JP7654775B2 - Aerosol Delivery System - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol supply system, an aerosol supply device, a method for supplying an aerosol, and an aerosol supply means.

Aerosol delivery systems are well known. The systems typically use a heater to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, which is then inhaled by the user. The aerosol-generating material from which the aerosol is generated is consumed during use of the aerosol delivery system. Heating the aerosol-generating material can cause it to change structurally. Over time, that structural change can reduce the user's appreciation of the aerosol delivery system by changing flavors or by making the aerosol-generating material more difficult to use as it is depleted. Modern systems often use a predetermined effective use time for the system to indicate the depletion of the aerosol-generating material in the system. At that point, the aerosol-generating material can be removed or the device replaced. This can increase the cost of use of such devices.

The present invention is aimed at solving some of the above problems.

Aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol delivery system comprising an aerosol delivery device and an aerosol generating component, the aerosol delivery device comprising a power source and a control, the aerosol delivery device configured to engage the aerosol generating component, the aerosol generating component comprising an aerosol generating section that generates an aerosol in use, and a pod downstream of the aerosol generating section, the aerosol delivery system being configured to monitor the life of the pod and to facilitate regulating the temperature experienced by the pod during the life of the pod.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol delivery device comprising a power source, a controller, and an aerosol generating component housing configured to house an aerosol generating component within the aerosol generating component housing, the controller configured to monitor the lifetime of the aerosol generating component and to facilitate regulating the temperature experienced by the aerosol generating component during the lifetime of the aerosol generating component.

According to some embodiments described herein, a method of delivering an aerosol is provided that includes providing an aerosol delivery device with a controller, providing an aerosol generating component with a pod, engaging the aerosol generating component with the aerosol delivery device, delivering an aerosol, and monitoring, by the controller, the life of the pod to facilitate regulating the temperature experienced by the pod during the life of the pod.

According to some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol supply means comprising an aerosol supply device and an aerosol generating component, the aerosol supply device comprising a power means and a control means, the aerosol supply device configured to engage the aerosol generating component, the aerosol generating component comprising an aerosol generating means for generating an aerosol in use, and a pod downstream of the aerosol generating means, the aerosol supply means being configured to monitor the life of the pod and to facilitate regulating the temperature to which the pod is subjected during the life of the pod.

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

1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example aerosol delivery system;

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

Aspects and features of some examples and embodiments are discussed/described herein. Some aspects and features of some examples and embodiments may be conventionally performed, and for the sake of brevity, such aspects and features are not discussed/described in detail. Thus, it should be understood that aspects and features of the apparatus and methods discussed herein but not described in detail may be performed according to any conventional technique for performing such aspects and features.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems, which may also be referred to as aerosol delivery systems, such as e-cigarettes. According to the present disclosure, a "non-combustible" aerosol delivery system is one in which the aerosol delivery system's aerosolizable compositional materials (or components of the aerosol delivery system) are not burned or charred to facilitate delivery to a user. Throughout the following description, the terms "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may be used, but it should be understood that the terms may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery systems/devices and electronic aerosol delivery systems/devices. Additionally, as is common in the art, the terms "aerosol" and "vapor," as well as related terms such as "vaporize," "volatilize," and "aerosolize," may generally be used interchangeably.

1, an aerosol delivery system 100 is shown. The aerosol delivery system 100 includes an aerosol delivery device 110 and an aerosol generating component 120. The aerosol delivery device 110 includes a power source 112 and a controller 114. The aerosol delivery device 110 is configured to engage with the aerosol generating component 120. The aerosol generating component 120 includes an aerosol generating portion 122 that generates an aerosol during use. The aerosol generating component 120 further includes a pod 124 downstream of the aerosol generating portion 122. The controller 114 of the aerosol delivery device 110 is configured to monitor the life of the pod 124 and facilitate regulating the temperature to which the pod 124 is subjected during the life of the pod.

