A consumable comprising a chipless RFID tag for use with an aerosol generating device

Abstract

Described herein is a consumable (10) comprising an aerosol forming substrate (6) for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising: a chipless RFID tag (2) comprising one or more antennas, wherein each of the one or more antennas are configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at respective frequencies when interrogated with an electromagnetic interrogation signal.

Description

[0001] A CONSUMABLE COMPRISING A CHIPLESS RFID TAG FOR USE WITH AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a consumable for an aerosol generation device. In particular, the present invention relates to an identifiable consumable for use with an aerosol generating device.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Aerosol generating devices known in the art can produce an aerosol by heating, but not burning, a consumable comprising an aerosol forming substrate that is inserted into the device by a user.

[0006] Such aerosol forming substrates may comprise various properties, such as different flavours or sizes. It is important for a user to be able to identify different types of aerosol-forming substrate provided within the consumable, and the consumable itself. For example, the user may mistakenly insert an incompatible consumable into the device or insert a consumable of an undesirable flavour into the device.

[0007] It is also important that aerosol generating devices only begin heating when the correct consumable is provided to avoid unintentional harm to the user. Aerosol generating devices known in the art can begin heating regardless of the type of consumable that is provided, or even when no consumable is provided. This is clearly disadvantageous.

[0008] Additionally, it is important to be able to obtain information about consumables during their manufacture, and their transportation through various supply chains, for quality control purposes.

[0009] There is therefore a need to improve the authentication, recognition, and detection of consumables for use with aerosol generating devices while reducing environmental harm and producing a device that is convenient for use. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0010] In an aspect of the present invention there is provided a consumable comprising an aerosol forming substrate for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising: a chipless RFID tag, the chipless RFID tag comprising one or more antennas, wherein each of the one or more antennas are configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at respective frequencies when interrogated with an electromagnetic interrogation signal.

[0011] In this way, the authentication, recognition, and detection of a consumable is enabled when a consumable is inserted into a device. In addition, a consumable can be identified at any other point during the manufacturing process, or in the supply chain, and / or after use when recycling the spent consumable. Data can be read from the consumable by analysing the frequencies of the unique resonant responses from the antennas. The present invention provides a consumable that is less energy intensive to produce than that comprising a classic RFID chip; this is because classic RFID chips comprise a microchip that contains silicon. The present consumable is also more environmentally friendly because it does not involve the use of silicon in an integrated circuit. The one or more antennas may also be printed onto any suitable medium, such as paper.

[0012] In producing a resonant response, an antenna may reflect a portion of the interrogation signal. The frequency of this reflected portion can be detected. An antenna may absorb or attenuate a portion of the interrogation signal at a particular frequency. The decrease in intensity of the interrogation signal at this frequency can be detected.

[0013] Preferably, the consumable comprises a plurality of antennas, wherein the plurality of antennas comprise different respective lengths to produce the different respective resonant electromagnetic responses. In this way, each antenna in the tag will produce a resonant response at a unique frequency when interrogated with an electromagnetic signal. By scanning over the range of possible resonant frequencies of the antennas in the tag, each antenna can be identified by measuring the resonant responses from these. Data values can then be assigned to the frequencies of each unique resonant response.

[0014] In various embodiments, each of the one or more antennas comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are angled with respect to one another. Preferably, the first and second portions of each of the one or more antennas are angled at a right angle with respect to one another, forming one or more L-shaped antennas. In various embodiments, the plurality of antennas are arranged in a sequence dependent on the lengths of each of the one or more antennas.

[0015] The antennas in the tag may be arranged in a sequence from longest to shortest, with the longest L-shaped antenna arranged at one side of the tag and the shortest L-shaped antenna arranged at the opposite side of the tag.

