Aerosol provision device

Abstract

An aerosol provision device (101) for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material is provided. The device has a receptacle (212) defining a heating zone (215) for receiving at least a portion of an article (110) comprising aerosol-generating material, a heating assembly (201) comprising a heating element (320, 420) arranged to heat the article in the heating zone and a detector arrangement (180) configured to detect a characteristic indicative of a density of aerosol-generating material in a portion of an article received in the heating zone. The device further comprises a control module (244) in communication with the detector arrangement and configured to control an operation of the device in dependence on the characteristic indicative of a density.

1 . An aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material, comprising:
 a receptacle defining a heating zone for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol-generating material;   a detector arrangement configured to detect a characteristic indicative of a density of aerosol-generating material in a portion of an article received in the heating zone; and   a control module in communication with the detector arrangement and configured to control an operation of the device in dependence on the characteristic indicative of a density.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , wherein the detector arrangement comprises an optical sensor arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The optical sensor arrangement of  claim 2 , wherein the optical sensor arrangement comprises an optical emitter and an optical sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to determine the characteristic indicative of a density based at least in part on an input from the optical sensor arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , wherein the detector arrangement is configured to determine an image. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 5 , wherein the control module is configured to determine a characteristic of the image. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 6 , wherein the control module is configured to determine the characteristic of a density based at least in part on the characteristic of the image. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 5 , wherein the detector arrangement is an x-ray imaging arrangement configured to output an x-ray image. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , comprising a heating assembly including a heating element arranged to heat the article in the heating zone. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 9 , comprising a protruding member protruding in the heating zone configured to pierce at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol-generating material when the article is received in the heating zone. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 10 , wherein the protruding member comprises the heating element. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 10 , comprising a load sensor configured to determine an axial force exerted on the protruding member. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 12 , wherein the control module is configured to determine the characteristic of a density based at least in part on an output from the load sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , wherein the detector arrangement comprises a detector module arranged to determine a characteristic indicative of an airflow volume through the device when in use, and wherein the control module is configured to determine the characteristic of a density based at least in part on the characteristic indicative of an airflow volume through the device. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol provision device of  claim 14 , wherein the characteristic indicative of an airflow volume through the device comprises at least one of a change in temperature and a rate of change of temperature of a temperature sensitive component in the device. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 14 , wherein the detector module is configured to determine a characteristic indicative of an airflow volume through the device by measuring the pressure drop across the heating zone during use. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the control module is configured to modify a heating profile of the device in response to the determination of the characteristic of a density. 
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device of  claim 1 , and an article containing aerosol generating material arranged to be at least partially received in the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating an aerosol provision device for generating an aerosol from aerosol-generating material, the method comprising:
 detecting a characteristic of at least a portion of an article indicative of a density of aerosol-generating material in the portion of the article received in a heating zone defined by a receptacle of the device; and   controlling an operation of the device in dependence on the characteristic indicative of a density.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein controlling an operation of the device comprises controlling an operation of a heating assembly comprising a heating element arranged to heat the portion of the article received in the heating zone.