Aerosol-generating device with authentification and identification for aerosol-generating articles

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising a device body comprising a heating chamber configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-generating article, the heating chamber comprising an at least partly cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped heating volume, wherein the heating chamber comprises a heating device configured to heat at least part of the aerosol-generating article in a heating zone, and at least one sensor device configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber and / or during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber.

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure further relates to a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device.

[0002] Aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating devices are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated from an aerosol-generating or aerosol-forming substrate or an aerosol-generating or aerosol-forming article, for example by heating. The aerosol-generating devices the present disclosure pertains to are mainly directed to the field of tobacco and tobacco-substitute products, as well as e-vapor devices, for example heated tobacco products (HTP), heat-not-burn devices, electronic cigarettes, e-vapor devices, and / or vaporisers. The aerosol-generating devices of the present disclosure may also pertain to other types of inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers, for example inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers for medical applications.

[0003] Typical aerosol-generating systems can be designed as one-part systems or devices including an aerosol-generating device that can be operated by a user to generate aerosol. Alternatively, aerosol-generating systems can be designed as two-part systems or devices comprising an aerosol-generating device and a companion device for storing and / or charging the aerosol-generating device. In either design or configuration, the aerosol-generating system or device can be used by a user for consuming or inhaling, for instance in one or more usage sessions, aerosol generated based on heating an aerosol-generating article or substrate couplable to the aerosol-generating system. In the context of the present disclosure, an aerosol-generating device can refer to both a one-part device and a two-part device, unless explicitly specified otherwise.

[0004] The aerosol-generating article, also referred to as aerosol-generating article, can comprise an aerosol-generating or aerosol-generating substrate, such as a tobacco or nicotine-containing substrate. The aerosol-generating article may be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-generating device or system. In conventional systems or devices, the aerosol-generating article is usually formed as a stick that can be at least partly inserted into a cavity or heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device for aerosol consumption. Insertion of the stick-like shaped aerosol-generating article into the cavity, however, can potentially damage the aerosol-generating article, which may potentially affect an experience for a user, for example in terms of taste or homogeneity of the experience. Also, inserting the aerosol-generating article into and removing it from the cavity of conventional systems may, at least for some users or in certain scenarios, be cumbersome.

[0005] Exemplary aerosol-generating substrates can comprise solid substrate material, such as tobacco material or tobacco cast leaves (TCL) material. The substrate material can, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially stick-shaped aerosol-generating article. Such a stick or aerosol-generating article can be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the aerosol-generating article and / or the aerosol-generating substrate. The heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosol-generating article and / or the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-generating substrates can comprise one or more liquids and / or solids, which can, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-generating device in the form of a cartridge or container. Corresponding exemplary aerosol-generating articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and / or solid substrate, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and / or liquid. Usually, such cartridge or container can be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol-generating device and refilled by inserting liquid and / or solid into the cartridge. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may comprise or include one or more of nicotine, aroma, sugar, moisturising agent, botanicals, preservative, flavouring, for example cocoa, liquorice, menthol and lactic acid or other additives. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate or article may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more pharmaceutical agents or drugs and may include one or more adjuvants.

[0006] For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-generating substrate. The heating element, heater device or heat source can be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source can be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-generating article, for instance in the form of a stick or cartridge, which can be attached to and / or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosol-generating device.

[0007] Exemplary heating elements or heater devices can be based on one or more of resistive heating, inductive heating and microwave heating using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in an energy storage or battery of the aerosol-generating device. As used herein, a battery of the aerosol-generating device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-generating device configured to store electrical energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.

[0008] Typically, aerosol-generating devices comprise an energy storage, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-generating device and especially for heating the aerosol-generating substrate and / or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-generating articles. The battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery.

[0009] As used herein, a usage session may refer to a period of time, during which a user may use the device to generate, consume, experience or inhale aerosol using the aerosol-generating device. Therein, a usage session may be finite. In other words, a usage session may have a start, an end and a duration. The duration of the usage session as measured by time may be influenced by use during the usage session. The duration of the usage session may have a maximum duration determined by a maximum time from the start of the usage session. The duration of the usage session may be less than the maximum time if one or more monitored parameters reaches a predetermined threshold before the maximum time from the start of the usage session. By way of example, the one or more monitored parameters may comprise one or more of: i) a cumulative puff count of a series of puffs drawn by a user since the start of the usage session, and ii) a cumulative volume of aerosol evolved from the aerosol-generating substrate since the start of the usage session.

[0010] In contrast to a conventional cigarette, an aerosol-generating device can be used multiple times with a large variety of aerosol-generating articles. Hence, the aerosol-generating device is able to generate a multitude of different aerosols with different taste profiles and consequently different user experiences. An aerosol-generating device may be configured to be used with a number of aerosol-generating articles from a specific compatible line of aerosol-generating articles. The different aerosol-generating articles may call for distinct heating profile. In other words, for the purpose of enabling varied taste profiles and user experiences, it may be necessary to identify the aerosol-generating article and dynamically heat the aerosol-generating article depending on its variety so that different temperatures at different times are reached in the aerosol-generating article. However, this requires a way to identify and authenticate the specific aerosol-generating article used.

[0011] Furthermore, it may be possible for a user to inadvertently attempt to use an aerosol-generating article with an aerosol-generating device where the device is not designed to be used with this one article. It is conceivable that, for example, an unauthorized third-party aerosol-generating article, may have a shape similar enough to an approved aerosol-generating article so that it can physically fit into the aerosol-generating device. However, this unapproved third-party aerosol-generating article may not comply with safety requirements and may not only endanger the aerosol-generating device but also the user. Additionally, the use of, for example, a counterfeit aerosol-generating article may result in poor aerosol generation quality and a diminished user experience and may even contain toxic substances endangering the user's health. Therefore, it may be desirable that the aerosol-generating device be configured to authenticate the aerosol-generating article before applying any form of heat in order to safeguard the user as best as possible.

[0012] Systems for identifying and authenticating aerosol-generating articles by reading information provided on the article using a sensor provided on the aerosol-generating device are known. These systems pertain to rotationally symmetric aerosol-generating articles, such as cylindrical tobacco sticks and / or are designed to read information from the article when the article is fully inserted into the device. However, rotationally symmetric articles may be inserted into the device in a plurality of orientations, making a precise positioning of the article to the sensor hard to achieve. Additionally, reading information from the fully inserted article limits the amount of information which may be read by a suitably simple and cost-effective sensor device, as the area of the article from which such information may be read after full insertion of the article may be very small. In the prior art, therefore, the sensor devices used for identification and authentication of aerosol-generating articles may be complex and the information readable from the article may be very little.

[0013] It may therefore be desirable to provide an improved aerosol-generating device providing the user with an improved identification and authentication of aerosol-generating articles. For example, it may be desirable to provide fast and reliable identification as well as authentication of aerosol-generating articles, such as cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating articles, without incurring additional costs. The reading of information from the article therefore should be precise and be achievable by simple, cost-effective sensors.

[0014] These advantages may be achieved by the features described herein.

[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising a device body comprising a heating chamber configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-generating article, the heating chamber comprising an at least partly cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped heating volume, wherein the heating chamber comprises a heating device configured to heat at least part of the aerosol-generating article in a heating zone, and at least one sensor device configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber and / or during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber.

[0016] The aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure may comprise two elements or parts or housing parts which may be movable with respect to each other. The first housing part, also referred to herein as body part or device body or upstream element, may comprise an outer casing as well as the heating chamber with the heating device. The device body may also comprise the energy storage or battery of the aerosol-generating device and / or any control circuitry or controller. The first housing part may therefore be the main part of the aerosol-generating device comprising a majority of the components of the device.

[0017] The second housing part, also referred to herein as mouthpiece portion or downstream housing element, may comprise, for example, a mouthpiece. The downstream housing element of the aerosol-generating device, respectively, the second housing part or the mouthpiece portion or the mouthpiece of the aerosol-generating device, may be slidably attached or coupled to the device body, such that the downstream housing element is movable, for example relative to the device body, from an open position to a use position or closed position, wherein in the use position, the heating chamber may be closed and / or covered by the mouthpiece portion and / or the device body. The device body may be moveable relative to the mouthpiece portion or the second housing part, for example parallel to the longitudinal axis or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device. A relative movement of the mouthpiece portion with respect to the device body in one or more other directions transverse to the longitudinal axis, for example in transverse or normal direction of the aerosol-generating device, is possible, for example in a rotational movement as explained in more detail below. Accordingly, in the use position, the heating chamber may not be accessible, respectively, may be inaccessible for a user to insert the aerosol-generating article or remove it therefrom. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-generating article may only be insertable into the heating chamber when the device body and / or the mouthpiece portion are displaced or moved relative to each other out of the use position, for example are displaced towards or into the open position.

[0018] In particular, the aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure may be configured to use a substantially flat and / or substantially planar aerosol-generating article, such as a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article extends between a first and a second end in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article. The distance between the first and second end of the aerosol-generating article defines an article length. Similarly, the aerosol-generating article also extends between a first and a second end in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article. This distance defines an article width. The article width may be smaller than the article length. Furthermore, the aerosol-generating article also includes an article thickness. The article thickness may be smaller than the article width. As a consequence, the aerosol-generating article may have opposing lateral side surfaces and two opposing main surfaces. The two opposing main surfaces may extend in a length and a width direction of the aerosol-generating article and may be distanced from each other in a thickness direction of the aerosol-generating article. The distance of the two main surfaces may therefore correspond to the thickness of the aerosol-generating article. Moreover, the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article may have an area bigger than the lateral side surfaces. The main surfaces may be the two surfaces together making up the majority of the total surface of the aerosol-generating article. Therefore, the two opposing surfaces or two opposing main surfaces may make up more than half of the total surface area of the aerosol-generating article. All surfaces of the aerosol-generating article may also be substantially planar. In other words, the aerosol-generating article may be substantially flat and therefore may not be fully rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis. In such flat aerosol-generating articles, heat distribution during heating may be more homogeneous than in conventional cylindrical sticks. Moreover, due to the aerosol-generating articles' symmetry, their variety of insertion into the aerosol-generating device may be more limited compared to the variety of insertion of a conventional cylindrical stick. This means that the cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article may be inserted into a heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device in a limited number of ways. This directly leads to a more precise positioning between the sensor device and the aerosol-generating article. When the cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped article is inserted into the heating device, this may only be possible in a few, for example two or four, defined positions and / or orientations. Therefore, the positioning of the sensor device relative to the article, and consequently the information provided on the article, is much more closely defined than in a rotationally symmetrical article such as a tobacco stick. The positioning of the information on the article may therefore be more precise, with more information in a smaller area, and / or the sensor device may be less complex because of the reduced need for a large sensing area.

[0019] The heating chamber may be configured to at least partly receive and be used with, i.e. generate aerosol from heating, an aerosol-generating article with a shape as previously described, e.g. a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article. For example, the heating chamber may comprise a receptacle which may be configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the heating chamber may provide an inner space for the aerosol-generating article corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article where the aerosol-generating article may be at least partially received. This may mean that the space of the interior of the heating chamber is configured to at least partly receive a substantially flat article and therefore may itself be substantially flat or planar, for example cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped. The space of the interior of the heating chamber into which the aerosol-generating article may be insertable, may be generally regarded as a heating volume.

[0020] Moreover, the heating chamber may comprise a heating device. The heating chamber and the heating device may be configured to heat at least one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article in a heating zone inside of the heating volume. The heating chamber and the heating device may therefore be configured and / or arranged such that when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating volume of the heating chamber, the heating device contacts at least one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article and may heat this contacted zone. In other words, the aerosol-generating article may be heated in the heating zone inside of the heating volume of the heating chamber by the heating device. To achieve this, the heating device and / or the heating chamber may have a heater structure adapted or configured to heat the aerosol-generating article. For example, the heating device or the heater structure may comprise a first heating element configured to contact a first main surface of the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber. The heating device or the heater structure may further comprise a second heating element configured to contact a second main surface of the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber.

[0021] Additionally, the aerosol-generating device may comprise at least one sensor device configured to read information from a surface of the aerosol-generating article, for example from one or both of the main surfaces and / or any other surface of the aerosol-generating article. The sensor device may comprise a reader module. Moreover, the sensor device and / or the reader module may be or may comprise an optical reader or sensor, or may be or may comprise an RFID reader or sensor. The information on the aerosol-generating article may be provided in an indicium, for example in an optically readable indicium and / or a printed indicium, like a taggant band, for example exclusively one taggant band, and / or one or more colored identifier bands, for example exclusively one colored identifier band or two or more colored identifier bands, and / or other indicium, such as an RFID tag, barcode or QR code. The indicium may be visible or invisible to the human eye. Also, a plurality of same or different indicia may be used. The information on the surface of the aerosol-generating article may, for example, be authentication information and / or identification information. In other words, the sensor device may be configured to read data, for example optically, from an indicium of the aerosol-generating article about the authenticity of the aerosol-generating article, i.e. if the article is legitimate and from an authorized producer and / or about the identity of the aerosol-generating article, i.e. classification of and / or details about the kind of aerosol-generating article. Hence, authenticity and / or type of the aerosol-generating article may be detected.

[0022] This may mean that the sensor device may be configured, for example, to first read authentication information of the aerosol-generating article to validate the genuineness of the article and allow or disallow heating and / or to read identification information of the aerosol-generating article to classify the article and determine the correct heating profile. It may be possible to first authenticate and then identify the aerosol-generating article or vice versa, i.e. to first identify and then authenticate the aerosol-generating article.

[0023] Furthermore, due to the cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped form of the aerosol-generating article and the limited ways of inserting the article into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device, any information on the article may be read from the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber. This may mean that the information is read when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber, i.e. is in its final position inside the heating chamber. For instance, the sensor device may be configured to statically, e.g. without any relative movement of the article with respect to the sensor device, retrieve data from the aerosol-generating article when the article is arranged in the heating chamber. In other words, data, for example authentication information, may be read while the authentication information on the aerosol-generating article lies, for example, directly in front of the sensor device. This may mean that no information or data, such as authentication information, may pass over the sensor device, for example during reading, but instead may lie, for example motionlessly lie, directly in front of the sensor device and may be observed without any motion with respect to the sensor device. The information may also be read when the article is arranged inside the heating chamber, i.e. is in its final position inside the heating chamber, but another relative motion between the article and the sensor device occurs, for example due to components of the device moving relative to the article, wherein the sensor device is arranged in fixed relation to said components. Several possible embodiments of such movements are also described herein.

[0024] Additionally or alternatively, information on the article may be read from the aerosol-generating article during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber and / or while the aerosol-generating article is being arranged in the heating chamber and / or during any movement of a housing part on which the sensor device is arranged relative to the aerosol-generating article, even after the article has been positioned in the heating chamber, for example in its final position. As long as a housing part on which the sensor device is arranged moves relative to the article, so does the sensor device, and this movement may be used for reading information from the article. In other words, any information on the article, like authentication and / or identification information, may be read during placement into its final position, for example its final position in the heating chamber and / or during a movement of the article relative to the sensor device after the article is placed in its final position in the heating chamber. In one example, the movement may be the manual insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber by the user. For example, the identification information may be read during such a movement, for example the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber. To be more specific, the aerosol-generating article may be moved relative to the sensor device, for example slid along the sensor device, for example while or after it is placed into the heating chamber. During the relative movement of the article and the sensor device, or more precisely the relative movement of the indicium on the article containing information pertaining to the article, and the sensor device, the indicium and thus the information may pass over or by the sensor device. As already mentioned before, a sensor device may be configured to read this information. Consequently, the sensor device may be configured to dynamically retrieve data from the aerosol-generating article during such a relative motion of article and sensor device.

[0025] Therefore, it may be possible to authenticate the aerosol-generating article dynamically, so to say during a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article to the sensor device, and identify the aerosol-generating article statically, i.e. in the absence of or without any relative movement between article and sensor device. Conversely, it may also be possible to identify the aerosol-generating article dynamically, so to say during a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article to the sensor device, and authenticate the aerosol-generating article statically, i.e. in the absence of or without any relative movement between article and sensor device.

[0026] In summary, therefore, one advantage of the present invention may be that it offers an improved way of quickly, reliably and cost-effectively identifying and / or authenticating specific aerosol-generating articles, specifically, for example, cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating articles. This may be achieved by utilizing the structure of the device, specifically, for example, the relative movements of the sensor device to the aerosol-generating article effected by the structure of the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article themselves. Because of the cuboid-shaped and / or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article and the correspondingly shaped heating chamber, the movements of the article relative to the sensor device are much more precisely known in advance than when using rotationally symmetric articles like tobacco sticks. This improves the precision of the measurements without increasing, or even decreasing, the complexity of the sensor device. The use of relative movements within the device enables the substantially flat, for example cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating articles to be identified and / or authenticated with a sensor device of low complexity and cost. By utilizing device-specific relative movements of the sensor device with respect to the aerosol-generating article, it is possible to simplify the sensor arrangement compared to the known state of the art and therefore reduce production costs. Examples of precise movements especially suitable for the present disclosure will be described in more detail herein.

[0027] The authentication information and / or identification information read from the aerosol-generating article may be used by the aerosol-generating device to control the heating device. For example, heating may be allowed when the authentication information indicates an authentic, authorized aerosol-generating article. Heating may be disallowed when the authentication information indicates an unauthentic, unauthorized aerosol-generating article. In the case of authentic, authorized aerosol-generating articles, the identification information may be used to select a heating profile suitable for the aerosol-generating article and control the heating device accordingly. Also, it may be provided that unauthentic, unauthorized aerosol-generating article may still be used, i.e., that heating may be allowed, but for example with a specific heating profile, for example a heating profile using lower temperatures than heating profiles for authentic, authorized aerosol-generating articles, to increase user security even in the case of third party articles.

[0028] In general, the sensor device may be configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article once or only once, for example in one measurement and / or at one point in time. This may mean that the sensor device may be configured to read and / or detect only one information value per information type, for example only one information value for the authentication and / or only one information value for the identification of the aerosol-generating article. The sensor device may further be configured to serially read at least two distinct information values, for example authentication information and identification information, from an indicium of the aerosol-generating article. In general, the sensor device may be configured to serially read out data such as information values from the indicium of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the sensor device may first read out identification information at a time A and later at a different time B read out authentication information or vice versa. In other words, at least two distinct data points, like the information values provided in the indicum of the aerosol-generating article, may be read or measured or observed or retrieved or scanned or extracted step by step, one piece of data after the other from the at least one indicium on the surface of the aerosol-generating article. The information values may be read in a sequential manner rather than all at once. This may mean that the information values are not read out parallel, so to say multiple pieces of data at the same time, but serially. Moreover, the information values may be distinct from each other. On the one hand, the first information value, for example the identification information, may only include information which may be used to identify the aerosol-generating article. On the other hand, the second information value, for example the authentication information, may only include information which may be used to authenticate the aerosol-generating article. In general, the specific information values may be different from each other, but their order on the aerosol-generating article may not be fixed and the sensor device may be configured to serially read out the multiple distinct information values in any order. In the explained case, the different information values may pertain to different types of information, i.e. authentication information and / or identification information. However, the sensor device may also be configured to serially read at least two distinct information values from an indicium of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the at least two distinct information values pertain to the same type of information. For example, the two or more distinct information values may pertain to authentication information. Alternatively, the two or more distinct information values may pertain to identification information. The sensor may be configured to read a different number or the same number of distinct information values per type of information. In a particular embodiment, for example, the sensor device may be configured to read one information value pertaining to authentication information and to read two or more distinct information values pertaining to identification information. At least the distinct information values pertaining to the same type of information may be read serially by the sensor device. For example, the two or more distinct information values may be combined to obtain the authentication information and / or identification information.

[0029] According to another aspect of the present invention, the sensor device may be further configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from a sensing area. As already mentioned, the sensor device may for example include a reader module configured to read information that is provided with or on the aerosol-generating article, for example in the form of one or more indicia, for at least one of authenticating and / or identifying or classifying the aerosol-generating article. Therefore, the sensor device and / or the reader module may read the information values from one distinct area. Consequently, the area which is observed or measured or scanned or screened or sensed by the sensor device and / or the reader module may be called the sensing area. The sensing area may therefore be the area in which the indicium needs to be arranged to be read by the sensor device. That the indicium is actually arranged in the sensing area, at least temporarily, may be effected by the shape and / or configuration of the aerosol-generating device, for example the heating chamber, and the aerosol-generating article meant to be used in the aerosol-generating device.

