EP4551052A1

EP4551052A1 - Aerosol provision device comprising an optical article sensor

Info

Publication number: EP4551052A1
Application number: EP23740970.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zhihuang Xiao
Original assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Current assignee: Nicoventures Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2022-07-06
Filing date: 2023-07-05
Publication date: 2025-05-14
Also published as: GB202209936D0; CA3261109A1; WO2024008795A1; JP2025522553A

Abstract

An aerosol provision device is configured to receive at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising an article sensor and a processor, wherein the article sensor comprises a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

Description

AEROSOL PROVISION DEVICE COMPRISING AN OPTICAL ARTICLE SENSOR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an aerosol provision device, an aerosol provision system and an article.

Background

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products are heating devices which release compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. The material may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device configured to receive at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising an article sensor and a processor, wherein the article sensor comprises a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

The article sensor may comprise a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter signal to the article, the transmitter signal causing the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

The transmitter signal may be reflected from the article to cause the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

The operation parameter may be a transmitter signal strength of the transmitter signal, wherein the processor is configured to increase transmitter signal strength to increase the receiver signal strength. The processor may be configured to increase a current supplied to the transmitter to increase the transmitter signal strength.

The receiver may be a light receiver configured to receive light from the article.

The transmitter may be a light source configured to transmit light to the article, wherein the receiver signal is light reflected from the article.

The processor may be configured to determine a colour of a portion of the article in dependence on the receiver signal.

The operation parameter may be a sensitivity of the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to increase a sensitivity of the receiver to increase the receiver signal strength.

The processor may be configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment is constant for measured receiver signal strengths below the detection threshold.

The processor may be configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment increases with increasing difference between the detection threshold and measured receiver signal strength.

The processor may be configured to store experience data relating to the operation parameters of the article sensor and the receiver signal strength. The experience data may comprise previously used increments. The processor may be configured to use the experience data to determine the increment. The aerosol provision device may comprise a memory for storing the experience data. The processor may be configured to transmit experience data to an external server or device. The processor may be configured to use a machine learning algorithm, trained using the experience data, to determine the increment. The processor may be configured to receive a value of the increment from the external server or device.

Following modification of the operation parameter, the processor may be configured to determine whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, and, in response to the receiver signal strength remaining below the detection threshold, further modify the operation parameter to further increase the receiver signal strength. The processor may be configured to return the operation parameter to a default value for a subsequent article.

The processor may be configured to maintain a value of the operation parameter from the article to a subsequent article.

The processor may be configured to: determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength above an upper threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being above the upper threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength, wherein the upper threshold is greater than the detection threshold.

The article information may comprise a presence of the article.

The article information may comprise a type of the article.

The article information may comprise a unique article identifier.

The processor may be configured to determine the article information from the receiver signal.

The aerosol provision device may comprise a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an article, the receptacle being configured so that the receiver signal is received at or through a wall of the receptacle, wherein the receiver is located at the wall of the receptacle.

The wall may comprise a translucent portion, wherein the receiver is located external to the receptacle at the translucent portion.

The wall may comprise an opening, wherein the receiver is located beyond the opening to receive the receiver signal through the opening.

The aerosol provision device is a tobacco heating product.

The article sensor may be a hall effect sensor.

The processor may be configured to: determine from the receiver signal a colour of a portion of the article; and determine a property of the article from the colour.

The processor may be configured to modify an operating parameter of the aerosol generator in response to the property of the article. The processor may be configured to modify a heating profile in response to the property of the article.

The processor may be configured to modify a session length in response to the property of the article.

The processor may be configured to modify an operating temperature in response to the property of the article.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device as described above and an article received by the aerosol provision device.

The article may comprise an indicia, the indicia indicative of article information.

The indicia may be a coloured portion of the article.

The coloured portion may be a coloured band surrounding the article.

The indicia may be indicative of a type of the article.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at a receiver of an article sensor or an aerosol provision device, a receiver signal from an article engaged with the aerosol provision device, the aerosol provision device configured to form an aerosol from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information; determining whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modifying an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength. The method may include any steps described above with respect to the device and the system.

The method may comprise modifying the operation parameter by an increment.

