Apparatus for generating aerosols from an aerosolizable medium, an article of an aerosolizable medium, and a method for operating an aerosol generating apparatus.

Abstract

A method for operating an aerosol generating device is disclosed. [Solution] The method includes the steps of: detecting a first mark on an article comprising an aerosolizable medium with a first sensor of a sensor configuration; detecting a second mark on the article with a second sensor of a sensor configuration located at a predetermined distance from the first sensor; determining the distance between the first mark and the second mark; and operating an aerosol generating device based at least on the distance between the first mark and the second mark.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium, an article of an aerosolizable medium, a system including an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium and an article of an aerosolizable medium, and a method of operating an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium. Background

[0002] Articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products include so-called "non-combustion heating" products, also known as tobacco heating products or tobacco heating devices, which release compounds by heating rather than burning materials. Summary

[0003] According to a first example, an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing, a chamber for receiving an article, the article comprising an aerosolizable medium and a marker configuration comprising a first marker and a second marker spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the chamber, and a sensor configuration comprising a first sensor for detecting the first marker and a second sensor for detecting the second marker. The first sensor and the second sensor are spaced apart from each other by approximately the same distance as the predetermined distance.

[0004] According to a second example, an article for use with the apparatus of the first example is provided. The article comprises an aerosolizable medium and a marker configuration comprising a first marker and a second marker comprising identification information, the first marker and the second marker being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

[0005] According to a third example, an aerosol supply system is provided comprising an apparatus according to the first example and an article according to the second example.

[0006] A fourth example provides a method for operating an aerosol generator. This method includes the steps of: detecting a first mark on an article comprising an aerosolizable medium with a first sensor of a sensor configuration; detecting a second mark on the article with a second sensor of a sensor configuration located at a predetermined distance from the first sensor; and operating an aerosol generator based on the first and second marks.

[0007] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, which are merely illustrative examples and refer to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an example of an apparatus for heating an article containing an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 2] This is a top view of an example of a device for heating an article containing an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view of an example of the apparatus shown in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a side view of an example of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 5] This is a side view of an example of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 6] This is a diagram showing an example of an optical sensor and an example of an item in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal generated by a sensor configuration. [Figure 8] This is a diagram illustrating an example of a signal generated by a sensor configuration. [Figure 9] This is a side view of an example of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 10] This is an example of a flowchart for a method to determine parameters associated with an item. Detailed explanation

[0009] In this specification, the term “aerosolizable medium” includes materials that, when heated, typically release volatile components in the form of an aerosol. “Aerosolizable medium” may include any tobacco-containing material, for example, one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, re-tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. “Aerosolizable medium” may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine. “Aerosolizable medium” may take the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, gel, or wax. “Aerosolizable medium” may also be, for example, a combination or blend of materials.

[0010] This disclosure relates typically to an apparatus for heating an aerosolizable medium without burning or combustion the medium to volatilize at least one component of the aerosolizable medium in order to form an inhalable aerosol. Such apparatuses are sometimes described as “non-combustion heating” apparatuses, or “tobacco heating products,” or “tobacco heating devices,” or similar. Similarly, there are also so-called e-cigarette devices, which typically vaporize an aerosolizable medium in liquid form, which may or may not contain nicotine. The aerosolizable medium may take the form of a rod, cartridge, or cassette that can be inserted into the apparatus, or may be provided as part of such. One or more aerosol-generating elements for volatilizing the aerosolizable medium may be provided as “permanent” parts of the apparatus, or as part of consumables that are discarded and replaced after use. In one example, one or more aerosol-generating elements may take the form of one or more heaters.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example of a device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium. The device 100 may also be an aerosol supply device. Schematically, the device 100 can be used to heat a replaceable article 102 containing an aerosolizable medium to generate an aerosol or other aspirable medium that can be aspirated by the user of the device 100. Figure 2 is a top view of the example of the device 100 shown in Figure 1.

[0012] The device 100 comprises a housing 104. The housing 104 has an opening 106 at one end through which an article 102 can be inserted into a heating chamber (not shown). When in use, the article 102 can be fully or partially inserted into the chamber. The heating chamber can be heated by one or more heating elements (not shown). The device 100 may also be provided with a lid or cap 108 to cover the opening 106 when the article 102 is not in place. In Figures 1 and 2, the cap 108 is shown in an open position, but the cap 108 can be moved, for example, by sliding into a closed position. The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 110, such as a button or switch that, when pressed, operates the device 100.

