WO2025214960A1

WO2025214960A1 - Aerosol-generating device for heating a consumable comprising a plurality of portions

Info

Publication number: WO2025214960A1
Application number: PCT/EP2025/059481
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nadine Sophie CUSNIR; Stefan LAUENSTEIN; Johannes Petrus Maria Pijnenburg; Filip Tack; Mathias Torsten Rickard TINGSTRÖM
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2024-04-09
Filing date: 2025-04-07
Publication date: 2025-10-16
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-09

Abstract

The invention relates to an aerosol-generating device (10) comprising a cavity (12) for receiving an aerosol-generating article (36), a heater assembly (22, 24) configured for heating individual portions (38, 40) of the aerosol-generating article and at least one detector (26) configured to detect the aerosol-generating article. The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating device and an, preferably hollow tubular-shaped, aerosol-generating article.

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE FOR HEATING A CONSUMABLE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF PORTIONS

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system.

It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor. Such devices may heat aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosolforming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be present in solid form or in liquid form. Aerosol-forming substrate may be provided as part of an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a cavity, such as a heating chamber, of the aerosol-generating device. A heating element may be arranged in or around the heating chamber for heating the aerosol-forming substrate once the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosolgenerating device. In addition or alternatively, a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be attached to or inserted into the aerosol-generating device for supplying the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the device for aerosol generation. The aerosol-generating article or cartridge usually comprises a mixture of different materials. For example, a rodshaped aerosol-generating article may comprise a filter segment, an aerosol-cooling segment, and a metallic susceptor arranged within an aerosol-forming substrate potion, all wrapped within an outer paper wrapper.

It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system that is more ecologically friendly. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device which allows sequential heating of different portions of an aerosol-forming substrate. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows individual heating of different portions of an aerosol-generating article. It would be desirable to provide an aerosolgenerating device or system which allows individual heating of different portions of a hollow aerosol-generating article. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows for a plurality of usage sessions before the aerosol-generating article or cartridge is depleted. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows the user to select different portions of an aerosol-forming substrate to be heated. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows providing the user with an enhanced aerosol volume and multiple combinations of flavors. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows providing the user with multiple user experiences. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows reliable detection of an aerosol-generating article. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device or system which allows providing the user with customizable user experiences.

According to an embodiment of the invention there may be provided an aerosolgenerating device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article. The aerosolgenerating device may comprise at least one detector configured to detect the aerosolgenerating article.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprises a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprises at least one detector configured to detect the aerosol-generating article.

An aerosol-generating device or system that is more ecologically friendly may be provided. An aerosol-generating device which allows sequential heating of different portions of an aerosol-forming substrate may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows individual heating of different portions of an aerosol-generating article may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows individual heating of different portions of a hollow aerosol-generating article may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows for a plurality of usage sessions before the aerosol-generating article or cartridge is depleted may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows the user to select different portions of an aerosol-forming substrate to be heated may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows providing the user with an enhanced aerosol volume and multiple combinations of flavors may be provided. An aerosolgenerating device or system which allows providing the user with multiple user experiences may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows reliable detection of an aerosol-generating article may be provided. An aerosol-generating device or system which allows providing the user with customizable user experiences may be provided.

By the aerosol-generating device of the invention comprising a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article, the user may be enabled to consume individual portions of the aerosol-generating article during a usage session. The aerosol-generating device of the invention comprising a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article may be particularly advantageous for consumption of an aerosol-generating article comprising individual portions with different aerosol-forming substrates. The aerosol-generating device of the invention comprising a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosolgenerating article may provide the user with one or more of multiple user experiences, enhanced user experiences, customizable user experiences and prolonged user experiences.

By the aerosol-generating device of the invention comprising a detector, a reliable detection of an aerosol-generating article may be provided. The aerosol-generating device of the invention comprising a detector may be advantageous for differentiating between different aerosol-generating articles, particularly for reliable detection of aerosol-generating articles with different individual portions.

The at least one detector may comprise an optical sensor. The at least one detector may comprise an optical emitter.

The optical emitter may comprise a laser. The optical emitter may comprise an LED or a micro-LED.

The optical emitter may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of a specific wavelength, preferably monochromatic light. The optical emitter may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation of more than one wavelength into the cavity, preferably polychromatic light. The optical emitter may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in one or more of: the visible spectrum, the IR spectrum and the UV spectrum.

