FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to the field of electronic cigarettes, more specifically directed to the field of aerosol forming liquids or formulations for electronic cigarettes, and methods, devices, and systems for using the aerosol forming liquid or formulations.

BACKGROUND

The use of aerosol generating systems, also known as electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, e-cigs (EC), electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS), electronic smoking devices (ESDs), personal vaporizers (PV), inhalation devices, vapes, which can be used as an alternative to conventional smoking articles such as lit-end cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, is becoming increasingly popular and widespread. The most commonly used e-cigarettes are usually battery powered and use a resistance heating element to heat and atomize an aerosol forming containing nicotine and/or flavorants (also known as e-cigarette liquid, e-cig liquids, e-liquid, juice, vapor juice, smoke juice, e-juice, e-fluid, vape oil, hereinafter referred to as “e-liquid”), to produce an aerosol (often called vapor) which can be inhaled by a user.

In the conventional e-cigarettes described above, the liquid is put into contact through small channels or a porous structure to a resistance heating element where it is heated and vaporized, for example via a wick, or other type of porous element, having a plurality of small channels that transport the liquid from a reservoirto the heating element. The small channels and the heating element can be integrated into a single device, for example a dedicated microelectromechanical system (MEMS).

This heating element together with the porous element, a reservoir that contains the e-liquid, and a mouthpiece are usually arranged within a disposable cartridge or pod, that is discarded once the e- liquid has been consummated by the user, and usually removably connects to a main body that includes a disposable or rechargeable battery. With respect to aerosol forming liquids that can be used together with the electronic cigarettes, different types of liquids have been proposed. For example, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2019/0357596, describes a liquid vapor precursor material for an electronic cigarette 1 having a first and a second liquid component with different vaporization characteristics. Upon vaporization, they provide for a vapor having a different degrees of visibility, the second one being less visible. The two different liquids are stored in two different cartridges 10, 20 of the electronic cigarette 1. The electronic cigarette can mix the two vapor generating components based on different ratios, to generate a vapor having a desired degree of visibility. The idea is to have a vaporization device that allows to use different types of vapor visibility degrees, depending on where the user employs the electronic cigarette, for example for discretion purposes.

In the field of heat not burn tobacco, two component aerosol-forming compositions for electronic cigarettes are used in the International Patent Publication No. W02020/025730 which is directed to an aerosol generating article 101 forming a cylindrical rod, having (i) a tubular substrate which comprises a first aerosol- forming composition 103a, and (ii) a second aerosol-forming composition 103b, wherein the second aerosol-forming composition 103b is different from the first aerosol- forming composition 103a. The two compositions are used to heat the at least two sections of the aerosol generating article 101 separately with different temperature profiles, to control the puff profile of the aerosol during use.

International Patent Publication No. WO2008/127969 is directed to vapor emitting device 10 for emitting fragrances, insect repellants, having an arrangement that can provide for an indication when the liquid to be dispensed is consummated. However, this reference does not discuss any electronic cigarette, nor another type of dispenser for inhalable formulations. A two-phase liquid system can be used, having an organic phase 210 and an aqueous phase 220. A wick 200 that is used for vaporization of the two-phase liquid, that changes its visible characteristic when the organic phase 210 is consummated, for example by changing the color of the wick 200. The two phases can be made immiscible. The color change can be caused by a change in pH level of the wick 200 generated by the two-phase liquid system, for example by the use of a color-changing dye. European Patent Applications EP 3 692 844 and EP 3 692 845 are directed to a smoking substitute apparatus, with a consumable 203 having a first compartment 205a for receiving an aerosol former, a second compartment 205b for receiving an property modifying agent configured to modify one or more properties of the aerosol former, a barrier or seal 224 configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and second compartments 205a, 205b, wherein a removing the barrier or seal 224 establishes the fluid communication and thereby allows the aerosol former and the property modifying agent to come into contact with each other. The aerosol former can be an e-liquid, for example a base liquid having nicotine, and the property modifying agent can be a flavorant or a colorant. The property modifying agent may diffuse into or mix with the aerosol former to form a modified aerosol former once they come into contact with each other, after removing barrier or seal 224. Furthermore, a user may shake the consumable 203 to promote mixing of the aerosol former and the property modifying agent.

International Patent Publication No. WO 2020/012330 is directed to a shisha smoking cartridge 200 having a body 210 defining a cavity 218 in which an aerosol-forming substrate 300 and a gel 310 may be disposed. It is also explained that the aerosol-forming substrate 300 and the gel may be provided in separate layers.