[0030] Moreover, the sensing area may be arranged outside of the heating chamber. This may mean that the sensor device is arranged and oriented on the aerosol-generating device so that the sensing area of the sensor device is outside of the heating chamber. When the sensor device reads the information from the indicium, the indicium is thus outside of the heating chamber. That the sensing area is arranged outside the heating chamber may therefore mean that the indicium may be arranged outside the heating chamber, at least temporarily and particularly during the reading of the authentication information and / or identification information by the sensor device. In other words, the sensing area may overlap with the surface of the aerosol-generating article which protrudes from a proximal and / or distal end of the heating chamber, when said aerosol-generating article is or is being inserted into the heating chamber. Particularly, the sensing area may overlap with the surface of the aerosol-generating article comprising the indicium. For example, the sensor device may be arranged outside of the heating chamber. The sensor device may be arranged in the first housing part, for example the device body, or in the second housing part, for example in the downstream housing element, the mouthpiece portion or the mouthpiece, and may be directed to a part of the aerosol-generating article protruding from the heating chamber when the device is in the use position. Alternatively or additionally, the sensor device or part of the sensor device may be arranged inside of the heating chamber and observe an area outside of the heating chamber. The sensor device and / or the sensing area being arranged outside the heating chamber may leave more room in the heating chamber to be used by the heating device and / or heating elements of the aerosol-generating device. Also, the sensor device may be protected from heat.

[0031] As already mentioned, the sensor device may be configured to read a first information value from the aerosol-generating article, for example during relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device. The first information value may pertain to identification information of the aerosol-generating article. Additionally, the sensor device may be configured to read a second information value from the aerosol-generating article, for example when the aerosol-generating article is motionless relative to the sensor device. The second information value may pertain to authentication information of the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the sensor device may be configured to read an information value from at least one indicium during a movement of the article relative to the sensor device, and at a later time read a different information value at rest, for example when the aerosol-generating article is at rest relative to the sensor device. This may be due to the compact construction of the aerosol-generating device and / or the cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped form of the aerosol-generating article as well as the low complexity of the sensor device itself, which may mean that only one information value may be in the sensor device's sensing area at a time. By dynamically moving the article relative to the sensor, more than one information value may be serially read and later combined into the authentication information and / or identification information. Therefore, in the present disclosure, when information is read during a movement or relative motion, this may mean that at least two distinct information values are read, for example one after the other or serially. There may be only one indicium representing one information value in the sensing area at any one time. Typically, only one information value may be necessary for the authentication information, differentiating between authentic and unauthentic articles, whereas a plurality of different information values for the identification information may be needed, differentiating between a potentially large number of types of articles.

[0032] As an example, the sensor device may be arranged in a fixed position relative to a component of the aerosol-generating device, and the relative motion may comprise a motion of the aerosol-generating article relative to said component of the aerosol generating device. The relative motion of the aerosol-generating article relative to the component of the aerosol generating device may therefore also constitute or comprise a relative motion between the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device. In other words, the sensor device may be a part of or may be positioned on or next to a component of the aerosol-generating device, such as any component of the housing parts. The component may be any one or more of the downstream element, the upstream element, the mouthpiece portion, the mouthpiece, an upstream and / or downstream fluidic interconnection element, a mouthpiece actuator, and / or a first and / or second housing part. In principle, any movement of a part or component of the aerosol-generating device which leads to a relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device may be suitable to realize a dynamic reading of information values, e.g. during a relative motion of the article and sensor, and a static reading of information values, e.g. when the components are relatively motionless and / or motionless.

[0033] As already mentioned, the aerosol-generating device, for example the second housing part, may comprise a mouthpiece portion comprising a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece portion or the mouthpiece of the aerosol-generating device may be moveable relative to the device body between an open position, in which the heating chamber is accessible to receive the aerosol-generating article, and a use position for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating article. For example, the mouthpiece portion or the mouthpiece may be slidably attached or coupled to the device body, such that for example the mouthpiece portion is movable, for example relative to the body part, from the open position to the use position. In the use position, the heating chamber may be closed and / or covered by the mouthpiece portion and / or the device body. In other words, the mouthpiece portion may close the heating chamber in the use position so that the aerosol-generating article is arranged inside the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating article may be completely encompassed by the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating article is arranged inside the aerosol-generating device. This may mean that light from the outside environment is prevented from reaching the sensor device. As daylight has a plurality of different wavelengths, which may also span into the range of wavelengths used for reading the authentication information and / or the identification information, blocking the light from the outside environment from reaching the sensor device may improve the sensing quality. In some embodiments, reading or sensing of the information may be performed before the mouthpiece portion is completely closed on to the device body. Nevertheless, also in these embodiments, the movement of the mouthpiece portion in relation to the device body may be used for the reading of the information, and by the relative positioning of the mouthpiece portion and the device body, a significant part of the light from the outside environment may already be blocked from reaching the sensor device.

[0034] As an example, a relative displacement or movement of the device body and the mouthpiece portion from the open position towards or into the use position may refer to a displacement or movement of the mouthpiece portion from a proximal end towards a distal end of the aerosol-generating device, and / or may refer to a displacement or movement of the device body from a distal end towards a proximal end of the aerosol-generating device. Accordingly, the first housing part, e.g. the device body, and the second housing part, e.g. the mouthpiece portion, may be moved or displaced towards each other, for example along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, when moving the first housing part and the second housing part from the open position towards or into the use position. Alternatively or additionally, the first housing part and the second housing part may be moved or displaced away from each other, for example along or parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, when moving the first housing part and the second housing part from the use position towards or into the open position.

[0035] To ensure correct positioning of the aerosol-generating article inside the aerosol-generating device, particularly the heating chamber, the aerosol-generating article may be spring-biased in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device when the devices in the use position. This may also counteract dimensional tolerances during production of the aerosol-generating device and / or the aerosol-generating article. For instance, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a spring biasing mechanism configured to establish a force acting onto the inserted aerosol-generating article and / or the heating chamber in a longitudinal direction towards the mouthpiece portion and / or mouthpiece and / or towards the device body when the mouthpiece portion is in the use position. The spring biasing mechanism may push directly on the aerosol-generating article or may push on components in contact with the aerosol-generating article, for example the heating chamber or a movable bottom of the heating chamber. In this case, the heating chamber may be movably arranged inside the aerosol-generating device so that the entire heating chamber along with the aerosol-generating article at least partly arranged in the heating chamber may be movable with respect to the device body and may therefore be spring-biased towards the mouthpiece portion. Alternatively, a movable bottom of the heating chamber may be arranged movably inside the heating chamber and may be used to push on the aerosol-generating article, for example in the direction of the mouthpiece portion. On the other hand, the spring biasing mechanism may also be arranged on the mouthpiece portion and may push the aerosol-generating article towards the device body. As an example, the spring biasing mechanism may be arranged between the mouthpiece and a fluidic interconnection element configured to establish a fluidic interconnection between the mouthpiece and the aerosol-generating article. The spring biasing mechanism may be configured to push the fluidic interconnection element onto and particularly at least partially into the aerosol-generating article, thereby pushing the article along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device towards the device body.

[0036] In this way, the mouthpiece portion may be configured to push the aerosol-generating article along the longitudinal direction into the device body and / or heating chamber when the mouthpiece portion is moved to the use position from the open position so that the spring biasing mechanism is compressed. The combination of the cuboid or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article and heating chamber along with the spring biasing mechanism being compressed may lead to a highly precise, predefined and predetermined movement of the aerosol-generating article inside the aerosol-generating device, particularly in relation to the device body. The well-known character of this movement may therefore be exploited to achieve a highly precise reading of the measurement of the authentication information and / or identification information provided on the aerosol-generating article. Therefore, in case the spring biasing mechanism is arranged on the device body, it may further be provided that the sensor device is also arranged on the device body and configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the compression of the spring biasing mechanism, particularly the compression of the spring biasing mechanism effected by the movement of the mouthpiece portion into the use position. As both the spring biasing mechanism and the sensor device are arranged on the device body, a compression of the spring biasing mechanism leads to a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device. Alternatively, in case the spring biasing mechanism is arranged on the mouthpiece portion, it may further be provided that the sensor devices also arranged on the mouthpiece portion and configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the compression of the spring biasing mechanism, particularly the compression of the spring biasing mechanism effected by the movement of the mouthpiece portion into the use position. As, in this case, both the spring biasing mechanism and the sensor device are arranged on the mouthpiece portion, a compression of the spring biasing mechanism leads to a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device. As mentioned, the first information value read during this relative motion may comprise two or more distinct information values which, for example, may be combined to obtain the identification information of the aerosol-generating article. This may be true for all first information values read during specific relative motions as described herein.

[0037] The mouthpiece portion may be movably coupled to the device body, such that the mouthpiece portion is movable relative to the device body, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, by either a rotational movement, a linear movement, or a combination of a rotational and linear movement. In particular, the mouthpiece portion may in this way be moved between the open position in the use position. The mouthpiece portion may be linearly slid and / or rotated between these positions. As at least part of the aerosol-generating article may protrude from the heating chamber and may be covered by the mouthpiece portion in the use position, the mouthpiece portion may be at least partly moved relative to the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece portion into the use position. Therefore, the movement of the mouthpiece portion is also very precisely predefined and may be used to read the information of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the sensor device may be configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece portion. For this, the sensor device may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion so that the sensor device may also move relative to the aerosol-generating article, particularly the portion of the aerosol-generating article protruding from the heating chamber, during the movement of the mouthpiece portion into the use position.

[0038] The aerosol-generating device may comprise an upstream airflow path configured to provide air to the aerosol-generating article when arranged in the heating chamber, and an upstream fluidic interconnection element configured to fluidically interconnect the upstream airflow path with the aerosol-generating article. The upstream fluidic interconnection element may include a blade structure configured to cut or press into a wall around an upstream air inlet of the aerosol-generating article, to provide for a fluidic connection between the upstream airflow path and a substrate of the aerosol-generating article. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a downstream airflow path configured to provide an aerosol from the substrate to an aerosol outlet of the device, and a downstream fluidic interconnection element configured to fluidically interconnect the downstream airflow path with the aerosol-generating article. The downstream fluidic interconnection element may include a blade structure configured to cut or press into a wall around a downstream air outlet of the aerosol-generating article, to provide for a fluidic connection between the downstream airflow path and a substrate of the aerosol-generating article.

[0039] The fluidic interconnection element, as used herein, may refer to an element or component for fluidically connecting and / or coupling the aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. The fluidic interconnection element may provide an at least partly fluid-tight sealing between the aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. For example, the upstream fluidic interconnection element may provide some or a certain degree of airtightness and / or the downstream fluidic interconnection element may provide some or a certain degree of aerosol-tightness. The fluidic interconnection element may also be referred to herein as sealing member or element. The terminology of "sealing member", however, does not imply a complete sealing or complete fluid-tight seal between the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article.

[0040] The fluidic interconnection element may comprise a blade structure surrounding, enclosing or encompassing a flow path defining a central axis of the fluidic interconnection element. The central axis of the fluidic interconnection element may be coaxial with a central axis of the aerosol-generating device, when the fluidic interconnection element is mounted to or arranged in an aerosol-generating device. The blade structure has or includes a first end configured to face a fluidic opening of an aerosol-generating article, and a second end configured to provide a fluidic connection to another element of the aerosol-generating device, wherein an outer wall of the blade structure has a sloped or tapered shape thereby increasing a thickness of the blade structure in a direction from the first end to the second end.

[0041] When the blade structure is at least partly inserted into the aerosol-generating article, for example by penetrating a frame of the article, the sloped or tapered shape of the blade structure may lead to or cause the material of the frame of the article being pushed or compressed radially to the outside, away from the fluidic opening or airflow path. By means of the sloped or tapered shape, it may be ensured that a cross-section of the fluidic opening of the aerosol-generating article is not decreased and / or that the fluidic opening is kept open.

[0042] The sensor device may be arranged in a fixed position relative to the upstream fluidic interconnection element and / or the downstream fluidic interconnection element, for example such that the aerosol-generating article moves relative to the sensor device during the cutting or pressing of the upstream fluidic interconnection element and / or the downstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article. At this time, the aerosol-generating article is at least partly form-fittingly engaged inside the heating chamber and the upstream fluidic interconnection element and / or the downstream fluidic interconnection element is pressing against and / or into the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the position of the aerosol-generating article is very closely defined by the interaction of the various components of the aerosol-generating device along with the shape of the article and the heating chamber itself. The relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device during the cutting of the fluidic interconnection element(s) into the article is therefore also suitable for reading the information from the aerosol-generating article. The sensor device may thus be configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the cutting or pressing of the upstream fluidic interconnection element and / or the downstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article.

[0043] In general, a user may insert the aerosol-generating article directly into the heating chamber when the mouthpiece portion is in the open position, and may then, for example, close the mouthpiece portion over the aerosol-generating article by moving the mouthpiece portion into the use position. Alternatively, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the user may insert the aerosol-generating article into the mouthpiece portion when the mouthpiece portion is in the open position. The aerosol-generating article may then be moved into the heating chamber when the mouthpiece portion is moved into the use position. The aerosol-generating article may therefore be moved along with the mouthpiece portion. For this, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a first housing part, for example the device body, wherein the heating chamber is arranged, and a second housing part, for example the mouthpiece portion, which may be movably coupled to the first housing part, such that the second housing part is movable, for example slidable, relative to the first housing part, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, between the open position, in which the heating chamber is accessible to receive the aerosol-generating article, and the use position for generating an aerosol based on heating of at least a part of the aerosol-generating article. The second housing part may include a fixation means configured to engage with the aerosol-generating article, such that the aerosol-generating article is movable along the longitudinal direction based on movement of the second housing part along the longitudinal direction. The fixation means may therefore be configured to fix the aerosol-generating article in relation to the second housing part, for example by fixing the aerosol-generating article to the second housing part. The fixation means may be arranged and / or configured such that the aerosol-generating article is moved relative to the second housing part during engagement of the aerosol-generating article with the fixation means. In other words, when the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the fixation means, the aerosol-generating article moves relative to the second housing part. As the fixation means are configured to hold the aerosol-generating article, they may, for example, press against the aerosol-generating article, which makes the engagement of the article in the fixation means a precise pre-defined movement suitable for reading the information from the aerosol-generating article by the sensor device. Therefore, the sensor device may be configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during engagement of the aerosol-generating article with the fixation means.

[0044] The fixation means may be configured to engage with the aerosol-generating article, such that the aerosol-generating article is insertable into the heating chamber of the first housing part based on movement or displacement of the second and / or first housing part from the open position towards or into the use position. As described, this may mean that the aerosol-generating article is moved along with the second housing part or mouthpiece portion. Such configuration or design can allow for an intuitive and safe handling of an aerosol-generating article by a user, for example allowing to securely insert the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber without risk of damaging the article. Also, handling or operation for the user may be simplified, because insertion of the comparatively small aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber may be cumbersome, at least for some users.

[0045] The fixation means may be configured to clamp the aerosol-generating article, for example at a proximal end thereof, such that the aerosol-generating article is at least partly pushed into the heating chamber of the first housing part by displacing the second housing part from the open position to or towards or into the use position. In particular, the fixation means may be configured to press onto at least two small side surfaces or lateral surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. The two opposing main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article may thus be contact-free with the fixation means, i.e. may not be touched by the fixation means.

[0046] As explained herein, one of the relative motions which may be employed for the reading of the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article may be a motion or movement of the mouthpiece portion comprising the mouthpiece relative to the device body. However, another possibility lies in a movement of the mouthpiece relative to the mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece itself may therefore be moved in relation to the mouthpiece portion. The mouthpiece may be a component of the aerosol-generating device which the user actually touches with their lips when drawing or puffing on the aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece portion may be the part of the housing and / or of the aerosol-generating device in general comprising the mouthpiece. For example, the mouthpiece may be movably coupled to the second housing part or mouthpiece portion, such that the mouthpiece is at least partly retractable into and / or extractable out of the second housing part. The mouthpiece may be movable between an extracted position and a retracted position. In the extracted position, the mouthpiece may protrude beyond the mouthpiece portion or second housing part, and the user may contact the mouthpiece with their lips to draw and / or puff on the aerosol-generating device. In the retracted position, the mouthpiece may at least partly or completely be retracted into the mouthpiece portion, so that the mouthpiece does not protrude or ends flush with the mouthpiece portion.

[0047] The mouthpiece may be at least partly retractable into and / or extractable from the second housing part based on actuating a mouthpiece actuator or slider movably arranged on the second housing part or the first housing part. In other words, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouthpiece actuator or slider that is actuatable by a user to extract the mouthpiece from the second housing part and / or to retract it into the second housing part. For example, the mouthpiece actuator may be displaceable along the longitudinal direction and in a direction opposite thereto to retract and extract the mouthpiece. Accordingly, the mouthpiece actuator may be configured as linear slider that may be slidable by a user to retract or extract the mouthpiece. Alternatively to a linearly displaceable actuator, other actuation means, such as a push button or rotational actuator may be used. Alternatively or additionally, the mouthpiece actuator may be arranged at the first housing part or at the second housing part, and the mouthpiece actuator may be actuatable by a user to slide the mouthpiece out of the second housing part and / or to retract the mouthpiece into the second housing part.

[0048] When the second housing part is in the open position, retraction of the mouthpiece into the second housing part may disengage and / or release the aerosol-generating article from the fixation means. This may provide for a simplified handling for the user allowing to simultaneously release or disengage the aerosol-generating article from the fixation means and retract the mouthpiece into the second housing part, for example for storing the aerosol-generating device.

[0049] To implement this movement, the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator may be mounted on the second housing part or the first housing part in a mouthpiece guide, which may, for example, be a guiding channel, groove or rail defining and / or facilitating the movement of the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator in the desired direction between the extracted and the retracted position.

[0050] In summary, therefore, the movement of the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator in relation to the second housing part and / or the first housing part is closely predefined, making it suitable for the reading of the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article. It may therefore be provided that the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece and / or of the mouthpiece actuator. For example, the sensor device may be arranged on the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator. A movement of the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator from the retracted position to the extracted position may therefore lead to a relative movement of the mouthpiece and / or the mouthpiece actuator and the aerosol-generating article, during which the information may be read. As the mouthpiece needs to be moved into the extracted position for the user to use the aerosol-generating device, reading of the information at this point may be early enough to still be able to disallow, control or modify heating of the heating device depending on the information read from the aerosol-generating article.

[0051] In all of the relative motions or movements described herein, the goal is always to move the aerosol-generating article relative to the sensor device such that the sensor device can read, for instance serially read, more than one information value from the aerosol-generating article, for example from different positions on the aerosol-generating article or its surface. Therefore, the magnitude or distance covered by the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device with respect to each other has to be at least large enough so that the aerosol-generating article moves from a position in which a first information value is provided in the sensing area of the sensor device into a position in which a second information value is provided in the sensing area of the sensor device. Larger magnitudes or distances covered may enable the reading of further information values and / or may compensate for tolerances, although the latter may be less relevant because of the closely predefined movements used in the present disclosure. As specific examples, the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device may cover at least a distance of 0.3 mm, for example at least a distance of 0.5 mm or at least a distance of 1 mm or at least a distance of 1.5 mm or at least a distance of 2 mm or at least a distance of 3 mm or at least a distance of 4 mm or at least a distance of 5 mm, for example a distance of 3.5 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device. These values may be applicable to all the relative movements between the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device described herein.

[0052] As already mentioned, the sensor device may be arranged outside of the heating chamber. For one, the space inside the heating chamber may be very limited and the efficiency of heating may be dependent on reserving the space for the heating device. On the other hand, the sensor device may be negatively affected or damaged by the heat in the heating chamber. To further protect the sensor device from the heat in the heating chamber, the sensor device may be arranged distanced from or at a distance from the heating chamber, specifically the heating volume and / or the heating zone. For example, it may be provided that the at least one sensor device is distanced from the heating chamber and / or the heating volume and / or the heating zone by at least 3 mm, for example by at least 4 mm or by at least 5 mm or by at least 6 mm, for example 4.4 mm or 5 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device. The authentication information and / or identification information may be provided on the aerosol-generating article at similar distances from the part of the aerosol-generating article in the heating chamber and / or the heating volume and / or the heating zone, for example on a part of the aerosol-generating article which, when the article is fully inserted into the heating chamber, protrudes from the heating chamber and / or the heating volume and / or the heating zone.