[0013] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of an example of the apparatus 100 as shown in Figure 1. The apparatus 100 has a receiving section or heating chamber 112 configured to receive an article 102 to be heated. In one example, the heating chamber 112 is generally in the form of a hollow cylindrical tube into which an article 102 containing an aerosolizable medium is inserted for heating during use. However, different configurations are possible for the heating chamber 112. In the example of Figure 3, an article 102 containing an aerosolizable medium is inserted into the heating chamber 112. In this example, the article 102 is an elongated cylindrical rod, but the article 102 may take any suitable shape. In this example, the end of the article 102 protrudes from the apparatus 100 through an opening 106 in the housing 104 so that the user can inhale an aerosol through the article 102 during use. The end of the article 102 protruding from the apparatus 100 may include filter material. In other examples, the article 102 is fully received within the heating chamber 112 so as not to protrude from the apparatus 100. In such cases, the user can either inhale the aerosol directly from the opening 106, or inhale it through a suction port that can be connected to the housing 102 around the opening 106.

[0014] The apparatus 100 comprises one or more aerosol generating elements. In one example, the aerosol generating element is in the form of a heater component 120 configured to heat an article 102 placed in the chamber 112. In one example, the heater component 120 comprises a resistance heating element whose temperature rises when an electric current is passed through it. In another example, the heater component 120 may comprise a susceptor material that is heated by induction heating. In the example of the heater component 120 comprising a susceptor material, the apparatus 100 also comprises one or more induction elements that generate a fluctuating magnetic field that penetrates the heater component 120. The heater component can be located inside or outside the heating chamber 112. In one example, the heater component may comprise a thin-film heater wound around the outer surface of the heating chamber 112. For example, the heater component 120 may be formed as a single heater, or it may be formed from a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 112. The heating chamber 112 may be annular or tubular, or its circumference may be at least partially annular or partially tubular. In one particular example, the heating chamber 112 is defined by a stainless steel support tube. The heating chamber 112 is sized such that, in use, substantially the entire aerosolizable medium of article 102 is placed inside the heating chamber 112 so that the entire aerosolizable medium can be heated. In other examples, the heater configuration 120 may include a susceptor placed on or inside article 102, in which case the susceptor material is heated by a fluctuating magnetic field generated by the device 100. The heating chamber 112 may be configured to allow selected portions of the aerosolizable medium to be heated independently, for example, sequentially (over time) or together (simultaneously), as needed.

[0015] In some examples, the device 100 includes an electronics compartment 114 housing an electrical control circuit or controller 116 and / or a power source 118 such as a battery. In other examples, a dedicated electronics compartment is not required, and the controller 116 and power source 118 are arranged holistically within the device 100. The electrical control circuit or controller 116 may include a microprocessor configuration configured and arranged to control the heating of an aerosolizable medium, as will be discussed further below. The device 100 also includes a sensor configuration comprising a first sensor 122a and a second sensor 122b configured to monitor the presence or absence of a first marker (such as a reference marker) on an article 102, and to detect, read, or match a mark or a second marker containing identification information of the article 102.

[0016] In some examples, the controller 116 is configured to receive one or more inputs / signals from the sensor components 122a, 122b. The controller 116 can also receive signals from the control element 110 and actuate the heater component 120 in response to the received signals and inputs. The electronic elements within the device 100 can be electrically connected by one or more connecting elements 124, indicated by dashed lines.

[0017] The power supply 118 may be a battery, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Suitable battery examples include lithium-ion batteries, nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and / or alkaline batteries. The battery is electrically coupled to one or more heaters to supply power when needed and to heat the aerosolizable medium without burning it under the control of the controller 116. Placing the power supply 118 adjacent to the heater assembly 120 means that a physically larger power supply 118 can be used without making the device 100 as a whole excessively long. As is understood, generally, a physically larger power supply 118 has a larger capacity (i.e., the total electrical energy that can be supplied, often measured in ampere-hours, etc.) and therefore can extend the battery life of the device 100.

[0018] The ability to operate in a power-saving mode when the user is not using the device 100 may be desirable for the device 100, as this reduces power consumption and extends battery life. It is also desirable for the device to be able to identify or recognize a specific article 102 introduced into the device 100 without further input from the user. For example, the device 100, particularly including heating control provided by the controller 116, is often optimized for a specific configuration of the article 102 (e.g., one or more of the following: size, shape, specific smoking material, etc.). It is undesirable for the device 100 to be used with aerosol media or articles 102 having different properties.

[0019] Furthermore, if the device 100 can identify or recognize a specific article 102 or at least a common type of article 102 introduced into the device 100, this can help eliminate, or at least reduce, the use of counterfeit or other non-genuine articles 102 with the device 100.

[0020] In one example, the sensor components 122a and 122b are configured to operate in a first mode that discontinuously monitors for the presence or absence of a first marker on article 102, and in a second mode following the detection of the first marker. In this second mode, the sensor components 122a and 122b are configured to detect a second marker containing identification information of article 102. The sensor components 122a and 122b comprise a first sensor 122a and a second sensor 122b spaced apart from each other at approximately the same distance as the distance between the first and second markers.

