Field of the invention

[01] The present invention relates to aerosol generation devices, and more precisely to the use of such devices.

Background

[02] Some aerosol generation devices comprise:

- an aerosol generation unit comprising a casing, arranged for receiving a consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substance through an opening, and arranged for transforming this aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user when it is supplied with electrical energy during a vaping session, and

- a controller (or control device) for controlling, notably, the electrical energy supplied to the aerosol generation unit.

[03] When this type of aerosol generation device is portable, i.e. usable when held by a user, it further comprises a battery (or power source) possibly rechargeable and storing electrical energy that is used by a heater of the aerosol generation unit to induce the aerosol generation. In this case the aerosol generation device may be a vaporizer or an electronic cigarette.

[04] The invention concerns more particularly the so-called “T-vapor (or heat-not-burn (or “HnB”)) devices” comprising a heater for heating a “solid” substance (for instance a tobacco stick) inserted into its casing and similar to a traditional cigarette. So, in the following description the term “aerosol forming substance” is used to designate any solid material that is aerosolizable in air to form an aerosol.

[05] The aerosol-forming substance may comprise one or more of nicotine, tobacco material, polyol, caffeine or other active components. An active component may be carried by a carrier which may include propylene glycol or glycerin, for instance. A flavoring may also be present in the aerosol-forming material and may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar, for instance.

[06] Moreover, in the following description the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas. Such a suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to, or include, a vapor, and may include one or more components of the aerosol-forming material.

[07] As it is described in the patent document WO-A1 2020/182334, some aerosol generation devices comprise a sensor that is arranged for detecting an information representative of the consumable the user is about to introduce into its casing when this consumable is located in its sensing range. When the consumable is a tobacco stick that comprises a predefined (and secret) information and this information is detected by the sensor, the controller knows that the tobacco stick is an original one and therefore authorizes its use by controlling working of the aerosol generation unit. So, the detection of information only aims at authenticating the tobacco stick but not at adapting (or customizing) the control of the aerosol generation unit to the inserted tobacco stick and its aerosol-forming substance. Moreover, the detection of information does not ensure that the tobacco stick is effectively adapted to the aerosol generation unit.

[08] So, the present invention aims at improving the situation.

Summary

[09] According to a first aspect, the proposed invention provides an embodiment of an aerosol generation device comprising:

- an aerosol generation unit comprising a casing, arranged for receiving a consumable comprising an aerosol-forming substance through an opening, and arranged for transforming this aerosol-forming substance into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user, - a sensor arranged for detecting at least one information representative of this consumable when it is located in a sensing range, and

- an occluding element moveable between a closed position occluding the casing opening and an open position authorizing access to the casing. This aerosol generation device is characterized in that the sensor comprises a radar sensor, and the aerosol generation device further comprises:

- a controller arranged, when the detected information is representative of a consumable adapted to the aerosol generation unit, for triggering positioning of the occluding element into its open position to allow introduction of the consumable into the casing, and/or for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to the detected information.

Thanks to the invention, the detection of information aims not only at determining if the consumable is authorized to access to the casing, but also at adapting the control of the aerosol generation unit to this consumable in case of authorized access.

[10] The embodiment of aerosol generation device may comprise other features, considered separately or combined, and notably:

• the controller may be arranged (or configured) for analyzing the detected information to determine at least one property of the consumable, then for determining if the consumable corresponding to each determined property is adapted to the aerosol generation unit, and in the affirmative for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to each determined property;

• in a variant of embodiment, the aerosol generation device may comprise a communication interface arranged for transferring the determined information to a communication equipment that is configured to analyze the detected information to determine at least one property of the consumable, and to transfer the determined property to this communication interface. In this case the controller may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to each determined property;

• for instance, each property may be chosen from a group comprising an authenticity, a composition, a flavor, a brand, a tobacco variety, a type of interaction with the aerosol generation unit, an advertising to be delivered to a communication equipment of the user, and delivering of digital goods to the user;

• the controller may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit according to at least one user preference;

• each consumable information may be a physical characteristic;

• each physical characteristic may be chosen from a group comprising a consumable surface profile, a consumable density profile, a consumable shape, a consumable size, a thickness of a paper surrounding the aerosol-forming substance, a ridge separation between polymer bands on low ignition propensity paper, a colour, colour variations, a conductivity, conductivity variations, a spatial distribution of inks or conductive inks, and a local change of a chemistry of a paper surrounding the aerosol-forming substance;

• the controller may be arranged for controlling a pre-heating of the casing by the aerosol generation unit once the occluding element is positioned in its open position;

• the radar sensor may use a frequency comprised between 1 MHz and 300 GHz. The radar sensor may operate at around 60GHz, and said detected information may be a time series of frequency and amplitude values;

• the aerosol generation device may comprise a rechargeable battery storing electrical energy that is used by the aerosol generation unit for generating the aerosol;

• the aerosol-forming substance may comprise a tobacco material or at least one polyol; • the aerosol generation device may constitute an electronic cigarette.

