AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH CHROMATIC RECOGNITION

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system (50) has an optical sensor (23) disposed on a portion of an exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system. The optical sensor is configured to output sensor data. A controller (29) is operably coupled to the optical sensor. The controller is configured to manipulate one or more operating parameters of an aerosolizer element of the aerosol-generating system based on the optical sensor data.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. An aerosol-generating system comprising: an optical sensor disposed on a portion of an exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system, the optical sensor configured to output sensor data; a controller operably coupled to the optical sensor, the controller is configured to manipulate one or more operating parameters of an aerosolizer element of the aerosol-generating system based on the optical sensor data, wherein the optical sensor is configured to be optically coupled to packaging for aerosol-generating articles and the controller is configured to manipulate one or more operating parameters of an aerosolizer element of the aerosol-generating system based on the color of the packaging that is detected by the optical sensor; and wherein aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device and a charging unit configured to charge and house the aerosol-generating device between uses, and the optical sensor is disposed on the exterior surface of the charging unit.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor is a chromatic sensor.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to automatically modify one or more operating parameters of an aerosolizer element of the aerosol-generating system based on the optical sensor data.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, further comprising coloring elements configured to apply a color layer to the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

16. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor comprises a chromatic sensor and a light source, such as a solid state light source.

17. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light transparent layer forming a portion of the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

18. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 12; and two or more coloring elements configured to apply a color layer to the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

19. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 12; and packaging for containing aerosol-generating consumer articles, the packaging having a specific color associated with the aerosol-generating consumer articles.

20. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 12; and a skin layer configured to be disposed onto the optical sensor, the skin layer having a specific color or configured to be colored.

21. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, further comprising coloring elements configured to apply a color layer to the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

22. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 14, wherein the optical sensor comprises a chromatic sensor and a light source, such as a solid state light source.

23. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light transparent layer forming a portion of the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

24. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 14, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light transparent layer forming a portion of the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

25. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the optical sensor comprises a chromatic sensor and a light source, such as a solid state light source.

26. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the optical sensor comprises a light transparent layer forming a portion of the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

27. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 13; and two or more coloring elements configured to apply a color layer to the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system.

28. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 13; and packaging for containing aerosol-generating consumer articles, the packaging having a specific color associated with the aerosol-generating consumer articles.

29. An aerosol-generating kit comprising: the aerosol-generating system according to claim 13; and a skin layer configured to be disposed onto the optical sensor, the skin layer having a specific color or configured to be colored.

Description

[0066] FIGS. 1A-B are schematic illustrations showing an example of one charging unit of the aerosol-generating system in a closed position and an open position, respectively.

[0067] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing an example of one aerosol-generating device of the aerosol-generating system in a cross-section view.

[0068] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of an example of one controller of the aerosol-generating system.

[0069] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example of an optical sensor in perspective view.

[0070] FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example of an optical sensor in cross-section perspective view.

[0071] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of an optical sensor forming a portion of the exterior surface of an element of the aerosol-generating system in a cross-section view.

[0072] FIGS. 1A-B show aerosol-generating system 50 including a charging unit 52, which includes a cover 25 (lid) and main charging unit 26 (body). Cover 25 may be opened (FIG. 2A) or closed (FIG. 2B). Cover 25 opens smoothly at least up to about 90 degrees to provide sufficient clearance for the user's finger. When cover 25 is opened, the user may remove the aerosol-generating device 27 from the main charging unit 26.

[0073] Aerosol-generating system 50 includes an optical sensor 23. The optical sensor 23 may be disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the aerosol-generating system 50. The optical sensor 23 may be disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the main charging unit 52. The optical sensor 23 may be disposed on a portion of the exterior surface of the main charging unit body 26.

[0074] Aerosol-generating system 50 includes a controller 29. The controller 29 is operably coupled to the optical sensor 23. The controller 29 is configured to manipulate one or more operating parameters of an aerosolizer element of the aerosol-generating system 50 based on the optical sensor data.

[0075] Cover 25 defines a cavity with sufficient inner volume to accommodate the aerosol-generating device 27. As shown in FIG. 2A, aerosol-generating device 27 may be inserted into charging unit 52. Cover 25 may be closed to contain and protect aerosol-generating device 27 when charging.

[0076] Main charging unit 26 includes electronic control unit 29 (controller) and power supply 30, which may include a battery or batteries. Power supply 30 is typically larger and contains more charge than the aerosol-generating device 27 power supply 7 (FIG. 2). Although not shown, charging unit 52 may include a communication interface, wired or wireless, that communicates with aerosol-generating device 27, for example using electrical unit 8 (FIG. 2).

[0077] FIG. 2 illustrates an aerosol-generating device 27 including main tobacco stick holder 1, or controller portion, and cover 2, or mouth portion. Main tobacco stick holder 1 and cover 2 together define the housing of aerosol-generating device 27. Cover 2 defines cavity 3, which is configured to receive a tobacco heat stick (not shown). The tobacco heat stick may be pierced by heating element 4 (aerosolizer) when inserted into cavity 3. Heating element 4 is provided in the form of a blade or pin, for example, and utilizes a resistor for resistive heating or a susceptor for induction heating.