The method may comprise storing experience data relating to the operation parameters of the article sensor and the receiver signal strength. The experience data may comprise previously used increments. The method may comprise using the experience data to determine the increment. The method may comprise using a machine learning algorithm, trained using the experience data, to determine the increment. The machine learning algorithm may be trained at an external device The method may comprise transmitting experience data to an external server or device. The method may comprise using a machine learning algorithm, trained using the experience data, to determine the increment. The method may comprise training the machine learning algorithm, based on the experience data. The machine learning algorithm may be used to determine the increment by a processor of the aerosol provision device or at an external device/server. The machine learning algorithm may be trained at the processor of the aerosol provision device or at an external device/server.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an aerosol provision device configured to receive at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising an article sensor and a processor, the article sensor comprising: a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article; and a processor configured to: determine from the receiver signal a colour of a portion of the article; and determine a property of the article from the colour. The aerosol provision device may comprise the features and be configured as described above.

The processor may be configured to modify an operating parameter in response to the property of the article.

The processor may be configured to modify a heating profile in response to the property of the article.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided an article comprising an aerosol generating material, the article comprising an indicia, wherein the indicia is a coloured portion of the article, wherein the indicia is indicative of a property of the article. The article may comprise the features and be configured as described above.

In accordance with some embodiments described herein, there is provided a method comprising: receiving, at a receiver of an article sensor, a receiver signal from an article engaged with an aerosol provision device; determining from the receiver signal a colour of a portion of the article; and determining from the colour a property of the article.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an aerosol provision system;

Figure. 2 shows a perspective view of an article;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of an aerosol provision system;

Figure 4 shows a schematic drawing of an aerosol provision system; and

Figure 5 shows a method of receiving a receiver signal at the aerosol provision device.

Detailed Description

As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and/or flavourants. Aerosol-generating material may include any plant based material, such as tobacco-containing material and may, for example, include one or more of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol-generating material also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosolgenerating material may for example be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gel, a wax or the like. Aerosol-generating material may for example also be a combination or a blend of materials. Aerosol-generating material may also be known as “smokable material”.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise a binder and an aerosol former. Optionally, an active and/or filler may also be present. Optionally, a solvent, such as water, is also present and one or more other components of the aerosolgenerating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free from botanical material. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco free.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise or be an “amorphous solid”. The amorphous solid may be a “monolithic solid”. In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosolgenerating material may, for example, comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

The aerosol-generating material may comprise an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may comprise or be a sheet, which may optionally be shredded to form a shredded sheet. The aerosol-generating sheet or shredded sheet may be substantially tobacco free.

According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosolgenerating material is not a requirement.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product. Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a noncombustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the noncombustible aerosol provision device.

In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosolgenerating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and/or an aerosol-modifying agent.

An aerosol generating device can receive an article comprising aerosol generating material for heating. An “article” in this context is a component that includes or contains in use the aerosol generating material, which is heated to volatilise the aerosol generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol generating device before it is heated to produce an aerosol, which the user subsequently inhales. The article may be, for example, of a predetermined or specific size that is configured to be placed within a heating chamber of the device which is sized to receive the article.

With reference to Fig. 1 , an aerosol provision system 10 comprises an aerosol provision device 100 for generating aerosol from an aerosol generating material. The aerosol provision system 10 further comprises a replaceable article 110 comprising the aerosol generating material. In broad outline, the aerosol forming device 100 may be used to heat the article 110 to generate an aerosol or other inhalable medium, which is inhaled by a user of the device 100.

The aerosol forming device 100 comprises a body 102. A housing arrangement surrounds and houses various components of the body 102. An article aperture 104 is formed at one end of the body 102, through which the article 110 may be inserted for heating by an aerosol generator 200, which is described below with respect to Fig. 3.

The device 100 may also include a user-operable control element 150, such as a button or switch, which operates the device 100 when pressed. For example, a user may turn on the device 100 by operating the switch 150.

The aerosol generator 200 defines a longitudinal axis, which aligns with an axis of the article 110.

In use, the article 110 may be fully or partially inserted into the aerosol generator 200 where it may be heated by one or more components of the aerosol generator 200.

The device 100 includes an apparatus for heating aerosol-generating material. The apparatus includes an aerosol generating assembly, a controller (control circuit), and a power source. The apparatus forms part of the body 102. The aerosol generating assembly is configured to heat the aerosol-generating material of an article 110 inserted through the article aperture 104, such that an aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating material. The power source supplies electrical power to the aerosol generating assembly, and the aerosol generating assembly converts the supplied electrical energy into heat energy for heating the aerosol-generating material. The power source may be, for example, a battery, such as a rechargeable battery or a non-rechargeable battery. Examples of suitable batteries include, for example, a lithium battery (such as a lithium-ion battery), a nickel battery (such as a nickel-cadmium battery), and an alkaline battery.

