POWER SELECTION FOR AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES

Abstract

Aerosol-generating devices (102) comprising a single power button (152), a heating element (134) to generate aerosol using an aerosol generating article, and a controller (128) comprising one or more processors and operatively coupled to the single power button and the heating element. The controller is configured to provide a plurality of different power levels used with a heating element to generate aerosol using the aerosol-generating device, provide a selected power level of the plurality of different power levels that the aerosol-generating device is presently configured to use with the heating element to generate aerosol, and change the selected power level to a different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to a user pressing the single power button.

Claims

1-2. (canceled)

3. An aerosol-generating device comprising: a single power button; a heating element to generate aerosol using an aerosol generating article; and a controller comprising one or more processors and operatively coupled to the single power button and the heating element, the controller configured to: provide a plurality of different power levels used with a heating element to generate aerosol using the aerosol-generating device; provide a selected power level of the plurality of different power levels that the aerosol-generating device is presently configured to use with the heating element to generate aerosol; change the selected power level to a different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to a user pressing the single power button; indicate a battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device; indicate a power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device for a change time period after the changing the selected power level to the different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to the user pressing the single power button; and re-indicate the battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device after expiration of the change time period.

4. The aerosol-generating device of claim 3, wherein the user pressing the single power button comprises the user pressing the single power button a number of times within an engagement time period.

5. The aerosol-generating device of claim 4, wherein the number of times within the engagement time period that the user presses the single power button is 3.

6. The aerosol-generating device of claim 4, wherein the engagement time period is 2 seconds.

7. The aerosol-generating device of claim 3, wherein the plurality of different power levels comprises only a first power level and a second power level different from the first power level.

8. The aerosol-generating device of claim 7, wherein the first power level is 5.5 Watts and the second power level is 4.5 Watts.

9. (canceled)

10. The aerosol-generating device of claim 3, wherein indicating the power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device comprises: rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a first set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a first power level of the plurality of different power levels; and rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a second set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a second power level of the plurality of different power levels.

11. The aerosol-generating device of claim 3, wherein change time period is 3 seconds.

12. A method for use with an aerosol-generating device comprising: providing a plurality of different power levels used with a heating element to generate aerosol using the aerosol-generating device; providing a selected power level of the plurality of different power levels that the aerosol-generating device is presently configured to use with the heating element to generate aerosol; changing the selected power level to a different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to a user pressing a single power button; indicating a battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device; indicating a power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device for a change time period after the changing the selected power level to the different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to the user pressing the single power button; and re-indicating the battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device after expiration of the change time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the user pressing the single power button comprises the user pressing the single power button a number of times within an engagement time period.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the number of times within the engagement time period that the user presses the single power button is 3.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the engagement time period is 2 seconds.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of different power levels comprises only a first power level and a second power level different from the first power level.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first power level is 5.5 Watts and the second power level is 4.5 Watts.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein indicating the power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device comprises: rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a first set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a first power level of the plurality of different power levels; and rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a second set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a second power level of the plurality of different power levels.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein change time period is 3 seconds.

20. Computer program product for use with aerosol-generating device comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having program code stored thereon, the program code configured, when said program product is run on a computer, to: provide a plurality of different power levels used with a heating element to generate aerosol using the aerosol-generating device; provide a selected power level of the plurality of different power levels that the aerosol-generating device is presently configured to use with the heating element to generate aerosol; change the selected power level to a different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to a user pressing a single power button; indicate a battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device; indicate a power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device for a change time period after the changing the selected power level to the different power level of the plurality of different power levels in response to the user pressing the single power button; and re-indicate the battery charge level using one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device after expiration of the change time period.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the user pressing the single power button comprises the user pressing the single power button a number of times within an engagement time period.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the plurality of different power levels comprises only a first power level and a second power level different from the first power level.

23. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein indicating the power level change using the one or more indicators on the aerosol-generating device comprises: rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a first set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a first power level of the plurality of different power levels; and rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness of a second set of the one or more indicators for the change time period indicating the power level change to a second power level of the plurality of different power levels.

Description

[0055] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawing fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components, steps and the like. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labelled with the same number. In addition, the use of different numbers to refer to components in different figures is not intended to indicate that the different numbered components cannot be the same or similar to other numbered components. The schematic drawings are not necessarily to scale and are presented for purposes of illustration and not limitation. The drawings depict one or more aspects described in this disclosure. However, it will be understood that other aspects not depicted in the drawing fall within the scope and spirit of this disclosure.

[0056] FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an illustrative aerosol-generating apparatus 100 including an aerosol-generating device 102.

[0057] FIG. 2 are views of indicators 162 of the illustrative aerosol-generating device 102 of FIG. 1 for use in providing power level change notifications and the present selected power level.

[0058] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an illustrative method of changing the selected power level of the aerosol-generating device 102.

