Aerosol supply device equipped with optical article sensor

Abstract

An aerosol supply device is configured to receive at least a part of an article containing an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol supply device comprises an article sensor and a processor. The article sensor comprises a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicating article information. The processor is configured to determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold, and to change an operating parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device, an aerosol supply system, and an article.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices that release compounds by heating a material without burning it. The material can be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, for example.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply device configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing an aerosol-generating material is provided. The aerosol supply device includes an article sensor and a processor. The article sensor includes a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicating article information, and the processor is configured to determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold and, in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, change an operating parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

[0004] The article sensor may include a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter signal to the article, the transmitter signal causing the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

[0005] The transmitter signal may be reflected from the article to cause the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

[0006] The operating parameter may be the transmitter signal strength of the transmitter signal, and the processor is configured to increase the transmitter signal strength to increase the receiver signal strength.

[0007] The processor may be configured to increase the transmitter signal strength by increasing the current supplied to the transmitter.

[0008] The receiver may be an optical receiver configured to receive light from an object.

[0009] The transmitter may be a light source configured to transmit light to an object, and the receiver signal is the light reflected from the object.

[0010] The processor may be configured to determine the color of a part of an item in response to a receiver signal.

[0011] The operating parameter is the receiver sensitivity, and the processor is configured to increase the receiver signal strength by increasing the receiver sensitivity.

[0012] The processor may be configured to incrementally change its operating parameters, with the increment being constant for measured receiver signal strengths below a detection threshold.

[0013] The processor may be configured to incrementally change its operating parameters, with the increment increasing as the difference between the detection threshold and the measured receiver signal strength increases.

[0014] The processor may be configured to store empirical data relating to the operating parameters of the item sensor and the receiver signal strength. The empirical data may include previously used increments. The processor may be configured to use the empirical data to determine the increment. The aerosol supply device may have memory for storing the empirical data. The processor may be configured to transmit the empirical data to an external server or device. The processor may be configured to use a machine learning algorithm trained with the empirical data to determine the increment. The processor may be configured to receive the increment value from an external server or device.

[0015] Following the modification of the operating parameters, the processor may be configured to determine whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, and, if so, to further modify the operating parameters to further increase the receiver signal strength.

[0016] The processor may be configured to reset operating parameters to their default values ​​for the next item.

[0017] The processor may be configured to maintain the values ​​of its operating parameters from one item to the next.

[0018] The processor may be configured to determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength that exceeds an upper threshold, and, in response to the receiver signal strength exceeding the upper threshold, to modify the operating parameters of the item sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength, wherein the upper threshold is greater than the detection threshold.

[0019] Item information may include the existence of the item.

[0020] Item information may include the type of item.

[0021] Item information may include a unique item identifier.

[0022] The processor may be configured to determine item information from the receiver signal.

[0023] The aerosol supply device may include a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an article, the receptacle being configured such that a receiver signal is received on or through the wall of the receptacle, and the receiver is located on the wall of the receptacle.

[0024] The wall may have a translucent portion, and the receiver is positioned outside the receptacle in the translucent portion.

[0025] The wall may include an opening, and the receiver is disposed beyond the opening to receive the receiver signal through the opening.

[0026] The aerosol supply device is a tobacco heating product.

[0027] The article sensor may be a Hall effect sensor.

[0028] The processor may be configured to determine a color of a part of the article from the receiver signal and determine the characteristics of the article from the color.

[0029] The processor may be configured to change the operating parameters of the aerosol generator according to the characteristics of the article.

[0030] The processor may be configured to change the heating profile according to the characteristics of the article.

[0031] The processor may be configured to change the session length according to the characteristics of the article.

[0032] The processor may be configured to change the operating temperature according to the characteristics of the article.

[0033] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply system is provided that includes the aerosol supply device described above and an article received by the aerosol supply device.

[0034] The article may include a mark indicating article information.

[0035] The mark may be a colored portion of the article.

[0036] The colored portion may be a colored band surrounding the article.

[0037] The mark may indicate the type of the article.