[0021] The sensor components 122a and 122b can provide one or more inputs to the controller 116 based on the detected marker component. Based on the one or more inputs received, the controller 116 can determine parameters or characteristics of article 102, such as whether article 102 is genuine. In one example, this determination is based on the characteristics of the input(s). For example, a first marker may generate a first input having a characteristic (e.g., size) that is expected to match genuine article 102 or the type of aerosolizable medium of article 102. In another example, this determination may be made based on the presence or absence of the input(s). For example, if a first input is received but a second input is not, it can be determined that article 102 is not genuine. The controller 116 can then activate the heating component 120 according to the determined parameters of article 102. Therefore, the device 100 is equipped with means for detecting whether the article 102 is a genuine product, and thus, if a non-genuine product is detected, the operation of the device 100 can be modified by, for example, not supplying power to the heater component 120. Preventing the use of the device 100 when a non-genuine product is inserted into the device 100 reduces the possibility of consumers having a bad experience due to the use of counterfeit consumables.

[0022] In some examples, the controller 116 can determine the parameters of the article 102 based on one or more inputs received from the sensor assemblies 122a, 122b, and adjust the heat profile provided by the heater assembly 120 based on the determined parameters. If the identification information of the article 102 has a first characteristic, the heater assembly 120 of the device 100 may be configured to provide a first heating profile (e.g., by a controller 116 that controls the supply of power). If the identification information of the article 102 has a second characteristic different from the first characteristic, the heater assembly 120 is configured to provide a second heating profile. For example, the device 100 can determine whether the consumable is a solid or a non-solid consumable and adjust the heating profile accordingly. In other examples, the device 100 can distinguish different blends of tobacco in the article 102 and, accordingly, adjust the heating profile to provide an optimal heating profile for a particular blend of tobacco inserted into the device 100.

[0023] FIG. 4 is a schematic longitudinal side view of an example of an article 102 with an aerosolizable medium for use with the device 100. In some examples, the article 102 also includes a filter assembly (not shown) in addition to the aerosolizable medium.

[0024] The article 102 also includes a marker assembly 126 configured to be detected by the sensor assemblies 122a, 122b of the device 100. The marker assembly 126 includes a first marker 126a and a second marker 126b that includes identification information. The first marker 126a is configured to be detected by the sensor assemblies 122a, 122b and indicate the presence of the article 102. The first marker 126a may be composed of one or more marker elements as follows.

[0025] The second marker 126b may consist of one or more marker elements and represent coded information indicating parameters or characteristics of article 102. As described above, the parameters may indicate the manufacturer of article 102 so that it can be confirmed that article 102 is genuine. In other examples, the parameters may indicate the type of aerosolizable medium of article 102, such as whether the aerosolizable medium is in a fixed form, a liquid form, or a gel form. The parameters may also indicate the type of aerosolizable medium, such as whether the aerosolizable medium contains Burley tobacco or Virginia tobacco. In other examples, the parameters may indicate the heating profile to be used to heat article 102. The parameters may indicate other characteristics of article 102. By providing the second marker 126b, the device 100 can provide the user with a tailored experience based on the identification information of article 102.

[0026] The first marker 126a and the second marker containing identification information 126b are separated from each other by a predetermined distance S1. Figure 4 shows that the distance S1 is measured from the midpoint of the first marker 126a to the midpoint of the second marker 126b. However, in other examples, the distance may be measured from the starting point of the first marker 126a to the starting point of the second marker 126b, the distance of the gap between the markers, or any other suitable predetermined dimension.

[0027] The marker configuration 126 may have optical features. For example, in Figure 4, the first marker 126a is a marker element in the form of a single line on the outside of article 102, and the second marker 126b includes marker elements in the form of multiple lines on the outside of article 102. In Figure 4, these lines are shown to be of uniform width, but in other examples, the widths of the lines may vary. In the example in Figure 4, the second marker 126b indicates coded parameters associated with article 102. When read, the marker 126 can be compared with a look-up table (LUT) containing correspondences between the data associated with the marker 126 (e.g., a binary sequence indicated by the mark) and the heating profile or other operations associated with the device. Furthermore, the data associated with the marker 126 may be coded according to a secret key common to all aerosol supply devices from a particular manufacturer / place of origin, and the device is configured to decode the coded data and then look up the decoded data in the LUT.

[0028] In the example of a cylindrical article 102, one or more marker elements, such as lines, may extend around the article 102, in part around its circumference, or all around its circumference. In some examples, sensor components 122a, 122b configured to detect the marker component 126 may be located in specific locations within the device 100. For example, the sensor components 122a, 122b may be located adjacent to one side of the chamber 112 and may have a limited detection range. Providing marker elements that extend all around the article 102 facilitates detection of the marker component 126 by the sensor components 122a, 122b regardless of the specific orientation of the article 102 within the device 100.

