown in the following table:

Aerosol
generating group	Aerosol generating zone(s) in
number	aerosol generating group

1	A
2	B
3	C1, C2
4	D1, D2
5	E1, E2
6	F1, F2
7	G1, G2
8	H1, H2
9	J1, J2
10	K1, K2
11	L1, L2

The features and methods of making the calculations related to those features for array 328 are the same as described for array 128 which are described above and shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 other than the different numbers of Aerosol generating zones and aerosol generating groups.

With reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, a consumable 150 includes a support 152 and thirteen discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 of aerosol generating material. The aerosol generating material has, in the illustrated embodiment, the form of aerosol generating material film.

The support 152 is a flat sheet material which is configured to have a main body portion 152a and a tab portion 152b. The main body portion 152a is substantially rectangular with longitudinally extending side edges 154, 156 and an end edge 158 at a first end of the support 152. Side edge 154 is connected to end edge 158 by a stop edge 160. Side edge 156 intersects end edge 158 at an angle of around 90 degrees.

The tab portion 152b is located at the end of the main body portion 152a remote from end edge 158. The tab portion 152b has an end edge 162 and first and second tabs 164, 166 which respectively extend laterally from the ends of the longitudinal edges 154, 156 remote from the end edge 158. The first and second tabs 164, 166 are located between the ends of the longitudinal edges 154, 156 remote from the end edge 158 and end edge 162.

The tab portion 152b is so configured that the first and second tabs 164, 166 cause the tab portion 152b to be too large to insert into an aerosol provision device with which the consumable is to be used. The length of the longitudinal edges 154, 156 of the support 152 are likewise too long for the longitudinal edges to be inserted into the aerosol provision device with which the consumable is to be used other than in a longitudinal direction. This ensures that the consumable 150 can only be inserted into the aerosol provision device with which the consumable is to be used when end edge 158 is inserted into the aerosol provision device first. This configuration also allows a user to grasp the tab portion 152b when it is desired to remove the consumable 150 from the aerosol provision device with which it is used.

The main body portion 152a is dimensioned and configured to be insertable and removable from a chamber in an aerosol provision device when edge 158 is inserted first. For example, the consumable is adapted to be inserted into and removed from chamber 112 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and as described above. The main body portion 152a is only fully insertable into the chamber 112 when it is in one orientation because the stop wall 140 of the chamber will only be accommodated by the stop edge 160 of the consumable 150 in one orientation. This ensures that the discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 of aerosol generating material are correctly orientated and positioned relative to the chamber 112 when the main body portion 152a is fully inserted into the chamber 112. When the consumable 150 is in this position the consumable 150 can be described as being in a predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

The discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 of aerosol generating material are supported on the support 152 in an array that is symmetrical about first and second lines of symmetry SS1, SS2. The first line of symmetry SS1 also passes through the aerosol outlet position AO in the aerosol provision device when the main body portion 152a of the consumable 150 is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to position AO.

Each of the discrete portions has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular discrete portion is calculated by considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 10 shows the approximate geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′ of the aerosol generating zones AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′ are a distance PD from position AO when the consumable 150 is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance PDs are shown (for aerosol generating zones EE1 and GG1) in FIG. 10.

Each of the discrete portions on the support 152 are considered to be part of one of the eight portion groups (PG(1) to PG(8)) that are included in the consumable 150. The discrete portion or portions of a portion group are intended to be heated so as to release aerosol when the the aerosol provision device with which the consumable is to be used is activated.

Each of the discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 is a member of one of the portion groups 1 to 8 and the allocation of discrete portions to the portion groups is shown in the following table:

Portion group	Discrete portion(s) in portion
number	group

1	AA
2	BB
3	CC
4	DD1, DD2
5	EE1, EE2
6	FF1, FF2
7	GG1, GG2
8	HH1, HH2

The mean of the distances PD for the discrete portions contained in a portion group is termed the group distance GPD. For the discrete portions of consumable 150 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the GPD for each aerosol generating group is calculated as below:

	Discrete	PDs
Portion	portion(s) in	for the
group	portion	portion
number	group	group	Group distance GPD
1	A	PD(A)	GPD(1) = PD(A)
2	B	PD(B)	GPD(2) = PD(B)
3	C	PD(C)	GPD(3) = PD(C)
4	D1, D2	PD(D1), PD(D2)	G ⁢ P ⁢ D ⁡ ( 4 ) = P ⁢ D ⁡ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ D ⁡ ( D ⁢ 2 ) 2
5	E1, E2	PD(E1), PD(E2)	G ⁢ P ⁢ D ⁡ ( 5 ) = P ⁢ D ⁡ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ D ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) 2
6	F1, F2	PD(F1), PD(F2)	G ⁢ P ⁢ D ⁡ ( 6 ) = P ⁢ D ⁡ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ D ⁡ ( F ⁢ 2 ) 2
7	G1, G2	PD(G1), PD(G2)	G ⁢ P ⁢ D ⁡ ( 7 ) = P ⁢ D ⁡ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ D ⁡ ( G ⁢ 2 ) 2
8	H1, H2	PD(H1), PD(H2)	G ⁢ P ⁢ D ⁡ ( 8 ) = P ⁢ D ⁡ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ D ⁡ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 2

