AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device, an aerosol-generating system, a method of providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user, and aerosol provision means.

BACKGROUND

Aerosol-generating systems are known. Common systems use heaters which are activated by a user to create an aerosol by an aerosol provision device from an aerosol generating material which is then provided for inhalation by the user. The device may be activated by a user at the push of a button or merely by the act of inhalation. Modern systems can use consumable elements containing the aerosol generating material. There are many aspects that a user may wish to track over the lifetime of the device. Ease of understanding and tracking these allows the user to adapt their usage to the conditions of the device and therefore improves the lifetime of the device and the user experience with the device.

Modern electronic aerosol-generating systems and aerosol provision devices and the like have been introduced as alternatives to other older systems, such as systems relying on combustion of material to provide an aerosol. Reduced confidence when trying modern systems for older system users is known.

The present invention is directed toward solving some of the above problems.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the invention are defined in the accompanying claims.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device comprising: a housing comprising an elongate longitudinal portion; and, an interactive communication element arranged on the device; wherein the interactive communication element is arranged to provide interactive indications to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device.

Such a system is able to provide users with interactive indications in relation to relevant operational concerns. The present system may use indications that are visual and/or audio and/or haptic or the like. While indications are useful for providing to the user updates on the changing use characteristics of the device or the elements within the device, making the indications interactive is particularly advantageous.

The user may be able to control a function or functions of the device via interactions with the indications. In this way, greater control is provided to the user without the requirement for switches or on/off buttons etc, which can be difficult to utilise for users with reduced movement. Furthermore, the indications may be arranged to be familiar to users of older systems. In an example, the indications may appear to show a cigarette burning down during use to indicate to the user the use characteristic of remaining session time due to remaining useable consumable within the device. This increases the familiarity of the newer device for the older user by advantageously emulating their existing habits or rituals the users have become accustomed to when using older or more traditional combustible-type products. This therefore increases confidence with the device as well as increasing the likelihood that the user continues to use the newer, more environmentally friendly, device.

A combination of types of indication may be extremely user friendly for handheld devices and have been found to integrate well into such devices. A visual indication may be advantageous in loud environments (factories, music arenas, etc.) wherein an audio signal may be lost to background noise. An audio indication may be advantageous in an example wherein the user has in an example wherein the user is not in sight of the device but is within audio distance, or in the example that the user may be partially sighted or in low lighting conditions. Both may be advantageous in cold weather when the user may be wearing gloves and therefore not responsive to haptic indications. Haptic indications may be advantageous when a user is unable to easily receive visual or audio signals.

In an example, the interactive communication element is arranged to provide an indication related to at least one of the following use characteristics: power source condition; charging status; aerosol generating material consumable condition; heater activation status; boost status; session status; operational time; hardware status; and firmware status. The indication may be interactive or otherwise.

Each of these are highly relevant characteristics of the device and may inform the user on how best to approach continued use of their device. In particular, in modern devices the status of the firmware of the device is highly important. By informing the user whether the firmware is up to date, updating, or out of date, the user can approach use of their device or updating their device accordingly. The more complex such devices become, the more important and relevant up to date firmware is for the device to function as intended by the manufacturer. As such, for optimum performance, the user may be informed when the firmware requires updating and arrange such update accordingly.

An interactive indication may enable the user to interact with the indication to immediately request update of the firmware when possible. For example, an audio indication may note that “firmware out of date”, and the user may respond with a recognisable action phrase such as “please update firmware”. The device will then attempt to update firmware when next suitable (for example, when connections to a server can be made, e.g. via WiFi or the like). The device may encourage the user to connect to WiFi (or the like) to enable the firmware to be updated.

In an example, power source condition comprises at least one of: operating; not operating; activatable; and, not activatable; charging status comprises at least one of: charging; not charging; chargeable; and not chargeable; aerosol generating material consumable condition comprises at least one of: consumable lifetime; sessions remaining in consumable; and, sessions provided by consumable; hardware status comprises at least one of: operational; and, not operational; and, firmware status comprises at least one of: up to date; out of date; and updating.