[11] According to a second aspect there is described herein a method of operating an aerosol generation device according to the first aspect. The method comprises:

- detecting, using the radar sensor, at least one information representative of said consumable when said consumable is located in a sensing range,

- determining a physical characteristic of said consumable using said detected information, and

- when said detected information is representative of a consumable adapted to said aerosol generation unit, for triggering positioning of said occluding element into its open position to allow introduction of said consumable into said casing, and/or for controlling working of said aerosol generation unit according to said detected information.

Determining a physical characteristic of said consumable using said detected information may comprise determining a density profile of an aerosol-forming substance comprised in said consumable using pattern recognition. The density profile may be a density profile that is an inherent result of the manufacture of the consumable, or may be a density profile that is controlled during the manufacture of the consumable in a manner that is consistently reproducible, such that the density profile may be considered to encode a property of the consumable. Such a property may be, as discussed above, an authenticity, a composition, a flavor, a brand, a tobacco variety, a type of interaction with the aerosol generation unit, an advertising to be delivered to a communication equipment of the user, and delivering of digital goods to the user.

[12] According to a third aspect there is described herein a method of manufacturing a consumable for use with an aerosol generation device according to the first aspect. The method comprises controlling a density profile of an aerosol-forming substance comprised in a consumable such that the density profile is indicative of at least one property of the consumable. Similarly, a consumable for use in an aerosol generation device according to the first aspect may comprise an aerosol-forming substance having a controlled density profile, said density profile being indicative of at least one property of the consumable. The at least one property may comprise one of more of an authenticity, a composition, a flavor, a brand, a tobacco variety, a type of interaction with said aerosol generation unit, an advertising to be delivered to a communication equipment of said user, and delivering of digital goods to said user.

Brief description of the figures

[13] The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting examples and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- the figure 1 (FIG.1 ) schematically and functionally illustrates a first example of embodiment of an aerosol generation device according to the invention, with a consumable in the vicinity of its sensor for detection purposes,

- the figure 2 (FIG.2) schematically and functionally illustrates the aerosol generation device of figure 1 after opening of its occluding element and insertion of the consumable into its casing, and

- the figure 3 (FIG.3) schematically and functionally illustrates a second example of embodiment of an aerosol generation device according to the invention, with a consumable in the vicinity of its sensor for detection purposes.

Detailed description of embodiments

[14] The invention aims at offering an aerosol generation device 1 that can be used during a vaping session by its user after determination of information associated with a consumable 2 detected in its vicinity. [15] In the following description it will be considered that the aerosol generation device 1 is (or constitutes) an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette or else personal vaporizer). But an aerosol generation device 1 according to the invention could be of another type, as soon as it allows to transform an aerosol-forming substance in solid form into an aerosol (possibly close to room temperature). More generally, the invention concerns any type of T-vapor (or heat-not-burn (or HnB)) device comprising a heater for heating a solid substance.

[16] Moreover, in the following description it will be considered that the consumable 2 is a tobacco stick. So, the aerosol-forming substance comprises at least tobacco material (possibly shredded tobacco). But the invention is not limited to this type of consumable.

[17] It is recalled that an “aerosol-forming substance” is used to designate any solid material that is aerosolizable in air to form an aerosol. So, it may comprise one or more of nicotine, tobacco material, polyol, caffeine or other active components, or else flavoring.

[18] It is also recalled that the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of substance as one or more of solid particles, liquid droplets and gas, and that such a suspension may be in a gas including air.

[19] As illustrated in figures 1 to 3 an aerosol generation device 1 , according to the invention, comprises at least an aerosol generation unit 3, a sensor 4, an occluding element 5 and a controller 6.

[20] The aerosol generation unit 3 comprises a casing 7 arranged for receiving a consumable 2 (here a tobacco stick) comprising an aerosol forming substance 8, through an opening 9 whose access is controlled by the occluding element 5. To this effect, the occluding element 5 is moveable between a closed position occluding the opening 9 (and illustrated in figures 1 and 3) and an open position authorizing access to the casing 7 (and illustrated in figure 2). So, when the occluding element 5 is in its open position the user can manually insert at least a part of a consumable 2 into the casing 7 that may be a heating chamber. [21] For instance, the occluding element 5 may be a slidable shutter that can be translated (arrow F) between the closed position and the open position by means of a micro electrical motor coupled to a micro mechanism also coupled to the shutter. But in a variant the shutter could be rotatable.