[0059] An illustrative aerosol-generating apparatus 100 is depicted in FIG. 1. Preferably, the aerosol-generating apparatus 100 includes an aerosol-generating device 102 comprising a cavity 132 for receiving an aerosol-generating article such as a heat stick 104 and a heater 134, which is configured to provide a source of heat to the heat stick 104 thus producing inhalable aerosol. The aerosol-generating device 102 further includes a controller 128 comprising one or more processors and associated memory. The controller 128 may be associated with the heater 134 so as to, among other things, configure the power level of the heater 134 to generate aerosol when heating an aerosol-generating article. The controller 128 includes, or provides, a selected, or current, power level, which may be stored in memory. Additionally, the controller 128 includes, or provides, other variables related to the power level change process such as an engagement time period, a number of times a user-initiated button is required to be selected with the engagement time period to initiate a power level change, and a change time period. The controller 128 may further include a communication interface such as, for example, a wireless communication interface to, for example, communicate with other devices such as a host device or a user interface device. The communication interface of the controller 128 may preferably comprise a BLUETOOTH interface. The aerosol-generating device 102 further comprises a power supply 126 and power and data and power interface ports 130.

[0060] As shown, the aerosol-generating device 102 includes a single user-selectable power button 152 and a plurality of indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4. The single user-selectable power button 152 may be selectable (for example, depressible) by a user as is indicated by the dashed lined arrow. As described herein, the user-selectable button may be selectable to, among other things, initiate a power level change of the aerosol-generating device 102. For example, if a user depresses the single power button 152 3 times within an engagement time period of 5 seconds, then the aerosol-generating device 102 changes the selected, or current, power level to a different power level of the plurality of different power levels. In an example where the aerosol-generating device 102 has two power levels, a low-power level and a high-power level, initiation, or execution, of a power level change using the single power button 153 will result in the selected, or current, power level switching from the low-power level to the high-power level or from the high-power level to the low-power level, depending on which power level is selected prior the power level change. Although the aerosol-generating device 102 depicted in FIG. 1 includes a single power button 152, it is to be understood that the aerosol-generating device 102 may include a plurality of user-selectable buttons. Nonetheless, in an example where the aerosol-generating device 102 includes a plurality of user-selectable buttons, only one of the user-selectable buttons may be designated as the power button usable by a user to initiate, or execute, power level changes and power level displays. Still further, in one aspect where the aerosol-generating device 102 includes a single button 152 as shown in the FIG. 1, the single button 152 has one or more functions, or uses, beyond power level changes and power level notifications such as, for example, powering “on” or “off” the aerosol-generating device 102 (for example, the aerosol-generating device 102 may be powered “on” or “off” by a “long” selection or press o the button 152).

[0061] The plurality of indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 may depict a light pattern indicative of, or showing, the charge level of the battery, the selected power level, and the power level change notification or indication. For example, some of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 may light up a selected color and some of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 may not light up (stay dark) to indicate the charge level of the battery. Further, example, some of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 may light up a selected color and varying the brightness thereof while some of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 may not light up (stay dark) to indicate a power level change and the newly-selected power level.

[0062] Pattern examples 180, 181, 182, 183 of the indicators 162 of the illustrative aerosol-generating device 102 of FIG. 1 providing power information are shown in FIG. 2. A key 179 is provided in these figures, which as shown, shows that each of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 can provide, or display light, no light, and “breathing” light.

[0063] As shown in example 180, indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3 are displaying, or emitting, light indicating that the battery charge level is currently around 75% of the battery's capacity. When in this state shown in example 180, a user may desire to change the power level of the aerosol-generating device 102, and thus, may select the button 152 the required number of times with an engagement time period to initiate a power level change. Once a user has initiated, or executed, a power level change, each of the indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 will display, or emit, light while rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness thereof to indicate that the power level has been changed to a high-power level as shown in example 181. The indicators 162-1, 162-2, 162-3, 162-4 will indicate the high-power level for a change time period such as 5 seconds before reverting back to displaying, or indicating, the battery charge level once again as shown in example 182. Once a user has initiated, or executed, a subsequent power level change (that is subsequent to the power level change shown in example 181), the indicators 162-1, 162-2 will display, or emit, light while rapidly increasing and subsequently decreasing the brightness thereof and the indicators 162-3, 162-4 will not light up (stay dark) to indicate that the power level has been changed to a low-power level as shown in example 183.

[0064] An illustrative method 200 of changing the selected power level of the aerosol-generating device 102 is depicted in FIG. 3. The method 200 includes providing a plurality of different power levels used with a heating element to generate aerosol 202 and providing a selected power level of the plurality of different power levels 204. The selected power level is the power level that the aerosol-generating device is currently, or presently, configured to utilize when generating aerosol.

[0065] In response to the single power button 152 being selected 205, the method 200 may start, or begin, the engagement time period 206, which defines the period of time within which the user may select the single power button 152 so as to actuate, or initiate, a power level change. If the user has selected the single power button 152 the required number, n, times within the engagement time period 208, then the method 200 will change the selected power level 210. Conversely, if the user has not selected the single power button 152 the required number, n, times within the engagement time period 208, then the method 200 will not change the selected power level 212. After either changing or not changing the selected power level, the method 200 will revert to waiting for the initial selection of the single power button 205.

[0066] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about”. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A±1% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

[0067] All scientific and technical terms used herein have meanings commonly used in the art unless otherwise specified. The definitions provided herein are to facilitate understanding of certain terms used frequently herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used herein, “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “and/or” means one or all of the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements. As used herein, “have”, “having”, “include”, “including”, “comprise”, “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understood that “consisting essentially of”, “consisting of”, and the like are subsumed in “comprising,” and the like. The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.