Each of these are highly relevant for a user of such an aerosol provision device. The user may be informed of usual day-to-day concerns such as power source level (i.e. how charged is the battery or the like) as well as rarer more pressing concerns such as whether the power source is faulty in some way and requires repair or replacement (i.e. not chargeable is a condition wherein the device could not be charged even if desired and therefore indicates an error state for the device). With this information, the user is well informed by the interactive communication element as to the situation of the device from a mechanical, electrical, computational (firmware) and overall functioning level. The user is therefore highly prepared for actions that may be required (charging the power source, replacing a component, removing and supplying a consumable or aerosol generating material, connecting to a network and updating the firmware or the like).

The interactive communication element may be an interactive screen. This may provide a human machine interface (HMI) or the like for interacting with the device. This may provide information to the user via a visual display. The user may be able to interact with this visual indications via touching the interactive screen. The interactive communication element may be an interactive touchscreen. This may offer control of the device or functions of the device via the interactive communication element.

The interactive communication element may be used to provide haptic, audio and visual indications according to the combustion of the aerosol generating material located inside the device. This may be in the form of illustrating burn down of a consumable or aerosol generating material or providing a sound associated with combustion (or other use) of an aerosol generating material or the like.

In an example, the interactive communication element is arranged to, in response to a first user interaction, provide a first interactive indication; and, in response to a second user interaction, provide a second interactive indication. In this way, a user may request information be provided to them via a specific call command. In an example, running a finger along an edge of the interactive communication element, the interactive communication element provides information on the current battery charge level of the device. In an example, in response to tapping the interactive communication element, the interactive communication element provides an indication of the type of consumable in the device. The user may then interact with the indication to, e.g., turn off the device to conserve battery or change the heating mode to a boost function (for example when the user deems the battery level to be high).

In such a way, the interactive communication element may be arranged to provide device control to a user. The device control may comprise at least one of: activation status of the device; and, functioning condition of the device.

The activation status of the device may be for example on or off. The functioning condition may be the conditions for aerosol production, such as high aerosol volume, low aerosol volume, long puffs, short puffs, aerosol or heater temperature etc.

The interactive communication element may be arranged at least one of: on the elongate longitudinal portion of the housing; on a distal end of the housing; and, around the housing in a continuous display.

The interactive communication element may be elongate. This may further increase familiarity of the device for users of older or more traditional systems by advantageously emulating their existing habits or rituals the users have become accustomed to when using older or more traditional combustible-type products. In particular, and in combination or not with an elongate element, the interactive communication element may illustrate burn down of a consumable. The remaining use time for the consumable in the device may be represented on the interactive communication element. As this is reduced, a burning down visual indication may be shown. This increases the familiarity of the newer aerosol provision device system for users of older or more traditional combustible systems. As such, the confidence of these users is increased by the provision of this information. Users of older or more traditional systems may not be familiar with checking e-liquid levels (e.g.) or the like and therefore this system may be beneficial for such users. The user may be able to interact with the burning down visual by tapping away the ash building up on the visual. Again, this increases familiarity with newer devices for old device users by advantageously emulating their existing habits or rituals the users have become accustomed to when using older or more traditional combustible-type products.

Similarly, an interactive audio indication may be a crackling and/or a popping and/or a spitting sound. This may be a pre-recorded audio segment that is used to emulate the sounds produced during the burning of, for example, a normal combustible device such as a cigarette or a cigar. The precise audio provided by a combustible device may depend on the structure, condition and status of the aerosol generating material within the combustible device. For example, a first cigarette of a first material may provide a different audio soundscape to a second cigarette of a second material. The interactive communication element may be able to provide a variety of audio signals according to user choice or based on a detection of the aerosol generating material within the device. This may further increase familiarity for users of older or more traditional devices by advantageously emulating their existing habits or rituals the users have become accustomed to, and thereby increases their confidence of use of newer devices, reducing the likelihood of such users reverting to those older devices.

Similarly, a visual interactive indication may be based on a detection of the type of aerosol generating material within the device. The visual indication may be one of: burning embers; emitting of vapour; and, burning down of an aerosol generating material consumable. The colours of the embers, or the length of time of the burn down, may vary depending on the aerosol generating material used in the device.

