Aerosol provision device

Abstract

An aerosol provision device, for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material can include one or more external aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material, one or more internal aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material, and a controller for controlling the external and internal aerosol generators. The controller may be operable in a first mode of operation to activate the external aerosol generators without activating the internal aerosol generators during a session of use. The controller may also be operable in a second mode of operation to activate the internal aerosol generators without activating the external aerosol generators during a session of use.

1 . An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
 one or more external aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material;   one or more internal aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and   a controller for controlling the one or more one or more external and internal aerosol generators;   wherein the controller is operable in a first mode of operation to activate the one or more external aerosol generators without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators during a session of use; and   wherein the controller is operable in a second mode of operation to activate the one or more internal aerosol generators without activating the one or more external aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 in the first mode of operation the controller is arranged to set a first heating profile having a first duration for the one or more external aerosol generators; and   in the second mode of operation the controller is arranged to set a second heating profile having a second duration for the one or more internal aerosol generators.   
     
     
         3 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second heating profiles are the same. 
     
     
         4 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second heating profiles are different. 
     
     
         5 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second durations are the same. 
     
     
         6 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the first and second durations are different. 
     
     
         7 . An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
 one or more external aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material;   one or more internal aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and   a controller for controlling the one or more one or more external and internal aerosol generators;   wherein the controller is operable in a mode of operation either: (i) to activate the one or more external aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators and then to activate the one or more internal aerosol generators without activating the one or more external aerosol generators during a session of use; or (ii) to activate the one or more internal aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more external aerosol generators and then to activate the one or more external aerosol generators without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         8 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more external aerosol generators comprise one or more induction aerosol generators. 
     
     
         9 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more external aerosol generators comprise one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal aerosol generators comprises one or more induction aerosol generators. 
     
     
         11 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal aerosol generators comprises one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators. 
     
     
         12 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more external aerosol generators comprise a first external heating unit and a second external heating unit. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the one or more internal aerosol generators comprise a first internal heating unit and a second internal heating unit. 
     
     
         14 . An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
 one or more induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material;   one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and   a controller for controlling the one or more induction and resistive or non-induction aerosol generators;   wherein the controller is operable in a first mode of operation to activate one or more induction aerosol generators without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators during a session of use; and   wherein the controller is operable in a second mode of operation to activate the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators without activating one or more induction aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         15 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein:
 in the first mode of operation the controller sets a first heating profile having a first duration for one or more induction aerosol generators; and   in the second mode of operation the controller sets a second heating profile having a second duration for the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators.   
     
     
         16 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second heating profiles are the same. 
     
     
         17 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second heating profiles are different. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second durations are the same. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the first and second durations are different. 
     
     
         20 . An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from aerosol generating material, wherein the aerosol provision device comprises:
 one or more induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material;   one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol generating material; and   a controller for controlling the one or more induction and resistive or non-induction aerosol generators;   wherein the controller is operable in a mode of operation either: (i) to activate one or more induction aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators and then to activate the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators without activating one or more induction aerosol generators during a session of use; or (ii) to activate the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators initially without activating one or more induction aerosol generators and then to activate one or more induction aerosol generators without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         21 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more induction aerosol generators comprise one or more external aerosol generators. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more induction aerosol generators comprise one or more internal aerosol generators. 
     
     
         23 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators comprise one or more external aerosol generators. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators comprise one or more internal aerosol generators. 
     
     
         25 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more induction aerosol generators comprise a first induction heating unit and a second induction heating unit. 
     
     
         26 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators comprise a first resistive or non-induction heating unit and a second resistive or non-induction heating unit. 
     
     
         27 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface arranged to detect an input from a user, wherein the user interface is arranged to select the mode of operation of the controller. 
     
     
         28 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a first device for automatically recognising an aerosol generating article inserted into the aerosol provision device, wherein the first device is arranged to select the mode of operation of the controller. 
     
     
         29 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a session of use is determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators after an aerosol generating article has been inserted into the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         30 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a session of use is determined to begin when power or energy is first supplied to the one or more aerosol generators in order to raise the temperature of the one or more aerosol generators to an operating temperature Tmin such that a user can take a first puff of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         31 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein Tmin is in the range: (i) 200-210° C.; (ii) 210-220° C.; (iii) 220-230° C.; (iv) 230-240° C.; (v) 240-250° C.; (vi) 250-260° C.; (vii) 260-270° C.; (viii) 270-280° C.; (ix) 280-290° C.; and (x) 290-300° C. 
     
     
         32 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a session of use is determined to end when power or energy is no longer supplied to the one or more aerosol generators. 
     
     
         33 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a session of use is determined to end when the aerosol generating material is substantially spent or wherein a user is unable to take further puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         34 . An aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a session of use is determined to relate to a period of time during which a user is enabled to take multiple puffs of aerosol generated from aerosol generating material without replacement or replenishment of the aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         35 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 an aerosol provision device as claimed in  claim 1 ; and   an aerosol generating article comprising aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         36 . An aerosol generating system as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the aerosol generating article is inserted, in use, into the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         37 . A method of generating aerosol comprising:
 providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more external aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material and one or more internal aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material;   inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and   selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;   wherein in the first mode of operation the one or more external aerosol generators are activated without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators; and   wherein in the second mode of operation the one or more internal aerosol generators are activated without activating the one or more external aerosol generators.   
     
     
         38 . A method of generating aerosol comprising:
 providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more external aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material and one or more internal aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material;   inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and   either: (i) activating the one or more external aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators and then activating the one or more internal aerosol generators without activating the one or more external aerosol generators during a session of use; or (ii) activating the one or more internal aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more external aerosol generators and then activating the one or more external aerosol generators without activating the one or more internal aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         39 . A method of generating aerosol comprising:
 providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material and one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material;   inserting an aerosol generating article into the aerosol provision device; and;   selecting between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation;   wherein in the first mode of operation one or more induction aerosol generators are activated without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators during a session of use; and   wherein in the second mode of operation the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators are activated without activating one or more induction aerosol generators during a session of use.   
     
     
         40 . A method of generating aerosol comprising:
 providing an aerosol provision device comprising one or more induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material and one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators arranged to cause aerosol to be generated from aerosol generating material; and   either: (i) activating one or more induction aerosol generators initially without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators and then activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators without activating one or more induction aerosol generators during a session of use; or (ii) activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators initially without activating one or more induction aerosol generators and then activating one or more induction aerosol generators without activating the one or more resistive or non-induction aerosol generators during a session of use.