Vapour Generating Systems

Abstract

An aerosol generating system includes a cartridge that contains a supply of aerosol generating material and an aerosol generating device for receiving the cartridge. When the cartridge is received in the aerosol generating device, a continuous conductive path is formed from discrete conductive elements alternately located on the cartridge and the device. The continuous conductive path may form part of a test circuit for verifying the correct insertion of an authentic cartridge or part of a power circuit required to operate an aerosol generator. Preferably the conductive elements on the cartridge are located on projections or in recesses in the shapes of letters, symbols or other patterns capable of conveying visual information, for example a trade mark of the supplier of authentic cartridges.

1 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 a cartridge that contains a supply of aerosol generating material; and   an aerosol generating device for receiving the cartridge;   
       wherein:
 the cartridge comprises a first set of multiple discrete conductive elements; and 
 the aerosol generating device comprises a second set of multiple discrete conductive elements; 
 the first and second sets of conductive elements being configured such that, when the cartridge is received in the aerosol generating device, the first set of conductive elements comes into contact with the second set of conductive elements to form a continuous conductive path comprising the conductive elements alternately from the first and second sets; and 
 
       wherein either:
 (i) the aerosol generating device comprises a plurality of projections, the conductive elements of the second set being formed on the plurality of projections; and the cartridge comprises a plurality of recesses configured to receive the plurality of projections when the cartridge is received in the aerosol generating device, the conductive elements of the first set being formed to extend between the plurality of recesses; or 
 (ii) the cartridge comprises a plurality of projections, the conductive elements of the first set being formed on the plurality of projections; and the aerosol generating device comprises a plurality of recesses configured to receive the plurality of projections when the cartridge is received in the aerosol generating device, the conductive elements of the second set being formed to extend between the plurality of recesses. 
 
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the aerosol generating device comprises a source of electrical power;   the cartridge or the aerosol generating device comprises an electrically powered aerosol generator; and   the continuous conductive path forms part of a circuit for supplying power from the source to the aerosol generator.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 2 , wherein the aerosol generator is an electrically powered heater in the cartridge. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the continuous conductive path forms part of a test circuit, through which the aerosol generating device is configured to supply current to verify the correct insertion of the cartridge and/or the authenticity of the cartridge.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 4 , wherein the device further comprises means for determining whether current is flowing through at least one intermediate conductive elements of the conductive elements of the second set. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 a plurality of the conductive elements of the first set and a plurality of the conductive elements of the second set lie in a common plane.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the conductive elements of the first set lie in a first plane and the conductive elements of the second set lie in a second plane, such that when the plurality of projections are received in the plurality of recesses edges of the conductive elements of the first and second sets are brought into contact with each other. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein (i) the aerosol generating device comprises the plurality of projections and the cartridge comprises the plurality of recesses, and wherein the cartridge further comprises a layer of non-conductive material, which covers surfaces of the first set of conductive elements that face towards the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of recesses are in the shapes of letters, symbols or other patterns capable of conveying visual information. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein (ii) the cartridge comprises the plurality of projections and the aerosol generating device comprises a plurality of recesses, and wherein the aerosol generating device further comprises a layer of non-conductive material, which covers surfaces of the second set of conductive elements that face towards the cartridge. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projections are in the shapes of letters, symbols or other patterns capable of conveying visual information. 
     
     
         12 . A method of activating an aerosol generating system that comprises:
 a cartridge containing a supply of aerosol generating material and comprising a first set of discrete conductive elements; and   an aerosol generating device comprising a second set of discrete conductive elements;   the method comprising receiving the cartridge in the aerosol generating device such that the first set of conductive elements comes into contact with the second set of conductive elements to form a continuous conductive path comprising the conductive elements alternately from the first and second sets.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein forming the continuous conductive path completes an electric circuit that connects an electrically powered aerosol generator to a source of electrical power in the aerosol generating device. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein forming the continuous conductive path completes a test circuit, the method further comprising supplying current through the test circuit to verify the correct insertion of the cartridge or the authenticity of the cartridge.