Apparatus for generating aerosols from an aerosolizable medium, an article of an aerosolizable medium, and a method for determining the parameters of the article.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD
- Filing Date
- 2023-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-03
Smart Images
Figure 0007899127000001 
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
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[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium, an article of aerosolizable medium, a system comprising an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium and an article of aerosolizable medium, and a method for determining parameters associated with the article. Background
[0002] Articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning the 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 the material. 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 comprising an aerosolizable medium and including a marker, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a first input indicative of the speed of movement of the article received in the chamber during use, and a second input indicative of a parameter of the article. At least the second input is determined based on the marker.
[0004] According to a second example, an article comprising an aerosolizable medium for use with the apparatus of the first example is provided. The article comprises a marker indicative of a parameter of the article.
[0005] A fourth example provides a method for determining parameters of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium. The method includes the steps of receiving a first input indicating the speed of movement of the article, receiving a second input indicating parameters of the article, and determining the parameters of the article based on the received first and second inputs.
[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 received by the device's controller. [Figure 8] This is a side view of an example of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium. [Figure 9] 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 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 120 configured to heat an article 102 placed in the chamber 112. In one example, one or more heaters 120 are resistance heating elements whose temperature rises when an electric current is passed through them. In other examples, one or more heaters 120 may comprise a susceptor material that is heated by induction heating. In the example of one or more heaters 120 comprising a susceptor material, the apparatus also comprises one or more induction elements that generate a fluctuating magnetic field that penetrates one or more heating elements. One or more heaters 120 can be located inside or outside the heating chamber 112. In one example, one or more heaters may comprise a thin-film heater wound around the outer surface of the heating chamber 112. For example, the heater 120 may be formed as a single heater or as a plurality of heaters aligned along the longitudinal axis of the heating chamber 112. The heating chamber 112 may be annular or tubular, or at least partially annular or partially tubular around its circumference. 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, one or more heaters 120 may include a susceptor placed on or inside article 102, in which case the susceptor material can be 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 the aerosolizable medium, as will be discussed further below. In some examples, the controller 116 is configured to receive one or more inputs from one or more sensors 122a, 122b, as will be discussed further below. The controller 116 can also receive signals from a control element 110 and actuate one or more heaters 120 in response to the received signals and inputs. The electronic elements within the device 100 can be electrically connected by one or more connection elements 124, indicated by dashed lines.
[0016] 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 one or more heaters 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.
[0017] It may be desirable for the device 100 to be able to identify or recognize a specific article 102 introduced into the device 100. For example, the device 100, in particular, which includes 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 article 102 having different properties.
[0018] 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.
[0019] In one example, one or more sensors 122a, 122b are configured to detect markers on article 102, as described in more detail below. Based on the detected markers, sensors 122a, 122b can provide one or more inputs to controller 116, which can determine parameters of article 102, such as whether article 102 is genuine, based on the one or more inputs received. Controller 116 can activate one or more heaters 120 depending on the determined parameters of article 102. Thus, the device 100 is equipped with means for detecting whether article 102 is genuine, and therefore, if a non-genuine product is detected, the operation of the device 100 can be modified by, for example, withholding power from one or more heaters 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.
[0020] In some examples, the controller 116 can determine the parameters of the article 102 based on one or more inputs it receives, and adjust the heating profile provided by one or more heaters 120 based on the determined parameters. The heaters 120 of the device 100 can be configured to provide a first heating profile (e.g., by the controller 116 controlling the power supply) if the parameters of the article 102 have a first characteristic, and the heater components 120 can be configured to provide a second heating profile if the parameters have a second characteristic. For example, the device 100 can determine whether a consumable is solid or non-solid and adjust the heating profile accordingly. In other examples, the device 100 can distinguish between different blends of tobacco in the article 102 and adjust the heating profile accordingly to provide an optimal heating profile for a particular blend of tobacco inserted into the device 100.
[0021] Figure 4 is a schematic longitudinal side view of an example of an article 102 equipped with an aerosolizable medium for use with the apparatus 100. In some examples, article 102 also includes a filter component (not shown) in addition to the aerosolizable medium.
[0022] Article 102 also includes a marker 126 configured to be detected by one or more sensors 122a, 122b of device 100. Marker 126 may be composed of marker elements and represents coded information indicating parameters of the article. As described above, the parameters may indicate the manufacturer of the article so that it can be confirmed that article 102 is an authentic product. 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 includes flavored 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 marker 126 indicating the parameters associated with article 102, device 100 can provide an adjusted experience to the user based on the parameters.