United States Patent Publication No. 2017/0273351 describes a composition comprising nicotine and a tobacco-derived compound for e-cigarettes, wherein the tobacco-derived compound is obtained by a method comprising the steps of condensing a gas stream employed in a tobacco expansion process comprising the tobacco-derived compounds to form a condensate and fractionating the condensate to selectively recover or enrich the one or more tobacco-derived compounds.

United States Patent Publication No. 2019/0357596 describes a vapor provision system configured to generate vapor with a selectable degree of visibility for inhalation and subsequent exhalation by a user, having a first vapor precursor material for generating a vapor having a first degree of visibility, a second vapor precursor material for generating a vapor having a second degree of visibility, wherein the first degree of visibility is greater than the second degree of visibility such that vapor generated from the second vapor precursor material is less visible than vapor generated from the first vapor precursor material. The first and second vapor precursor materials are stored in two respective, separate cartridges 10, 20 that are vaporized by separate wicks and heater pairs 14, 15, and 24, 25, or by two valves that fluidically connect the separate cartridges 110, 120 to a single heater/wick 114, 115.

International Patent Publication No. WO 2020/025730 describes an aerosol generating article 101 for use in an aerosol generating assembly, wherein the aerosol generating article comprises: (i) a tubular substrate 103 which comprises a first aerosol-forming composition 103a, wherein the first aerosolforming composition comprises an amorphous solid; and (ii) a second aerosol-forming composition 103b, wherein the second aerosol-forming composition is different from the first aerosol-forming composition. It is also explained that the amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, or may contain a solid aerosolisable material and a liquid aerosolisable material.

United States Patent Publication No. 2016/0135506 is directed to a method performing a two-step process to form an aerosol with organoleptic properties suitable to be delivered with e-cigarettes. In step one, an aerosol is formed from a non-flavored formulation located in a first chamber or zone of the e-cigarette. Thereafter, in step two, the aerosol is then subjected to a taste, fragrance and/or nicotine carrying matrix/insert, for example a filter paper, adapted to transfer the desired organoleptic properties to the aerosol. For example, an insert can be put into a path of an aerosol that was generated with an aerosol forming chamber.

United States Patent Publication No. 2020/0245694 describes a natural-based liquid composition for use with electronic vaporizing devices and shows an embodiment of a vaporizer 300 that comprises the elements of the vaporizer 200 with two containers 202a and 202b containing a vaporizable material, and two separate wicks 204a, 204b for vaporization of the liquids. Different fluids from separate containers can also be mixed by a mixing element or component 122 for vaporization. It is also explained that an emulsion can be directed to a fine dispersion of minute droplets of one liquid in another in which it is not soluble or miscible. However, in the state of the art of electronic cigarettes that use liquid vaporizable material, there are no solutions that provide for a feedback to the user indicating when the vaporizable material has been substantially consumed or used up, other than an coarse visual feedback that can be given with a transparent window or casing in the capsule or other liquid holding container. Therefore, novel solutions for providing a feedback to the user are desired, to provide for more precise information, and to provide for a solution that avoids operating the electronic cigarette without any consumable liquid.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, a liquid container is provided, the liquid container having an aerosol forming liquid for an electronic cigarette. Preferably, the liquid container includes a primary liquid component including nicotine, and a secondary liquid component. Moreover, the primary and secondary liquid components are immiscible to form an interfacial tension surface between a first volume in the liquid container having the primary liquid component and a second volume in the liquid container having the secondary liquid component to fully separate the primary and secondary liquid components from each other.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronic cigarette system is provided. Preferably, the electronic cigarette system comprises a liquid container for holding an aerosol forming liquid, the aerosol forming liquid including a primary liquid component having nicotine and a secondary liquid component, the primary and secondary liquid components being immiscible, a vapor generation unit for vaporizing or atomizing the aerosol forming liquid and an inhalation channel for providing atomized liquid from the vapor generation unit to a user. Moreover, the system, further includes a detection sensor for detecting whether the primary liquid component has been substantially consumed.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain features of the invention.

