Technical field

The present invention relates to inhalation devices which are preferably compact hand-held devices . More particularly, the present invention relates to such inhalation devices in the form of electronic cigarettes , cigalikes , e-cigarettes , vapour inhalers and related devices .

Background

In the arts there are several types and concepts for inhalation devices that serve a broad range of purposes including medical and therapeutic applications and also leisure and pleasure devices such as electronic cigarettes . Such devices may produce the inhalation medium ( aerosol , vapour, etc . ) by means of heating a substance so as to release particles and/or droplets into an ambient air for inhalation . For this purpose , the inhalation devices may be provided with an oven, i . e . a heatable enclosure , that is arranged to receive an amount of a flavour release medium . A power source may provide power to the oven so as to heat up the medium to generate the vapour and/or aerosol by heating .

Existing inhalation devices oftentimes provide a cartridgetype solution, in which a cartridge or stick which comprises the flavour release medium and which can be removably inserted into the device ' s oven through an opening . Once the cartridge or stick is used, or has expired after all or a predetermined part of the contained flavour release medium has been release , it can be removed and replaced by another one . For this exchange , an access to the oven is usually provided by means of the already mentioned opening which allows inserting and removal of a cartridge or stick .

The possibility of inserting, removing and replacing obj ects into the oven of inhalation devices , however, not only provides advantages related to flexibility, ef ficiency, reliability and freedom of operation for the user, but also opens the possibility for some risks and disadvantages . Namely, the freedom to insert obj ects and materials into the oven also opens the risk that undesired material or obj ects enter the oven . Such undesired obj ects may cause mal functions and/or other nonreliabilities and risks during use or operation of inhalation devices . For this purpose , the conventional arts already provide for mans of closing and prohibiting access to the oven in some situations . However, such solutions doe still not consider many aspects of ef ficiency, user friendliness and reliability .

There is therefore a need for improved inhalation devices that improve the overall operation situation of inhalation devices in the context of granting or prohibiting access to parts of the device , speci fically in the context of replaceable cartridges or sticks . It is thus an obj ect of the present invention to provide such improved inhalation devices that can remedy the drawbacks of the conventional solutions .

Summary

The mentioned drawbacks are remedies by the sub ect-matter of the independent claims . Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims . According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided an inhalation device configured to generate a vapour and/or aerosol to be inhaled by a user comprising an oven arranged to receive an amount of a flavour release medium, a power source to provide power to the oven to generate the vapour and/or aerosol by heating the flavour release medium, a controller, a body accommodating the oven, the power source , and the controller and providing an opening to said oven so as to allow for inserting an amount of a flavour release medium into the oven, and a cover arrangement comprising a cover lid arranged to at least in part close said opening and a driver arranged to move said cover lid between an opened and a closed position, and wherein said controller is configured to determine that the opening should be closed and to control said driver to move said cover lid toward the closed position .

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention, which are presented for better understanding the inventive concepts and which are not to be seen as limiting the invention, will now be described with reference to the Figures in which :

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an inhalation device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2A and 2B shows schematic views of further details of inhalation devices according to respective embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an inhalation devices focussing on the external appearance according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a schematic view of details of a driver in an inhalation device according to an embodiment of the present invention .

Detailed description

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an inhalation device according to an embodiment of the present invention . Speci fically, there is shown an inhalation device 1 that is generally configured to generate a vapour and/or aerosol to be inhaled by a user . For example , such an inhalation device may be implemented as an electronic cigarette ( e-cigarette , cig-a- like , etc . ) that provides the possibility for a user to inhale vapour and/or an aerosol generated from a flavour release medium or vapour/aerosol source .

For this purpose , the inhalation device 1 comprises an oven 11 that is arranged to receive an amount of a flavour release medium, for example in the form of a cartridge , capsule or stick, or - generally, a replaceable consumable 100 . Said oven 11 can thus be arranged to receive and accommodate a replaceable article ( consumable ) through the opening 14 , wherein the replaceable article 100 holds the amount of the flavour release medium . The oven 11 may further comprise an induction heating arrangement adapted to detect presence of an amount of a flavour release medium by means of a change in AC or frequency response properties .

Alternatively, or in addition thereto the oven 11 may comprise a resistive and/or radiation heating arrangement . A presence of a consumable can be detected also in such cases by observing a temperature curve upon activating the oven under consideration of a temperature behaviour expected for a suitable heat capacity .