[0016] In this way, the bit encoding capacity per unit area of the tag can be increased. In other terms, the amount of data that can be read from the tag can be improved, whilst minimising the area of the tag. This is because the antennas can be arranged more compactly within the tag in this configuration. The largest antenna may define two sides of an area within which all of the other antennas are contained. Similarly, each antenna may define two sides of an area within which the smaller antennas are contained. This can improve the density of antennas on the device, which can allow the antennas to be conveniently located while minimising their use of precious real estate on the consumable.

[0017] In various embodiments, the one or more antennas are provided at a position that is spaced from the aerosol forming substrate. In this way, when in use, the tag is positioned away from the aerosol generating substrate and when the consumable is being heated by an aerosol generating device the tag is not heated. This prevents damage to the tag.

[0018] In various embodiments, the consumable further comprises a wrapper, wherein the one or more antennas are printed on the wrapper. In this way, the tag can be easily manufactured and provided within or on the consumable. Furthermore, the antennas can be made to be thin and flexible. This is beneficial as the consumable may be cylindrical in shape. Antennas provided with such a consumable would be required to bend to fit the shape of the consumable.

[0019] In various embodiments, the one or more antennas are printed using a conductive material. In this way, a current can be induced within the antennas when they are interrogated with an electromagnetic signal, thereby enabling the antennas to produce a resonant response. Such materials may include, for example, aluminium, silver nano-ink, or a conductive polymer.

[0020] In various embodiments there is provided an aerosol generating system, comprising: a consumable described herein; and an aerosol generating device, comprising: a controller; and a transmit / receive antenna, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the antenna to emit an electromagnetic interrogation signal, wherein the antenna is configured and to receive one or more resonant electromagnetic responses from one or more antennas of a chipless RFID tag of the consumable, and wherein the controller is configured to identify an aspect of the consumable based on the received resonant electromagnetic responses.

[0021] In this way, the device is able to authenticate, recognise, and detect a property of a consumable when the consumable is inserted into the device. In various embodiments, in response to this, a heating function of the device may be enabled or disabled. In various embodiments, a heating function of the device may be enabled and a particular heating profile may be selected based on the particular consumable inserted into the device. Preferably, the interrogation signal comprises a range of frequencies, and the transmit / receive antenna is configured to emit the electromagnetic interrogation signal by scanning over the range of frequencies. In this way, the device can detect the presence of each antenna within the tag, as each antenna produces a unique resonant response at a particular frequency when scanned. The range of frequencies scanned is preferably within the radio band of the electromagnetic spectrum. More preferably, the range of frequencies scanned are between 1 and 20 GHz and more preferably between 6.5 and 10.5 GHz. In various embodiments, the controller is configured to assign a first data value to each of the frequencies of the one or more resonant electromagnetic responses received by the transmit / receive antenna. If a resonant response from an antenna is detected, a binary data value of “1” can be assigned to that resonant frequency. In various embodiments, the controller may assign a data value of “1” to the frequency of a resonant response if the frequency of the detected resonant response corresponds to a predetermined frequency. For example, if a predetermined frequency is 3 GHz, and the controller detects a resonant response at 3 GHz it will assign a data value of “1” to that response.

[0022] Preferably, the controller is configured to assign a second data value to an absent frequency if the controller determines that a resonant response at the absent frequency is not received by the transmit / receive antenna. If the absence of a resonant response at a particular frequency is detected, then a binary data value of “0” can be assigned to that frequency. In various embodiments, the controller may assign a data value of “0” to a predetermined frequency if no resonant response is detected at that frequency. For example, if a predetermined frequency is 4 GHz, and the controller detects no resonant response at 4 GHz, it will assign a data value of “0” to that frequency. In this way, a binary data signature can be obtained from the tag based on the presence or absence of particular antennas within the tag.

[0023] In various embodiments, the aerosol generating device further comprises a heating chamber comprising an opening, wherein the heating chamber is configured to receive the consumable for heating through the opening, and wherein the transmit / receive antenna (or transceiver) is provided proximal to the opening. In this way, the antenna electronics are spaced apart from the heater and thus will not be damaged during operation of the device. Furthermore, in embodiments where the antennas of the tag are arranged apart from the aerosol generating substrate, the antenna in the device will be arranged proximal to the tag, enabling a more accurate reading of the tag.