FIG. 1 A depicts a side view of an exemplary aerosol forming liquid or formulation 200 inside a container having a primary liquid component 100 and secondary liquid component 110, with the primary liquid component 100 having a first percentage of a primary functional ingredient 105, for example a nicotine content, and the primary liquid component 100 having a higher specific weight as compared to the secondary liquid component 110, FIG. 1 B shows an exemplary and simplified view of a portion of a vapor generation unit 30 having a plurality of nozzles 106 that can be used to vaporize the herein described two-phase liquid or formulation 200 that is fed through a flow path 38;

FIG. 2 depicts a cross-sectional view of an electronic cigarette system 300 having a liquid container 40 for holding an aerosol forming liquid 200, the aerosol forming liquid or formulation 200 having a primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110 that are immiscible, and also including a detection sensor 50 for detecting whether the primary liquid component 100 has been substantially consumed, depleted, used up, or exhausted, for example by detecting presence of the secondary liquid component 110 and/or absence of the primary liquid component 100 in a fluidical channel 20;

FIG. 3 depicts a cross-sectional, simplified, and exemplary view of a liquid container, cartridge, or other type of device for containing aerosol forming liquid or formulation 200 having a primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110 that are immiscible, with the Herein, identical reference numerals are used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. Also, the images are simplified for illustration purposes and may not be depicted to scale.

DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 A shows an exemplary and simplified embodiment of a two-component vaporizable or atomizable liquid or aerosol forming liquid or formulation 200 for vaporization or atomization by an electronic cigarette 300, exemplary shown in a liquid container 40 of a capsule, cartridge, or consumable C. The two-component aerosol forming liquid 200 having a primary liquid component 100 that includes a primary functional ingredient 105, for example a certain concentration or content of consumable nicotine, for example expressed in milligrams per microliter (mg/ml), and a secondary liquid component 110, wherein the primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 are immiscible, to thereby form an interfacial tension surface 107 between components 100, 110. In the variant shown, the primary liquid component 100 preferably has a higher specific weight as compared to the secondary liquid component 110, so that the primary liquid component 100 can be located below in a lower section of liquid container 40 as compared to secondary liquid component 110, due to gravitational separation of the two immiscible components 100, 110, for separation of the two components. This variant can be used together with an electronic cigarette 300 where the fluidic supply of aerosol forming liquid 200 to vapor generation unit 30, for example but not limited to a vaporizer, atomizer, cartomizer, clearomizer, or heater, is provided from a lower section or bottom of liquid container 40 of capsule, cartridge, or consumable C. This could be a case where electronic cigarette 300 is being used in a substantially upright position having a top-loading cartridge, capsule, or consumable C with a mouthpiece 90 arranged on an upper end of capsule, cartridge, or consumable C, mouthpiece 90 being used for inhaling with a mouth of a user, consumer, or operator vaporized or atomized aerosol 210 exiting through inhalation channel 20. However, it is also possible that the secondary liquid component 110 has a higher specific weight, in cases where liquid supply is taken from an upper section of liquid container 40 of cartridge, capsule, or consumable C for atomizing or vaporizing. The primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 located inside the liquid container 40 are in a liquid state that allows these liquids to flow through fluidic channels of an electronic cigarette to be delivered to a vapor generation unit 30, and therefore can be provided in a given range of viscosity for this purpose. For example, the liquid state of both components 100, 110 could be water-thin or semi viscous, for example have a viscosity in a range between 1 cPs to 500 cPs in centipoise (cPs) or millipascal-second mPa-s to have Newtonian behavior with gravity, more preferably between 20 cPs to 200 cPs. See for example Sun et al., "Density, Viscosity and Thermal conductivity of Aqueous Solutions of Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, and Tripropylene Glycol Between 290 K and 460 K,” Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data, Vol. 49, No. 5, year 2004, pp. 1311-1317, see also Segur et al., "Viscosity of Glycerol and its Aqueous Solutions,’’ Industrial & Engineering Chemistry, Vol. 43, No. 9, year 1951 , pp. 2117-2120. Also, the immiscibility of the primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 lead to a formation of an interfacial tension surface 107 between a first volume inside a liquid storage or holding volume of liquid container 40, having the primary liquid component, and a second volume inside a liquid storage or holding volume of liquid container 40 having the secondary liquid component, so that these two fluids 100, 110 do not mix, to thereby fully separate primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 from each other to form two separate contiguous volumes, despite being inside the same liquid storage or holding volume of the liquid container 40. Thereby, no walls or separate chambers or tanks for primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 are needed.