[0029] The marker component 126 may be formed in several different ways and from several different materials, depending on the specific sensor components 122a, 122b of the device 100 intended for use with the article 102. The marker component 126 may have optical features such as lines, gaps or notches, surface roughness, and / or reflective material. The second marker 126b may have optical features such as a barcode or QR code.

[0030] In other examples, the marker component 126 may have a conductive feature, and when the article 102 containing the marker component 126 is inserted into the device 102, the sensor components 122a and 122b may be configured to detect changes in capacitance or resistance. Providing the non-optical sensor component 122 may make it more robust than the optical sensor because it is not affected by deposition on the optical sensor or degradation of the optical sensor during the service life of the device 100. The non-optical sensor may be in the form of an RF sensor or a Hall effect sensor having a permanent magnet or electromagnet and a Hall effect sensor. The marker component 126 may be formed from a suitable material configured to affect the non-optical signals received by the sensor components 122a and 122b.

[0031] In other examples, the marker configuration 126 may include a combination of an optical feature portion and a conductive feature portion. For example, the first marker 126a may have a conductive feature portion, and the second marker 126b may have an optical feature portion.

[0032] The marker component 126 may be provided, for example, on the outside of the smoking item 102, inside the smoking item 102, or both on the outside and inside of the smoking item 102. When optical sensing is used alone, or in combination with some other sensing such as capacitive sensing, it is preferable that the marker component 126 is provided on the outside of the item 102 so that the marker component 126 is visible to the sensor components 122a and 122b of the device 100.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the first marker 126a and the second marker 126b are spaced apart from each other, as indicated by a predetermined interval S1. The spacing between the first marker 126a and the second marker 126b reduces the possibility of interference between the two regions. The sensor configurations 122a and 122b comprise a first sensor 122a configured to detect the first marker 126a and a second sensor 122b configured to detect the second marker 126b. Figure 5 shows an example of sensor configurations 122a and 122b comprising the first sensor 126a and the second sensor 126b, in which case the first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b are spaced apart by a distance S2. The first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b are spaced approximately the same distance apart as the predetermined distance between the first marker 126a and the second marker, and as a result, S1 is approximately equal to S2. The first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b may be spaced approximately the same distance apart as any appropriate distance within the device 100. In one example, the first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b are spaced approximately 70 mm apart, more preferably 50 mm, more preferably 30 mm, more preferably 25 mm, or more preferably 20 mm.

[0034] If the first marker 126a is detected by the first sensor 122a, and the second marker 126b is not aligned with the second sensor 122b at that time, the second sensor 122b may not be able to read the identification information of the second marker 126b. As a result, it is possible to verify whether the item 102 is genuine by checking whether the distance between the first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b matches the distance between the first marker 126a and the second marker 126b, and if the distances do not match, the device 100 can be prevented from operating.

[0035] In one example, the first sensor 122a may have a first detection range in which the first sensor 122a can detect the first marker 126a, and the second sensor 122b may have a second detection range in which the second sensor 122b can detect the second marker 126b. In this example, the first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b are spaced apart from each other such that one point in the first detection range and one point in the second detection range are spaced apart by a predetermined distance. This configuration provides some margin for the spacing between the first markers 126a and 126b. In one example, the first detection range is defined by a first distance along the longitudinal axis of the chamber 112, and the second detection range is defined by a second distance along the longitudinal axis of the chamber 112. In this example, the first sensor 122a and the second sensor 122b are spaced apart by a distance between a predetermined distance minus the first and second longitudinal distances, and the predetermined distance plus the first and second longitudinal distances. In this case as well, this configuration allows for a certain degree of tolerance in the spacing between the first markers 126a and 126b. In one example, the detection range is determined based on the operating range of the sensor. For example, the detection range can be set to, for example, 20 mm, based on the field of view of the optical sensor or the range of the RFID sensor.

[0036] This tolerance allows for variations in the placement of markers 126a and 126b on the consumable itself between items. For example, while it may be difficult to ensure that markers 126a and 126b are always in the exact same position on the consumable between production runs, the relative spacing between markers 126a and 126b can be produced with high precision. By giving the sensor a tolerance, the spacing between markers 126a and 126b can still be used to determine the authenticity and / or other information of the item using a simpler production process.

[0037] Generally, a sensor configuration can be configured to determine the relative position between a first marker and a second marker. For example, the relative position can be expressed as a distance or a vector. The relative positions of the first and second markers can be used to provide information about an article. For example, the distance between the two markers may be used in a lookup table to determine information and / or parameters about a consumable, such as the type of aerosolizable medium, the heating profile to be used, and / or whether the article is genuine. For example, the relative distance between the first and second markers may vary in increments of 0.1 mm, 0.25 mm, 0.5 mm, 1 mm, or 2 mm.