The mean of the group distance GPD (1 to 8) for all the aerosol generating groups is the distance MGPD

MGPD = GPD ⁢ ( 1 ) + GPD ⁢ ( 2 ) + GPD ⁢ ( 3 ) + GPD ⁡ ( 4 ) + GPD ⁡ ( 5 ) + GPD ⁢ ( 6 ) + GPD ⁢ ( 7 ) + GPD ⁡ ( 8 ) 8

The difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 15.0% of the distance MGPD.

In other embodiments the difference between each group distance GPD and distance MGPD is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the distance MGPD.

Each discrete portion AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2 has a surface area PA, this can be measured using known techniques.

The sum of the surface area PA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area TPA. The TPA for each aerosol generating group is as shown in the table below:

	Discrete	PAs
Portion	portion(s) in	for the
group	portion	portion
number	group	group	Group distance TPA
1	A	PA(A)	TPA(1) = PA(A)
2	B	PA(B)	TPA(2) = PA(B)
3	C	PA(C)	TPA(3) = PA(C)
4	D1, D2	PA(D1), PA(D2)	T ⁢ P ⁢ A ⁡ ( 4 ) = P ⁢ A ⁡ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ A ⁡ ( D ⁢ 2 ) 2
5	E1, E2	PA(E1), PA(E2)	TPA ⁡ ( 5 ) = P ⁢ A ⁡ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ A ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) 2
6	F1, F2	PA(F1), PA(F2)	TPA ⁡ ( 6 ) = P ⁢ A ⁡ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ A ⁡ ( F ⁢ 2 ) 2
7	G1, G2	PA(G1), PA(G2)	T ⁢ P ⁢ A ⁡ ( 7 ) = P ⁢ A ⁡ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + P ⁢ A ⁡ ( G ⁢ 2 ) 2
8	H1, H2	PA(H1), PA(H2)	TPA ⁡ ( 8 ) = P ⁢ A ⁡ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁡ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 2

The mean of the areas TPA for all of the aerosol generating groups is MTPA

MTPA = TPA ⁢ ( 1 ) + TPA ⁢ ( 2 ) + TPA ⁢ ( 3 ) + TPA ⁡ ( 4 ) + TPA ⁢ ( 5 ) + TPA ⁢ ( 6 ) + TPA ⁢ ( 7 ) + TCA ⁢ ( 8 ) 8

The difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 15.0% of the area MTPA.

In other embodiments the difference between each area TPA and area MTPA is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the area MTPA.

The mean of the surface area PA for all the aerosol generating zones contained in an aerosol generating group is area MPA,

MPA = PA ⁢ ( A ) + PA ⁢ ( B ) + PA ⁢ ( C ) + PA ⁢ ( D ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁢ ( D ⁢ 2 ) + PA ⁢ ( E ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁡ ( E ⁢ 2 ) + PA ⁢ ( F ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁢ ( F ⁢ 2 ) + PA ⁢ ( G ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁢ ( G ⁢ 2 ) + PA ⁢ ( H ⁢ 1 ) + PA ⁢ ( H ⁢ 2 ) 13

The difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 15.0% of the area MPA.

In other embodiments the difference between each area PA and area MPA is less than 12.5%, less than 10.0%, less than 7.5%, less than 5.0% or less than 2.5% of the area MPA.

In the illustrated embodiment, the composition of the aerosol generating material in the discrete portions in at least one portion group is different to the composition of the aerosol generating material in the discrete portions in at least one other portion group. The differences in composition may include different flavors and/or different active ingredients.

In other embodiments, the composition of the aerosol generating material in at least one discrete portion in a portion group is different to the composition of the aerosol generating material in at least one other discrete portion in the portion group. The differences in composition may include different flavors and/or different active ingredients.

The support 152 of the consumable 150 is a flat laminate sheet material. One of the layers of the laminate material is a susceptor in the form of aluminum foil. In some embodiments the susceptor is an alternative material suitable for use in inductive heating.

In some embodiments the susceptor extends across the whole of the support. In other embodiments the susceptor is only present in locations on the support that a discreet portion of aerosol generating material is supported.

