Electronic aerosol provision system

Abstract

An aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The system comprises an article comprising the aerosol-generating material and an aerosol provision device configured to engage with the article and to enable generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material. The system further includes detection circuitry for detecting when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device, and control circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol provision device. The control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the control circuitry determines the article has been engaged with and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device a plurality of times. By requiring both that the user must engage and/or disengage the article and the device, and that the user must do so a plurality of times, further reduces the chances of the user inadvertently switching to the second operating mode. Also disclosed is an aerosol provision device and a method for switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode.

1 . An aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the system comprising:
 an article comprising the aerosol-generating material;   an aerosol provision device configured to engage with the article and to enable generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material;   detection circuitry for detecting when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device; and   control circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol provision device,   wherein the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the control circuitry determines the article has been engaged with and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device a plurality of times.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the first operating mode is a mode in which the generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article is prevented, and wherein the second operating mode is a mode in which the generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article is permitted. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause activation of an indicator to indicate to the user that the aerosol provision device has switched from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuitry is configured to output a signal indicative of an engagement state of the article and aerosol provision device, and wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive the signal indicative of an engagement state of the article and aerosol provision device, to count instances when the engagement state has changed, and to switch the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when the control circuitry determines the engagement state has changed a plurality of times. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to count the number of times the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device, and when the number surpasses a predetermined threshold, switch the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode:
 wherein optionally, the control circuitry is further configured to count the number of times the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device within a first predetermined time period from when the detection circuitry first detects the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device, and if the number surpasses a predetermined threshold within the first predetermined time period from the initial detection of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device, switch the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode,   wherein further optionally, the first predetermined time period is selected from the group comprising: 5 seconds, 4 seconds, 3 seconds and 2 seconds.   
     
     
         6–7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor the time between successive detections of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device and, if the time between successive detections of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device is within a second predetermined time period, the control circuitry increases the count of the number of times the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device by one,
 wherein optionally, the second predetermined time period is different between a first pair of successive detections of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device and a second pair of successive detections of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 8 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause activation of an indicator to indicate to the user that the control circuitry has successfully counted the successive detections of the article being engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein when the aerosol provision device is in the second operating mode, the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from the second operating mode to the first operating mode when the control circuitry determines the article has been engaged with and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device at least one time. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein when the aerosol provision device is in the second operating mode, the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from the second operating mode to the first operating mode after a fourth predetermined period has elapsed. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured such that the user is able to program aspects of the control circuity associated with switching the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the detection circuitry is configured to detect when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device by sensing a parameter indicative of the presence and/or absence of the article,
 wherein optionally, the detection circuitry is configured to detect when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device by detecting a change in the electrical properties of the aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to supply power to an electrical component of the aerosol provision device designed to transfer electrical power to the article, and when the article is engaged with the aerosol provision device, the detection circuitry is configured to determine a change in the electrical properties associated with the electrical component,
 wherein optionally, the control circuitry is configured to supply power to the electrical component of the aerosol provision device in the form of pulses of power, wherein each pulse of power is separated by a third predetermined time period, the predetermined time period corresponding to a time period less than a time required to disengage the article from the aerosol provision device.   
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises a pair of electrical contacts coupled to a resistive element, and wherein the electrical component of the aerosol provision device comprises corresponding electrical contacts arranged to engage with the electrical contacts of the article, and wherein the detection circuitry is configured to detect whether the article is engaged and/or disengaged as a result of a change in the resistance between electrical contacts of the aerosol provision device,
 wherein optionally, the detection circuitry comprises a light sensor arranged to measure a level of light, and the detection circuitry is configured to detect when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device by detecting a change in the measured level of light.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol provision device does not include a user operated button. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol provision device for use with an aerosol generating system for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the system comprising an article comprising the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising:
 an interface configured to engage with the article and to enable generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material;   detection circuitry for detecting when the article is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device; and   control circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol provision device,   wherein the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the control circuitry determines the article has been engaged with and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device a plurality of times.   
     
     
         16 . A method of switching an aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, the method comprising:
 detecting when an article comprising aerosol-generating material is engaged and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device; and   switching the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the article has been engaged with and/or disengaged with the aerosol provision device a plurality of times.   
     
     
         23–24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . An aerosol provision system for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the system comprising:
 aerosol-generating material;   an aerosol provision device configured to enable generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material;   detection circuitry for detecting user input input to the aerosol provision device; and   control circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol provision device, wherein the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the control circuitry determines that a plurality of user inputs have been detected a predetermined number of times, and the time between successive detections of each user input of the plurality of user inputs is within a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         18 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to count the number of user inputs received by the aerosol provision device, and when the number surpasses a predetermined threshold, and the time between successive detections of each user input of the plurality of user inputs is within the predetermined time period, switch the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, 
 wherein optionally, the control circuitry is further configured to monitor the time between successive user inputs and, if the time between successive detected user inputs is within the predetermined time period, the control circuitry increases the count of the number of user inputs by one.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25  , wherein the predetermined time period between a first user input and a second user input is different to the predetermined time period between the second user input and a third user input. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 28 , wherein the predetermined time period between the first user input and the second user input is based on the type of the first user input, and/or the predetermined time period between the second user input and the third user input is based on the type of the second user input; or
 when dependent on  claim 26 , wherein the predetermined time period between successive user inputs is based on the count of the number of user inputs.   
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of user inputs includes user inputs selected from the group comprising: a button press, a tap, a motion or gesture, an inhalation, and an engagement and/or disengagement of an article comprising aerosol generating material to/from the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         22 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25  , wherein the control circuitry is configured to receive a predetermined sequence of expected user inputs, wherein at least two of the expected user inputs are different types of user input, and the control circuitry is configured to count the number of user inputs received by the aerosol provision device and increase the count of the number of user inputs received by the aerosol provision device if the type of the received user input matches the type of the expected user input according to the predetermined sequence. 
     
     
         23 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25  , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause activation of an indicator to indicate to the user that the control circuitry has successfully counted the successive user inputs. 
     
     
         24 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25 , wherein the first operating mode is a mode in which the generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article is prevented, and wherein the second operating mode is a mode in which the generation of aerosol from the aerosol-generating material of the article is permitted. 
     
     
         25 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25 , wherein the control circuitry is configured to cause activation of an indicator to indicate to the user that the aerosol provision device has switched from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. 
     
     
         26 . The aerosol provision system of  claim 25  , wherein the control circuitry is configured such that the user is able to program aspects of the control circuity associated with switching the aerosol provision device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol provision device for use with an aerosol generating system for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, the system comprising an article comprising the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising:
 detection circuitry for detecting a user input input to the aerosol provision device; and   control circuitry for controlling operation of the aerosol provision device,   wherein the control circuitry is configured to switch the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when the control circuitry determines that a plurality of user inputs have been detected a predetermined number of times, and the time between successive detections of each user input of the plurality of user inputs is within a predetermined time period.   
     
     
         28 . A method of switching an aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode, the method comprising:
 detecting a user input input to the aerosol provision device; and   switching the aerosol provision device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode when a plurality of user inputs have been detected a predetermined number of times, and the time between successive detections of each user input of the plurality of user inputs is within a predetermined time period.