[0023] Marker 126 can have optical properties. For example, in FIG. 4, marker 126 is a series of marker elements in the form of lines on the outside of article 102. These lines are shown to have a uniform width, but in other examples, the line widths may vary. In the example of FIG. 4, the configuration of the lines, such as the spacing between adjacent lines, indicates the coded parameters associated with article 102. When marker 126 is read, it can be compared to a look-up table (LUT) that correlates the data associated with marker 126 (e.g., a binary sequence indicated by the print) with the heating profile or other operations associated with the device. Further, the data associated with marker 126 may be coded according to a secret key common to all aerosol supply devices from a particular manufacturer / origin, and the device is configured to decode the coded data and then search for the decoded data in the LUT.
[0024] In the example of the cylindrical article 102, one or more marker elements, such as lines, may extend around or a part around the circumference of the article 102, or all around the circumference of the article 102. In some examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b configured to detect the marker 126 may be arranged at specific locations within the device 100. For example, one or more sensors 122a, 122b may be arranged adjacent to one side of the chamber 112 and may have a limited detection range. Providing a marker element that extends all around the circumference of the article 102 facilitates the detection of the marker 126 by one or more sensors 122a, 122b regardless of the specific orientation of the article 102 within the device 100.
[0025] The marker 126 may be formed in several different ways and may be formed from several different materials depending on the specific sensing configuration of the device 100 intended to be used with the article 102. The marker 126 may include optical features such as lines, gaps or notches, surface roughness, barcodes, QR codes, and / or reflective materials. In other examples, the marker 126 includes conductive features, and one or more sensors 122a, 122b may be configured to detect a change in capacitance or resistance when the article 102 including the marker 126 is inserted into the device 102. Providing non-optical sensors 122a, 122b may be more robust compared to optical sensors as they are not affected by deposits on the optical sensors or degradation of the optical sensors during the use of the device 100. In other examples, the marker 126 may include a combination of optical features and conductive features.
[0026] The marker 126 may be provided, for example, on the outside of the smoking article 102, inside the smoking article 102, or both on the outside and inside of the smoking article 102. When using optical sensing alone or in combination with some other sensing such as capacitance sensing, the marker 126 is preferably provided on the outside of the article 102 so that the marker 126 is visible to one or more sensors 122a, 122b of the device 100.
[0027] In some embodiments, one or more sensors 122a, 122b are configured to detect markers on an article 102 when the article is inserted into or moves within the receiving section. In such cases, the output of sensors 122a, 122b can vary based on the speed at which the article 102 moves. Insertion speeds vary considerably depending on the user. For example, insertion speeds have been observed to be between approximately 2 mm / s and 2000 mm / s, with average insertion speeds between 100 mm / s and 600 mm / s. Such large variations in insertion speed can result in articles not being correctly identified or recognized. In configurations where the sensor's field of view is relatively narrow, such as when the sensor is located inside the device, this variation in speed can have a significant impact on recognition accuracy. This disclosure describes methods that can compensate for this.
[0028] In one example, the marker 126 comprises a first region 126a and a second region 126b of the marker element. The first region 126a and the second region 126 may be adjacent to each other, but it is more preferable that they be spaced apart. Providing a gap between the first region 126a and the second region 126b of the marker element reduces the possibility of interference between the two regions. The first region 126a of the marker element can be configured to be detected by a first sensor 122a, and the second region 126b of the marker element can be configured to be detected by a second sensor 122b. However, in other examples, a single sensor 122a, 122b may be used to detect both the first region 126a and the second region 126b of the marker 126.
[0029] The first region 126a may be configured to be detected by a first sensor 122a to provide a first input to the controller indicating the speed of movement of the article 102. In this example, the first sensor 122a is a motion sensor. In one example, the speed of movement of the article 102 is determined by measuring the time interval at which adjacent marker elements in the first region 126a, such as lines or notches, pass through the sensor 122a. In some examples, the marker elements in the first region 126a are arranged at predetermined intervals. In some examples, the marker elements in the first region 126a are arranged at uniform intervals from each other. In other examples, the intervals between consecutive markers are predetermined (and therefore known) intervals, but may not be uniform.
[0030] The controller 116 can receive a first input from the first sensor 122a and determine the movement speed of the article 102 by dividing a predetermined distance between two marker elements by the time interval that occurs between the two marker elements passing through the first sensor 122a. In another example, the sensor 122a is accompanied by a circuit that can determine the movement speed of the article 102 and provide this movement speed to the controller 116.
