Smoking article for an aerosol generating device, including an information code

Abstract

The present invention relates to a smoking article (1) comprising an information code (101). More specifically, the smoking article for use in an aerosol generating device (2) comprises a machine-readable pattern (101) representing coded data on a surface region (102) of a layer included in the smoking article, the pattern being formed by a plurality of recesses in the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region, or a plurality of perforations in the layer within the surface region.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to smoking articles for aerosol-generating devices that include tobacco material configured to generate an aerosol, and more particularly, the present invention relates to smoking articles that include an information code. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol generating devices, or electronic cigarettes, are currently the most popular product that mimics traditional tobacco cigarettes. While there are many types of aerosol generating devices, those with a tobacco or substrate inside remain among the most popular. The advantage of these aerosol generating devices is that the user still smokes tobacco, meaning the smoking experience is similar to that of a traditional cigarette. Furthermore, because the smoking article is heated but not burned, the aerosol generating device does not emit by-products such as tar and carbon monoxide during combustion. Aerosol generating devices operate by housing an aerosol-generating carrier inside and heating the aerosol-generating carrier but not to the point of combustion. Another type of electronic cigarette also exists, which operates by evaporating a liquid to produce smoke. For both types of aerosol generating devices, a high-quality carrier is important, especially for those with a substrate inside. Therefore, authentication of aerosol-generating carriers (also known as consumables or smoking articles, such as "sticks") is important to ensure the authenticity of the product for health and safety reasons. Furthermore, proper control of operating parameters, such as heating the carrier at a suitable temperature, is also important to provide a satisfactory aerosol flavor.

[0003] Authentication may be achieved by including coded identification information on the smoking article. For example, WO2010073122A1 relates to an electric heating smoking system comprising a smoking article having identification information printed thereon, a cavity for at least partially receiving the smoking article, and a detector capable of detecting the presence of the smoking article in the cavity and distinguishing between the smoking article and other articles configured for use in the smoking system based on the identification information printed on the smoking article.

[0004] However, the proposed pattern and optical detection techniques have the drawback that printed patterns are easy to counterfeit, easy to copy and unreliable. Another drawback is that patterns printed on an item can easily be damaged or altered during handling, thereby rendering the item unidentifiable. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention provides a smoking article for an aerosol generating device that solves some or all of the above problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a smoking article for use in an aerosol generating device, the smoking article comprising a machine-readable pattern representing coded data on a surface region of a layer comprised in the smoking article, the pattern being formed by a plurality of recesses within the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region, or a plurality of perforations in the layer within the surface region.

[0007] This configuration of the pattern on the smoking article makes the smoking article pattern more difficult for counterfeiters to copy because the equipment that creates the pattern, such as laser ablation equipment, is complex, and the pattern may also be more resistant to damage.

[0008] According to the second embodiment, in the first embodiment, the smoking article is substantially cylindrical in shape.

[0009] According to a third embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the surface region is curved.

[0010] According to a fourth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the pattern represents binary coded data.

[0011] According to a fifth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the pattern represents a quaternary code or a ternary code.

[0012] According to a sixth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the recesses and / or protrusions are recessed into and / or protrude from the surface at multiple levels of depth and / or height.

[0013] According to a seventh embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the recesses and / or protrusions or perforations are provided with different distances between each other.

[0014] According to an eighth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the light reflection and / or absorption properties of the pattern are different from the light reflection and / or absorption properties of the surface of the smoking article.

[0015] According to a ninth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, different depressions and / or protrusions of the pattern have different light reflection and / or absorption properties.

[0016] According to the tenth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the colours of the concave and / or protruding surfaces, or the recesses and / or protrusions, respectively, are different from each other and / or different from the colour of the surface of the smoking article.

[0017] According to an eleventh embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the perforations have a diameter between 1 and 0.072 mm, more preferably between 0.5 and 0.1 mm.

[0018] This configuration of perforations allows for more accurate capture of light by the sensor in the aerosol generating device.

