Statement of invention

The present invention pertains to an aerosol generating system comprising a consumable, a heating device, an electrical circuit obtained by co-joining the consumable and the heating device, and a means of obtaining information and deciding operational parameters of said system utilising said electrical circuit.

Description

Many alternatives to traditional combustible tobacco products have been launched in recent years. Heated Tobacco Products (HTP) use various energy sources and means to heat a tobacco-containing consumable to generate an inhalable aerosol that contains some components derived from tobacco, including flavour and nicotine.

A common form of HTP is provided in two parts, a reusable battery powered heating device and a cigarette-like single use consumable. For use the consumable is inserted into the device, the consumable is heated, and the user inhales the aerosol.

Typically, consumables for use within an HTP are cylindrical in nature and composed of a tobacco portion abutted to a filter portion. To ensure that a user cannot light a consumable for an HTP, the tobacco portion typically has an aluminium foil layer around its circumference. This foil has the additional benefit that it retains heat within the tobacco portion which is desirable to conserve battery energy during use.

HTP are a regulated product and as such the materials used in the construction of the device and consumable require careful selection to ensure the user is not exposed to any undesirable chemicals or emissions which have adverse effects. For example, all mouth contact parts must not have undesirable chemicals that could be extracted by saliva and heated materials must produce undesirable emissions during heating. To ensure product safety HTPs undergo rigorous testing to support their use.

Counterfeit products exist within the global marketplace. Counterfeit consumables will not have undergone the rigors of material selection and testing of a genuine consumable and hence present an unknown risk to the user.

Furthermore, as with many consumer products, the business model is based around repeat sales of the consumable. Sales of the heating device itself typically generate little or no profit as costs to support their development and manufacture are high. It is therefore within a company’s interest to encourage users to purchase their brand of consumable rather than use third party consumables within their devices.

There are many technologies available which can recognise a consumable and thus provide the basis to reject third-party consumables. Technologies such as those disclosed in patents W02018/109611 (Maeder and Batista), US2019/0008206 (Gimkiewicz et al.), and W02017/051016 (Reevell) rely upon the inclusion of markings on the consumable using ink, dyes and other materials. Any new materials must undergo costly testing to ensure safety prior to use in an HTP. It is therefore desirable not to add any new materials such as ink, dyes or other chemical markers to the consumable.

Technologies such as those disclosed in patents US2081/0049469 (Kaufman and Robinson), WO2016/005602 (Batista), WO2019/073239 (Hepworth at al.) and W02019/048211 (Bilat) rely upon additional electrical circuitry within the consumable. The inclusion of additional materials adds costs to the consumable which is undesirable as this either reduces profit margin per unit for the business or increases the purchase price to the user. Relative to the price of the consumable, active electronic componentry such as ID tags or EEPROM are prohibitive. Passive components such as resistors also add an appreciable additional cost to the consumable. In addition, providing electronic components as part of a single-use consumable would increase the environmental impact of their disposal.

It is clear there remains an unmet need to provide an aerosol generating system that can prevent the use of third-party consumables within an HTP without the addition of any new materials or electronic componentry in the consumable.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an aerosol generating system comprising at least: a consumable comprising at least: a tobacco derived portion and a laminate overwrap, the laminate overwrap comprising at least one conductive layer and one non-conductive layer, such that the laminate overwrap has at least one electrical region formed from a region of conductive material separated from a second electrical region by a portion of laminate overwrap without conductive material; a heating device with a receiving opening for a consumable that includes at least one conductive protrusion coincident or essentially coincident with the laminate overwrap of a consumable; and an electrical circuit comprising at least one electrical region within the laminate overwrap of the consumable; at least one conductive protrusion within a receiving opening of a heating device and electronic circuitry of the heating device. Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises separate electrical regions formed by the absence of a continuous portion of the conductive material in the longitudinal direction of the consumable.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises separate electrical regions formed by the absence of a continuous portion of conductive material in a spiral direction of the consumable.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises separate electrical regions separated by a gap of 80% to 150% of the thickness of a conductive protrusion.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises separate electrical regions formed by a continuous cut in the conductive material in a longitudinal or essentially longitudinal direction of the consumable.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises separate electrical regions formed by at least two parallel or essentially parallel cuts in the conductive material in the longitudinal or essentially longitudinal direction of the consumable with a spacing between adjacent cuts in the range 0.02mm to 1mm.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap further comprises at least two conductive layers electrically isolated from each other by at least one non-conductive layer.