The controller 114 can monitor the life of the pod 124 by detecting the number of uses of the aerosol delivery system 100 while the pod 124 is active (e.g., the number of puffs, including, for example, the length of the puffs). The controller 114 can further detect the temperature to which the pod 124 is heated during the time of use. The higher the temperature, the faster the aerosol generating material will be depleted, and therefore the shorter the life of the pod 124 may be.

The control unit 114 can easily passively and/or actively regulate the temperature that the pod 124 is subjected to during its life. In one example, the control unit 114 can be configured to measure the temperature at the pod 124. This can be the result of a heat detector or sensor or the like that provides the control unit 114 with an indication of the temperature (or related characteristic value) at the pod 124.

The controller 114 may inform the user of the temperature of the pod 124. The user may then decide to change the temperature to which the pod 124 is subjected. The user may be able to control the temperature at which the aerosol delivery system 100 operates (referred to herein as the "operating temperature"). This may be via a user interface to the aerosol delivery system 100, which may be electrical, or may be via a more mechanical method, such as changing the position of elements within the aerosol delivery system 100. In this manner, the controller 114 may easily passively adjust the temperature to which the pod 124 is subjected during its life.

The control unit 114 can, in one example, actively adjust the temperature experienced by the pod 124 by detecting the temperature of the pod 124 and issuing a signal to change the temperature of the pod 124. This can be predetermined, such as by a look-up table of suitable temperatures. The control unit 114 can optionally or additionally issue a signal to change the position of the pod 124 within the aerosol delivery system 100. The control unit 114 can control the thermal profile generated by the system 100. This thermal profile can be achieved by the aerosol generation unit 422 or a heater/heating element of the system 100.

The aerosol delivery system 100 shown in the example of FIG. 1 has an outlet for aerosol to exit the system 100. The aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit 122 can flow past the pod 124, through the outlet 130, and then through the outlet 140 to exit the aerosol delivery system 100. A user can then inhale the delivered aerosol. The outlet (or series of outlets) can allow fluid communication between the aerosol generating unit 122 of the aerosol delivery system 100 and an environment external to the aerosol delivery system 100.

In the example of FIG. 2, an aerosol delivery system 200 is shown. The example of FIG. 2 is similar to the example of FIG. 1. Where similar components are shown in both FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the numbers in FIG. 2 used to indicate components similar to FIG. 1 have been increased by 100 for simplicity. For the sake of brevity, these components need not be discussed in detail again here.

The aerosol delivery system 200 has an area A within the aerosol delivery system 200. In the illustrated example, the pod 224 is included within area A. The temperature of area A is indicative of the temperature to which the pod 224 within area A is subjected. Thus, controlling the temperature of area A in which the pod 224 is located allows the control unit 214 to control the temperature to which the pod 224 is subjected. The pod 224 may contain a flavoring. The flavoring may be aerosolizable, such that heating the flavoring produces an aerosol for inhalation.

The fragrance may be evenly distributed within the pod 224. The fragrance located closer to the exterior of the pod 224 will be affected by the thermal energy provided to region A sooner in the life of the pod 224 than fragrance located deeper within the pod 224. As the fragrance closer to the exterior of the pod 224 is depleted or otherwise exhausted, it becomes necessary to provide thermal energy to the fragrance located closer to the center of the pod 224. The fragrance in this portion of the pod 224 may be referred to herein as the "deeper fragrance" or the "more centrally located fragrance." A means of providing thermal energy to the more centrally located fragrance is to increase the total thermal energy, which allows the thermal energy to penetrate deeper into the pod 224 and form aerosolized particles from the fragrance. This may be controlled by the control unit 214 adjusting the temperature to which the pod 224 is subjected. This may be by increasing the temperature to which the pod 224 is subjected during use.

In one example, the aerosol generator 222 forms an aerosol that entrains compounds from the fragrance in the pod 224. The thermal energy provided to the pod 224 can be provided by the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 222. Thus, the thermal energy in region A is the thermal energy that can be transferred to the pod 224. Not all of the thermal energy in region A is transferred to the pod 224. Thus, the controller 214 can regulate the temperature experienced by the pod 224 by controlling the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generator 222. This can involve operating a heater or the like at a higher temperature when generating the aerosol.