Moreover, as the primary liquid component 100 includes the functional ingredient 105, for example nicotine, and second liquid component 110 is used for a different or additional function, for example a detection function, no additional mixing or interspersing of components 100, 110 is desired between liquid components 100, 100. Given the immiscible properties and the formation of the interfacial tension surface, there is no need for separate tanks, fluidic channels, mixing elements such as valves, or even separate vaporizing or heating elements. Also, by virtue of the interfacial tension, interspersion of droplets or the forming of mixed emulsions between the two liquid components 100,

110 can be avoided. Generally, in the variant discussed, aerosol forming liquid 200 is composed for consumption of nicotine by user, consumer, or operator, with primary functional ingredient 105 including nicotine that is part of primary liquid component 100, while secondary liquid component 110 is primarily configured and composed to facilitate detection of the exhaustion or consummation of primary liquid component 100, and simultaneously configured to be atomized or vaporized to prevent so-called dry puffs by electronic cigarette 300.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the herein presented two-component aerosol forming liquid 200 is designed for use and consummation with an electronic cigarette 300 to avoid dry puffs in an electronic cigarette 300, and at the same time providing for a means to alert, inform, notify or give some type of sensory feedback to the user, consumer, or operator that the primary, nicotine- containing liquid component 100 of liquid container 40 is consumed, depleted, or exhausted.

Dry puffs of electronic cigarette 300 should be avoided for several reasons. They are created or caused by a user, consumer, or operator inhaling from the mouthpiece 90 when the consumable liquid, for example a nicotine-containing liquid, is entirely or substantially consumed or exhausted, and only a reduced amount or no liquid reaches vapor generation unit 30. This can happen when vapor generation unit 30 of an electronic cigarette 300 is activated, while none, or only little liquid is in contact with vapor generation unit 30, for example when the heating surface is only covered by 50% with liquid, for example during a stage where the heater is being heated above the vaporization temperature of the liquid. As a result, the aerosol or vapor 210 created by insufficient wetting of vapor generation unit 30 can deliver a negative sensory experience to user, consumer, or operator. Specifically, such dry puffs can occur when vapor generating unit 30 heats up, but does not have enough consumable liquid to vaporize, for example by insufficient wetting and cover of the heating surfaces 34, and this results in a dried out vapor with an unappetizing flavor. Consequently, the bad smell or taste in the mouth of user, consumer, or operator can make the entire experience unpleasant. The bad smell can originate from the unsaturated wicking or porous material 35 that is thereby heated at a non-optical temperature. For example, in a case where vapor generating unit 30 includes a heating coil, and porous material 35 includes a bead of wick, with the heating coil wound around the bead of wick, it is possible that the heating will cause atomization of portions of the wick, such that user, consumer, or operator will inhale burnt wick material, for example as shown in FIG. 3.

Also, it is possible that vapor generation unit 30 is damaged by overheating, if not enough aerosol forming liquid 200 is present. For example, in the case a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) is used for the aerosol or vapor generation by vapor generation unit 30, the heating of the die of the MEMS without sufficient atomizable liquid can cause de-priming or delaminating of exterior layers due to overheating, and reducing the number of functional nozzles 32, for example by clogging them. A partial and cross-sectional side view of a vapor generation unit 30 as such a MEMS device is shown in FIG. 1 B, showing two (2) exemplary nozzles 32, flow path 38 that can provide for aerosol forming liquid 200, heating wires 36, heating substrate 35 with heating surfaces 34. In addition, there are many different electronic cigarettes 300 that do not have a disposable vapor generation unit 30, for example having a fixedly built-in MEMS heater, for example one that uses thermal inkjet technology to vaporize aerosol forming liquid 200. For these devices the avoidance of dry puffs is even more important do avoid deterioration of vapor generation unit 30.

For these reasons, the herein presented two-component aerosol forming liquid 200 is designed to avoid a dry puff, and inform the user when the e-liquid is running low. Once the primary liquid component 100 is substantially or entirely consumed, secondary liquid component 110 having different characteristics is provided to vapor generation unit 30 progressively replacing the primary liquid component 100, so that vapor generation unit 30 can still be fully wetted and be in contact with a vaporizable or atomizable liquid by the secondary liquid component 110, thereby avoiding dry puffs. Instead, by means of vaporizing or atomizing the secondary liquid component, so-called dummy puffs can be provided that may be without primary functional ingredient 105, for example nicotine, but at the same time can provide for an additional composition or characteristic for detecting the consummation of the primary liquid component 100. While in the above example, the primary functional ingredient 105 of primary liquid component 100 is chosen to be nicotine, it could also be a different type of component, for example a flavoring agent, cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), medical inhalant, or other type of inhalable product or substance that is desired to be inhaled by a user, consumer, or operator, or a combination of these components. Generally, secondary liquid component 110 is chosen to be immiscible with primary liquid component 100, but different in composition from primary liquid component 100, and portions of it can still be inhaled by user, consumer, or operator, as further discussed below.