[0038] According to some embodiments described herein, a method is provided for an article sensor receiver or aerosol supply device, comprising the steps of receiving a receiver signal from an article engaged with an aerosol supply device, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to form an aerosol from the article and the receiver signal indicates article information; determining whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal intensity below a detection threshold; and, in response to the receiver signal intensity being below the detection threshold, changing the operating parameters of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal intensity. The method may include any of the steps described above with respect to the device and system.

[0039] This method may include a step of incrementally changing the operating parameters.

[0040] This method may include a step of storing empirical data relating to the operating parameters of an object sensor and the receiver signal strength. The empirical data may include previously used increments. This method may include a step of determining an increment using the empirical data. This method may include determining the increment using a machine learning algorithm trained with the empirical data. The machine learning algorithm may be trained on an external device.

[0041] This method may include transmitting empirical data to an external server or device. This method may include determining increments using a machine learning algorithm trained with the empirical data. This method may include a step of training a machine learning algorithm based on the empirical data. The machine learning algorithm may be used to determine increments by the processor of the aerosol supply device or by an external device / server. The machine learning algorithm may be trained in the processor of the aerosol supply device or by an external device / server.

[0042] According to some embodiments described herein, an aerosol supply device is provided configured to accept at least a portion of an article containing an aerosol-generating material, the aerosol supply device comprising an article sensor and a processor, the article sensor comprising a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article and a processor configured to determine the color of a portion of the article from the receiver signal and to determine the properties of the article from that color. The aerosol supply device has the above features and may be configured as described above.

[0043] The processor may be configured to change its operating parameters according to the characteristics of the item.

[0044] The processor may be configured to change the heating profile depending on the characteristics of the article.

[0045] The processor may be configured to change the session length depending on the characteristics of the item.

[0046] The processor may be configured to change its operating temperature depending on the characteristics of the item.

[0047] According to some embodiments described herein, an article comprising an aerosol-generating material is provided, the article comprising a mark, the mark being a colored portion of the article, and the mark indicating the properties of the article. The article having the above features may be configured as described above.

[0048] According to some embodiments described herein, a method is provided in which a receiver of an article sensor includes the steps of: receiving a receiver signal from an article engaged with an aerosol supply device; determining the color of a portion of the article from the receiver signal; and determining the properties of the article from the color.

[0049] Here, embodiments will be described as mere examples with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0050] [Figure 1] A side view of the aerosol supply system is shown. [Figure 2] A perspective view of the item is shown. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional side view of the aerosol supply system is shown. [Figure 4] A schematic diagram of the aerosol supply system is shown. [Figure 5] This document describes a method for receiving a receiver signal in an aerosol supply device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0051] As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” refers to a material that can generate an aerosol when energy is supplied, for example, by heating, irradiation, or any other means. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, which may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings. The aerosol-generating material may also contain any plant-based material, such as tobacco-containing material, and may include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, puffed tobacco, recycled tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. The aerosol-generating material may also contain other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine, depending on the product. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, gel, or wax. The aerosol-generating material may also be, for example, a combination or blend of materials. The aerosol-generating material may also be known as “smoked material.”

[0052] The aerosol-generating material may include a binder and an aerosol-forming agent. Optionally, an activator and / or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water may also be present, and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of plant-based materials. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

[0053] The aerosol-generating material may include or may be an amorphous solid. The amorphous solid may be a monolithic solid. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dry gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material capable of holding some fluid, such as a liquid, within the amorphous solid. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include, for example, about 50 wt%, 60 wt%, or 70 wt% of amorphous solid to about 90 wt%, 95 wt%, or 100 wt% of amorphous solid.

[0054] The aerosol-generating material may include an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may include, or may be, sheets that can be optionally shredded to form shredded sheets. The aerosol-generating sheets or shredded sheets may not substantially contain tobacco.

[0055] According to this disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials of the aerosol supply system (or its components) are not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0056] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol supply system.

[0057] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaporization device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0058] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system.