In this way, the indications are used to clearly provide vast amounts of data to a user for processing accordingly. This can improve user confidence with the device and increase the lifetime of the device as the user can respond proactively to repairs being required. For example, upon being informed that the heater is not functioning, the user may be able to interact with the indication informing the user of this by repairing or booking a repair appointment with a manufacturer representative. For example, this advantageously streamlines the end user's interactions with a repair and/or a replacement service and allows the not operational, broken, and/or faulty aspect of the product to be repaired in a timely and efficient manner. This improves the user experience of the device, and also increases the lifetime of the device and the safety of general use of the device.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol-generating system for providing interactive indications to a user, comprising: aerosol provision device comprising: a housing comprising an elongate longitudinal portion; and, an interactive communication element arranged on the device; wherein the interactive communication element is arranged to provide interactive indications to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method of providing an indication to a user, the method comprising: providing an aerosol provision device with a housing comprising an elongate longitudinal portion and an interactive communication element arranged on the device, providing, by the interactive communication element, an interactive indication to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device.

The method disclosed herein may be a method of providing an aerosol for inhalation by a user from an aerosol provision device.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided aerosol provision means comprising: a housing comprising an elongate longitudinal portion; and, interactive communication means arranged on the elongate longitudinal portion; wherein the interactive communication means is arranged to provide interactive indications to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision means.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present teachings will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol provision device according to an example;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an aerosol provision system according to an example; and,

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram according to an example.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description of the specific embodiments are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the invention covers all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments are discussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of certain examples and embodiments may be implemented conventionally and these are not discussed/described in detail in the interests of brevity. It will thus be appreciated that aspects and features of apparatus and methods discussed herein which are not described in detail may be implemented in accordance with any conventional techniques for implementing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol provision systems, which may also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term “e-cigarette” or “electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol provision system/device and electronic aerosol provision system/device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms “aerosol” and “vapour”, and related terms such as “vaporise”, “volatilise” and “aerosolise”, may generally be used interchangeably.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of an example of an aerosol provision device 100 according to the present invention. The aerosol provision device 100 comprises an aerosol provision device housing 110. The aerosol provision device housing 110 has distal end and a proximal end. The housing has an elongate longitudinal portion 112. The housing 110 may be a broadly cylindrical shape, with a longer longitudinal portion than a corresponding transverse portion, this is not however required for the benefits of the devices disclosed herein. The housing 110 may have a cross section that is not circular, it may be of any cross section, while for example maintaining an elongate longitudinal portion. The device 100 has an interactive communication element 120 arranged on (and/or in) the device 100. The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged on a surface of or within the device 100. The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged near or towards the distal end portion or the proximal end portion. The interactive communication element 120 is arranged to provide interactive indications to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device 100.

The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged to provide a interactive visual indication to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device 100. The interactive communication element 120 may additionally or alternatively be arranged to provide an interactive audio interactive. The interactive communication element 120 is arranged to provide an interactive audio indication to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device 100.

The interactive communication element 120 may be connected to control circuitry shown in FIG. 1 as numeral 150. The control circuitry 150 may arrange when indications are provided to the user and control how interactions with the indications are interpreted, used and relayed back to the user (where relevant). The control circuitry 150 may therefore receive commands of the user via the interaction communication element 120 and execute the commands accordingly. For example, if the user interacts with the interactive communication element 120 to request turning the device 100 off, the control circuitry receives this signal and ceases operation of the device 100 accordingly by for example providing a signal to the power source.

The present arrangement increases the connectivity and interactivity between the indications provided to the user and the users interactions with the indications. This improves the ease of use of the device for users with reduced mobility. This arrangement also improves the confidence of a user familiar with older devices but not newer devices. Newer devices are often more robust and environmentally friendly than older devices and therefore it is advantageous to encourage users to use newer devices. Therefore user engagement can be improved. The present arrangement associates well with factory made cigarettes for example, which can be environmentally unfriendly.

The control portion 150 may contain a detector (or detectors), control circuitry and other electronics for receiving signals from aspects of the device 100 that are to be indicated to the user. For example, the device 100 disclosed herein may be arranged to disclose to the user via an audio signal that the heater (heating elements or the like) of the device 100 is not functioning properly. For this to occur, the device 100 may have a thermal detector assessing the performance of the heating elements and an electrical detector detecting the supply of electrical power to the heating elements. In the event that the electrical detector or the thermal detector detect a change in performance, the control circuitry may receive signals from these, compare the signals against known correctly functioning levels and assess whether the device 100 is functioning as expected. In the event that the signals from the detectors indicate an issue, the control circuitry may send a signal to the interactive communication element 120 to provide an indication (whether audio, visual or haptic) to the user accordingly.

A visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 being arranged on the distal end of the device 100. This may be highly advantageous for increasing the familiarity of the device 100 to users of older or more traditional combustible devices. The visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 may light up in a way that is reminiscent of a lit cigarette.

This arrangement may be able to provide information for the user in a manner that is non-intrusive but highly informative. The communications from the communication element 120 may additionally increase familiarity for users more used to older combustible systems to increase the confidence of use of newer systems.

The visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 may be able to provide a visual indication that is reminiscent of burning down of a cigarette as the aerosol generating material in the device 100 is depleted. A visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 may be arranged along some length of the elongate longitudinal portion 112 of the device 100 assisting provision of an indication that shows the depletion of the aerosol generating material as may be seen in a typical disposable combustible product (from distal end to proximal end). Encouraging users of such older systems to use newer reuseable systems may also reduce the total devices disposed and therefore provide an environmental benefit. The visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 may be a touch screen or the like. The visual portion of the interactive communication element 120 may be a human machine interface.

Provision of indications at the distal portion of the housing 110 is a user friendly location for providing information to the user as it is highly visible for the user. As such, the use of visual indications at the distal end of the device 100 is synergistic in providing data readily to the user as well as increasing the confidence of users of older or more traditional systems as indications mimic the effects associated with combustible products. Visual indications are particularly useful in loud environments wherein the user may not be able to detect audio indications. Interactive haptic indications may also be advantageous in such environments.

An audio portion of the interactive communication element 120 may provide audio indications to a user in relation to use characteristics of the device 100. An interactive audio indication may be particularly useful in situations that are low light or for users with limited visibility (for whom the visual communication element 120 may not be highly useful) or reduced mobility (i.e. increased difficulty physically interacting with the device). Audio indications may also be useful for use in scenarios such as cold weather when users may be wearing additional layers over their hands or the like that may dampen, for example other indications such as haptic indications. Interactive audio indications enable a user to, for example, initiate use of the device 100 in a pocket during cold weather or the like (prior to bringing to the mouth of a user). As such, audio indications are highly useful and synergistic with visual indications as the two are complementary and account for the other's shortcomings. Emergency indications may be performed via audio as audio indications may be the most reliable form of indication. The user may not be in the same room as the device 100 and therefore be unlikely to notice visual indications, however the user may receive audio indications. As such, audio indications are very useful for indications that may occur (such as expiry of lifetime of components, or urgent repairs required, or other similar emergency issues) during periods of non-use. The audio indication may be a speaker emitting an indication that the heater is towards the end of its lifetime. The user may interact physically with the device or via audio with the device, for example speaking an action phrase “arrange repair”. The control circuitry 150 may then interact with a server to arrange a repair opportunity for the user.

The audio portion of the interactive communication element 120 may provide indications of use characteristics such as the device 100 being in use. Such an audio indication may be in the style of a crackle sound effect or the like. This sound effect is an artificially produced, e.g. pre-recorded, audio file that may be provided by a speaker or the like as part of the audio portion of the interactive communication element 120. The sound file may be a crackle as this is a sound that is commonly made when aerosol generating material is heated to provide an aerosol. Other sounds may include the popping or spitting sound of material being heated. The sounds chosen and used may be those that emulate the sounds produced during the use of older or more traditional products, such as combustible products. This may increase the familiarity of new users to modern devices. This, in turn, may increase the likelihood of user's continuing to use such modern devices, should they choose to.

This may be synergistic with visual indications that emulate the visuals produced during the use of older or more traditional products, such as combustible products. This may be embers burning or flickering or the like. Each of these increases the familiarity of the user with the new device. Using audio and visual interactive indications, the device 100 can provide a realistic impression of the use of older or more traditional products.

In general, the interactive communication element 120 may provide indication forms for different matters or aspects of data. The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged to provide a visual indication related to at least one of the following use characteristics: power source condition; charging status; aerosol generating material consumable condition; heater activation status; boost status; session status; operational time; hardware status; and firmware status. Similarly, the interactive communication element 120 may be arranged to provide an audio indication related to at least one of the following use characteristics: power source condition; charging status; aerosol generating material consumable condition; heater activation status; boost status; session status; operational time; hardware status; and firmware status.