In the state of the art, some nicotine liquid capsules have transparent windows or are made of transparent plastic can be used to manually observe the liquid level, but this visual feedback is not very precise, and unless user, consumer, or operator is willing to prematurely discard the capsule having a non-neg lig i ble amount of consumable liquid therein, some dry puffs are difficult to avoid. In addition, the liquid level cannot easily be observed if a non-disposable type heater is arranged in the electric cigarette, for example when a MEMS-type heating device is used, for example based on ink jet heating technology.

Preferably, in addition to primary functional component 105, primary liquid component 100 can include propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), and water, and while the secondary liquid component can include a silicon oil such as polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), for example low-viscosity PDMS. PDMS is immiscible in water, PG, and VG, and has a density that is lower than water, PG, and VG, being at about 0.965g/ml. Also, PDMS has a boiling point temperature at about 101°, potentially allowing PDMS to be fired by vapor generation unit 30, for example a MEMS die. Also, to make the two components immiscible, the primary liquid component 100 can includes a hydrocarbon chain that is different in a number of carbon atoms from a hydrocarbon chain of the secondary liquid component 110 to provide for the different polarity between primary liquid component 100 and secondary liquid component 110 for liquid separation of the two liquids. In a variant, primary liquid component 100 and secondary liquid component 110 do not have different polarities for immiscibility, and may not have other immiscible properties, but they simply rely on gravity and the different densities or specific weights of the two liquids for separation. Moreover, in a filled capsule or cartridge C, container 40 is filled such that a quantity of the primary liquid component 100 is at least 80% in volume (vol%) or in weight (w%) of aerosol forming liquid 200, more preferably being at least

95% in volume (vol%) or in weight (w%) of aerosol forming liquid 200. Vapor generation unit 30 can include a MEMS die that includes a series of small chambers, each small chamber having a heater therein. A water component of primary liquid component 110 of aerosol forming liquid 200 can be heated to boiling point, and the rapid expansion of these bubbles by the evaporating water can create formation of droplets that are part of vaporized or atomized liquid 210. For example, the PG and VG in aerosol forming liquid 200 will not vaporized as boiling points of those components are higher than the one for water at the same atmospheric pressure. Rapid expansion and collapsing of the water bubbles causes the formation of the PG/VG droplets, which are ejected out of the MEMS die. With respect to secondary liquid component, it can be configured not only to be immiscible with primary liquid component 100, but also to have a formulation that has sufficient shelf life, for example several months.

As an example, secondary liquid component 110 can include PDMS. As primary liquid component 100 can include PG and water, PDMS is immiscible to PG and water, has density lower than any of the ingredients mentioned above or primary liquid component 100, for example about 0.965g/ml, and has a boiling point of 101 °C so it could be fired by the MEMS die as the vapor generation unit 30, but will not heat-up to such temperatures. Also, vaporized or atomized PDMS would have a different taste to user or operator U, for detection purposes.

The two components 100, 110 mentioned herein are exemplary only and shall not be limiting, there could also be more than two immiscible components, for example having more than one primary liquid component 100 for example but not limited to different nicotine concentrations, different types of flavorings, different types of colors for aesthetic purposes, or more than one secondary liquid component 110 for gradual detection of the exhaustion or consummation of nicotine-containing primary liquid component 100. As another variant, it is possible that there are different immiscible liquid components having different concentrations or contents of the primary functional ingredient 105. For example, it is possible that there are two or more different primary liquid components 100 with different types of nicotine concentration, different types of flavors, etc.

Preferably, the nicotine content of secondary liquid component 110 is zero or substantially zero, but it also possible that secondary liquid component 110 has at least some nicotine content, but one that is lowerthan the nicotine content of the first liquid component 100. For example, the nicotine content of secondary liquid component 110 could be such that a user or operator inhaling vaporized or atomized liquid 210 feels a substantial drop in nicotine effect when primary liquid component 100 is exhausted or used up, and secondary liquid component 110 is being vaporized or atomized to create vaporized or atomized aerosol 210. As a non-limiting example, the nicotine content of secondary liquid component 110 can have a nicotine concentration that is lower than 3mg/ml, more preferably below 1 .5mg/ml, while the primary liquid component can have a nicotine concentration that is above 6 mg/ml.