In the example of FIG. 3, an aerosol delivery system 300 is shown. The example of FIG. 3 is similar to the examples of FIGS. 1 and 2. Where similar components are shown in both FIG. 2 and 3, the numbers in FIG. 3 used to indicate components similar to FIG. 2 have been increased by 100 for simplicity. For the sake of brevity, these components need not be discussed in detail again here.

3 is connected to a sensing element 316. The sensing element 316 may be part of the control unit 314 or may be separate. The sensing element 316 is connected to the control unit 314 so that it can send a signal to the control unit 314. The sensing element 316 can send a signal related to temperature, resistance, and/or position. The sensing element 316 can detect when a pod 324 is inserted into the system 300 and emit a signal to the control unit 314. The sensing element 316 can emit a signal to the control unit 314 when the aerosol generating component 320 is engaged within the device 300. The control unit 314 can detect an electrical connection between the aerosol delivery device 310 and the aerosol generating component 320 in the system 300. The sensing element 316 can be connected to the control unit 314 by wire or wirelessly.

The system 300 may be a modular system 300, where the sensing element 316 detects when the aerosol generating component 320 is coupled to the aerosol delivery device 310. Alternatively, the system 300 may be a unitary structure, where the pod 324 is inserted into the aerosol generating component 320. This insertion may be detected by the sensing element 316. In this manner, the control unit 314 may be informed when the pod 324 was first introduced into the system 300, and therefore when to record the life of the pod 324. The life is dependent on usage, as described above.

In one example, the sensing element 316 is a temperature sensor or detector. The temperature sensor 316 monitors the temperature experienced by the pod 324 in area A and transmits this measurement to the controller 314. The controller 314 can easily regulate this temperature during the life of the pod 324. The temperature sensor 316 can detect said temperature, for example, by IR radiation, the use of a thermocouple, etc.

Different users may have different usage characteristics (number of puffs per puff, daily dosing habits, desired aerosol volume, etc.), and therefore the control unit 314 of one user's system 300 may operate at a different temperature than the control unit 314 of another user's system 300. This allows for individualized operation for each user.

In one example, the controller 314 may signal to increase the temperature by approximately 10% when 30% of the expected life of the pod 324 (based on user usage) has elapsed. When 50% of the expected life of the pod 324 has elapsed, the controller 314 may signal to increase the temperature by approximately 30%. The controller 314 may receive feedback from the temperature sensor 316 on the temperature experienced by the pod 324 and adjust the temperature signal accordingly. This may allow deeper access to the fragrance to be released into the aerosol later in the life of the pod 324 (based on predefined criteria).

In one example, a temperature signal from the controller 314 is sent to the aerosol generator 322, which increases the temperature of the heater used to generate the aerosol. If the aerosol is not efficiently transferring heat energy to the pod 324, the temperature sensor 316 can detect this and signal the controller 314 accordingly. The controller 314 can then issue further commands to the aerosol generator 322 to increase the temperature of the heater used to generate the aerosol. This loop can continue until the desired temperature is achieved in the pod 324.

In one example, the sensing element 316 is a position sensor. The position sensor 316 can detect orientation and position (absolute and/or relative) data for the pod 324. This can be by an optical sensor (e.g., a camera), etc. The position sensor 316 can send a signal to the control unit 314, which sends a signal to control the adjustment of the relative position of the pod 324 and the aerosol generating unit 322. By moving the aerosol generating unit 322 closer to the pod 324, the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit 322 loses less heat energy before reaching the pod 324. In this way, the pod 324 can be supplied with more heat energy.

In the example of FIG. 4, an aerosol delivery system 400 is shown. The example of FIG. 4 is similar to the examples of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Where similar components are shown in both FIG. 3 and 4, the numbers in FIG. 4 used to indicate components similar to FIG. 3 have been increased by 100 for simplicity. For the sake of brevity, these components need not be discussed in detail again here.