[0053] The heating chamber may be configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may have a length, e.g. as measured along the insertion axis in longitudinal direction, and / or parallel to the longitudinal axis, in a range between 20 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 25 mm and 35 mm, more preferably about 30 mm, having a width, e.g. measured in transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device, in a range between 7 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 9 mm and 13 mm, more preferably about 11 mm, and a thickness or height, e.g. measured in normal direction of the aerosol-generating device, of between 1 mm and 10 mm, for example between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2.5 mm and 4 mm, more preferably about 3.1 mm. Therein, the length may refer to a minimum, mean or maximum length, the width may refer to a minimum, mean or maximum width and the thickness may refer to a minimum, mean or maximum thickness, respectively, height of the aerosol-generating article. That the heating chamber may be configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating article may mean that the heating chamber has the same dimensions as the aerosol-generating article or has dimensions enabling the heating chamber to at least partially accommodate the aerosol-generating article in the heating volume and / or the heating zone.

[0054] For example, a length of the heating chamber, for example measured in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, may be in a range between 10 mm and 35 mm, for example in a range between 15 mm and 30 mm, for example between 15 mm and 25 mm. The length may refer to a minimum, mean or maximum length. The heating chamber may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article at least partially, for example such that the aerosol-generating article protrudes from the heating chamber along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device.

[0055] The heating chamber may be configured to have an insertion depth along the insertion axis or the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device in a range between 10 mm and 35 mm, preferably in a range between 15 mm and 30 mm, more preferably between 15 mm and 25 mm. The insertion depth may refer to a distance by which the aerosol-generating article can be inserted into the heating chamber. The insertion depth may for example correspond to a distance, for example minimum, mean or maximum distance, between a proximal end face or opening of the heating chamber and a distal end face of the heating chamber, respectively the backplate of the heating chamber. The insertion depth may refer to a minimum, mean or maximum distance or insertion depth. The insertion depth may define or substantially correspond to a length of the heating chamber, for example measured in longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device.

[0056] The heating chamber may be configured to have an insertion depth that is shorter than a length of the aerosol-generating article. Accordingly, the aerosol-generating article, when inserted into the heating chamber, may protrude from a proximal end of the heating chamber, for example by about 1 mm to 30 mm, for example by about 2 mm to 20 mm or about 5 mm to 15 mm or about 5 mm to about 10 mm.

[0057] The aerosol-generating substrate that is located inside the aerosol-generating article may be placed such that upon insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber, the aerosol-generating substrate is fully inserted into the heating volume and / or heating zone, such that the substrate faces or is arranged between two opposing heating elements of the heating device. Accordingly, the substrate may be completely located in the heating chamber, for example to ensure homogenous generation of aerosol across the substrate.

[0058] The heating chamber may have a width, for example measured along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device, between the two inner small side faces or lateral faces between 7.2 mm and 15.2 mm, preferably between 9.2 mm and 13.2 mm, more preferably about 11.2 mm. The width may be minimum, mean or maximum width. The heating chamber may have a width, for example measured along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device, between the two inner small side faces or lateral faces to provide for an interference fit, a press-fit, or a friction-fit with the small side surfaces or lateral faces of aerosol-generating article. Hence, the aerosol-generating article may be laterally positioned or fixed in the heating chamber.

[0059] The heating chamber may have a height or thickness, for example measured along the normal direction of the aerosol-generating device, between two inner large side faces or main faces of the heating chamber between 2 mm and 10 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 8 mm, even more preferably between 4 mm and 6 mm. The height may be a minimum, mean or maximum height.

[0060] To further protect the sensor device from heat and staining by substances resulting from the aerosolization of the aerosol-generating substrate, a window may be arranged between the sensor device and the sensing area, i.e. between the sensor device and the volume of space provided for the aerosol-generating article. The window may comprise or may be made of a material transparent for the sensor device, i.e. material facilitating the reading of the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article by the sensor device through the window. For example, the window may be transparent for electromagnetic waves, for example for visible light and / or ultraviolet light and / or infrared light.

[0061] Further, the window may protrude into the volume of space provided for the aerosol-generating article, so that the article, when inserted into the heating chamber, brushes against the window and thereby cleans any potential dirt from the window. For example, the window may have a substantially planar surface configured to come into contact with a substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article. In this way, both reading the information from the article and cleaning of the window may be achieved.

[0062] In a specific example, the window may be transparent for electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between 280 nm and 2000 nm, for example between 315 nm and 1100 nm, for example between 380 nm and 1050 nm. These wavelength ranges are particularly suitable for reading the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article. Accordingly, the authentication information and / or identification information may be provided on the aerosol-generating article using an indicium providing reflections in the mentioned wavelength ranges. Additionally or alternatively, the transparent window may absorb and / or reflect electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between 100 nm and 280 nm and / or between 2000 nm and 1 mm, for example between 100 nm and 315 nm and / or between 1100 nm and 1 mm, for example between 100 nm and 380 nm and / or between 1050 nm and 1 mm. As these wavelength ranges may not be useful for providing the authentication information and / or identification information on the aerosol-generating article, radiation and these wavelengths may only decrease the signal quality at the sensor device. By blocking these wavelength ranges at the window, signal quality at the sensor device may therefore be improved, which may also allow implementation with a sensor device of lower complexity and cost.

[0063] In general, the sensor device may be arranged and / or positioned anywhere in or on the aerosol-generating device so as to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article, particularly during one of the relative movements as described herein. To increase the flexibility of the positioning of the sensor device, a flexible printed circuit board (fPCB) may be used to electrically connect the sensor device to a printed circuit board (PCB), which may be the main PCB of the aerosol-generating device. The fPCB may extend in a straight direction, for example in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, from the PCB to the sensor device. Using an fPCB for the connection of the sensor device may be both robust and space-saving.

[0064] To mount the sensor device, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a stiffener located on the side of the sensor device facing away from the aerosol-generating article and / or sensing area and / or window. The fPCB may be located between the stiffener and the sensor device. The stiffener may comprise or may be made of a rigid material used for robustly mounting the sensor device in or on the aerosol-generating device. In this setup, therefore, the sensor device may be located between the stiffener and the window. Also, the fPCB and the sensor device may be located between the stiffener and the window.

[0065] According to the present disclosure, both authentication information and identification information may be read from the aerosol-generating article. Furthermore, it may be provided that the authentication information is provided on the aerosol-generating article using a different wavelength than the identification information. Consequently, the sensor device may be configured to be able to receive signals of different wavelengths for the authentication information and the identification information. For instance, the sensor device may comprise an identification information sensor module and an authentication information sensor module. The identification information sensor module may be configured to use electromagnetic radiation of a different wavelength for the identification information than the authentication information sensor module uses for the authentication information. For example, the identification information sensor module may be configured to use visible light for identification and the authentication information sensor module may be configured to use non-visible light, for example ultraviolet light and / or infrared light, for authentication. This also means that the authentication information and the identification information may be presented and / or provided on the aerosol-generating article as an indicium providing the respective wavelengths. In the present context, visible and / or invisible light may be light visible or invisible to humans, for example inside and outside the normal human visible light wanvelength range, for example light of from 380 nm to 700 nm may be visible light, light outside of this wavelength range may be invisible light. Furthermore, the identification information sensor module and the authentication information sensor module may be arranged next to each other so that a sensing direction of the information sensor module is the same as a sensing direction of the authentication information sensor module. In other words, both the identification information sensor module and the authentication information sensor module are directed into the same direction, herein called the sensing direction. This enables both sensor modules to read the respective information from the same surface, for example the same planar main surface, of the cuboid or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article. This further simplifies the arrangement and improves sensing quality in comparison to conventional tobacco sticks, which have a rounded, cylindrical surface, impeding the reading of the information. The arrangement of the sensor modules next to each other are side-by-side with the same sensing direction enables the modules to be arranged behind one single window, potentially using one single stiffener, and using an fPCB of very low complexity for connection, further reducing costs.

[0066] The identification information sensor module and / or the authentication information sensor module may comprise, for example may each comprise, at least one light-emitting diode, LED, and a photosensitive sensor, for example an ambient light sensor, ALS, and / or a photodiode and / or a light phototransistor. The at least one LED may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation or light in the respective wavelengths used for the authentication information and / or identification information. The photosensitive sensor may in turn be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation or light in the respective wavelengths. For example, the at least one LED of the identification information sensor module may be configured to emit visible light and the photosensitive sensor may in turn be configured to detect visible light. The at least one LED of the authentication information sensor module may be configured to emit invisible light and the photosensitive sensor may in turn be configured to detect invisible light.

[0067] More specifically, the identification information sensor module may comprise two LEDs. The LEDs may be arranged on opposite sides of the photosensitive sensor. The two LEDs may be the same or may be different from each other, i.e. may emit light of the same wavelengths or may emit light of different wavelengths. The photosensitive sensor of the identification information sensor module may be an ALS.

[0068] One aspect of the present disclosure specifically pertains to the aerosol-generating device only, i.e. without the aerosol-generating article. All of the explanations herein with regard to the aerosol-generating device which makes reference to the aerosol-generating article may therefore be understood as meaning that the aerosol-generating device is configured and / or arranged and / or designed and / or formed and / or shaped to fulfill the features without an aerosol-generating article actually being present. For example, a component being directed towards the aerosol-generating article may mean that the component is directed towards the space configured to receive the aerosol-generating article, no matter whether or not the aerosol-generating article is actually there.

[0069] In another aspect of the present disclosure, the aerosol-generating device comprises the aerosol-generating article. For example, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article, for example by heating at least a part of the aerosol-generating article, for example the aerosol-generating substrate contained in the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may comprise any of the features mentioned herein for the aerosol-generating article, also in the description of the aerosol-generating device only.

[0070] As previously mentioned, the aerosol-generating article may comprise at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article. The indicium may comprise one or more information values readable by the sensor device. During the relative movement of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device as explained herein, the indicium may be moved along with the aerosol-generating article. Therefore, the position of the aerosol-generating article and the indicium in relation to the sensor device may change during the relative movement. Also, the position of the indicium to other components of the aerosol-generating device may change. For example, the indicium may be arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a first distance when the first information value is read and the indicium may be arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a second distance when the second information value is read. As the aerosol-generating article may be moved between the moments in time when the first information value is read and wherein the second information value is read, the first distance may be different from the second distance. In particular, the first distance may be bigger than the second distance, as the aerosol-generating article may be moved into the heating chamber during the measurement, i.e. between the reading of the first information value and the second information value.

[0071] As a specific example, the first distance may be between 2 mm and 20 mm, for example between 3 mm and 15 mm, for example between 4 mm and 10 mm. Alternatively or additionally, the second distance may be between 1 mm and 17 mm, for example between 2 mm and 12 mm, for example between 3 mm and 7 mm. These distances simultaneously define a distance between the sensor device and its sensing area and the heating zone, particularly during the measurements. In this embodiment, the indicium is always positioned and / or arranged outside of the heating zone of the heating chamber, for example completely or fully. No part of the indicium is arranged inside the heating zone at any moment. In this way, the heating of the indicium itself is avoided, which might lead to undesirable taste in the generated aerosol or smell.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment, the aerosol-generating article may comprise at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article. Further, the indicium may be arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article outside the heating zone when the first information value is read and the indicium may be arranged inside the heating zone when the second information value is read. In other words, while all of the information value as provided by the indicium may be read while that particular part of the indicium providing the respective information value is arranged outside of the heating zone, after the information value from that particular part of the indicium is read, that particular part of the indicium may be moved inside the heating zone. Other parts of the indicium may remain outside of the heating zone even after the information value provided by these parts have been read by the sensor device. In this way, the aerosol-generating article and the indicium itself may have very small dimensions.

[0073] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol-generating device, for example an aerosol-generating device according to the present disclosure, comprising an aerosol-generating substrate for generating aerosol, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with two opposing main surfaces and lateral side surfaces, and wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article. All of the features, functions and advantages of the aerosol-generating device as explained herein are also applicable to the aerosol-generating article and vice versa. The aerosol-generating article may comprise any of the features for aerosol-generating articles as described herein, for example in the passages referring to the aerosol-generating device.

[0074] As mentioned, the aerosol-generating article may have a length in a range between 20 mm and 40 mm, for example between 25 mm and 35 mm, for example of 30 mm. It may have a width in a range between 7 mm and 15 mm, for example between 9 mm and 13 mm, for example of 11 mm. Further, the aerosol-generating article may have a thickness of between 1 mm and 10 mm, for example between 2 mm and 5 mm or between 2.5 mm and 4 mm, for example of 3.1 mm.

[0075] The aerosol-generating substrate may have a substantially planar shape and may be located between a top and bottom cover sheet inside the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating substrate may be configured and / or arranged in the aerosol-generating article to be completely insertable into the heating chamber, particularly the heating zone, of the aerosol-generating device. Parts of the aerosol-generating article, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, which do not contain aerosol-generating substrate or are substrate-free may be configured and / or arranged to protrude from the heating chamber, particularly the heating zone and / or the heating volume, when the aerosol-generating article is fully inserted into the heating chamber. The indicium may be arranged on the aerosol-generating article in an area free of aerosol-generating substrate. The indicium may be arranged in the middle of the aerosol-generating article along the longitudinal direction. In this case, the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article may be reversed and the indicium may still be positioned in the same spot, independent of the orientation of the insertion direction, resulting in more degrees of freedom for the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber. Alternatively, the indicium may be arranged offset from the middle of the aerosol-generating article along the longitudinal direction.

[0076] The substrate may have a length, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 8 mm to 15 mm, for example of 12 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the substrate may have a width, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 6 mm to 13 mm, for example of 8 mm.

[0077] In general, the indicium may be any kind of optically readable marking, for example a barcode or a QR-code or a colored area. The shape of the indicium may be chosen so as to ensure reliable reading by the sensor device. For example, the indicium may be arranged as a band or stripe which may extend transversely to the longitudinal direction or insertion direction across at least one substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article.

[0078] The band may extend over or be arranged on exclusively one main surface of the aerosol-generating article. This may be especially suitable if the aerosol-generating article may only be inserted into the aerosol-generating device in one or two orientations (two if the insertion direction may be reversed), for example as defined by the shape of the aerosol-generating article and the corresponding shape of the aerosol-generating device, specifically the heating chamber. In this case, material for providing the indicium on the aerosol-generating article may be decreased by only providing the band on 1 of the main surfaces of the article. The length of the band may be the width of the main surface, for example 11 mm. Alternatively, the band may extend only partially over the main surface. For example, the band may be distanced from an edge of the main side surface extending parallel to the longitudinal direction by at least 2 mm. The the length of the band may be 7 mm, for example.

[0079] In an alternative embodiment, the band may extend over the two main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. In this case, the aerosol-generating article may be inserted into the aerosol-generating device in two or more orientations (more than two if the insertion direction may be reversed). The band may additionally extend over the two lateral side surfaces of the aerosol-generating article or the two lateral side surfaces of the aerosol-generating article may be free of the indicium or band.

[0080] The band may have a length, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 5 mm to 35 mm, for example of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example 22 mm or 28 mm. This length may be measured along the entire circumference of the aerosol-generating article, meaning that this length may be the sum of partial lengths on both main surfaces and both sides surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. Additionally or alternatively, the band may have a width, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, in a range between 1 mm and 40 mm, for example between 3 mm and 15 mm, for example of at least 6 mm. The width of the band or stripe may be oriented perpendicularly to the length of the band or stripe.

[0081] The extension of the band or stripe in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device, in other words, the width of the band or stripe, may be arranged between a first edge and a second edge. The first edge and the second edge may therefore be ends of the band or stripe distanced from another in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. The first edge and the second edge of the band may be parallel to each other, for example parallel to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. The first edge of the band may be arranged at a distance from a proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 1 mm to 15 mm, for example of 2.5 mm to 10 mm or of 3.5 mm to 7.5 mm, for example 5.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the band may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 5 mm to 20 mm, for example 11.5 mm. In turn, the first edge of the band may be arranged at a distance from a distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 30 mm or of 20 mm to 27.5 mm, for example 25 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the band may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 19 mm. This placement or positioning of the band on the cuboid or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article has proven especially efficient for the reading of the authentication information and / or identification information from the indicium.

[0082] The indicium or band may comprise both the authentication information and the identification information. To achieve this, the band may comprise subcomponents, each subcomponent comprising at least one information value pertaining to either the authentication information or the identification information. For example, the band may comprise at least one taggant band configured to authenticate the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the taggant band may comprise or may provide the authentication information, i.e. at least one information value pertaining to the authentication information. The taggant band may comprise or be made from an authentication and / or identification and / or classification material. These terms may therefore be synonymous in the present context. The taggant or authentication and / or identification and / or classification material may be any material from which the required information may be extracted. However, the information may be determined from a characteristic of the material itself, in contrast to from a symbol or letter formed by the material. For example, the information may be determined from a reflection characteristic of the taggant when irradiated with electromagnetic radiation, for example of particular wavelength(s). For example, the taggant band and / or the taggant may comprise an invisible security ink, which cannot be seen by the naked human eye, but which may be detectable nevertheless by the sensor device. The specific wavelengths reflected by the taggant band may be used to authenticate the article, and may be hard to reproduce, adding a desired security layer.

[0083] Additionally or alternatively, the band may comprise at least one colored identifier band configured to identify the aerosol-generating article. In other words, the colored identifier band may comprise or may provide the identification information, i.e. at least one information value pertaining to the identification information. The colored identifier band may comprise a color or colored ink visible by the naked human eye, for example a red, green, or blue color. Any other color may also be used. The color may be detectable by the sensor device and may encode the identification information.

[0084] Together, the taggant band and the colored identifier band may constitute or make up the indicium or band or stripe as explained herein. In general, the taggant band and the colored identifier band may have the same width. However, the taggant band may be more difficult to accurately read by the sensor device because of the need to make the taggant as proof against counterfeiting as possible. Therefore, the wavelength pattern provided by the taggant is both more complex than a simple color and may need to be read with higher accuracy to avoid successful approximations by third parties. To ensure that the taggant band is still reliably read, it may be provided that the taggant band is wider in a longitudinal direction than the colored identifier band, i.e. has a bigger width than the colored identifier band. The taggant band and the colored identifier band may be distanced from each other, for example by a strip of non-colored area, for example untreated surface area of the aerosol-generating article, which may also be part of the indicium or band or stripe. For example, the taggant band and the colored identifier band may be distanced from each other by at least 0.1 mm, for example by at least 0.2 mm or at least 0.3 mm or at least 0.4 mm or at least 0.5 mm.

[0085] The taggant band and the colored identifier band may be arranged one after the other in longitudinal direction. In this case, both bands may span the whole width of the aerosol-generating article, for example one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. The taggant band may be arranged closer to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article than the colored identifier band. In other words, in the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber, the taggant band may be arranged closer to the heating chamber than the colored identifier band. Alternatively, the arrangement may be the other way around, i.e. the colored identifier band may be arranged closer to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article than the taggant band. In other words, in the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber, the colored identifier band may be arranged closer to the heating chamber than the taggant band. In another embodiment, the taggant band and the colored identifier band may be arranged at the same position along the longitudinal direction. In this case, the bands may each only extend over a part of the width of the aerosol-generating article, for example the width of one or both of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. Of course, this arrangement is also reflected in the arrangement of the sensor device, particularly the identification information sensor module and the authentication information sensor module of the sensor device, on or in the aerosol-generating device, ensuring that for example the identification information sensor module's sensing area is positioned and / or is passed over the colored identifier band during the relative movements as described herein and / or that the authentication information sensor module sensing area is positioned over the taggant band, for example when the aerosol-generating article is fully inserted into the heating chamber.

[0086] The taggant band may have a width in a range between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 3 mm and 10 mm, for example of at least 3.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the colored identifier band may have a width in a range between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 2 mm and 10 mm, for example of at least 2.5 mm.

[0087] The extension of the taggant band in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device, in other words, the width of the taggant band, may be arranged between a first edge and a second edge. The first edge and the second edge may therefore be ends of the taggant band distanced from another in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. The first edge and the second edge of the taggant band may be parallel to each other, for example parallel to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device.

[0088] For example, the first edge of the taggant band may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 1 mm to 15 mm, for example of 2.5 mm to 10 mm or of 3.5 mm to 7.5 mm, for example 5.5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the taggant band may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm, for example 9 mm.

[0089] The first edge of the taggant band may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 30 mm or of 20 mm to 27.5 mm, for example 25 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the taggant band may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 15 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 21 mm.

[0090] The extension of the colored identifier band in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device, in other words, the width of the colored identifier band, may be arranged between a first edge and a second edge. The first edge and the second edge may therefore be ends of the colored identifier band distanced from another in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device. The first edge and the second edge of the colored identifier band may be parallel to each other, for example parallel to a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device.

[0091] For example, the first edge of the colored identifier band may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm, for example 9 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the colored identifier band may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 5 mm to 20 mm, for example 11.5 mm.

[0092] The first edge of the colored identifier band may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 15 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 21 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the second edge of the colored identifier band may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article or device, of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 19 mm.