[0031] In the example of article 102 shown in Figure 4, the first region 126a of the marker is formed from four marker elements. Each of these marker elements is spaced apart from one another at a predetermined uniform distance. However, in other examples, the first region 126a comprises a single marker element, and the first sensor 122a comprises two sensing elements spaced apart at a known distance. In the example of the first region 126a comprising a single marker element, the moving speed of article 102 can be determined from the time interval between the time the marker element of the first region 126a passes through the first sensing element of the first sensor 122a and the time it passes through the second sensing element of the first sensor 122a.
[0032] The second region 126b includes marker elements configured to be detected by the second sensor 122b, enabling the controller 16 to determine parameters associated with article 102. In this example, the second sensor 122b can be considered a parameter sensor. In the example shown in Figure 4, the second region 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 in the second region 126b indicates the parameters of article 102. For example, the configuration of the marker elements in the second region 126b may indicate that the article 102 to be used with the device 100 is genuine article 102, or it may indicate the heating profile to be used with this article 102. The second sensor 122b is configured to provide the controller 116 with a second input indicating the parameters of article 102.
[0033] In some examples, when article 102 is inserted into the device 100, the marker element in the first region 126a passes over the first sensor 122a, and its speed of movement is the speed at which article 102 is being inserted into the device. In other examples, when article 102 is fully inserted into the device 100, the marker element in the first region 126a is positioned next to the first sensor 122a. Furthermore, in some examples, when article 102 is inserted into the device, the marker element in the second region 126b may pass over the second sensor 122b. In other examples, when article 102 is fully inserted into the device 100, the marker element in the second region 126b is positioned next to the second sensor 122b.
[0034] When capacitive sensing or resistive sensing is used, the marker 126 may be provided inside and / or outside the article 102. The marker 126 may be literally "marked" on the article 102 by printing or other means. Alternatively, the marker 126 may be provided inside or on the article 102 by other techniques, such as being integrally formed with the article 102 during manufacturing. Similar to optical sensors, the marker 126 may comprise a first region 226a composed of marker elements spaced a predetermined distance apart, and a second region 226b composed of marker elements spaced differently apart from each other. The capacitive or resistive sensor may be configured to provide a first input indicating the moving speed of the article 202, and a second input indicating a parameter associated with the article 202. In certain examples, depending on the characteristics of the sensing used to detect the marker 126, the marker may be formed from a conductive material. The marker 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 onto the chip paper of article 102 using, for example, a web gravure printing method, screen printing, inkjet printing, or any other suitable process.
[0035] 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, the article 102 may be determined to be 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, the article 102 may be determined to be unsuitable 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 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 have (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 the measurement can be compared to one or more criteria to determine whether the apparatus 100 can then proceed to heat article.
[0036] In other examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b comprise non-optical sensors such as RF sensors or Hall effect sensors having a permanent magnet or electromagnet and a Hall effect sensor. Markers may be formed from suitable materials configured to affect the non-optical signals received by sensors 122a, 122b. For example, markers may generate changes in the level of the detected signal as a function of time, e.g., troughs (when the signal is absorbed) or peaks (when the signal is reflected).
[0037] In some examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b comprise at least two different sensing techniques. For 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.
[0038] Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative example of article 202 for use with a device for heating an aerosolizable medium. Article 202 may include a substantially flat sheet of cardboard or paper. The aerosolizable material may be provided on one side, and the heater may heat the aerosolizable material from the opposite side (such that the sheet of cardboard or paper is between the aerosol material and the heater). In this example, the marker 226 is in the form of a plurality of notches or holes formed in article 202. Similar to the marker 126 shown in Figure 4, the marker 226 in the example of Figure 5 may comprise a first region 226a composed of marker elements spaced a predetermined distance apart, and a second region 226b composed of marker elements spaced differently apart from each other. The first region 226a can determine the moving speed of article 202, and the second region 226b can determine parameters or features associated with article 202. Article 202 is depicted as a rectangle, but other shapes including squares or circles may also be used.