The aerosol delivery system 400 shown in FIG. 4 includes a mechanical element 418. The mechanical element 418 can be arranged to allow relative movement between the pod 424 and the aerosol generating unit 422. The mechanical element 418 can be arranged to allow relative movement between the pod 424 and the direction of the flow of aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit 422 in use. By moving the pod 424 toward the aerosol generating unit 422 or toward the flow of aerosol flowing toward the pod 424, the pod 424 receives a hotter aerosol since the aerosol has less time to lose energy while approaching the pod 424. This is as a direct result of reducing the distance the aerosol must travel to reach the pod 424.

The mechanical element 418 can provide a relative movement, such as a linear movement, an indexing movement, or a rotational movement. The mechanical element 418 can be or include a pusher system, a Geneva gear, a rotating disk, or the like. The mechanical element 418 can be mechanically coupled to the aerosol generating unit 422 and/or the pod 424. The mechanical element 418 can thereby change the relative position of the aerosol generating unit 422 and the pod 424.

In one example, the control unit 414 is notified that the pod 424 has been inserted into area A. Thus, the control unit 414 can detect the degree of use of the pod 424 during the life of the pod 424. Using predetermined measurements of the number of puffs and the strength of the puffs, the control unit 414 can control the temperature of area A accordingly to produce flavor (as the pod ages, a higher temperature is required to access the deeper flavors). Later in the life of the pod 424, the control unit 414 can receive an indication from the sensing element 416 that the temperature is not sufficient to access the deeper flavors. As a result, the control unit 414 signals the aerosol generator 422 to provide an aerosol with a higher temperature. The control unit 414 can receive a signal from the sensing element 416 that this increase in temperature is sufficient. Later in the life of the pod 424, this aerosol temperature may no longer be sufficient. The controller 414 may choose to send yet another signal to the aerosol generator 422 to increase the temperature, but the controller 414 may also, or alternatively, send a signal to the mechanical element 418 to move the pod 424 relative to the aerosol generator 422. This is advantageous because it may eliminate or reduce the need for the aerosol generator 422 to operate at an excessively high temperature. Thus, the controller 414, the aerosol generator 422, and the mechanical element 418 combine to form a flexible system for controlling the temperature of the pod 424 while protecting the life of components in the system 400. This may be based, for example, on not over-operating the aerosol generator 422.

The mechanical element 418 can rotate the pod 424 to vary the portion of the pod 424 that faces the aerosol generating unit 422. The portion of the pod 424 that faces the aerosol generating unit 422 receives a greater portion of the heat of the aerosol from the aerosol generating unit 422 than the portion of the pod that does not face the aerosol generating unit 422. Thus, the fragrance in the pod 424 may be depleted faster on one side of the pod 424 than on another side. To maintain an even level of depletion, the pod 424 can be rotated by the mechanical element 418. This prevents overheating of one side of the fragrance, which can result in undesirable compounds or odors.

In the example of FIG. 5, an aerosol delivery system 500 is shown. The example of FIG. 5 is similar to the examples of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. Where similar components are shown in both FIG. 4 and 5, the numbers in FIG. 5 used to indicate components similar to FIG. 4 have been increased by 100 for simplicity. For the sake of brevity, these components need not be discussed in detail again here.

The aerosol delivery system 500 includes a heating element or heater 519 that provides heat to the pod 524. The heater 519 can be a resistive heater, an inductive heater, a chemical heater, or the like. The controller 514 controls the delivery of heat from the heater 519 to the pod 524. The heater 519 can provide additional heat directly to the pod 524, thus reducing the aerosol's thermal energy demand from the aerosol generator 522. The sensing element 516 can signal the controller 514 that more heat is needed, and the controller 514 can activate the heater 519. This reduces the electrical load on the aerosol generator 522. The use of the heater 519 can also provide a more localized and precise supply of heat to the pod 524.