According to another aspect of the present invention, at least one of the components 100, 110 of the aerosol forming liquid 200 can include an additional substance, composition, characteristic, or feature that allows to distinguish the first component 100 from the second component 110 and vice versa, other than the presence, absence or different concentration of primary functional ingredient 105. For example, the first and second components 100, 110 can be configured to have different electric conductivity/resistivity, different dielectric constant, different flavor, different color, a different degree of transparency, and/or different degree of light diffusion, different degree of light reflectivity.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary and simplified embodiment of an electronic cigarette 300 that includes a sensor 50 that is configured to detect one or more characteristics of aerosol forming liquid 200, for example to distinguish between the first or the second liquid components 100, 110 at a specific location, according to another aspect of the present invention. Electronic cigarette 300 is shown for illustration purposes in the upright position, with the mouthpiece 90 located on top, and the holding part or holder 10 on the bottom. For example, electronic cigarette 300 can include a removable or fixedly installed cartridge, capsule, or consumable C having a liquid container 40 for holding liquid 200 therein. In a variant, there is no removable cartridge, capsule, or consumable C, but liquid container 40 is installed into electronic cigarette 300. Liquid container 40 can be partially or entirely filled with aerosol forming liquid 200, and in this example, aerosol forming liquid 200 includes a primary liquid component 100 with a certain concentration of primary functional ingredient 105, for example nicotine, and a secondary liquid component 110, the primary and secondary liquid components 100, 110 being immiscible. In the variant shown, mouthpiece 90 is formed by capsule or cartridge C, but these two elements can also be separate. As illustrated in FIG. 2, primary liquid component 100 has a higher specific weight than the secondary liquid component 110, and is therefore located in the lower section in the liquid container 40. Moreover, the exemplary electronic cigarette includes a vapor generation unit 30 for atomizing the aerosol forming liquid 200, for example a heating plate that is in operative connection with a power circuit 70 and a microcontroller 60 for controlling the heat generation of vapor generation unit 30 to vaporize or atomize aerosol forming liquid 200, and also includes an inhalation channel 25 for providing vaporized or atomized liquid 210 from the vapor generation unit 30 to a user, consumer, or operator via the mouthpiece 90. A fluidic connection is provided between an inner volume of liquid container 40 containing aerosol forming liquid 200 and vapor generation unit 30 via fluidic channel or pathway 20 and a wicking or porous material 35, for providing and distributing aerosol forming liquid 200 on a surface of vapor generation unit 30.

In addition, a detection sensor 50 is provided at fluidic channel or pathway 20 for detecting whether the primary liquid component 100 of liquid 200 has been substantially consumed. For example, the detection sensor 50 can be configured to detect one or more properties or characteristics of aerosol forming liquid 200 that is passing through fluidic channel or pathway 20, to determine whether the primary liquid component 100 or secondary liquid component 110 is present in fluidic channel or pathway 20. In the variant shown, due to the close proximity of the fluidic pathway 20 to an area where aerosol forming liquid 200 is atomized or vaporized to form vaporized or atomized aerosol 210, with the detection of the presence of secondary liquid component 110 inside fluidic channel or pathway 20, it can be said that primary liquid component 100 is substantially consumed or depleted. Generated atomized or vaporized aerosol 210 can fluidically move to an exit orifice of mouthpiece 90 via inhalation channel 25.

For example, with a different electric conductivity/resistivity, different dielectric constant, different color, different degree of translucidity or transparency, and/or different degree of light diffusion between primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110, or another formulation that leads to a measurable difference between the two components 100, 100, it is possible to provide a sensor 50 in operative connection with a microprocessor or microcontroller 60, that can detect these different characteristics. For example, a sensor 50 can be used that includes two electrodes 52, 54 having a conductive surface that is in contact with aerosol forming liquid 200 along a fluidic channel or pathway 20 in close proximity to vapor generation unit 30, for example with fluidic channel or pathway 20 right before wicking or porous material 35 and vapor generation unit 30. Thereby, an electric resistance, specific conductance, conductivity, or impedance of aerosol forming liquid 200 flowing towards vapor generation unit 30 can be measured, and a change thereof can be detected by microprocessor 60 that is in operative connection with the two electrodes 52, 54. For this purpose, electrodes 52, 54 could be fed by a voltage or current signal from a signal or frequency generator that is controlled by microprocessor 60, and a differential amplifier and analog-to-digital (AD) converter that is in operative connection with microprocessor could be used to measure a current or voltage response across the two electrodes 52, 54, for example by the use of a shunt resistor for measuring the current.