[0038] In some cases, the relative spacing between markers is combined with further information read from the markers themselves, such as barcodes or 2D barcodes. Combining this spacing with the information read from the markers allows for verification that an item is genuine only when certain combinations are correct. For example, a particular marker may be associated with one relative position between a first marker and a second marker. If that spacing is not substantially equal to the spacing associated with the markers, the item can be determined to be a counterfeit.

[0039] In some examples where the sensors operate across a detection range, the first sensor can indicate the position of a first marker within the detection area as a reference or datum for use by the second sensor. In such examples, the second sensor can determine the position of a second marker within the detection area with respect to the reference or datum provided by the first sensor, thereby determining the relative position of the markers.

[0040] A first marker 126a may be configured to be detected by sensor components 122a, 122b to determine whether an article 102 is near a first sensor 122a. In one example, sensor components 122a, 122b are configured to operate in a first mode when monitoring for the presence or absence of the first marker 122a. In the first mode, sensor components 122a, 122b are not configured to detect a second marker 126b, and therefore the device can operate at relatively low power. When sensor components 122a, 122b detect the presence of the first marker 122a on an article, sensor components 122a, 122b switch to a second mode in which sensor components 122a, 122b are configured to detect a second marker 122b. Restricting the operation of the sensor components 122a and 122b to the first mode, which consumes less power than the second mode, is efficient because the device 100 does not need to use relatively high power to detect the second marker containing the identification information 122b until the sensor components 122a and 122b detect the presence of the first marker 122a on the item 102.

[0041] In one example, in the first mode, the sensor components 122a and 122b are configured to discontinuously monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a. In one example, the sensor components 122a and 122b periodically monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a at regular time intervals. However, in other examples, the sensor components 122a and 122b monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a at irregular time intervals. In one example, the sensor components 122a and 122b are configured to monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a with a duty cycle of 10% or less. In another example, the sensor components 122a and 122b are configured to monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a for 1 millisecond every 10 milliseconds. Discontinuous monitoring for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a is more energy-efficient than continuous monitoring for the presence or absence of a reference marker 126a because it does not require a continuous power source. It should be understood that the sensor components 122a and 122b may be configured to begin monitoring for the presence or absence of the first marker 126a in response to user input, such as switching on the device 100 (e.g., by a user activation button on the outside of the device 100). Furthermore, once the first marker 126a and the second marker 126b are detected, the sensor components 122a and 122b may be switched off for a predetermined time (i.e., no further sensing for a predetermined time). These options can further reduce energy consumption.

[0042] To indicate that an article 102 bearing the first marker 126a has been detected, the sensor components 122a and 122b may provide a first input to the controller 116. Upon receiving the first input, the controller 116 may be configured to signal the sensor components 122a and 122b to operate in a second mode in order to detect the second marker 126b. In an alternative example, the sensor components 122a and 122b may be configured to detect both the first marker 126a and the second marker 126b simultaneously.

[0043] The second marker 126b includes marker elements configured to be detected by sensor components 122a, 122b, enabling the controller 116 to determine parameters associated with article 102. In the example shown in Figure 4, the second marker containing identification information 126b includes four marker elements in the form of lines. The marker elements are spaced apart from each other at different intervals. As will be described in more detail below, the configuration of the marker elements indicates parameters of article 102. For example, the configuration of the marker elements may indicate that the article 102 to be used with the device 100 is genuine article 102, or it may indicate a heating profile to be used with this article 102. Sensor components 122a, 122b are configured to provide the controller 116 with a second input indicating parameters of article 102.

[0044] When capacitance sensing or resistance sensing is used, the marker component 126 may be provided inside and / or outside the article 102. The marker component 126 may be literally "marked" on the article 102 by printing or other means. Alternatively, the marker component 126 may be provided inside or on the article 102 by other techniques, such as being integrally formed with the article 102 during manufacturing.

[0045] In certain examples, depending on the characteristics of the sensing used to detect the marker component 126, the marker component 126 may be formed from a conductive material. The marker component 126 may be, for example, a metal component such as aluminum, or a conductive ink, or an iron or non-ferrous coating. The ink may be printed on the chip paper of the article 102 using, for example, a web gravure printing method, screen printing, inkjet printing, or any other suitable process.

