AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE WITH AGE VERIFICATION BASED ON GRIP INFORMATION

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device and an aerosol provision system.

BACKGROUND

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

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising: a user input element configured to receive a grip input from a user; and a processor configured to determine grip information of the grip input, the processor configured to unlock the aerosol provision device from a locked state in response to the grip information indicating that the user is of an age greater than an age threshold.

The grip information may comprise a grip strength parameter. The grip strength parameter may comprise a grip force.

The grip information may comprise a grip size parameter. The grip size parameter may comprise a hand span.

The grip information may comprise a grip temperature parameter.

The user input element may comprise a pressure sensor.

The user input element may comprise a capacitive sensor.

The user input element may comprise first and second contact sensors. The first and second contact sensors may be separated by a finger distance threshold. A user having fingers spaced by more than the finger distance threshold (e.g. the spacing between a little finger and a thumb or the little finger and an index finger) may be likely to be of an age greater than an age threshold.

The user input element may comprise a temperature sensor.

The processor may be configured to perform an age algorithm to determine an age or an approximate age of the user from the grip information.

The age algorithm may comprise using a look-up table to determine the age or approximate age of the user from the grip information.

The age algorithm may comprise a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithm may be configured to learn in response to the grip information.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol provision device in an unlocked state for a predetermined time period in response to the unlocking user input being received by the user input element. The processor may be configured to revert the aerosol provision device to the locked state after the predetermined time period.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol provision device in an unlocked state for a predetermined number of uses in response to the unlocking user input being received by the user input element. The processor may be configured to revert the aerosol provision device to the locked state after the predetermined number of uses.

The predetermined number of uses may be a predetermined number of puffs.

The predetermined number of uses may be a predetermined number of sessions of use. The predetermined number of sessions of use may be one session of use. The processor may be configured to revert the aerosol provision device to the locked state in response to the session of use ending.

The processor may be configured to maintain the aerosol provision device in an unlocked state indefinitely in response to the unlocking user input being received by the user input element.

The processor may be configured to initiate a session of use of the aerosol provision device after unlocking the aerosol provision device from the locked state.

The processor may be configured to prevent an aerosol generator from being energised when the aerosol provision device is in the locked state.

According to a second aspect, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device as described above and an article, the article comprising the aerosol generating material. The system may comprise any features described with respect to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect there is provided a method of operating an aerosol provision device, the method comprising: receiving a grip input from a user; determining a grip characteristic of the grip input; and unlocking the aerosol provision device from a locked state in response to the grip characteristic indicating that user is of an age greater than an age threshold. The method may comprise any features and/or functional steps described with respect to the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of an aerosol provision system;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic of an aerosol provision device;

FIG. 3 shows a method of operating an aerosol provision device; and

FIG. 4 shows front views of aerosol provision devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “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 gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. Aerosol-generating material may include any plant based material, such as tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol-generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosol-generating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol-generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol-generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder and an aerosol former. Optionally, an active 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 some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. 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 aerosol-generating material 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 aerosol-generating material may comprise an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise or be a sheet, which may optionally be shredded to form a shredded sheet. The aerosol-generating sheet or shredded sheet may be substantially tobacco free.

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 energised 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 generating device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating. An “article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilise the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol generating device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article.

With reference to FIG. 1, an aerosol provision system 10 comprises an aerosol provision device 100 for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The aerosol provision system 10 further comprises a replaceable article 110 comprising the aerosol generating material. In broad outline, the aerosol forming device 100 may be used to heat the article 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium, which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The aerosol forming device 100 comprises a body 102. A housing arrangement surrounds and houses various components of the body 102. An article aperture 104 is formed at one end of the body 102, through which the article 110 may be inserted for heating by an aerosol generator 116.

The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 150.

The aerosol generator 116 defines a longitudinal axis, which aligns with an axis of the article 110.

In use, the article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 116 where it may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 116.

The device 100 includes an apparatus for heating aerosol-generating material. The apparatus includes an aerosol generating assembly, a controller (control circuit), and a power source. The apparatus forms part of the body 102. The aerosol generating assembly is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material of an article 110 inserted through the article aperture 104, such that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating material. The power source supplies electrical power to the aerosol generating assembly, and the aerosol generating assembly converts the supplied electrical energy into heat energy for heating the aerosol-generating material. The power source may be, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery.

The power source may be electrically coupled to the aerosol generating assembly to supply electrical power when required and under control of the controller to heat the aerosol generating material. The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate the aerosol generating assembly based on a user input. The user input may be via a button press or opening a door of the device (for example, a door covering a consumable receiving receptacle). The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate automatically, for example on insertion of an article.

The aerosol generating assembly may comprise various components to heat the aerosol generating material via an inductive heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating an electrically conducting heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. An induction heating assembly may comprise an inductive element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a varying electric current, such as an alternating electric current, through the inductive element. The varying electric current in the inductive element produces a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) suitably positioned with respect to the inductive element, and generates eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to the eddy currents, and hence the flow of the eddy currents against this resistance causes the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating. In cases where the susceptor comprises ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the varying orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of their alignment with the varying magnetic field. In inductive heating, as compared to heating by conduction for example, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating. Further, there need not be any physical contact between the inductive element and the susceptor, allowing for enhanced freedom in construction and application.

With reference to FIG. 2, the aerosol provision device 100 comprises a user input element 106, a processor 108, an energy storage 110 (a power source as described above) and the aerosol generator 116. The user input element 106 permits the user to provide a grip input. Exemplary user input elements 106a-c are described below with respect to FIG. 4a-c.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a method 200 of operating the aerosol provision device 100. The method comprises a user input step 202, an unlocking step 204, an aerosol generation step 206 and a locking step 208.