[0019] According to a twelfth embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the article includes a wrapper, and the machine-readable pattern is formed by perforations in the wrapper.

[0020] According to a thirteenth embodiment, in the immediately preceding embodiment, the article is configured so that light can be transmitted through a cross section of the article and then through the perforations.

[0021] According to the 14th embodiment, in any one of the 13th or 14th embodiments, the article further comprises an aerosol-generating substrate, a filter, and a hollow tubular element arranged between the aerosol-generating substrate and the filter.

[0022] According to a fifteenth embodiment, in the immediately preceding embodiment, the wrapper includes tipping paper for holding the aerosol-generating substrate, the hollow tubular element, and the filter, and the machine-readable pattern is formed by perforations in the tipping paper.

[0023] According to the 16th embodiment, in any one of the 13th or 14th embodiments, the perforations are preferably arranged within the region of the hollow tubular element, the hollow tubular element being unperforated at the location of the perforations.

[0024] A seventeenth embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of using a smoking article according to any one of the preceding embodiments, the method comprising reading a machine-readable pattern on a surface region of a layer included in the smoking article.

[0025] According to an 18th embodiment, in the 17th embodiment, the method includes using a surface area of ​​the smoking article as a reference surface and determining information regarding the depth of the recesses and / or the height of the protrusions of the pattern from the surface area relative to the reference surface.

[0026] According to a 19th embodiment, in the 17th embodiment, the method further comprises: using a predetermined recess or protrusion of the pattern as a reference depth or protrusion; and determining information about the depth of other recesses and / or the height of other protrusions of the pattern relative to the reference depth or protrusion.

[0027] According to a twentieth embodiment, in any one of the seventeenth to nineteenth embodiments, the method includes detecting light reflected and / or refracted by the pattern or light transmitted through the pattern.

[0028] A 21st embodiment of the present invention relates to an aerosol device using a smoking article according to any one of the first to sixteenth embodiments, the device including a sensor configured to carry out a method according to any one of the seventeenth to twentieth embodiments.

[0029] According to the 22nd embodiment, in the 21st embodiment, the device further includes a light source, which is positioned on the same side and / or a different side of the smoking article from the sensor when the smoking article is inserted into the device.

[0030] In this configuration of light source and sensor, the sensor can detect light reflected and / or refracted from the light source.

[0031] According to a twenty-third embodiment, in the immediately preceding embodiment, the light source is positioned on the opposite side of the smoking article from the sensor when the smoking article is inserted into the device.

[0032] In this configuration of light source and sensor, the sensor can detect light transmitted through and / or scattered by the smoking article.

[0033] According to the 24th embodiment, in any one of the 21st to 23rd embodiments, the aerosol device includes a plurality of sensors and / or a plurality of light sources.

[0034] A 25th embodiment of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a smoking article according to any one of the first to sixteenth embodiments, the method comprising using a marking device to generate a machine-readable pattern on a surface of a layer included in the smoking article.

[0035] According to the twenty-sixth embodiment, in the twenty-fifth embodiment, the marking device is a laser, a roller with different embossed patterns, or a material deposition device such as 3D printing.

[0036] Preferred embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0037] [Figure 1] 1 shows an exploded schematic view of one embodiment of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to the present invention. [Figure 2A] 1 shows a schematic diagram of one embodiment of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to the present invention. [Figure 2B] 1 shows a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a portion of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 shows a cross section of a portion of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 shows a cross section of a portion of another embodiment of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 shows a cross section of a portion of yet another embodiment of an aerosol-generating smoking article according to the present invention. [Figure 6] 6A and 6B show schematic diagrams of smoking article patterns according to different embodiments of aerosol-generating smoking articles according to the present invention. [Figure 7]7A-7C show schematic diagrams of smoking article patterns according to different embodiments of aerosol-generating smoking articles according to the present invention. [Figure 8] 1 shows a cross section of an aerosol generating device and a smoking article in use according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 shows a cross section of an aerosol generating device and smoking article in use according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10A] 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the device and article taken along line AA in FIG. 9. [Figure 10B] FIG. 10A shows a captured image of the perforated area adjacent to the image sensor and a signal graph from the captured image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0039] 1 is a schematic exploded view of one embodiment of a smoking article 1 for use in an aerosol-generating device. The smoking article 1 is substantially cylindrical in shape and includes a tobacco substrate 11, a tobacco wrapper 12, tipping paper 13, which in this embodiment is the outermost wrapper of the consumable 1, a filter element, a plug wrap 18, and a connecting wrapper 19. The tobacco substrate 11 may include tobacco material in various forms, such as cut tobacco and granular tobacco, and / or the tobacco material may include tobacco leaf and / or reprocessed tobacco, such as in the form of sheets, strips, or foam.