[0078] Heating element 4 raises the temperature of the tobacco heat stick when activated. Holder 5, or base of heating element 4, provides electrical connectivity (operative coupling) between heating element 4 and electronic control unit 6 (controller). Electronic control unit 6 is operatively coupled to power supply 7, which may include a battery or batteries. Electronic control unit 6 is used to activate, or to deliver power to, the heating element. Electrical unit 8 (communication interface) with a printed circuit board is operatively coupled to electronic control unit 6 and power supply 7. Electrical unit 8 is operatively coupled to electrical or data contact pads 9, which may be used to couple to an external power supply for charging and an external device for communicating data. Connectivity substrate 10, or the wiring of a flat flexible substrate, may be used to operatively couple electrical unit 8 and electronic control unit 6.

[0079] Light-emitting diode 15 is provided along main tobacco stick holder 1 and provides status indications, such as on/off or an operating mode. Light-emitting diode 15 may be color coded to provide such indications. Operating button 16, or actuator, is provided along main tobacco stick holder 1 and allows the user to turn aerosol-generating device 1 on or off, as well as access certain menu modes. Light-emitting diode 15 and operating button 16 are operatively coupled to printed circuit board 17. Printed circuit board 17 is operatively coupled to electronic control unit 6 through connectivity substrate 19, or the wiring of a flat flexible substrate. Recessed surface 18 may be provided along main tobacco stick holder 1 to provide ergonomic contact with, and protection of, light-emitting diode 15 and operating button 16 for the user's fingers. In particular, recessed surface 18 provides some protection from unintended actuation of operating button 16. Main tobacco stick holder 1 may include display 30 (user interface), which may display alphanumeric graphics or other graphics visible to the user.

[0080] Cavity housing 20 defines cavity 3 and provides air management around the tobacco heat stick when inserted into cavity 3. Cavity housing 20 may also be used to extract the tobacco heat stick from the aerosol-generating device 1.

[0081] FIG. 3 shows controller 100 with operative coupling 102 to optical sensor 23 and operative coupling 104 to other device 110 using communication interface 108. Controller 100 may be contained in an aerosol-generating device or a charging unit. Other device 110 may be aerosol-generating device 27, charging unit 52, or an external Internet-enabled device separate from the aerosol-generating system.

[0082] Controller 100 includes processor 112 and memory 114. Processor 112 receives color or chromatic data 116 and determines operation data 118 based on color or chromatic data 116. Processor 112 determines aerosol delivery profile 120 based on color data 118 and optionally other input received using communication interface 108 or by a user interface (not shown). Memory 114 stores pre-programmed aerosol delivery profiles 121. Aerosol delivery profile 120 may be selected by processor 112 from pre-programmed aerosol delivery profiles 121.

[0083] FIG. 4 is an illustration of an example of an optical sensor 23 in perspective view. FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example of an optical sensor 23 in cross-section perspective view. FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of an optical sensor 23 forming a portion of the exterior surface 26 of an element of the aerosol-generating system in a cross-section view.

[0084] The optical sensor 23 or chromatic sensor 23 includes a light sensitive sensor 123 and a light source 124 on a substrate or chip 126. The substrate or chip 126 may be referred to as a board on-chip and may provide electronic circuitry to enable components (such as a controller 29) to interface and connect with the optical sensor 23 or light sensitive sensor 123.

[0085] The light sensitive sensor 123 and a light source 124 may be arranged side-by-side. Light source housing 125 may contain and direct light towards the target 309, 313. A polarizer element 122 may be disposed on the light sensitive sensor 123 to direct light in a parallel manner (unidirectional light 212) onto the light sensitive sensor 123.

[0086] Emitted light 210 from the light source 124 may transmit through a light transparent layer 127 and then reflect off of the target 309, 313. This reflected light 211 may be incident onto the optical sensor 23 or light sensitive sensor 123 via the light transparent layer 127 and the optional polarizer element 122.

[0087] The specific embodiments described above are intended to illustrate the invention. However, other embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims, and it is to be understood that the specific embodiments described above are not intended to be limiting.

[0088] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” encompass embodiments having plural referents, unless the content clearly dictates otherwise.

[0089] As used herein, “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The term “and/or” means one or all the listed elements or a combination of any two or more of the listed elements.

[0090] As used herein, “have,” “having,” “include,” “including,” “comprise,” “comprising” or the like are used in their open-ended sense, and generally mean “including, but not limited to”. It will be understood that “consisting essentially of,” “consisting of,” and the like are subsumed in “comprising,” and the like.

[0091] The words “preferred” and “preferably” refer to embodiments of the invention that may afford certain benefits, under certain circumstances. However, other embodiments may also be preferred, under the same or other circumstances. Furthermore, the recitation of one or more preferred embodiments does not imply that other embodiments are not useful and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, including the claims.