The aerosol provision device 100 begins in a locked state. In the locked state the device processor 108 does not transmit energy from the device energy storage 114 to the aerosol generator 116. The aerosol generator 116 does not generate aerosol.

In the user input step 202, the user input element receives a grip input from the user. The processor determines grip information of the grip input. The grip information comprises a grip strength parameter (e.g. a force), a grip size parameter (e.g. a hand span) and/or a grip temperature parameter.

In some examples, the processor 108 may determine an age or an approximate age of the user from the grip information. The processor 108 may perform an age algorithm to determine the age or approximate age of the user from the grip information. The age algorithm may comprise using a look-up table (e.g. based on grip information comprising several parameters) to determine the age or approximate age of the user. The age algorithm may comprise a machine learning algorithm. The machine learning algorithm may learn from the grip information. The machine learning algorithm may therefore be tailored to the specific user. In response to the grip information not indicating that the user is of an age greater than the age threshold, the processor 108 maintains the aerosol provision device 100 in the locked state. Where approximate age is determined, the grip information may indicate that the user is unlikely to be of an age greater than the age threshold or is considerably younger than the age threshold.

In response to the grip information indicating that the user is of an age greater than the age threshold, the processor 108 is configured to unlock the aerosol provision device 100 in the unlocking step 204. The aerosol provision device 100 enters the unlocked state, in which activation of the aerosol generator 116 is permitted.

In some examples, the processor 108 does not determine the age of the user from the grip information. Instead, a parameter of the grip information may be compared directly to a threshold to determine if the user is of an age greater than an age threshold.

In the aerosol generation step 206, the processor 108 controls the aerosol generator 116 to generate aerosol. The processor 108 controls the energy storage 110 to provide power to the aerosol generator 116 to generate aerosol.

In the present example, the processor 108 is configured to initiate a session of use (in which aerosol generating material is heated and the user may take a plurality of inhales) in response to the aerosol provision device 100 entering the unlocked state. In other examples, a further user input (e.g. a button press) is required to cause aerosol generation.

In the locking step 208 the processor 108 returns the aerosol provision device 100 to the locked state. In the present example, the processor 108 returns the aerosol provision device 100 to the locked state after a predetermined number of uses, which is at the end of the session of use (i.e. the predetermined number of uses is a single session of use). In other examples, the device processor may return the aerosol provision device to the locked state after a predetermined time period expires. In other examples, the locking step 210 may not take place and the aerosol provision device 100 may remain in the unlocked state.

With reference to FIG. 4a, there is shown the aerosol provision device 100 with a first user input element 106a. The first user input element 106a comprises a pressure sensor 120.

The pressure sensor 120 is configured to receive the grip input from which a grip strength parameter can be determined. The grip strength parameter is a grip force. The pressure sensor 120 is positioned on a side of the aerosol provision device 100.

The processor 108 determines the grip force from a signal from the pressure sensor 120. As described above, the processor 108 may determine an age or approximate age of the user from the grip force or may compare the grip force directly to a threshold to determine if the user is of an age greater than an age threshold.

With reference to FIG. 4b, there is shown the aerosol provision device 100 with a second user input element 106b. The second user input element 106b comprises the pressure sensor 120 as described above.

The second user input element 106b further comprises a temperature sensor 122. The temperature sensor 122 is located on a side of the aerosol provision device 100. The temperature sensor 122 is located on an opposing side of the aerosol provision device 100 to the pressure sensor 120.

The temperature sensor 122 is configured to receive the grip input from which a grip strength parameter can be determined. The grip strength parameter is a grip temperature.

The processor 108 determines the grip temperature from a signal from the temperature sensor 122. The processor 108 performs an age algorithm to determine the age of the user from the grip force and the grip temperature. The age algorithm comprises using a look-up table to determine the age of the user from the grip information.

With reference to FIG. 4c, there is shown the aerosol provision device 100 with a third user input element 106c. The third user input element 106c comprises a first contact sensor 124a and a second contact sensor 124b. The third user input element 106c is configured to receive the grip input from which a grip size parameter can be determined.

The first contact sensor 124a is on a side of the aerosol provision device 100. The second contact sensor 124b is on an end of the aerosol provision device 100. The first contact sensor 124a and second contact sensor 124b are spaced by apart from each other by a finger distance threshold (in the present example, with one contact sensor on the side and the other on the end, the spacing between a little finger and a thumb).

The third user input element 106c provides a signal to the processor 108 in the event that a user covers both the first contact sensor 124a and the second contact sensor 124b with their hand, with the hand completing a circuit between the first and second contact sensors 124a 124b. Because of the spacing of the first and second contact sensors 124a 124b, the hand only completes the circuit between the sensors when it is of sufficient size. This means that the signal being sent to the processor 108 provides grip information relating to a grip size parameter, indicating that the user is likely to be of an age greater than the age threshold.

In the above described embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises a heating arrangement that is an inductive heating arrangement. In embodiments, other types of heating arrangement are used, such as resistive heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above and so a detailed description will be omitted. In such arrangements the aerosol generating assembly comprises a resistive heating generator including components to heat the heating element via a resistive heating process. In this case, an electrical current is directly applied to a resistive heating component, and the resulting flow of current in the heating component causes the heating component to be heated by Joule heating. The resistive heating component comprises resistive material configured to generate heat when a suitable electrical current passes through it, and the heating assembly comprises electrical contacts for supplying electrical current to the resistive material.

In embodiments, the heating element forms the resistive heating component itself. In embodiments the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example by conduction.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.