[0059] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system for generating aerosols using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0060] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0061] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating materials and configured for use with non-combustible aerosol supply devices. These consumables may be referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0062] In some embodiments, a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a non-combustible aerosol supply device, may include a power source and a controller. The power source may be, for example, a power source or a heat source. In some embodiments, the heat source includes a carbon substrate that can be energized to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or heat transfer material adjacent to the heat source.

[0063] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system may include an area for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a suction port, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0064] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, packaging material, a filter, a suction nozzle, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0065] An aerosol generating device can accept an article containing an aerosol-generating material for heating. In this context, “article” refers to a component that, at the time of use, contains or includes an aerosol-generating material that is heated to volatilize the aerosol-generating material, and optionally, other components at the time of use. A user can insert an article into the aerosol generating device before the article is heated to generate an aerosol, after which the user inhales the aerosol. The article may be of a predetermined or specific size, for example, configured to be placed in a heating chamber of a device sized to accept the article.

[0066] Referring to Figure 1, the aerosol supply system 10 comprises an aerosol supply device 100 for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The aerosol supply system 10 further comprises a replaceable article 110 containing the aerosol-generating material. Schematically, the aerosol-forming device 100 may be used to heat the article 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium to be inhaled by a user of the device 100.

[0067] The aerosol forming device 100 comprises a main body 102. The housing structure surrounds and accommodates various components of the main body 102. An article opening 104 into which an article 110 can be inserted for heating by the aerosol generator 200 is formed at one end of the main body 102, which will be described below with reference to Figure 3.

[0068] Device 100 may also include user-operable control elements 150, such as buttons or switches, that operate device 100 when pressed. For example, a user can turn on device 100 by operating the switch 150.

[0069] The aerosol generator 200 defines a longitudinal axis that aligns with the axis of the article 110.

[0070] During use, article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 200 and may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 200.

[0071] Device 100 includes an apparatus for heating an aerosol-generating material. The apparatus includes an aerosol-generating assembly, a controller (control circuit), and a power source. The apparatus forms part of the main body 102. The aerosol-generating assembly is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material of an article 110 inserted through an article opening 104 so that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material. The power source supplies power to the aerosol-generating assembly, which converts the supplied electrical energy into thermal energy for heating the aerosol-generating material. The power source may be a battery, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, lithium batteries (such as lithium-ion batteries), nickel batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries), and alkaline batteries.

[0072] The power source is electrically coupled to the aerosol generation assembly and can supply power to heat the aerosol generation material under the control of a controller when needed. The control circuit may be configured to start and stop the aerosol generation assembly based on user input. User input may be via button presses or opening of a device door (e.g., a door covering a consumable receiving receptacle). The control circuit may be configured to start and stop automatically, for example, when an article is inserted.

[0073] An aerosol-generating assembly may comprise various components for heating an aerosol-generating material via an induction heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating a conductive heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. An induction heating assembly may comprise an induction element, e.g., one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the induction element. The fluctuating current in the induction element generates a fluctuating magnetic field. The fluctuating magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) appropriately positioned relative to the induction element, generating eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to eddy currents, and therefore the flow of eddy currents against this resistance heats the susceptor by Joule heating. If the susceptor contains a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses within the susceptor, i.e., by the fluctuating orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material resulting from their alignment with the fluctuating magnetic field. In induction heating, compared to, for example, conduction heating, heat is generated inside the susceptor, enabling rapid heating. Furthermore, since no physical contact is required between the induction element and the susceptor, it allows for greater flexibility in construction and application.

[0074] Referring to Figure 2, article 110 includes an indicator 112. The indicator 112 displays article information. The article information includes the type of article 110, for example, the flavor, strength, and / or size of article 110.

[0075] The indicator 112 is a mark 112. The mark 112 is located on the outer surface 114 of the article 110. The outer surface 114 may be formed from paper, on which the mark 112 is printed. The mark 112 provides optical indication of article information. The mark 112 is a colored portion of the article 110. The mark 112 is a band surrounding the article 110. The article 110 is substantially cylindrical, and the band extends around the curved surface 114 of the article. The mark 112 is located on the portion of the outer surface 114 surrounding the aerosol-generating material.