Optionally, the circumferential length L of an electrical region within the laminate overwrap is related to the circumferential spacing X between conductive protrusions of the heating device such that aX < L < bX, where a and b are integers.

Optionally, the circumferential length L’ of an electrical region within the laminate overwrap is related to the circumferential spacing X between conductive protrusions of the heating device such that L’ < X.

Optionally, the laminate overwrap comprises at least one electrical region of circumferential length L and at least one electrical region of circumferential length L’.

Optionally, a conductive protrusion is provided that increases in size in essentially a radial direction in a linear or curvilinear fashion. Optionally, a conductive protrusion is provided that comprises at least three regions: a tip region, a cylindrical region and a curved region.

Optionally, a conductive protrusion is provided that includes at least two conductive regions that are electrically isolated from each other.

Optionally, a conductive protrusion is provided that exerts radial pressure on the laminate overwrap of a consumable.

Optionally, a conductive protrusion is provided that cuts into the conductive layer of the laminate overwrap when the consumable is inserted the receiving opening.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an arrangement of conductive protrusions within a receiving opening of a heating device that has rotational symmetry.

Optionally, an arrangement of conductive protrusions within a receiving opening of a heating device is provided with essentially equal or equal circumferential spacing “X” between protrusions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumable for use in a heating device wherein two or more separate electrical regions of the laminate overwrap are connected, the connection being made with at least one electronic component from the group comprising a resistor, a capacitor, an inductor, a diode, a memory chip and an ID tag.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a consumable for use in a heating device wherein the distal end of laminate overwrap forms at least three electrical connections when inserted into said heating device.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided arrangement of conductive protrusions within a receiving opening of a heating device such that during insertion of the consumable into the receiving opening, the tip of at least one conductive protrusion enters the tobacco portion of the consumable.

Optionally, an arrangement of conductive protrusions within a receiving opening of a heating device is provided that is essentially circular with similar or equal diameter to the laminate overwrap of the consumable. Optionally, an arrangement of conductive protrusions within a receiving opening of a heating device is provided that is essentially circular, and the tips of the protrusions are arranged with a diameter 25% to 90% of the diameter of the consumable.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of activating a heating device using at least the steps of: a. Supplying a test signal to at least one conductive protrusion; b. Measuring a response signal from at least one other conductive protrusion; c. Determining the number of conductive protrusions electrically connected to a common electrical region or regions of a laminate overwrap; d. Determining the number of conductive protrusions not connected to the common electrical region or regions of the laminate overwrap identified in step (c); e. Determining the validity of a consumable based on the presence of at least two conductive protrusions that are electrically connected to a common electrical region of the laminate overwrap and at least one conductive protrusion that is not electrically connected to said electrical region. f. Determining to activate the heating device based on the outcome of step (e).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of activating a heating device using at least the steps of: a. Supplying a test signal to a conductive protrusion; b. Measuring a response signal from at least one other conductive protrusion; c. Determining the electrical relationship between the test conductive protrusion and response conductive protrusion; d. Repeating steps (a) - (c) for each conductive protrusion within the heating device in turn; e. Determining the validity of a consumable based on a comparison of the electrical relationships between the conductive protrusions within the heating device obtained in steps (a) - (d) and at least one reference value; f. Determining to activate the heating device based on the outcome of step (e).

