Aerosol provision system comprising a charging unit

Abstract

An aerosol provision system includes an aerosol provision device having a first controller and a first electrical energy storage device, a charging unit for charging the aerosol provision device, the charging unit having a second controller and a second electrical energy storage device, wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged, (i) to determine if the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit, (ii) when it is determined that the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit, to determine a first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use and/or to determine a second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use.

1 . An aerosol provision system comprising:
 an aerosol provision device comprising a first controller and a first electrical energy storage device;   a charging unit for charging the aerosol provision device, the charging unit comprising a second controller and a second electrical energy storage device;   wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:   (i) to determine if the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit;   (ii) when it is determined that the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit, to determine a first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use and/or to determine a second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use.   
     
     
         2 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein if the second controller determines that the aerosol provision device is not electrically connected to the charging unit then the second controller is further arranged to cause the second electrical energy storage device to be charged by an external power supply in the event that the charging unit is connected to an external power supply; 
     
     
         3 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that it is desired to commence a first session of use;   (ii) to determine whether the determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device is sufficient to be able to energize the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use; and   (iii) optionally to commence the first session of use if the determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device is determined as being sufficient to energize the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use.   
     
     
         4 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that it is desired to commence a first session of use;   (ii) to determine whether a second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device is sufficient to be able to energize the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use; and   (iii) optionally to commence the first session of use if the determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device is determined as being sufficient to energize the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use.   
     
     
         5 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that it is desired to commence a first session of use;   (ii) to determine whether the determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device and a determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device are in combination sufficient to be able to energise the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use; and   (iii) optionally to commence the first session of use if the determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device and the determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device are in combination determined as being sufficient to energise the aerosol provision device for the whole of the intended first session of use.   
     
     
         6 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine if the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit;   (ii) to determine that the charging unit is connected to an external power supply; and   (iii) to cause the first electrical energy storage device to be charged by the external power supply.   
     
     
         7 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged to cause the first electrical energy storage device to be charged by the external power supply if either:
 (i) a determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device is below a first threshold; and/or   (ii) a determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device is above a second threshold.   
     
     
         8 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  any preceding claim 1 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit;   (ii) to determine that the charging unit is connected to an external power supply; and   (iii) to cause the second electrical energy storage device to be charged by the external power supply.   
     
     
         9 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged to cause the second electrical energy storage device to be charged by the external power supply if either:
 (i) a determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device is below a second threshold; and/or (ii) a determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device is above a first threshold.   
     
     
         10 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit;   (ii) to determine that the charging unit is not connected to an external power supply; and   (iii) to cause the first electrical energy storage device to be charged by the second electrical energy storage device.   
     
     
         11 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged to cause the first electrical energy storage device to be charged by second electrical energy storage device if either:
 (i) a determined first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device is below a first threshold; and/or   (ii) a determined second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device is above a second threshold.   
     
     
         12 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the first threshold is within a range: (i) <20 mAh; (ii) 20-40 mAh; (iii) 40-60 mAh; (iv) 60-80 mAh; (v) 80-100 mAh; (vi) 100-120 mAh; (vii) 120-140 mAh; (viii) 140-160 mAh; (ix) 160-180 mAh; or (x) 180-200 mAh. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol provision system as  claimed in 7 , wherein the second threshold is within a range: (i) <200 mAh; (ii) 200-400 mAh; (iii) 400-600 mAh; (iv) 600-800 mAh; (v) 800-1000 mAh; (vi) 1000-1200 mAh; (vii) 1200-1400 mAh;
 (viii) 1400-1600 mAh; (ix) 1600-1800 mAh; or (x) 1800-2000 mAh.   
     
     
         14 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in any  claim 1 , wherein either the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that the charging unit is connected to an external power supply;   (ii) to determine that it is desired to commence a first session of use; and   (iii) optionally to disable electrical charging of the aerosol provision device by the external power supply; and   (iv) optionally to disable electrical charging of the charging unit by the external power supply.   
     
     
         15 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged either:
 (i) to disable electrical charging of the aerosol provision device by an external power supply at substantially the same time as disabling electrical charging of the charging unit by the external power supply;   (ii) to disable electrical charging of the aerosol provision device by an external power supply and then to disable electrical charging of the charging unit by the external power supply after a time delay; or   (iii) to disable electrical charging of the charging unit by an external power supply and then to disable electrical charging of the aerosol provision device by the external power supply after a time delay.   
     
     
         16 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller and/or the second controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that a first session of use has commenced;   (ii) to determine that the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit; and   (iii) to cause the aerosol provision device to be at least partially energized by the second electrical storage device in order to continue the first session of use.   
     
     
         17 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first controller is arranged:
 (i) to determine that a first session of use has commenced;   (ii) to determine that the aerosol provision device has been electrically disconnected from the charging unit during the first session of use; and   (iii) to cause the aerosol provision device to be energized by the first electrical storage device in order to continue the first session of use.   
     
     
         18 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical energy storage device comprises either: (i) a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO 4 ) battery; or (ii) a lithium titanate or lithium titanium oxide (LTO) battery. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol provision system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical energy storage device has a capacity in the range: (i) <50 mAh; (ii) 50-100 mAh; (iii) 100-150 mAh; or (iv) 150-200 mAh. 
     
     
         20 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of operating an aerosol provision system comprising:
 providing an aerosol provision device comprising a first electrical energy storage device and a charging unit for charging the aerosol provision device, the charging unit comprising a second electrical energy storage device;   determining if the aerosol provision device is electrically connected to the charging unit; and   determining a first capacity of the first electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use and/or determining a second capacity of the second electrical energy storage device prior to commencing a first session of use.