Aerosol provision device

Abstract

An aerosol provision device is provided. The device comprises a heater assembly configured to heat aerosol generating material, an input interface configured to receive an input for selecting an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes and a controller. The controller is configured to detect operation of the input interface and cause the heater assembly to begin heating the aerosol generating material in dependence on the detected operation of the input interface.

1 . An aerosol provision device, comprising:
 a heater assembly configured to heat aerosol generating material;   an input interface configured to receive an input for selecting an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises one or more heating modes;   an indicator assembly, wherein the indicator assembly comprises a haptic component configured to provide haptic feedback; and   a controller, configured to:
 detect operation of the input interface; 
 determine a selected operating mode based on the operation of the input interface; 
 when it is determined that the operation of the input interface is indicative of a selection of a heating mode of the one or more heating modes, the controller is configured to:
 cause the heater assembly to begin heating the aerosol generating material according to the selected heating mode; and; 
 i) cause the indicator assembly to provide an indication that the heater assembly has begun to heat the aerosol generating material; and/or 
 ii) cause the indicator assembly to provide an indication that the device is ready for use. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises the one or more heating modes and one or more settings modes, and wherein:
 when it is determined that the operation of the input interface is indicative of a selection of a settings mode of the one or more settings modes, the controller is configured to:
 operate the device in the settings mode without causing the heater assembly to begin heating the aerosol generating material. 
   
     
     
         3 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a power source, and
 wherein the one or more settings modes comprises a battery mode, wherein when it is determined that the operation of the input interface is indicative of a selection of the battery mode, the controller is configured to cause the indicator assembly to provide an indication of the power level of the power source.   
     
     
         4 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 3 , wherein the power source is a battery. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator assembly to indicate that the device is ready for use when the aerosol generating material has reached a desired temperature or sufficient temperature. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator assembly to indicate that the device is ready for use when the aerosol generating material has generated a desired volume of aerosol or sufficient volume of aerosol. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator assembly to indicate that the device is ready for use when the user can take a puff on the device to inhale aerosol generated by the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         8 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to cause the indicator assembly to indicate that the device is ready for use a predetermined period of time after causing the heater assembly to begin heating the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined period of time is less than 60 seconds. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the input interface comprises a sensor configured to detect the insertion of an article comprising aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 10 , wherein the sensor is configured to determine a type of the article. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a selected operating mode based on the operation of the input interface in dependence on the type of the article. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the input interface comprises a button. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 13 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a selected operating mode based on the operation of the input interface in dependence on the length of time the button was pressed. 
     
     
         15 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator assembly comprises a visual component configured to provide a visual indication. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 15 , wherein the visual component comprises one or more LEDs. 
     
     
         17 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the visual component comprises a display. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the indicator assembly comprises an audible indicator configured to emit sound. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol provision device is a heat-not-burn tobacco heating device. 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating an aerosol provision device, comprising:
 detecting operation of an input interface, wherein the input interface is configured to receive an input for selecting an operating mode from a plurality of operating modes, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprises one or more heating modes;   determining a selected operating mode based on the operation of the input interface; and   when it is determined that the operation of the input interface is indicative of a selection of a heating mode of the one or more heating modes:
 causing a heater assembly to begin heating aerosol generating material according to the selected heating mode, and causing an indicator assembly comprising a haptic component configured to provide haptic feedback to: 
 i) provide an indication that the heater assembly has begun to heat the aerosol generating material; and/or 
 ii) provide an indication that the device is ready for use.