[22] The aerosol generation unit 3 is arranged for transforming the aerosol-forming substance 8 mixed with air into an aerosol that may be inhaled by a user through successive draws (or “puffs” or inhalation phases) during a vaping session.

[23] As illustrated in the non-limiting examples of figures 1 to 3, the casing 7 communicates with an air outlet 10 of an air flow channel 11 to be supplied with air originating from at least one air inlet 12 of this air flow channel 11. This allows mixing between the aerosol-forming substance 8 and the air.

[24] Also as illustrated, the consumable 2 may comprise a filter 13, downstream of the aerosol-forming substance 8. As for a cigarette, the filter 13 may be partly and temporarily located in the mouth of the user and in this case it is used as a mouthpiece for inhaling the generated aerosol during each puff (or draw).

[25] The aerosol-forming substance 8 is arranged for generating an aerosol when it is heated (without burning) and mixed with air. This heating is performed by a heater 14 supplied with electrical energy originating from a power source 15. This heater 14 may belong to the aerosol generation unit 3.

[26] In the non-limiting examples illustrated in figures 1 to 3 the heater 14 surrounds the casing 7, and therefore a part of the consumable 2 (and more precisely its aerosol-forming substance 8) to heat the latter (8). For instance, the heater 14 may be a thin film heater wrapped around the outer surface of the casing 7 to heat its side walls and at least a part of its internal volume. But in a variant (not illustrated) the heater 14 could be a coil associated with a susceptor or could be a resistive coil heater. In the first alternative, the coil is arranged for generating an electromagnetic field when it is supplied with an electrical current, and the susceptor is arranged for transforming this electromagnetic field into heat. This susceptor may be a foil of the consumable 2 that surrounds, or is located inside, the aerosol forming substance 8. In other variants of embodiment (not illustrated) the heater 14 could be located inside the consumable 2 or inside the casing 7.

[27] For instance, the heater 14 may heat the aerosol-forming substance 8 to a temperature comprised between 150°C and 350°C.

[28] The power source 15 is housed in a body 16 of the aerosol generation device 1. In the non-limiting examples illustrated in figures 1 to 3, this body 16 comprises also the aerosol generation unit 3. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the aerosol generation unit 3 can be housed in (or may comprise) another body coupled to the body 16 by screwing by means of two corresponding threaded portions, or by clipping or else by means of magnets, for instance.

[29] Also for instance, the power source 15 may be a rechargeable battery. In this case the body 16 may comprise an electrical connector to which a charger cable may be connected during a charging session of the rechargeable battery 15. Such a charger cable may be coupled to an (AC) adapter or to a wall socket. The charger cable and/or the (AC) adapter may belong to the aerosol generation device 1.

[30] The electrical energy supplied to the heater 14 during a vaping session is controlled by the controller 6. This controller (or control unit) 6 may comprise at least a processor and a memory arranged for performing operations for controlling the aerosol generation unit 3 (and notably its heater 14) during a vaping session and also the power source 15 during a possible charging session.

[31] For instance, the processor may be a digital signal processor (or DSP), or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or else a field programmable gate array (FPGA). More generally, the processor may comprise integrated (or printed) circuits, or several integrated (or printed) circuits connected therebetween through wired or wireless connections. The term “integrated (or printed) circuits” refers here to any type of device capable of carrying out at least one electric or electronic operation.

[32] Also for instance, the memory may be a random access memory (or RAM). But it may be any type of device arranged for storing program instructions for the processor.

[33] Generally speaking, the functions of the controller (or control unit) 6 may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually (by the user). These functions may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing software in association with appropriate software.

[34] As illustrated in the non-limiting example of figure 1 , the controller (or control unit) 6 (and notably its processor and memory) may be fixed onto a printed circuit board (or PCB) 17 (here housed in the body 16).

[35] The controller (or control unit) 6 may also comprise, in addition to its processor and memory, an input interface, a mass memory (notably for storing intermediate data produced during its calculus and processing), and an output interface for delivering messages and instructions at least for controlling the aerosol generation unit 3 (and notably its heater 14) and the electronic component(s) (such as switch(es)) supplying the electrical power (stored in the power source 15) to the aerosol generation unit 3.

[36] The sensor 4 is arranged for detecting at least one information representative of the consumable 2 when it is located in its sensing range (as illustrated in figures 1 and 3).

[37] For instance, the sensor 4 may implement a radar sensing technology. But this is not mandatory. Indeed, the sensor 4 may implement an optical sensing technology or a capacitive sensing technology, for instance.

