Waveguide Optical Reader for Aerosol-Generating Article Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems face challenges in authenticating consumable articles due to limited information density in existing indicia, ease of counterfeiting, and the inability to place optical readers close to the heater without damaging them, leading to suboptimal authentication quality.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating system with an optical reader system that includes a waveguide with incoupling and outcoupling structures, such as diffractive elements, allowing for high-density coded information authentication, even in proximity to the heater, using a control unit to command the optical reader and heater, and a method for authenticating consumable articles by illuminating the indicium and guiding reflected light through the waveguide to a detector.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If simple optical readers are used for authentication, then the device complexity is reduced, but the information density that can be detected is limited
Solution Approach 1:
A waveguide is introduced as an intermediary component between the indicium on the consumable article and the detector. The waveguide transmits optical information from the indicium to the detector, enabling complex authentication while keeping the optical reader components separate and manageable. This resolves the contradiction by allowing high-information-density indicia to be read without requiring the entire optical reader system to be complex and integrated in a single location.
2Volume of moving object
If the optical reader is placed close to the heater for compact design, then the device volume is reduced, but the detector may be damaged by high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The optical reading function is segmented into two separate locations: the indicium reading occurs near the heater where the consumable article is positioned, while the detector is located in a cooler region. The waveguide bridges these two segments, transmitting optical information from the hot zone to the cool zone. This segmentation allows the device to maintain compact dimensions while protecting the temperature-sensitive detector from thermal damage.
3Ease of manufacture
If classic codes like barcodes are used for authentication, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the security against counterfeiting is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The indicium transitions from simple visual barcodes to complex optical patterns with multiple parameters including spectral characteristics, spatial arrangements, and potentially three-dimensional structures. These parameter changes make the indicium much harder to counterfeit while remaining manufacturable using existing printing and coating technologies. The waveguide-based reading system captures these complex parameters, enabling secure authentication that maintains ease of manufacture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides enhanced authentication quality by enabling the detection of high-density coded information, reducing counterfeiting risks, and maintaining the optical reader below 50°C, ensuring reliable operation and improved security.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide is configured to guide an optical beam from the incoupling surface to the outcoupling surface
Implementation Method 2
The incoupling structure is a diffractive structure configured to incouple an optical beam into the waveguide when the waveguide is in the inserted position
Implementation Method 3
The outcoupling structure is a diffractive structure configured to outcouple an optical beam from the waveguide to the detector
Implementation Method 4
such that the indicium interacts with the incident light and reflects at least a portion of the illuminating light to said incoupling surface
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating article having an indicium arranged on an outer surface thereof and an aerosol-generating device usable with the article. The aerosol-generating device includes a cavity, a heater, and an optical reader system. The cavity has an opening accessible at the outer body part and is configured to receive a consumable article comprising an indicium arranged on the article. The optical reader system includes at least one waveguide that has an incoupling surface, an outcoupling surface, and a detector. The waveguide is configured to illuminate the indicium in the cavity with a light beam and to transmit a reflected light beam provided by the indicium to the detector (30) of the optical reader system. A related method for authenticating a consumable article is also provided.