Aerosol provision system

Abstract

There is provided an aerosol generating device that can include an air path including an aerosol generating region; a porous element downstream of the aerosol generating region located in the air path; and a sensor for determining a change in a characteristic of airflow in the air path to indicate a change in a characteristic of the porous element.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 an air path including an aerosol generating region;   a porous element downstream of the aerosol generating region located in the air path; and   a sensor for determining a change in a characteristic of airflow in the air path to indicate a change in a characteristic of the porous element.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is arranged to determine the change in at least one of the following characteristics:
 pressure of the airflow in the air path;   temperature of the airflow in the air path;   humidity of the airflow in the air path;   density of vapor in the air path;   change in content of the airflow in the air path; or   direction of the airflow of the air path.   
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller arranged to receive a signal relating to the determination of the sensor of the change in the characteristic of the airflow in the air path, wherein the controller is arranged to prevent activation of the aerosol generating device in response to a predetermined value of the determination of the sensor.   
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous element is arranged to become less porous over time of use. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous element comprises a plurality of channels through the porous element through which air can pass, and wherein the porous element is arranged such that, over a predetermined amount of use, a majority of the plurality of channels close to prevent air passing through the channels. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein a majority of the plurality of channels of the porous element are arranged to close when the porous element is subjected to airflow at about 40° ° C. to about 120° C. for a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous element comprises a flavorant. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the flavorant is at least one of menthol, fruit, tobacco, or blends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling provision of an aerosol in an aerosol provision device, the method comprising:
 providing an air path comprising an aerosol generating region;   providing an aerosol generating medium;   providing a porous element downstream of the aerosol generating region;   providing a sensor;   determining, by the sensor, a change in a characteristic of airflow in the air path;   subsequently determining a change in a characteristic of the porous element; and   generating or not generating an aerosol in response to the determined change in the characteristic of the porous element.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein generating or not generating the aerosol in response to the determined change in the characteristic of the porous element comprises:
 determining whether the characteristic is outside predetermined acceptable values of the characteristic; and   generating an aerosol when the characteristic is within the predetermined acceptable values and not generating an aerosol when the characteristic is outside the predetermined acceptable values.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , further comprising:
 indicating to a user that an aerosol has not been generated as a result of the characteristic being outside the predetermined acceptable values.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic of the airflow in the air path is at least one of:
 temperature of the airflow in the air path;   pressure of the airflow in the air path upstream of the porous element;   pressure of the airflow in the air path downstream of the porous element;   humidity of the airflow in the air path;   density of vapor in the air path;   content of the airflow in the air path; or   orientation of the air path.   
     
     
         13 . An aerosol provision system comprising:
 the aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 ; and   aerosol generating material located within the aerosol generating region.   
     
     
         14 . Aerosol provision means comprising:
 an air path including an aerosol generating region;   a porous element downstream of the aerosol generating region located in the air path; and   sensing means for determining a change in a characteristic of airflow in the air path to indicate a change in a characteristic of the porous element.