[0093] The colored identifier band may comprise exclusively one or at least one colored identifier stripe. The colored identifier stripe may comprise one distinct color representing one distinct information value, for example pertaining to the identification information. The colored identifier stripe may have a width of at least 0.25 mm, for example of at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.75 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.25 mm or at least 1.5 mm.

[0094] As mentioned, particularly the identification information may comprise or may be made up or may be provided with more than one information value. For example, two or more information values may be provided which may be combined to obtain the identification information of the aerosol-generating article. Thus, the colored identifier band may comprise at least two or exclusively two colored identifier stripes, for example at least two or exclusively two differently colored identifier stripes, with a width of at least 0.25 mm each or at least 0.5 mm each or at least 0.75 mm each or at least 1 mm each or at least 1.25 mm each or at least 1.5 mm each. Any features of the at least two colored identifier stripes mentioned herein are also applicable to the exclusively two colored identifier stripes and vice versa. Each of the colored identifier stripes may comprise one distinct color representing one distinct information value, for example pertaining to the identification information, wherein the colors of the different colored identifier stripes and their information values may be different from one another or may be the same. Even if they are the same, the fact that the same information value is present twice or more times, and may therefore be read twice or more times by the sensor device, may be used to encode the identification information.

[0095] The at least two colored identifier stripes may be distanced from each other, for example by a strip of non-colored area, for example untreated surface area of the aerosol-generating article, which may also be part of the indicium or band or stripe, particularly the colored identifier band. For example, the at least two colored identifier stripes may be distanced from each other by at least 0.25 mm or at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.75 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.25 mm or at least 1.5 mm from each other. These distances may ensure that the at least two colored identifier stripes may be separately read by the sensor device without interfering with each other's reading.

[0096] In general, the at least two colored identifier stripes, particularly all colored identifier stripes of the colored identifier band, may have the same width, i.e. extension in longitudinal direction or insertion direction. However, it may also be provided that at least two colored identifier stripes, for example two colored identifier stripes of different color, have different widths. This may be used to improve reading of colors which may be more difficult to accurately read by the sensor device.

[0097] The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein. Example 1. An aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising a device body comprising a heating chamber configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-generating article, the heating chamber comprising an at least partly cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped heating volume, wherein the heating chamber comprises a heating device configured to heat at least part of the aerosol-generating article in a heating zone, and at least one sensor device configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber and / or during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber. Example 2. The aerosol-generating device according to example 1, wherein the sensor device is configured to serially read at least two distinct information values, for example authentication information and identification information, from an indicium of the aerosol-generating article. Example 3. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from a sensing area, wherein the sensing area is arranged outside of the heating chamber. Example 4. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the sensor device is configured to read a first information value from the aerosol-generating article during a relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device, for example wherein the first information value pertains to identification information of the aerosol-generating article, and wherein the sensor device is configured to read a second information value from the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is motionless relative to the sensor device, for example wherein the second information value pertains to authentication information of the aerosol-generating article. Example 5. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the sensor device is arranged in a fixed position relative to a component of the aerosol-generating device, the relative motion comprising a motion of the aerosol-generating article relative to the component of the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the component is one or more of: a mouthpiece portion, a mouthpiece, an upstream and / or downstream fluidic interconnection element, a mouthpiece actuator, and / or a first and / or second housing part. Example 6. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, comprising a mouthpiece portion comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece portion is moveable relative to the device body between an open position, in which the heating chamber is accessible to receive the aerosol-generating article, and a use position for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating article, wherein in the use position, the mouthpiece portion closes the heating chamber so that the aerosol-generating article is arranged inside the aerosol-generating device. Example 7. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, comprising a spring biasing mechanism configured to establish a force acting onto the inserted aerosol-generating article and / or the heating chamber in a longitudinal direction towards the mouthpiece portion and / or mouthpiece and / or towards the device body when the mouthpiece portion is in the use position, wherein the mouthpiece portion is configured to push the aerosol-generating article along the longitudinal direction into the device body and / or heating chamber when the mouthpiece portion is moved to the use position from the open position so that the spring biasing mechanism is compressed, and wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the compression of the spring biasing mechanism. Example 8. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a mouthpiece portion is movably coupled to the device body, such that the mouthpiece portion is movable relative to the device body, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, by either a rotational movement, a linear movement, or combination of a rotational and linear movement, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece portion. Example 9. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, comprising an upstream airflow path configured to provide air to the aerosol-generating article when arranged in the heating chamber; and an upstream fluidic interconnection element configured to fluidically interconnect the upstream airflow path with the aerosol-generating article, wherein the upstream fluidic interconnection element includes a blade structure configured to cut or press into a wall around an upstream air inlet of the aerosol-generating article, to provide for a fluidic connection between the upstream airflow path and a substrate of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the sensor device is arranged in a fixed position relative to the upstream fluidic interconnection element, for example such that the aerosol-generating article moves relative to the sensor device during the cutting or pressing of the upstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the cutting or pressing of the upstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article. Example 10. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, comprising a downstream airflow path configured to provide an aerosol from the substrate to an aerosol outlet of the device; and a downstream fluidic interconnection element configured to fluidically interconnect the downstream airflow path with the aerosol-generating article, wherein the downstream fluidic interconnection element includes a blade structure configured to cut or press into a wall around a downstream air outlet of the aerosol-generating article, to provide for a fluidic connection between the downstream airflow path and a substrate of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the sensor device is arranged in a fixed position relative to the downstream fluidic interconnection element, for example such that the aerosol-generating article moves relative to the sensor device during the cutting or pressing of the downstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the cutting or pressing of the downstream fluidic interconnection element into the aerosol-generating article. Example 11. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, comprising a first housing part wherein the heating chamber is arranged; and a second housing part movably coupled to the first housing part, such that the second housing part is movable, for example slidable, relative to the first housing part, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, between an open position, in which the heating chamber is accessible to receive the aerosol-generating article, and a use position for generating an aerosol based on heating of at least a part of the aerosol-generating article; wherein the second housing part includes a fixation means configured to engage with the aerosol-generating article, such that the aerosol-generating article is movable along the longitudinal direction based on movement of the second housing part along the longitudinal direction, wherein the fixation means is arranged and / or configured such that the aerosol-generating article is moved relative to the second housing part during engagement of the aerosol-generating article with the fixation means, and wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during engagement of the aerosol-generating article with the fixation means. Example 12. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the fixation means is configured to engage with the aerosol-generating article, such that the aerosol-generating article is insertable into the heating chamber of the first housing part based on movement of the second housing part from the open position to the use position. Example 13. The aerosol-generating device according to one of the examples 10-12, wherein the fixation means is configured to clamp the aerosol-generating article, such that the aerosol-generating article is at least partly pushed into the heating chamber of the first housing part by displacing the second housing part from the open position to the use position. Example 14. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the mouthpiece is movably coupled to a second housing part, such that the mouthpiece is at least partly retractable into and / or extractable out of the second housing part, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a mouthpiece actuator actuatable by a user to slide the mouthpiece out of the second housing part and / or to retract the mouthpiece into the second housing part, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece and / or of the mouthpiece actuator. Example 15. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device covers at least a distance of 0.3 mm, for example at least a distance of 0.5 mm or at least a distance of 1 mm or at least a distance of 1.5 mm or at least a distance of 2 mm or at least a distance of 3 mm or at least a distance of 4 mm or at least a distance of 5 mm, for example a distance of 3.5 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device. Example 16. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the at least one sensor device is distanced from the heating zone by at least 3 mm, for example by at least 4 mm or by at least 5 mm or by at least 6 mm, for example 4.4 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device. Example 17. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a length of the heating chamber, for example measured in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, is in a range between 10 mm and 35 mm, for example in a range between 15 mm and 30 mm, for example between 15 mm and 25 mm. Example 18. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the heating chamber is configured to have an insertion depth along an insertion axis in a range between 10 mm and 35 mm, for example in a range between 15 mm and 30 mm, for example between 15 mm and 25 mm. Example 19. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the heating chamber is configured to have a shorter insertion depth along the insertion axis than a length of the aerosol-generating article, and the aerosol-generating article, when inserted into the heating chamber, protrudes from a proximal and / or distal end of the heating chamber, for example by 1 mm to 30 mm, for example by 2 mm to 20 mm, for example by 5 mm to 15 mm, for example by 5 mm to 10 mm. Example 20. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a width of the heating chamber, for example measured along a transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device, between two inner small side surfaces or lateral surfaces is between 7.2 mm and 15.2 mm, for example between 9.2 mm and 13.2 mm, for example by 11.2 mm. Example 21. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a height or thickness of the heating chamber, for example measured along a normal direction of the aerosol-generating device, between two inner large side surfaces or main surfaces of the heating chamber is between 2 mm and 10 mm, for example between 3 mm and 8 mm, for example between 4 mm and 6 mm. Example 22. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a window is arranged between the sensor device and the sensing area, wherein the window may be transparent for electromagnetic waves, for example for visible light and / or ultraviolet light and / or infrared light. Example 23. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the window has a substantially planar surface configured to come into contact with a substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article. Example 24. The aerosol-generating device according to one of the examples 22-23, wherein the window is transparent for electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between 280 nm and 2000 nm, for example between 315 nm and 1100 nm, for example between 380 nm and 1050 nm, and / or wherein the transparent window absorbs and / or reflects electromagnetic waves with a wavelength between 100 nm and 280 nm and between 2000 nm and 1 mm, for example between 100 nm and 315 nm and between 1100 nm and 1 mm, for example between 100 nm and 380 nm and between 1050 nm and 1 mm. Example 25. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein a flexible printed circuit board, fPCB, electrically connects the sensor device to a printed circuit board, PCB, and wherein the fPCB extends in a straight direction, for example in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, from the PCB to the sensor device. Example 26. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a stiffener located on the side of the sensor device facing away from the aerosol-generating article. Example 27. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the sensor device is located between the stiffener and the window. Example 28. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, wherein the sensor device comprises an identification information sensor module and an authentication information sensor module arranged next to each other so that a sensing direction of the information sensor module is the same as a sensing direction of the authentication information sensor module, and wherein the identification information sensor module is configured to use visible light for identification and the authentication information sensor module is configured to use non-visible light, for example ultraviolet light and / or infrared light, for authentication. Example 29. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the identification information sensor module and / or the authentication information sensor module comprises at least one light-emitting diode, LED, and a photosensitive sensor, for example an ambient light sensor, ALS, and / or a photodiode and / or a light phototransistor. Example 30. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the identification information sensor module comprises two LEDs, wherein the LEDs are arranged on opposite sides of the photosensitive sensor, and wherein the photosensitive sensor of the identification information sensor module is an ALS. Example 31. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, further comprising a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, for example wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article. Example 32. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article, wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a first distance when the first information value is read and wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a second distance when the second information value is read, and wherein the first distance is bigger than the second distance. Example 33. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous example, wherein the first distance is between 2 mm and 20 mm, for example between 3 mm and 15 mm, for example between 4 mm and 10 mm, and / or wherein the second distance is between 1 mm and 17 mm, for example between 2 mm and 12 mm, for example between 3 mm and 7 mm. Example 34. The aerosol-generating device according to example 31, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article, wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article outside the heating zone when the first information value is read and wherein the indicium is arranged inside the heating zone when the second information value is read. Example 35. An aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol-generating device, for example an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous examples, comprising an aerosol-generating substrate for generating aerosol, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with two opposing main surfaces and lateral side surfaces, and wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and identification information about the aerosol-generating article. Example 36. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous example, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a length in a range between 20 mm and 40 mm, for example between 25 mm and 35 mm, for example of 30 mm, and / or wherein the aerosol-generating article has a width in a range between 7 mm and 15 mm, for example between 9 mm and 13 mm, for example of 11 mm, and / or wherein the aerosol-generating article has a thickness of between 1 mm and 10 mm, for example between 2 mm and 5 mm or between 2.5 mm and 4 mm, for example of 3.1 mm. Example 37. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 35-36, wherein the aerosol-generating substrate has a substantially planar shape and is located between a top and bottom cover sheet inside the aerosol-generating article, wherein the substrate has a length, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 8 mm to 15 mm, for example of 12 mm, wherein the substrate further has a width, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 6 mm to 13 mm, for example of 8 mm. Example 38. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 35-37, wherein the indicium is arranged as a band which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction across at least one substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article. Example 39. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous example, wherein the band extends over exclusively one main surface of the aerosol-generating article, wherein the length of the band is the width of the main surface, for example 11 mm. Example 40. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-39, wherein the band is arranged on exclusively one main surface of the aerosol-generating article and extends only partially over the main surface, for example wherein the band is distanced from an edge of the main side surface extending parallel to the longitudinal direction by at least 2 mm, for example wherein the length of the band is 7 mm. Example 41. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-40, wherein the band extends over the two main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article, for example wherein the band also extends over the two lateral side surfaces of the aerosol-generating article. Example 42. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-41, wherein the band has a length, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, of 5 mm to 35 mm, for example of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example 22 mm or 28 mm, and / or wherein the band has a width, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device or article, in a range between 1 mm and 40 mm, for example between 3 mm and 15 mm, for example of at least 6 mm. Example 43. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-42, wherein a first edge of the band is arranged at a distance from a proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 1 mm to 15 mm, for example of 2.5 mm to 10 mm or of 3.5 mm to 7.5 mm, for example 5.5 mm, and / or wherein a second edge of the band is arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 5 mm to 20 mm, for example 11.5 mm. Example 44. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-43, wherein the first edge of the band is arranged at a distance from a distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 30 mm or of 20 mm to 27.5 mm, for example 25 mm, and / or wherein the second edge of the band is arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 19 mm. Example 45. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 38-44, wherein the band comprises at least one taggant band configured to authenticate the aerosol-generating article and / or at least one colored identifier band configured to identify the aerosol-generating article, for example wherein the taggant band is wider in a longitudinal direction than the colored identifier band. Example 46. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous example, wherein the taggant band and the colored identifier band are arranged one after the other in longitudinal direction, for example wherein the taggant band is arranged closer to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article than the colored identifier band or wherein the colored identifier band is arranged closer to an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article than the taggant band, or wherein the taggant band and the colored identifier band are arranged at the same position along the longitudinal direction. Example 47. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-46, wherein the taggant band has a width in a range between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 3 mm and 10 mm, for example of at least 3.5 mm, and / or wherein the colored identifier band has a width in a range between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 2 mm and 10 mm, for example of at least 2.5 mm. Example 48. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-47, wherein a first edge of the taggant band is arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 1 mm to 15 mm, for example of 2.5 mm to 10 mm or of 3.5 mm to 7.5 mm, for example 5.5 mm, and / or wherein a second edge of the taggant band is arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm, for example 9 mm. Example 49. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-48, wherein the first edge of the taggant band is arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 30 mm or of 20 mm to 27.5 mm, for example 25 mm, and / or wherein the second edge of the taggant band is arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 15 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 21 mm. Example 50. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-49, wherein a first edge of the colored identifier band is arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 7.5 mm to 12.5 mm, for example 9 mm, and / or wherein a second edge of the colored identifier band is arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 5 mm to 20 mm, for example 11.5 mm. Example 51. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-50, wherein the first edge of the colored identifier band is arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 15 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 21 mm, and / or wherein the second edge of the colored identifier band is arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article, of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 19 mm. Example 52. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 45-51, wherein the colored identifier band comprises exclusively one or at least one colored identifier stripe with a width of at least 0.25 mm, for example of at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.75 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.25 mm or at least 1.5 mm. Example 53. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the examples 41-52, wherein the colored identifier band comprises at least two colored identifier stripes, for example at least two differently colored identifier stripes, with a width of at least 0.25 mm each or at least 0.5 mm each or at least 0.75 mm each or at least 1 mm each or at least 1.25 mm each or at least 1.5 mm each. Example 54. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous example, wherein the at least two colored identifier stripes are distanced from each other by at least 0.25 mm or at least 0.5 mm or at least 0.75 mm or at least 1 mm or at least 1.25 mm or at least 1.5 mm from each other. Example 55. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous example, wherein the at least two colored identifier stripes have different widths.

[0098] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which: Figure 1 shows an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device; Figure 2 shows an aerosol-generating article; Figure 3 shows a schematic overview of a heater module; Figure 4 shows an aerosol-generating article in a heating chamber; Figure 5 shows more details of an aerosol-generating article; Figure 6 shows a schematic overview of an aerosol-generating device; Figure 7 shows a reader module reading information from the aerosol-generating article; Figure 8 shows an aerosol-generating system; Figure 9 shows an aerosol-generating device with a sliding mouthpiece portion in an opened or loading position; Figure 10 shows an aerosol-generating device with a retractable mouthpiece; Figure 11 shows an aerosol-generating device with a pivoting mouthpiece portion in an opened or loading position; Figure 12 shows another overview of an aerosol-generating system with several different perspectives of the aerosol-generating device; Figure 13 shows a perspective view of the aerosol-generating device in the loading position; Figure 14 shows another perspective view of the aerosol-generating device in the loading position; Figure 15 shows a perspective view of another embodiment, where the insertion direction of the tray is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device; Figure 16 shows the clamping of an aerosol-generating article on the mouthpiece portion; Figure 17 shows a recess with fixation means on the mouthpiece portion; Figure 18 shows a cross-section through an aerosol-generating device with a spring load; Figure 19 shows the spring loading of an aerosol-generating device; Figure 20 shows the spring loading of a heating chamber; Figure 21 shows the spring loading of a distal end portion of the heating chamber; Figure 22 shows the spring loading of a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 23 shows a perspective cross section through a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 24 shows a schematic of the spring loading of the top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 25 shows a side view of an aerosol-generating article being penetrated by two fluidic interconnection elements; Figure 26 shows an open heating chamber with a bottom fluidic interconnection element; Figure 27 shows a cross-section in the area of a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 28 shows the closing of the aerosol-generating device and the penetration of the aerosol-generating article by a fluidic interconnection element in the case of a hinged rotatably connected mouthpiece portion; Figure 29 shows a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 30 shows a front view of a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 31 shows a back view of a top fluidic interconnection element; Figure 32 shows a front view of a bottom fluidic interconnection element; Figure 33 shows a back view of a bottom fluidic interconnection element; Figure 34 shows a cross section through the distal end of a heating chamber and convective heating assembly; Figure 35 shows another cross section through the distal end of a heating chamber and convective heating assembly; Figure 36 shows more details of the aerosol-generating article in a top view; Figure 37 shows more details of an aerosol-generating article; Figure 38 shows more details of an aerosol-generating device in a perspective cross section; Figure 39 shows more details of the reader module; Figure 40a shows more details of the reader module in a top view; Figure 40b shows more details of the reader module in a top view; Figure 41 shows more details of an aerosol-generating article; Figure 42a shows more details of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber; Figure 42b shows more details of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber; Figure 43a shows more details of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber; Figure 43b shows more details of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber;

[0099] The present disclosure shows and describes several embodiments which may comprise alternative solutions for specific cases or considerations. However, it is noted that the present disclosure pertains to a complete device which may comprise any combination of features described herein. Especially, it is noted that any of the features of any of the described embodiments may be freely combined with any other features of any other embodiments of the present disclosure. The disclosure is presented in embodiments for explanatory purposes only, and the presentation as specific embodiments does not mean that the features of one embodiment may not be complementary to other features, for example of other embodiments.

[0100] Figure 1 shows an aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating system 4 for forming or generating aerosol, for example for consumption or inhalation by a user in one or more usage sessions. The system 4 may comprise at least one of an aerosol-generating device 1 for generating aerosol and a companion device 3 for at least partially receiving the aerosol-generating device 1. The companion device 3 may be a charging device for charging the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or an energy storage 15 or battery thereof.

[0101] The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a mouthpiece 901, through which a user may inhale aerosol provided by the aerosol-generating device 1 for consumption during a usage session. The aerosol may be provided from an aerosol-generating article or substrate provided inside the aerosol-generating device 1 and therefore not visible in Figure 1.

[0102] The aerosol-generating device 1 may further include processing circuitry or control circuitry with at least one controller 5 and one or more processors 17. For generating the aerosol during use or consumption of the aerosol-generating article 20 (see Figure 2), the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise at least one heating element 7 or 6 or heater device for applying heat to at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article. Instead of the heating element 7, an ultrasonic device (not shown) may also be used to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article. The processing circuitry and / or the controller 5 and / or the processor 17 may be configured to control actuation, activation and / or deactivation of at least one heating element 7 or 6 or ultrasonic device.

