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EP-4580445-B1 - METHOD OF OPERATING AN AEROSOL GENERATOR

EP4580445B1EP 4580445 B1EP4580445 B1EP 4580445B1EP-4580445-B1

Inventors

  • THOMAS, MICHAEL
  • SUTTON, ANDREW
  • GURUCHANDRAN, Karthik Raj

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230825

Claims (15)

  1. A method of operating an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device comprising: determining a resonant frequency f0 of one or more induction elements (108, 109); and characterised by comprising: supplying an alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) over multiple cycles of time, wherein each cycle of time comprises one or more first time periods T1 and one or more second time periods T2; supplying the alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) at a first frequency f1 during the one or more first time periods T1, wherein 0.9 ≤ f1/f0 ≤ 1.1; and supplying the alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) at a second different frequency f2 during the one or more second time periods T2, wherein either: (a) f2/f0 ≤ 0.9; or (b) f2/f0 ≥ 1.1, and wherein f2 > 0.
  2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein f0 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein f1 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein f2 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the one or more induction elements (108, 109) comprise one or more induction coils.
  6. An electronic circuit (106) for an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device (100) comprising: a circuit element arranged to determine a resonant frequency f0 of one or more induction elements (108, 109); and characterised by comprising: a driver arrangement (503) for supplying an alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) over multiple cycles of time, wherein each cycle of time comprises one or more first time periods T1 and one or more second time periods T2, wherein the driver arrangement (503) is arranged: (i) to supply, in use, the alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) at a first frequency f1 during the one or more first time periods T1, wherein 0.9 ≤ f1/f0 ≤ 1.1; and (ii) to supply, in use, the alternating current to the one or more induction elements (108, 109) at a second different frequency f2 during the one or more second time periods T2, wherein either: (a) f2/f0 ≤ 0.9; or (b) f2/f0 ≥ 1.1, and wherein f2 > 0.
  7. An electronic circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein f0 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  8. An electronic circuit as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein f1 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  9. An electronic circuit as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein f2 is in the range: (i) < 0.5 MHz; (ii) 0.5-1.0 MHz; (iii) 1.0-1.5 MHz; (iv) 1.5-2.0 MHz; (v) 2.0-2.5 MHz; (vi) 2.5-3.0 MHz; (vii) 3.0-3.5 MHz; (viii) 3.5-4.0 MHz; or (ix) > 4.0 MHz.
  10. An electronic circuit as claimed in any of claims 6-9, wherein the one or more induction elements (108, 109) comprise one or more induction coils.
  11. An aerosol provision device (100) comprising: an electronic circuit (106) as claimed in any of claims 6-10.
  12. An aerosol provision device (100) as claimed in claim 11, further comprising an aerosol generator.
  13. An aerosol provision device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the aerosol generator comprises one or more induction elements (108, 109).
  14. An aerosol generating system comprising: an aerosol provision device (100) as claimed in any of claims 11-13; and an aerosol generating article (116) comprising aerosol generating material.
  15. A method of generating an aerosol comprising: providing an aerosol provision device (100) as claimed in any of claims 11-13; inserting an aerosol generating article (116) comprising aerosol generating material into the aerosol provision device; and energising the aerosol provision device (100) in order to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating material.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method of operating an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device, an electronic circuit for an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device, an aerosol provision device, an aerosol generating system and a method of generating an aerosol. BACKGROUND Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called "heat not burn" products or tobacco heating devices or products, which release compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. It is known to provide an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol generator comprising two induction coils. It is desired to provide an improved method of operating an aerosol generator. Related art includes WO2021/074254A1 which concerns an aerosol-generating device for inductive heating of an aerosol-forming substrate, WO2022/059930A1 which concerns an aerosol generating device and aerosol generating system, US2020/037402A1 which concerns an apparatus for a resonance circuit, and KR20200009993A which concerns a non-contacting heating apparatus for cigarette type electronic tobacco. SUMMARY According to an aspect there is provided a method of operating an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device comprising: determining a resonant frequency f0 of one or more induction elements;supplying an alternating current to the one or more induction elements over multiple cycles of time, wherein each cycle of time comprises one or more first time periods T1 and one or more second time periods T2;supplying the alternating current to the one or more induction elements at a first frequency f1 during the one or more first time periods T1, wherein 0.9 ≤ f1/f0 ≤ 1.1; andsupplying the alternating current to the one or more induction elements at a second different frequency f2 during the one or more second time periods T2, wherein either: (a) f2/f0 ≤ 0.9; or (b) f2/f0 ≥ 1.1, and wherein f2 > 0. According to various embodiments an aerosol generator of an aerosol provision device is provided which is arranged to provide an alternating current to one or more induction elements. For example, the induction element may comprise a coil or an induction coil. The resonant frequency f0 of the induction element may be determined. The aerosol generator may be energised for an extended period of time which may be several minutes. The extended period of time may correspond with a session of use. The extended period of time or the overall session of use can be sub-divided into a plurality of cycles of time wherein each cycle of time may last e.g. 1s. A cycle of time may be further sub-divided in a plurality of first time periods T1 interspersed with a plurality of second time periods T2. For example, a cycle of time lasting 1s may be sub-divided into a plurality of 10 ms first time periods T1, wherein subsequent first time periods T1 are interspersed with second time periods T2 which may also be 10 ms long. It will, of course, be understood that the first time periods T1 may be longer or shorter than 10 ms. Likewise, the second time periods T2 may also be longer or shorter than 10 ms. Accordingly, for illustrative purposes only, a session of use which lasts e.g. 180 s might be considered as comprising 180 cycles of time, each cycle of time lasting 1s. Each 1s cycle of time may be sub-divided into e.g. 50 first time periods T1 and 50 second time periods T2. The first and second time periods T1,T2 may each last 10 ms. According to various embodiments the aerosol generator may be arranged to supply an alternating current to the induction elements during each first time period T1 during which time the induction element may be considered as being energised or otherwise in an ON state. In a subsequent second time period T2, the induction element may be considered as being not energised or otherwise in an OFF state. During the first time periods T1, the aerosol generator may be arranged to supply the alternating current to the induction elements at a frequency f1 which is close to the determined resonant frequency f0 of the induction element. In particular, the alternating current may be supplied at a frequency f1 which is within ± 10% of the determined resonant frequency f0 of the induction elements. As a result of being driven at a frequency f1 close to the resonant frequency f0 of the induction elements an efficient process is established. As a result, an induced current is duly created in a susceptor located adjacent a coil or induction coil forming part of the induction element and the susceptor will therefore be heated during each first time period T1. In contrast, during the second time periods T2, the aerosol gener