Optionally, the method of activating a heating device further comprises determining one or more of the following group: at least one electrical property of the circuit, the property taken from the group of voltage, current, current direction, resistance, inductance, impedance, capacitance and combinations thereof; an electronic identifier contained within an ID or memory chip. Optionally, the method of activating a heating device further comprises the use of Boolean logic on responses received from interrogation of conductive protrusions taken from the group of AND, NOT, OR, XOR and NAND.

Optionally, the method of activating a heating device further comprises the step of deciding the operational parameters of the heating device.

The term aerosol shall be interpreted to include gas, vapour, droplets, condensates, particulates and combinations thereof. An inhalable aerosol shall mean an aerosol with an average particle size as measured by laser dispersion ranging from 0.1 to 10 pm, more preferably 0.1 to 1.5 pm.

The mouth end is the end of the consumable intended as the exit of the aerosol towards the user. The distal end is the opposite end of the consumable, typically intended as the inlet for air and other materials into the consumable. The longitudinal axis is taken as the major axis of the consumable and runs from the mouth end to the distal end. Other axes are taken perpendicular to this longitudinal axis. With reference to a cylindrical consumable the term radial shall be any axis orthogonal to the longitudinal axis.

With reference to a conductive protrusion the term height shall refer to a dimension parallel or essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heating device. The term width shall refer to a dimension parallel or essential parallel to a radial axis of the heating device. The term thickness shall refer to a dimension orthogonal or essentially orthogonal to both the height and width dimensions.

An aerosol generating system may comprise a reusable heating device and a consumable intended to be used within a single use occasion. A heating device may comprise a battery, at least one heater and controlling electronics. A consumable may include a tobacco- derived portion and a filter portion. When heated the tobacco-derived portion imparts flavour and nicotine to the inhalable aerosol.

To assist the conjoining of the consumable and the device, the heating device may have a receiving opening shaped to accommodate at least part of the consumable. Typically, the region of the consumable containing the tobacco-derived portion is inserted into the receiving opening and the mouth-end portion remains outside the device. Typically, the filter portion of the consumable remains outside the device. Hence the user can access the mouth-end to inhale the aerosol. The heater is typically positioned within the receiving opening of the device and positioned to be in close proximity to the tobacco-derived portion.

A tobacco-derived portion can include single-grade tobacco, blended tobacco grades, leaf, stem, dust, reconstituted tobacco, washed tobacco, extracted tobacco, treated tobacco, tobacco extracts and mixtures thereof. A tobacco-derived portion can be produced from tobacco plants by methods including harvesting, drying, cutting, shredding, grinding, extraction, reconstitution, extrusion and combinations thereof. A tobacco-derived portion can be present in the physical form of leaf, stem, dust, reconstituted sheet, crimped, folded, shaped, beaded, granulated and mixtures thereof.

A consumable may comprise a tobacco derived portion and a filter portion held together by an overwrap. An overwrap may be one or more sheets of material that provide the outer surface of the article, act to hold the separate elements in sequence relative to each other and provides structural strength to the article sufficient for required manipulation by the user in particular during insertion and removal from an associated device. An overwrap may be composed of paper, plastic, foil, laminates and combinations thereof. An overwrap can be composed of a single layer over the entirety of the article or can have multiple layers at different points as can be required depending on the underlying construction of the article, for example multi-segment filter portions are typically held together with an outer wrapper to assist manufacturing processes.

A laminate overwrap comprises at least 2 layers of materials held together by an adhesive. Of particular relevance to the present invention are laminate overwraps comprising a non- conductive layer and a conductive layer. The non-conductive layer may be paper or plastic or combinations thereof. The conductive layer may be a metallic foil such as aluminium. The conductive layer may be comprised of aluminium foil of thickness in the range 5 to 1000pm, preferably 50 to 500pm and more preferably 100 to 300pm. The non-conductive layer may be comprised of paper of thickness in the range 5 to 1000pm, preferably 50 to 500pm and more preferably 100 to 300pm. Preferably the adhesive between the two layers is toxicologically inert such as those formed from PVA, EVA, starches, modified starches, cellulose, cellulose derivatives and combinations thereof.