The inhalation device 1 further comprises a power source 12 to provide power to the oven 11 for generating the vapour and/or aerosol by heating the flavour release medium inside a consumable 100 inserted at least in part into the oven 11 . Further, he inhalation device 1 comprises a controller 13 that is preferably configured to provide all the desired and necessary functionalities , including, for example , any one of controlling operation of the inhalation device 1 , providing an interface to a user of the inhalation device 1 , controlling the power supply to the oven 11 to obtain a desired temperature , executing safety control , and other functionalities that are described or referred to in the present disclosure .

The inhalation device 1 also comprises a body 1 that accommodates all suitable components , and, speci fically, the oven 11 , the power source 12 , and the controller 13 . The body provides further an opening 14 to said oven 11 so as to allow for inserting an amount of a flavour release medium into the oven 11 , e . g . by means of inserting an above-mentioned consumable 100 . The opening may speci fically provide access to a cabinet or cell 15 that can receive and hold, at least in part , a consumable 100 during operation . A cover arrangement 16 is further provided and comprises , in turn, a cover lid 161 arranged to at least in part close said opening 14 and a driver 162 arranged to move said cover lid 161 between an opened and a closed position .

In embodiments of the present invention, the controller 13 is configured to determine that the opening 14 should be closed and to control said driver 162 to move said cover lid 161 toward the closed position . For example , the inhalation device 1 may comprise for this purpose a sensor 17 arranged in the vicinity of the cabinet 15 so as to detect any one of presence or absence of a consumable 100 in the cabinet 15 . In a way, a presence sensor can thus be arranged to detect presence of an amount of a flavour release medium in the oven . In addition thereto , said presence sensor can be also used for sensing an amount of a ( remaining) flavour release medium or type of consumable , i . e . type or flavour of a cartridge or stick . I f , for example , the sensor 17 provides output to the controller 13 that there is no consumable 100 present , then the controller 13 may control the driver 162 to move the over lid 161 toward the closed position . As a consequence , the inhalation device 1 is put into a state of higher safety and reliability as no undesired obj ects may enter the cabinet 15 and, with this , the oven 11 when the inhalation device 1 is not in use . For example , the undesired or inadvertent insertion of any undesired obj ects , including dust , metal particles , etc . that may cause disadvantageous ef fects during use can be ef fectively avoided .

Figure 2A shows a schematic view of further details of an inhalation device according to a further embodiment of the present invention . Speci fically, the inhalation device 1 may comprise a sensor 163 that is arranged to detect at least an approximate position of said cover lid 161 and to provide a corresponding position signal to the controller 13 . The controller 13 can then be configured to determine that the opening 14 should be closed based on the position signal .

Speci fically, the control may determine a state in which the opening 14 is at least partially open . I f , at the same time , the controller 13 can determine that the inhalation device 1 is actually not used, e . g . because there is no consumable in the cabinet , or no consumable has been inserted, or a consumable has been removed, then the opening 14 should be closed by moving the lid 161 toward the closed position .

Corresponding information can be for example obtained by the ( optional ) sensor 17 as mentioned in conj unction with Figure 1 , a speci fic response of the oven (missing inductive signature or thermal response from any consumable ) , or the general operation sequence of a user . Further, the controller 13 can be configured to determine that the opening cannot be closed based on the position signal . For example , the controller 13 may attempt to close the opening 14 and correspondingly control the driver 162 to move the cover lid 161 toward a closed position, but recogni ze a consumable 100 inserted by not observing a matching movement from the sensor 163 . In this situation, the controller may determine the inverse situation, in which the cover shall not be closed . The controller 13 can thus be is configured to determine that the opening 14 cannot be closed when the position signal indicates a non-closed state of the cover lid 161 after elapse of a predetermined first time span (X ) starting with said controlling the driver 162 to move said cover lid 161 toward the closed position .

In corresponding embodiments , the controller may be thus configured to control the driver 162 to stop moving the cover lid 161 toward the closed position and/or to move the cover lid 161 toward the open position when determining that the opening cannot be closed . The controller can then be configured to again, e . g . after elapse of a predetermined second time span (Y) , determine that the opening 14 should be closed and to control said driver 162 to move said cover lid 161 toward the closed position after elapse that predetermined second time span . The latter second time span may start with stopping moving the cover lid 161 toward the closed position or moving the cover lid 161 toward the open position .

In a way, the controller 13 can be configured to control said driver 162 to move said cover lid 161 toward the opened position i f it was determined that the opening 14 cannot be closed, and to retry to move said cover lid 161 toward the closed position after elapse of a further predetermined time .