The power source may be electrically coupled to the aerosol generating assembly to supply electrical power when required and under control of the controller to heat the aerosol generating material. The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate the aerosol generating assembly based on a user input. The user input may be via a button press or opening a door of the device (for example, a door covering a consumable receiving receptacle). The control circuit may be configured to activate and deactivate automatically, for example on insertion of an article.

The aerosol generating assembly may comprise various components to heat the aerosol generating material via an inductive heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating an electrically conducting heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. An induction heating assembly may comprise an inductive element, for example, one or more inductor coils, and a device for passing a varying electric current, such as an alternating electric current, through the inductive element. The varying electric current in the inductive element produces a varying magnetic field. The varying magnetic field penetrates a susceptor (heating element) suitably positioned with respect to the inductive element, and generates eddy currents inside the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to the eddy currents, and hence the flow of the eddy currents against this resistance causes the susceptor to be heated by Joule heating. In cases where the susceptor comprises ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by the varying orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material as a result of their alignment with the varying magnetic field. In inductive heating, as compared to heating by conduction for example, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating. Further, there need not be any physical contact between the inductive element and the susceptor, allowing for enhanced freedom in construction and application.

With reference to Fig. 2, the article 110 comprises an indicator 112. The indicator 112 is indicative of article information. The article information comprises a type of the article 110, for example, a flavour, a strength and/or a size of the article 110.

The indicator 112 is an indicia 112. The indicia 112 is on an outer surface 114 of the article 110. The outer surface 114 may be formed from paper, with the indicia 112 printed on the paper. The indicia 112 provides an optical indication of the article information. The indicia 112 is a coloured portion of the article 110. The indicia 112 is a band surrounding the article 110. The article 110 is substantially cylindrical, and the band extends all of the way around the article’s curved surface 114. The indicia 112 is located on a section of the outer surface 114 which surrounds the aerosol generating material.

In some embodiments, the identifier 112 comprises an image on the outer surface 114. In some embodiments, the identifier 112 comprises a barcode, a QR code or other machine readable optical label. In some embodiments, the identifier is not on the outer surface 114, and may be internal to the article. The identifier may be another type of tag, for example a radio frequency identification tag or a near field communication tag.

In some embodiments, the article information comprises a unique article identifier, such that the specific article can be identified from the indicator 112. In other embodiments, the article information comprises an indication that an article (e.g. an article suitable for use with the aerosol provision device 100) is present.

With reference to Fig. 3, a portion of the article 110 is received in a receptacle 106 of the aerosol provision device 100. The receptacle 106 is a cylindrical chamber, extending from the article aperture 104 into the body 102. The article 110 is inserted through the aperture 104 into the receptacle 106, such that the identifier 112 is positioned with the receptacle 106. The receptacle 106 is defined by a wall 108.

The aerosol provision device 100 comprises an aerosol generator 200. The aerosol generator 200 is a heating assembly. The aerosol generator 200 comprises an inductive element 202. The inductive element 202 is an inductive coil surrounding the receptacle 106. The aerosol generator 200 comprises a susceptor element 108, which, in the present embodiment, is the wall 108.

The aerosol provision device 100 comprises an article sensor 116. The receptacle 108 comprises an opening 109. The article sensor 116 is positioned at the opening 109. The article sensor 116 is positioned outside the receptacle 108 beyond the opening 109, such that the article sensor 116 is in optical communication with the receptacle through the opening 109. In some embodiments, the wall 108 comprises a translucent portion, with the article sensor 116 located outside the wall 108 beyond the translucent portion.

The article sensor 116 is positioned such that when the article 110 is received in the receptacle 106, the indicator 112 is aligned with the article sensor With reference to Fig. 4, the aerosol provision device 100 comprises a processor 118 in data communication with the article sensor 116. The article sensor 116 comprises a transmitter 120 and a receiver 122. The transmitter 120 is in optical communication with the article 110. The receiver 122 is in optical communication with the article 110. The transmitter is in optical communication with the indicator 112. The receiver 122 is in optical communication with the indicator 112.

The transmitter 120 is configured to transmit a transmitter signal to the article 110. The transmitter 120 is a light source (e.g. an LED) configured to transmit light to the article 110.

The receiver 122 is configured to receive a receiver signal from the article 110. The transmitter signal causes the receiver signal to reach the receiver 122. The transmitter signal is reflected from the article 110. The receiver 122 is a light receiver configured to receive light reflected from the article 110.