An electrical region is a portion of a laminate overwrap that conducts electricity. An electrical region may be a continuous portion of a conductive material within a laminate overwrap. A conductive material may be a metal such as aluminium, copper, gold, silver, tin; an alloy such as brass; derived from graphite or graphene and combinations thereof. Separate electrical regions may be introduced into the laminate overwrap by the removal of a continuous strip of conductive material. Preferably the width of the strip of conductive material removed is within the range of 50% to 200% the thickness of the conductive protrusion within the device. More preferably the width of the strip of conductive material removed is within the range of 80% to 150% the thickness of the conductive protrusion within the device. Most preferably the width of the strip of conductive material removed is within the range of 90% to 120% the thickness of the conductive protrusion within the device.

Alternatively, the separate electrical regions may be formed by cutting the conductive layer. Preferably the separate electrical regions are formed by a series of two or more parallel or essentially parallel cuts in the conductive layer. The spacing between successive parallel cuts is in the range 0.01mm to 2mm. Preferably the spacing between successive parallel cuts is in the range 0.02mm to 1mm. More preferably the spacing between successive parallel cuts is in the range 0.05mm to 0.5mm.

A device may be in electrical contact with a consumable inserted therein. A device may have one or more conductive protrusions within the receiving opening to form electrical contact with the consumable. A protrusion is a raised portion of the surface of the device. A protrusion may be separable from the base or may be formed as part of the surface of the base. A protrusion may be an electrode. A conductive protrusion may comprise a conductive surface on a non-conductive base or may be composed of conductive material or materials. A conductive protrusion may be fixed, rigid, movable, biased, sprung or combinations thereof.

A conductive protrusion may be formed from a metal such as copper, an alloy such as copper beryllium, bronzes such as phosphor bronze and combinations thereof. To enhance the electrical properties, the base metal or alloy may be over plated with another metal such as nickel or gold. Most preferably the protrusion is over plated with successive layers of nickel and gold. Over plating has the benefit of ensuring an outer surface that resists corrosion during use thus providing good electrical connection with the laminate overwrap.

Suitable dimensions for a conductive protrusions range in height from 0.5 to 10mm, width from 0.5 to 5mm and thickness from 0.1mm to 3mm. Preferably the protrusion height ranges from 1mm to 8mm, width from 1mm to 4mm and thickness 0.2mm to 2mm. Most preferably the protrusion height ranges from 2mm to 5mm, width from 1.5mm to 3mm and thickness 0.3mm to 1mm. The conductive protrusion may have uniform dimensions throughout. Preferably the conductive protrusion is shaped with the tip having one or more lower dimensions than the base. A larger base is preferable to provide stability and rigidity to the total structure. Optionally one or more of the dimensions of the conductive protrusion increase in a linear fashion from tip to base. Preferably one or more of the dimensions of the conductive protrusion increase in a non-linear fashion from tip to base.

In one embodiment the conductive protrusion has three regions: the tip is formed into a point, a second region of essentially parallel or parallel sides where the width and thickness are the same or essentially the same and a third region where the protrusion increases in width. Optionally the width of the third section increases in a linear fashion to form at least one angled portion. Preferably the width of the third section increases in a non-linear fashion to form a curve. Most preferably the width of the third section increases in an increasing fashion to form a smooth curve. With this construction, the tip of the conductive protrusion acts to penetrate the tobacco portion of the consumable and the curved portion acts to align the consumable and ensure electrical contact between the conductive protrusion and the laminate overwrap of the consumable.