In a specific example, audio indications may be used for powering up (relevant in circumstances wherein the device incorrectly begins powering up when not in a user's hand, thereby improving safety), and visual indications may be used to indicate operating conditions, such as heater temperature, consumable condition and lifetime. Haptic indications may be used for in use data such as a boost mode (increase aerosol provision over a predetermined time period) being in-use. In combination, the interactive communication element 120 may be a highly effective and reliable system for communicating issues to the user. Audio indications may be used for alarm statuses (e.g. emergencies) as well, as mentioned above this can be advantageous if such a status occurs when the user is distanced from the device (such as in another room) such that the visual communication would not be received by the user but an audio indication would be received by the user. The volume of the audio indication may be adjusted based on the severity of the indication, such as very loud indications for alarm statuses (such as power shortages, heater repair being required or the like) and less loud indications for normal in use indications such as the crackling, popping or spitting audio files during use.

Issues, problems or similar use characteristics to be communicated to the user may include battery condition (what charge level the battery has, what lifetime remains on the battery), charging status (whether the device is charging successfully or not); consumable condition (how much uses remain in the consumable used in use in the device, whether the consumable is out of date or has been recalled); heater activation status (whether the heater is on or off); boost status (whether the boost condition is on or off); session status (whether the session is in a beginning, middle or end point); operational time (the amount of active time remaining in battery, or the amount of time that the device has been active for users to track and control their usage).

Similarly, indications may be related to at least one of: power source condition (what condition the battery is in, operational, non operational, faulty, etc); charging status (high efficiency charging, low efficiency charging, intermittent charging due to error, no charging due to error); heater condition (operational as expected, operational though unexpected, non operational though expected, non operational though unexpected); heater status (on or off); boost status (on or off); control circuitry status (functioning as expected or not); hardware status (operational, not operational, broken or faulty etc), and firmware status (up to date, out of date, updating etc).

These can in the main indicate to the user whether the device is operating as expected, i.e. working, or not as expected, i.e. faulty or broken. Errors can be indicated to the user via the component status as to whether a component needs replacement or repair. The power source may be battery or capacitor or any other suitable power source.

Statuses of the device may include operating (i.e. presently functioning to provide an aerosol or “on”), not operating (i.e. not presently functioning to provide an aerosol or “off”), activatable (i.e. functioning such that the device could provide an aerosol if requested) and not activatable (i.e. functioning such that the device could not provide an aerosol if requested). Not activatable may indicate a locked state of the device or a faulty condition of the device (wherein the user may request activation but this cannot be provided due to the fault or error that requires the user's attention).

The interactive communication element 120 may in an example be an interactive screen. The screen may be able to provide indications with which the user may interact by interacting with the screen. For example, the screen may show burn down of a combustible product during use and the user may be able to flick away a burnt end of the combustible product shown on the screen by flicking the screen. The screen detects the interaction of the user and replicates it within the images shown on the screen. This further increases familiarity for users of older or more traditional combustible systems with the newer re-useable systems. The screen may show smoke or vapour being provided and the user may be able to interact by pushing the smoke away or drawing in the smoke with a finger on the interactive screen. The interactions also have a function aspect wherein usage and control of the device 100 can occur via interactions with the interactive communication element 120.

The indications provided by the interactive communication element 120 may therefore relate to combustion of aerosol generating material. Indications may relate to audio crackling files or visual fire or embers. The visual indications may relate to burning of paper or cigarette material not just aerosol generating material. The user may be informed of the total amount of use time of the device 100 per day enabling the user to control usage of the device 100.

In an example, during use of the device 100 the user may insert aerosol generating material into the device 100. Control circuitry 150 may recognise the aerosol generating material. The audio and visual indications may then be based on recognition of the aerosol generating material. In this way, a more authentic experience can be replicated by the device 100 of older or more traditional devices. Again, this increases the familiarity of the device for new users. In an example therefore, a first aerosol generating material (e.g. tobacco) has a first visual indication and a first audio indication while a second aerosol generating material (e.g. menthol) has a second visual indication and a second audio indication.

The audio indications relating to combustion of aerosol generating material may include crackling, spitting, popping, the rushing of air into or from aerosol generating material. The visual indications relating to combustion of aerosol generating material may include burning embers, emitting of vapour, burning down of an aerosol generating material consumable or the like.