[38] In the case where the sensor 4 implements a radar sensing technology, it may use a frequency comprised between 1 MHz and 300 GHz, for instance. As a non-limiting example, the radar frequency may be chosen around 60 GHz, for instance.

[39] The nature of the detected consumable information depends on the sensing technology employed by the sensor 4. So, it may include a time series of frequency and amplitude values (notably in the radar embodiment), the power spectrum of a signal, or a time series or snapshot of current measurements, for instance.

[40] For instance, each consumable information may be a physical characteristic. In this case, each physical characteristic may be chosen from a group comprising a consumable surface profile, a consumable density profile, a consumable shape, a consumable size, a thickness of a paper surrounding the aerosol-forming substance 8, a ridge separation between polymer bands on low ignition propensity paper, a colour, colour variations, a conductivity, conductivity variations, a spatial distribution of inks or conductive inks, and a local change of the chemistry of the paper surrounding the aerosol-forming substance 8, for instance. In the last example of physical characteristic, the change can be performed by means of a laser (notably a laser-induced graphene can be produced on carbon- based materials, for instance). Some of these physical characteristics, such as the surface profile and the density profile, may be created during the manufacturing process of the consumable 2.

[41] The controller (or control unit) 6 is arranged, when the (a) detected information is representative of a consumable 2 adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3 (and located in the sensor sensing range), for triggering positioning of the occluding element 5 into its open position to allow introduction of the consumable 2 into the casing 7. Moreover, the controller 6 is also arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to the (each) detected information.

[42] So, the detection of information aims not only at determining if the consumable 2 is authorized to access to the casing 7 (which avoids insertion of a consumable that is not adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3), but also at adapting (or customizing) the control of the aerosol generation unit 3 to this consumable 2 in case of authorized access.

[43] Whether the (a) detected information is representative of a consumable 2 adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3 can be determined in at least two ways (internal or external).

[44] In a first way (internal), illustrated in the non-limiting example of figures 1 and 2, the controller 6 may be arranged for analyzing the detected information to determine at least one property of the consumable 2, and then for determining if the consumable 2 corresponding to each determined property is adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3. In this case, and in the affirmative, the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 2 according to the (at least one) determined property. If the controller 6 considers that the consumable 2 is not adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3, it does not trigger the change of position of the occluding element 5 (which remains in its closed position).

[45] In a second way (external (or remote)), illustrated in the non-limiting example of figure 3, the aerosol generation device 1 further comprises a communication interface 18 arranged for transferring the information determined by the sensor 4 to a communication equipment 19. This communication equipment 19 is configured to analyze the detected information to determine at least one property of the consumable 2, then to determine if the consumable 2 corresponding to each determined property is adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3, and in the affirmative to transfer this (each) determined property to the communication interface 18. In this case the controller 6 is arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 according to the (at least one) determined property (transferred by the communication equipment 19). If the communication equipment 19 considers that the consumable 2 is not adapted to the aerosol generation unit 3, it does not transmit any determined property to the communication interface 18 or transmits a dedicated message indicating that there is no adaptation, and therefore the controller 6 does not trigger the change of position of the occluding element 5 (which remains in its closed position).

[46] So, in the second (external) way all the computations concerning the detected information are performed by a controller 20 belonging to a communication equipment 19 that has been previously paired to the aerosol generation device 1 and comprising at least a processor and a memory. This communication equipment 19 may be a smartphone or an electronic tablet or a laptop or else a personal computer of the user. In a variant, the aerosol generation device 1 may have connectivity capacity, i.e. the capacity to be connected to at least one communication network, possibly for accessing to the Internet. In such a variant all the computations concerning the detected information are performed by a controller or computer belonging to a distant server.

[47] For instance, the communication interface 18 may be arranged for having wireless communications with the communication equipment 19. Also for instance, this communication interface 18 may be arranged for having Bluetooth communications when its aerosol generation device 1 has been paired to the communication equipment 19. But this is a non limiting example, and other types of short-range wireless communications are possible, and notably NFC, RFID, ZigBee, and WiFi Direct.

[48] In both ways (internal and external), the analysis of the detected information can be performed through comparisons with data stored in a database or by means of artificial intelligence. The database contains consumable information (for instance physical characteristics) stored in correspondence with properties and with identifiers of adapted aerosol generation units 3 and also possibly with specific heating profiles. The artificial intelligence can be based on pattern recognition, and trained to detect the propertie(s) corresponding to each consumable information.