The optical sensor may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in one or more of: the visible spectrum, the infrared spectrum and the ultraviolet spectrum.

The optical sensor may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation of the specific wavelength corresponding to the electromagnetic radiation of the specific wavelength emitted by the optical emitter.

The optical emitter may be arranged in a recess of the sidewall of the cavity to protect the optical emitter from debris and dirt that may accumulate in the cavity.

The optical sensor may be arranged in a recess of the sidewall of the cavity to protect the optical sensor from debris and dirt that may accumulate in the cavity.

A blocking wall may be arranged between the optical emitter and the optical sensor to prevent electromagnetic radiation emitted by the optical emitter to directly reach the optical sensor.

Alternatively, the detector may comprise a capacitive sensor. The detector may comprise a resistive sensor. The detector may comprise a magnetic sensor.

The heater assembly may comprise at least one heating element.

The at least one heating element may be hollow. The at least one heating element may comprise a hollow central core. Preferably, the at least one heating element may be tubularshaped. The at least one heating element may comprise one or more of a ceramic material, glass, a clay, a metal oxide, an iron oxide, alumina, titania, silica, silica-alumina, zirconia, ceria, a zeolite, and zirconium phosphate.

The at least one heating element may be made from non-porous material.

The at least one heating element may be a resistive heating element. The resistive heating element may comprise one or more of a heating track and a wire heater, preferably arranged on an inner wall of a tubular-shaped substrate. The tubular-shaped substrate may be made from ceramic material.

The at least one heating element may comprise an inner diameter. The inner diameter may define the size of the hollow central core. The at least one heating element may comprise an outer diameter.

The at least one heating element may comprise a length extending in a dimension perpendicular to the outer diameter of the at least one heating element. The at least one heating element may comprise a length extending in a dimension perpendicular to the inner diameter of the at least one heating element.

The inner diameter of the at least one heating element may be between 5 millimeter and 20 millimeters, preferably between 8 millimeters and 16 millimeters, more preferably between 10 millimeters and 12 millimeters. The inner diameter of the at least one heating element may be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the cavity. The inner diameter of the at least one heating element and the outer diameter of the cavity may be equal in size.

The outer diameter of the at least one heating element may be between 6 millimeters and 21 millimeters, preferably between 9 millimeters and 17 millimeters, more preferably between 11 millimeters and 13 millimeters.

The length of the at least one heating element may be between 5 millimeters and 15 millimeters, preferably between 7 millimeters and 12 millimeters, more preferably between 8 millimeters and 10 millimeters.

Several or each of the plurality of heating elements may comprise one or more of an equal length, equal inner diameter and an equal outer diameter. Several or each of the plurality of heating elements may comprise one or more of a different length, different inner diameter and a different outer diameter.

The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may comprise a longitudinal axis. The longitudinal axis of the cavity may be parallel to a longitudinal axis of the aerosolgenerating device. The longitudinal axis of the cavity may align with the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

The at least one heating element may coaxially surround the cavity. The heater assembly may comprise more than one heating element. The heater assembly may comprise a plurality of heating elements.

Preferably, the heater assembly may comprise between one heating element and four heating elements. More preferably, the heater assembly may comprise one, two, three, or four heating elements.

The plurality of heating elements may be aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. Preferably the plurality of heating elements may be aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavity in a stacking manner.

As used herein ‘in a stacking manner’ may refer to the alignment of elements. In the context of heating elements, throughout the application the term ‘in a stacking manner’ may refer to the heating elements being aligned along a longitudinal axis of the cavity as to form one elongated heater assembly. In the context of heating elements, throughout the application the term ‘in a stacking manner’ may refer to the heating elements being aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavity without being distanced to each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. In the context of tubular heating elements, throughout the application the term ‘in a stacking manner’ may refer to the tubular heating elements being aligned along a longitudinal axis of the cavity as to form one elongated tubular heater assembly.