[0024] In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of a consumable comprising an aerosol forming substrate for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising: printing a chipless RFID tag onto a wrapper of the consumable, the chipless RFID tag comprising one or more antennas, wherein each of the one or more antennas are configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at respective frequencies when interrogated with an electromagnetic interrogation signal.

[0025] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0026] Aspects of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, by reference to the drawings, in which:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a consumable for use with an aerosol generating device in an embodiment of the invention;

[0028] Figure 2A is a schematic plan view of a chipless RFID tag in another embodiment of the invention;

[0029] Figure 2B is a schematic plan view of a chipless RFID tag in another embodiment of the invention;

[0030] Figure 3A is a graph of an exemplary resonant response produced by the chipless RFID tag of the embodiment of the invention according to figure 2A;

[0031] Figure 3B is a graph of an exemplary resonant response produced by the chipless RFID tag of the embodiment of the invention according to figure 2B;

[0032] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device in another embodiment of the invention; and

[0033] Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device in another embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] Figure 1 is a diagram of a consumable 10 for use with an aerosol generating device in an embodiment of the invention. In particular, Figure 1 depicts the interior of the consumable 10.

[0035] The consumable 10 comprises a chipless RFID tag 2, a wrapper 4 and an aerosol forming substrate 6. The wrapper 4 forms an outer layer of the consumable 10 and partially encloses the aerosol forming substrate 6. The chipless RFID tag 2 is printed onto an interior surface of the wrapper 4 and is therefore provided within the consumable 10 when assembled. The tag 2 is spaced apart from the aerosol forming substrate 6. When assembled, the consumable 10 has a generally cylindrical shape.

[0036] The chipless RFID tag 2 comprises four antennas, each having different lengths. Each antenna is configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at a respective frequency when interrogated with an electromagnetic signal. An individual antenna will produce a resonant response when interrogated with an electromagnetic signal of the correct frequency; this frequency varies depending on the length of an antenna. A tag comprising four antennas of different respective lengths will therefore produce an overall resonant response comprising four different respective resonant frequencies when scanned with the four respective correct frequencies. By analysing the overall resonant response of the tag 2, a unique data signature can be obtained and information about the consumable 10 can be determined. This may be achieved by comparing and matching the unique data signature from the tag with known data signatures in a lookup table, which may be stored in a memory of an aerosol generating device or in a server. In various embodiments, each antenna may reflect a portion of the scanning interrogation signal. The frequencies of these reflected portions can be detected by a detector and a data signature can be obtained.

[0037] As shown in Figure 1 , each of the antennas in the tag 2 has a first portion and a second portion which are provided at right angles to each other. Each of the antennas therefore has a substantially L-shaped profile. The first and second portions of each antenna are of equal lengths in this embodiment. In alternative embodiments, the first and second portions may be of different lengths. The antennas are arranged sequentially by order of length, from longest to shortest. The three shorter antennas are nested within a square area, with two sides of the square area being defined by the first and second portions of the longest antenna. The four antennas within the tag 2 are therefore provided in a compact arrangement.

[0038] The antennas of the tag 2 are printed onto the wrapper 4, which may comprise paper, using a conductive ink. Such an ink may comprise aluminium, a silver nano-ink, or a conductive polymer. The tag 2 is therefore flexible and will bend without being damaged when the consumable 10 is assembled.

[0039] Figure 2A is a schematic diagram of a chipless RFID tag 20 in an embodiment of the invention. The tag 20 comprises seven antennas 20a to 20g, each having different lengths. The antenna 20a is the longest antenna in the tag and the antenna 20g is the shortest antenna. The seven antennas 20a to 20g are arranged sequentially in the tag 20 in an order from longest to shortest, they are also equally spaced apart from each other. As each of the antennas 20a to 20g has a different length, they each produce a resonant response at different respective frequencies when interrogated with a scanning electromagnetic signal.