[0103] For powering the at least one heating element 7 or 6 with electrical power, the aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise the at least one energy storage 15, for example in the form of a battery, for storing electrical energy or power. In Figure 1, both the aerosol-generating device 1 and the companion device 3 each comprise an energy storage 15 and the energy storage 15 is electrically coupled to the respective device 1, 3. In particular, energy storage 15 may be removably couplable to the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or the companion device 3. In other words, energy storage 15 may be a replaceable energy storage or battery. The connection between the energy storage 15 and the devices 1, 3 may be configured so that the devices 1, 3 may be run by electrical energy provided by the energy storage 15. Additionally, the connection between the energy storage 15 and the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or the companion device 3 may be configured so that data may be transmitted between the processing circuitries of the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or the companion device 3 and the energy storage 15.

[0104] The aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise at least one electrical connector 12 for coupling to a corresponding at least one electrical connector 13 of the companion device 3 and / or an electrical connector of an external power supply (not shown), e.g., a USB charger. For example, when the aerosol-generating device 1 is at least partially inserted into the opening 14 of the companion device 3, the one or more electrical connectors 12 of the aerosol-generating device 1 may be coupled with the one or more electrical connectors 13 of the companion device 3 to charge the at least one energy storage 15 of the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0105] The aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise a communications arrangement 9 or communication circuitry 9 with one or more communications interfaces 10 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-generating device 1 with the companion device 3 or other devices, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a mobile data connection for example but not limited to a 3G / 4G / 5G connection, an edge connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, an optical data connection such as but not limited to IrDa, a radio connection, a near field connection, and / or an loT connection.

[0106] The aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise a data storage 11 or memory for storing information, program code or data. Data storage 11 may also store collected values of sensors and / or one or more mathematical functions or formulas, software and computer instructions that can be executed by the processing circuitry, particularly controller 5 and / or processor 17. One or more sensors 16 may be arranged on, at or in the aerosol-generating device 1 or the companion device 3 to collect data. One or more of the sensors 16 may for example be temperature sensors, strain sensors, accelerometers or any other suitable sensors.

[0107] The aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise user interface components, for example comprising an input element or input device 19, for example in the form of a pushbutton or a capacitive button. The input device 19 may be used as a power button to activate or deactivate the heating element 7 or 6 or ultrasonic device for aerosol generation thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosol-generating device 1. Upon activation of the aerosol-generating device 1, the heating element 7 or 6 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosol-generating article 20, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption or inhalation by the user, for example in a usage session. The aerosol generating device 1 and / or the companion device 3 may each comprise one or more output elements, such as a display device 18 and / or one or more LEDs, for outputting a signal and / or displaying information to a user, for example a user interface such as a GUI, or haptic and acoustic data output devices. The display device 18 may be, for example, a touchscreen and may therefore be configured as both an output and an input element.

[0108] Figure 2 shows three different views of an aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating article 20, or consumable, which may be used with the aerosol-generating device 1. In the top left, an end view is shown. Bottom left shows a perspective view, and the right side of the figure shows a side view of the aerosol-generating article 20. In contrast to conventional consumables, which may be, for example, stick or rod-shaped, aerosol-generating article 20 may have a flat or planar shape. It may, for example, have the basic shape of a rectangle, optionally with rounded corners. For instance, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be a cuboid or parallelepiped, optionally with rounded corners. It may have a length L which is greater than its width W, which is in turn greater than its thickness T. For example, the length L of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be from 20 mm to 40 mm, for example from 25 mm to 35 mm. In a non-limiting example, the length L of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be 30 mm. The width W of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be from 7 mm to 15 mm, for example from 9 mm to 13 mm. In a non-limiting example, the width W of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be 11 mm. The thickness T of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be from 1 mm to 10 mm, for example 2 mm to 5 mm, for example from 2.5 mm to 4 mm. In a non-limiting example, the thickness T of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be 3.1 mm.

[0109] The aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise a frame 21 and an aerosol-generating substrate 23, which may be arranged in a centre section of the article 20. The centre section of the article 20 may also be referred to as central section or middle section of the article 20. The frame 21 may comprise or be made of a cellulose fibre material, for example a cardboard material. The frame 21 may define the circumference or perimeter of the aerosol-generating article 20 along the edges and / or corners. The two opposite side surfaces making up the majority of the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise or be made of a cover sheet, which may comprise paper-based material, for example rolling paper, which may be fixed to the frame and, together with the frame, may define a substrate chamber, which may be filled with any type of aerosol-generating substrate 23 or capsule mentioned herein, or a combination of one or more substrate and a capsule. As will be described in more detail herein, the aerosol-generating article 20 may also comprise an airflow path through the frame 21 and the substrate in the substrate chamber, for example with an air inlet 24 and / or an air inlet channel 26 and an opposing aerosol outlet.

[0110] Furthermore, the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise authentication information and / or identification information, which may be provided on the surface of the article 20 as an indicium. The information or indicium 301 provided on the aerosol-generating article 20 may pertain to authentication and / or identification or classification of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the substrate 23 therein. Upon reading the authentication and / or identification information by the reader module 300 (see Figure 6), the information may be used to control the aerosol-generating device 1, for example for allowing or disallowing heating, or for selecting an appropriate heating profile. The indicium 301 may be arranged as a band 62 which extends transverse to the longitudinal direction across the substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20. Moreover, the band 62 or the indicium 301 may extend over exclusively one main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 as shown in Figures 2 and 5. The length of the band L62 may be the same as the width W of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example 11 mm. Moreover, the band 62 or the indicium 301 may extend over the two, i.e. both, main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20. Consequently, the length of the band L62 may be double the width W of the aerosol-generating article, for example 22 mm.

[0111] Additionally or optionally, the band 62 or the indicium 301 may also extend over the two lateral side surfaces of the aerosol-generating article as shown in Figure 4. In an example, the band 62 or the indicium 301 may extend only partially over the main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example wherein the band 62 is distanced from an edge of the main side surface extending parallel to the longitudinal direction by at least 2 mm as shown in Figure 7, for example wherein the length of the band L62 is 7 mm.

[0112] In principle, the band 62 or indicium 301 may have a length L62, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 or article 20, of 5 mm to 35 mm, for example of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example 22 mm or 28 mm. The band 62 or indicium 301 may have a width W62, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 or article 20 in a range between 1 mm and 40 mm, for example between 3 mm and 15 mm, for example of at least 6 mm.

[0113] Moreover, a first edge or proximal edge of the band 62 may be arranged at a distance from a proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1, of 1 mm to 15 mm, for example of 2.5 mm to 10 mm or of 3.5 mm to 7.5 mm, for example 5.5 mm, and / or wherein a second edge or distal edge of the band 62 may be arranged at a distance from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1, of 5 mm to 25 mm, for example of 5 mm to 20 mm, for example 11.5 mm. The first edge or proximal edge of the band 62 may be arranged at a distance from a distal end of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1, of 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of 15 mm to 30 mm or of 20 mm to 27.5 mm, for example 25 mm, and / or wherein the second edge or distal edge of the band 62 may be arranged at a distance from the distal end of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example as measured along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1, of 10 mm to 30 mm, for example of 15 mm to 25 mm, for example 19 mm.

[0114] In other words, the band 62 or indicium 301 may be arranged at a distance or offset from the middle of the aerosol-generating article 20 along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1, which may be parallel to the direction in which the length L of the aerosol-generating article 20 is measured and / or which may be parallel to the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 into the aerosol-generating device 1 or its heating chamber 30. In particular, as shown in Figure 4, the band 62 or indicium 301 may be arranged on a part of the aerosol-generating article 20 protruding from the heating chamber 30 of the aerosol-generating device 1 when the aerosol-generating article 20 is fully inserted into the heating chamber 30.

[0115] The present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating device 1 which may be configured to use such an aerosol-generating article 20. The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a heating chamber 30 and heating module 34 (see Figure 3) configured to removably accommodate such an aerosol-generating article 20 with a predominantly planar form factor, maximizing the heating efficiency and increasing the consumable extraction, without quickly depleting the aerosol. To do so, a full contact between the heating element and the consumable may be ensured during the heating phase. A flat heating element may provide the benefit of keeping a high ratio of surface heated vs substrate volume, which, in turn, guarantees a faster and more homogeneous substrate heating.

[0116] A possible heating concept for the aerosol-generating article 20 as described above is shown in Figure 3. The heating module 34 may comprise two heating elements 6, 7, for example flat heating elements 6, 7, arranged parallel and opposite to each other, for example in a sandwich configuration with the aerosol-generating article 20 between them. The aerosol-generating article 20 may be at least partially or fully inserted into a heating chamber 30 in a heater casing 35, which may also contain the heating elements 6, 7. The heater casing 35 may be arranged in an insulating casing 2 to prevent heat from the heating elements 6, 7 from dissipating and / or reaching the user's fingers, and for concentrating the heat to the heating volume or chamber 30. The heating elements 6, 7 may be arranged parallel to the two main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20. They may be arranged parallel to an inner surface of the heating chamber 30 and / or heater casing 35. The heating chamber 30 may be a substantially cuboid receptacle or space configured to at least partially receive the aerosol-generating article 20. It may be defined by at least one side or two parallel, opposite sides configured as a planar cavity surface extending substantially in a plane. The first heating element 6 and / or the second heating element 7 may extend substantially in a plane parallel to the plane of the planar cavity surface.

[0117] The dimensions of the cavity or heating volume provided by the heating chamber 30 may reflect the dimensions of the aerosol-generating article 20 in order to ensure that the article 20 can be inserted to the heating chamber 30 and arranged between heating elements 6, 7, although a part of the aerosol-generating article 20 may protrude out of the heating chamber 30. The fit of the aerosol-generating article 20 in the heating chamber 30 is shown in Figure 4. Preferably, the fit should be a light press-fit or a light interference fit with the aerosol-generating article 20 between heating elements 6, 7. For example, the heating chamber 30 may have a length L3 of from 10 mm to 35 mm, for example of from 15 mm to 30 mm or from 15 mm to 25 mm. This may also be referred to as the insertion depth of the heating chamber 30. The heating chamber 30 may have a width W3 of between 7.2 mm and 15.2 mm, preferably between 9.2 mm and 13.2 mm, more preferably about 11.2 mm. The heating chamber 30 may have a thickness T3 of between 2 mm and 10 mm, more preferably between 3 mm and 8 mm, even more preferably between 4 mm and 6 mm. These values may pertain to the inside clearances of the heating chamber 30 in the respective directions. Again, these values are purely exemplary, and any other suitable dimensions may be chosen.

[0118] A detailed view of the aerosol-generating article 20 is given in Figure 5. The aerosol-generating article 20 may be predominantly flat. It may be shaped as a rectangular parallelepiped or cuboid. It may comprise a consumable frame 21 having a cavity 22 designed to accommodate an aerosol-generating substrate 23.

[0119] For example, the substrate 23 may have a width W23, for example as measured perpendicularly to the insertion direction and / or along the transverse direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 or article 20, of 6 mm to 13 mm, for example of 8 mm. The substrate 23 may have a thickness T23, for example as measured along the normal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 or article 20, of between 1 mm and 10 mm, for example between 2 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 2.5 mm and 4 mm, more preferably about 3 mm. The substrate 23 may have a length L23, for example as measured along the insertion axis and / or along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 or article 20, of 8 mm to 15 mm, for example of 12 mm. These values are purely exemplary, and any other suitable dimensions may be chosen.

[0120] While the substrate 23 is shown in Figure 5 as being arranged in the middle of the article 20 in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the substrate 23 may alternatively be arranged asymmetrically, for example displaced or offset along the longitudinal axis in the direction of one of the small ends of the article 20. The small ends may be the ends comprising the air inlet 24 and the air or aerosol outlet 25. In this case, the information 301 provided on the aerosol-generating article 20 may be arranged on the substrate-free end of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example on top of one of the larger side surfaces or main surfaces. In a variant, the information or indicium 301 can be embedded or located inside a cover sheet of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example as an RFID tag that can be read by an antenna.

[0121] On the sides of the cavity 22 where no frame 21 is located, the cavity 22 may be closed off from the outside environment by a sheet of cellulose fiber material, for example paper or rolling paper, or paper-like material. Such a sheet may be provided on both sides of the aerosol-generating article 20. The frame 21 may further comprise a consumable air inlet 24 and a consumable air outlet 25 or aerosol outlet, which may be arranged substantially in-axis with a direction of longitudinal extension of the aerosol-generating article 20. The air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 may be arranged at the smallest opposing faces or surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 2. The air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 may be fluidically connected to a consumable air inlet channel 26 and a consumable air outlet channel 27, respectively. These channels 26, 27 may be configured to be in fluid communication with the consumable cavity 22.

[0122] The air inlet 24, the air inlet channel 26, the air outlet channel 27 and the air outlet 25 each may have a cross-section shaped to correspond in surface area and ratio with the cross-section of the aerosol-generating article 20 and also the substrate 23. For example, the cross-section of the air inlet 24, the air inlet channel 26, the air outlet channel 27 and the air outlet 25 is smaller than the cross-section of the aerosol-generating article 20, but the shape of the cross sections may be similar to each other. In other words, the air inlet 24, the air inlet channel 26, the air outlet channel 27 and the air outlet 25 may have a rectangular cross-section, optionally with rounded corners. Therefore, the cross-section may be in the shape of an oblong or ovally-shaped or oval-shaped hole. In this way, the air flowing thorough the airflow path provided by this cross-section may enter and stream through the similarly arranged substrate 23 in an optimal way. The cross-section as used herein may be perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the direction of the airflow path through the aerosol-generating article 20.

[0123] Figure 6 shows a schematic overview of the aerosol-generating device 1 without a casing or outer housing for the device body 800. As also shown in Figure 7, the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a reader module 300. The reader module 300 may be configured to read information, particularly authentication information and / or identification information, from an indicium 301, for example arranged in or as a band 62, from the aerosol-generating article 20. Furthermore, the reader module 300 may comprise a sensor device 50, which in turn may be or may comprise an optical reader or sensor, or may be or may comprise an RFID reader or sensor. The reader module 300 may be arranged outside of the heating chamber 30. The reader module 300 may be arranged in the first housing part, for example the device body 800, or in the second housing part, for example in the downstream housing element, the mouthpiece portion 900 or the mouthpiece 901, and may be directed to or at a part of the aerosol-generating article 20 protruding from the heating chamber 30 when the device 1 is in the use position. For example, the reader module 300 may be arranged on the device body 800, for example near or next to the mouthpiece portion 900, for example at the proximal end of the device body 800. In another example, the reader module 300 may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900, for example near or next to the device body 800, for example at the distal end of the mouthpiece portion 900.

[0124] The aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged inside of the aerosol-generating device 1, i.e. the heating chamber 30, in Figure 6, to illustrate the exemplary positioning of the reader module 300 in relation to the aerosol-generating article 20. The aerosol-generating article 20 may be arranged in the heating chamber 30, for example by configuring the dimensions of the heating chamber 30 and the article 20 accordingly, so that the indicium 301 protrudes from an end of the heating chamber 30, for example the proximal end. In other words, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be partly arranged inside of the heating chamber 30 of the aerosol-generating device 1. As a consequence, the sensor device 50 in the reader module 300 may be able to sense or read the information or indicium 301 on the surface of the protruding end of the aerosol-generating article 1.

[0125] Additionally, the reader module 300 may be electrically connected to a printed circuit board, PCB, 36 with or by a flexible circuit board, fPCB 47. Connecting the reader module 300 using an fPCB 47 adds flexibility to the arrangement of the reader module 300 in or on the aerosol generating device 1. In this way, the reader module 300 may be positioned in or on the aerosol-generating device 1 wherever necessary, even on components movable relative to the device body 800, which comprises the PCB 36. PCB 36 may be the main PCB of the aerosol-generating device 1, and may, for example, comprise the control circuitry, the controller 5 and / or the processor 17. As in exemplary Figure 6, the fPCB 47 may extend in a straight direction from the PCB 36 to the reader module 300, for example in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1. The part of the fPCB 47 extending from the PCB 36 may run substantially parallel to the length or insertion direction of the heating chamber 30. However, depending on the exact location of the reader module 300, it may be possible that the fPCB 47 is arranged differently. Moreover, in order to mount the sensor device 50, the reader module 300 may comprise a stiffener 31, which may be located on a side of the sensor device 50 facing away from the aerosol-generating article 20. As a consequence, the fPCB 47 may be arranged between the stiffener 31 and the sensor device 50.

[0126] Figure 7 schematically shows the reader module 300 in spatial relation to the indicium 301 during reading of the information. The reader module 300 comprising the sensor device 50 may be arranged and / or positioned opposite one of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20 so that the sensor device 50 faces the main surface. The indicium 301 may be arranged on the main surface so as to be in view of the sensor device 50. The reader module 300 or sensor device 50 may read the one or more information value from one distinct area. The area which may be observed or measured or scanned or screened or sensed by the sensor device 50 and / or the reader module 300 may be called the sensing area 302. The sensing area 302 may therefore be regarded as the field of view of the reader module 300 and / or sensor device 50. The sensing area 302 may be the area in which the indicium 301 is arranged and can be read by the sensor device 50 of the reader module 300. Moreover, the sensing area 302 may be arranged outside of the heating chamber 30. The location of the sensing area 302 may depend on the location of the sensor device 50. The reader module 300 with the sensor device 50 may be arranged and oriented on the aerosol-generating device 1 so that the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50 is outside of the heating chamber 30. The sensing area 302 may overlap with the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 which comprises the indicium 301 as a band 62 and which protrudes from a proximal and / or distal end of the heating chamber 30 and / or the heating volume or heating zone of the heating chamber 30. In Figure 7, the sensing area 302 overlaps or covers the complete indicium 301. However, it may also be provided that only a part of the indicium 301 is overlapped or covered by the sensing area 302 at any one time. For example, the sensing area 302 may be smaller than the indicium 301 in at least one or more, for example two, dimensions. For example, the indicium 301 may be bigger to increase reading efficiency or accuracy. Also, the indicium 301 may comprise more than one information value provided next to each other, i.e. spatially separated from each other. These may, for example, be read serially by the sensor device 50 when the aerosol-generating article 20 is moved in relation to the sensor device 50.

[0127] According to the present disclosure, it may be provided that the reader module 300, particularly the sensor device 50, reads authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 when the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged in the heating chamber 30 and / or during insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30. The sensor device 50 may read the information from the indicium 301, for example when the aerosol-generating article 20 is at rest, for example at rest in the heating chamber 30, or during a relative motion of the article 20 and the sensor device 50. Several different relative motions between the article 20 and other components of the aerosol-generating device 1 may be used, wherein the sensor device 50 may be arranged in a fixed position to at least one of the other components, so that there is also relative motion between the sensor device 50 and the article 20. In this way, the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50 may move over the surface of the article 20 and the sensor device 50 may serially read more than one information value from different locations of the article 20. In the following, several possible movements which may be used for this reading of the indicium 301 are described. In all of the movements described, the magnitude or distance covered by the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50 with respect to each other is at least large enough so that the aerosol-generating article 20 moves from a position in which a first information value of the indicium 301 is provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50 into a position in which a second information value of the indicium 301 is provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50. That the sensor device 50 is configured to read the information during any of these movements may mean that the sensor device 50 is activated for reading during one of these movements. For this, the movement may, for example, be detected by a suitable sensor, so that the controller may activate the sensor device 50 upon receiving a respective signal from said sensor.

[0128] Figure 8 shows an overview of the aerosol-generating system 4 comprising a companion device 3 (on the left) and an aerosol-generating device 1. The latter is shown on the right in a front view and a side view. The aerosol-generating device 1 comprises a device body 800 and a mouthpiece portion 900, the mouthpiece portion 900 comprising a mouthpiece 901 (see Figure 16), which may be retractable inside the mouthpiece portion 900. In Figure 8, the mouthpiece portion 900, and therefore the aerosol-generating device 1, is shown fully closed, i.e. in the use position.

[0129] Figure 9 shows the aerosol-generating device 1 in two perspective views. The mouthpiece portion 900 has been moved into an open or loading position by sliding the mouthpiece portion 901 and a sliding frame 28, which may also be referred to as a tray, out of and / or away from the device body 800. The mouthpiece portion 900 may be connected to the device body 800 by the sliding frame 28. In the closed or use position of the device 1, the sliding frame 28 may be arranged or positioned in a sliding mount 33. The sliding frame 28 may be movably, for example slidably, attached to the sliding mount 33 in a way that enables the sliding frame 28 and the mouthpiece portion 900 to be moved or slid relative to the device body 800 and / or the sliding mount 33, thereby enabling the adjustment of the device 1 between the open or loading position and the closed or use or usage position.