[0040] The filter element typically includes (from left to right in FIG. 1 ) a hollow tubular member, preferably a paper tube 16, and a conventional filter such as filter 17. The filter may be formed from a central-pore filter segment and a plain acetate filter. These filter segments are held together by a connecting wrapper 19, similar to reprocessed tobacco. However, filter 17 may be formed from a single segment or more than two segments. Filter 17 is stiffened to enhance airflow from the tobacco to the mouthpiece. As shown, filter 17 may be provided with a mouthpiece made from a plain acetate filter, as known from conventional cigarettes. Alternatively, these segments of filter 17 may be inverted so that the central-pore segment is at the mouth end. The central-pore segment may also be replaced by a cavity segment formed using a non-filtering cardboard wrapper. The cellulose acetate material may be replaced by paper or a mixture of paper and additives such as triacetin and acetate. All wrappers are preferably made from paper materials. The wrapper may further comprise aluminum foil or metallized paper. The filter may contain flavoring agents as additives and / or as frangible flavor capsules.

[0041] During use, the substrate 11 is heated. The substrate may be heated by a heater within the aerosol generating device, such as a pin or heated blade inserted into the substrate 11 or a heating chamber. The user draws on the mouth end, and their lips contact the tipping paper, which may be perforated and colored. The user inhales on the end of the acetate filter, thereby creating an airflow F axially through the article. Typically, the tobacco substrate 11 is heated, which volatilizes constituents of the tobacco substrate. The volatilized constituents are entrained in the airflow F, forming an aerosol. The aerosol is then transported through the article 1 and onto the filter 17 to the user, who inhales. Vents (not shown) may be provided through the thickness of the filter or through the paper tube and tipping paper combination. The vents can reduce resistance to inhalation, cool the aerosol, and increase the amount of air drawn by the user.

[0042] A machine-readable pattern 101 representing coded authentication information formed by a plurality of recesses and / or protrusions in a surface region 102 is provided on the tipping paper 13. In some embodiments discussed below, the pattern represents coded data on the surface region 102 (shown by dashed lines) of a layer included in the smoking article, the pattern being formed by a plurality of recesses in the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region. The pattern may be formed from perforations in a layer in the surface region. The machine-readable pattern 101 may also include information about the smoking article, such as the type of smoking article, associated setting data for an aerosol-generating device for the smoking article 1, etc. A schematic partial cross-sectional view of the machine-readable pattern 101 is also shown in FIG. 1. In other embodiments, the machine-readable pattern 101 is formed on any other wrap forming part of the outermost surface of the smoking article 1.

