AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH VISUAL FEEDBACK MEANS

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: an elongate housing having a distal end and a proximal end and being configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, the elongate housing defining a heating chamber having an open end at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device, the heating chamber being configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article, in which during consumption the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device points towards a consumer, in which the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device includes a visual feedback means, and in which the visual feedback means surrounds the aerosol generating article, when received in the aerosol-generating device. An aerosol-generating system, and a method of operating an aerosol-generating system, are also provided.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: an elongate housing having a distal end and a proximal end and being configured to receive an aerosol-generating article, wherein the elongate housing defines a heating chamber having an open end at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device, the heating chamber being configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article, wherein during consumption the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device points towards a consumer, wherein the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device comprises a visual feedback means, and wherein the visual feedback means surrounds the aerosol generating article, when received in the aerosol-generating device.

17. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the visual feedback means comprises a display device that is based on LED, micro LED, OLED, or LCD technology.

18. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the display device of the visual feedback means is configured to display monochromatic or colored light.

19. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein the display device of the visual feedback means is a multi-pixel display device.

20. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the visual feedback means comprises a plurality of display devices.

21. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, further comprising a power source and a control unit, wherein the visual feedback means is electrically connected to the power source and the control unit.

22. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 21, wherein the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect proximity to a mouth of the consumer, the proximity sensor being in electrical connection with the control unit of the aerosol-generating device.

23. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 21, further comprising a light sensor, the light sensor being in electrical connection with the control unit of the aerosol-generating device.

24. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 22, wherein the control unit is configured to control the visual feedback means based on signals received from the proximity sensor.

25. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 23, wherein the control unit is configured to control the visual feedback means based on signals received from the light sensor.

26. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the housing has a detachable top cover comprising electrical connection means facilitating an electrical connection between the visual feedback means and the control unit of the aerosol-generating device, upon connection of the detachable top cover to the housing of the aerosol-generating device.

27. An aerosol-generating system, comprising an aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, and an aerosol-forming article configured to be inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device.

28. A method of operating an aerosol-generating system according to claim 27, wherein the control unit of the aerosol-generating device controls the visual feedback means in dependence on the signal received from the proximity sensor.

29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the control unit of the aerosol-generating device reduces the light intensity of the visual feedback means when the proximity sensor detects proximity to a mouth of the consumer.

30. The method according to claim 28, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a light sensor, the light sensor being in electrical connection with the control unit of the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the control unit of the aerosol-generating device adjusts the light intensity of the visual feedback means based on signals received from the light sensor.

Description

[0073] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0074] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device;

[0075] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of the proximal end of an aerosol-generating device;

[0076] FIG. 3 shows various display modes of the visual feedback means; and

[0077] FIG. 4 shows further display modes of the visual feedback means.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device 10 that is configured to cooperate with an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-generating device 10 is an electrically heated aerosol-generating device comprising an elongate housing 12 with a power switch 14, a control unit (not shown), a power supply (not shown) and a heating chamber 16. The elongate housing 12 has a proximal end 18 and a distal end 19. The elongate housing 12 defines a cavity 20 that comprises the heating chamber 16 having an open end 22 at the proximal end 18 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The heating chamber 16 is configured for insertion of an aerosol-generating article (not shown).

[0079] At the proximal end 18 of the aerosol-generating device 10 there is provided a detachable top cover 24. FIGS. 1A and 1B show an enlarged plan view and a perspective view of the detachable top cover 24. The detachable top cover comprises a generally ring-shaped body 26. The body 26 is made from polyurethane. The body 26 has a circular outer cross-section that corresponds to the outer cross-section of the housing 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0080] At the bottom of the detachable top cover 24 there is provided a screw connection 28 via which the top cover 24 can be reversibly connected to the housing 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0081] The top cover 24 further comprises a visual feedback means 30. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the visual feedback means is a single ring shaped display device 32 that extends over the proximal end face of the top cover 24. The ring shaped display device 32 is configured to emit visible light with variable colour.