The plurality of heating elements may be aligned distanced to each other along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The plurality of heating elements may be aligned abutting each other along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. Each of the plurality of heating elements may comprise a similar inner diameter. Each of the plurality of heating elements may comprise a similar outer diameter. Each of the plurality of heating elements may comprise a similar length. Preferably each of the plurality of heating elements comprises an identical inner diameter, an identical outer diameter and an identical length. Providing a plurality of heating elements comprising an identical inner diameter, an identical outer diameter and an identical length may ensure that each heating element may only heat a selected portion of a received aerosolgenerating article.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a controller. The controller may be configured to activate the heater assembly. The controller may preferably be configured to activate the plurality of heating elements, preferably individually. The controller may be configured to activate several of the plurality of heating elements. The controller may be configured to activate each of the plurality of heating elements. The controller may be configured to activate the plurality of heating elements collectively. The controller may be configured to activate the plurality of heating elements simultaneously. The controller may be configured to activate the plurality of heating elements for a time span of between 1 minute and 10 minutes, preferably between 2 minutes and 8 minutes more preferably between 3 minutes and 6 minutes.

The controller may be configured to activate several or each of the plurality of heating elements for an equal time span. The controller may be configured to activate several or each of the plurality of heating elements for a different time span.

The controller may be configured to activate the plurality of heating elements sequentially.

For example, a heater assembly may comprise a first heating element and a second heating element. A controller may activate the first heating element for a time span of 3 minutes. After 3 minutes the controller may stop activating the first heating element and starts activating the second heating element for 3 minutes.

Throughout the application in the context of heating elements, as used herein the terms ‘sequentially’ or in ‘sequence’ may refer to a particular order, in which the heating elements are activated. Throughout the application in the context of heating elements, as used herein the terms ‘sequentially’ or in ‘sequence’ may refer to each of the heating elements being activated one after another. Throughout the application in the context of heating elements, as used herein the terms ‘sequentially’ or in ‘sequence’ may refer to groups comprising several of the heating elements being activated one after another. Throughout the application in the context of heating elements, as used herein the terms ‘sequentially’ or in ‘sequence’ may refer to activating a first heating element for a time span, stopping to activate the first heating element after the time span and starting to activate a second heating element for a time span.

The controller may be connected to a user interface. The user interface may be configured for adjusting the controller preferably for activation of the plurality of heating elements.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be removably attached to the proximal end of the cavity.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing.

The cavity may comprise a proximal end. The proximal end of the cavity may be arranged adjacent to the mouth piece. The cavity may comprise a distal end. The distal end of the cavity may be arranged adjacent to the base of the cavity. The distal end of the cavity may be a base of the cavity.

The proximal end of the cavity may be an open end. The open end may allow insertion of the aerosol-generating article into the cavity. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the distal end of the cavity. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise an air inlet. The air inlet may be a oneway valve. The air inlet may be arranged adjacent the distal end of the cavity. The air inlet may be arranged in the base of the cavity.

The air inlet may be configured as an air restrictor. The air restrictor may provide a resistance to draw (RTD) throughout the aerosol-generating device of between 20 mmWC and 90 mmWC, preferably about 50 mmWC.

The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular crosssection. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device through the air inlet, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, the mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.

According to an embodiment of the invention there may be provided an aerosolgenerating system. The aerosol-generating system may comprise an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may preferably be a hollow tubular-shaped aerosol-generating article.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device. The aerosolgenerating device further comprises an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article is preferably a hollow tubular-shaped aerosol-generating article.

The cavity may receive the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article may be arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The aerosol-generating article may be arranged aligning with the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a longitudinal axis. Preferably the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article may align with the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The aerosol-generating article may be tubular-shaped. The tubular-shaped aerosolgenerating article may comprise a hollow central core.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise at least one portion. The at least one portion may be tubular-shaped. The at least one portion may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate. The at least one portion may be hollow. The at least one portion may be tubularshaped.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise more than one portion, more preferably several portions, more preferably a plurality of portions. Several or each of the plurality of portions may comprise a different aerosol-forming substrate.

An inner diameter of the hollow tubular aerosol-generating article may be between 1 millimeter and 10 millimeters, preferably between 3 millimeters and 8 millimeters, more preferably between 4 millimeters and 6 millimeters.

An outer diameter of the hollow tubular aerosol-generating article may be between 5 millimeters and 20 millimeters, preferably between 8 millimeters and 16 millimeters, more preferably between 10 millimeters and 12 millimeters.