[0043] FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a smoking article 1. The machine-readable pattern 101 is formed by small perforations and / or voids penetrating the tipping paper 13 or other layers of the smoking article. The machine-readable pattern 101 is an indicia realized as a barcode 101, with the perforations representing the bars of the barcode 101. The perforations are provided with different distances between each other to represent the barcode. In other words, the embossed or debossed units (i.e., pattern units) of the pattern are configured with different widths to represent the lines of a barcode or individual elements of other pattern types. The barcode 101 is arranged in the circumferential direction (C) of the smoking article. In other embodiments, there may be a code partially arranged along the axial direction (A). The code may be another barcode, a 2-D code, a QR code, or a dot matrix code (e.g., a dot code). As for 2-D or QR codes, or dot matrix codes, their orientation can be either in the circumferential direction C or in the axial direction A. Figure 2B shows part of an article of another embodiment having a machine-readable pattern 101 in the form of a perforated dot code, preferably perforated by a microlaser along the entire circumferential direction. The size of the perforations is preferably at least 0.072 mm, more preferably at least 0.08 mm, even more preferably at least 0.085 mm, even more preferably at least 0.09 mm, and most preferably at least 0.095 mm in diameter, and at most 1 mm, more preferably at most 0.9 mm, even more preferably at most 0.8 mm, even more preferably at most 0.7 mm, and most preferably at most 0.6 mm.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the size of the perforations is at least 0.1 mm, preferably at least 0.15 mm, more preferably at least 0.2 mm, even more preferably at least 0.25 mm, and most preferably at least 0.3 mm in diameter, and at most 0.5 mm, preferably at most 0.45 mm, more preferably at most 0.4 mm, and most preferably at most 0.3 mm. The corresponding porosity is preferably at least 300 cm3 / cm2 / min, more preferably at least 800 cm3 / cm2 / min, even more preferably at least 1300 cm3 / cm2 / min, even more preferably at least 1800 cm3 / cm2 / min, and most preferably at least 2300 cm3 / cm2 / min, and at most 4000 cm3 / cm2 / min, more preferably at most 3500 cm3 / cm2 / min, even more preferably at most 3000 cm3 / cm2 / min, and most preferably at most 2500 cm3 / cm2 / min. FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a portion of the article 1 shown in FIG. 1 , including the tipping paper 13, connecting wrapper 19, tobacco wrapper 12, paper tube 16, plug wrap 18, filter 17, and substrate 11. The paper tube 16 is a hollow filter element. The perforations or voids (dashed lines) in the machine-readable pattern 101 may be sized so that they do not substantially communicate with the vapor flow path. If the perforations and / or voids communicate with the vapor flow path, they should be small enough so as not to alter the ventilation profile of the smoking article (as shown in FIG. 4 ). For example, the size of the cord-forming perforations or voids is much smaller than the ventilation holes 161 (i.e., at most half the size of the ventilation holes). The perforations may have a diameter as small as 0.072 mm, corresponding to a porosity of approximately 6 CU. The diameter of the perforations is preferably between 1 and 0.072 mm, more preferably between 0.5 and 0.1 mm. Depending on the type of smoking article, the ventilation profile is related to the resistance to draw (RTD) or pressure differential of the filter, the value of which should not change significantly depending on whether or not the code pattern is present. Preferably, the readable pattern (i.e., perforations or voids) does not cause a deviation in pressure drop of more than ±10 mm WC compared to a smoking article without the readable pattern, more preferably a deviation of no more than ±8 mm WC.

[0045] FIG. 5 shows yet another embodiment of a smoking article 1. Tipping paper 13, which includes both a pattern 101 and ventilation holes 161, encases a tobacco substrate 11, a paper tube 16, and a filter 17. The tobacco substrate 11 may protrude from the tipping paper 13, as shown in FIG. 5, or may be completely contained within the tipping paper 13. The pattern 101 may be perforated through the tipping paper 13 for detection purposes. The pattern 101 may be in the form of a series of perforations, preferably in the form of dot perforations as shown in FIG. 2B. The article 1 is configured so that light passes through the cross section of the article and then through the perforations to be detected by a sensor in the device 2. The cross section is a transverse cross-section of the article 1, which includes the perforations. The perforations are preferably located in the region of the hollow tubular element (here, the paper tube) between the aerosol-generating substrate 11 (here, the tobacco rod) and the filter (here, the monoacetate filter).