The audio files may be aerosol generating material dependent to increase familiarity. The audio files may be different because the heating of different aerosol generating materials sounds different due to moisture content differences, differing structural fibres, differing densities, differing oil contents etc. As such, it is advantageous to have accurate replications of the in use sounds of various aerosol generating material. Furthermore, the device 100 may allow the user to choose the sounds provided by the device 100 during use. This may allow the user to personalise the device 100 to provide audio indications that relate to, e.g., the use of cigarettes, cigars or pipes.

The interactive communication element 120 may be a human machine interface or the like for allowing the user to interact with data provisions on the device. This may provide the various data to the user in a user-friendly manner.

Any combination of visual and/or audio and/or haptic indications may be used as is useful for a user to convey information about the device 100. One form of indication may be reserved (e.g. audio) for emergency indications to the user. In this way, the user always associates one form of indication as requiring some immediate action. This improves user interaction with the alarm function disclosed herein and the user is not likely to ignore the indications as may happen if the indication (e.g. visual) is regularly used and a slightly different form of that indication (e.g. a specific colour) indicates a serious or severe problem.

The system may note use characteristics via a combination of control circuitry which is in communication with the various aspects to be communicated to a user alongside detectors where relevant. The detectors may be any of a timer; a gyroscope; a magnetometer; a housing-located capacitor; a heat sensor; an accelerometer; electrical sensors; an altimeter; a light gate; voltmeter; and, a pressure sensor. Each of these may help provide an assessment of the relevant aspects to be communicated to a user (e.g. whether the heater is operating as expected or the power source is charging as expected).

In a use example, the user may double tap the interactive screen 120 to show smoke plumes associated with the aerosol generating material in the device 100 during use. The use may then swipe with a single finger through the plume to move the smoke and alter the initial image. Alternatively, the user may be able to swipe with two fingers to wipe the smoke away (as a representation on the screen). Similarly, the two finger swipe may wipe the smoke away and also alter the device functionally such as by turning the device from an operating mode to a non operating mode.

In this way, the interactive communication element 120 may be arranged to: in response to a first predetermined user interaction, provide a corresponding first interactive indication; and, in response to a further predetermined user interaction, provide an altered first interactive indication. The altered first indication is not a second indication but rather the same view with some difference resulting from the interactions of the user. It may be the same indication from the interactive communication element, albeit with a slight difference (an alteration).

The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged at least one of: on the elongate longitudinal portion of the housing; on a distal end of the housing; and, around the housing in a continuous display. The interactive communication element 120 may be arranged around the housing in a way that is a wrap around screen so that the interactive communication element 120 can be seen on all sides of the device 100. In this way the user is more likely to see the indications and therefore receive the information displayed visually for the user.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an aerosol-generating system 200. The aerosol-generating system 200 is similar to the aerosol provision device 100 of FIG. 1. In the specific example of FIG. 2, the control circuitry 250 is external to the aerosol provision device 210 of the aerosol-generating system 200 of FIG. 2. The detectors for detecting use characteristics may also be external as part of the control circuitry 250 or may be internal as part of the device 210. The interactive communication element 220 is arranged within the aerosol provision device 210. The system 200 may be the device 210 with control circuitry 250 and aerosol generating material (not shown) arranged in the device 210.

The circuitry 250 may interact remotely with the aerosol provision device 210 via any communication method. Such an arrangement reduces the cost of the aerosol provision device 210 by providing the circuitry 250 separately to the device 210. The aerosol-generating system 200 may therefore have an increased lifetime when compared to the aerosol provision device 100 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a method 300 of use of an aerosol provision device. The method 300 is shown as a flow chart. In the method 300, the device may start in a default state 302, which may be a fully charged, fully operational arrangement as for example would be the case with a brand new device. Alternatively, the default operating state may be use condition of a previously used device as would be the case for a user's device that has been used at least once. The battery may or may not be fully charged but the lifetime of the components within the device would be at least partially diminished due to use.

When a user attempts to use, is using, or is not using, the device, the device detects use characteristics of the device. This may be as described above using one or more detectors to assess the various use characteristics described above. The device detects the use characteristics using a detector (which may contain a number of individual sensors/detectors). The detector may detect 304 the use characteristics via any standard mechanism (e.g. voltmeter for assessment of battery condition).

The detector sends a signal accordingly to control circuitry 306. The control circuitry may receive regular signals from the detector or detectors as to use characteristics and only provide interactive indications to the user as deemed relevant. A user may not require permanently informing that the battery is working efficiently, as an example. Rather, a preferred method may be that the user is informed when the battery begins to not work efficiently, i.e. when user input and/or effort is required. However, consumable lifetime and sessions remaining may be continually (or semi continually, i.e. at regular close intervals) informed to a user so that the user has an up to date understanding of the remaining use in the device.