As an example, the two electrodes 52, 54 could form plates that face each other in the fluidic pathway to be used to measure a change in electric capacitance of fluid 200 that is passing, in a case where the two fluid components 100, 110 are configured to have a different dielectric constants. A difference in either resistivity or dielectric constant can be done by including specific particles into either primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110, respectively, having different concentration or percentage of water content, saline particles, electrolytes, for detection purposes by sensor.

As of another example, in case a different color needs to be detected between primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110, the sensor 50 can include a light source 52 and a plurality of photodetectors 54 that are equipped with different light filters. For example, it is possible that the light source is arranged on one side of fluidic channel or pathway 20 to shine into the liquid present therein, so that the light can traverse pathway 20, for example but not limited to a light emitting diode, laser diode, lamp, emitting electromagnetic radiation, and at the other side of pathway 20, opposite to light source, an array of photodetectors 54 having different individual photodetectors covered with different light filters is arranged, for example an R (red), B (blue), and G (green) filter on different photodetectors. The photodetectors 54 can be but are not limited to photodiodes, photosensor, photomultipliers. In variant, different light sources can emit light with different colors, that can be detected by photodetectors facing the light sources. The response of the different photodetectors 54 can be read out and analyzed by microprocessor 60 to determine a change from primary liquid component 100 to secondary liquid component 110 that is present in pathway 20. Similarly, this measurement principle can be used to measure a degree of translucidity, transparency between primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110. For such embodiment, no color filters would be necessary, and the light intensity that arrives at photodetectors 54 after traversing pathway 20 could be analyzed, to detect a change between or presence of one of the first or second liquid component 100, 110. The different colorings or transparency to the primary and secondary liquid component 100, 110 could be done by liquid coloring agents or particles.

As yet another example, sensor 50 can be an optical sensor, but without the need that the photodetector part is arranged to receive light that traverses pathway 20. In this variant, a light source 52 can be arranged at one side of pathway 20, while a photodetector 54 can be arranged in close proximity or adjacent to light source 52, to detect reflected or diffused light inside pathway 20, without the need of traversing pathway 20. With first and second liquid components 100, 110 configured for different light reflection or light diffusion properties, an amplitude of the light intensity measured at photodetector can be used to identify whether first or second liquid component 100, 110 is present.

In still another example, sensor 50 is a pH sensor that measures the pH value of liquid 200 that is present in pathway 20, and where first and second liquid components 100, 110 are provided with different pH values, for example by having a different acidity or alkalinity between first and second liquid components 100, 110, for example by the use of two different electrodes 52, 54 that are part of sensor 50.

In FIG. 2, sensor 50 is shown to be arranged to measure one or more characteristics of fluid 200 that passes through a channel or pathway 20 leading to vapor generation unit 30, but other arrangements of sensor 50 are also possible, to either detect an identity of liquid component 100, 110, or to detect a change in presence of a liquid component 100, 110, preferably close or at vapor generation unit 30. This can be done by sensor 50 arranged at a bottom of container 40, by arranging sensor at a compartment, cavity or pocket at a bottom area of container 40, by arranging sensor 50 as two linearly extending electrodes along side walls of container 40 in a gravitational direction, to substantially cover a fill range of liquid container 40. Such arrangements of electrodes 52, 54 can also permit the measurement of a fill level of primary liquid component 100 inside container 40 of capsule, consumable or cartridge C, for example by detecting a gradual change of impedance of when the fill level decreases. Also, it is possible that sensor 50 is not arranged at container 40, for example in cases where container 40 is part of a removable cartridge, capsule, or consumable C and does not include vapor generation unit 30, for example when vapor generation unit 300 is arranged in holder 10. For example European Patent Application EP20177259.7 shows such arrangement with a heating device as vapor generation unit 30 that is located in the holder 10, this reference herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. Liquid 200 can fed from cartridge, capsule, or consumable C to holder 10 via fluid connection ports, for example via openable valves, foam wicks, etc., and sensor 50 can be located along fluidic pathway between cartridge C and heating surfaces of vapor generation unit 30.