[0046] In this embodiment, the length of the article 1 is 60 mm. The length of the tipping paper 13 is 45 mm. The length TL of the tobacco substrate 11, the length PL of the paper tube 16, and the length FL of the filter 17 are each configured to be substantially approximately 20 mm. The ventilation hole 161 is accordingly positioned above the paper tube 16, 25.5 mm from the filter end of the article 1. The tobacco substrate 11 protrudes 15 mm from the tipping paper 13. The perforations 101 are positioned within the region of the paper tube 16, and therefore are positioned at least 5 mm, preferably at least 7 mm, and more preferably 10 mm, from the tobacco end of the tipping paper 13. The hollow tubular element 16 is preferably unperforated so that ventilation is not affected by the detection perforations 101; i.e., the hollow tubular element 16 is not perforated at the location of the perforations 101. An advantage of having perforations in this region is that light from the light source can pass through the hollow tubular element and be easily detected by a detector, such as a photodiode.

[0047] The shape of the pattern will be considered below. In the following embodiments, a barcode is used as an example of a machine-readable pattern, but it should be recognized that other types of machine-readable patterns, such as a QR code or a dot matrix code (e.g., a dot code), such as the pattern shown in FIG. 2B, are not excluded.

[0048] Figures 6A and 6B show two types of patterns. Considering that the wrapper is usually very thin, the pattern is embossed or debossed to follow the curvature of the surface region 102 of the smoking article 1. Thus, as shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the pattern, i.e., the surface region 102, is curved and generally has the same curvature as the curvature of the outermost surface of the smoking article 1. The curvature of the surface region 102 substantially matches the curvature of the circumference of the substantially cylindrical shape.

[0049] In FIG. 6A, the recesses of the pattern representing a barcode are configured with different widths. The recesses may also be distributed at different distances from each other. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6B, surface regions with different depths in addition to different widths encode different data. In some embodiments, the cross-section of the pattern units may be configured with different shapes, such as squares, triangles, or semicircles, depending on the technique used to generate the pattern. When the pattern units have a triangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 6A to represent a barcode, the pattern units are configured with different widths (and therefore different sidewall angles). When the cross-section of the pattern units is semicircular, the pattern units are configured with different curvatures, depths, and / or diameters so that the widths of the openings in those pattern units are different from each other. In a surface view, the pattern units may be in the shape of rectangular, square, other polygonal, or circular lines.

[0050] 7A and 7B show different types of embossed and / or debossed patterns. In FIG. 7A, the embossed pattern represents binary coded data. Any known binary coding format, such as ASCII, Unicode, GBK, GBK2312, or UTF-8, can be used. For example, the wider embossed units represent "1" and the narrower embossed units represent "0." Thus, the pattern in FIG. 7A may represent the digits "10010001." To improve detectability of the pattern units, the patterns are preferably configured with different light reflective and / or absorbing properties. More specifically, the raised portions are printed or coated with a material that is more light absorbing than the original, non-recessed or non-protruding surface of the smoking article. More preferably, the surface of the wider embossed units is configured with inclined light reflective and / or absorbing properties, and the surface of the narrower embossed units is configured with flatter light reflective and / or absorbing properties.

[0051] Additionally, the height or depth of the pattern units can represent different data. In other words, the recesses and / or protrusions are recessed into and / or protrude from the surface region 102 at multiple levels of depth and / or height. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7B , the surface of the smoking article represents a reference surface, and the pattern units recessed from the reference surface represent "0," and the pattern units protruding from the reference surface represent "1." By comparing the level of the original surface with the level of the pattern elements, an information code can be read. In other embodiments, the pattern can represent a quaternary code or a ternary code. For example, in one embodiment, there are 11 depth levels. A first depth level may serve as the reference depth, a second depth level represents "1," and so on. Thus, information at other depth levels is determined based on the predetermined depth of the pattern that serves as the reference depth.

[0052] In another embodiment, as shown in Figure 7C, which represents a quaternary code, height level da represents "A", the level of the original surface of the smoking article represents "B" (which is interpreted here as the reference level), depth level dc represents "C", and depth level dd represents "D". Thus, the pattern may represent "CABADAC". Here, a particular height or depth level, or in other embodiments a particular width, etc., may function as a reference pattern unit so that the pattern can be properly detected.

[0053] Preferably, there is a specific pattern unit that indicates the position of the pattern. In Figure 7B, depth dc indicates the start and end of the pattern from left to right. In another embodiment, the reference pattern unit is an individual unit printed in a different color. For example, depth dc may be printed in black, while other surfaces of the pattern and the surface of the smoking article are printed in white. When the smoking article is used, an optical sensor in the aerosol-generating device detects the black unit and interprets it as the reference unit of the pattern.

[0054] In another example, to increase the reliability of the pattern, surface areas with different depths or heights may be printed with different colors or have different light reflection and / or absorption properties. In other words, the recesses within the pattern and / or the protrusions from the pattern represent the same information as represented by different colors or reflection and / or absorption properties. For example, the protrusions (or each recess) may be coated with metal to reflect light, while the recesses (or each protrusion) may simply be paper or colored. The aerosol generating device may detect both properties and check whether the information they represent is the same. This comparison may be performed by the device's control unit in association with stored data or a look-up table. If the information matches the reference, the aerosol generating device will begin heating the smoking article; if not, it will cease functioning or operate according to a default mode.

[0055] It should be appreciated that the above pattern types may be combined in a smoking article.

[0056] Smoking articles with depressions and / or protrusions can be produced by a roller with different embossing patterns. The depressions and / or protrusions are preferably created by a paper or polymer layer. The pattern may also be etched by a laser beam to create holes, voids, or grooves in the surface. With the help of laser technology, very precise depth modulation can be obtained without significantly changing the porosity of the paper. The porosity deviation is preferably less than 4-6 Coresta units compared to non-laser-treated paper. The pattern may also be produced by depositing a material on the surface of the paper or polymer layer. For example, the material may be a varnish or the like. The deposition may be performed by a 3D printer. Different depths in the pattern may be achieved by depositing successive layers.

[0057] 8 shows an aerosol-generating device 2 including a smoking article 1 having one or more patterns 101 in use. The pattern 101 may be a combination of a printed pattern and an imprinted pattern as discussed above. The aerosol-generating device 2 includes a heating chamber 21, and a light source 22, preferably a broadband LED, configured at a predetermined angle so that all of the patterns 101 can be detected by a detector 23, such as a light sensor, preferably a photodetector. Multiple detectors may be positioned around the circumference of the smoking article to enable complete detection of the pattern.

[0058] The light source 22 may be separate from the detector 23. The light source 22 may be a very simple light source whose light is reflected from the edge or bottom of the engraved surface of the code. The light source 22 may emit visible, UV, or infrared light. For example, the light source 22 may be a light emitting diode or a light unit that emits infrared light and more specifically light having a wavelength of, for example, 350 to 850 nm.

[0059] The detector 23 can perform image recognition using a camera or an image scanner, e.g., a barcode scanner. Typically, the detector 23 is a photodiode adapted to convert the received light beam into a current or voltage signal. The reading device also includes processing means, which may include a printed circuit board with an embedded processor, a sensor signal amplifier, a signal filter, and circuitry for coupling the processing means to the light source 22, the detector 23, and the control unit of the aerosol generation device.

[0060] To consume a smoking article, a user inserts the smoking article 1 into the aerosol generating device 2 along an insertion direction 31. Once the smoking article 1 is inserted to the bottom of the heating chamber 21, or once the detector 23 detects the presence of one of the patterns 101, the detector 23 begins authenticating the smoking article 1.

[0061] In some embodiments, the detector begins reading the pattern by utilizing the outermost surface or surface area of ​​the smoking article as a reference surface and determining information regarding the depth of recesses and / or height of protrusions of the pattern from the surface area relative to the reference surface. In other embodiments, the aerosol generating device begins reading the pattern by utilizing a given recess or protrusion of the pattern as a reference depth or protrusion and determining information regarding the depth of other recesses and / or height of other protrusions of the pattern relative to this reference depth or protrusion.

[0062] The detector then proceeds by detecting light reflected by the engraved code. Variations in the intensity of the light may be detected by detector 23. Light emitted by light source 22 is reflected from the surface area and returned to detector 23. Light reflected from exposed surface areas exhibits a different intensity (less scattering and therefore higher intensity) than light reflected from recessed surfaces, which may be rough, textured, non-parallel, and / or have a controlled angle of reflection.

[0063] The output signal may be calculated or generated by measuring the intensity of the reflected light beam over time. Once authentication is approved, another detector 23 may begin detecting configuration information from another pattern.

[0064] Instead of reflection, the detected light can be light transmitted through and / or refracted by a pattern, particularly recesses or perforations. Figure 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of an aerosol generating device 2 according to the present invention, with the aerosol product article 1 fully inserted. A light source 23, preferably an LED light, and a detector 22, preferably a photodiode or CMOS sensor, are arranged in the tubular section between the insertion opening and the tubular heating chamber 21, i.e., the receiving chamber. Specifically, unlike the configuration of the above-described embodiment, the light source 23 is arranged not on the same side of the receiving chamber as the detector 22, but preferably on the opposite side. In other words, the light source 23 is arranged on a different side of the smoking article, particularly on the opposite side, from the sensor 23 when the smoking article is inserted into the device. Accordingly, the pattern 101 on the article 1 is a perforation, preferably the perforation shown in Figure 2B and / or Figure 5. The detector 22 is configured to receive light emitted through the article 1, more specifically through the perforations 101. Thus, the detector 22 can clearly and easily detect the light. Because the hollow paper tube 16 and the perforations 101 in the tipping paper 13 are outside the heating chamber 21, and preferably still inside the apparatus 2, the pattern 101 is not affected by heat from the heating chamber 21 during use. The life of the detector 22 and light source 23 is extended. The image quality of the pattern 101 captured by the detector 22 is also improved.

[0065] FIG. 10 shows yet another embodiment of the configuration of the light source 22 and the detector 23. This cross-sectional view shows a cross section of a portion of the device 1 and article 2 taken along line AA in FIG. 9. However, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 9, the device 1 includes at least two detectors, which are positioned on different sides of the smoking article from the sensor 23 when the smoking article is inserted into the device. In this embodiment, the two detectors 23 are positioned on the right and left sides adjacent to the light source 22 within the square-shaped storage chamber. Accordingly, the perforations are preferably positioned along a circumferential line, more preferably along multiple circumferential lines. In other embodiments, the detector 23 may be positioned both adjacent to and opposite, or even on the same side of the smoking article from the light source 22 when the smoking article is inserted into the device. The detector 23 may be positioned anywhere around the circumference of the storage chamber, as long as light can pass from the light source (LED) through the perforations or recesses to the detector 23 (photodiode). In modified embodiments, multiple light sources may be positioned within the device 1.

[0066] FIG. 10B shows an image captured by the image sensor 23 of FIG. 10A. In this configuration, the perforation 101 can be more easily detected. The upper image shows the contrast enhancement of the image, and the lower curve represents the luminance measured above the central horizontal line of the image. The image sensor 23 can be a simple linear sensor. An example is a linear sensor with 512 x 4 pixels. A linear sensor, preferably a CMOS sensor, allows for easy integration into devices with a small footprint.

Claims

1. A smoking article (1) for use in an aerosol-generating device (2), comprising a machine-readable pattern (101) representing coded data on a surface region of a layer included in the smoking article (1), the machine-readable pattern (101) being formed by a plurality of perforations in the layer within the surface region; the smoking article (1) comprises a wrapper (13), the machine-readable pattern (101) being formed by the perforations in the wrapper (13); The smoking article (1) further comprises an aerosol-generating substrate (11), a filter (17), and a hollow tubular element (16) arranged between the aerosol-generating substrate (11) and the filter (17); The smoking article (1) is configured to allow light to pass through the hollow tubular element (16) and then through the perforations.

