Electronic aerosol provision system

Abstract

A method of generating aerosol from an aerosol generating article which includes portions of aerosol generating material having different compositions from one another. The method includes heating a first aerosol generating material including a first constituent to generate aerosol from the first aerosol generating material; heating a second aerosol generating material including a second constituent different from the first constituent to generate aerosol from the second aerosol generating material, wherein heating the first aerosol generating material and heating the second aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time.

1 . A method of generating aerosol from an aerosol generating article which comprises portions of aerosol generating material having different compositions from one another, the method comprising:
 heating a first aerosol generating material comprising a first constituent to generate aerosol from the first aerosol generating material;   heating a second aerosol generating material comprising a second constituent different from the first constituent to generate aerosol from the second aerosol generating material,   wherein heating the first aerosol generating material and heating the second aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first aerosol generating material is heated to a first temperature at which an aerosol is generated from the first aerosol generating material, and wherein the second aerosol generating material is heated to a second temperature at which aerosol is generated from the second aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first temperature is selectable from a plurality of temperatures, each temperature arranged to cause the first aerosol generating material to generate different amounts of aerosol. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second temperature is selectable from a plurality of temperatures, each temperature arranged to cause the second aerosol generating material to generate different amounts of aerosol. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein prior to heating the first and second aerosol generating materials, the method comprises the steps of:
 selecting a temperature at which to heat the first aerosol generating material; and   selecting a temperature at which to heat the second aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first constituent is an active substance and the second constituent is a flavorant. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , comprising:
 heating the first aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 140° C. to about 220° C., the first aerosol generating material having an active substance content of from 30 to 60 wt % by dry weight of the first aerosol generating material;   heating the second aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 160° C. to about 220° C., the second aerosol generating material having a flavorant content of from 1-60 wt % by dry weight of the aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first constituent is an active substance and the second constituent is an acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , comprising:
 heating the first aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 140° C. to about 220° C., the first aerosol generating material having an active substance content of from 30 to 60 wt % by dry weight of the first aerosol generating material;   heating the second aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 160° C. to about 220° C., the second aerosol generating material having an acid content of from 0.1-8 wt % by dry weight of the second aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first constituent is an active substance and the second constituent is glycerol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 heating the first aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 140° C. to about 220° C., the first aerosol generating material having an active substance content of from 30 to 60 wt % by dry weight of the first aerosol generating material;   heating the second aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 170° C. to about 230° C., the second aerosol generating material having a glycerol content of from 5-80 wt % by dry weigh of the second aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the active substance is nicotine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first constituent is a flavorant and the second constituent is glycerol. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , comprising:
 heating the first aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 160° C. to about 220° C., the first aerosol generating material having a flavorant content of from 5-60 wt % by dry weight of the first aerosol generating material;   heating the second aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 170° C. to about 230° C., the second aerosol generating material having a glycerol content of from 5-80 wt % by dry weigh of the aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising heating a third aerosol generating material comprising a third constituent different from the first and second constituents to generate aerosol from the third aerosol generating material, wherein heating the third aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time as heating the first and second aerosol generating materials. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising heating a third aerosol generating material comprising a third constituent different from the first and second constituents to generate aerosol from the third aerosol generating material, wherein heating the third aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time as heating the first and second aerosol generating material, wherein the third constituent is glycerol. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising heating the third aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 170° C. to about 230° C., the third aerosol generating material having a glycerol content of from 5 to 80 wt % by dry weight of the third aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising heating a fourth aerosol generating material comprising a fourth constituent different from the first, second and third constituents to generate aerosol from the fourth aerosol generating material, wherein heating the fourth aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time as heating the first, second and third aerosol generating materials. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising heating a third aerosol generating material comprising a third constituent different from the first and second constituents to generate aerosol from the third aerosol generating material, and a fourth aerosol generating material comprising a fourth constituent different from the first, second and third constituents to generate aerosol from the fourth aerosol generating material, wherein heating the third and fourth aerosol generating materials occur at substantially the same time as heating the first and second aerosol generating materials, the method further comprising:
 heating the third aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 160° C. to about 220° C., the third aerosol generating material having an acid content of from 0.1-8 wt % by dry weight of the third aerosol generating material; and   heating the fourth aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature of from about 170° C. to about 230° C., the fourth aerosol generating material having a glycerol content of from 5 to 80 wt % by dry weight of the fourth aerosol generating material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol generating material is an amorphous solid. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method includes heating any one or more of the portions of aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature below a temperature sufficient to generate aerosol from the respective portion of aerosol generating material, before heating the portion of aerosol generating material to a maximum temperature to generate aerosol from the portion of aerosol generating material. 
     
     
         22 . An aerosol provision device for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating article which comprises portions of aerosol generating material having different compositions from one another, the device comprising:
 a plurality of heating elements; and   control circuitry configured to implement the method of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         23 . An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device according to  claim 22 , and an aerosol generating article comprising a first aerosol generating material comprising a first constituent and a second aerosol generating material comprising a second constituent. 
     
     
         24 . An aerosol provision means for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating article which comprises portions of aerosol generating material having different compositions from one another, the means comprising:
 a plurality of heating means; and   control means configured to:
 cause heating of a first aerosol generating material comprising a first constituent to generate aerosol from the first aerosol generating material; 
 cause heating of a second aerosol generating material comprising a second constituent different from the first constituent to generate aerosol from the second aerosol generating material, 
   wherein heating the first aerosol generating material and heating the second aerosol generating material occurs at substantially the same time.