[0046] Generally, capacitance sensing as used herein operates by effectively detecting changes in capacitance when an article 102 is placed inside the device 100. In fact, in one embodiment, capacitance can be measured. If the capacitance meets one or more criteria, it can be determined that the article 102 is suitable for use with the device 100 and can then proceed to operate to heat the aerosolizable medium as usual. Alternatively, if the capacitance does not meet one or more criteria, it can be determined that the article 102 is not suitable for use with the device 100, and the device 100 will not function to heat the aerosolizable medium and / or may issue some warning message to the user. Generally, capacitance sensing can operate by providing the device 100 with (at least) one electrode that provides, in effect, one “plate” of the capacitor and the other “plate” of the capacitor provided by the conductive marker construct 126 of the device 100. When article 102 is inserted into the apparatus 100, the capacitance formed by the combination of the electrodes of the apparatus 100 and article 102 can be measured and then compared to one or more criteria to determine whether the apparatus 102 can proceed to heat article 102. Alternatively, the apparatus 100 may comprise (at least) two electrodes that effectively provide a pair of capacitor “plates”. When article 102 is inserted into the apparatus 100, article 102 is inserted between the two electrodes. As a result, the capacitance formed between the two electrodes of the apparatus 100 changes. This capacitance formed by the two electrodes of the apparatus 100 can be measured and then compared to one or more criteria to determine whether the apparatus 100 can proceed to heat article 102.

[0047] In some examples, the sensor configurations 122a and 122b comprise at least two different sensing techniques. For example, the first and second sensors are configured to detect different characteristics. In one example, one sensor, such as the first sensor 122a, may include an optical sensor, while the other sensor, such as the second sensor 122b, may include a non-optical sensor, such as a capacitive sensor.

[0048] Figure 6 is a side view of an alternative example of article 202 for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable medium. In this example, the marker structure 226 is in the form of a plurality of notches or holes formed in article 202. Similar to the marker structure 126 shown in Figure 4, the marker structure 226 in the example of Figure 6 comprises a first marker 226a and a second marker 226b. In this example, the first marker 226a includes a single marker element, and the second marker 226b includes marker elements spaced apart from each other at different intervals. The first marker 226a and the second marker 226b are spaced apart by a distance S1.

[0049] Figure 7 shows an example illustrating optical sensor configurations 222a and 222b. In this example, the sensor configurations 222a and 222b comprise a first sensor 222a in the form of a first light source 232a, such as an LED, and a first light receiver 234a, such as a light sensor, and a second sensor 222b in the form of a second light source 232b and a second light receiver 234b. The light receivers 234a and 234b are configured to receive light from the light sources 232a and 232b. When in use, article 202 is placed next to the sensor configurations 222a and 222b, between the light sources 232a and 232b and the light receivers 234a and 234b, and article 202 blocks the light so that it is not received by the light receivers 234a and 234b. In other examples, article 202 does not block the light received by the light receivers 234a and 234b, but rather reduces the amount of light. However, the light is not blocked at the location of the marker element in the form of a notch. Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receivers 234a and 234b varies over the length of article 202, depending on whether there is a notch in the optical path between the light source 232a and the light receiver 234. In this example, the first sensor 222a of the sensor assembly is separated by a distance S2 from the second sensor of the sensor assembly 222b.

[0050] Figure 8 shows an example of signals generated by sensor components 222a and 222b. In this example, the first signal 240 represents light received by the first photosensor 234a from the first light source 232a, and the second signal 242 represents light received by the second photosensor 234a from the second light source 232a. The position of the peak of the first signal 240 corresponds to the position of the first marker 226a of article 202, and the position of the peak of the second signal 242 represents the configuration of the second marker 226b. As shown in Figure 8, the distance between the midpoint of the peak of the first signal 240 and the peak of the second signal 242 is S3, which is substantially equal to S1 and S2. If the distance S2 between the first sensor 222a and the second sensor 222b is not substantially equal to the distance S1 between the first marker 226a and the second marker 226b, then part or all of one of the signals 240, 242 is missing, which indicates that the article 202 is not genuine.

[0051] In one example, in the first mode, the sensor components 222a and 222b are configured to discontinuously monitor for the presence or absence of the first marker 226a, and therefore, power is not supplied to the light source 232b and the light receiver 234b during the first mode. The first signal 240 shown in Figure 8 can be given to the controller 216 as a first input, and the controller 216 determines, for example, using a lookup table, whether the position and size of the first marker 226a indicate that the article 202 is genuine. If the controller 216 determines that the first marker 226a indicates that the article 202 is genuine, the sensor components 222a and 222b switch to the second mode, power is supplied to the light source 232b and the light receiver 234b, and the second sensor 222b can detect the second marker 226b. The second signal 242 shown in Figure 8 can be given to the controller 216 as a second input. The controller 116 determines the identification information of article 202, for example, using a lookup table. The second input indicates the parameters of article 202, and thus the controller 116 can determine the parameters of article 202. In the example shown in Figure 7, the sensor configurations 222a and 222b comprise two light sources 232a and 232b and two light receivers 234a and 234b. However, in other examples, the optical sensor may comprise a row of light sources and a row of light sensors. In the example of the marker configuration 226 comprising a reflective material, the light source 232 and light receiver 234 may be formed in a single element, and the light is reflected back to the light source / light receiver to indicate the position of the marker element.