[0039] Figure 6 shows an example illustrating an optical sensor configuration. In this example, one or more sensors 222 comprise a light source 232 and a light receiver 234. The light source 232 is configured to supply light to the light receiver 234 along an optical path. When an article 202 passes through or next to one or more sensors 222 between the light source 232 and the light receiver 234, the article 202 blocks the light, preventing it from being received by the light receiver 234. In other examples, the article 202 reduces the amount of light received by the light receiver 234. However, since the markers 226 of the article 202 in the form of multiple notches pass through one or more sensors 222, the light from the light source is no longer blocked and is received by the light receiver 234. Therefore, the amount of light received by the light receiver 234 as the article 202 passes through the optical path varies depending on whether or not the notches are between the light source 232 and the light receiver 234. One or more sensors 222 are configured to provide the received changes in light to the controller 116. In this example, changes in light detected by one or more sensors 222 associated with a first region 226a of the marker may indicate a first input to the controller 116, which indicates the speed of movement of article 202, thereby allowing the controller to determine the speed of movement of article 202. Changes in light detected by one or more sensors 222 associated with a second region 226b of the marker may indicate a second input to the controller 116. The second input indicates parameters of article 202, which thus allows the controller to determine the parameters of article 202.
[0040] In the example shown in Figure 6, one or more sensors 222 comprise a single light source 232 and a light receiver 134. However, in other examples, the optical sensor may comprise a row of light sources and a row of light sensors. In the example of a marker with reflective material, the light source and light receiver 234 may be formed on a single element, and as the marker element passes through one or more sensors 222, the light is reflected back to the light source / light receiver.
[0041] In other examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b, 222 are configured to detect markers 126, 226 by measuring reflection or surface roughness from the surface of articles 102, 202. In other examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b, 222 may be configured to detect and read markers 126, 226 in the form of barcodes or QR codes. In other examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b, 222 may be configured to detect visible or invisible fluorescent materials.
[0042] In other examples, the first region 126a may comprise a portion configured to be tracked by an optical tracking system to indicate the speed of movement independently of any markings, for example, by tracking the surface using changes in surface roughness. In this case, the first sensor 122a may comprise a light source such as an LED and a light sensor such as a photocell. Light from the light source is reflected from the consumable and received by the sensor. The reflected light changes due to changes in the surface as the article moves through the sensor 122a. This change can be interpreted, for example, by a control device to give a speed of movement. In these examples, the first region 126a may be provided by a dedicated portion on the article having specific surface characteristics, or by changes in the overall characteristics of the outer surface of the article, for example, by changes in the surface of a wrapper such as a paper wrapper.
[0043] In one example, the controller 116 is configured to determine the parameters of articles 102, 202 based on the first and second inputs it receives. Figure 7 shows an example of a signal received by the controller 116. This signal represents the signal generated when article 202, shown in Figure 6, passes through one or more sensors 222. In this example, the amplitude of the signal increases as each marker element in the first region 226a and the second region 226b passes through one or more sensors 222. The position of the signal peaks corresponds to the position of the marker elements of article 202. In this example, the first set of peaks indicates the position of the first region 226a of the marker, and the second set of peaks 242 indicates the position of the second region 226b. In this example, the first set of peaks 240 indicates a first input indicating the moving speed of article 202, and the second set of peaks 242 indicates a second input indicating the parameters associated with article 202. In one example, the controller 116 is pre-programmed with or receives information regarding a predetermined distance between marker elements in a first region 226a. Based on the predetermined distance between marker elements in the first region 226a and the time interval (T) between adjacent peaks of the first input 240, the controller can determine the moving speed of the article 202. In another example, one or more sensors 222 can determine the moving speed of the article 202 and provide the controller 116 with a first input in the form of the moving speed. The controller 116 is configured to use the determined moving speed of the article 202 to determine the configuration of a second set of peaks 242. Since the controller 116 is given a first input indicating the moving speed of the article 202, it can accurately determine the configuration of marker elements in a second region 226b.
[0044] The controller 116 may have pre-programmed information, such as a lookup table, which includes details of various possible configurations of the marker elements in the second region 226b, and which parameters are associated with each configuration. Thus, based on a first input indicating the movement speed of the article 202 and a second input indicating the parameters associated with the article 202, the controller 116 can determine the parameters associated with the article 202.
[0045] The controller 116 may be configured to heat only the recognized articles 102 and not to operate with articles 102 that are not recognized. The device 100 may be configured to indicate to the user in some way that an article 102 is 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 and a second different heating pattern when it recognizes a second type of article 102 (and optionally, to provide further heating patterns for other types of articles 102). 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, minimizing the interaction required by the user.
[0046] Figure 8 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 one or more markers 326a, 326b configured 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.