In the example of FIG. 6, an aerosol delivery system 600 is shown. The example of FIG. 6 is similar to the examples of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Where similar components are shown in both FIG. 5 and 6, the numbers in FIG. 6 used to indicate components similar to FIG. 5 have been increased by 100 for simplicity. For the sake of brevity, these components need not be discussed in detail again here.

The aerosol delivery system 600 has a heater movement mechanism 6191 arranged to allow relative movement of the heater 619 with respect to the pod 624. The controller 614 is configured to control the heater movement mechanism 6191. In one example, the controller 614 detects that the aerosol delivery device 610 and the aerosol generating component 620 are engaged. The controller 614 checks the degree of use of the system 600 and thus the age of the pod 624. The controller 614 is informed of the temperature of the area A and issues a signal regarding an increase in the temperature of the area A based on the age of the pod 624. This temperature increase can be achieved by increasing the temperature of the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit 622. Alternatively or additionally, this temperature increase can be achieved by moving the pod 624 (and thus the area A) towards the aerosol generating unit 622 or by activating (or increasing its temperature) the heater 619. If the control unit 614 wishes to further increase the temperature, the control unit 614 can move the heater 619 and the pod 624 closer to each other by activating the heater movement mechanism 6191. The heater movement mechanism 6191 can move the heater 619 or the pod 624, or both. In this way, the control unit 614 can precisely control the temperature applied to the pod 624.

The provision of these components allows the controller 614 to have a high level of control over the temperature to which the pod 624 is subjected. This allows for a precise temperature to be obtained, thereby accessing a precise amount of flavoring in a precise life of the pod 624. This improves the user's experience of the system 600 and prevents the pod 624 from delivering an undesirable amount of flavoring to the aerosol during use.

In one example, the pod 624 can contain multiple fragrances that are released at different temperatures. Having a high level of control over the temperature that the pod 624 is subjected to allows the controller 614 to precisely release some fragrances and not others, depending on the user's preferences.

The heater movement mechanism 6191 can be arranged to move the heater 619 relative to the pod 624 so that the heater 619 can direct heat towards different locations of the pod 624 during the life of the pod 624. This helps to more evenly deplete the fragrance in the pod 624. As explained above, this helps to prevent overheating one side of the fragrance over another. In combination with the other heating and movement elements, the control unit 614 of the system 600 can set a customized heating profile during the life of the pod 624, thereby releasing fragrance at different depths of the pod 624 in a controlled manner. The sensing element 616 allows this heating profile to be inspected and allows feedback to be provided to the profile so that the profile can be modified if necessary.

In any of the above examples, the system may further include a puff detector to allow detection of its usage. This usage may be communicated to the controller, which may keep usage statistics for use in calculating what temperature the pod should be given.

In any of the above examples, the control unit (which may be a control circuit) may be connected to a database to determine when a certain predefined value exceeds or falls outside a predefined range (such as an operating temperature for the remaining life of the pod). This may result in an improvement in the temperature experienced by the pod in any of the above ways.

In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolizable material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a tobacco heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a blend of aerosolizable materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosolizable materials may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosolizable material and a solid aerosolizable material. The solid aerosolizable material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

Typically, a non-combustion aerosol delivery system may include a non-combustion aerosol delivery device and an article for use with the non-combustion aerosol delivery device. However, it should be understood that a group of articles that themselves include means for energizing an aerosol generating component may themselves form a non-combustion aerosol delivery system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery device may include a power source and a control unit. The power source may be, for example, a power source.

In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include an aerosolizable material, an aerosol generating component, an aerosol generating region, a mouthpiece, and/or a region for containing the aerosolizable material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol generating component is a heater capable of interacting with the aerosolizable material to separate one or more volatile substances from the aerosolizable material to form an aerosol.

In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosolizable material. An aerosolizable material, sometimes referred to herein as an aerosol-generating material, is a material that is capable of generating an aerosol when, for example, heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosolizable material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain nicotine and/or flavorings. In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material may include an "amorphous solid," which may alternatively be referred to as a "monolithic solid" (i.e., non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. An amorphous solid is a solid material that can hold some fluid, such as a liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosolizable material may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60% wt%, or 70 wt% amorphous solid up to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% amorphous solid.