[0076] In some embodiments, the identifier 112 includes an image on the outer surface 114. In some embodiments, the identifier 112 includes a barcode, a QR code, or another machine-readable optical label. In some embodiments, the identifier may not be on the outer surface 114 but be located inside the article. The identifier may be another type of tag, such as a radio frequency identification tag or a near-field communication tag.

[0077] In some embodiments, the article information includes a unique article identifier so that a specific article can be identified from the indicator 112. In other embodiments, the article information includes an indication that an article (e.g., an article suitable for use with the aerosol supply device 100) is present.

[0078] Referring to Figure 3, a portion of article 110 is received into the receptacle 106 of the aerosol supply device 100. The receptacle 106 is a cylindrical chamber extending from the article opening 104 into the body 102. Article 110 is inserted into the receptacle 106 through the opening 104 so that the identifier 112 is positioned with the receptacle 106. The receptacle 106 is defined by a wall 108.

[0079] The aerosol supply device 100 comprises an aerosol generator 200. The aerosol generator 200 is a heating assembly. The aerosol generator 200 comprises an induction element 202. The induction element 202 is an induction coil surrounding the receptacle 106. In this embodiment, the aerosol generator 200 comprises a susceptor element 108, which is a wall 108.

[0080] The aerosol supply device 100 includes an article sensor 116. The receptacle 108 includes an opening 109. The article sensor 116 is positioned in the opening 109. The article sensor 116 is positioned outside the receptacle 108 beyond the opening 109 so that the article sensor 116 communicates optically with the receptacle through the opening 109. In some embodiments, the wall 108 has a translucent portion, and the article sensor 116 is positioned outside the wall 108 beyond that translucent portion.

[0081] The item sensor 116 is positioned so that the indicator 112 aligns with the item sensor 116 when the item 110 is received into the receptacle 106.

[0082] Referring to Figure 4, the aerosol supply device 100 includes a processor 118 that communicates data with the article sensor 116. The article sensor 116 includes a transmitter 120 and a receiver 122. The transmitter 120 is in optical communication with the article 110. The receiver 122 is in optical communication with the article 110. The transmitter is in optical communication with the indicator 112. The receiver 122 is in optical communication with the indicator 112.

[0083] The transmitter 120 is configured to transmit a transmitter signal to the article 110. The transmitter 120 is a light source (e.g., an LED) configured to transmit light to the article 110.

[0084] Receiver 122 is configured to receive a receiver signal from article 110. A transmitter signal causes the receiver signal to reach receiver 122. The transmitter signal is reflected from article 110. Receiver 122 may be an optical receiver configured to receive light reflected from article 110.

[0085] During use, the user inserts the article 110 into the aerosol supply device 100. The user activates a user-operable control element 150, which causes the aerosol supply device to perform an article identification process 300, as described below with respect to Figure 5. The aerosol generator 200 generates an aerosol from the article 110. The aerosol supply device 100 supplies an alternating current to the inductor element 202, thereby causing the susceptor element 108 to heat the aerosol-generating material of the article 110.

[0086] The susceptor element 108 heats the aerosol-generating material at the operating temperature by applying a heating profile throughout the aerosol generation session. The heating profile depends on the article information, and different heating profiles are applied to different types of articles. The operating temperature depends on the article information, and the aerosol-generating material is heated to different operating temperatures for different types of articles. The session length of the aerosol generation session (i.e., the period during which the aerosol generator generates from the aerosol-generating material) depends on the article information, and different session lengths are used for different types of articles.

[0087] At the end of the aerosol generation session, the aerosol generator 200 stops generating aerosols from the aerosol generation material. The user removes the item 110 from the aerosol supply device 100 and discards the item 110.

[0088] Figure 5 shows the article identification process 300 performed by the aerosol supply device 100. The article identification process 300 includes a transmission step 302, a reception step 304, an intensity determination step 306, a modification step 308, and an article information step 310.