[0052] In other examples, sensor components 122a, 122b, 222a, and 222b are configured to detect marker components 126 and 226 by measuring the reflection or surface roughness from the surface of articles 102 and 202. In other examples, sensor components 122a, 122b, 222a, and 222b may be configured to detect and read markers containing identification information 126b in the form of a barcode or QR code. In other examples, sensor components 122a, 122b, 222a, and 222b may be configured to detect visible or invisible fluorescent materials.

[0053] The controller 116 may have pre-programmed information, such as a lookup table, which includes details of the various possible configurations of the second markers 126b and 226b, and which parameters are associated with each configuration. Thus, the controller 116 can determine the parameters associated with the items 102 and 202.

[0054] The controller 116 may be configured to heat only the recognized articles 102, 202 and not to operate with articles 102, 202 that are not recognized. The device 100 may be configured to indicate to the user in some way that articles 102, 202 are not recognized. This indication may be visual (e.g., a warning light that can flash or stay lit for a certain period of time) and / or auditory (e.g., a warning "beep" sound). Alternatively, or in addition to the above, the device 100 may be configured, for example, to follow a first heating pattern when it recognizes a first type of article 102, 202 and a second different heating pattern when it recognizes a second type of article 102, 202 (and optionally, to provide further heating patterns for other types of articles 102, 202). The heating patterns may vary in several ways, for example, the rate at which heat is delivered to the aerosolizable medium, the timing of various heating cycles, and which part(s) of the aerosolizable medium are heated first. This allows the same device 100 to be used with different basic types of articles 102, 202, while minimizing the interaction required for the user.

[0055] Figure 9 is a schematic longitudinal side view of another example of article 302 equipped with an aerosolizable medium for use with apparatus 100. Similar to article 102 shown in Figure 4, article 302 comprises marker constructs 326a, 326b in the form of optical lines. In this example, the lines extend substantially along the longitudinal axis of article 302, rather than substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis as shown in the example of article 102 in Figure 4.

[0056] Similar to articles 102 and 202 shown in the examples in Figures 4 and 6, the marker structure 326 is divided into a first marker 326a (such as a reference marker) and a second marker 326b. The first marker 326a and the second marker 326b are separated by a distance S1.

[0057] In the example shown in Figure 9, the second marker 326b includes four marker elements in the form of lines, with different spacings between the lines. In one example, the spacing of the marker elements may be, for example, to generate a defined start and end for the marker elements. Since the article 302 can be inserted into the device 100 in any orientation, the article 302 needs to be rotated a full turn or partially for all of its marker elements to be read by one or more sensors 322a, 322b to determine the spacing of the marker elements.

[0058] In some examples, articles 102, 202, and 302 may have positional features that allow the consumable to be inserted into the device 100 in a predetermined orientation. For example, the articles may have protruding or notched features that correspond to the shape of the opening 106 of the device 100. Thus, in some embodiments, articles 102, 202, and 302 can be inserted into the device 100 in only a single orientation. In examples of articles 102, 202, and 302 that are subsequently rotated, the starting position is known, and therefore it is not necessary to rotate articles 102, 202, and 302 by at least 360 degrees. In other examples, articles 102, 202, and 302 may have predetermined finger grips or orientations for alignment or feeding into the device (this ensures that the consumable is inserted in a predetermined manner).

[0059] In some examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b may be located in specific locations within the device 100. For example, the sensor components 122a, 122b may be located within the chamber 112 and may have a limited detection range. Similarly, the marker component 126 may be located on or within the articles 102, 202, 302 and may occupy a specific area or volume of the article 102. To ensure that the marker component 126 is detected when the user inserts the article 102 into the receiving section, it is desirable that the device 100 be able to restrict the orientation of the article 102 to a single orientation when the article 102 engages with the chamber 112. This ensures that the marker component 126 is correctly aligned with the sensor components 122a, 122b so that it can be detected.

[0060] Figure 10 shows an example of a flow chart of the operation of the aerosol generator 100. In step 900, the device 100 detects a first mark 126a on the article 102 containing the aerosolizable medium with the first sensor 122a of the sensor assembly. In step 902, the device 100 detects a second mark on the article 100 with the second sensor 122b of the sensor assembly. In step 904, the device 100 operates the aerosol generator based on the first and second marks.

[0061] In some examples, the controller 116 controls the operation of one or more heaters 120 based on the parameters of the article. For example, if the controller determines that a counterfeit item has been inserted into the device 100, the heaters will not operate. Alternatively, the controller 116 may determine the type of aerosolizable medium in the article, such as a solid, liquid, or gel, and adjust the heating profile accordingly.