In an alternative embodiment the second region of the conductive protrusion is cylindrical. The cylindrical region may extend from the tip to the base. The curved portion of the third region is abutted to the cylindrical region and may be of essentially constant thickness. The cylindrical region may be of larger diameter than the thickness of the curved portion. This construction benefits from the cylindrical region providing strength in all directions and the narrower curved portion acting as a narrow blade reducing resistance whilst the tobacco rod is being inserted thereon.

In an alternative embodiment the conductive protrusion has more than one conductive region. This design is particularly useful for smaller diameter consumables where the inclusion of more than one separate conductive protrusion within the diameter of the receiving opening is impractical. A conductive protrusion with more than one conductive region has the additional benefit of ensure mechanical strength of the protrusion sufficient to withstand the repeated insertion and removal of the consumable there upon.

In this embodiment the tip of the protrusion is centrally or essentially centrally located within the base of the receiving opening of the heating device and is non-conductive. The central region may be made of ceramic or plastic or combinations thereof. Two or more conductive regions extend in essentially radial directions from the central region. The conductive regions may be made of metal, alloys, graphite, graphene or combinations thereof.

In this embodiment, the conductive regions may be separable from the central region and conjoined to form a single unit during manufacture. To assist conjoining, the central region may have at least one recessed area into which a portion of the conductive region is located. Alternatively, the conductive region may have at least one recessed area and into which a portion of the central region is located. The central region and conductive region may be secured using mechanical means such as press fit, interlocking grooves or dove tail; a bonding agent, adhesive; thermal welding, ultrasonic welding or a combination thereof.

In an alternative embodiment, the conductive regions may be inseparable from the central region. Such a protrusion may be formed from a single shaped piece of non-conductive material with at least one region extending in a radial direction overlaid with conductive material.

Conductive protrusions are arranged on the base plate of the receiving opening such that during insertion the tip enters the tobacco derived material first and then the blade region enters the tobacco derived material. As the consumable is further inserted onto the conductive protrusion the blade region extends outwards and subsequently contacts the laminate overwrap.

Preferably the conductive protrusions are arranged with their widest axis parallel or essentially parallel to a radial axis of the receiving opening. Preferably the conductive protrusions are arranged in a circle concentric with the base plate of the receiving opening. Preferably the conductive protrusions are arranged so that the tips form a circle of diameter 10 to 90% of the diameter of the consumable. More preferably the conductive protrusions are arranged so that the tips form a circle of diameter 25 to 75% of the diameter of the consumable.

To ensure the system responds in an identical manner regardless of the insertion orientation of the consumable it is preferable that the conductive protrusions are arranged upon the base plate with rotation symmetry. Rotational symmetry may be achieved with identical spacings between all conductive protrusions. Rotational symmetry may be achieved by arranging an even number of conductive protrusions into equidistant pairs. Rotational symmetry may be achieved by arranging the conductive protrusions into multiple equidistant groups. Typically, the spacing between conductive protrusions is related to the circumferential length of the electrical regions within the consumable. Using three conductive protrusions equally spaced will result in a spacing of X between each conductive protrusion. To ensure an electrical circuit between two conductive protrusions the circumferential length of an electrical region must be greater than or equal to X. In addition to ensure an electrical circuit cannot be created between all three conductive protrusions the circumferential length of an electrical region must be less than 2X. Hence the circumferential length L of an electrical region in this example can be expressed as X < L £ 2X. Allowing for a system with multiple conductive protrusions and multiple electrical regions, the circumferential length of an electrical region required to complete an electrical circuit between a specified number of conductive protrusions can be expressed generally as aX < L £ bX where a and b are integers.

To create an electrically isolated region the circumferential length of an electrical region must be less than X, thus only one conductive protrusion may be in electrical contact with that region. Hence the circumferential length L’ of an electrically isolated region can be expressed as L’ < X.

An electronic component includes passive components and active components. Passive components include resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes and combinations thereof. Combinations may be in series and in parallel and combinations thereof.