A length of an individual aerosol-forming substrate portion may be between 5 millimeters and 15 millimeters, preferably between 7 millimeters and 12 millimeters, more preferably between 8 millimeters and 10 millimeters.

As used herein ‘length’ may refer to a dimension describing the elongation of an element.

Throughout the application the term length used in the context of tubular-shaped elements may refer to a dimension extending perpendicular to an outer and/or perpendicular to an inner diameter of a tubular-shaped element.

Throughout the application the term length used in the context with heating elements may refer to a dimension extending perpendicular to an outer and/or perpendicular to an inner diameter of a heating element.

Throughout the application the term length used in the context with portions of an aerosol-generating article may refer to a dimension extending perpendicular to an outer and/or perpendicular to an inner diameter of a portion.

Several or each of the plurality of portions may comprise one or more of an equal length, equal inner diameter and an equal outer diameter. Several or each of the plurality of portions may comprise one or more of a different length, different inner diameter and a different outer diameter.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a wrapping material enclosing the plurality of portions. The wrapping material may be a wrapping paper. Preferably, the plurality of heating elements and the plurality of portions may be equal in number. By providing an aerosol-generating system with an equal number of heating elements and portions, the aerosol-generating article may be received in the cavity such that each heating element of the plurality of heating elements may coaxially surround a corresponding portion of the plurality of portions. In other words, each individual portion may be surrounded by a corresponding individual heating element. Such a configuration may allow the user to heat individual portions of the aerosol-generating article during a usage session by activating the corresponding individual heating elements.

Alternatively, several or each of the plurality of portions may be heated simultaneously by corresponding heating elements to combine several aerosol-forming substrates during a usage session. An aerosol-generating system, wherein several or each of the plurality of portions may be heated simultaneously by the corresponding heating elements, may provide multiple different ways to combine different aerosol-generating substrates of the aerosolgenerating article during a usage session. Such a combination of different aerosol-generating substrates of the aerosol-generating article may provide the user with an intensive or enhanced user experience.

Alternatively one of the plurality of portions may be heated by a corresponding heating element. Providing an aerosol-generating system, wherein one of the plurality of portions is heated by activation of a corresponding heating element, may enable the user to consume one portion per usage session. Such a configuration may enable the user to prolong the consumption of an aerosol-generating article.

For example, an aerosol-generating article may comprise a first portion comprising tobacco, a second portion comprising a citrus flavourant and a third portion comprising a blood orange flavourant, wherein each portion may be coaxially surrounded by a corresponding first heating element, second heating element and third heating element. All three portions may be consumed simultaneously in one usage session for an intense user experience by simultaneous activation of all three corresponding heating elements. Alternatively, the first portion may be consumed in a first usage session by activation of the corresponding first heating element, and the second portion combined with the third portion may be consumed in a second usage session by simultaneous activation of the corresponding second and third heating elements. Alternatively, each of the three portions may be consumed in an individual usage session by individual activation of the corresponding heating elements, providing the user with three usage sessions.

Preferably, the length of each of the plurality of heating elements may be equal to the length of each of the plurality of portions of the received aerosol-generating article. In other words, each heating element of the aerosol-generating device comprises the same length as the corresponding portion of the received aerosol-generating article.

Providing heating elements comprising the same length as corresponding portions of the received aerosol-generating article may ensure that each heating element may coaxially surround only a corresponding portion of the received aerosol-generating article. Thus, the corresponding portion of the received aerosol-generating article may only be heated by the heating element coaxially surrounding the corresponding portion of the received aerosolgenerating article.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise an identification element.

The identification element may be configured as a nonuniform optical pattern. The identification element may comprise stripes. The identification element may consist of stripes. The stripes of the identification element may be nonuniformly arranged in the identification element. The stripes of the identification element may be arranged similar or identical to a barcode. The stripes of the identification element may form a barcode. One or more of the stripes of the identification element may be different from each other in one or more of length, width, thickness, distance to the neighbouring stripes and colour. The identification element may be arranged on a periphery of the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may be arranged on the periphery of the aerosol-generating article so as to directly abutting an ambient environment surrounding the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may be visibly arranged on the periphery of the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may comprise a nonvisible ink. The identification element may consist of a nonvisible ink. The identification element may extend around the full periphery of the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may only partly extend around the full periphery of the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may extend laterally parallel to each other. The identification element may be arranged laterally distanced from each other. The identification element may extend along or parallel a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. The identification element may comprise one or more of: a barcode, a one-dimensional pattern, a two-dimensional pattern, a QR code and a checkerboard pattern.

