Patent Description:
The invention also concerns a controlling method for controlling such an aerosol generation device.

Some aerosol generation devices known in the art comprise a part suitable for receiving a consumable article, such as a tobacco article, in particular a cigarette. In this case, these devices are generally adapted to heat the consumable article without burning it and thus, are usually called "heat not-burn" devices. These devices generally comprise a heater for heating the consumable article. Thus, the aerosol generated from the consumable article is generated by heating the consumable article and delivered to the user through a mouth portion of the consumable article. Some examples of known aerosol generation devices are disclosed in <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

Those known devices may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), e.g. by activating a heater system for a variable period of time, which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may consist of a vaping button adapted to be actuated by the user or a pressure sensor activating the heater upon detection an airflow inside the device.

However, the use of such a vaping button or pressure sensor for activating and/or deactivating the heater may result in a complicated control of the operation of the heater for some users and/or an excessive power consumption by the heater due to an improper use of the vaping button or pressure sensor.

One aim of the invention is to provide an aerosol generation device designed to operate with a consumable article easier to control by a user.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol generation device designed to operate with a consumable article, comprising:.

wherein each sensor comprises a roller movable in rotation when the consumable article is being received in the corresponding portion of the socket or extracted from this portion.

Thanks to these features of the invention, it is possible to control the operation of the heater according to the position of the consumable article inside the socket. The position of the consumable article inside the socket can thus determine the mode of operation of the heater. Moreover, using two sensors configured to detect the consumable article inside two different portions of the socket, it is possible to control the operation of the heater based on the detection or non-detection of the consumable article inside a specific portion of the socket. Controlling the operation of the device is thus more intuitive and easier for a user since the user can visualize the position of the consumable article inside the socket as compared to the existing solutions comprising a vaping button.

Additionally, the use of sensors comprising rollers movable in rotation enables to obtain a simple structure of the aerosol generation device. Thus, using rollers enables to limit the manufacturing costs of the aerosol generation device while obtaining an accurate control of the heater. Moreover, rollers enable to generate control signals which can be easily processed to control the operation of the heater.

According to some embodiments, the socket extends along a socket axis, the second sensor and the first sensor being arranged successively along to the socket axis.

Thanks to these features, control of the operation of the heater depends on an insertion position or extraction position of the consumable article along the socket axis.

According to some embodiments, the socket is delimited by an internal wall, each sensor being arranged in an aperture formed on the internal wall and protruding from this aperture.

According to some embodiments, each sensor is configured to provide the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller.

Thanks to these features, control of the operation of the heater is based on an insertion direction or on an extraction direction of the consumable article.

According to some embodiments, the controller is configured to control the operation of the heater according to a control logic depending on each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

Thanks to these features, it is possible to predetermine activation and deactivation moments of the heater based on the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal.

According to some embodiments, each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is positive when the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller corresponds to an insertion direction of the consumable article in the corresponding portion of the socket, negative when the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller corresponds to an extraction direction of the consumable article from the corresponding portion of the socket, and null otherwise.

Thanks to these features, the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal are representative of the insertion direction inside the socket or the extraction direction from the socket of the consumable article. Control of the operation of the heater thus depends on the direction of the movement of the consumable article among the insertion direction and the extraction direction of the consumable article.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes activating the operation of the heater if each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is positive.

Thanks to these features, the heater is activated only when the consumable article is being inserted and is already inside both first and second portions of the heater. Moreover, when the second sensor and the first sensor are arranged successively along the socket axis, the heater is activated when the consumable article is sufficiently inserted inside the socket. This prevents an untimely activation of the heater. These features also prevent unnecessary power consumption when, after having partly inserted the consumable article inside the socket, the user finally decides not to vape.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes maintaining current state of the heater if the first sensor signal is positive and the second signal is null, or the first sensor signal is negative and the second sensor signal is negative.

When the first sensor signal is positive and the second sensor signal is null, the consumable article is being inserted and is detected inside the first portion of the socket only. In this situation, the control logic enables to avoid activation of the heater when the consumable article is not detected inside the second portion of the socket. In this configuration of the control logic, no action is taken by the controller. Untimely activation of the heater and waste of a power supply supplying the heater can thus be avoided.