[0130] For example, as shown in Figure 9, the user may slide mouthpiece portion 900 into the opened or loading position by moving the mouthpiece portion 900 away from the device body 800 in the direction of arrow A1. In the opened position, both an entrance to the heating chamber 30 (see left view in Figure 9) and a recess 902 in the mouthpiece portion 900 may be accessible for the user from the outside. The user may therefore at least partly insert an aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30 in the direction of arrow A3. As shown in the left view of Figure 9, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the device body 800 in a fixed relation to the heating chamber 30. The manual insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20 by the user may therefore lead to a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50. This relative motion may be used for reading, particularly serially reading, authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20, for instance from the indicium 301.

[0131] Alternatively, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900, as exemplarily shown in the right side of Figure 9. When the user then moves the mouthpiece portion 900 in the direction of arrow A2 to adjust the device 1 from the opened position into the closed position, the sensor device 50 in the mouthpiece portion 900 may also be moved along a part of the aerosol-generating article 20 protruding from the heating chamber 30. By closing the aerosol-generating device 1, the aerosol-generating article 20 is fully enclosed by the heating chamber 30 and the recess 902. During the closing of the device 1, the mouthpiece portion 901 comprising the recess 902 is moved around the aerosol-generating article 20. This movement may lead to a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50. The magnitude or distance covered by the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50 with respect to each other due to this movement may be at least large enough so that the aerosol-generating article 20 moves from a position in which a first information value may be provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50 into a position in which a second information value is provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50. In other words, the sensor device 50 may be configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during this movement, for example serially read more than one information value from the indicium 301.

[0132] Another possible relative motion will be explained with reference to the embodiment shown in Figure 10. The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a retractable mouthpiece 901. The mouthpiece 901 may be movable, for example slidable, between a protruding or usage position and a retracted or storage position. In the protruding or usage position, the mouthpiece 901 may protrude from the mouthpiece portion 900 as shown on the left of Figure 10. In this position, a user may use the mouthpiece 901 to inhale aerosol from the aerosol-generating device 1. In the retracted or storage position, the mouthpiece 901 may be retracted into the mouthpiece portion 900, as shown on the right of Figure 10. The mouthpiece 901 may be flush with the mouthpiece portion 900 in the storage position. The mouthpiece portion 900 may comprise a storage chamber 903, in which the mouthpiece portion 900 may be arranged, for example fully arranged, in the storage position. In the storage position, therefore, the mouthpiece 901 is not available for use by a user.

[0133] The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise an actuator, for example a slider 39, which may be manually moved between a first and a second position by the user. The slider 39 may be connected to the mouthpiece 901 so that the movement of the slider 39 between the first and the second position is translated into the movement of the mouthpiece 901 between the protruding or usage position and the retracted or storage position.

[0134] As shown on the right in Figure 10, the mouthpiece 901 and / or the slider 39 at least partly overlap the aerosol-generating article 20 when the mouthpiece 901 is in the storage position. During the movement of the mouthpiece 901 and / or the slider 39 into the usage position of the mouthpiece 901, therefore, the mouthpiece 901 and / or the slider 39 move at least partly along or by the aerosol-generating article 20.

[0135] In this embodiment, the sensor device 50 may be a part of or may be positioned on or next to the slider 39 or the mouthpiece 901, so that the sensor device 50 moves with the mouthpiece 901 and / or the slider 39. The actuation of the slider 39, e.g. the sliding motion, and / or the motion of the mouthpiece 901 may thus lead to a relative motion of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50. The sensor device 50 may be configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during this movement.

[0136] Therefore, the user may move the mouthpiece 901 into the protruding or usage position whenever they wish to use the aerosol-generating device 1, therefore at the same time also identifying as well as authenticating the aerosol-generating article 20. As it may be necessary to move the mouthpiece 901 into the extracted position to use the device 1, no usage session may be started without identifying as well as authenticating the aerosol-generating article 20. Conversely, the user may move the mouthpiece 901 into the retracted or storage position whenever the aerosol-generating device 1 is not used. In this way, contamination of the mouthpiece 901 during times in which the device 1 is not used may be reduced.

[0137] Figure 11 shows an alternative movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 between the open or loading position and the closed or use position. The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise an actuator 55 arranged in an actuator guide 56, for example a sliding actuator in a sliding guide rail. The actuator 55 may be connected to the mouthpiece portion 900 of the device 1 in a way that a movement of the actuator 55, for example a linear sliding movement along the actuator guide 56, is translated or transmitted into a rotation or pivoting movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 between the open or loading position and the closed or use position. The actuator 55 may be configured for manual actuation by a user, as shown in Figure 11. For example, the user may slide the actuator 55 downwards, i.e. in a direction away from the mouthpiece portion 900 (see arrow A4 in Figure 11), to open the device 1. The linear movement of the actuator 55 away from the mouthpiece portion 900 may be translated into a rotational movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 from the closed position to the open position. Conversely, the user may slide the actuator 55 upwards, i.e. in a direction towards the mouthpiece portion 900 (see arrow A6 in Figure 11), to close the device 1. The linear movement of the actuator 55 towards the mouthpiece portion 900 may be translated into a rotational movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 from the open position to the closed position. Of course, the movement directions of the actuator 55 and the mouthpiece portion 900 are simply examples and any other directions could be used for the movement of the actuator 55 and the thus actuated movement of the mouthpiece portion 900.

[0138] The sensor device 50 may be arranged on the device body 800, as described for the embodiment shown in Figure 9, left side. The user may open the device 1 by sliding the actuator 55 downwards, which results in the mouthpiece portion 900 pivoting into the open position. The heating chamber 30 may then be accessible for inserting an aerosol-generating article 20, as shown by arrow A5 in Figure 11, and / or for removing a depleted aerosol-generating article 20. The relative motion during which the sensor device 50 may read the authentication information and / or identification information may then again be effected by the user manually inserting the aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30. Alternatively, the sensor device 50 may, in this example, be part of or positioned on or next to the mouthpiece portion 900, as exemplarily shown on the right side of Figure 11. After inserting the article 20, the user may close the device 1 by sliding the actuator 55 upwards, which results in the mouthpiece portion 900 pivoting into the closed position. The movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 leads to a relative motion between the sensor device 50 and the aerosol-generating article 20, which enables a dynamic reading of the indicium 301, for example of the identification information. When the article 20 is motionless relative to the sensor device 50, a static reading of the indicium, for example of the authentication information, may be performed. After identification and authentication of the aerosol-generating article 20, an experience or usage session may be started.

[0139] Figure 12 shows three different side views of an aerosol-generating device 1, each view rotated by 90° around the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1. The aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise an actuator 55. The actuator 55 may be connected to the mouthpiece portion 900 so that the mouthpiece portion 900 may be moved between the open or loading position and the closed or use position when a user moves the actuator 55. The actuator 55 may be, for example, a sliding button or a sliding knob, which may be removably arranged in an actuator guide 56, for example a rail or a groove configured to guide and / or limit the movement of the actuator 55. The actuator 55 may be moved along the guide 56 from a first position, in which the mouthpiece portion 900 is in the open position, into a second position, in which the mouthpiece portion 900 is in the use position. In Figure 12, the actuator 55 is in the second position and the mouthpiece portion 900 along with the tray is in the use position, i.e. the aerosol-generating device 1 is closed.

[0140] Figure 13 shows the aerosol-generating device 1 after a user has moved the actuator 55 along the guide 56 from the second position to the first position. The actuator 55 may be connected or coupled to the tray 28, which in turn may be connected to the mouthpiece portion 900. The tray 28 and the mouthpiece portion 900 may be movably coupled to the device body 800 so that the movement of the actuator 55 from the second position to the first position may result in a movement of the tray 28 along with the mouthpiece portion 900 from the use position shown in Figure 12 to the loading or open position shown in Figures 13, 14 and 15. The movement of the actuator 55 from the second position to the first position as well as the movement of the tray 28 from the use position to the open position may be directed parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1 as shown by arrow I. Device body 800 may further comprise guide means for guiding the movement of the tray 28. Device body 800 may also comprise a receiving space for the tray 28 in the usage position. Part of the receiving space for the tray 28 in the usage position may be provided by the heating chamber.

[0141] Figures 14 and 15 show the aerosol-generating device 1 in the open position, i.e. the opened aerosol-generating device 1, from another perspective. Figure 14 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device 1 held in a user's hand, while Figure 15 shows a side view (top of Figure 15) and a top view (bottom of Figure 15) of an embodiment of the aerosol-generating device 1. In the top view of Figure 15, the arrangement of the heater structure comprising the heating elements 6, 7 between which the aerosol-generating article 20 may be moved by the tray 28 is shown. The tray 28 may comprise a tray receptacle 49 configured to receive an aerosol-generating article 20. When the tray 28 is in the open position as shown in Figures 13 and 14, a user may insert the aerosol-generating article 20 into the tray receptacle 49 in an insertion direction perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1, as shown by arrow II.

[0142] When the tray 28 is in the open position as shown in Figure 15, a user may insert the aerosol-generating article 20 into the tray receptacle 49 in an insertion direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1, as shown by arrow II. While in Figure 15, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be loaded or inserted into the tray receptacle 49 in a direction towards the mouthpiece portion 900, the opposite may also be provided, i.e. the aerosol-generating article 20 may be loaded or inserted into the tray receptacle 49 in a direction away from the mouthpiece portion 900. Particularly, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be inserted into the tray receptacle 49 with one of the longer narrow sides of the aerosol-generating article 20 first. As shown in the Figures, the tray receptacle 49 may comprise a groove in the tray 28 and the aerosol-generating article 20 may be at least partly inserted into the groove. Particularly, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be inserted into the tray receptacle 49 such that the frame 28 or at least parts of the frame 28 are arranged inside the groove. A width of the groove relative to the thickness T of the aerosol-generating article 20 can be such that the aerosol-generating article 20 will be held by the tray 28 by a fitted connection, for example a press-fit or an interference-fit. Conversely, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be inserted into the tray receptacle 49 such that the centre portion and / or the substrate chamber of the aerosol-generating article 20 protrude from the groove and / or are free of the tray receptacle 49 and / or the tray 28. This facilitates the insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20, as both the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20 are accessible for the user and may, for example, be pinched between two fingers while inserting the article into the tray 28. Also, the accessibility of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20 facilitate heating of the aerosol-generating substrate 23 by the heating module.

[0143] Tray 28 and / or tray receptacle 49 may also comprise a fastening device 8, which may be configured to fasten or fix or hold the aerosol-generating article 20 in the tray receptacle 49. For example, fastening device 8 may be a clamping device, for example comprising a clamp, or clipping device, for example a releasable clip. Fastening device 8 may be arranged at one location along the tray receptacle 49. Alternatively, there may be more than one fastening device 8 arranged along the extension of the tray receptacle 49 on the tray 28. Additionally or alternatively, the fastening device 8 may be arranged along the entire extension of the tray receptacle 49 on the tray 28. For example, fastening device 8 may be configured to clamp the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20, while leaving exposed the parts of the main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20 comprising the substrate chamber.

[0144] As exemplarily shown in Figure 13, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the tray 28, for example at an inside surface of the tray receptacle 49. Therefore, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be at least party moved along or by the sensor device 50 when the user manually inserts the aerosol-generating article 20 into the tray receptable 49 or tray 28. The sensor device 50 may be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the indicium 301 during this relative motion of sensor device 50 and aerosol-generating article 20.

[0145] After the user has inserted the aerosol-generating article 20 into the tray receptacle 49, the user may then move the actuator 55 from the first position to the second position, thereby moving the tray from the open position to the usage position. The respective movement may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1, as shown by arrow III in Figure 14 or may be perpendicular or orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1, as shown by arrow III in Figure 15. Alternatively, therefore, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the device body 800, as exemplarily shown in Figure 14. The sensor device 50 may be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the indicium 301 during this relative motion of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the tray 28 in relation to the sensor device 50 on the device body 800.

[0146] Figures 16 and 17 show another possible relative motion. Figure 16 shows a cross-section through the mouthpiece portion 900 with an aerosol-generating article 20 inserted into the recess 902. Figure 17 shows a perspective view into the recess 902. In the recess 902, there may be provided at least one fixation means 29, for example a clamping bracket, configured to press against the aerosol-generating article 20 when it is inserted into the recess 902. As shown, there may be two opposite fixation means 29 in the recess 902, which may clamp the aerosol-generating article 20 between them. The clamping is configured to secure or hold the aerosol-generating article 20 in the recess 902. For this, the fixation means 29 may be shaped and configured to be elastically deformed or displaced when the aerosol-generating article 20 is inserted into the recess 902. The counterforce exerted by the fixation means 29 may then lead to the clamping of the aerosol-generating article 20. The recess 902 and the fixation means 29 are also shown in Figure 17. The user may insert the aerosol-generating article 20 into the recess 902 for loading, instead of inserting the aerosol-generating article 20 directly into the heating chamber 30. Therefore, when the aerosol-generating article 20 is inserted into the recess 902, the aerosol-generating article 20 moves relative to the mouthpiece portion 902. The sensor device 50 may therefore be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 902 so that, when the aerosol-generating article 20 is inserted into the recess 902, the aerosol-generating article 20 is also at least partly moved relative to the sensor device 50. The sensor device 50 may therefore be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during this insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20 into the recess 902.

[0147] Alternatively, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the device body 800, and the information may be read when the aerosol-generating article 20, which may be inserted and clamped in the recess 902, is moved into the heating chamber 30 by sliding the mouthpiece portion 900 into the closed or use position.

[0148] In the embodiment shown in Figures 18, 19 and 20, an elastic element, for example a spring 90, may be placed upstream or distal of and connected to the main heating module 34 comprising the heating chamber 30. At the other end, the spring 90 may be held with a spring holding device 92 that does not move relative to the body of the aerosol-generating device 1. Also, the main heating module 34 and for example a convective heating assembly 70 may be movably and / or slidably arranged inside the device body 800 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The spring 90 may spring load or bias all the heaters, meaning both the heating module 34 comprising the heating elements 6, 7 as well as the convective heater assembly 70 comprising the resistive heating element 71 during the closure of the device 1. During the closing of the aerosol-generating device 1, for example by sliding the mouthpiece 901 or the mouthpiece portion 900 towards the device body 800 of the aerosol-generating device 1, the heater module 34 as well as the convective heating assembly 70 may be moved backwards towards the spring holding device 92 which may compress the spring 90 (see the two views shown in Figure 19). The heating chamber 30 may be at least partially pushed out of the body of the aerosol-generating device 1, and upon insertion of an article 20 and the arrangement of the mouthpiece 901 in the operating or use position, the heating chamber 30 is fully pushed back into the device body 800 again. The spring 90 may push on a center end wall 89 of the heating chamber and / or heating module 34. The center end wall 89 may be fixed to the rest of the heating module 34 and / or heating chamber 30, meaning that the whole heating module 34 and / or heating chamber 30 along with the heating elements 6, 7 may be moved by the movement or displacement of the center end wall 89 by the spring 90. When the device 1 is closed or in the closed or use position, the spring 90 may therefore compensate any potential mechanical tolerances of the system, for example in terms of dimensional variations of the aerosol-generating article 20, along the longitudinal axis of extension of the aerosol-generating device 1. In this embodiment, the sensor device 50 it may be arranged on the device body 800, particularly on a part of the device body 800 which the heating module 34 moves relative to when the spring 90 is compressed. When the mouthpiece portion 900 is being closed, the aerosol-generating article 20 is already arranged inside the heating module 34, particularly inside the heating chamber 30. Therefore, the movement of the heating module 34 during compression of the spring 90 may lead to a relative motion between aerosol-generating article 20 and sensor device 50 as can be seen in Figure 19. The aerosol-generating article 20 may be pushed into the heating module 34 and may be moved relative to the sensor device 50. The sensor device 50 may therefore be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during this motion due to the compression of spring 90.

[0149] Another embodiment is shown in Figure 21. As shown, the heater module 34 and particularly the heating chamber 30 may be fixedly arranged relative to the device body 800, and only a backplate or movable back part or distal end portion 93 of the heating chamber 30 with the air inlet 24 may be movable and spring-biased relative to the body, to urge the inlet port 24 with the sealing member 82 (see below) against the aerosol-generating article 20, when it is inserted. In this case, the distal end portion 93 of the heating chamber 30 or heating module 34 moves in relation to the heating elements 6, 7, for example. The distal end portion 93 of the heating chamber 30 may push against the aerosol-generating article 20 arranged inside the heating chamber 30, so that, when the distal end portion 93 moves, i.e. is compressed due to the closing of the mouthpiece portion 900, the aerosol-generating article 20 also moves in relation to the device body 800 and the fixed sidewalls of the heating chamber 30. In this embodiment, therefore, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the device body 800 or one of the fixed sidewalls of the heating chamber 30, resulting in a movement of the aerosol-generating article 20 in relation to the sensor device 50 when the spring 90 is compressed. The sensor device 50 may therefore be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the indicium 301 during this movement.

[0150] An additional or alternative spring mechanism may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900 as shown in Figures 22, 23 and 24. As before, a spring 90 or spring mechanism may have the function of compensating all potential mechanical tolerances of the system, specifically in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1, when the aerosol-generating device 1 is closed. This may be parallel to the airflow direction in the airflow path 40, as shown in Figure 23. In this case, however, the spring 90 or spring mechanism may be placed in the mouthpiece portion 900 and not within the device body 800, specifically behind the heating chamber 30 as in the previous embodiment. Instead, spring 90 may be placed downstream of the heating chamber 30.

[0151] A sealing component comprising a fluidic interconnection element 81 may be provided, which may be configured to penetrate the aerosol-generating article 20 when the device 1 is in the closed or use configuration. The fluidic interconnection element 81 may be made of a hard polymeric material, for example PEEK, PAEK, PEI and / or metal, which may be a harder material compared to the elastomeric spring 90. This may ensure a proper penetration of the fluidic interconnection element 81 into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 around the aerosol outlet 25 and a proper sealing action.

[0152] The mouthpiece portion 900 may comprise a mouthpiece 901 and a spring 90 or spring component, which may be made of an elastomeric material which may provide the elasticity and the spring loading or biasing required to absorb potential mechanical tolerances. The spring 90 may be placed downstream of the heating chamber 30 in the mouthpiece 901. It may, for example, be arranged downstream of and / or on the fluidic interconnection element 81, for example, the spring 90 may be placed between the mouthpiece 901 and the fluidic interconnection element 81 so that the mouthpiece 901 and the fluidic interconnection element 81 are exclusively connected and / or distanced from each other through the spring 90. See also Figures 30 and 31. By compression of the spring 90, therefore, the fluidic interconnection element 81 may move relative to the mouthpiece 901, thereby compensating tolerances. The spring 90 may have an annular shape and may be arranged around the whole circumference of the airflow path and / or the fluidic interconnection element 81. The spring 90 may bias or spring load the fluidic interconnection element 81 in the direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the heating chamber 30.

[0153] In Figure 24 a schematization of this embodiment is shown, wherein the elastomeric spring 90 is replaced by a generic spring means, which may for example be a memory shape metal or alloy or a laminated spring, a leaf spring, a gas spring, a disc spring or a coil spring. However, any suitable type of spring 90 may be used.

[0154] In this embodiment, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900, along with the spring 90. Therefore, when the spring 90 is compressed by the movement of the mouthpiece portion 900 against the aerosol-generating article 20 into the closed or use position, the aerosol-generating article 20 moves relative to the mouthpiece portion 900 and therefore the sensor device 50. The sensor device 50 may therefore be configured to read the authentication information and / or the identification information during this movement of the aerosol-generating article 20 relative to the mouthpiece portion 900 due to the compression of spring 90.

[0155] The embodiments comprising the spring 90 at the heating chamber 30 and at the mouthpiece portion 900 may be used in isolation or in combination with each other, to have a spring biasing from both sides along the longitudinal axis of extension of the aerosol-generating device 1. In other words, the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise the spring 90 at the heating chamber 30 only or may comprise the spring 90 at the mouthpiece portion 900 only or may comprise both the spring 90 at the heating chamber 30 and another spring 90 at the mouthpiece portion 900. Any of these springs may induce a motion which leads to a relative movement of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device.

[0156] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 25, the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise at least one or both of a first or top or downstream fluidic interconnection element 81 at the consumable air outlet 25 (see Figures 27 and 28) and a second or bottom or upstream fluidic interconnection element 82 at the consumable air inlet 24 (see Figure 26). The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may also be called sealing elements. They are configured to establish a connection between the airflow path inside the aerosol-generating article 20 and the airflow path outside the aerosol-generating article 20, i.e. through the rest of the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0157] An overview of both fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 and their arrangement is shown in Figure 25. Each fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 may comprise a blade structure 84 providing for a flow path. Specifically, the airflow path may lead through a hollow interior of the fluidic interconnection element 81, 82.