The detector may be configured to detect the identification element.

The optical emitter may be arranged adjacent the optical sensor so that the optical sensor can detect electromagnetic radiation that may be emitted by the optical emitter and reflected or scattered by the identification element of the aerosol-generating article, when the aerosol-generating article may be received in the cavity.

The detector may be configured to produce an article-specific output, based on the detected aerosol-generating article. The article-specific output may comprise information regarding the detected aerosol- generating-article. The information may include one or more of an article type, a number of portions, a substrate type. The article-specific output may comprise an article-specific heating profile.

The controller may be configured to receive the article-specific output.

The controller may be configured to activate the heater assembly based on the articlespecific output. The controller may be configured to activate the heater assembly based on the article-specific heating profile. The controller may be configured to activate individual or several heating elements of the plurality of heating elements based on the article-specific heating profile.

The controller may be configured to control activation of the aerosol-generating device based on the article-specific output.

The controller may be configured to deactivate operation of the aerosol-generating device if an unauthorized aerosol-generating article may be detected.

The controller may comprise a memory. The memory may comprise pre-stored information of different types of aerosol-generating articles. The memory may comprise prestored heating profiles. The controller may be configured to detect and identify the type of the detected aerosol-generating article by correlating the article-specific output received from the at least one detector with the pre-stored information of different types of aerosol-generating articles.

The controller may comprise a printed circuit board (PCB).

The controller may comprise a microprocessor, preferably a programmable microprocessor.

As used herein in the context with a controller and heating elements, the terms ‘activate’, ‘activating’ or ‘activation’ may refer to the controller regulating a supply of power to the heating elements. Power may be supplied to the heater assembly continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff- by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heater assembly in the form of pulses of electrical current. The controller may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heater assembly, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heater assembly dependent on the electrical resistance of the heater assembly.

The controller may be configured to activate the heater assembly based on the identification of a type of aerosol-generating article. Upon identification of a type of aerosolgenerating article, the controller may allow activation of the heater assembly. Upon identification of a type of aerosol-generating article, the controller may allow the provision of a user experience. Upon identification of a type of aerosol-generating article, the controller may adjust the power supply in dependence on the article type identified. The controller may be configured to activate the heater assembly according to an article-specific heating profile for the respective identified article.

The controller may adjust the amount of heating power supplied to the heater in dependence on the article type identified. The controller may adjust the time span of power supply in dependence on the article type identified. The controller may adjust the temperature of the heater assembly in dependence on the article type identified. The controller may adjust one or more of the amplitude and the frequency of a current supplied to the heater assembly in dependence on the article type identified. The controller may adjust the signal powering the heater assembly in dependence on the article type identified.

The user interface may be configured for adjustment of the article-specific heating profile.

Alternatively, the user interface may be configured for creation of an individual heating profile based on the article-specific output. Such a configuration may allow adjusting the articlespecific heating profile according to the user’s preferences. Such a configuration may allow creating an individual heating profile according to preferences.

Alternatively, the article-specific output may comprise more than one article-specific heating profile. The user interface may be configured to enable the user selecting one articlespecific heating profile from the more than one article-specific heating profiles according to the user’s preferences.

The heater assembly may comprise one or more heating elements. The heating element may be a dielectric or capacitive-type heating element. For example, dielectric or capacitive-type heating element can be used having two or more flat or planar electrodes arranged to removably receive an exemplary flat or planar aerosol-generating article therebetween, interconnected via an impedance matching circuit to an AC source, for generating microwaves between the electrodes for capacitive/dielectric heating.

The heating element may be a resistive or Joule-type heating element, for example being part of the aerosol-forming device, the exemplary flat or planar aerosol-forming article, or both. The resistive heating element may take any suitable form.

A resistive heating element may also be formed using a metal having a defined relationship between temperature and resistivity. In such an exemplary device, the metal may be formed as a track between two layers of suitable insulating materials. A resistive heating element formed in this manner may be used to both heat and monitor the temperature of the resistive heating element during activation.