In some, non-illustrated embodiments, the support 152 is a sheet material, and the sheet material is formed into a three dimensional shape. That three dimensional shape may be a tube which has a longitudinal extent, and the cross section of the tube in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal extent is circular, approximately circular, square, approximately square, polygonal, or approximately polygonal.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, these Figures show a consumable 250 which includes twenty three discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2, MM1, MM2, NN1, NN2. The twenty three discrete portions are disposed symmetrically around first and second lines of symmetry SS1 and SS2. The first line of symmetry SS1 passes through the geometric center AO of the aerosol outlet when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

The support 152 of the consumable 250 has the same configuration as in the consumable 150 described above and shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Each of the discrete portions has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular discrete portion is calculated by considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 12 shows the approximate geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′, JJ1′, JJ2′, KK1′, KK2′, LL1′, LL2′, MM1′, MM2′, NN1′, NN2′ of the discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2, MM1, MM2, NN1, NN2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′, JJ1′, JJ2′, KK1′, KK2′, LL1′, LL2′, MM1′, MM2′, NN1′, NN2′ are a distance PD from position AO when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance PDs are shown (for discrete portions AA′/BB′/CC′ and NN1′) in FIG. 12.

The consumable 250 includes thirteen portion groups 1 to 13 (PG(1) to PG(13)). Each of the discrete portions AA, BB, CC, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2, MM1, MM2, NN1, NN2 is a member of one of the portion groups 1 to 13 and the allocation of discrete portions to the portion groups is shown in the following table:

Portion group	discrete portion(s) in portion
number	group

1	AA
2	BB
3	CC
4	DD1, DD2
5	EE1, EE2
6	FF1, FF2
7	GG1, GG2
8	HH1, HH2
9	JJ1, JJ2
10	KK1, KK2
11	LL1, LL2
12	MM1, MM2
13	NN1, NN2

The features and methods of making the calculations related to those features for consumable 250 are the same as described for consumable 150 as described above and shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, other than the different numbers of discrete portions and portion groups. The consumable 250 is adapted to be used in connection with the array 228 of aerosol generating zones shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and as described above.

With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, these Figures show a consumable 350 which includes twenty discrete portions AA, BB, CC1, CC2, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2. The twenty discrete portions are disposed symmetrically around first and second lines of symmetry SS1 and SS2. The first line of symmetry SS1 passes through the geometric center AO of the aerosol outlet when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO.

The support 152 of the consumable 350 has the same configuration as in the consumable 150 described above and shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

Each of the discrete portions has a geometric center, and the geometric center for a particular discrete portion is calculated by considering the aerosol generating zones to be two dimensional and finding the arithmetic mean position of all the points of the surface of that aerosol generating zone that faces the consumable when the device 100 is in use. This may be performed using known techniques. FIG. 14 shows the representative geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC1′, CC2′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′, JJ1′, JJ2′, KK1′, KK2′, LL1′, LL2′ of the discrete portions AA, BB, CC1, CC2, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2 respectively.

Each of the geometric centers AA′, BB′, CC1′, CC2′, DD1′, DD2′, EE1′, EE2′, FF1′, FF2′, GG1′, GG2′, HH1′, HH2′, JJ1′, JJ2′, KK1′, KK2′, LL1′, LL2′ are a distance PD from position AO when the consumable is in the predetermined position and orientation relative to the position AO. For clarity, only two representative distance PDs are shown (for discrete portions EE1′ and EE2′) in FIG. 14.

The consumable 350 includes eleven portion groups 1 to 11 (PG(1) to PG(11)). Each of the discrete portions AA, BB, CC1, CC2, DD1, DD2, EE1, EE2, FF1, FF2, GG1, GG2, HH1, HH2, JJ1, JJ2, KK1, KK2, LL1, LL2 is a member of one of the portion groups 1 to 11 and the allocation of discrete portions to the portion groups is shown in the following table:

Portion group	discrete portion(s) in portion
number	group

1	AA
2	BB
3	CC1, CC2
4	DD1, DD2
5	EE1, EE2
6	FF1, FF2
7	GG1, GG2
8	HH1, HH2
9	JJ1, JJ2
10	KK1, KK2
11	LL1, LL2

The features and methods of making the calculations related to those features for consumable 350 are the same as described for consumable 150 which are described above and shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 other than the different numbers of discrete portions and portion groups. The consumable 350 is adapted to be used in connection with the array 328 of aerosol generating zones shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and as described above.

The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the disclosure disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure.

Various aspects of the aerosol provision devices and consumables disclosed in the various embodiments may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements not specifically discussed in the embodiments described above. This disclosure is therefore not limited in its application to the details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with aspects described in other embodiments. Although particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure in its broader aspects. The scope of the following claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.