Active components include microprocessors, memory systems, EEPROM, ID tags and combinations thereof. Memory systems may include stored information that can be retrieved by the system. Consumable information may include details of the consumable such as manufacturer, batch number, best before date, unique identifier, concentration, flavour, suitable device parameters for use and combinations thereof.

Electronic components may be added as discrete units to co-join electrical regions within the laminate overwrap. Electrical joining being made via soldering, heat annealing, conductive adhesives and combinations thereof. Preferably electronic components are embedded in a supportive material that is applied as a layer during the construction of the laminate overwrap. Preferably electronic components embedded within a supportive material are heat annealed to form the electrical connection to the electrical regions.

Optionally Boolean logic may be used to establish the identity of a genuine consumable. Boolean logic encompasses a range of considerations between multiple inputs with at least two states: true and false. AND returns a positive result when two or more inputs are aligned; OR returns a positive result when one or more inputs are aligned; NOT returns a positive result when inputs are not aligned. It shall also encompass derived logic functions such as exclusive OR (XOR) and negative AND (NAND).

In an embodiment of a system with 3 conductive protrusions within the heating device and two electrical regions within the consumable, upon insertion a genuine consumable would establish an electrical circuit between two conductive protrusions and the third conductive protrusion would remain electrically isolated. For the control electronics this would be equivalent to a circuit between #1 AND #2 NOT #3.

In an alternative embodiment a system with 4 conductive protrusions within the heating device and two electrical regions within the consumable, upon insertion a genuine consumable would establish two separate electrical circuits between two pairs of conductive protrusions, however no circuit would exist between these two circuits. For the control electronic this would be equivalent to a circuit between #1 and #2 AND between #3 and #4 but NOT between #1 and #3 OR #4 and NOT between #2 and #3 OR #4.

An electrical circuit suitable for detection would include those having an electrical connection, a specified range of resistance, capacitance, inductance, a specific directional current flow and combinations thereof. For example, the control electronics may check for resistance between protrusions #1 and #2 and capacitance between #3 and #4.

These and other features of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements, will become more apparent upon consideration of the description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in various figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

Drawings

Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating system 1 and longitudinal axis 100.

Figure 2a shows a heating device 2.

Figure 2b shows a consumable 3 for use in a heating device.

Figure 3a show a cross-section through a heating device 2, including battery 4, control electronics 5, receiving opening 6 and heaters 7. Figure 3b shows a cross-section through a consumable 3, including tobacco-derived portion 8, filter portion 9 and mouth-end 10.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section through an aerosol generating system 1 consisting of a consumable 3 inserted into the receiving opening 6 of a heating device 2.

Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a consumable in greater detail. The tobacco- derived portion comprises a tobacco-derived material 13 surrounded by a laminate overwrap 12. The tobacco-derived portion is held adjacent to the filter portion 9 by the outer overwrap 11.

Figure 6a shows a detailed view of the receiving opening 6 of the heating device 2 according to the present invention. At the distal end of the receiving opening 6 are positioned multiple conductive protrusions 14.

Figure 6b and figure 6c show alternative arrangements of conductive protrusions 14 within the receiving opening 6.

Figure 7 shows a view down the receiving opening from the mouth end towards the distal end. The conductive protrusions 14 are arranged towards the periphery of the receiving opening with essentially equal circumferential spacing “X” 15.

Figure 8a shows a cross-section through a conductive protrusion 14, highlighting the tip 19 and the base 18. Arrow 16 shows the direction of insertion of the consumable into the receiving opening and arrow 17 show the radial direction.

Figure 8b shows an alternate cross-section through a conductive protrusion 14 where the size increases in a curvilinear fashion from tip 19 to base 18.

Figure 9a and 9b shows a side view and top view respectively of an alternate conductive protrusion 14 highlighting the tip 19, second region 30 with essentially parallel sides and third region 31 which increases in width in a curvilinear fashion.