In use, a user inserts the article 110 into the aerosol provision device 100. The user activates the user operable control element 150, which causes the aerosol provision device to perform an article identification process 300, as described below with respect to Fig. 5. The aerosol generator 200 generates an aerosol from the article 110. The aerosol provision device 100 supplies an alternating current to the inductor element 202, which causes the susceptor element 108 to heat the aerosol generating material of the article 110.

The susceptor element 108 heats the aerosol generating material by applying a heating profile, with an operating temperature, over an aerosol generating session. The heating profile is dependent on the article information, with different heating profiles being applied for different types of article. The operating temperature is dependent on article information, with the aerosol generating material being heated to different operating temperatures in different types of article. The session length (i.e. a time period during which the aerosol generator generates from the aerosol generating material) of the aerosol generating session is dependent on article information, with different session lengths being used for different types of article.

At the end of the aerosol generating session, the aerosol generator 200 stops generating aerosol from the aerosol generating material. The user removes the article 110 from the aerosol provision device 100 and disposes of the article 110.

Fig. 5 illustrates the article identification process 300 performed by the aerosol provision device 100. The article identification process 300 comprises a transmission step 302, a receiving step 304, a strength determination step 306, a modification step 308 and an article information step 310.

In the transmission step 302, the processor 118 controls the transmitter 120 to transmit the transmitter signal to the indicator of the article 110. As described above, the transmitter 120 is a light source and the transmitter signal is light.

In the receiving step 304, the receiver 122 receives the receiver signal from the article 110. As described above, the receiver 122 is a light receiver, which receives light transmitted by the transmitter 120 and reflected from the indicator 112 of the article.

In the strength determination step 306, the processor determines whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold, the processor may determine a signal to noise ratio of the light signal, with a signal to noise ratio below a SNR threshold indicating that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold, the processor may consider a light transmission ratio (e.g. light received divided by light transmitted), with a light transmission ratio below a light transmission threshold indicating that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold. To determine that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold, the processor may try to perform the article information step 310 (described below), and, in the event that the processor cannot determine article information, determine that the receiver signal strength is below the detection threshold.

In response to the receiver signal being determined to be below the detection threshold, in the modification step 308, the processor modifies an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

In this example, the operation parameter is the current supplied to the transmitter 120, and the processor increases the current supplied to the transmitter 120, such that the light from the transmitter 120 is increased, thereby increasing the receiver signal strength. In other examples, the operation parameter is a sensitivity of the receiver 122, which may be increased to increase receiver signal strength.

In this example, the operation parameter is modified by an increment which is substantially constant and independent of the determined receiver signal strength. This may provide a simple aerosol provision device 100. In other examples, the increment by which the operation parameter is modified is dependent on a difference between measured receiver signal strength and the detection threshold, and, for example, the increment increases with increasing difference between the detection threshold and the measured receiver signal strength. This may permit the receiver signal strength to reach the detection threshold more quickly.

Following the modification step 308, the processor controls the transmitter and receiver to perform the transmission step 302 and the receiving step 304 again with the modified operating parameters, before again performing the strength determination step 306 as described above.

In response to the receiver signal being determined to be above the detection threshold, in the article information step 310, the processor 118 determines article information from the receiver signal.

By modifying the operation parameters in the manner described, the article information may be determined even when the aerosol provision device becomes dirty or when condensation forms near to the receiver. Increasing receiver signal strength incrementally reduces power consumption.

In this example, the transmission step 302 begins when the user activates the user operable control element 150 to activate the aerosol provision device 100. In other examples, the transmission step 302 may begin automatically, for example on detection of an article 110 having been inserted into the aerosol provision device 100.

In this example, aerosol generation begins after the article information step 310. This permits the aerosol generation to be specific to the type of article. In other examples, the aerosol generator 200 may begin a pre-heating step when the user operable control element 150 is activated and before the article identification process 300 is completed, with the aerosol generation session beginning following successful completion of the article identification process 300. This may reduce the time from device activation to aerosol generation.

In other examples, the aerosol generator 200 begins the aerosol generating session when the user operable control element 150 is activated e.g. at the same time as the article identification process 300. This may reduce the time from device activation to aerosol generation, and may be particularly suitable for a device in which heating does not depend on article information. Article information may be used for tracking article usage, to inform, for example, when articles need to be reordered.