[0040] When interrogated with a scanning electromagnetic signal the tag 20 will produce seven unique resonant responses of different frequencies, provided that this signal scans across the range of frequencies required to cause each antenna 20a to 20g to produce a resonant response. Data values can be assigned to the frequencies of these responses when detected and analysed. If a resonant response is detected, a data value of “1” can be assigned to its frequency, thereby indicating the presence of antenna with a data value of “1”. The tag 20 therefore produces a “11111111” data signature. An overall resonant response produced by scanning the tag 20 is exemplified in Figure 3A.

[0041] Each antenna 20a to 20g in the tag 20 comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of each antenna 20a to 20g is depicted vertically aligned, and the second portion is depicted horizontally aligned. In this embodiment, the first portion of each antenna 20a to 20g is longer than the second portion. The longest antenna 20a defines two adjacent sides of a rectangle with a height and a width corresponding to the first and second portions of the antenna 20a respectively. Each of the antennas 20a to 20g in the tag is provided within this rectangle in a cascading fashion. The shortest antenna 20g is provided in the upper rightmost section of the rectangle. The boundary of the rectangle is illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 2A.

[0042] Figure 2B is a schematic diagram of a chipless RFID tag 25 in an embodiment of the invention. The tag 25 is similar to that of tag 20 in the embodiment of the invention according to Figure 2A, except in that the tag 25 comprises three antennas 25a, 25d and 25f unequally spaced apart from each other.

[0043] The three antennas 25a, 25d and 25f in the tag 25 correspond to the antennas 20a, 20d and 20f in the tag 20. These three antennas 25a, 25d and 25f have the same lengths as the corresponding antennas in the tag 20 and are positioned at the same respective locations within the tag 25. When comparing the tags 20 and 25 of Figures 2A and 2B, it can be seen that corresponding antennas are absent from positions b, c, e and g in the tag 25, that are present in the tag 20. When scanned, the tag 25 will not produce resonant responses at the frequencies corresponding to these antennas in the tag 20, as they are absent.

[0044] When the tag 25 is interrogated with an electromagnetic signal it will produce three individual resonant responses at different respective frequencies. Data values of “1” can be assigned to each of these respective response frequencies and data values of “0” can be assigned to the frequencies where an absence of a resonant response is detected. In other terms, a data value of “0” can be assigned to the resonant frequencies associated with antennas at positions b, c, e and g in the tag 20, as these are absent in the tag 25. The tag 25 therefore produces a “1001010” data signature. An overall resonant response produced by scanning the tag 20 is exemplified in Figure 3A. As with the tag 20, each antenna 25a, 25d and 25f in the tag 25 comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of each antenna 25a, 25d and 25f is depicted vertically aligned, and the second portion is depicted horizontally aligned. In this embodiment, the first portion of each antenna 25a, 25d and 25f is longer than the second portion. The longest antenna 25a defines two adjacent sides of a rectangle with a height and a width corresponding to the first and second portions of the antenna 25a respectively. Each of the antennas 25a, 25d and 25f in the tag is provided within this rectangle in a cascading fashion. The antennas 25a, 25d and 25f are equally spaced apart from each other. The shortest antenna 25f is provided in the upper rightmost section of the rectangle. The boundary of the rectangle is illustrated by the dashed line in Figure 2B.

[0045] Either of the tags 20 or 25 described in the embodiments of Figures 2A and 2B may be integrated into the consumable 10 described in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0046] Figure 3A is a graph of an exemplary resonant response produced by the chipless RFID tag 20 of the embodiment of the invention according to Figure 2A.

[0047] The graph 30 comprises a received signal response from the chipless RFID tag 20. The signal profile comprises seven minimum points which correspond to frequencies 30a to 30g respectively. These minimum points represent the resonant responses from each of the antennas 20a to 20g within the tag 20. For example, the antenna 20a produces a resonant response at the frequency 30a. As a resonant response is detected at each of these predetermined frequencies a data value of “1” can be assigned to each of the frequencies 30a to 30g once the signal has been processed. In various embodiments, the seven minimum points may correspond to frequencies of reflected portions of an electromagnetic interrogation signal scanning the tag.