[49] For instance, each property determined during the analysis of the detected information may be chosen from a group comprising an authenticity, a composition, a flavor, a brand, a tobacco variety, a type of interaction with the aerosol generation unit 3, an advertising to be delivered to a communication equipment 19 of the user, and delivering of digital goods to the user. Some of these properties may be associated with a specific heating profile that the controller 6 will have to use for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 during a vaping session. More precisely, the controller 6 will control the electrical energy supplied to the heater 14 according to the specific heating profile associated with the inserted consumable 2.

[50] In the case where the analysis is performed internally by the controller 6, if an identifier of a specific heating profile is determined for the detected consumable 2, the controller 6 determines the definition of this specific heating profile in a memory storing a table of correspondence between specific heating profile identifiers and specific heating profile definitions.

[51] In the case where the analysis is performed externally by a communication equipment 19, if an identifier of a specific heating profile is determined for the detected consumable 2, the definition of this specific heating profile may be transferred to the aerosol generation device 1. In a variant the identifier of this specific heating profile can be transferred to the aerosol generation device 1 , but this requires that the controller 6 stores a table of correspondence between specific heating profile identifiers and specific heating profile definitions.

[52] It is important to notice that the sensitivity to the different physical characteristics depends on the sensing technology. For instance, the radar sensing technology is sensitive to the density, shape and size (or geometry), and the thickness of the paper surrounding the aerosol-forming substance 8. Also for instance, the optical sensing technology is sensitive to colour, colour variations, and ridge separation between polymer bands on low ignition propensity paper. Also for instance, the capacitive sensing technology is sensitive to conductivity and conductivity variations. [53] It is also important to notice that the controller 6 may be arranged for controlling working of the aerosol generation unit 3 not only according to the detected information but also according to at least one user preference. Indeed, the user preferences may vary with the determined composition and/or flavor and/or brand and/or tobacco variety, for instance.

[54] The user preference(s) can be stored in the controller 6 and/or in the communication equipment 19 of the user or in the above mentioned distant server.

[55] For instance, the controller 6 may be arranged for controlling a pre heating of the casing 7 by the aerosol generation unit 3 once the occluding element 5 is positioned in its open position. This allows a reduction in the waiting time of the user before the first puff of his vaping session. But in a variant the casing heating could start when the consumable 2 is correctly positioned in the casing 7.

[56] In practical settings, for energy efficiency reasons the working of the sensor 4 is preferably triggered by an event. Such an event may be, for instance the pressing of a button of the aerosol generation device 1 (possibly dedicated) by the user. In a variant of embodiment, the sensor 4 works at discrete times (or regular intervals) to provide successive information at low frequency, and each information is compared to the preceding one to detect when a consumable 2 is brought into the sensor range by looking for a rising edge. Indeed, a consumable 2 will produce some “signature” or “modulation” in the sensor output (or information). So, when the user intends to use the aerosol generation device 1 , the sensor output goes from being “trivial” to “non-trivial” or goes from below a chosen threshold to over this chosen threshold.

[57] The invention allows a heat-not-burn device 1 to respond to specific features of a consumable 2, thanks to the determination of consumable properties corresponding to detected consumable information (for instance physical characteristic(s)). It allows also an enhanced user experience. [58] As noted above, when the sensor is a radar sensor, such a sensor may be operated to determine physical characteristics of a consumable such as consumable geometry, consumable density and wrap paper thickness. Such physical characteristics may be intrinsic to the consumable (i.e. an unavoidable result of the product manufacture process) or may be deliberately imparted to the consumable during a manufacture process. In this way properties of the consumable which may be otherwise undetectable via a radar sensor may be "encoded" into the consumable during manufacture.

[59] For example, as noted above, a radar sensor may be used to identify a density profile of aerosol-forming substance 8 within the consumable 2, such as a tobacco packing density. Such a density profile may be controlled during manufacture, for example so that the consumable includes one or more regions of deliberately higher density and one or more regions of deliberately lower density. A consumable may thus be manufactured with a controlled density profile, which may subsequently be detected via a radar sensor in order to determine a property of the consumable. As discussed above, the density profile may be recognised from a received radar signal (i.e. a signal that has been modulated from interaction with the consumable) via a pattern recognition algorithm. A property of the consumable associated with that density profile may then be identified, e.g. from a look-up table or database. The controller may then control the aerosol forming device according to the determined property (e.g. set a heating profile, open the occluding element, display a message to the user).

[60] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some block diagrams of figures 1 to 3 herein represent conceptual views of illustrative circuitry embodying the principles of the invention.

[61] The description and drawings merely illustrate the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the invention and are included within its spirit and scope. Furthermore, all examples recited herein are principally intended expressly to be only for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor(s) to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.