When such an indication is deemed suitable for communication to the user, the control circuitry may provide an interactive indication to the user 308 via the interactive communication element which may be as per the above description. The indication may be any of a visual, audio and/or haptic indication that the user can interact with to cause a functional shift in the device. This arrangement also improves user confidence and device familiarity for users of older or more traditional devices by advantageously emulating their existing habits or rituals the users have become accustomed to when using older or more traditional combustible-type products.

This method provides a user-friendly, indication process for the user that does not overload the user with information but keeps the user regularly informed as to the relevant matters at any one time during the lifetime of the device. The method offers a balance between overloading the user and providing the user with little to no warning ahead of relevant use events (e.g. running out of battery power, or aerosol generating material or the breakdown of a component within the device). With clear indications for users in a variety of situations, the user is well informed and prepared during usage of the device. The method also increases user familiarity for users of older or more traditional combustible-type products or systems.

The detector detecting the use characteristics as noted above may be a series of detectors. The detector may be one instrument or an array of instruments. The detector as disclosed herein may include a series of instruments that operate simultaneously or together to provide an accurate and informed assessment of the various use characteristics within the device at any one moment. These are used to ensure correct and relevant indications are provided to the user.

The aerosol provision device may comprise heating arrangements or the like for providing an aerosol from a consumable—the consumable may contain an aerosol generating material or the like. The control circuitry may control the heating arrangement (or the like) according to use requests from a user. The activation and lifetime of various components are detected by detectors in the device and provided to control circuitry that links to the communication element or elements on the device for informing a user.

The device and system herein are described as comprising several components that enable several advantages. The components may be disclosed as on-board the device or within the system. The components may be distributed and therefore not necessarily be located on-board the device. The functionality of the device can be provided by communicatively connected components, and such communication may be wireless, enabling such distribution. At which point it is reasonable to foresee that a distributed array of components will operate in the manner of the devices and systems disclosed herein. Components of the device or system may be contained in a further device such as a smartphone, computer, or remote server or the like.

The method and device disclosed herein enable the user to be informed as suitable as to conditions within the device. This improves the user experience of the device, the lifetime of the device and the safety of general use of the device.

The devices and systems disclosed herein may be used with consumables comprising aerosol generating material. Such consumables may be solid or liquid and may be cartridges or the like.

In a particular example, the device disclosed herein may operate with a flavour pod which is replaceable in the device—this may be referred to as a consumable. The flavour may be any of tobacco and glycol and may include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herb, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamon, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, piment, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha), flavour 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.

When combined with an aerosol generating medium, the aerosol provision device as disclosed herein may be referred to as an aerosol provision system or aerosol-generating system.

Thus there has been described an aerosol provision device comprising: a housing comprising an elongate longitudinal portion; and, an interactive communication element arranged on the device; wherein the interactive communication element is arranged to provide interactive indications to the user in relation to use characteristics of the aerosol provision device.

The aerosol provision system may be used in a tobacco industry product, for example a non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product comprises one or more components of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a heater and an aerosolizable substrate.

In one embodiment, the aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette also known as a vaping device.

In one embodiment the electronic cigarette comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a liquid or gel, a housing and optionally a mouthpiece.

In one embodiment the aerosolizable substrate is contained in or on a substrate container. In one embodiment the substrate container is combined with or comprises the heater.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a heating product which releases one or more compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material. The substrate material is an aerosolizable material which may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the heating device product is a tobacco heating product.

In one embodiment, the heating product is an electronic device.

In one embodiment, the tobacco heating product comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material.

In one embodiment the heating product is a non-electronic article.

In one embodiment the heating product comprises an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material, and a heat source which is capable of supplying heat energy to the aerosolizable substrate without any electronic means, such as by burning a combustion material, such as charcoal.

In one embodiment the heating product also comprises a filter capable of filtering the aerosol generated by heating the aerosolizable substrate.

In some embodiments the aerosolizable substrate material may comprise an aerosol or aerosol generating agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin or diethylene glycol.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials. The substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate. The solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for a superior electronic aerosol provision system. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure 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 and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.