The aerosolizable material may include one or more active compositions, one or more carrier compositions, and optionally one or more other functional compositions.

The active composition may include one or more physiologically and/or olfactory active compositions that are included within the aerosolizable material to achieve a physiological and/or olfactory response in the user. The active composition may be selected from, for example, functional foods, nootropics, and psychotropic drugs. The active composition may be of natural or synthetic origin. The active composition may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, or any other suitable composition. The active composition may include a tobacco or another botanical composition, derivative, or extract. In some embodiments, the active composition is a physiologically active composition and may be selected from nicotine, nicotine salts (e.g., nicotine bitartrate/nicotine bitartrate), nicotine-free tobacco substitutes, and other alkaloids such as caffeine.

In one embodiment, the active composition is an olfactory active composition and can be selected from "flavors" and/or "flavorings" that can be used to produce a desired flavor, aroma, or other somatosensory sensation in products intended for adult consumers, as permitted by local regulations. In some cases, the compositions can be referred to as flavors, flavorings, cooling agents, heating agents, or sweeteners. The compositions can include flavorings of natural origin, botanical substances, extracts from botanical substances, synthetically derived substances, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice, hydrangea, eugenol, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, rye, etc.). citrus, tropical fruits, papaya, rhubarb, grapes, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberries, mulberries, citrus fruits, drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel quid, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine Sumin, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, bell pepper, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, Illicium, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo, hazel, hibiscus, bay, yerba mate, orange peel, rose, teas such as green and black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaf, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, shiso, turmeric, cilantro, myrtle, black currant, valerian, pimento. The compositions may include, for example, oleander, mace, damian, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chives, calamus, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene, flavor enhancers, bitter receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, and sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, breath fresheners, etc. The compositions may be man-made, synthetic, or natural ingredients, or mixtures thereof. The compositions may be, for example, liquids such as oils, solids such as powders, or one or more of the following extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese peppermint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, Scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, The compositions may be in any suitable form, such as oils, flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators or stimulants, sugars and/or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and gases, such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, breath fresheners, and other additives. The compositions may be man-made, synthetic, or natural, or mixtures thereof. The compositions may be in any suitable form, such as oils, liquids, or powders.

In some embodiments, the flavoring includes menthol, spearmint, and/or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes cucumber, blueberry, citrus, and/or red berry flavoring ingredients. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavoring includes flavoring ingredients extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavoring may include a somatosensory agent that provides a somatosensory sensation that is typically chemically induced and perceived by stimulating the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve) in addition to or instead of the scent or taste nerves, and may include agents that provide a heating, cooling, tingling, or numbing effect. A suitable heating effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether, and a suitable cooling agent may be, but is not limited to, eucalyptol, WS-3.

The carrier composition may include one or more components capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the carrier composition may include one or more of glycerin, glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

The other functional composition or compositions may include one or more of a pH adjuster, a colorant, a preservative, a binder, a filler, a stabilizer, and/or an antioxidant.

In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include an aerosolizable material or a region that contains an aerosolizable material. In some embodiments, an article for use with a non-combustion aerosol delivery device can include a mouthpiece. The region that contains the aerosolizable material can be a storage region that stores the aerosolizable material. For example, the storage region can be a reservoir. In some embodiments, the region that contains the aerosolizable material can be separate from or integral to the aerosol generation region.

As discussed above, an aerosol delivery system is described that includes an aerosol delivery device and an aerosol generating component, the aerosol delivery device including a power source and a controller, the aerosol delivery device configured to engage with the aerosol generating component, the aerosol generating component including an aerosol generating portion that generates an aerosol in use, and a pod downstream of the aerosol generating portion, and the controller of the aerosol delivery device configured to monitor the life of the pod and to facilitate regulating the temperature to which the pod is subjected during its life.

The aerosol delivery system can be used in tobacco industry products, for example a non-combustion aerosol delivery system.