[0082] The control unit is configured to control the display device 32 in dependence of the status and the progress of specific operations of the aerosol-generating device 10. When the user switches on the aerosol-generating device 10 via power switch 14, the display device 32 is controlled to emit white light to indicate activation of the aerosol-generating device 10. During the heat-up phase the display device 32 emits red light. When the aerosol-generating device 10 is heated up and is ready for generating an aerosol, the display device 32 is controlled to emit green light. As an indicator for the end of consumption the display device 32 is controlled to emit blue light. Since in use the proximal end 18 of the aerosol-generating device 10 points towards the user, the user may readily observe the changing colours of the display device 32 and obtain information on the status of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0083] During a user experience, the user inserts an aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber 16 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The aerosol-generating article has a mouthpiece portion that protrudes from the heating chamber 16.

[0084] During a puff, the proximal end 18 of the aerosol-generating device 10 is out of the view field of the user. Thus, in this situation the visual feedback means 30 cannot be observed and may therefore be switched off.

[0085] For this purpose, the top cover 24 further comprises a proximity sensor 34. The proximity sensor 34 is configured to detect proximity to the user's mouth. The control unit adjusts the brightness of the display device 32 such as to ensure good readability of the display. During a puff, when the proximity sensor 34 detects proximity to the user's face, the control unit receives corresponding signals from the proximity sensor 34 and dims the brightness of the display device 32 to reduce power consumption.

[0086] In FIG. 2 a cross-sectional view of a top cover 24 removed from the open end 22 of the heating chamber 16 at the proximal end 18 of the housing 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The body 26 of the top cover 24 comprises a cavity 27 in which the display housing 36 is located. Also the proximity sensor 34 is provided in the cavity 27. The display device 32 and the proximity sensor 34 are wired to the electrical terminal 36 of the detachable top cover 24.

[0087] At the lower lateral sides of the body 26 of the detachable cover 24 again a threading 28 is provided for connecting the top cover 24 to the open end 22 of the housing 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0088] At the proximal end 18 of the housing also a further electrical terminal 38 is provided. When the top cover 24 is fully mounted to the housing 12, an electrical connection is established between the electrical terminal 36 of the top cover 24 and the electrical terminal 38 of the housing 12. Over wiring 40 an electrical connection between the control unit and the display device 32 is enabled.

[0089] In FIG. 3 various possibilities of how to display information by the visual feedback means 30 are depicted. In FIG. 3A, the visual feedback means 30 comprises a display device 32 with six segments. The segments are configured as circular segments that form in combination a segmented wheel. When the aerosol-generating device 10 is deactivated, the display device 32 is switched off as depicted in the left view of FIG. 3A. When the aerosol-generating device 10 is activated, the display device 32 is switched on and all segments of the segmented wheel are illuminated as depicted in the middle view of FIG. 3A. When the aerosol-generating device 10 performs an action, such as heating up, this is indicated by consecutively illuminating the six segments, animating a turning segmented wheel.

[0090] The visual feedback means 30 may also be configured for displaying shapes or letters on the display device 32. In the left view of FIG. 3B the display shows a “I” to indicate that one puff has been completed during the user experience. In the right view of FIG. 3B the display shows a “I” and a “II” to indicate that two puffs have been completed during the user experience. Thus, letters, numbers or other shapes may be used as puff count.

[0091] In FIG. 4 further possibilities of how to display information by the visual feedback means 30 are depicted. In FIG. 4A, the visual feedback means 30 comprises a display device 32 with four segments. Again only a part of the segments may be lit, so as to indicate progress of an operation. In the two views of FIG. 4A one and two quarters of the display are illuminated, respectively. The visual feedback means 30 thereby indicate that 25 percent and 50 percent of an operation such as heating-up the aerosol-generating device 10 is completed.

[0092] In FIG. 4B a further embodiment of the present invention is depicted. The visual feedback means 30 comprise five photorealistic display devices 32 that are each based on micro LED technology. The display devices 32 have display sections that are distributed over the circumference of the ring shaped end face of the aerosol-generating device 10. The display devices 32 are capable of displaying more complex patterns. In the depicted embodiment the display devices 32 show each a pulsing line, to indicate the strength of the previous puff.

[0093] A user is able to customize the information that is to be displayed and the appearance of the information to be displayed by a second device, for example a smartphone. For this purpose the smartphone is to be connected with the aerosol-generating device 10. Such connection can be established via an interface cable or via a wireless connection.