[0062] In some examples, multiple first and second sensors may be spaced apart at different predetermined distances. For example, the first first sensor and the first second sensor may be spaced apart at one predetermined distance, while the second first sensor and the second second sensor may be spaced apart at different predetermined distances. These different predetermined distances can correspond to different articles 102 having markers spaced apart at different predetermined distances. Thus, the controller 116 may be configured to detect different articles 102 based on which of the sensor group(s) has detected an input(s). This allows the controller 116 to distinguish between articles 102, either individually or based on which sensor has detected an input. It should also be understood that one “group” of sensors can be used to define further groups of sensors. That is, the first first sensor and the second second sensor can define their own group, and the inputs detected by these sensors indicate different articles to inputs detected by the first group or the second group.

[0063] Articles 102, 202, and 302 may contain one or more flavorings. In this specification, the terms “flavoring” and “flavoring” refer to materials that can be used (where permitted by local regulations) to produce a desired taste or aroma in products intended for adult consumers. These materials include extracts (e.g., licorice, hydrangea, magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed, cinnamon, herbs, wintergreen, cherry, berry, peach, apple, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-yi) It may also contain (peppermint oil from orchid, sage, fennel, bell pepper, ginger, anise, coriander, coffee, or any species of the genus Mentha), flavor enhancers, bitter taste receptor site blockers, sensory receptor site activators, or sensory receptor site stimulants, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharin, cyclamate, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives (e.g., charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, plant substances, or breath fresheners). These may be imitations, synthetic materials, natural materials, or mixtures thereof. They may contain natural or natural-identical fragrance chemicals. They may be in any suitable form, e.g., oil, liquid, powder, or gel.

[0064] The embodiments described above should be understood as examples for the purpose of explaining the present invention. Further embodiments of the present invention are also conceivable. Any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, in combination with other features described, in combination with one or more features of any other embodiment of the embodiments, or in any combination of any other embodiment of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be used, provided that they do not deviate from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating aerosols from an aerosolizable medium, Housing and A chamber for receiving an article, wherein the article comprises an aerosolizable medium and a marker configuration comprising a first marker and a second marker spaced a predetermined distance apart from each other, A sensor configuration comprising a first sensor for detecting the first marker and a second sensor for detecting the second marker. It is equipped with, The first sensor and the second sensor are spaced approximately the same distance apart from each other as the predetermined distance. The first sensor has a first detection range in which it can detect the first marker, The second sensor has a second detection range in which it can detect the second marker, An apparatus in which the first sensor and the second sensor are spaced apart from each other such that one point in the first detection range and one point in the second detection range are spaced apart from each other by the predetermined distance.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor component is configured to determine the relative positions of the first marker and the second marker.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber defines a longitudinal axis, and the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged along a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

4. The first detection range is defined as a first distance along the longitudinal direction of the chamber, The second detection range determines a second distance along the longitudinal direction of the chamber, The apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are spaced apart from each other by a distance between the predetermined distance minus the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance and the predetermined distance plus the first longitudinal distance and the second longitudinal distance.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising one or more aerosol generating elements configured to operate based on detected identification information of the article.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more aerosol generating elements comprises a heater component.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the identification information has a first feature, the heater component is configured to provide a first heating profile, and when the identification information has a second feature different from the first feature, the heater component is configured to provide a second heating profile.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sensor component comprises an optical sensor.

9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sensor component comprises a capacitive sensor.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are sensors of different types.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the predetermined distance is less than 70 mm, less than 50 mm, less than 30 mm, less than 25 mm, or less than 20 mm.

12. Aerosolizable media and A marker configuration comprising a first marker and a second marker containing identification information, wherein the first marker and the second marker are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. An article for use with the apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising the features described above.

13. The article according to claim 12, wherein the marker structure comprises an optically distinctive portion.

14. The article according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the marker component comprises a conductive characteristic portion.

15. The article according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the article defines an insertion axis, and the marker component is arranged along a direction substantially parallel to the insertion axis.

16. The article according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the marker components are arranged around at least a portion of the article's periphery.

17. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the identification information of the article indicates that the article comprises at least one of a solid, a liquid, or a gel.

18. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, The article according to any one of claims 12 to 17 An aerosol supply system equipped with the following features.

19. A method for operating an aerosol generating device, A first sensor of the sensor assembly detects a first mark on an article containing an aerosolizable medium, A step of detecting a second mark on the article with a second sensor of the sensor configuration located at a predetermined distance from the first sensor, A step of determining the distance between the first mark and the second mark, A step of operating the aerosol generating device based at least on the distance between the first mark and the second mark. A method that includes this.

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