[0089] In transmission step 302, the processor 118 controls the transmitter 120 to transmit a transmitter signal to the indicator of the item 110. As described above, the transmitter 120 is a light source and the transmitter signal is light.

[0090] In receiving step 304, receiver 122 receives a receiver signal from article 110. As described above, receiver 122 is an optical receiver that receives light transmitted by transmitter 120 and reflected from indicator 112 of article.

[0091] In intensity determination step 306, the processor determines whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal intensity below a detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold, the processor may determine the signal-to-noise ratio of the optical signal, and a signal-to-noise ratio below an SNR threshold indicates that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold, the processor may consider the optical transmittance (e.g., received light divided by transmitted light), and an optical transmittance below an optical transmission threshold indicates that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold, the processor may perform the item information step 310 (described below), and if the processor is unable to determine the item information, it may attempt to determine that the receiver signal intensity is below a detection threshold.

[0092] In response to the determination that the receiver signal falls below the detection threshold, in modification step 308, the processor modifies the operating parameters of the item sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

[0093] In this example, the operating parameter is the current supplied to the transmitter 120, and the processor increases the current supplied to the transmitter 120 to increase the light from the transmitter 120, thereby increasing the receiver signal strength. In another example, the operating parameter is the sensitivity of the receiver 122, which can be increased to increase the receiver signal strength.

[0094] In this example, the operating parameter is changed increments, and the increment is substantially constant and independent of the determined receiver signal strength. This may provide a simple aerosol supply device 100. In other examples, the increment by which the operating parameter is changed depends on the difference between the measured receiver signal strength and the detection threshold, for example, the increment increases as the difference between the detection threshold and the measured receiver signal strength increases. This may allow the receiver signal strength to reach the detection threshold more quickly.

[0095] Following the modification step 308, the processor controls the transmitter and receiver to perform the transmit step 302 and receive step 304 again with the modified operating parameters before performing the intensity determination step 306 again as described above.

[0096] In response to the determination that the receiver signal exceeds the detection threshold, in the item information step 310, the processor 118 determines item information from the receiver signal.

[0097] By modifying the operating parameters in the manner described, item information can be determined even when the aerosol supply device is contaminated or when condensation occurs near the receiver. Increasing the receiver signal strength gradually reduces power consumption.

[0098] In this example, transmission step 302 starts when the user activates a user-operable control element 150 to start the aerosol supply device 100. In other examples, transmission step 302 may start automatically, for example, when an article 110 inserted into the aerosol supply device 100 is detected.

[0099] In this example, aerosol generation begins after the article information step 310. This allows aerosol generation to be specific to the type of article. In other examples, the aerosol generator 200 may start a preheating step before the user-operable control element 150 is activated and the article identification process 300 is completed, and the aerosol generation session begins following the successful completion of the article identification process 300. This can reduce the time from device startup to aerosol generation.

[0100] In another example, the aerosol generator 200 initiates an aerosol generation session when a user-operable control element 150 is activated, for example, simultaneously with an item identification process 300. This can reduce the time from device startup to aerosol generation and may be particularly suitable for devices where heating is independent of item information. Item information may be used to track the use of an item, for example, to indicate when the item needs to be reordered.

[0101] In this example, after the aerosol generation session for article 110 has ended and article 110 has been removed by the user, the processor maintains operating parameters for additional articles to be used with the aerosol supply device 100 thereafter. The article identification process may include additional steps (e.g., after the determination step or article information step) in which the processor determines whether the receiver signal strength exceeds an upper threshold above the detection threshold. Depending on whether the receiver signal strength exceeds the upper threshold, the processor may modify the operating parameters of the article sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength. This may reduce power consumption.

[0102] In other examples, the operating parameters may revert to their default values ​​for each additional item.

[0103] In other examples, the transmission step and transmitter 120 are omitted. The receiver may be an optical sensor, and the light received from article 110 may be ambient light reflected from the article. In such examples, the receiver sensitivity can be increased to increase the receiver signal strength.