When the first sensor signal is negative and the second signal is negative, the consumable article is being extracted and detected inside both first and second portions of the socket. In this situation, the control logic including maintaining the current state of the heater enables, for example, to maintain the activated state of the heater while the consumable article is being extracted. In this configuration of the control logic, no action is taken by the controller. Thanks to these features, untimely deactivation of the heater can be avoided.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes maintaining current state of the heater if each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is null after being positive.

Thanks to these features, activation of the heater is maintained when the consumable article is detected inside both first and second portions of the socket. In this configuration of the control logic, no action is taken by the controller.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes deactivating the operation of the heater if each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is null after being negative.

Thanks to these features, the heater is deactivated when the consumable article is extracted from both first and second portions of the socket. Moreover, when the second sensor and the first sensor are arranged successively along the socket axis, the heater is thus deactivated when the consumable article is sufficiently extracted from the socket. These features make it possible to ensure that the user is willing to stop vaping. This prevents an untimely deactivation of the heater while the user moves unintentionally the consumable article in an extraction direction while willing to continue vaping. These features thus also enable to reduce power consumption of the heater due to untimely deactivation and activation of the heater.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes maintaining current state of the heater if the first sensor signal is negative and the second signal is null.

Thanks to these features, the current state of the heater is maintained when the consumable article is being extracted from the socket and is detected inside the first portion of the socket only. Thus, it is possible to maintain the activated state of the heater when the consumable article is being extracted from the socket but still detected inside the first portion of the socket.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes deactivating the operation of the heater if the first sensor signal is negative and the second sensor signal is null.

In other words, the operation of the heater is deactivated when the consumable article is being extracted from the socket and is detected inside the first portion of the socket only.

According to some embodiments, the control logic includes maintaining current state of the heater if each of the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal is null.

In other words, when each roller of the first and second sensors does not rotate (i.e. are stationary), no action is taken by the controller.

The invention also concerns a controlling method for controlling an aerosol generation device as defined above, comprising controlling the operation of the heater according to both sensor signals.

As used herein, the term "aerosol generation device" or "device" may include a vaping device configured to deliver aerosol to a user generated from at least a consumable article received into the device. The device may be portable. "Portable" may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate an amount of aerosol by activating a heater configured to heat the consumable article when the consumable article is received in a socket of the aerosol generation device.

As used herein, the term "controller" refers to a component of the aerosol generation device, configured to control the operation of the heater. The operation of the heater may include activating, deactivating and maintaining the current state of the heater. The controller may be configured to send a signal to the heater for controlling the operation of the heater. The controller may also include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heating of a vaporizable material and/or the heating of the tobacco article to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term "consumable article" may refer to a consumable article and may be a capsule, a stick or a ready-made cigarette containing a vaporizable material.

As used herein, the term "vaporizable material" or "precursor" or "aerosol forming substance" or "substance" is used to designate any material that is vaporizable in air to form aerosol. Vaporization is generally obtained by a temperature increase up to the boiling point of the vaporization material, such as at a temperature less than <NUM>, preferably up to <NUM>. The vaporizable material may, for example, comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating liquid, gel, wax, foam or the like, an aerosol-generating solid that may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination of these. The vaporizable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine, caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin. A flavoring may also be present. The flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar.

As used herein, the term "aerosol" may include a suspension of one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapor. Aerosol may be formed by the consumable article and may comprise one or several components of it. Aerosol may be inhaled by a user of the aerosol generation device through a mouth portion of the consumable article.

An aerosol generation device <NUM> according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown on <FIG>. The aerosol generation device <NUM> is designed to operate with a consumable article <NUM>.

