An Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heating assembly. The heating assembly includes a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating device further includes a detection mechanism. The detection mechanism is configured to detect user commands based on movement of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user. Each one of a set of different defined movements of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user corresponds to a different assigned user command detectable by the detection mechanism. The aerosol generating device further includes a controller configured to control the operation of the aerosol generating device based on user commands detected by the detection mechanism.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly comprises a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article;   a detection mechanism configured to detect user commands based on movement of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user, wherein each one of a set of different defined movements of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user corresponds to a different assigned user command detectable by the detection mechanism; and   a controller configured to control the operation of the aerosol generating device based on user commands detected by the detection mechanism.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of different defined movements includes a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment, wherein clockwise and anticlockwise rotation correspond to different assigned user commands. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of different defined movements includes a user tilting the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment, wherein different tilting directions correspond to different assigned user commands. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection mechanism comprises a plurality of inputs arranged such that each one of the set of different defined movements activates an input of the plurality of inputs corresponding to a user command assigned to that movement. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism further comprises at least one moveable member, wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that the at least one moveable member is displaceable by a defined movement of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user to activate an input of the plurality of inputs corresponding to a user command assigned to that defined movement. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user tilting the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member to activate an input of the plurality of inputs corresponding to a user command assigned to a user tilting the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user tilting the aerosol generating article in any one of a set of different directions in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member to activate an input of the plurality of inputs corresponding to a user command assigned to a user tilting the aerosol generating article in that direction. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member comprising a magnet to change an orientation of the magnet relative to a hall sensor to activate an input of the plurality of inputs in the form of a hall sensor output signal caused by the change in orientation, the input corresponding to a user command assigned to a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member comprising a magnet to change an orientation of the magnet relative to a hall sensor, wherein
 a first input of the plurality of inputs is activated by a clockwise rotation in the form of a first hall sensor output signal caused by the change in orientation, the first input corresponding to a user command assigned to clockwise rotation; and   a second input of the plurality of inputs is activated by an anticlockwise rotation in the form of a second hall sensor output signal caused by the change in orientation, the second input corresponding to a user command assigned to anticlockwise rotation, wherein the first and second hall sensor output signals are different.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 8 , wherein the magnet comprises a diametrically magnetised circular magnet having a north pole and a south pole, wherein the north pole is defined by one curved side and the south pole is defined by an opposite curved side. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member comprising openings causing one or more of the openings to move in and out of alignment with a light emitter and light receiver arranged on either side of the moveable member to activate an input of the plurality of inputs in the form of a light intensity signature, the input corresponding to a user command assigned to a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment displaces a moveable member comprising triangular shaped openings causing one or more of the triangular shaped openings to move in and out of alignment with a light emitter and light receiver arranged on either side of the moveable member to define a light intensity signature, wherein
 a first input of the plurality of inputs is activated by a clockwise rotation in the form of a first light intensity signature, the first input corresponding to a user command assigned to clockwise rotation; and   a second input of the plurality of inputs is activated by an anticlockwise rotation in the form of a second light intensity signature, the second input corresponding to a user command assigned to anticlockwise rotation, wherein the first and second light intensity signatures are different.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism further comprises at least one image sensor, wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that the at least one image sensor detects changes between consecutive images of the aerosol generating article as a user rotates the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment to activate an input of the plurality of inputs in the form of a consecutive images signature, the input corresponding to a user command assigned to a user rotating the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 4 , wherein the detection mechanism further comprises at least one image sensor, wherein the detection mechanism is configured such that the at least one image sensor detects changes between consecutive images of the aerosol generating article as a user rotates the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment, wherein
 a first input of the plurality of inputs is activated by a clockwise rotation in the form of a first consecutive images signature, the first input corresponding to a user command assigned to clockwise rotation; and   a second input of the plurality of inputs is activated by an anticlockwise rotation in the form of a second consecutive images signature, the second input corresponding to a user command assigned to anticlockwise rotation, wherein the first and second consecutive images signatures are different.   
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 13 , wherein the detection mechanism further comprises an LED to illuminate the aerosol generating article to facilitate detection of consecutive images. 
     
     
         16 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly comprises a heating compartment arranged to receive an aerosol generating article;   a plurality of inputs configured to detect user commands based on movement of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user, wherein each one of a set of different defined movements of the aerosol generating article in the heating compartment by a user corresponds to a different assigned user command detectable by the plurality of inputs, wherein the plurality of inputs are arranged such that each one of the set of different defined movements activates an input of the plurality of inputs corresponding to a user command assigned to that movement; and   a controller configured to control operation of the aerosol generating device based on user commands detected by the detection mechanism.