Generally, the controller 13 can j udge that a consumable

( stick) is still in the oven from the absence of the lid movement despite the actuation of the driver . The lid will be retained in the open position for X seconds ( in the sense of the already mentioned predetermined first time span) , and then the Y seconds ( in the sense of the already mentioned predetermined second time span) as a retention time after which it will be repeated until user input or the closed door position is detected . Figure 2B shows a schematic view of further details of an inhalation device according to a further embodiment of the present invention . Similarly to the above , the present embodiment provides a sensor 163 ' that is arranged to detect at least an approximate position of said cover lid 161 and to provide a corresponding position signal to the controller 13 . The mentioned sensor 163 ' can be a magnetic sensor, preferably a Hall sensor, and the cover lid 161 can then be provided with a magnetic element 164 interacting with said magnetic sensor 163 ' .

The cover arrangement 16 can further comprise a cam 165 that can rotate about its axis and thus actuate the lid 161 between a closed and an open position . A motor or a geared motor can be used to in turn actuate the cam 165 . Generally, the driver 162 may thus comprise a motor and a cam in mechanical interaction with said cover lid . Further, it can be said cam that is provided with a magnet on an excentre position which would act as a magnetic element for interacting with one of the above-mentioned magnetic sensors . At this point it i s noted that the above elements of the driver are also shown in Figure 4 .

Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an inhalation device according to a further embodiment of the present invention . This figure focusses on the external appearance of the inhalation device , whilst the internal components , elements , and functionalities may be still provided as explained elsewhere in the present disclosure . In this embodiment , the inhalation device 1 further comprises an operation element 21 that allows a user to interact with the inhalation device 1 .

For example , the operation element 21 comprises a key, a switch, a sensor, a touch sensor and the like , that can be actuated by a user by means of appropriate pressing and/or touching . The operation element 21 may internally provide an operation signal to the control ler 13 , which can then be configured to determine that the opening 14 should be closed . The determination is then further based on the operation signal from the operational element 21 . For example , the user may actuate the operational element 21 so as to indicate that no consumable 100 is inserted and/or the inhalation device 1 should power of f .

Generally, the controller 13 can be configured to determine that the opening 14 should be closed further based on the operation signal indicating no use of the inhalation device 1 for a predetermined time . Speci fically, the operation element 21 can be provided for that it i s actuated during use or for preparing actual use . I f , however, that actuation does not occur for some predetermined time ( e . g . Z seconds ) , the user does apparently not use the inhalation device 1 and the controller may assume that the device can be put into a deactivated state which may include a closing of the opening .

The inhalation device 1 may further comprise an indicator 22 that can be employed to signalling any information or feedback to a user - this in the general sense of or as part of a user interface . Speci fically, the indicator 22 can be used to urge a user to free the opening 14 in response to the determination by the controller 13 that the cover lid 161 cannot be closed, as this has been described elsewhere in the present disclosure . For example , the indicator may comprise a light source ( e . g . a mono- or multi-color LED) that can be operated in an attentive way, including intense or colored flashing in order to obtain a user' s attention . Normally, red blinking or flashing indicates a failure or generally a state which may require a user' s attention and/or intervention .

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of details of a driver in an inhalation device according to an embodiment of the present invention . Speci fically, there are shown the elements of the driver and cover arrangement are shown in greater detail in the context of a respective embodiment . Accordingly, the cover arrangement can further comprise a cam 165 that can rotate about its axis of a driver in the form of a geared motor 166 . This results in the excentre of the cam 165 to move along a diameter circle R and so to actuate the lid between a closed and an open position by means of engaging a respective groove or guide . In the present embodiment , the driver thus comprises the geared motor 166 and said cam 165 in mechanical interaction with said cover lid . Further, said cam 165 is provided with a magnet 167 on an excentre position which then acts as a magnetic element for interacting with one of the above-mentioned magnetic sensors . In this way, the cover arrangement , and, with this , the entire inhalation device can be implemented with the geared motor in a low-cost but reliable and compact manner .

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention may include any one of the following . An inhalation device can be provided which reliably prevents undesired obj ects to enter the oven or heating cabinet . Further, an inhalation device can be provided which does not require detection means for determining whether or not there is a consumable ( stick) positioned inside the oven, and instead can refer to the oven door position to check i f the consumable is still in the oven . More speci fically, the controller can j udge that there is no consumable stick in the oven when the door moves to the closed position within some predetermined number of seconds after the door closure i s triggered .

Although detailed embodiments have been described, these only serve to provide a better understanding of the invention defined by the independent claims and are not to be seen as limiting .