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EP-3791742-B1 - AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH OVERHEATING PREVENTION

EP3791742B1EP 3791742 B1EP3791742 B1EP 3791742B1EP-3791742-B1

Inventors

  • COLOTTE, Guillaume
  • BILAT, STEPHANE

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20180315

Claims (11)

  1. An aerosol-generating system for generating an inhalable aerosol, wherein the system comprises: an electric heater (4) for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substance, a battery (3) for powering the electric heater (4), a control unit (2), a device portion (1) comprising the battery (3) and the control unit (2), and a replaceable cartridge (7) for receiving aerosol-forming substance, wherein the control unit is configured to detect if the replaceable cartridge is connected to the device portion, and wherein the control unit (2) is further configured to prevent charging of the battery (3), when the control unit (2) detects that the replaceable cartridge (7) is connected to the device portion.
  2. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (2) is configured to detect if the battery (3) is on charge, and wherein the control unit is configured to prevent the electric heater (4) from operating, when the battery is on charge.
  3. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit (2) detects a charging of the battery (3), when a USB cable (6) is connected to a USB port of the system.
  4. An aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (2) is configured to detect the initiation of the electric heater (4), and wherein the control unit is configured to prevent the charging of the battery (3), when an initiation of the electric heater is detected.
  5. An aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (2) is configured to detect the initiation of the electric heater (4), and wherein the control unit prevents the operation of the heater following the detection of an initiation of the electric heater, when the battery (3) is on charge.
  6. An aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system further comprises a temperature sensor for detecting the initiation of the electric heater (4) and/or a current sensor for detecting the initiation of the electric heater and/or a charging sensor for detecting the charging of the battery, and wherein either of these sensors is connected to the control unit.
  7. A method for controlling an aerosol-generating system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: i) providing an aerosol-generating system comprising an electric heater (4) for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substance, a battery (3) for powering the electric heater, a control unit (2), a device portion (1) comprising the battery and the control unit, and a replaceable cartridge (7) for receiving aerosol-forming substance, ii) detecting, by the control unit (2), if the replaceable cartridge (7) is connected to the device portion (1), and iii) preventing, by the control unit (2), charging of the battery (3), when the control unit (2) detects that the replaceable cartridge (7) is connected to the device portion (1).
  8. A method of claim 7, comprising the further steps of detecting, by the control unit (2), if the battery (3) is on charge, and preventing, by the control unit, the electric heater (4) from operating, when the battery is on charge.
  9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising the further step of detecting, by the control unit (2), a charging of the battery (3), when a USB cable (6) is connected to a USB port of the system.
  10. A method according to one of claims 7 to 9, comprising the further step of detecting, by the control unit (2), the initiation of the electric heater (4), and preventing, by the control unit, the charging of the battery (3), when an initiation of the electric heater is detected.
  11. A method according to one of claims 7 to 10, comprising the further step of detecting, by the control unit (2), the initiation of the electric heater (4), and preventing, by the control unit, the operation of the heater (4) following the detection of an initiation of the electric heater, when the battery is on charge.

Description

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating system for generating an inhalable aerosol. The system comprises an electric heater for vaporizing an aerosol-generating substance and a battery for powering the electric heater. In conventional aerosol-generating systems such as e-cigarettes, an aerosol-generating substance such as an e-liquid is vaporized by means of an electric heater. The electric heater is powered by a battery. The battery can be charged for example by means of a USB cable and a corresponding USB port in the system. However, batteries cause potential problems, since a battery may be burned or cause a sudden increase of internal pressure. This may occur due to a high battery temperature. A high battery temperature may break the internal cells of the battery leading to a short circuit. The temperature of the battery may increase during charging of the battery, because of the heat generated by the electric power transferred into the battery, but also sometimes because of external elements close to the battery like electronic components. In a high temperature condition, more and more heat can be generated by the battery in a "thermal runaway" condition. A high temperature can also occur due to overcharging of the battery, i.e. when more charging current is provided to the battery than the battery is designed for. Overvoltage, overcharge current, overdischarge current, overdischarge voltage, recharging a battery completely depleted, or charging or discharging a battery at too high or too low ambient temperatures may also lead to high temperatures of the battery with a possibility of internal damage of the battery. CA 2859610 A1 discloses an electronic cigarette, wherein the power control circuitry may disable the atomizer in the cartomizer when the battery is being actively charged. Additionally or alternatively all functions of the power control circuitry may be disabled when a battery charger is in operation. WO 2016/079152 A1 discloses an electronic nicotine delivery system that prevents its use while its battery is being charged. An internally damaged battery that is close to the face of a user, who is puffing, may put the user in an adverse situation. The object of the present invention therefore is to prevent an adverse situation of a user using an aerosol-generating system. This problem is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. In this regard, the invention proposes an aerosol-generating system for generating an inhalable aerosol. The system comprises an electric heater for vaporizing an aerosol-forming substance and a battery for powering the electric heater. The system further comprises a control unit, wherein the control unit may be configured to detect if the electric heater is operated and if the battery is on charge. The control unit may further be configured to prevent charging of the battery, when the electric heater is operated, and to prevent the electric heater from operating, when the battery is on charge. Providing a control unit which only allows charging the battery or operating the heater ensures that the user cannot puff during charging of the battery. Also, the user cannot charge the battery during puffing. As described above, the possibility of the battery being internally damaged is highest during charging of the battery due to an increased temperature during the time of charging the battery. Also, using the system, i.e. puffing, may additionally increase the temperature of the battery due to a power transfer from the battery towards the heater and also due to the heater temperature. This additional heat generation during operating of the heater is prevented by the invention during charging. Thus, the possibility of the battery being internally damaged is reduced. Furthermore, if the battery is internally damaged, an uncomfortable situation on the user can be prevented, since the user is not puffing during charging. According to an aspect of the invention, the control unit may detect a charging of the battery when a USB cable is connected to a USB port of the system. The detection of a connection of a USB cable to a USB port of the system for charging the battery may be facilitated by any conventional means. Any suitable charging of the battery may be detected by the control unit. For example, a USB type connector may be employed for charging the battery such as a Micro USB or USB type C connector. A customized connector or cable may be employed that interface a USB connector. In this case, a USB cable may be plugged onto the customized connector or cable. The other side of the customized connector or cable may connect the aerosol-generating system. A customized charger may also be employed that is directly connected on one side onto a USB port of for example an AC adaptor or a PC and on the other side onto the aerosol-generating system with or without cable between charger and system. A customized AC adaptor may also be employed. In this case, a cust