[0047] Similar to articles 102 and 202 shown in the examples in Figures 4 and 5, the marker 326 is divided into a first region 326a and a second region 326b. The first region 326a may be configured to be detected by one or more sensors 122a, 122b to determine the moving speed of article 302. In this example, article 302 is inserted into the device 100 and configured to rotate, and the moving speed is the rotational motion of article 302 in the device 100. Similar to the example above, the moving speed of article 302 can be determined by measuring the time interval over which one or more marker elements in the first region 326a pass through sensors 122a, 122b. In some examples, the marker elements in the first region 326a are spaced at a predetermined uniform distance apart, and as a result, the moving speed can be determined from the time interval over which at least two marker elements in the first region 326a pass through one or more sensors 122a, 122b.
[0048] The second region 326b may include marker elements configured to be detected by one or more sensors 122a, 122b to determine parameters associated with the article 302. In the example shown in Figure 8, the second region 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 or partial rotation relative to all of the marker elements in order to be read by one or more sensors 122a, 122b.
[0049] In other examples, the device includes actuators configured to control the moving speed of articles 102, 202, and 302. For example, in the examples of articles 102 and 202 shown in Figures 4 and 5, the actuators may control the moving speed at which articles 102 and 202 are inserted into the device 100, such that article 102 is inserted into the chamber 112 at a predetermined speed. In some examples, the predetermined speed is uniform and substantially constant. Alternatively, in the example of article 302 shown in Figure 7, the actuators may be configured to rotate the article at a predetermined speed. The actuators may be motors that operate with a constant force and / or a constant speed. Alternatively, the actuators may take the form of a mechanical damping system. In some examples, the actuators may move article 100 by a known distance or increment.
[0050] In the example of article 102 having a substantially cylindrical rod, the speed at which article 102 moves can be determined based on the movement of an actuator (for example, by an encoder). The signal from the actuator can be given to a control circuit 116 to determine the speed at which article 102 moves.
[0051] Another option is a time-of-flight (TOF) sensor (ultrasonic or optical based) that detects the insertion speed of consumables into the device and correlates it with the detected signal from the marker detection system. The TOF sensor may be located, for example, at the bottom of the receiving section 112 and facing along the longitudinal axis of the receiving section 112. When a consumable is inserted into the receiving section, the consumable affects the TOF sensor, from which the insertion speed can be determined. The operating principle of the TOF sensor is known and will not be described in further detail here.
[0052] In another example, the device also includes a pinned wheel or roller configured to contact the article 102 when the article 102 is inserted into the device 100. When the article 102 is inserted, the wheel is configured to rotate at the same speed at which the article 102 was inserted into the device. Thus, the rotational speed of the wheel can be used to indicate the speed at which the article 102 is moved.
[0053] In these examples, the first input indicating the movement speed of articles 102, 202, and 302 may be provided to the control circuit 116 by an actuator, or it may be pre-programmed into the control circuit 116. In these examples, articles 102, 202, and 302 do not need to include marker elements in the first regions 126a, 226a, and 326a, as this is unnecessary if the first input indicating the movement speed of articles 102, 202, and 302 is provided by other means.
[0054] 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).
[0055] In some examples, one or more sensors 122a, 122b may be located in specific locations within the device 100. For example, one or more sensors 122a, 122b may be located within the chamber 112 and may have a limited detection range. Similarly, the marker 126 may be located on or within the articles 102, 202, 302, or in specific locations within the articles 102, 202, 302, or may occupy a specific area or volume of the article 102. To ensure that the marker 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 126 can be correctly aligned with one or more sensors 122a, 122b and detected. Limiting the orientation of articles 102, 202, and 302 so that the marker and sensor are aligned means that only one sensor 122 is needed in the device 100, rather than having multiple sensors, which can reduce weight and lower the manufacturing cost of the device 100. In addition to this, or instead, this allows for the provision of smaller markers 126 on or within the articles.
[0056] Figure 9 shows an example of a flowchart of the operation of the controller 116 of the device 100. In step 900, the controller 116 receives a first input indicating the movement speed of articles 102, 202, and 302. The first input indicating the movement speed of articles 102, 202, and 302 may be given by one or more sensors 122a, 122b, or it may be pre-programmed to the controller 116, or given to the controller 116 by other means. In step 902, the controller 116 receives a second input indicating the parameters of articles 102, 202, and 302. The second input indicating the parameters of articles 102, 202, and 302 is given to the controller by one or more sensors 122a, 122b. In step 904, the controller 116 determines the parameters of articles 102, 202, and 302 based on the first and second inputs received.
[0057] 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.
[0058] 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.