2. Smoking article (1) according to claim 1, which is substantially cylindrical in shape.

3. Smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein said surface area is curved.

4. 4. A smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the machine-readable pattern (101) is configured to represent binary coded data.

5. Smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the perforations are provided with different distances between each other.

6. 6. A smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the light reflection and / or absorption characteristics of the machine-readable pattern (101) are different from the light reflection and / or absorption characteristics of the surface of the smoking article.

7. Smoking article (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the perforations have a diameter between 1 and 0.072 mm.

8. 8. The smoking article (1) of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the wrapper (13) comprises tipping paper for holding the aerosol-generating substrate (11), the hollow tubular element (16), and the filter (17), and the machine-readable pattern (101) is formed by perforations in the tipping paper.

9. 9. A smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the perforations are arranged in the region of the hollow tubular element (16), the hollow tubular element being unperforated at the locations of the perforations.

10. A smoking article (1) for use in an aerosol-generating device (2), comprising a machine-readable pattern (101) representing coded data on a surface region of a layer included in the smoking article (1), the machine-readable pattern (101) being formed by a plurality of recesses within the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region; The smoking article (1), wherein the recesses and / or protrusions are recessed into and / or protrude from the surface area at multiple levels of depth and / or height.

11. Smoking article (1) according to claim 10, wherein different depressions and / or protrusions of the machine-readable pattern (101) have different light reflection and / or absorption properties.

12. Smoking article (1) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the colours of the concave and / or protruding surfaces or the recesses and / or protrusions, respectively, are different from each other and / or from the colour of the surface of the smoking article.

13. A method of using a smoking article (1), comprising: The smoking article (1) is for use in an aerosol-generating device (2), and includes a machine-readable pattern (101) representing coded data on a surface region of a layer included in the smoking article (1), the machine-readable pattern (101) being formed by a plurality of recesses within the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region; A method comprising the steps of: reading the machine-readable pattern (101) on the surface area of ​​the layer included in the smoking article (1) using the detection unit (2) in the aerosol generating device as a detection unit; using the surface area of ​​the smoking article (1) as a reference surface; and determining information regarding the depth of the recesses and / or the height of the protrusions of the machine-readable pattern (101) from the surface area relative to the reference surface.

14. A method of using a smoking article (1), comprising: The smoking article (1) is a smoking article (1) according to claim 10, and the method comprises: reading the machine-readable pattern (101) on the surface area of ​​the layer included in the smoking article (1) using a detection unit in the aerosol-generating device (2); using a predetermined recess or protrusion of said machine-readable pattern (101) as a reference depth or protrusion; and determining information about the depth of other recesses and / or the height of other protrusions of said machine-readable pattern (101) relative to said reference depth or protrusion.

15. The method comprises:

15. The method of claim 13 or 14, comprising detecting light reflected and / or refracted by or transmitted through the machine-readable pattern (101).

16. An aerosol device (2) for use with a smoking article (1), comprising: The smoking article (1) is for use in an aerosol-generating device (2), and includes a machine-readable pattern (101) representing coded data on a surface region of a layer included in the smoking article (1), the machine-readable pattern (101) being formed by a plurality of recesses within the surface region and / or a plurality of protrusions from the surface region; An aerosol device (2) comprising a sensor (23) configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

17. An aerosol device (2) as described in claim 16, further comprising a light source (22), the light source (22) being positioned on the same side and / or a different side of the smoking article from the sensor (23) when the smoking article is inserted into the device.

18. An aerosol device (2) as described in claim 17, wherein the light source (22) is positioned on the opposite side of the smoking article from the sensor (23) when the smoking article is inserted into the device.

19. The aerosol device (2) according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the aerosol device (2) comprises a plurality of sensors (23) and / or a plurality of light sources (22).

20. A method for manufacturing a smoking article (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising using a marking device to generate the machine-readable pattern (101) on the surface of the layer included in the smoking article.

21. 21. A method for manufacturing a smoking article (1) according to claim 20, wherein the marking device is a laser, a roller with different embossed patterns, or a material deposition device such as 3D printing.

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