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

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

In one embodiment, the electronic cigarette includes a heater, a power supply capable of powering 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 within or on a substrate container. In one embodiment, the substrate container is combined with or includes a heater.

In one embodiment, the tobacco industry product is a heating product that dissociates one or more compounds by heating a substrate material without burning it. The substrate material is an aerosolizable material that may be, for example, a tobacco product or other non-tobacco product, and 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 includes a heater, a power supply capable of providing power to the heater, and an aerosolizable substrate, such as a solid or gel material.

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

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

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

In some embodiments, the aerosolizable substrate material may include an aerosol agent 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 that generates an aerosol by heating, rather than burning, a formulation of substrate material. The substrate material may include, for example, a 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, a tobacco product or other non-tobacco product, which may or may not contain nicotine. In one embodiment, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

To address various problems and advance the art, this entire disclosure illustrates, by way of example, various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be implemented to provide an improved electronic aerosol delivery system. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are merely representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. The advantages and features of the present disclosure are presented solely to aid in understanding and teach the features of the claims. It is to be understood that the advantages, embodiments, examples, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the present disclosure should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure as set forth by the claims or the equivalents thereto, and that other embodiments may be used and changes may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the present disclosure. Various embodiments may include, consist of, or consist essentially of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., as appropriate. Additionally, the present disclosure includes other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

Claims (13)

an aerosol delivery device;
an aerosol-generating component;
1. An aerosol delivery system comprising:
the aerosol delivery device comprising:
A power source and
A control unit;
Equipped with
the aerosol delivery device is configured to engage the aerosol generation component;
the aerosol generating component comprising:
an aerosol generating unit that generates an aerosol during use;
a pod downstream of the aerosol generation unit;
Equipped with
An aerosol delivery system, wherein the control unit of the aerosol delivery device is configured to monitor the life of the pod and to easily adjust the temperature to which the pod is subjected during the life of the pod. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to measure the temperature in the pod. The aerosol delivery system of claim 2, wherein the control unit includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a position sensor, and a resistance sensor. The aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a mechanical element, and the control unit is configured to control the mechanical element. The aerosol delivery system of claim 4, wherein the mechanical element is configured to allow relative movement between the pod and the aerosol generating unit. The control unit:
energy supplied to the pod by the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating unit during use;
an engagement state of the aerosol generation component with the device; and
6. The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , configured to detect The aerosol delivery system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pod comprises a fragrance. a heater for supplying heat to the pod;
The aerosol delivery system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit controls the delivery of heat from the heater to the pod. The aerosol delivery system of claim 8, further comprising a heater movement mechanism configured to enable relative movement of the heater with respect to the pod, and the control unit configured to control the heater movement mechanism. Providing an aerosol delivery device having a control;
Providing an aerosol generation component comprising an aerosol generation unit and a pod downstream of the aerosol generation unit;
engaging the aerosol generation component with the aerosol delivery device;
Supplying an aerosol from the aerosol generating unit;
monitoring, by the control unit, the life of the pod to facilitate regulating the temperature to which the pod is subjected during the life of the pod;
A method of delivering an aerosol comprising: sensing a temperature in the pod;
A step of moving the pod and the aerosol generating unit relative to each other;
The method of claim 10 further comprising: providing a heater;
providing a heater moving mechanism;
activating the heater movement mechanism to allow relative movement between the heater and the pod;
The method of claim 10 or 11 , further comprising: an aerosol delivery device;
an aerosol-generating component;
an aerosol supply means comprising:
the aerosol delivery device comprising:
Power means;
A control means;
Equipped with
the aerosol delivery device is configured to engage the aerosol generation component;
the aerosol generating component comprising:
an aerosol generating means for generating an aerosol in use;
a pod downstream of the aerosol generating means;
Equipped with
The aerosol delivery means, wherein the control means of the aerosol delivery device is configured to monitor the life of the pod and to facilitate regulating the temperature to which the pod is subjected during the life of the pod.

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