As another variant, sensor 50 can be fully or partially integrated into vapor generation unit 30, for example as a microsensorthat is part of the MEMS architecture, for example forming two electrodes 52, 54, and measurement electronics as one chip module that is part of the MEMS architecture, the electrodes 52, 54 arranged to be in fluidical contact with aerosol forming liquid 200.

It is also possible that electronic cigarette 300 is not equipped with a sensor 50 for detecting different properties between first and second liquid components 100, 110, but relies on the user, consumer, or operator to taste or feel whether primary liquid component 100 is substantially consumed, when inhaling vaporized or atomized liquid 210 from mouthpiece 90, for example by a change in taste, a change in concentration of primary functional ingredient 105, for example a noticeable change in nicotine concentration between first and second liquid component 100, 110, a specific taste or lack of taste that is provided by an ingredient to the second liquid component 110 that signifies the end of first liquid component 100, or a combination of these two.

According to another aspect, it is also possible that two or more liquid components 100, 110 are provided, having an additional ingredient or feature that allows to detect and distinguish them by sensor 50, while both liquid components 100, 110 still include primary functional component 105, but having a different concentration or density thereof. This would allow the microprocessor 60 of electronic cigarette 300 to detect a presence of a specific liquid components 100, 110, for example with sensor 50 at pathway 20, for liquid identification, and this information would allow the electronic cigarette 300 to change parameters of vapor generation unit 30 to vaporize or atomize aerosol forming liquid 200 specific to liquid components 100, 110 currently present at vapor generation unit 30, by microprocessor 60. For example, identification information that allows to identify the liquid components 100, 110 that is currently present at vapor generation unit 30 allows to configure the heating parameters for the atomizing/vaporizing. For example, the different parameters for vapor generation unit 30 that could be changed based on an identity of liquid components 100, 110 can include but is not limited to firing parameters, heating temperature, heating profile, heating frequency, ramp up and ramp down heating time constants, pulse width modulation (PWN) patterns for heating intensity, pre-heating temperature.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a removable and disposable cartridge 400 that can be connected to a holder of electronic cigarette 300, according to an aspect of the present invention, partially filed with an aerosol forming liquid 200. The aerosol forming liquid 200 includes a first liquid component 100 that has a higher specific weight as compared to a second liquid component 110. Cartridge 400 includes a heater 30 in the form of a metallic coil that is wound around a wicking element that is soaked with liquid 200, arranged a lower section of cartridge 400 for being soaked or fed by primary liquid component 100, with a central portion thereof arranged inside an inhalation channel 25.

According to another aspect of the present invention, it is also possible that electronic cigarette 300 includes a sensor 58 to detect presence or absence of capsule or cartridge C, 400, sensor 58 in operative connection with microprocessor 60. In such embodiment, electronic cigarette can perform a method to alert user of the depletion of primary liquid component 100, and inform user, consumer, or operator to replace capsule or cartridge C, 400. For example in such a method, first, microprocessor 60 can be configured to detect exhaustion, depletion or consumption of primary liquid component 100 by sensor 50 that is located in liquid container 40 of capsule, consumable, or cartridge C, 400. Thereafter, microprocessor 60 can disable the firing or heating of vapor generation unit 30, disabling of vapor generation unit 30 to prevent needless battery usage, and substantially prevent puffs that are based on secondary liquid component 110. Also, electronic cigarette 300 can alert user of the full consumption of primary liquid component 100, to indicate that the capsule or cartridge C, 400 needs to be replaced, for example by a visual, audio, or tactile feedback. For example, such indicator generated by electronic cigarette can be but is not limited to a light signal, screen symbol on a display of electronic cigarette 300, vibration signal, audio beep. User, consumer, or operator can then replace capsule or cartridge C, 400 with a new filled one, or remove capsule or cartridge C to refill its container 40. The removal of capsule, consumable, or cartridge C can be detected by sensor 58 and microprocessor, as well as the reinsertion or reconnection of the new filled capsule, consumable, or cartridge C, 400. Once microprocessor 60 via sensor 58 detects removal and then insertion of new capsule, consumable, or cartridge C, 400, the microprocessor 60 can be configured to re-enable or reset proper firing of vapor generation unit 30, to allow for atomization or vaporization of primary liquid component 100 of liquid 200, to generate vaporized or atomized liquid 210.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and their equivalents thereof. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims.