Aerosol generating article and device for identifying a smoking article

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating article (1), an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system, the aerosol generating article comprising a consumable section (1') attached to a mouthpiece section (1"). The mouthpiece section (1") comprises at least one inner tube (2) comprising a plurality (20, 20', 20") of light transmissive apertures (201-216, 220-228) extending in a wall of the inner tube (2) over at least a length, the plurality (20, 22) of light transmissive apertures being arranged along an outer circumference of the inner tube (2). The inner tube (2) is arranged within a wrapper (40) made of a light scattering material. The aerosol generating device (100) further comprises an optical reader system (400) comprising at least two detectors (401-414) for reading information provided by light transmitted by the array of apertures.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of tobacco, more specifically to reconstituted tobacco and aerosol generating articles. The invention further relates to smoking devices, in particular to an electrically heated e-liquid system or an electrically heated aerosol generating system. BACKGROUND

[0002] In recent years, electronic cigarettes based on aerosol generating consumable articles have become popular. There are mainly two types: liquid vaporizers and heated tobacco inhaler devices. Heated tobacco inhaler devices are known as "heat-not-burn" systems (HNB). In contrast to e-cigarettes, which deliver an inhalable aerosol by heating a liquid charge comprising aerosol-forming agents, flavourings and often nicotine, HNB systems provide a more authentic tobacco flavour. The working principle of HNB systems is to heat a tobacco material comprising aerosol-forming substances, such as glycerol and / or propylene glycol, which vaporize during heating and generate a vapour that extracts nicotine and flavour components from the tobacco material. The tobacco substance is heated to between 200°C and 350°C, which is below the normal combustion temperature of a conventional cigarette. The inhaler device is typically a hand-held heater configured to receive a rod-like consumable article.

[0003] The recognition of product information is important in many fields, such as the medical field. An example of a code recognition system for identifying coded features of a drug reservoir inserted in a medical delivery device is disclosed in document US 2013 / 0221097 Al. This document describes the general principle of detecting a code arranged on a drug reservoir, which can be detected by optical, or electrical, or magnetic means, or by measuring the capacitance. The medical delivery system and method described in US 2013 / 0221097 Al are not suitable for the field of smoking articles described herein, as it requires a cartridge on which the code must be arranged. Furthermore, US 2013 / 0221097 Al does not provide details of a coding recognition system or method that can be used or adapted for smoking articles comprising a wrapper.

[0004] The illegal trade of aerosol generating articles, whether e-liquid or HNB articles, is a problem, as counterfeit articles can in particular be of inferior quality, can not guarantee a controlled delivery amount of aerosol or can not be suitable for a dedicated aerosol generating system. In order to identify whether an aerosol generating consumable article is an authentic article, a code or equivalent marking containing information about the article can be arranged on the outer surface of the article, so as to be detected by a certain device in use or before use. This allows to check the authenticity of the consumable article and to provide appropriate controls, such as de-energizing the heating system used with it or correct adjustments of the heating system, in case of negative check.

[0005] Furthermore, it can also be desirable to distinguish the consumable article from another article for the purpose of adapting the aerosol generation conditions. For example, certain consumable articles in a range of articles can contain different ingredients (e.g. different tobacco blends, forming agents, nicotine levels, etc.) and therefore different parameter settings are required by the device to optimise the consumer experience.

[0006] In order to provide a reliable authentication of the code on the consumable article, such as an HNB article, the probability of recognition should be very high so that a suitable article will not be rejected. However, existing markings rely on codes, such as classic 1D or 2D barcodes arranged on the outer surface of the article, and these codes can easily be counterfeited without using specific optical instruments (e.g. simply by visualizing the code by the human eye). Furthermore, barcodes are limited by the low density of information that can be contained therein.

[0007] Various attempts have been made in the prior art to provide authenticatable aerosol generating articles.

[0008] WO 2019185747 discloses an electronic cigarette comprising an article comprising a marking arranged on a surface of the article and indicative of a coding parameter associated with the article. The electronic cigarette further comprises a sensor assembly for sensing the marking to identify or recognize the article. The fact of applying a marking on the article constitutes an additional step, complicating the production process, and there are also stability problems of the ink in harsh environments, such as close to the heater required in an aerosol generating device.

[0009] A smoking article is described in US 20160302488 Al comprising a marking on an outer surface of the smoking article. The marking can be in the form of a 1D / 2D barcode. The code comprises an identifiable spectral signature but requires the application of a layer by spraying and a spectrometer. In addition, the signature produced by the spectrum depends on the concentration, which can be between 1 ppm and 1000 ppm, the accuracy of which is difficult to control. A taggant based on a spectral signature is also associated with problems of spectral measurement and interpretation and calibration, which can make the taggant less reliable and there can be problems relating to the stability of such a taggant. The addition of a sprayed layer during manufacturing complicates the process as the chemical agent has to be handled and applied in a controlled manner.

[0010] US 2015128969 discusses a mouthpiece embodied as a cartridge of a smoking article of an aerosol generating device, which is wrapped using a double layer tipping wrapper. The outer layer of the double layer tipping wrapper comprises markings identifying characteristics of the mouthpiece and the smoking article. The outer layer can be in the form of an adhesive label. The outer layer of the double layer tipping wrapper comprises markings identifying characteristics of the mouthpiece and the smoking article. The markings provide information such as (multiple) flavour and product origin identification. The fact that the markings have to be applied to the layer of the article constitutes an additional step and complicates and makes the production process more expensive. The applied markings can also easily be identified and reproduced as it can easily be observed.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for an improved technology to allow authentication of aerosol generating articles, such as HNB, e-vaping and smoking articles. There is a need for an identification method that is much simpler than all the marking signs of the prior art and should not be directly visible. There is also a need for an identification solution that is more robust and does not change or get damaged, for example, due to heat. SUMMARY

[0012] The inventors of the present invention have found a solution to the problems discussed above by providing an authentication method and an identification system that does not require the use of added or incorporated markings on or in the consumable product and cannot be seen directly without the use of optical means, such as a light source, and a detection system.

[0013] The proposed solution is based on an aperture implemented in an inner tube of the article. The aperture is also arranged to constitute a readable identification code. This allows to provide an inherent available reference defined as the identification code by which the consumable can be recognized at the time of consumption of the consumable. Moreover, the method allows to provide a cheap and extremely safe individual recognition of the aerosol generating consumable.

[0014] More precisely, the invention is implemented by an aerosol generating article comprising a consumable section attached to a mouthpiece section. The mouthpiece section comprises a machine readable pattern representing coded data. The mouthpiece section comprises at least one inner tube and has an inner tube surface and an outer tube surface. The inner tube is arranged within a wrapper. The machine readable pattern comprises a plurality of light transmissive apertures extending over at least a length of a wall of the inner tube and preferably along an outer circumference of the inner tube. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of apertures extends along a longitudinal direction of the inner tube. Moreover, the wrapper can be made of a light scattering material.

[0015] In an advantageous embodiment, the aperture can be a small aperture on which the incident light is diffracted, for example an aperture having a maximum cross-sectional dimension or diameter between 2 mm and 50 pm, preferably between 1 mm and 65 pm, most preferably between 500 pm and 100 pm. The aperture can be produced by a laser. The minimum aperture diameter achieved by a micro-laser is typically 0.070 mm. For a large laser, the minimum diameter is typically 0.160 mm. In a variant, the array of apertures can represent a logo, an image or a symbol, such as a letter.

[0016] The inner tube can be made of paper, polymer or a combination thereof. The thickness of the inner tube is preferably greater than the thickness of the wrapper. The inner tube can be positioned between the aerosol generation portion and the filter portion of the consumable article. The inner tube forms a spacer between the aerosol generation portion and the filter portion or mouth end, the spacer being sized to allow a temperature decrease of the vapour when circulating through it. The inner tube can be hollow or filled with a porous filler material, such as a lightweight mesh material, a non-woven material, a honeycomb or an open cell material, etc. The insertion of a filler material can increase the contact surface with the vapour in the tubular member to achieve a shorter tube length. The aerosol generation material can be a tobacco-based material, such as reconstituted tobacco in any suitable form, such as a gathered sheet, a strand, a rod, a powder, a sponge or a foam.

[0017] The inner tube is arranged within a wrapper made of a light scattering material. Preferably, the wrapper is made of paper. Paper is a highly scattering material, allowing to provide great flexibility in the positioning of the light source with respect to the detector system in the aerosol generation device.

[0018] In an embodiment, the inner tube is made of a light scattering material. In a variant, the tube can be made of an optically opaque material or a material having partial light transmission. The use of an opaque layer arranged to the inner tube increases the contrast of the detection signal of the identification code compared to a translucent or transparent material.

[0019] In an embodiment, the tube and the wrapper are made of different materials and have different light scattering properties. The use of different materials allows to provide greater design flexibility and improve the detection reliability of the identification code.

[0020] In an embodiment, the tube and / or the wrapper are at least partially made of paper and preferably have different thicknesses.

[0021] In an embodiment, at least one light absorbing layer having through apertures is arranged to the inner tube. The apertures of the absorbing layer are aligned with the light transmitting apertures. The light transmitting apertures can have any cross-sectional shape, preferably a cylindrical cross-sectional shape. The light transmitting apertures are preferably arranged on the full outer circumference of the inner tube of the consumable, which allows to detect the relevant identification code independently of the angular orientation of the consumable article in the device.

[0022] In embodiments, the wrapper and / or the tube are made of at least two layers. At least one layer of the wrapper is a light diffusing layer. In variants, a scattering layer can be arranged between the inner tube and the wrapper or be an inner layer of the wrapper. A scattering layer between the inner tube and the wrapper allows to provide a higher scattering effect. The scattering layer can be designed to enhance the scattering effect at certain wavelengths, such as blue light. In advantageous embodiments, an optical filter layer can be arranged to the inner tube and / or to the wrapper. Arranging an optical filter layer, such as an optical absorption filter, allows to increase the contrast of the light passing through the apertures and between the apertures.

[0023] In embodiments, at least one part of at least one of the wrapper layer and / or the inner tube layer is made of polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose paper, starch and combinations thereof.

[0024] In advantageous arrangements, the inner tube comprises a fluorescent substance that emits light when irradiated with, for example, UV light. In this case, the light beam provided by the apertures can be more invisible, allowing to detect the presence of the apertures as dark zones imposed on a substantially uniform light beam scattered by the wrapper. The apertures in this embodiment are detected by dark zones in the intensity distribution.

[0025] In embodiments, the apertures are arranged in at least N parallel arrays arranged on the outer circumference and / or axial length of the inner tube, N being equal to or greater than 2.

[0026] In embodiments, at least two of the N arrays have M different spacing distances between the apertures of the arrays, M being equal to or greater than 2.

[0027] In embodiments, the N arrays are distributed with a variable distance spacing.

[0028] In embodiments, at least a first array of the N arrays has apertures of different shape and / or size compared to a second array of the N arrays.

[0029] In embodiments, at least two of the N arrays comprise apertures that are not aligned on the same virtual line orthogonal to the plane formed by the at least two arrays. In embodiments, the apertures can have a curved shape or can have a conical shape. The shape of the apertures can vary along the thickness of the inner tube.

[0030] In a second aspect, the application is implemented by an aerosol generating system comprising the aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device comprises a power supply section and a cavity arranged in an outer body portion, the cavity defining a cavity axis, having an opening accessible at the outer body portion and being configured to receive the aerosol generating article.

[0031] The aerosol generating device further includes at least one lighting system, which includes at least one optical light source disposed on one side of the cavity.

[0032] The aerosol generating device further includes an optical reader system comprising at least two detectors for reading information provided by the light transmitted by the aperture array.

[0033] In an embodiment, at least one of the detectors has a lateral dimension smaller than the maximum diameter of the projected light beam incident on the detector. Using multiple detectors with dimensions smaller than the diameter of the light beam striking the detector allows for a detection scheme with significant resolution and a high probability of detecting hidden codes provided by the aperture.

[0034] In an embodiment, the angular aperture of the detector is selected such that light from more than 2, preferably more than 5, more preferably more than 10, or even more preferably more than 20 apertures and / or more than 2 aperture arrays can be detected by the optical reader system.

[0035] In this embodiment, the detector system is configured to detect the spatial frequency and / or at least one optical phase of the transmitted light beam. Detecting intensity signals and converting them into frequency-dependent signals allows for a simple and highly reliable detection scheme.

[0036] In one embodiment, the detector array includes at least three detectors having different angular spacings defined relative to the cavity axis.

[0037] The invention is further defined in the appended claims. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of an aerosol generating article of the present invention is shown, the aerosol generating article comprising an inner tube with an orifice and a light-diffusing envelope;

[0039] Figure 2 Showing Figure 1 The cross-section of the aerosol-generating article in the embodiment;

[0040] Figure 3a , Figure 3b The optical effect of the consumable article according to the invention is demonstrated: that is, when a beam of light does not pass through a part of the article to illuminate the orifice, the identification code contained in the orifice arrangement in the inner tube cannot be seen or detected from the outside of the article.

[0041] Figure 4An aerosol generating article is shown having a wrapper comprising at least two layers;

[0042] Figure 5 An article is shown having orifices in the inner tube with a slanted orientation;

[0043] Figure 6 A transverse cross section of an article of the invention is shown, the article comprising an absorbent layer arranged inside an inner tube, the absorbent layer having a plurality of through-holes;

[0044] Figure 7 Embodiments of a consumable article comprising an inner tube member having at least three different arrays of orifices in its wall are shown;

[0045] Figure 8 and Figure 9 An inner tube is shown having orifices with a depth that is a fraction of the thickness of the wall of the inner tube;

[0046] Figure 10 A configuration of an aerosol generating device is shown comprising an illumination system illuminating the orifices of an inner tube by scattered light and an array of light detectors;

[0047] Figure 11 Illumination of through-holes of an inner tube and a plurality of light beams transmitted through the inner tube and a wrapper arranged to the inner tube are shown. The figure further shows a cross section and intensity distribution of the projected light beams intercepted at a virtual image plane defined in front of the light sensitive surface of the detector array;

[0048] Figure 12 A configuration of an aerosol generating device is shown comprising a light source and an array of light detectors arranged on opposite sides of a consumable article. The figure further shows scattered light transmitted through the inner tube and the wrapper;

[0049] Figure 13 A configuration of an aerosol generating device is shown, wherein the light source and the array of light detectors are arranged at an angle between 90° and 180° with respect to the axis of the consumable article. The figure further shows scattered light transmitted through the inner tube and the wrapper;

[0050] Figure 14 A position of the detector array with respect to the position of the projected light beams intercepted at the light sensitive surface of the detector array is shown;

[0051] Figure 15 Typical Fourier transform signals obtained by a detector arrangement such as the arrangement shown in Figure 14 are shown.

[0052] Figure 16a , Figure 16bDifferent hole arrangements of the inner tube of a consumable article are shown, which hole arrangements constitute a detectable and readable code.

[0053] Figures 17a to 17c Hole arrangements comprising hole arrays are shown, which hole arrays present a relative shift in the sense of the length of the hole array.

[0054] Figure 18 An aerosol generating system is shown, which comprises an aerosol generating device comprising an illumination and detection system for detecting and decoding information of a plurality of orifices of the inner tube of an article of the invention.

[0055] Figure 19 An aerosol generating device is shown, which comprises an illumination and imaging system for detecting and decoding information of a plurality of holes of the inner tube of an article of the invention. The figure shows an image of the emitted light beam at the level of the outer surface of the wrapper provided by the imaging system, which is configured to provide an image of a portion of the outer surface of the wrapper. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements can be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to the actual reductions to practice of the invention.

[0057] The present invention will be described in the following examples with respect to tobacco-based consumable articles, but the scope of the invention should not be interpreted as being limited to tobacco-based consumable articles, but should encompass any aerosol-generating consumable article, such as a smoking article, a heat-not-burn article, an e-liquid cartridge and an atomizer cartridge, which comprises an aerosol-generating substrate capable of generating an inhalable aerosol upon heating. The aerosol-generating article 1 or article 1 of the invention is also defined herein as consumable 1 or consumable article.

[0058] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating material" refers to a material capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol upon heating. The aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material of the aerosol generating article described herein can be visible or invisible and can include vapour (e.g. fine particles of a substance in a gaseous state, which substance is typically a liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as gas and droplets of condensed vapour. The aerosol generating material can be a tobacco-based material such as reconstituted tobacco in any suitable form such as a gathered sheet, shreds, a sponge or a foam. The aerosol generating material is preferably based on the use of aerosol generating substances, for example tobacco, aerosol formers, binders, flavourings, nicotine and combinations thereof. The aerosol forming substrate can be provided in a stabilising carrier. Such a carrier can be in the form of a powder, granules, a small rod, a sheet or a foam.

[0059] The manufactured aerosol generating consumable article 1 defines a virtual insertion axis Z, can have a cross-section of any regular or irregular shape and can for example have an elliptical or circular cross-section defined in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis. The article defines a transverse cross-sectional plane X-Y orthogonal to said virtual insertion axis Z Figure 1 ) The longitudinal cross-section is defined in the X-Z or Y-Z plane.

[0060] The term "wrapper" herein is a light scattering or diffusing tube, roll-like sheet or layer, broadly defined as any layer or layers or tube protecting the inner tube (possibly also a segment of the article's charge containing aerosol generating material) and allowing handling of them. The wrapper has an inner surface that can be in contact with the aerosol generating material and an outer surface facing away from the aerosol generating material. The wrapper can preferably comprise a cellulose-based material such as cellulose paper (including paperboard) and / or cellulose acetate. The wrapper can also be made of biodegradable polymer or can be made of glass or ceramic. The wrapper can be a porous material and can have a smooth or rough outer surface and can be a flexible or a rigid material. The wrapper as defined herein covers at least a portion of the inner tube and can also cover other components of the aerosol generating consumable article 1. The wrapper can be in contact with the inner tube but is not necessarily so.

[0061] The term "light diffusing" refers herein to the diffusion or scattering of light, i.e. a light beam impinging on a light diffusing layer is scattered by the components of the layer so that the layer is not transparent like a transparent optical plate. More precisely, a light diffusing layer as used herein does not allow to look through it in direct vision by the human eye or by using a camera, but relies only on the illumination of a light source placed on the side of the observer or camera. In other words, a "light diffusing or scattering layer" herein refers to a layer which is not transparent in direct vision (as opposed to a transparent optical plate) but which is only transparent under the effect of the light source placed on the side of the observer or camera. Figure 3aonly using reflected light, similar to the effect of a sheet of paper). More precisely, the light-diffusing wrapper does not allow to see through it, or to directly observe the presence of elements or layers without using a back or side light flash on the wrapper, such as Figure 3b As shown, the figure illustrates the observation or detection of the apertures in the inner tube arranged inside the wrapper. In the present invention, the apertures in the wall of the inner tube are not visible under normal lighting, as they are covered by the outer wall, and can thus be called "hidden" features and constitute a hidden identification code.

[0062] In the present text, the term "visible" or "detectable" means that the member to be observed or detected can be observed in a specific wavelength range, for example in the visible wavelength range. There is no limitation to any wavelength range, which can be in the UV, visible or infrared wavelength range, as long as in this wavelength range, without using a light source providing a light beam of illumination to the inner tube and the wrapper arranged on the inner tube, the apertures in the tube as object of the present invention cannot be observed or detected. As the effect of the present invention relies on the illumination of the inner tube comprising the apertures by scattered light, the position of the light source is not important and can be arranged in any position in the space 4 around the outer circumference and / or axial length of the consumable, as further detailed.

[0063] Due to the 2 effects, the apertures in the inner tube of the consumable of the present invention become visible or detectable:

[0064] - the outer wall thickness is thin enough so that the scattered light can pass through the inner tube and the wrapper surrounding the inner tube;

[0065] - the wrapper layer acts as a diffuser of the incident light, so that the angular orientation of the illumination light source is not important, as further detailed. The inner tube can be a partially transparent layer or a diffusing layer, as further detailed.

[0066] The term "inner tube" is a tubular member in an aerosol generating consumable. It is covered by a light diffusing member, preferably a wrapper as mentioned above. The inner tubular member can be a paper tube or a polymer tube of a thickness greater than the wrapper thickness. The tubular member can be positioned in the longitudinal direction between the aerosol generating portion and the filter portion of the consumable article. The tubular member can have the function of cooling the temperature of the vapour circulating through it. The tubular member can be hollow or filled with a porous filler material such as a lightweight mesh material, a nonwoven material, a honeycomb or an open cell material, etc. The tube can be formed from a sheet of web material glued at longitudinal seams or can be formed by other techniques such as extrusion. The insertion of a filler material can increase the contact surface in the tubular member to enhance the cooling effect. The aerosol generating material can be a tobacco-based material such as reconstituted tobacco in any suitable form such as a gathered sheet, a strand, a rod, a powder, a sponge or a foam. The inner tubular member can have any cross-sectional shape or any ratio between the thickness of its wall and the diameter of the tube. The inner tube can have a non-uniform diameter and can have for example a conical shape. The inner tube can also be made of non-continuous parts such as two different tubular members having different diameters or different external or internal shapes.

[0067] The tubular member is preferably a light diffusing tube like the wrapper, but not necessarily so. As described in further detail, the inner tube can be made of a light absorbing material or even be transparent as the apertures can create a diffraction effect allowing the detection of these apertures by illumination across the cross section of the consumable.

[0068] As used herein, the term "light" includes light beams of wavelengths preferably less than 20 pm, which is the limit of the far infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

[0069] The terms "hole" and "aperture" as used herein can be a through hole or can be a partial hole or a step arranged in the wall of the tube member. The aperture can be a millimetre-sized aperture or can be a micrometre-sized aperture.

[0070] More precisely, the invention is implemented by an aerosol generating article comprising a consumable segment attached to a mouthpiece segment. The mouthpiece segment comprises at least one inner tube 2 and has an inner tube surface 2b and an outer tube surface 2a. As Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the inner tube 2 comprises a plurality 20 of light transmitting apertures 201-216 extending in the wall of said inner tube over at least a length and preferably along the outer periphery of said inner tube, as Figure 2 shown in Fig. 2.

[0071] The wrapper 40 covering the inner tube 2 can be single-layered or can comprise at least two layers 40a, 40b as illustrated in Figure 3. One of these layers 41, 42 can cover other components of the aerosol generating article than the inner tube 2 only. For example, in Figure 1 In this embodiment, the wrapper covers the mouthpiece 1” and a portion of the consumable segment 1’.

[0072] In embodiments, the plurality of apertures 20 can have various different shapes and / or orientations. Figure 5 Embodiments are shown in which the inner tube 40 comprises through apertures 221-228 whose longitudinal projections do not intersect the central axis Z of the article 1.

[0073] In embodiments, the outer wrapper 40 has an inner surface 40b in contact with the outer surface 2a of the inner tube 2. In variants, at least one additional layer can be arranged between the inner tube 2 and the wrapper 40. Such additional layer can be a glue layer, a seam layer or a bonding or spacing layer. Such additional layer, not shown in the figures, is at least partially transparent to incident light and can be a light diffusing layer and can be a layer having optical absorption properties.

[0074] In advantageous embodiments, the apertures can be very small apertures on which incident light is diffracted, for example apertures having a maximum cross-sectional dimension or diameter between 2 mm and 50 pm, preferably between 1 mm and 65 pm, most preferably between 500 pm and 100 pm. The apertures can be produced by a laser. The depth of the apertures, if not through the entire thickness, can typically be between 100 pm and 800 pm, but can be less than 100 pm.

[0075] The inner tubular component 2 can be a paper tube or a polymeric tube having a thickness greater than the thickness of the wrapper. The tubular component can be positioned between the aerosol generating portion and the filter portion of the consumable article. The tubular component can have the function of cooling the temperature of the vapour circulating through it. The tubular component can be hollow or filled with a porous filler material, such as a lightweight, open mesh, non-woven material, honeycomb or open cell material, etc. The insertion of a filler material can increase the contact surface in the tubular component to enhance the cooling effect. The aerosol generating material can be a tobacco-based material, such as reconstituted tobacco in any suitable form, such as a bunched sheet, strand, rod, powder, sponge or foam.

[0076] The inner tube 2 is arranged within a wrapper 40 made of a light scattering material. Preferably, the wrapper is made of paper or paperboard.

[0077] In embodiments, the inner tube 2 is made of a light scattering material. In variants, the inner tube 2 can be made of an optically opaque material or a material having partial light transmission.

[0078] In embodiments, the inner tube 2 and the wrapper 40 are made of different materials and have different light scattering properties.

[0079] In embodiments, the tube 2 and / or the wrapper 40 are at least partially made of paper and preferably have different thicknesses.

[0080] The wrapper 40 and the inner tube 2 can have the following typical dimensions. The outer circumference of the article can be between 16 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 17 mm and 22 mm. The inner circumference of the inner tube can be between 10 mm and 20 mm. The thickness of the inner tube can be between 0.2 mm and 1.5 mm, preferably between 0.3 mm and 1 mm, and the thickness of the wrapper can be between 50 microns and 250 microns, preferably between 60 microns and 120 microns. It can be made of paper. The grammage of the paper used for the wrapper can be between about 15 g / m2and 80 g / m2. The grammage of the paper used for the inner tube can be between about 50 g / m2and 180 g / m2.

[0081] The apertures can be circular apertures, but can also have other shapes, such as rectangular apertures. The apertures of the array 20, 20', 20" can be at least partially conical apertures.

[0082] In embodiments, as Figure 6 illustrated, the inner tube 2 comprises at least one light absorbing layer 30 having through apertures 201'-211'. The apertures of such absorbing layer 30 are aligned with the plurality of 20 light transmitting apertures 201-216, 220-216. The apertures 201'-211' in the absorbing layer 30 are preferably through apertures. The apertures 201'-211' in the absorbing layer 30 can be wider or smaller than the apertures 201-216, 220-216 of the inner tube 2.

[0083] The absorbing layer 30 can be a separate layer arranged to the inner tube, or it can be a deposited layer, such as an ink layer or any layer that is completely opaque or partially transmissive to the wavelengths of light used to detect the presence and / or shape and / or arrangement of said apertures.

[0084] In embodiments, the inner tube 2 is made of at least two layers (not shown in the figures). At least one layer of the inner tube 2 can be a light diffusing layer.

[0085] In embodiments, at least a portion of at least one of said wrapper layer and / or inner tube layer is made of polylactic acid (PLA) or paperboard.

[0086] In an advantageous arrangement, the inner tube 2 can comprise a fluorescent substance that emits light when irradiated with, for example, UV light. This allows to achieve a possible huge difference in the transmitted light beam directed to the detector, since the apertures 201-216, 220-216 in this example do not comprise a fluorescent substance. In this case, the light beams provided by the apertures 201-216, 220-216 can be more invisible, allowing to detect their presence since their surrounding environment provides a much greater light intensity. For example, a UV light source can irradiate the inner tube 2 through the article 1, which can provide secondary light beams within the visible light zone. The apertures 201-216, 220-216 can be detected in this embodiment (not shown) by dark zones in the intensity distribution of the scattered light provided by the wrapper 40.

[0087] In an embodiment, as shown in Figure 16a , Figure 16b and Figures 17a to 17c , the plurality 20, 20', 20" of apertures 201-216, 220-216 is arranged in at least N parallel arrays arranged on the outer periphery of the inner tube, N being equal to or greater than 2.

[0088] In an embodiment, at least two arrays of the N arrays have M different spacings between the apertures 201-216, 220-216, M being equal to or greater than 2. For example, Figure 16b is shown an arrangement in which 4 columns of apertures comprise a plurality of apertures that can be arranged with two different spacing distances dl, d2, so that in this case N is equal to 4 and M is equal to 2.

[0089] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in Figures 17a to 17c , at least two arrays of the N arrays comprise apertures 201-216, 220-216 that are not aligned on the same virtual line orthogonal to the plane formed by the at least two arrays. The misalignment defines a phase between the aperture arrays that can be identified as a fraction f of the predetermined spacing distance. For example, in Figure 17b and Figure 17c , the phase is equal to 1 / 3 of the spacing distance dl of the apertures 201-216, 220-216 of the first column of apertures.

[0090] In an embodiment not shown, the apertures 201-216, 220-216 can be arranged along a curve (for example a sinusoidal curve or a helical curve) defined on the outer periphery of the inner tube.

[0091] In an advantageous embodiment, as shown in Figure 7It is shown that the array of orifices 20, 20', 20" can comprise different types of orifices. For example, the first plurality of orifices 20 and the second plurality of orifices 20' can be orifices having a circular cross-section, while the third plurality of orifices 20" can be orifices having a rectangular or other polygonal cross-section.

[0092] In a second aspect, the application is realized by an aerosol generation device 100 and an aerosol generation system comprising said aerosol generation article 1 and said aerosol generation device 100. The aerosol generation device 100 comprises a power supply section (not shown) and a cavity 102 arranged in an outer body portion, the cavity having an opening accessible at the outer body portion and being configured to receive said aerosol generation article 1. Figure 18 A partial view of a typical aerosol generation system of the application is shown, comprising said aerosol generation device 100 and said aerosol generation article in an inserted position inserted into said aerosol generation device 100.

[0093] The aerosol generation device 100 comprises at least one illumination system 300 comprising at least one optical light source 310 providing at least one light beam 320 and preferably a detection system 400 arranged on opposite sides of the cavity 102.

[0094] Figure 10 And Figure 12 A configuration of the aerosol generation device 100 is shown, comprising an illumination system 300 and an array of light detectors 401-414 for reading information provided by light transmitted by the plurality of orifices 201-216, 220-216. The illumination system 300 and the detector system 400 can be arranged in different positions in the device 100. For example, Figure 10 And Figure 12 A preferred configuration is shown, wherein the at least one light emission system 300 is arranged opposite the detector system 400.

[0095] Figure 12 It is shown that light 340 enters the wrapper 40. A part of this light is transmitted by the orifices 201-216, 220-216, another part is transmitted by other wall portions of the inner tube 2 between said orifices.

[0096] In an advantageous embodiment, at least one of said detectors 402-414 of the detection system 400 has a lateral dimension which is smaller than the maximum diameter of the projected light beams 351-353, 351'-354' on the array of detectors 401-414.

[0097] The illumination system 300 comprises at least one illumination source 310, which can be a direct light source such as a light emitter. The light source 310 can also be the end of an optical element (not shown here), for example the end of a light waveguide, or the head of an optical element comprising a fluorescent material which is illuminated by an energy source or light source placed away from the light emitting element. The light emitting system 300 preferably comprises a light source 310, which can be any UV light source, visible light source or infrared light source or a combination of such light sources. Due to the very limited space available in the aerosol generation device 100, the light source 310 is preferably a semiconductor light source such as a LED, SLED or semiconductor light source.

[0098] In a variant, the light source 310 of the present invention can be an infrared light source. The light source can be generated by the heater of the aerosol generation device 100 or be a separate light source.

[0099] Figure 11 A detailed view of the illumination and light transmission of the through-going apertures 201-216, 220-228 of the inner tube 2 and the multiple light beams passing through the inner tube and the wrapper arranged on the inner tube is shown. Figure 11 Also shown is the cross-section of the light cones C1-C3 of the multiple light beams 350 transmitted from the wrapper 2 to the detector array. Since the emitted light cones C1-C3 are diverging light cones, the cross-section 351-353, 351’-353’ of the transmitted light beams 350 at the detector system 400 depends on the distance of the detector system 400 relative to the outer surface 40a of the wrapper. Figure 11 The intensity variation I(0) in a virtual image plane 402 defined in front of the detector array is shown. The virtual image plane can be a plane or a curved surface, a curved surface being shown in the embodiment of Figure 13 In a preferred embodiment, the maximum intensity of the intensity variation I(0) is provided by the light beams transmitted through the apertures 201-216, 220-228 and the minimum intensity is provided by the scattered light passing through the inner tube 2 and the wall of the wrapper. The virtual image plane 402 can be defined at the light sensitive surface of the detector array, but can be located at a distance in front of the detector array 401-414.

[0100] In an embodiment, in order to improve the contrast of the intensity I(0) of the intercepted light and also to reduce cross-talk between different transmitted light beams, an array of pinholes or view limiting apertures made of an opaque material can be arranged in front of the detector array. In this not shown embodiment, the virtual image plane 402 is the plane of the array of pinholes or view limiting apertures.

[0101] In an advantageous embodiment, the virtual image plane 402 can be implemented with a resolution of 0.1 to 0.5 degrees. Figure 11The light intensity distribution shown is complementary to the light intensity distribution (not shown). For example, the inner tube 2 can comprise a fluorescent substance that emits light when irradiated with, for example, UV light. In this case, the light beams provided by the apertures 201-216, 220-228 can be more invisible, allowing the presence of these apertures to be detected as dark zones superimposed on a substantially uniform light beam scattered by the wrapping. The apertures of this embodiment are then detected by the dark zones in the intensity distribution. This effect can be significantly enhanced by using optical filters arranged in front of the detector system 400. For example, a UV band-pass filter can be used, in which case only the light provided by the apertures is detected, providing an intensity signal with a large contrast. A visible light-absorbing filter can also be used in front of the detectors 401-414. In this case, the apertures 201-216, 220-228 do not transmit light to the detectors 401-414, but can be detected by a drop in the detected intensity signal provided by the visible light scattered by the wrapping towards the detector system 400.

[0102] The shape and contrast of the light beam impinging on the detector array 400, as well as the intensity resolution, can be adapted according to the desired optical effect.

[0103] The measured light intensity I(0) can be optimized by adapting one or several of the following parameters:

[0104] - using a minimum distance between the wrapping 40 and the detector array;

[0105] - using a large number of sensors spaced apart by a small distance to accurately characterize the light variation as a function of its angular position 0 (for example using a linear CCD, which can be a curved CCD or a curved detector array);

[0106] - using sensor elements with very small sensing areas D to measure the light at an accurate position in the plane of the detector array 401-402; Figure 13 );

[0107] - using a dedicated material that enhances the contrast of the light signal (for example by using a fluorescent or phosphorescent material) or a material with specific light absorption properties, which can be combined by arranging a color filter or an interference filter in front of the detector array.

[0108] In an advantageous configuration, the width of the light beams 351-353, 351'-354' intercepted by the detector array 401-415 can be adapted according to their source of emission on the wrapping 40. For example, by adjusting the size of the holes or apertures 201-216, 220-216, the distance of spacing from the detector array, or by using a partially absorbent material for the inner tube, or by using a paper with specific light scattering properties, the cross-section of the projected light beams 351-353 provided by the apertures 201-216 can be different from the cross-section of the scattered light beams 351'-354' not transmitted through the apertures 201-216, 220-216. The difference in cross-section size can be at least 2 times, even more than 5 times. Further on, Figure 13 Another example of overlapping cross-sections of the light beams 351-355, 351'-355' intercepted by the detector array system 400 is shown.

[0109] If the number of sensors 401-414 is small (for example 4 discrete sensors 401-415 are used), the optimal position of these sensors along the light detection surface can be implemented in order to maximize the difference between the measured light intensity of the light beams 351-356 provided by the apertures and the measured light intensity of the light 351'-355' provided by the remaining surface of the inner tube 2.

[0110] Some exemplary arrangements of the detectors 401-414 are now described.

[0111] For example, Figure 14 A case is shown where d is the distance between 2 successive maxima of the light intersecting the light sensitive surface of the detector array. If only 2 light sensors are used, their respective positions D1, D2 in the detector plane should satisfy D2-D1=d / 2. However, if by chance the position of the sensors is at the transition between a bright and a dark zone, the intensity difference between the two sensors will be low. To avoid this, additional sensors can be used.

[0112] If 4 sensors are used, the position D3 of the third sensor and the position D4 of the fourth sensor should be such that D3-D2=d / 4 and D4-D3=d / 2

[0113] The same reasoning applies to the optimal positioning of 6 or more sensors.

[0114] However, the number of sensors can be reduced to 3. By optimal placement, this allows detecting the intensity variation over one period and verifying the presence of a perforation or structured pattern. In this case, the 3 sensors are positioned such that D2-D1=d / 2 and D3-D2=d / 4. If I(x) is the light intensity as a function of position x, or I(0) is expressed as a function of the angle Figure 13), a positive detection is performed when Max(I(D2)-I(D1), I(D3)-I(D2)) > T, T being a threshold value that is either hardcoded in the detection device (i.e. the aerosol generation device) or generated by the detection device based on other local or remote inputs.

[0115] It is also possible to use 2 groups of sensors, each group of 3 sensors, and each group can be optimized to detect the modulation of distances d and d' respectively. Then the first group is set so that D2-D1 = d / 2 and D3-D2 = d / 4, and the second group is set so that D2'-D1' = d' / 2 and D3'-D2' = d' / 4.

[0116] Furthermore, a large number of sensors 401-414 can be used, for example more than 10 or more than 20 sensors. By using a large number of sensors at least twice the number of bright and dark zones, a reliable detection can be made using signal processing methods. If I(Xn) is the light intensity measured at a uniform sampling position Xn defined in the detector plane, a frequency transform F can be used to detect the identification code or signal. F can be any transform domain and in particular a frequency transform like Fourier or DCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). The maximum of the frequency transform signal F is located at a frequency 1 / d corresponding to the pitch of the bright zones. Therefore, an advantageous detection method comprises measuring the signal to noise ratio of F(1 / d) with respect to the rest of the frequency transform values and comparing it to a predetermined threshold value.

[0117] In a variant, the same principle can be applied to a complementary optical configuration in which the light beam provided by the aperture has a lower light intensity than the surrounding scattered light.

[0118] In an advantageous embodiment, the detector array can comprise detectors having different shapes and the detector array can be arranged onto a curved substrate.

[0119] Since the effect of the invention relies on the illumination of the inner tube 2 by the scattered light, the position of the light source 310 is not important and can be arranged at any position around the outer periphery of the consumable, as further detailed.

[0120] In a variant, as Figure 13 shown, the light source can be arranged at an angle with respect to the detector system 400.

[0121] In an embodiment, the angular aperture of the detectors 402-415, defined as the spatial light acceptance angle of these detectors, is chosen so that light from more than 2, preferably more than 5, more preferably more than 10, even more preferably more than 20 apertures 201-216, 220-228 and / or more than 2 arrays 20, 20', 20" of apertures 201-216, 220-228 can be detected by said optical reader system 400.

[0122] In a further complication of the method, the perforations have a non-uniform pitch, so that the transmitted intensity pattern represents a consumable code that can be further used for serialization or identification of the consumable article. Due to this complication, more sensors are needed to properly sample the code.

[0123] Some examples of the encoding information provided by the apertures 201-216, 220-228 are now described.

[0124] Figure 16a An example of a binary encoding using 4 rows of code is shown, enabling to encode 16 different values. Figure 16b A ternary encoding using multiple rows of apertures spaced by a distance d or 2xd is shown (using for example 2 sets of 3 sensors as described above). This enables to encode 3 4 = 81 different values. More generally, for nl rows of apertures, with n2 different pitches per row, the number of codes is equal to (n2+1) n1 .

[0125] In an embodiment, the detector system 400 is configured for detecting a spatial frequency and / or at least one optical phase (η) of said light beam.

[0126] In an embodiment, said detector array comprises at least 3 detectors having different angular intervals defined with respect to said cavity axis.

[0127] By adding several sets of sensors per row (for example by using a 2D sensor array), it is also possible to detect the phase between two rows of apertures 201-216, 220-228. For example, the phase of 2 rows in case (a) is equal to 0, in case (b) is equal to d / 3, in case (c) is equal to 2d / 3. This enables to encode 3 different values. This can be generalized to any number of phases with enough sensors.

[0128] By combining the two variants of different pitch values d (as Figures 17a to 17c shown) and different phase values, the number of combinations can be further increased.

[0129] It is emphasized here that intensity variations similar to the ones induced by the apertures 201-216, 220-228 as set out above can also be produced by alternative processes, for example:

[0130] - printing the holes in a solid color and the openings in a colored color.

[0131] - watermarks or similar techniques, meaning a method where the paper thickness is different.

[0132] Furthermore, Figure 18The calibration sensor 400' is shown that can be axially displaced. The readings of the calibration sensor 400' will be used as calibration signals, thus allowing detection of alternative encodings, such as encodings produced by printing and watermarking.

[0133] In an advantageous embodiment, as Figure 19 shown, the apertures 20, 20', 20" of the inner tube 2 can be detected by imaging a portion of the wrapping 40. The light beams transmitted to the outer surface 40a of the wrapping 40 provide different illumination areas 41-44, 41'-43'. The imaging lens 450 can be chosen depending on the desired aperture Ω of the imaging system. The focal length of the lens 450 and the size of the imaging detector determine the area on the outer surface 40a of the wrapping that needs to be imaged on the image plane 600. The choice of the focal length of the lens 450 also depends on the desired resolution in the image plane 600. The focal length can be less than 3 mm. As Figure 19 shown, the imager 400 can be a very small imager with a volume less than 4x4x4 mm. In an embodiment, an array of such very small imagers can be arranged in the cavity 102 of the device 100. In a variant, a concave mirror can be used as an alternative to the imaging lens 450. This concave mirror allows to provide a larger focal length, thus providing a smaller field of view Ω, but on the other hand a higher resolution. The use of an imaging system instead of a measurement of the light beam intensity can be particularly advantageous in case structures, such as markings, have been pressed into at least one of the surfaces of the inner tube 2.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating article (1) comprising a consumable segment attached to a mouthpiece segment, wherein the mouthpiece segment comprising at least one inner tube (2) and a wrapper (40), wherein the inner tube is arranged inside the wrapper (40), and wherein the mouthpiece segment comprises a machine readable pattern representing coded data, the machine readable pattern comprising a plurality of light transmissive apertures extending in at least one length of a wall of the inner tube (2), the plurality of light transmissive apertures being arranged along a circumferential and / or longitudinal direction of the inner tube (2).

2. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The inner tube (2) and / or the wrapper (40) are made of a light scattering material.

3. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 2, wherein, The inner tube (2) and the wrapper (40) are made of different materials and have different light scattering properties.

4. An aerosol generating article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The inner tube (2) and the wrapper (40) are at least partially made of paper.

5. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 4, wherein, The inner tube and the wrapper have different thicknesses.

6. An aerosol generating article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, At least one light absorbing layer (30) is arranged to the inner tube (2), the light absorbing layer (30) having through apertures aligned with the light transmissive apertures.

7. An aerosol generating article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The wrapper (40) and / or the inner tube (2) are made of at least two layers.

8. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 7, wherein, At least one portion of at least one of the layers is made of polylactic acid (PLA), cellulose paper, starch, and combinations thereof.

9. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The light transmissive apertures are arranged in at least N parallel arrays arranged on a circumference of the inner tube (2), N being equal to or greater than 2.

10. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 9, wherein, At least two of the N arrays have M different spacings between their light transmissive apertures, M being equal to or greater than 2.

11. An aerosol generating article (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, At least two of the N arrays comprise apertures that are not aligned on a same virtual line orthogonal to a plane formed by the at least two arrays.

12. An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating article (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11 and an aerosol generating device (100), the aerosol generating device comprising a power supply segment and a cavity (102) arranged in an outer body portion; the cavity (102) defining a cavity axis and having an opening proximal at the outer body portion and being configured to receive the aerosol generating article (1), wherein, the aerosol generating device (100) further comprises at least one illumination system (300) comprising at least one optical light source (310) arranged on a side of the cavity (102), the aerosol generating device (100) further comprises an optical reader system (400) comprising at least two detectors for reading information provided by transmitted light transmitted through the arrays of light transmissive apertures.

13. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein, At least one of the detectors has a maximum cross section that is smaller than a maximum diameter of a projected light beam on the detector.

14. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, The angular aperture of the detectors is chosen such that light from more than 2 apertures and / or from more than 2 arrays of apertures can be detected by the optical reader system (400).

15. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, The angular aperture of these detectors is chosen such that light from more than 5 orifices and / or more than 2 arrays of orifices (20, 20', 20'') can be detected by the optical reader system (400).

16. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, The angular aperture of these detectors is chosen such that light from more than 10 orifices and / or more than 2 arrays of orifices can be detected by the optical reader system (400).

17. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, The angular aperture of these detectors is chosen such that light from more than 20 orifices and / or more than 2 arrays of orifices can be detected by the optical reader system (400).

18. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein, The optical reader system (400) is configured for detecting the spatial frequency (f) and / or at least one optical phase (η) of the transmitted light.

19. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein, The optical reader system comprises at least 3 detectors having different angular intervals defined with respect to the cavity axis.

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