[0048] Figure 3B is a graph of an exemplary resonant response produced by the chipless RFID tag 25 of the embodiment of the invention according to Figure 2B. The graph 35 comprises a received signal response from the chipless RFID tag 25. The signal profile comprises three minimum points which correspond to frequencies 35a, 35d and 35f. These minimum points represent the resonant responses of the antennas 25a, 25d and 25f in the tag 25. The frequencies 35a, 35d and 35f are equivalent to the frequencies 30a, 30d and 30f shown in Figure 3A. As a resonant response is present at frequencies 35a, 35d and 35f data values of “1” can be assigned to these predetermined frequencies once the signal has been processed. As no resonant response is detected at frequencies 35b, c, e and g data value of “0” can be assigned to these predetermined frequencies once the signal has been processed. In various embodiments, the three minimum points may correspond to frequencies of reflected portions of an electromagnetic interrogation signal scanning the tag.

[0049] Figure 4A is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device 100 in an embodiment of the invention and Figure 4B is a schematic diagram of the aerosol generating device 100 in the embodiment of the invention according to Figure 4A. Figure 4B additionally depicts a consumable 10 inserted into the aerosol generating device 100 of figure 4A. The consumable 10 may be the consumable 10 described in the embodiment of Figure 1.

[0050] The aerosol generating device 100 of Figures 4A and 4B comprises a heating chamber 110 which comprises a heater 112, a transmit receive antenna (or a transceiver) 120, and a controller 130. A consumable 10 can be inserted into the heating chamber 110 through an opening 115 for heating by the heater 112. The transmit receive antenna 120 is able to interrogate the chipless RFID tag 2 of the consumable 10 with an electromagnetic signal when the consumable 10 is inserted into the heating chamber 110. The device 100 is therefore able to obtain data from the consumable 10 once a response from the chipless RFID tag 2 is received and processed by the controller 130.

[0051] The heating chamber 110 is cylindrical in shape, matching the shape of the consumable 10. The consumable 10 is received in the heating chamber 110 through an opening 115 of the heating chamber. This opening 115 is provided in a top section of the device 100. The antenna 120 is also provided in the top section of the device 100 and is therefore proximal to the opening 115. This enables the antenna 120 to receive a higher amplitude response from the tag 2 of the consumable 10, compared to that if the antenna 120 was located in a different section of the device 100.

[0052] The controller 130 is operatively coupled to the antenna 120 and is configured to instruct the antenna 120 to emit an electromagnetic interrogation signal. The controller 130 may instruct the antenna 120 to admit the interrogation signal either in response to detecting that a consumable 10 has been inserted to the heating chamber 110, or in response to a user input to the device.

[0053] The interrogation signal comprises a range of frequencies and the antenna 120 scans across the range of frequencies beginning at one frequency and ending at another. Depending on the presence or absence of antennas of a chipless RFID tag on or in the consumable 10, the antenna 120 will receive a resonant response or responses from the antenna or antennas. If the antenna receives a response, such as that shown in Figures 3A and 3B, it can transmit it to the controller 130. The controller 130 can analyse the response or responses using signal processing. From this, the controller 130 can assign data values to the frequencies present or absent in the response to produce a data signature from the chipless RFID tag.

[0054] The controller 130 may be configured to recognise resonant responses at predetermined frequencies. For example at 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 5 GHz. If the controller 130 detects a response from a consumable comprising a resonant response at only 1 and 4 GHz it may assign a data value of “1” to these frequencies an “0” to the remaining three absent frequencies, thereby producing a data signature of “10010”.

