RU-2861570-C2 - AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH ELECTRODES AND SENSORS

Abstract

FIELD: tobacco industry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to devices simulating the smoking process. An aerosol-generating system comprises a liquid storage portion for holding a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. A pair of electrodes is positioned adjacent to or in the liquid storage portion. The system includes a sensor configured to recognise an orientation of the liquid storage portion and an acceleration of the liquid storage portion. A control system is configured to measure an electrical quantity between the pair of electrodes, obtain orientation information from the sensor, and determine an amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate held in the liquid storage portion based on the electrical quantity information measured between the pair of electrodes and the orientation information obtained from the sensor. EFFECT: increased accuracy of determining the amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage portion. 17 cl, 14 dwg

Inventors

• BESSANT, Michel
• ROBERT, JACQUES

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20220530

Priority Date

20170228

Claims (20)

1. 1. An aerosol generating system comprising:
2. a liquid storage portion designed to hold a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;
3. a pair of electrodes located adjacent to or in the liquid storage portion;
4. a sensor configured to recognize the orientation of the liquid storage portion and the acceleration of the liquid storage portion; and
5. a control system designed with the ability to:
6. measuring the electrical quantity between a pair of electrodes;
7. receiving orientation information from the sensor; and
8. determining the amount of a liquid aerosol-forming substrate retained in the liquid storage portion based on the electrical quantity information measured between the pair of electrodes and the orientation information obtained from the sensor.
9. 2. An aerosol generating system according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid storage portion has a length, and the pair of electrodes extends along the entire length of the liquid storage portion.
10. 3. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1, 2, characterized in that the liquid storage portion has a length, and the pair of electrodes extends along the length of the liquid storage portion.
11. 4. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1, 2, characterized in that the pair of electrodes surrounds the liquid storage portion.
12. 5. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1, 2, characterized in that the pair of electrodes forms a tubular sleeve that frames the liquid storage portion.
13. 6. An aerosol generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the control system is further configured to prevent the determination of the amount of aerosol-forming liquid substrate held in the liquid storage portion based on orientation information received from the sensor.
14. 7. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1-6, characterized in that the sensor comprises one or more accelerometers configured to recognize the linear acceleration of the liquid storage portion.
15. 8. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1-7, characterized in that the sensor comprises one or more gyroscopes configured to recognize the angular velocity of the liquid storage portion.
16. 9. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1-8, characterized in that the sensor is an inertial measurement unit.
17. 10. An aerosol generating system according to any one of paragraphs 1-9, characterized in that the control system is additionally configured to:
18. receiving acceleration information from the sensor; and
19. determining whether the liquid storage portion is in one of a stable state in which the liquid storage portion is stationary or moving at a constant speed, and an unstable state in which the liquid storage portion is subject to acceleration, based on acceleration information received from the sensor.
20. 11. An aerosol generating system according to paragraph 10, characterized in that the control system is designed with the ability to:

Description

The present invention relates to electrical aerosol generating systems and cartridges for electrical aerosol generating systems. Electric aerosol-generating systems typically contain a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, which is atomized to form an aerosol. Electric aerosol-generating systems often include a power supply, a liquid storage section designed to hold a supply of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, and an atomizer. A common type of atomizer used in such systems contains a coil of heater wire wrapped around an extended wick soaked in the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Another common type of atomizer used in such systems contains a heating grid. The liquid substrate that produces the aerosol is consumed during use of the aerosol generating system and frequently requires replacement either by refilling the liquid storage portion or by replacing the cartridge containing the liquid storage portion. Document US2016/0345628 describes a device for measuring the amount of liquid remaining in an e-cigarette cartridge. The cartridge is made of an electrically insulating cylinder with electrodes at both ends. When the cartridge is inserted into the module, the electrodes contact connectors mounted on a printed circuit board, which in turn houses a microprocessor. The microprocessor periodically measures the resistance between the electrodes. This measured resistance is inversely proportional to the amount of liquid remaining in the cartridge. It would be desirable for the aerosol-generating system to provide the user with an accurate determination of the amount of liquid aerosol-forming substrate retained in the liquid storage portion. In a first aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating system is provided, comprising: a liquid storage portion for holding an aerosol-forming liquid substrate; a pair of electrodes located adjacent to or within the liquid storage portion; a sensor configured to recognize the orientation of the liquid storage portion; and a control system. The control system is configured to: measure an electrical quantity between the pair of electrodes; obtain orientation information from the sensor; and determine the amount of aerosol-forming liquid substrate held in the liquid storage portion, based on the electrical quantity information measured between the pair of electrodes and the orientation information obtained from the sensor. Providing an aerosol-generating system with means for determining the orientation of the liquid storage portion is desirable for several reasons. Specifically, the accuracy and reliability of estimates of the amount of aerosol-forming liquid substrate retained in the liquid storage portion can be improved if the estimates are made when the liquid storage portion is in specific orientations, as described in more detail below. Some aerosol-generating systems can generate improved aerosols when the liquid storage portion is in a specific orientation, such as when the liquid storage portion is substantially vertical or horizontal. In these systems, it may be advantageous for the aerosol-generating system to indicate to the user when the system is in the optimal orientation for aerosol generation. In the context of this document, with reference to the present invention, the term "amount" is used to describe the mass, quantity, or proportion of the aerosol-forming liquid substrate retained in the liquid storage portion. The determined amount of the aerosol-forming liquid substrate retained in the liquid storage portion may include an absolute or relative value. The determined amount of the aerosol-forming liquid substrate may include a volume, for example, a value in liters. The determined amount of the aerosol-forming liquid substrate retained in the liquid storage portion may include a fraction or percentage, for example, 1 or 100%, denoting a full liquid storage portion, and 0 or 0%, denoting an empty liquid storage portion. In the context of this document, with reference to the present invention, the term "electrical quantity" is used to describe any electrical property, parameter, or indicator that can be quantified by measurement. For example, suitable "electrical quantities" include current, voltage, impedance, capacitance, and resistance. The control system can be configured to measure at least one of impedance, capacitance, and resistance between a pair of electrodes. The liquid storage portion may be configured to hold both an aerosol-forming liquid substrate and air. The aerosol-forming liquid substrate may have electrical properties that differ significantly from those of air. The electrical properties of the first and second portions of the liquid storage portion may depend on the amount of aerosol-forming liquid substrate and the amount of air retained in the liquid storage portion. The liquid storage portion may also comprise one or more carrier materials for retaining the aerosol-forming liquid substrate and a housing for retaining the aer