The heating element may be a radiation-based heating element, for example but not limited to a semiconductor based heating element, having an array of individual radiation- based heating elements, for example as shown in WO2017/182249, this reference incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The heating element may be an induction heating element. The induction heating element may comprise one or more induction coils which each may surround the respective cavity. For example, a helical induction coil may extend around the first and second major boundary surfaces of a cavity. The longitudinal axis of the or each induction coil may be substantially parallel to the principal flow axis. For example, the heating element can be configured to have planar coils configured for inductively heating a flat susceptor inside, outside, or in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate of the flat or planar aerosol-forming article, for example as described in WO2015/177043 or WO2015/177044, these references herewith incorporate by reference in their entirety.

The one or more induction coils may surround one or more tube-shaped substrates.

As used herein, the term “longitudinal axis” in respect of an induction coil refers to an axis extending through the centre of the coil in a direction generally perpendicular to the turns of the coil.

The induction heating element may be arranged to inductively heat a susceptor. The induction heating element may comprise one or more induction coils located adjacent the first and/or second major boundary surface of a respective cavity. The longitudinal axis of the or each induction coil may be substantially perpendicular to the principal flow axis, for example and to a plane defined by the first major boundary surface.

The one or more induction coils may be planar. For example, a planar induction coil may be located adjacent and in parallel to one of the first and second major boundary surfaces of a respective cavity. For example, a first planar induction coil may be located adjacent and in parallel to the first major boundary surface and a second planar induction coil may be located adjacent and in parallel to the second major boundary surface.

The susceptor may be part of the aerosol-generating device. The susceptor may be tube-shaped. The susceptor may be arranged on an inner surface of the tube-shaped substrate.

In use, a susceptor may be inductively heated by the or each induction coil. The susceptor then, in turn, conductively, convectively and/or radiatively heats the aerosol-forming substrate located in proximity to the susceptor.

A ‘susceptor’ refers to an element that heats up when subjected to a varying or alternating magnetic field. Usually, a susceptor is conductive, and heating of the susceptor is the result of eddy currents being induced in the susceptor or hysteresis losses. Both hysteresis losses and eddy currents can occur in a susceptor. A susceptor may include graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, stainless steels, niobium, aluminium and any other conductive elements. Preferably, the susceptor element is a ferrite element. The material and the geometry for the susceptor may be chosen to provide a desired electrical resistance and heat generation.

In the operation of an induction heater, a high frequency alternating current is passed through one or more induction coils to generate one or more corresponding alternating magnetic fields that induce a voltage in a susceptor of an article. The induced voltage causes a current to flow in the susceptor and this current causes Joule heating of the susceptor that in turn heats the aerosol-forming substrate. If the susceptor is ferromagnetic, hysteresis losses in the susceptor may also generate heat.

The term ‘high frequency’ denotes a frequency ranging from about 500 Kilohertz (KHz) to about 30 Megahertz (MHz) (including the range of 500 KHz to 30 MHz), in particular from about 1 Megahertz (MHz) to about 10 MHz (including the range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz), and even more particularly from about 5 Megahertz (MHz) to about 7 Megahertz (MHz) (including the range of 5 MHz to 7 MHz).

Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘magnetic field’ may refer to a varying or alternating magnetic field.

Throughout the present disclosure, the term ‘current’ may refer to an alternating current.

The heating element may be configured or configurable to heat an article received in the cavity to a temperature of between 250 degrees centigrade and 400 degrees centigrade.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power source or power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-lron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming substrate” refers to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be in solid form or may be in liquid form. The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid or liquid or may comprise both solid and liquid components. An aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article. The terms ‘aerosol’ and ‘vapor’ are used synonymously.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a pharmaceutically active compound. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more of: tobacco, nicotine, a gel composition and a flavour agent. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more of botanicals, botanical drugs, and pharmaceutical ingredients. The one or more of botanicals, botanical drugs, and pharmaceutical ingredients may be part of an aerosol-forming substrate that can be at least partially aerosolized with an aerosol former for inhalation. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more of botanicals, botanical drugs, and pharmaceutical ingredients, wherein the substrate has an aerosol former content of between 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises plant material and an aerosol former. Preferably, the plant material is a plant material comprising an alkaloid, more preferably a plant material comprising nicotine, and more preferably a tobacco-containing material.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least 70 percent of plant material, more preferably at least 90 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises less than 95 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis, such as from 90 to 95 percent of plant material by weight on a dry weight basis.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least 5 percent of aerosol former, more preferably at least 10 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises less than 30 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis, such as from 5 to 30 percent of aerosol former by weight on a dry weight basis.