[0055] In various embodiments, the controller 130 may comprise a memory storing information associated with predetermined data signatures. Once the controller 130 has produced a data signature from the chipless RFID tag of a consumable it can compare this to the stored predetermined data signatures to determine a property of a consumable. For example, the data signature “111” stored in the memory of the controller 130 may indicate a consumable that is compatible with the device that is tobacco flavoured. If the controller 130 detects a response from a consumable with this data signature the controller 130 will know that the consumable is compatible, and tobacco flavoured. If the controller 130 detects no response, indicating the consumable does not comprise a chipless RFID tag, this may imply that the consumable is not compatible with the device 100.

[0056] Dependent on the data signature obtained from the consumable 10, the controller 130 may disable or enable a heating function of the device 100. For example, if a data signature is obtained that indicates that the consumable 10 is compatible with the device 100 and is of a preferred flavour, then the controller 130 will enable the heater to begin heating the consumable 10 in the heating chamber 110. Additionally, the controller 130 may instruct the heater 112 to heat the consumable 10 using a particular heating profile, based on the data signature obtained. For example, if it is determined that a consumable of type X is inserted into the heating chamber 115, the heater 112 heats using a heating profile suitable for the consumable X, instead of a different type of consumable Y.

[0057] If the controller 130 obtains no response or data signature once the antenna has performed an interrogation scan, this may indicate that no consumable is present in the device 100, or that an incompatible consumable may be present. In this scenario, the heating function 112 of the device should be disabled by the controller 130.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A consumable comprising an aerosol forming substrate for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising: a chipless RFID tag comprising one or more antennas, wherein each of the one or more antennas are configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at respective frequencies when interrogated with an electromagnetic interrogation signal.

2. A consumable according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of antennas wherein the plurality of antennas comprise different respective lengths to produce the different respective resonant electromagnetic responses.

3. A consumable according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each of the one or more antennas comprise a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first and second portions are angled with respect to one another.

4. A consumable according to claim 3, wherein the first and second portions of each of the one or more antennas are angled at a right angle with respect to one another, forming one or more L-shaped antennas.

5. A consumable according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the plurality of antennas are arranged in a sequence dependent on the lengths of each of the one or more antennas.

6. A consumable according to any preceding claim, wherein the one or more antennas are provided at a position that is spaced from the aerosol forming substrate.

7. A consumable according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a wrapper, and wherein the one or more antennas are printed on the wrapper.

8. A consumable according to any off the preceding claims, wherein the one or more antennas are printed using a conductive material.

9. An aerosol generating system, comprising: a consumable according to any preceding claim; and an aerosol generating device, comprising: a controller; and a transmit / receive antenna, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the antenna to emit an electromagnetic interrogation signal, wherein the antenna is configured to receive one or more resonant electromagnetic responses from one or more antennas of a chipless RFID tag of the consumable, and wherein the controller is configured to identify an aspect of the consumable based on the received resonant electromagnetic responses.

10. An aerosol generating system according to claim 9, wherein the interrogation signal comprises a range of frequencies, and wherein the transmit / receive antenna is configured to emit the electromagnetic interrogation signal by scanning over the range of frequencies.

11. An aerosol generating system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to assign a first data value to each of the frequencies one or more resonant electromagnetic responses received by the transmit / receive antenna.

12. An aerosol generating system according to claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to assign a second data value to an absent frequency if the controller determines that a resonant response at the absent frequency is not received by the transmit / receive antenna.

13. An aerosol generating system according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the aerosol generating device further comprises: a heating chamber comprising an opening, wherein the heating chamber is configured to receive the consumable for heating through the opening, and wherein the transmit / receive antenna is provided proximal to the opening.

14. A method of manufacture of a consumable comprising an aerosol forming substrate for use with an aerosol generating device, comprising:printing a chipless RFID tag onto a wrapper of the consumable, the chipless RFID tag comprising one or more antennas, wherein each of the one or more antennas are configured to produce a resonant electromagnetic response at respective frequencies when interrogated with an electromagnetic interrogation signal.

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