[0059] 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 elongated article containing an aerosolizable medium, One or more sensors, including a capacitance sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance when the article is inserted into the device, for obtaining a measurement of capacitance, wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to detect one or more conductive elements in a first region of the article and one or more conductive elements in a second region of the article, and the first region and the second region are located at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the article, An apparatus comprising: a controller configured to receive the capacitance measurement value and to determine the parameters of the article based on the received capacitance measurement value.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to operate one or more heaters according to the determined parameters.
3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to provide a first heating profile when the parameters of the article have a first characteristic, and to provide a second heating profile when the parameters of the article have a second characteristic.
4. The aforementioned parameter includes whether or not the article is a genuine product. The apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the controller is configured to prevent heating of the aerosolizable medium when the article is not a genuine product.
5. The aforementioned parameter includes whether or not the article is a genuine product. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to issue a warning message to the user if the article is not a genuine product.
6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more sensors include the capacitive sensor and the optical sensor.
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the optical sensor includes one or more light sources and one or more light receivers.
8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the one or more light sources include a row of light sources.
9. The apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the one or more light receivers include a row of light receivers.
10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, comprising one or more aerosol generating elements.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more aerosol generating elements comprises one or more heaters arranged to heat the article located within the chamber.
12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one or more heaters include one or more resistance heating elements.
13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the one or more aerosol generating elements include one or more inducting elements that generate a fluctuating magnetic field.
14. An elongated article comprising an aerosolizable medium, wherein the article comprises one or more conductive elements in a first region of the article and one or more conductive elements in a second region of the article, the first region and the second region being at different locations in the longitudinal direction of the article.
15. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to claim 14, wherein one or more conductive feature portions of the first region and / or the second region each include a metal component.
16. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to claim 15, wherein the metal component in the first region and / or the metal component in the second region comprises an iron material.
17. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the conductive element in the first region and / or the conductive element in the second region are provided on the outside of the article.
18. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the conductive element in the first region and / or the conductive element in the second region are provided inside the article.
19. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the article has optical features.
20. An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to claim 19, wherein the optical features are printed on paper wrapped around the article.
21. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, An article comprising an aerosolizable medium according to any one of claims 14 to 20 A system that is equipped with [the following].
22. A method for determining the parameters of an article comprising an aerosolizable medium, A step of receiving an article into a chamber of an apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium, wherein the article comprises one or more conductive elements in a first region of the article and one or more conductive elements in a second region of the article, and the first and second regions are located at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the article; To obtain a measurement value of capacitance by having one or more capacitive sensors of the apparatus detect the one or more conductive elements in the first region and the one or more conductive elements in the second region, the capacitive sensors detect a change in capacitance when the article is inserted into the apparatus, The steps include receiving the measured capacitance value by the controller of the device, The steps include: determining the parameters of the article by the controller based on the received capacitance measurement; A method that includes this.
23. A method for determining parameters of an article according to claim 22, further comprising the step of operating one or more heaters by the controller in accordance with the determined parameters.
24. An apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosolizable medium, Housing and A chamber for receiving an elongated article containing an aerosolizable medium, One or more sensors, including a capacitance sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance when the article is inserted into the device, for obtaining a measurement of capacitance, wherein the capacitance sensor is configured to detect one or more conductive elements in a first region of the article and one or more conductive elements in a second region of the article, and the first region and the second region are located at different positions in the longitudinal direction of the article, It is a controller, A controller is configured to receive the capacitance measurement value, determine the parameters of the article based on the received capacitance measurement value, and operate one or more heaters according to the determined parameters, An apparatus wherein the controller is configured to provide a first heating profile when the parameters of the article have a first characteristic, and to provide a second heating profile when the parameters of the article have a second characteristic.
25. The parameter includes whether or not the article is a genuine product, The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to prevent heating of the aerosolizable medium when the article is not a genuine product.
26. The parameter includes whether or not the article is a genuine product, The apparatus according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the controller is configured to cause the apparatus to issue a warning message to the user if the article is not a genuine part.
27. The apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 26, wherein the one or more sensors include the capacitive sensor and the optical sensor.
28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the optical sensor includes one or more light sources and one or more light receivers.
29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the one or more light sources include a row of light sources.
30. The apparatus according to claim 28 or 29, wherein the one or more light receivers include a row of light receivers.
31. The apparatus according to any one of claims 24 to 30, comprising one or more aerosol generating elements.
32. The apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the one or more aerosol generating elements comprises one or more heaters arranged to heat the article located in the chamber.
33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the one or more heaters include one or more resistance heating elements.
34. The apparatus according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein the one or more aerosol generating elements include one or more inducting elements that generate a fluctuating magnetic field.