Figure 10 shows a cross-section through a consumable being introduced into the receiving opening. In this embodiment, during the insertion process the tip 19 of a least one conductive protrusion enters the tobacco-derived material 13.

Figure 11 shows a cross-section through a consumable fully inserted into the receiving opening. The conductive protrusion 14 is in contact with the laminate overwrap 12 of the consumable.

Figure 12a and 12b show a side view and top view respectively of an alternate embodiment of a conductive protrusion with a central region having multiple lobes 32 extending in radial directions.

Figure 13 shows a cross-section through a consumable being introduced into the receiving opening. In this embodiment, during the insertion process the tip 19 of the conductive protrusion enters the tobacco-derived material 13. Figure 14 shows a cross-section through a consumable fully inserted into the receiving opening. The lobes 32 of the conductive protrusion 14 are in contact with the laminate overwrap 12 of the consumable.

Figure 15a shows a perspective view of the tobacco-derived portion 8. The tobacco derived material 13 is surrounded by a laminate overwrap 12 which has electrical regions 20 separated by a non-conductive region 21. An electronic component 22 may be used to connect two separate electrical regions.

Figure 15b shows the laminate overwrap of figure 15a flattened out as it would be prior to manufacturing the tobacco derived portion. The electrical region 20 has a circumferential length “L” 23.

Figure 16a and 16b show an alternate arrangement of electrical regions within the laminate overwrap in essentially a helical direction relative to the longitudinal axis 100.

Figure 17a shows a cross-section through a laminate overwrap comprised of a base layer of non-conductive material 25 and a conductive layer 24. Electrical regions 20 are separated by non-conductive regions 21 of the laminate overwrap without the conductive layer.

Figure 17b shows a cross-section through an alternate laminate overwrap comprised of multiple layers of non-conductive material 25 and multiple conductive layer 24.

Figure 18a shows a circuit diagram comprising the control electronics 5 of the heating device, two conductive protrusions 14 and one electrical region 20 of the laminate overwrap of the consumable.

Figure 18b shows an alternate circuit diagram comprising the control electronics 5 of the heating device, two conductive protrusions 14, two electrical regions 20 of the laminate overwrap of the consumable and an electronic component 22.

Figure 19 shows the operational sequence of the aerosol generating system as a flow diagram.

Upon insertion of the consumable 3 into the receiving opening 6 of the heating device 2, the conductive protrusions 14 contact the electrical regions 20 of the laminate overwrap 12. The control electronics 5 supplies a test signal to each of the conductive protrusions in turn and the response signal from the remaining conductive protrusions is read. The response signal is analysed and compared to a known reference value. Upon verification the control electronics proceeds to activate the heating device using known operational parameters and notifies the user.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the consumable comprises reconstituted sheet tobacco material formed into a cylinder of diameter 7.6mm and length 11.7mm and secured by a laminate overwrap. The laminate overwrap comprises a layer of aluminium foil of thickness 100pm and wood pulp paper of thickness 250pm held together using PVA glue. This tobacco containing portion is abutted against a three-segment filter and held in place by an outer paper overwrap.

In this embodiment, laminate overwrap surrounding the tobacco material is held in place using PVA glue in a continuous longitudinal line of 0.8mm thickness. The laminate overwrap has 2 parallel cuts in the aluminium foil running in the longitudinal direction 0.1mm apart and positioned 16mm from the glue line.

In this embodiment, the distal end of the receiving opening of the heating device has a base plate of diameter 10.5mm. The base plate of the receiving opening has three conductive protrusions positioned with a major axis running in a radial direction from the centre of the base plate. The conductive protrusions are placed at 120° relative to each other thus dividing the circumference of the base plate into three regions of equal size. The conductive protrusions have a maximum width at the base of 3.75mm and are positioned 0.25mm from the outside edge of the base plate. The conductive protrusions are positioned such that the uppermost point is towards the centre of the base plate.