In this example, after the aerosol generating session has finished for the article 110 and the article 110 has been removed by the user, the processor maintains the operation parameters for an additional article that is subsequently used with the aerosol provision device 100. The article identification process may include an additional step (e.g. after the determination step or the article information step), in which the processor determines whether the receiver signal strength is above an upper threshold, which is above the detection threshold. In response to the receiver signal strength being above the upper threshold, the processor might modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength. This may reduce power consumption.

In other examples, the operation parameters may return to default values for each additional article.

In other examples, the transmission step and the transmitter 120 are omitted. The receiver may be light sensor, and the light received from the article 110 may be ambient light reflected from the article. In such examples, the receiver sensitivity may be increased to increase receiver signal strength.

The article identification process has been described with respect to light transmitters/receivers and signals, but it may be applied to other signals, including those used for RFID/NFC tags are described above. Additionally, other types of receivers, for example hall effect sensors may be used, with the article identification process applied to such sensors. Hall effect sensors may use inductive, capacitive or magnetic variables to provide the article information. For an inductive hall effect sensor, where the receiver signal is determined to be below the detection threshold, a voltage or a frequency of an input signal to a transmitter may be increased, increasing the inductive effect.

In the above described embodiments, the aerosol provision device comprises a heating arrangement that is an inductive heating arrangement. In embodiments, other types of heating arrangement are used, such as resistive heating. The configuration of the device is generally as described above and so a detailed description will be omitted. In such arrangements the aerosol generating assembly comprises a resistive heating generator including components to heat the heating element via a resistive heating process. In this case, an electrical current is directly applied to a resistive heating component, and the resulting flow of current in the heating component causes the heating component to be heated by Joule heating. The resistive heating component comprises resistive material configured to generate heat when a suitable electrical current passes through it, and the heating assembly comprises electrical contacts for supplying electrical current to the resistive material.

In embodiments, the heating element forms the resistive heating component itself. In embodiments the resistive heating component transfers heat to the heating element, for example by conduction.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to assist in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided as a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. It is to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein are not to be considered limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, appropriate combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc, other than those specifically described herein. In addition, this disclosure may include other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.

Claims

1. An aerosol provision device configured to receive at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising an article sensor and a processor, wherein the article sensor comprises a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.

2. The aerosol provision device according to claim 1, wherein the article sensor comprises a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter signal to the article, the transmitter signal causing the receiver signal to reach the receiver.

3. The aerosol provision device according to claim 2, wherein the operation parameter is a transmitter signal strength of the transmitter signal, wherein the processor is configured to increase transmitter signal strength to increase the receiver signal strength.

4. The aerosol provision device according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to increase a current supplied to the transmitter to increase the transmitter signal strength.

5. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the receiver is a light receiver configured to receive light from the article.

6. The aerosol provision device according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter is a light source configured to transmit light to the article, wherein the receiver signal is light reflected from the article.

7. The aerosol provision device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the processor is configured to determine a colour of a portion of the article in dependence on the receiver signal.

8. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the operation parameter is a sensitivity of the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to increase a sensitivity of the receiver to increase the receiver signal strength.

9. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment is constant for measured receiver signal strengths below the detection threshold.

10. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment increases with increasing difference between the detection threshold and measured receiver signal strength.

11. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-10, wherein following modification of the operation parameter, the processor is configured to determine whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, and, in response to the receiver signal strength remaining below the detection threshold, further modify the operation parameter to further increase the receiver signal strength.

12. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the processor is configured to return the operation parameter to a default value for a subsequent article.

13. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-11, wherein the processor is configured to maintain a value of the operation parameter from the article to a subsequent article.

14. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the processor is configured to: determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength above an upper threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being above the upper threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength, wherein the upper threshold is greater than the detection threshold.

15. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-14, wherein the article information comprises a presence of the article, a type of the article and/or a unique article identifier

16. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-15 and comprising a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an article, the receptacle being configured so that the receiver signal is received at or through a wall of the receptacle, wherein the receiver is located at the wall of the receptacle.

17. The aerosol provision device according to claim 16, wherein the wall comprises an opening, wherein the receiver is located beyond the opening to receive the receiver signal through the opening.

18. The aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein the aerosol provision device is a tobacco heating product.

19. An aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to any of claims 1-18 and an article received by the aerosol provision device.

20. A method comprising: receiving, at a receiver of an article sensor or an aerosol provision device, a receiver signal from an article engaged with the aerosol provision device, the aerosol provision device configured to form an aerosol from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information; determining whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modifying an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.