Aerosol Generation Device and Consumable Article with Thermal Properties Recognition

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device and a consumable article. In particular, the invention relates to an aerosol generation device with an electrical interface for connecting with an electrical interface of the consumable article for determining the thermal properties of a heat transfer element of the consumable article. The aerosol generation device includes a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface, circuitry and an electrical interface. The electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected with an electrical interface of the consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the circuitry of the aerosol generation device and an electrical interface of the consumable article. The aerosol generation device is further configured to obtain a temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.

1 . An aerosol generation device comprising:
 a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface;   electrical circuitry; and   an electrical interface, wherein   the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected to an electrical interface of a consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article, and   wherein the aerosol generation device is configured to obtain a temperature of a heat transfer element of the consumable article by means of the electrical circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the consumable article to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device comprises one or more second electrical connectors complementary to one or more corresponding first electrical connectors of the consumable article. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more first and second electrical connectors of the aerosol generation device comprise one or more pogo pins and one or more complementary pogo pin receptables. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical circuit is configured such that an electrical resistance of the heat transfer element of the consumable article can be measured in the aerosol generation device. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol general device is configured to control the power supplied to the heating element based on the temperature of the heat transfer element obtained by the aerosol generation device. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein the power control is based on a predetermined threshold temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generation device according to  claim 6 , wherein controlling the power supplied to the heating element comprises turning the heating element on or off and/or adjusting an amount of power supplied to the heating element. 
     
     
         9 . A consumable article for use with an aerosol generation device comprising a heating element having a contact surface forming a thermal interface, and an electrical interface, the consumable article comprising:
 a heat transfer element configured to be heated by the heating element of the aerosol generation device when contacted by the thermal interface of the heating element;   an aerosol generation substrate configured to be heated by the heat transfer element; and   an electrical interface electrically connectable with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical interface of the consumable article and an electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device, thereby enabling the aerosol generation device to obtain a temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.   
     
     
         10 . The consumable according to  claim 9 , wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article is configured to mechanically connect with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device to releasably secure the consumable article to the aerosol generation device. 
     
     
         11 . The consumable article according to  claim 9 , wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article comprises one or more first electrical connectors or more second electrical connectors corresponding to the one or more first electrical connectors for connecting with the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device. 
     
     
         12 . The consumable article according to  claim 11 , wherein the one or more first electrical connectors comprise one or more pogo pins and the one or more second electrical connectors comprise one or more pogo pin receptables, and/or vice versa. 
     
     
         13 . The consumable article according to  claim 9 , wherein the electrical interface of the consumable article is integrally formed in the heat-transfer element. 
     
     
         14 . The consumable article according to  claim 9 , wherein the heat-transfer element comprises of a metal, a metal alloy, or a heat conductive ceramic. 
     
     
         15 . A system comprising:
 an aerosol generation device comprising: 
 a heating element having a contacting surface providing a thermal interface; 
 electrical circuitry; and 
 an electrical interface; and 
   a consumable article connectable to the aerosol generation device, the consumable article comprising: 
 a heat transfer element heatable when contacted by the thermal interface of the heating element; 
 an aerosol generation substrate heatable by the heat transfer element; and 
 an electrical interface in connection with the heat transfer element; 
   wherein the electrical interface of the aerosol generation device is configured to be electrically connected with the electrical interface of the consumable article when the consumable article is connected to the aerosol generation device such that an electrical circuit is formed between the electrical circuitry of the aerosol generation device and the electrical interface of the consumable article, and   wherein the aerosol generation device is configured to obtain the temperature of the heat transfer element by means of the electrical circuit.