In this embodiment, the three conductive protrusions are identical in construction and are made from copper which is coated with successive layers of 1.25pm nickel and 0.75pm gold. They consist of a 1mm diameter cylinder extending 4.5mm from the base plate with a curved blade of thickness 0.3mm abutted. At the top, the cylinder is formed into a point. The curved portion begins at 3.5mm height and runs to the base plate. At the top, the curved portion is of negligible width and increases in width as a smooth curve to a width of 2.75mm at the base plate. The cylinder and curved portion are formed as one unit.

For use, the consumable is partially inserted into a receiving opening within a battery operated electrically heated device such that the filter portion remains external to the device thus forming the mouth end for the user.

As the consumable is inserted into the receiving opening of the heating device, the tip of the three conductive protrusions enters the distal end of the tobacco portion. Subsequently the curved portion of the conductive protrusion engages the tobacco portion and the laminate overwrap. Upon full insertion of the consumable into the receiving opening the three conductive protrusions of the device have formed three separate electrical connections with the laminate overwrap of the consumable. Upon activation of the heating device with a consumable inserted therein, the controlling electronics supplies an electrical signal to one of the three conductive protrusions and detects a corresponding signal in the other two conductive protrusions. It repeats this process for all three conductive protrusions in turn. Upon determining that there is an electrical circuit between only two of the conductive protrusions and the third conductive protrusion is electrically isolated, the controlling electronics activates the heating circuit and signals to the user successful activation via illuminating a green LED.

Should the device detect no electrical circuits within the consumable or detect an electrical circuit shared by all three conductive protrusions it does not activate the heater and signals to the user unsuccessful activation by illuminating a red LED.

In an alternative preferred embodiment, the consumable is of outside diameter 5.5mm and the tobacco portion has a length 42mm. The laminate overwrap has a single cut through the foil material in the longitudinal direction positioned 5.7mm from the glue line.

In this embodiment, the base of the receiving opening of the heating device has a single protrusion extending from its centre in the longitudinal direction. The protrusion is formed from moulded ceramic with a pointed cylindrical central segment of diameter 1mm and height 4.5mm and three lobes extending in radial directions positioned at 120° relative to each other.

The three lobes are identical in shape forming a curved blade of thickness 0.3mm. The curved portion begins at 3.5mm height and runs to the base plate. At the top, the curved portion is of negligible width and increases in width as a smooth curve to a width of 2.5mm at the base plate. The surface of each of the three lobes is covered with a 100 pm layer of copper metal bonded to the surface of the ceramic and coated with successive layers of 1.25pm nickel and 0.75pm gold. The central cylindrical region is left uncovered.

As the consumable is inserted into the receiving opening of the heating device, the non- conductive tip of the tri-lobal conductive protrusion enters the distal end of the tobacco portion. Subsequently the curved portions of the conductive protrusion engage the tobacco portion and the laminate overwrap. Upon full insertion of the consumable into the receiving opening of the device the three conductive regions of the protrusion have formed three separate electrical connections with the laminate overwrap of the consumable. Upon activation of the heating device with a consumable inserted therein, the controlling electronics supplies an electrical signal to one of the three electrical connections formed between the laminate overwrap of the consumable and one lobe of the tri-lobal conductive protrusion and detects a corresponding signal in the other two electrical connections. It repeats this process for all three electrical connections in turn. Upon determining that there is an electrical circuit between only two of the electrical connections and the third lobe of the tri-lobal conductive protrusion is electrically isolated, the controlling electronics activates the heating circuit and signals to the user successful activation via illuminating a green LED. Should the device detect no electrical circuits within the consumable or detect an electrical circuit shared by all three electrical connections of the tri-lobal conductive protrusion it does not activate the heater and signals to the user unsuccessful activation by illuminating a red LED. Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration based on what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover modifications and equivalent arrangements that are within the scope of the appended claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more features of any other embodiment.