[0104] The item identification process has been described in relation to optical transmitters / receivers and signals, but it may be applied to other signals, including those used for the RFID / NFC tags described above. Furthermore, other types of receivers, such as Hall effect sensors, may be used, and the item identification process may be applied to such sensors. Hall effect sensors may use inductive, capacitive, or magnetic variables to provide item information. In the case of an inductive Hall effect sensor where the receiver signal is determined to be below a detection threshold, the inductive effect may be increased by increasing the voltage or frequency of the input signal to the transmitter.

[0105] In the embodiments described above, the aerosol supply device comprises a heating component which is an induction heating component. In embodiments, other types of heating components are used, such as resistance heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above, and therefore a detailed description is omitted. In such configurations, the aerosol generation assembly comprises a resistance heating generator which includes components for heating a heating element via a resistance heating process. In this case, an electric current is applied directly to the resistance heating component, and the resulting flow of current within the heating component heats the heating component by Joule heating. The resistance heating component includes a resistive material configured to generate heat when a suitable current passes through the resistance heating component, and the heating assembly comprises electrical contacts for supplying current to the resistive material.

[0106] In the embodiment, the heating element forms the resistive heating component itself. In the embodiment, the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example, by conduction.

[0107] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used and modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably include, consist of, or essentially consist of, appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. an aerosol supply device configured to accept at least a portion of an article containing an aerosol generating material, Equipped with an object sensor and a processor, The article sensor includes a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, The receiver signal indicates item information, The aforementioned processor, To determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below the detection threshold, In response to the receiver signal strength falling below the detection threshold, the operating parameters of the item sensor are changed to increase the receiver signal strength. An aerosol supply device configured to perform the following actions.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the article sensor comprises a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter signal to the article, and the transmitter signal causes the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein the operating parameter is the transmitter signal intensity of the transmitter signal, and the processor is configured to increase the transmitter signal intensity to increase the receiver signal intensity.

4. The aerosol supply device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to increase the current supplied to the transmitter to increase the transmitter signal strength.

5. The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein the receiver is an optical receiver configured to receive light from the article.

6. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter is a light source configured to transmit light to the article, and the receiver signal is light reflected from the article.

7. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to determine the color of a portion of the article in response to the receiver signal.

8. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameter is the sensitivity of the receiver, and the processor is configured to increase the sensitivity of the receiver and thereby increase the receiver signal strength.

9. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to incrementally change the operating parameter, and the increment is constant with respect to a measured receiver signal intensity below the detection threshold.

10. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to incrementally change the operating parameter, the increment increasing as the difference between the detection threshold and the measured receiver signal intensity increases.

11. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein, following the modification of the operating parameters, the processor is configured to determine whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, and, depending on whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, to further modify the operating parameters to further increase the receiver signal strength.

12. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to reset the operating parameters to their default values ​​for the next article.

13. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to maintain the value of the operating parameter from one article to the next.

14. The aforementioned processor, To determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength that exceeds the upper threshold, In response to the receiver signal strength exceeding the upper threshold, the operating parameters of the item sensor are changed to reduce the receiver signal strength. It is configured to do the following: The upper threshold is greater than the detection threshold. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1.

15. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the article information includes the presence of the article, the type of the article, and / or a unique article identifier.

16. An aerosol supply device according to claim 1, comprising a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an article, wherein the receptacle is configured such that the receiver signal is received on or through the wall of the receptacle, and the receiver is located on the wall of the receptacle.

17. The aerosol supply device according to claim 16, wherein the wall includes an opening, and the receiver is positioned beyond the opening to receive the receiver signal through the opening.

18. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the aerosol supply device is a tobacco heating product.

19. An aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, and an article to be received by the aerosol supply device.

20. A receiver of an article sensor of an aerosol supply device, comprising the steps of receiving a receiver signal from an article engaged with the aerosol supply device, wherein the aerosol supply device is configured to form an aerosol from the article, and the receiver signal indicates article information, The steps include determining whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold, The steps include: increasing the receiver signal strength by changing the operating parameters of the item sensor in response to the receiver signal strength falling below the detection threshold; Methods that include...

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