[0158] It is noted here that the terms "bottom" and "top" may refer to the device 1 being arranged vertically with the mouthpiece 900 arranged pointing upwards, for example such that the longitudinal axis of the device 1 is parallel to a vertical direction. In other words, bottom may be used interchangeably with distal, and top may be used interchangeably with proximal.

[0159] The clearance provided by the airflow path through the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be larger than the clearance provided by the airflow path through the aerosol-generating article 20, particularly the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 of the aerosol-generating article 20. In other words, the cross-section or inner diameter of the airflow path in the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be larger than the cross-section or inner diameter of the airflow path in the aerosol-generating article 20, particularly the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 of the aerosol-generating article 20. The length of the airflow path or flow path through the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be defined by the length of the inner wall or surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 lining the flow path. For example, the inner wall of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may have a length of between 2 mm and 15 mm, for example between 3 mm and 10 mm. Additionally, the fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 may comprise a circumferential blade edge 83 on a first end of the fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 in the direction of the aerosol-generating article 20. The blade edge 83 may therefore also be called first end edge 83. The first end may be directed towards the aerosol-generating article 20, particularly towards the substrate chamber or cavity 22 in the aerosol-generating article 20. The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may also be described as having a protruding tooth shape. Also, the first end edge 83 may be fully arranged in one plane that is perpendicular to the insertion direction, and have no serrated or dented structures, to provide for a sealing lip.

[0160] Figure 25 also shows the heating chamber airflow length 37, which may describe the clearance between the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 in a closed or use position of the aerosol-generating device. The heating chamber airflow length 37 may be measured with or without an aerosol-generating article 20 inserted into the heating chamber 30. The heating chamber airflow length 37 may be between 19.2 mm to 39.2 mm. The heating chamber airflow length 37 may therefore be larger then the length of the heating chamber 30 itself. The heating chamber 30 may comprise and house the volume of space in which the heater device comprising the heating elements 6, 7 is arranged. This interior space of the heating chamber 30 may also be called the heating volume. As can be seen in Figure 25, the two heating elements 6 and 7 are bent so as to contact the aerosol-generating article 20 between them and heat the article 20 by heat conduction from the heating elements 6, 7 to the article 20. The area in which the heating elements 6, 7 directly contact the article 20 and therefore where the most heating is achieved may also be called the heating zone.

[0161] The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be configured to penetrate, cut, or press into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20. For example, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be configured to penetrate, cut, or press into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 for a depth of from 0.05 mm to 1 mm, for example from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be configured to penetrate the frame 21 around the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 of the aerosol-generating article 20. In particular, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may penetrate the frame 21 around the complete perimeter of the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25, for example when the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged in the heating chamber 30 and the mouthpiece 901 is in the closed position. The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be configured so that the penetration into the frame 21 of the article 20 is distanced in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 20 from the air inlet 24 and the air outlet 25 of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the main or large surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20 by at least 0.1 mm to 1 mm, for example by 0.25 mm to 0.7 mm or by 0.3 mm to 0.6 mm, for example by 0.4 mm.

[0162] As already mentioned, the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be made from or comprise a cellulose fiber material. The material of the frame 21 may be or may be configured to be compressible. Thus, when the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 penetrate, cut, or press into the frame 21, the material of the frame 21 may be displaced and compressed, which may lead to an improved airtightness of the sealing. As the aerosol-generating article 20 is removable and is usually only used for one usage session, the deformation caused by the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 does not necessarily have to be reversible, and at least some deformation can remain after use.

[0163] In this embodiment, at least one or both of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be pressed into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 by a force exerted by the mouthpiece portion 900 when the mouthpiece portion 900 is fully closed, i.e. moved into the use position. During the pressing of the fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 into the aerosol-generating article 20, the aerosol-generating article 20 moves in relation to the respective fluidic interconnection element 81, 82. Therefore, the aerosol-generating article 20 also moves relative to the component of the aerosol-generating device 1 on which the respective fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 is arranged or mounted. For example, the sensor device 50 may therefore be arranged on the device body 800, so that the aerosol-generating article 20 moves relative to the sensor device 50 when the upstream fluidic interconnection element 82 presses into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 around the air inlet 24. Alternatively, the sensor device 50 may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900, so that the aerosol-generating article 20 moves relative to the sensor device 50 when the downstream fluidic interconnection element 81 presses into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 around the air outlet 25. The sensor device 50 may be configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during this movement due to the pressing of the fluidic interconnection element 81, 82 into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20.

[0164] A detailed view of the first fluidic interconnection element 81 is shown in Figures 29, 30 and 24. A detailed view of the second fluidic interconnection element 82 is shown in Figures 32 and 33. The structure and shape of the first end edge 83 or blade edge 83 and the blade wall 84 or blade structure 84 may be similar in both fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 and the respective description may therefore be applicable to both fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82. The first end edge 83 of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may completely surround the airflow path. The first end edge 83 may define an opening of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 through which the airflow path is arranged. The opening may have an oblong shape, for example in cross-section, for example perpendicular to the air flow direction. In an example, the oblong cross-section of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may have a length of between 12 mm and 4 mm. The oblong cross-section of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may have a height perpendicular to the length and between 0.8 mm and 3 mm, for example between 1 mm and 2 mm. The blade wall 84, which may also be called the blade structure, comprising the first end edge 83, may protrude from the back plate 88 in the direction of the air flow by between 0.5 mm and 10 mm, for example by between 0.8 mm and 5 mm. The blade structure 84 may be fixed to or be formed as a single piece with the back plate 88, which may extend perpendicular to the air flow direction. It may be thicker at the base, opposite the first end edge 83, and may taper in the direction of the first end edge 83, thereby forming a first end edge 83 sharp enough to penetrate the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20, displace the aerosol-generating article 20 and lead to a relative movement of the article 20 and the sensor device 50. The blade structure 84 may be tapered on both the inside and the outside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, i.e. both the inside surface contacting the air in the airflow path or channel and the surface directed away from the airflow path or channel. This is shown in Figure 29. Alternatively, the blade structure 84 may be tapered only or exclusively on the outside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, i.e. the surface directed away from the airflow path or channel. The inside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, i.e. the surface contacting the air in the airflow path or channel, may be smooth, flat and / or unobstructed. For example, the inside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or parallel to the direction of the airflow in the airflow path or channel. This is shown in Figures 30 to 33. This embodiment has two main advantages: By only tapering the outside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 and leaving the inside surfaces completely flat and smooth, the airflow in the airflow path or channel may not be influenced in any way. A tapered inside surface may, otherwise, act as a flow restriction, possibly negatively affecting the airflow. Additionally, by leaving the inside surface of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 straight and only tapering the outside surface, when the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 are inserted into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 by penetration, the material of the frame 21 may be only or substantially only displaced by the tapered outside surface, displacing the material in a direction away from the airflow path or channel. In this way, no displaced material of the frame 21 is displaced or otherwise pressured into the airflow path or channel, which would again possibly affect the airflow negatively and impact aerosol formation. This is avoided by the specific shape of the hollow blade structure as explained herein. Moreover, this specific shape of the hollow blade structure may also advantageously displace the aerosol-generating article 20 relative to the sensor device 50, enabling a dynamic reading of the first information value as explained herein.

[0165] The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be configured such that their first end edge 83 or blade edge 83 lies in a plane which is or is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device 1 and / or the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the airflow path direction in the aerosol-generating article 20. In other words, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, specifically their respective first end edge, may not comprise or may be free of any serration or denting. In addition, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, specifically their respective first end edges, may be unbeveled. The first end edge may not form a hollow needle-like slanted end edge. This may be a major difference between the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 according to the present disclosure, which may be configured to seal the airpath, and for example needles or needle-like elements used to pierce or puncture cartridges or capsules or membranes with aerosol-generating substrates, for example liquids. Needles used for this purpose are typically beveled and therefore do not lead to airtight sealing with only very small puncturing depths as used with the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 of the present disclosure.

[0166] The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may be made from food-grade hard plastic material that is temperature-resistant to above 250°C, for example polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or another polyaryletherketone (PAEK), or also Polyethylenimine (PEI). The preferred material is PEEK. Alternatively, the fluidic interconnection element 81 and / or element 82 may be made from metal material, for example stainless steel. However, the upstream fluidic interconnection element 82, for example the main body thereof, may preferably not be made of metal, as this material has high-thermal conductivity and would easily store thermal energy, thereby potentially impacting the puff-based operation of the convective heater assembly 70. It may also be provided that only the walls of the blade structure 84 may be made from plastic material, for example PEEK or PEEK 450 G, while only the first end edge 83 may be made from a metal material, for example stainless steel, for example by insertion molding with the PEEK. This may allow for even sharper edges than purely plastic fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82, and can reduce the mechanical wear of the first end edge 83. The thickness of the blade edge 83, particularly a flat first end surface, may be between 0.01 mm and 0.3 mm, for example between 0.03 mm and 0.15 mm or between 0.08 mm and 0.1 mm. The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may comprise a surface coating. The fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may have a hardness value of at least 70, for example at least 80 or at least 100, for example of 105, on the Rockwell scale.

[0167] The top fluidic interconnection element 81 may be configured to form at least a part of a nucleation chamber 87, as shown in Figures 29, 30 and 31. In other words, the top fluidic interconnection element 81 may house at least a part of the nucleation chamber 87. Also, one or more air inlets 85 connecting the nucleation chamber 87 with air from the outside environment, particularly with air from outside the airflow path, may be arranged in the top fluidic interconnection element 81, for example in a sidewall of the top fluidic interconnection element 81. There may be one, two, three, or four air inlets 85 provided for the nucleation chamber 87. The air inlets 85 may be arranged in pairs opposite of each other, for example one pair or two or more opposing pairs. For example, in the case that four (4) air inlets 85 may be used, as illustrated in the drawing, they may be arranged in two opposite pairs, wherein the two pairs may be arranged perpendicular to each other. Air from the outside may therefore stream into the nucleation chamber 87 from up to four different sides, increasing aerosol quality. In these configurations, the nucleation chamber 87 may be very close downstream of the aerosol-generating article 20, providing a compact device and further increasing aerosol quality. The air inlets 85 may be arranged closer to the first end edge 83 than to an opposite end of the fluidic interconnection element 81.

[0168] For example, an inner wall or wall of the blade structure 84, for example measured along the longitudinal direction from the blade edge or first end edge 83, which inner wall can form the flow path through the fluidic interconnection element 81, may have a length of between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 10 mm. Accordingly, a length of the blade structure 84, the fluidic interconnection element 81 and / or the nucleation chamber 87, for example measured along or parallel to the longitudinal axis, may be between 1 mm and 20 mm, for example between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 10 mm. The same may apply to the other fluidic interconnection element 82.

[0169] A distance of the first end edge 83 of the fluidic interconnection element 81 to one of the air inlets 85, for example measured along or parallel to the longitudinal axis, may be less than 13 mm, for example less than 10 mm, preferably less than 5 mm, more preferably less than 3 mm, even more preferably less than 2 mm. The distance of the first end edge 83 of the fluidic interconnection element 81 to one of the air inlets 85 may be between about 0.5 mm to about 13 mm, for example between about 0.7 mm to about 10 mm, preferably between about 1 mm to about 5 mm, even more preferably between about 1.5 mm to about 3.5 mm, for example about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.

[0170] The top fluidic interconnection element 81 is also shown in Figures 27 and 28. It may be arranged on the mouthpiece portion 900 and may engage, i.e. penetrate the frame 21 of, the aerosol-generating article 20 once the mouthpiece portion 900 is completely connected to the device body 800, i.e. is in the closed position. Although Figures 27 and 28 show a mouthpiece portion 900 with a hinged solution to allow the closure of the aerosol-generating device 1, alternative solutions are also possible, for example a sliding solution, or a hinged-sliding solution. The aerosol-generating article 20 may protrude from the device body 800, particularly from the heating chamber 30, by 1 mm to 10 mm, for example by 2 mm to 8 mm or by 3 mm to 7 mm or by 4 mm to 6 mm, for example by 5 mm, to facilitate the sealing by the top fluidic interconnection element 81 and so that the consumable may be easily grasped by a user for removal after use, for example by use of their index finger and thumb. Additionally, the three (3) views in Figure 28 show example distance values. For example, during a rotational or flipping motion of the mouthpiece portion 900 from an open position to a closed or use position, there may be provided minimum distance or clearance of 0.05 mm, for example of 0.1 mm or of 0.2 mm or of 0.3 mm, between the top fluidic interconnection element 81, particularly the first end edge 83 of the top fluidic interconnection element 81, and the aerosol-generating article 20. These values may mean that during all of the motion of the mouthpiece portion 900, the clearance is never smaller than these values. The view on the right of the Figure shows an exemplary penetration depth of the fluidic interconnection element 81 into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 of 0.4 mm. As mentioned, other penetration depths are possible. As shown in the middle and the right view of the Figure, the fluidic interconnection element 81 and the aerosol-generating article 20 may be configured and / or arranged so that during penetration of the frame 21 by the fluidic interconnection element 81, the first end edge 83 of the fluidic interconnection element 81 may be distanced from the outer surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 by at least 0.1 mm, for example by at least 0.2 mm or by at least 0.3 mm or by at least 0.4 mm or by at least 0.5 mm or by at least 0.6 mm or by at least 0.7 mm or by at least 0.8 mm, for example by 0.63 mm. This may be measured in the direction of the thickness T and / or the width W of the aerosol-generating article 20. These dimensions and arrangements may ensure that the penetration of the material of the frame 21 and its partial displacement and compaction by the fluidic interconnection element 81 leads to an airtight seal of the airflow path. While these features have been explained taking the top fluidic interconnection element 81 as an example, they may also be applied to the bottom fluidic interconnection element 82 and its penetration into the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 and its movement of the aerosol-generating article 20 relative to the sensor device 50.

[0171] The bottom fluidic interconnection element 82, as shown in Figures 32 and 33, may be configured to form at least a part of a convective heating chamber 73. In other words, the bottom fluidic interconnection element 82 may house at least a part of a resistive heating element 71 of a convective air heater, i.e. a convective heater assembly 70 for preheating the air before the air enters the heating chamber 30 and the arosol-generating article 20. This can be seen in Figure 34, in which a helix-shaped resistive heating element 71 is used. The air may arrive from the outside environment and enter convective heating chamber 73 at least partly housed in the fluidic interconnection element 82. The air may enter the convective heating chamber 73 with its convective heater casing 72 from two sides, for example opposing sides. As the bottom fluidic interconnection element 82 may directly contact and penetrate into the aerosol-generating article 20 around the air inlet 24, there may be only a minimal distance between the end of the resistive heating element 71 and the air inlet 24, or the resistive heating element 71 may even protrude into the air inlet 24, ensuring that the air preheated in the resistive heating element 71 does not cool off substantially before entering the aerosol-generating article 20.

[0172] An alternative embodiment to the penetration of the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 into the material of the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 is shown in Figure 35. While the Figure only shows the upstream fluidic interconnection element 82, which may also be referred to herein as bottom fluidic interconnection element 82, and the connection to the air inlet 24, the features shown are also applicable to the downstream fluidic interconnection element 81, which may also be referred to herein as top fluidic interconnection element 81, and the connection to the air outlet 25. In the previous embodiment, the front or rear surface 212 of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be connected to the inner surface 213 by an edge or a corner, for example a corner of or substantially of a right angle. The front or rear surface 212 of the aerosol-generating article 20 may pertain to the surface that in the previous embodiment, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 penetrated into. It may be arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article 20. The inner surface 213 may pertain to the surface lining the airflow path in the air inlet channel 26 and / or the air outlet channel 27 of the aerosol-generating article 20. As shown in Figure 35 in comparison to Figure 34, the frame 21 of the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise a tapered edge around the air inlet 24 and / or the air outlet 25. In other words, the front or rear surface 212 of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be connected to the inner surface 213 by a tapered edge or corner. Therefore, there may be provided a cone or funnel-like recess in the aerosol-generating article 20 around the air inlet 24 and / or the air outlet 25. In this embodiment, the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 may not be configured to penetrate into the frame 21, but may be configured to be pressed into the tapered surface of the cone or funnel-like recess in the aerosol-generating article 20. The pressure for this may be provided by any of the spring 90 mechanisms described herein and / or the movement of the mouthpiece portion 900. With the fluidic interconnection elements 81, 82 pressed into the air inlet 24 and / or the air outlet 25 in this way, a seal between the different portions of the airflow path as well as a relative movement of aerosol-generating article 20 and sensor device 50 may be achieved.

[0173] Figure 36 shows, in a top view, an aerosol generating device 1. The position of the reader module 300, comprising the sensor device 50, in or on the device body 800 in relation to the mouthpiece portion 900 and the heating chamber 30 are exemplified. As shown, the reader module 300 as well as the sensor device 50 may be arranged outside of the heating chamber 30 in order to protect the sensor device 50 from the heat in the heating chamber 30. Therefore, the reader module 300 may be arranged in a distance D from the heating chamber 30. For example, the at least one sensor device 50 may be distanced from the heating chamber 30 and / or the heating volume 32 (see Figure 7) and / or the heating zone by the distance D. The distance D between the reader module 300 and the heating chamber 30 may be at least 3 mm, for example at least 4 mm or at least 5 mm or at least 6 mm, for example 4.4 mm or 5 mm, for example along or measured parallel to the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0174] Figure 37 shows a top view of the aerosol-generating article 20. The article 20 may comprise the substrate 23 as well as the indicium 301. The region of the aerosol-generating article 20 in which the substrate 23 is arranged may lie completely inside of the heating chamber 30 or inside of the heating volume 32 and / or the heating zone of the aerosol-generating device 1, when the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged inside of the device 1. The air inlet 24 of the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged distal in the device body 800, while the air outlet 25 of the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged in or near or next to the proximal end of the device body 800 in or or next to or near the mouthpiece portion 900, when the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged inside the aerosol-generating device 1. Moreover, Figure 37 also shows the sensing area 302 of the reader module 300 or the sensor device 50, which is distanced from the heating chamber 30 and / or the heating volume 32 by the same distance D as the reader module 300.

[0175] The indicium 301 may comprise identification information and / or authentication information which may be observed or read by the reader module 300 or sensor device 50. The authentication information and / or identification information may be provided on the aerosol-generating article 20 at a distance from the aerosol-generating substrate 23 which may be similar to or smaller than the distance D. This may ensure that the information of the indicium 301 may be read either during the insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30, or when or after the aerosol-generating article 20 has been fully inserted into the heating chamber 30, either stationary or during another relative motion as explained herein. The information may be provided on a part of the aerosol-generating article 20 which, when the article is fully inserted into the heating chamber 30, protrudes from the heating chamber 30 and / or the heating volume 32.

[0176] As shown in Figure 37, the indicium 301 may be bigger than the sensing area 302. It may extend in the longitudinal direction and / or insertion direction between a first or proximal edge 41 and a second or distal edge 42. It may span across the entire width of the aerosol-forming article 20. The indicium 301 may be distanced from the substrate 23 by a smaller distance than the distance D. Therefore, it may be necessary to use a relative motion between the aerosol-generating article 20, comprising the indicium 301, and the sensor device 50 in order for the sensor device 50 to serially observe or read all of the information provided in the indicium 301. During this motion or movement, the magnitude or distance covered by the aerosol-generating article 20 and the sensor device 50 with respect to each other may be at least large enough so that the aerosol-generating article 20 moves from a position in which a first information value is provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50 into a position in which a second information value is provided in the sensing area 302 of the sensor device 50. In this way, two or more information values may be read from the indicium 301 by the sensor device 50 one after the other.

[0177] Figure 38 shows a detail view of an aerosol-generating device 1 and in particular the sensing module 300 and sensor device 50. The reader module 300 may comprise the stiffener 31, the fPCB 47 and the sensor device 50. The fPCB 47 may be located between the stiffener 31 and the sensor device 50. The reader module 300 may further comprise a window 57, for example to further protect the sensor device 50 from heat and any residues from the aerosolization of the aerosol-generating article 20 in the heating chamber 30. The sensor device 50 may be located between the fPCB 47 and the window 57. The window 57 may have a substantially planar surface and may protrude into the volume of space provided for the aerosol-generating article 20, so that the article 20, when inserted into the heating chamber 30, may come into contact with or wipe along the window 57 to clean off any residues on the window 57. A part of the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be visible for the sensor device 50 through the window 57. In other words, the window 57 may be arranged between the sensing area 302 and the sensor device 50. In summary, therefore, from the interior of the heating chamber 30, the window 57, the sensor device 50, the fPCB 47 and the stiffener 31 are arranged, in this order.