In the particular example shown on <FIG>, the consumable article <NUM> is a stick having a cylindrical shape having a circular or elliptical cross-section. The stick may have a length comprised between <NUM> and <NUM> and a diameter comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>. As a variant, the consumable article <NUM> may have a different shape. For example, the stick is a ready-made cigarette. According to another example, the stick presents a flat-shape stick having a rectangular cross-section. The consumable article <NUM> may have a filter portion designed to be in contact with the user's mouth/lips and a storage portion designed to store a vaporizable material. The storage portion is designed to be heated by the heater of the device <NUM> as it will be explained below in further detail. The heating temperature of the storage portion is for example less than <NUM> and is preferably comprised between <NUM> and <NUM>. Advantageously, the heating temperature is substantially equal to <NUM>. More generally, the heating temperature is chosen to not burn but only heat the vaporizable material.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> is described in the following in reference to <FIG>.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> extends along an axis X called hereinafter "device axis X". In the following description, the term "length" refers to a dimension of an element of the aerosol generation measured along the device axis X.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> comprises an outside casing <NUM> and internal components arranged in the outside casing <NUM>. The outside casing <NUM> delimits an internal volume <NUM> and comprises a side surface <NUM> extending along the device axis X. The side surface <NUM> may present for example a smooth surface.

The internal components of the aerosol generation device <NUM> comprise a socket <NUM> configured to receive the consumable article <NUM> and a heater <NUM> configured to heat the consumable article <NUM> when it is received in the socket <NUM>. The internal components further comprise at least a first sensor 24A and a second sensor 24B configured to detect the consumable article <NUM> inside at least a first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>, respectively a second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>, a controller <NUM> configured to control the operation of the heater <NUM> and a battery <NUM> for powering the device <NUM>.

The aerosol generation device <NUM> may further comprise other components performing different functionalities of the device. These other components are known per se and will be not explained in further detail below.

The battery <NUM> is for example a known battery designed to be charged using the power supply furnished by an external charger and to provide a direct current of a predetermined voltage. The battery <NUM> is for example configured to power the heater <NUM> and the controller <NUM>.

The socket <NUM> is configured to receive the consumable article <NUM>. The socket <NUM> extends along a socket axis. In the example shown in <FIG>, the socket axis coincides with the device axis X. The socket axis is referred hereinafter as "socket axis Y". The socket <NUM> is delimited by an internal wall <NUM>. The internal wall <NUM> comprises a lateral portion <NUM> and a bottom portion <NUM>. The lateral portion <NUM> may have an annular shape. The bottom portion <NUM> may be substantially perpendicular to the socket axis Y. The internal wall <NUM> and the bottom portion <NUM> define a receiving hole <NUM>. At one end of the socket <NUM> along the socket axis Y, the receiving hole <NUM> opens at the exterior of the aerosol generation device <NUM> by an insertion opening <NUM> and at the other extremity of the socket <NUM> along the socket axis Y, the receiving hole <NUM> is closed by the bottom portion <NUM>. For example, the socket axis Y is oriented from the bottom portion <NUM> of the socket <NUM> to the insertion opening <NUM>. The receiving hole <NUM> may have a shape adapted to the shape of the consumable article <NUM>. The length of the receiving hole <NUM> is, for example, smaller than the length of the consumable article <NUM> such that a mouth portion of the consumable article <NUM> protrudes from the receiving hole <NUM> when the consumable article <NUM> is inserted into the socket <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

For each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B, the internal wall <NUM> of the socket <NUM> comprises an aperture referred hereinafter as "first socket aperture 30A" and "second socket aperture 30B" respectively. Advantageously, the first socket aperture 30A and the second socket aperture 30B are formed in the lateral portion <NUM> of the internal wall <NUM>. Each socket aperture 30A, 30B may be a through-aperture. The first socket aperture 30A and the second socket aperture 30B are at a distance from each other along the socket axis Y. According to the example shown on <FIG>, the first socket aperture 30A is formed in a first half of the socket <NUM> and the second socket aperture 30B is formed in the second half of the socket <NUM>. The first half of the socket <NUM> and the second half of the socket <NUM> are defined respectively on one side and on the other side of a median plane of the socket <NUM>. The median plane of the socket <NUM> is substantially perpendicular to the socket axis Y and cuts the socket <NUM> in two substantially parts having substantially the same length. In the example shown on <FIG>, the first socket aperture 30A is above the second socket aperture 30B along the socket axis Y.

As shown on <FIG>, the heater <NUM> is at least partially adjacent to the socket <NUM>. In particular, the heater <NUM> surrounds the socket <NUM>. More precisely, the heater <NUM> is at least partially adjacent to the internal wall <NUM> of the socket <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be made of at least one heating portion. According to an example, the heater <NUM> may comprise a unique heating portion. According to a variant, the heater <NUM> may comprise a plurality of heating portions. In this case, the plurality of heating portions may be arranged successively along the receiving hole <NUM>, i.e. along the socket axis Y. The or each heating portion may have an annular shape. In a cross section plane perpendicular to the socket axis Y, the or each heating portion may have a shape adapted to the shape of the internal wall <NUM> and in particular to the shape of the lateral portion <NUM> of the internal wall <NUM>. As an example, said shape of the or each heating portion is circular. The or each heating portion may be made of a heating film suitable for heat transfer. The heating film may be made in a flexible material. According to a variant, the or each heating portion may be made of a metal or any other material suitable for heat transfer.

According to other embodiments, the heater <NUM> may be at least partially arranged in the internal wall <NUM> of the socket <NUM> and notably in the lateral portion <NUM> and/or the bottom portion <NUM> of this wall <NUM>.

According to a particular example of the invention, the heater <NUM> is a cup-shaped heater.

In the example of <FIG>, for each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B, the heater <NUM> defines an opening referred hereinafter as "first heater opening 22A" and "second heater opening 22B". Each heater opening 22A, 22B may be a through-opening. The first heater opening 22A and the second heater opening 22B faces respectively with the first socket aperture 30A and the second socket aperture 30B. Each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B protrudes from the corresponding heater opening 22A, 22B. In the specific example shown on <FIG>, the heater <NUM> has a unique heating portion <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> is configured to heat the consumable article <NUM> at a heating temperature.

The first sensor 24A, respectively the second sensor 24B, is configured to detect the consumable article <NUM> inside the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>, respectively the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM> and to generate a first sensor signal S24A, respectively a second sensor signal S24B. According to the example of the invention, the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM> corresponds to the part of the receiving hole <NUM> arranged in front of the first socket aperture 30A and the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM> corresponds to the part of the receiving hole <NUM> arranged in front of the second socket aperture 30B. In the specific example shown on <FIG>, the aerosol generation device <NUM> comprises two sensors. However, in a general case, the number of sensors can be greater than two. In this case, each sensor is configured to detect the consumable article <NUM> inside a respective portion of the socket <NUM>.

Advantageously, the second sensor 24B and the first sensor 24A are arranged successively along the socket axis Y. In particular, the first sensor 24A is arranged closer to the insertion opening <NUM> of the receiving hole <NUM> than the second sensor 24B. Each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B protrudes from the corresponding socket aperture 30A, 30B. In other words, the first sensor 24A is above the second sensor 24B along the socket axis Y. Thus, when the consumable article <NUM> is inserted inside the socket <NUM>, the first sensor 24A is configured to detect first the consumable article <NUM> and the second sensor 24B is configured to detect the consumable article <NUM> after the first sensor 24A. Each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B is arranged in the corresponding socket aperture 30A, 30B and protrudes from this socket aperture 30A, 30B. Moreover, each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B is arranged in the corresponding heater opening 22A, 22B and protrudes from this heater opening 22A, 22B. The first sensor 24A crosses the first half of the socket <NUM> and the second sensor 24B crosses the second half of the socket <NUM>.

Each of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B comprises a roller 40A, 40B mobile in rotation when the consumable article <NUM> is being received in the corresponding portion 20A, 20B of the socket <NUM> or extracted from this portion 20A, 20B. The rollers 40A, 40B will be referred hereinafter as "first roller 40A" and "second roller 40B" respectively. Each roller 40A, 40B is mobile in rotation along a rotation axis perpendicular to the socket axis Y. The first roller 40A and the second roller 40B are arranged in the corresponding socket aperture 30A, 30B such that a contact portion of each of the first roller 40A and the second roller 40B is configured to be in contact with the consumable article <NUM> while it is being inserted in the socket <NUM> and extracted from the socket <NUM>. In particular, each of the first roller 40A and the second roller 40B is configured to be rotated by the consumable article <NUM> while it is being inserted in or extracted from the socket <NUM>.

Each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is configured to provide the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B. For example, each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B may be a voltage signal which can be positive (+) when the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B corresponds to an insertion direction of the consumable article <NUM> in the corresponding portion 20A, 20B of the socket <NUM>. The insertion direction is parallel to the socket axis Y. According to the same example, each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B may be negative (-) when the direction of rotation of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B corresponds to an extraction direction of the consumable article <NUM> from the corresponding portion 20A, 20B of the socket <NUM>. The extraction direction is parallel to the socket axis Y. Thus, as shown on <FIG> and <FIG> and according to the same example, each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>) (i.e. no signal sensor generated) when the corresponding roller 40A, 40B is not moving. As shown on <FIG> and <FIG>, the insertion direction of the consumable article <NUM> inside the socket <NUM> corresponds to the trigonometric direction of rotation of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B and, as shown on <FIG> and <FIG>, the extraction direction of the consumable article <NUM> from the socket <NUM> corresponds to the anti-trigonometric direction of rotation of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B. According to another embodiment, each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B can be equal to a predetermined value when the corresponding roller 40A, 40B is not moving and above or below this value when the corresponding roller 40A, 40B is rotating in an insertion direction or respectively an extraction direction of the consumable article <NUM>. Of course, many other forms and types of signal are possible to encode the rotation direction of the corresponding roller 40A, 40B.

The controller <NUM> is adapted to control the operation of the heater <NUM> according to both first sensor signal S24A and second sensor signal S24B generated by the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B respectively. More generally, the controller <NUM> is configured to control the operation of the heater <NUM> according to a control logic <NUM> depending on the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated by the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B respectively. In other words, the control logic <NUM> depends on the current first sensor signal S24A and the current second sensor signal S24B generated by the corresponding sensors 24A, 24B. The control logic <NUM> may also depends on the previous first sensor signal and the previous second sensor signal. The previous first sensor signal and the previous second sensor signal correspond respectively to the first sensor signal and the second sensor signal generated just before the current first sensor signal S24A and the current second sensor signal S24B.

The controller <NUM> is configured to send control signals to the heater <NUM> to control the heater <NUM> according to the control logic <NUM>. The control signals are referred hereinafter as "activation control signal AS", "deactivation control signal DS" and "null control signal NS". Advantageously, the null control signal NS corresponds to no signal sent by the controller <NUM>.

As shown on <FIG>, the controller <NUM> may comprise a memory <NUM> which can comprise a non-volatile part 42A configured to store the control logic <NUM>. The control logic <NUM> may be defined at a service center of the aerosol generation device <NUM> or during its manufacturing. In some examples, the control logic <NUM> may be defined or modified by the user using for example an external device like a smartphone. In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> may further comprise a volatile part 42B (like a RAM) configured to store the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B along the time. In particular, this part 42B of the memory <NUM> may be adapted to store the direction of rotation of the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B along time, that is to say, if the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B are positive (+), negative (-) or null (<NUM>). As a particular example, the volatile part 42B of the memory <NUM> is configured to store the current first sensor signal S24A and the current second sensor signal S24B, at least the previous first sensor signal S24A and at least the previous second sensor signal S24B. Thus, the memory <NUM> can present a double-buffered memory.

A controlling method for controlling an aerosol generation device <NUM> according to the first embodiment will now be explained.

The controlling method comprises controlling the operation of the heater <NUM> according to both first sensor 24A and second sensor 24B.

Initially, it is considered that the consumable article <NUM> is extracted from the socket <NUM> and the aerosol generation device <NUM> is deactivated. When the aerosol generation device <NUM> is deactivated, the first signal sensor S24A and S24B are null (<NUM>). In other words, no signal is generated by the first and the second sensors 24A and 24B. Moreover, when the aerosol generation device <NUM> is deactivated, the controller <NUM> sends a null control signal NS to the heater <NUM> (i.e. no signal is sent by the controller <NUM> to the heater <NUM>).

