Patent Application
20060130860
1. Field of the invention
The present invention concerns a method and device for analysing cigarette smoking.
2. Description of the prior art
As a general rule, it is known that, for cigarette comparison, smoking machines have been developed which operate under standardized smoking conditions (puffs of bell-shaped profile having a volume of 35 ml and lasting 2 seconds with a pause of 60 seconds between each puff).
With the advent of low-tar and low-nicotine cigarettes, cigarette manufacturers have sought to investigate the behaviour of smokers in relation to the product they smoke.
Apparatus has therefore been produced with which it is possible to store in memory the manner in which smoker smoke their cigarettes. Cigarette holders have consequently been developed equipped with means for measuring puff rate and draw and with sensors detecting the contact of the cigarette holder with the smoker's lips.
Up until now, cigarettes holders were permanently connected to an electronic processing module of a fixed laboratory installation designed to determine and process a certain number of parameters, such as:
The disadvantage of solutions of this type is that smokers who take part in tests using this kind of installation are not in their usual environment, and are not able to go about their usual occupations. Therefore, at the time of these tests, their behaviour is different from their usual behaviour.
This disadvantage is reproduced when the parameters determined by the processing module are used to establish a smoking profile using instantaneous puff rate and draw values for example, with a view to reproducing this smoking on a smoking machine piloted by the electronic module (for example a single port smoking machine piloted by a stepping motor). This machine then substitutes for the smoker to reproduce mechanically the smoking of one or more cigarettes in accordance with the previously recorded smoking profile, to analyse yields under such conditions.
In addition, in either case this solution has the disadvantage of compelling the smokers to travel in order to come and smoke in a laboratory. Also, on account of the relatively high cost of this equipment, laboratories generally only have one such item of equipment.
The particular objective of the invention is to overcome these disadvantages.
For this purpose, it proposes a method comprising the following steps:
Evidently, the invention also concerns the device enabling implementation of the method just described, this device comprising:
An embodiment of the invention is described below as a non-restrictive example with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
In these examples, the purpose of the invention is more particularly to take advantage of current technology to reduce the cost of the device assembly whilst improving its performance, so that it is possible to provide each smoking test participant with a mobile assembly 1 that is portable and self-operated with which the smoker can smoke at home even during his/her usual activities. The data stored by this mobile assembly is then transferred to a treatment centre 2 (initiating laboratory) which conducts processing thereof and duplicates related smoking by means of a smoking machine 3 which mechanically reproduces the smoking of one or more cigarettes in accordance with a determined smoking profile based on the previously transferred data.
In the example shown
This machine 3 is piloted by a processor, here of micro-computer type 6 equipped in particular with a USB port (“Universal Serial Bus”) and with a memory card reader 7. This processor can be connected to a telecommunications network, such as the telephone network, GSM network, Internet network via a suitable MODEM (modulator/demodulator).
As mentioned above, the mobile assembly 1 used to conduct the test comprises a cigarette holder 8 fitted with a diaphragm 9 having two pressure test points 10, 11, arranged either side of the diaphragm so as to measure flow rate. The upstream test point 10 is also used to measure draw (with the use of pressure sensors having a very low dead volume it is possible to omit a third pressure test point reserved for draw, with no risk of mutual disturbance between flow rate and draw).
The pressure test points 10, 11 (and optionally the third pressure test point if such exists) are connected to sensors 13, 14 respectively provided in a processing module 15 associated with the cigarette holder via respective flexible tubes 12.
This processing module 15 also comprises an additional pressure sensor 16 intended to sense atmospheric pressure.
The information given by these sensors 13, 14, 16 is transmitted to respective analogue/digital converters 13′, 14′, 16′, which deliver the digital data on detected pressure values to a central processing unit CPU 17 with a microprocessor which linearises pressure data, calculates flow rate and corrects flow rate data using atmospheric pressure and draw data.
Flow rate calculation is made using the differential pressure measured by sensor 14. This difference signal is quadratic. A root extractor linearises this value so that it can be recorded.
This central unit is also programmed to detect and validate puffs produced by the smoker compared with values for draw, flow rate, puff volume and puff duration and for inter-puff intervals of corresponding threshold values, using the following relationship for example:
A puff is detected and validated, if:
Identification of puffs can be made using a resistive contact incorporated in the cigarette holder, and associated with a flow rate threshold comparator. Puff volume can be determined by a counter associated with a threshold comparator and a voltage/frequency converter. Puff duration and the inter-puff interval can be obtained on a time basis.
Advantageously, the central unit 17 is programmed so as to determine and memorize the following parameters:
The central unit 17 of the processing module 15 may be self-operated and comprise means enabling the piloting of the smoking machine 3. In this case, it is equipped with an input/output port enabling it to connect via a link 18 directly to a corresponding control port provided on the machine 3.
However, the invention is not limited to this solution. The smoking machine may be piloted by the micro-computer 6. In this case, the central unit 17 of the processing module 15 may be connected to the micro-computer 6 via a serial or parallel link, for example a USB link 19. This link enables the transfer in particular of data stored in the memory to the memories of the micro-computer 6.
The central unit 17 may also comprise, or in lieu or stead of said link 19, a removable memory 18 which can be removed from module 15 and inserted in a reader 7 equipping the micro-computer 6.
If the processing module 15 is self-operated, it may comprise a display member 21 enabling the display in particular of the parameters stored in memory and a graph showing the smoking profile, as well as menus corresponding to the different modes of operation of module 15. A keypad 22 may also be provided to ensure man/machine dialogue in association with the display member. The keypad 22 may be used in particular to enter a series of data enabling smoking identification in addition to date and time data.
Evidently, in the examples just described, the processing module 15 may be powered by a battery supplied by an internal charger or by the USB connector if such is used.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 13764 | Dec 2004 | FR | national |