[0178] As shown in Figure 38, the sensor device 50 may be arranged such that the sensing area 302 lies plane on one of the plane main surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20. Therefore, the surface from which the information needs to be read is plane because of the cuboid form factor of the aerosol-generating article 20. This increases the reliability and the simplicity of reading the indicium 301 and the information it contains.

[0179] Figure 39 shows a detailed perspective view of part of the sensor module 300 and / or the sensor device 50 with most other components of the aerosol-generating device 1 removed except the fPCB 47. The sensor device 50 may comprise an identification information sensor module 51 and an authentication information sensor module 52. Both information sensor modules 51, 52 may be arranged on a common backplate for mounting. The sensing direction of both information sensor modules 51, 52 may be the same, i.e. parallel to each other. For example, the sensing direction of both information sensor modules 51, 52 may be the normal direction of the common backplate and may also be parallel to a transverse direction of the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1. The identification information sensor module 51 may be configured to read identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20, for example from the indicium 301. In turn, the authentication information sensor module 52 may be configured to read authentication information from the aerosol-generating article 20, for example from the indicium 301. Both the identification information sensor module 51 and the authentication information sensor module 52 may each comprise light emitters and light detectors all sensors configured to emit and / or detect light of the specific wavelengths used for the respective information.

[0180] For example, the identification information sensor module 51 may comprise at least one or, for example, two, LEDs 53. The at least one LED 53, for example all of the LEDs 53, of the identification information sensor module 51 may be configured to emit visible light, i.e. light visible for the human eye. Accordingly, the identification information sensor module 51 may comprise a photosensitive sensor, for example an ambient light sensor 54 (ALS), which may be configured to detect visible light, particularly light of a wavelength as reflected by the parts of the indicium 301 providing identification information. For example, it may be provided that the ALS 54 is arranged between the two LEDs 53. The authentication information sensor module 52 may comprise at least one LED 58. The at least one LED 58 of the authentication information sensor module 52 may be configured to emit invisible light, i.e. light invisible for the human eye. Accordingly, the authentication information sensor module 52 may comprise a photosensitive sensor 59, which may be configured to detect invisible light, particularly light of a wavelength as reflected by the parts of the indicium 301 providing authentication information.

[0181] As shown in Figure 39, the identification information sensor module 51 and the authentication information sensor module 52 are arranged side-by-side and / or next to each other on a common backplate so that their sensing direction is the same or parallel to each other. This cost-effective and simple arrangement and / or configuration is made possible by the cuboid form-factor of the aerosol-generating article 20. As the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 is plane, the reliability of reading information from said surface may be the same for both information sensor modules 51, 52. Were the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 rounded, for example, as in conventional tobacco sticks, a side-by-side arrangement of the information sensing modules 51, 52 would be impossible because the angle of the respective information sensing module 51, 52 with regard to the viewable surface of the tobacco stick would be different for each of the modules 51, 52, therefore detrimentally influencing the measurements.

[0182] Figures 40a and 40b show detailed views of the arrangement of the sensor device 50 inside the aerosol-generating device 1. As can be seen, the identification information sensor module 51 and the authentication information sensor module 52 may be arranged side-by-side transversely to the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1. In Figure 40a an example embodiment is shown in which, in the authentication information sensor module 52, the photosensitive sensor 59 and the LED 58 may be arranged side-by-side transversely to the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1. However, as shown in Figure 40b, the photosensitive sensor 59 and the LED 58 may alternatively be arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1. Although the LEDs 53 and the ALS 54 of the identification information sensor module 51 are shown to be arranged side-by-side transversely to the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1, they may alternatively also be arranged side-by-side in the longitudinal direction and / or the insertion direction of the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0183] Figure 41 shows three schematic views of the aerosol-generating article 20. The view on the bottom of Figure 41 shows a top view of the main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20. The middle view shows the aerosol-generating article 20 in the same perspective inserted into the heating chamber 30. The top view also shows the aerosol-generating article 20 inserted into the heating chamber 30, but the article 20 and the device 1 have been rotated by 90° in this view.

[0184] The aerosol-generating article 20 as shown in Figure 41 may have a length L and a width W. The length L of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be 30 mm. The width of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be 11 mm. Moreover the aerosol-generating article 20 may have a thickness T of for example of 3.1 mm. The aerosol-generating article 20 may be of a cuboid or parallelepiped-shape.

[0185] As already mentioned, the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise information in an indicium 301. The indicium 301 may be arranged as a band 62 across the surface of the aerosol-generating article 20. The band 62 may be arranged over one or both main surfaces and optionally also over two lateral side surfaces of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example transverse to a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article 20. The band 62 may be as long as the sum of the widths of each surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 crossed. In other words, if the band 62 is exemplarily arranged across one main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20, the length of the band 62 may be the width of the main side or surface of the aerosol-generating article 20, for example 11 mm. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 7, the band 62 may be shorter than the width of the main surface of the aerosol-generating article 20 and may therefore be distanced from the edges of the surface.

[0186] Furthermore, the band 62 may be located on or at or near an end of the aerosol-generating article 20, which may protrude from the heating chamber 30 of the aerosol-generating device 1 when the aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged inside the heating chamber 30. In other words, one part of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be covered by the heating chamber 30. This part of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be as long as the length L3 of the heating chamber 30 and / or this part may correspond to the insertion depth of the aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30. The length L3 and therefore also the insertion depth may be, for example, between 15 mm and 25 mm. As can be seen exemplarily in the bottom part of Figure 41, more than half of the length L of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be encompassed by the length L3 of the heating chamber 30. The band 62 may be arranged outside of the heating chamber 30. Consequently, the band 62 may be arranged excentric or offset from the middle of the aerosol-generating article 20 as shown in Figure 41. For example, the band 62 may be arranged up to one third of the length L from one of the small side surfaces or ends of the aerosol-generating article 20 distanced from each other in longitudinal direction. For instance, the band 62 may be arranged distanced from one of the small side surfaces or ends of the aerosol-generating article 20 distanced from each other in longitudinal direction by 5 mm to 10 mm.

[0187] Moreover, there may be a distance D between the band 62 and the part of the aerosol-generating article 20 which is encompassed by or configured to be encompassed by or inserted into the heating chamber 30. As mentioned, the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise a substrate 23. The substrate 23 may be arranged completely inside of the heating chamber 30 and / or the heating zone. As a result, the band 62 may be distanced from the substrate 23, for example in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating article 20, by the distance D. The distance D between the band 62 and the heating chamber 30 may be 5 mm.

[0188] Furthermore, the band may comprise two edges, which may be the limiting ends of the band 62 distanced from one another in the longitudinal direction of aerosol-generating article 20. The first edge or proximal edge 41 may be the edge which is nearer to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 and the second edge or distal edge 42 may be the one which is nearer to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20. The upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise the air inlet 24, while the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise the air outlet 25. The distance from the first edge 41 to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be for example 5.5 mm, while the distance from the first edge 41 to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be for example 25 mm. Likewise, the distance from the second edge 42 to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be for example 11.5 mm, while the distance from the second edge 42 to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be for example 19 mm.

[0189] The indicium 301 may be or may comprise the band 62. The band 62 may comprise and / or provide authentication information and / or identification information such that the information may be observable and / or readable by a sensor module 300, for example the sensor device 50, of the aerosol-generating device 1. The band 62 on the aerosol-generating article 20 may comprise two or more areas for different information values. For example, the band 62 may comprise an area for authentication information and a different area for identification information. Authentication information may be provided in or as a taggant band 63, while identification information may be provided in or as a colored identifier band 64.

[0190] The taggant band 63 and the colored identifier band 64 may provide their respective information differently from each other. For example, the authentication information may be provided by the taggant band 63 by the taggant band 63 comprising an ink, for example an invisible security ink, which may reflect invisible light at one or more specific, predefined wavelengths, particularly when irradiated with light from the LED 58 of the authentication information sensor module 52. This may mean that the taggant band 63 may be invisible by the human eye and therefore indiscernible from the surrounding surface of the aerosol-generating article 20. The one or more specific wavelengths reflected by the taggant band 63, specifically the ink used in the taggant band 63, may then be detected and / or read by the photosensitive sensor 59 of the authentication information sensor module 52 and may thus provide the authentication information to the controller 5 and / or processor 17 of the aerosol-generating device 1. In turn, the identification information may be provided by the colored identifier band 64 by the colored identifier band 64 comprising a color, for example an ink, which may reflect visible light at one or more specific, predefined wavelengths, particularly when irradiated with light from one or more of the LEDs 53 of the identification information sensor module 51. In other words, the colored identifier band 64 may be or may comprise one or more colored stripes, the color or colors of which may be visible by the human eye. The one or more specific wavelengths reflected by the colored identifier band 64, may then be detected and / or read by the ALS 54 of the identification information sensor module 51 and may thus provide the identification information to the controller 5 and / or processor 17 of the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0191] The band 62 may comprise the taggant band 63 and the colored identifier band 64. As in Figure 41, the taggant band 63 may be arranged right next to the colored identifier band 64. This means that the colored identifier band 64 may be arranged right after the taggant band 63 in the longitudinal direction starting from the proximal end of the aerosol-generating article 20. The taggant band 63 may be nearer to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 than the colored identifier band 64. Likewise, the colored identifier band 64 may be nearer to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 than the taggant band 63.

[0192] Similarly to the band 62, the taggant band 63 may comprise two edges, wherein the first edge may equal the first edge 41 of the band 62 as shown in Figure 41. The second edge of the taggant band 63 may delimit the taggant band 63 from the colored identifier band 64. The distance from the second edge of the taggant band 63 to the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be, for example, 9 mm, while the distance from the second edge of the taggant band 63 to the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be, for example, 21 mm. Consequently, the width of the taggant band 63 may be at least 3.5 mm.

[0193] Similarly to the band 62 and the taggant band 63, the colored identifier band 64 may comprise two edges, wherein the first edge of the colored identifier band 64 may equal the second edge of the taggant band 64 and the second edge of the colored identifier band 64 may equal the second edge of the band 62 as shown in Figure 41. Consequently, the width of the taggant band 63 may be at least 2.5 mm.

[0194] Furthermore, the colored identifier band 64 may comprise and / or provide identification information in one or more colored identifier stripes 65, 66 as shown in Figure 41. In other words, the colored identifier band 64 may comprise one, two or more colored identifier stripes 65, 66, with two colored identifier stripes 65, 66 shown as an example. Each colored identifier stripe 65, 66 may comprise or provide a different information value, for example by each colored identifier stripe 65, 66 being of a different color. As shown in Figure 41, there may be a distance between the colored identifier stripes 65 and 66 in the colored identifier band 64, the distance for example being and / or provided as a stripe of uncolored surface of the . The identification information provided in or by the colored identifier band 64 may be, for example, provided for reading in the order of the colored identifier stripes 65 and 66, i.e. the information values of the colored identifier stripes 65 and 66 may be configured to be read one after the other, or serially, by the sensor device 50. The colored identifier stripes 65, 66 may be of the same or of different widths. The difference in width of the stripes 65, 66, their distance to each other in the colored identifier band 64 as well as the colors of the colored identifier stripes 65, 66 may be used to encode identification information.

[0195] The middle view of Figure 41 shows the aerosol-generating article 20 overlaid with parts of the aerosol-generating device 1 and the heating module 34. Finally, the top view of Figure 41 shows the aerosol-generating article 20 inserted into the heating module 34 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The sensor device 50 may be arranged between a stiffener 31 and a window 57. The sensor device 50 may be distanced from the aerosol-generating article 20 by the thickness T57 of the window 57. For example, the thickness T57 of the window 57 as shown in Figure 41 may be 0.6 mm. The window 57 may further protect the sensor device 50 from heat and / or aerosol residue coming from the aerosol-generating article 20 and / or the heating chamber 30.

[0196] It may be advantageous when the aerosol-generating device 1 starts functions of the device 1, for example preheating the aerosol-generating article 20, as soon as the article 20 is inserted into the heating chamber 30 of the aerosol-generating device 1. For this, the insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be detected, for example using a detection device. Figures 42a and 42b as well as Figures 43a and 43b show the detection of an insertion of an aerosol-generating article 20 into the heating chamber 30 of the aerosol-generating device 1 by a detection device. One possible way to detect the insertion of the article is shown in Figures 42 and 43. The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a photosensitive sensor 60 and a light source 61, for example an LED. The light source 61 may emit visible or invisible light, and the photosensitive sensor 60 may be configured to detect the light emitted by the light source 61.

[0197] Figure 42a shows an embodiment in which light from the light source 61 always reaches the photosensitive sensor 60 as long as the aerosol-generating device 1 is turned on and the aerosol-generating article 20 is not inside of the heating chamber 30. For this, the light source 61 may be arranged and oriented at the heating chamber 30 so that the light emitted by the light source 61 traverses the interior of the heating chamber 30 and then reaches the photosensitive sensor 60. For example, the light source 61 may be arranged on an opposite side of the heating chamber 30 as the photosensitive sensor 60. Figure 42b shows that as soon as the aerosol-generating article 20 is inserted into the heating chamber 30, the light of the light source 61 may be blocked by the article 20, because the article 20 may be arranged inside the light path or signal path from the light source 61 to the photosensitive sensor 60. The photosensitive sensor 60 and / or the controller 5 of the device 1 may detect the absence of the light signal from the light source 61. As a result, the presence of an aerosol-generating article 20 may be detected and preheating and / or other functions may be started.

[0198] Figure 43a shows an embodiment in which light from the light source 61 only reaches the photosensitive sensor 60 when the device is turned on and an aerosol-generating article 20 is inside the heating chamber 30. This may be achieved by placing the light source 61 and the photosensitive sensor 60 such that a light path or signal path between the two comprises a reflection of the light emitted from the light source 61 on the aerosol-generating article 20. For example, the light source 61 and the photosensitive sensor 60 may be placed side by side or next to each other. For example, they may be placed on the same side of the heating chamber 30. The light source 61 may be configured to emit light at an angle which, when reflected off the surface of an aerosol-generating article 20, leads to the light reaching the photosensitive sensor 60. After insertion of an aerosol-generating article 20, as shown in Figure 43b, light from the light source 61 may be reflected by the article 20 and observed by the photosensitive sensor 60. Consequently, the photosensitive sensor 60 and / or the controller 5 of the device 1 may detect the presence of the aerosol-generating article 20. Preheating and / or other functions of the device may be started.

[0199] Any one or both of the photosensitive sensor 60 and / or the light source 61 may be part of the sensor device 50. For example, the photosensitive sensor 60 may be the photosensitive sensor 59 of the sensor device 50 or the ambient light sensor 54. Additionally or alternatively, the light source 61 may be one of the LEDs 53 emitting visible light or the LED 58 emitting invisible light. The sensor device 50 may read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article 20 during the insertion of the article 20 into the heating chamber 30 as detected by the detection device as described. In this way, authentication and / or identification of the aerosol-generating article 20 may be achieved simultaneously or almost at the same time as the detection of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20. Additionally, by using components of the sensor device 50 for both authentication and / or identification of the aerosol-generating article 20 as well as detection of the insertion of the aerosol-generating article 20, costs may be lowered.

[0200] In the present disclosure, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" may pertain to the flow or flow direction of the air through the aerosol-generating device 1 in the airflow path or channel. An element A arranged upstream of an element B may be reached by the air sooner than element B. After passing by element A, the air may continue along the airflow path to element B. In this example, element B may be arranged downstream of element A.

[0201] The term "proximal" may describe the position of an element and may mean that the element is located in the direction of or near the mouthpiece or the mouthpiece end of the device. The term "distal" may describe the position of an element and may mean that the element is located in the direction away from or at the device end located opposite the mouthpiece or the mouthpiece end of the device.

[0202] In the present disclosure, all values given for dimensions, for example height, length, width, thickness or others, may pertain to maximum values of the specific dimension or minimum values of the specific dimension. For example, the dimensions of the heating chamber may describe the minimum dimensions or the maximum dimensions available inside the heating chamber, for example influenced by any possible inserts, protrusions or recesses.

[0203] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, comprising a device body comprising a heating chamber configured to at least partly receive the aerosol-generating article, the heating chamber comprising an at least partly cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped heating volume, wherein the heating chamber comprises a heating device configured to heat at least part of the aerosol-generating article in a heating zone, and at least one sensor device configured to read authentication information and / or identification information from the aerosol-generating article arranged in the heating chamber and / or during insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the heating chamber.

2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured to serially read at least two distinct information values, for example authentication information and identification information, from an indicium of the aerosol-generating article.

3. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the authentication information and / or identification information from a sensing area, wherein the sensing area is arranged outside of the heating chamber.

4. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the sensor device is configured to read a first information value from the aerosol-generating article during a relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device, for example wherein the first information value pertains to identification information of the aerosol-generating article, and wherein the sensor device is configured to read a second information value from the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is motionless relative to the sensor device, for example wherein the second information value pertains to authentication information of the aerosol-generating article.

5. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, comprising a mouthpiece portion comprising a mouthpiece, wherein the mouthpiece portion is moveable relative to the device body between an open position, in which the heating chamber is accessible to receive the aerosol-generating article, and a use position for generating aerosol from the aerosol-generating article, wherein in the use position, the mouthpiece portion closes the heating chamber so that the aerosol-generating article is arranged inside the aerosol-generating device, and a spring biasing mechanism configured to establish a force acting onto the inserted aerosol-generating article and / or the heating chamber in a longitudinal direction towards the mouthpiece portion and / or mouthpiece and / or towards the device body when the mouthpiece portion is in the use position, wherein the mouthpiece portion is configured to push the aerosol-generating article along the longitudinal direction into the device body and / or heating chamber when the mouthpiece portion is moved to the use position from the open position so that the spring biasing mechanism is compressed, and wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the compression of the spring biasing mechanism.

6. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein a mouthpiece portion is movably coupled to the device body, such that the mouthpiece portion is movable relative to the device body, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device, by either a rotational movement, a linear movement, or combination of a rotational and linear movement, wherein the sensor device is configured to read the first information value from the aerosol-generating article during the movement of the mouthpiece portion.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the relative motion of the aerosol-generating article and the sensor device covers at least a distance of 0.3 mm, for example at least a distance of 0.5 mm or at least a distance of 1 mm or at least a distance of 1.5 mm or at least a distance of 2 mm or at least a distance of 3 mm or at least a distance of 4 mm or at least a distance of 5 mm, for example a distance of 3.5 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device.

8. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the at least one sensor device is distanced from the heating zone by at least 3 mm, for example by at least 4 mm or by at least 5 mm or by at least 6 mm, for example 4.4 mm, for example along a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device.

9. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the sensor device comprises an identification information sensor module and an authentication information sensor module arranged next to each other so that a sensing direction of the information sensor module is the same as a sensing direction of the authentication information sensor module, and wherein the identification information sensor module is configured to use visible light for identification and the authentication information sensor module is configured to use non-visible light, for example ultraviolet light and / or infrared light, for authentication.

10. The aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, further comprising a cuboid-shaped or parallelepiped-shaped aerosol-generating article, for example wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured to generate aerosol from the aerosol-generating article.

11. The aerosol-generating device according to the previous claim, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article, wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a first distance when the first information value is read and wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article distanced from the heating zone by a second distance when the second information value is read, and wherein the first distance is bigger than the second distance.

12. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 10, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and / or identification information about the aerosol-generating article, wherein the indicium is arranged at a position on the aerosol-generating article outside the heating zone when the first information value is read and wherein the indicium is arranged inside the heating zone when the second information value is read.

13. An aerosol-generating article for use in an aerosol-generating device, for example an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the previous claims, comprising an aerosol-generating substrate for generating aerosol, wherein the aerosol-generating article has a cuboid or parallelepiped shape with two opposing main surfaces and lateral side surfaces, and wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises at least one optically readable indicium, wherein the indicium comprises authentication information and identification information about the aerosol-generating article.

14. The aerosol-generating article according to the previous claim, wherein the indicium is arranged as a band which extends transversely to the longitudinal direction across at least one substantially planar main surface of the aerosol-generating article, and / or wherein the band comprises at least one taggant band configured to authenticate the aerosol-generating article and / or at least one colored identifier band configured to identify the aerosol-generating article, for example wherein the taggant band is wider in a longitudinal direction than the colored identifier band.

15. The aerosol-generating article according to one of the claims 13-14, wherein the colored identifier band comprises at least two colored identifier stripes, for example at least two differently colored identifier stripes, with a width of at least 0.25 mm each or at least 0.5 mm each or at least 0.75 mm each or at least 1 mm each or at least 1.25 mm each or at least 1.5 mm each.

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