Then, the user starts to insert the consumable article <NUM> in the socket <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Upon detection of the consumable article <NUM> in the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>, the controller <NUM> operates the heater <NUM> according to the control logic <NUM>. <FIG> and <FIG> show the following positions of the consumable article <NUM> during its insertion.

Particularly, in reference to <FIG>, the consumable article <NUM> is being inserted inside the socket <NUM> and has already passed the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>. During the insertion, the first roller 40A of the first sensor 24A is mobile in rotation in a direction corresponding to the insertion of the consumable article <NUM> inside the socket <NUM> and the second roller 40B is stationary. The first sensor 24A thus detects the consumable article <NUM> inside the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>. On the contrary, the second sensor 24B does not detect the consumable article <NUM> inside the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>. The first sensor signal S24A generated is positive (+) and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>). The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are sent to the controller <NUM>. In reference to <FIG>, in this case, the control logic <NUM> includes maintaining the current state of the heater <NUM> since the first sensor signal S24A is positive (+) and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>). In the present case, the current state of the heater <NUM> is deactivation of the heater <NUM>. According to the control logic <NUM>, the controller <NUM> does not send any control signal (i.e. null control signal NS) to the heater <NUM> and thus maintains deactivation of the heater <NUM>.

In reference to <FIG>, the consumable article <NUM> is being inserted in the socket <NUM> and has already passed both portions 20A, 20B. During the insertion, both first roller 40A and second roller 40B are mobile in rotation in a direction corresponding to the insertion of the consumable article <NUM> inside the socket <NUM>. The consumable article <NUM> is thus detected by the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B inside both the first portion 20A and the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>. The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are both positive (+). The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are sent to the controller <NUM>. In reference to <FIG>, the control logic <NUM> includes activating the operation of the heater <NUM> since each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is positive (+). Thus, according to the control logic <NUM>, the controller <NUM> sends an activation control signal AS to the heater <NUM> and thus activates the heater <NUM>.

The user finishes the insertion of the consumable article <NUM> when it abuts against the bottom portion <NUM> of the socket <NUM> as shown on <FIG>. In this position, the consumable article <NUM> can be used for vaping.

During vaping, the consumable article <NUM> may be stationary as shown on <FIG>. Thus, the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B may be both null (<NUM>). In reference to <FIG>, in this case, the control logic <NUM> includes maintaining current state of the heater <NUM> since each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>) after being positive (+). In the present case, the current state of the heater <NUM> is the activated state of the heater <NUM>. Thus, based on the control logic <NUM>, controller <NUM> does not send any control signal (i.e. null control signal NS) to the heater <NUM> and thus maintains activation of the heater <NUM>.

When the user begins to extract the consumable article <NUM> from the socket <NUM> as shown on <FIG>, the first roller 40A and the second roller 40B are mobile in rotation in a direction corresponding to the extraction of the consumable article <NUM> from the socket <NUM>. The consumable article <NUM> is thus detected by the first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B inside both the first portion 20A and the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>. The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B are negative (-). The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are sent to the controller <NUM>. In reference to <FIG>, the control logic <NUM> includes maintaining the current state of the heater <NUM> since the first sensor signal S24A is negative (-) and the second sensor signal S24B is negative (-). In the present case, the current state of the heater <NUM> is the activated state of the heater <NUM>. Based on the control logic <NUM>, the controller <NUM> does not send any control signal (i.e. null control signal NS) to the heater <NUM> and thus maintains activation of the heater <NUM>.

When the user continues to extract the consumable article <NUM> from the socket <NUM> as shown on <FIG>, the first roller 40A is mobile in rotation in a direction corresponding to the extraction direction of the consumable article <NUM> from the socket <NUM> and the second roller 40B is stationary. The first sensor 24A thus detects the consumable article <NUM> inside the first portion 20A of the socket <NUM>. On the contrary, the second sensor 24B does not detect the consumable article <NUM> inside the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>. The first sensor signal S24A is null (<NUM>) and the second sensor signal S24B is negative (-). The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are sent to the controller <NUM>. In reference to <FIG>, the control logic <NUM> includes maintaining the current state of the heater <NUM> since the first sensor signal S24A is negative (-) and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>). In the present case, the current state of the heater <NUM> is the activated state of the heater <NUM>. Based on the control logic <NUM>, the controller <NUM> does not send any control signal (i.e. null control signal NS) to the heater <NUM> and thus maintains activation of the heater <NUM>.

When the consumable article <NUM> is extracted from the socket <NUM> such that the first roller 40A and the second roller 40B are stationary, the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B are null (<NUM>) after being negative (-). The first sensor 24A and the second sensor 24B does not detect the consumable article <NUM> inside the first portion 20A and the second portion 20B of the socket <NUM>. The first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B generated are sent to the controller <NUM>. in reference to <FIG>, the control logic <NUM> includes deactivating the operation of the heater <NUM> since each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>) after being negative (-). Based on the control logic <NUM>, the controller <NUM> send an deactivation control signal DS to the heater <NUM> and thus deactivates the heater <NUM>.

An aerosol generation device according to the second embodiment of the invention will be explained in the following.

The aerosol generation device according to the second embodiment comprises the same internal components as the aerosol generation device <NUM> according to the first embodiment of the invention. These internal components will not be described in further detail below.

The aerosol generation device according to the second embodiment differs from the aerosol generation device <NUM> of the first embodiment only by the control logic <NUM> and the memory <NUM>.

Particularly, the controller of the aerosol generation device according to the second embodiment is configured to control the heater of this device according to a control logic <NUM> which will be explained in more detail in reference to <FIG>.

The control logic <NUM> differs from the control logic <NUM> of the first embodiment in that the control logic <NUM> includes deactivating the operation of the operation of the heater if the first sensor signal S24A is negative (-) and the second sensor S24B signal is null (<NUM>).

Moreover, the control logic <NUM> according to the second embodiment differs from the control logic <NUM> of the first embodiment in that the control logic <NUM> of the second embodiment includes maintaining the current state of the heater if each of the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B is null (<NUM>). This configuration of the control logic <NUM> corresponds to the situation according to which each roller of the first sensor and the second sensor does not rotate.

The memory according to the second embodiment may comprise only the non-volatile part 42A. In other words, the memory according to the second embodiment may not comprise the non-volatile part 42B configured to store the first sensor signal S24A and the second sensor signal S24B along time. Indeed, in the second embodiment of the aerosol generation device, the control logic <NUM> does not depend on the previous first sensor signal and/or previous second sensor signal.

The controlling method of the aerosol generation device differs from the controlling method of the first embodiment in that when the consumable article is being extracted from the socket and detected inside the first portion of the socket only, the control logic <NUM> includes deactivating the heater. According to the control logic <NUM>, the controller send a deactivation control signal DS to the heater and thus deactivates the heater.

Claim 1:
An aerosol generation device (<NUM>) designed to operate with a consumable article (<NUM>), comprising:
- a socket (<NUM>) configured to receive the consumable article (<NUM>);
- a heater (<NUM>) arranged at least partially adjacent to the socket (<NUM>) and configured to heat the consumable article (<NUM>) when it is received in the socket (<NUM>);
- at least a first sensor (24A) and a second sensor (24B), each of the first sensor (24A) and the second sensor (24B) being configured to detect the consumable article (<NUM>) inside at least a first portion (20A) of the socket (<NUM>), respectively a second portion (20B) of the socket (<NUM>) and generate a first sensor signal (S24A), respectively a second sensor signal (S24B);
- a controller (<NUM>) configured to control the operation of the heater (<NUM>) according to both sensor signals (S24A, S24B),
wherein each sensor (24A, 24B) comprises a roller (40A, 40B) movable in rotation when the consumable article (<NUM>) is being received in the corresponding portion (20A, 20B) of the socket (<NUM>) or extracted from this portion (20A, 20B).