In some particularly preferred embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises plant material and an aerosol former, wherein the substrate has an aerosol former content of between 5% and 30% by weight on a dry weight basis. The plant material is preferably a plant material comprising an alkaloid, more preferably a plant material comprising nicotine, and more preferably a tobacco-containing material. Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring nitrogencontaining organic compounds. Alkaloids are found mostly in plants, but are also found in bacteria, fungi and animals. Examples of alkaloids include, but are not limited to, caffeine, nicotine, theobromine, atropine and tubocurarine. A preferred alkaloid is nicotine, which may be found in tobacco.

An aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine. An aerosol-forming substrate may comprise tobacco, for example may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating. In preferred embodiments an aerosol-forming substrate may comprise homogenised tobacco material, for example cast leaf tobacco. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds, which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a nontobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may further comprise an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

As used herein, the term “tobacco material” is used to describe any material comprising tobacco, including, but not limited to, tobacco leaf, tobacco rib, tobacco stem, tobacco stalk, tobacco dust, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco material and homogenised tobacco material.

As used herein, the term “homogenised tobacco” denotes a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. Homogenized tobacco may include reconstituted tobacco or cast leaf tobacco, or a mixture of both. The term “reconstituted tobacco” refers to paperlike material that can be made from tobacco by-products, such as tobacco fines, tobacco dusts, tobacco stems, or a mixture of the foregoing. Reconstituted tobacco can be made by extracting the soluble chemicals in the tobacco by-products, processing the leftover tobacco fibers into a sheet, and then reapplying the extracted materials in concentrated form onto the sheet.

The term “cast leaf” is used herein to refer to a sheet product made by a casting process that is based on casting a slurry comprising plant particles (for example, clove particles, or tobacco particles and clove particles in a mixture) and a binder (for example, guar gum) onto a supportive surface, such as a belt conveyor, drying the slurry and removing the dried sheet from the supportive surface. An example of the casting or cast leaf process is described in, for example- in U.S. Patent No. 5,724,998 for making cast leaf tobacco, this reference herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety. In a cast leaf process, particulate plant materials are mixed with a liquid component, typically water, to form a slurry. Other added components in the slurry may include fibres, a binder and an aerosol former. The particulate plant materials may be agglomerated in the presence of the binder. The slurry is cast onto a supportive surface and dried to form a sheet of homogenised plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more flavourants. As used herein, the term "flavourant" refers to a composition having organoleptic properties, which provide a sensory experience to the user, for example to enhance the flavour of aerosol. A flavourant can be used to deliver a gustatory sensation (taste), an olfactory sensation (smell), or both a gustatory and an olfactory sensation to the user, for example when inhaling the aerosol. As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating article” refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. An aerosol-generating article may be disposable. An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate comprising tobacco may be referred to herein as a tobacco stick.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating device” refers to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. An aerosol-generating device may interact with one or both of an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, and a cartridge comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. In some examples, the aerosol-generating device may heat the aerosol-forming substrate to facilitate release of volatile compounds from the substrate. An electrically activated aerosol-generating device may comprise an atomiser, such as an electric heater, to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating system" refers to the combination of an aerosol-generating device with an aerosol-forming substrate. When the aerosol-forming substrate forms part of an aerosol-generating article, the aerosol-generating system refers to the combination of the aerosol-generating device with the aerosol-generating article. In the aerosol-generating system, the aerosol-forming substrate and the aerosol-generating device coactivate to generate an aerosol.

As used herein, the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol.

As used herein, the term ‘usage session’ refers to a period in which a series of puffs are applied by a user to extract aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosolgenerating device and the aerosol-generating article in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating device or aerosol-generating article during use thereof.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouth end through which in use an aerosol exits the aerosol-generating device and is delivered to a user. In use, a user draws on the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device comprises a distal end opposed to the proximal or mouth end. The proximal or mouth end of the aerosolgenerating device may also be referred to as the downstream end and the distal end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal, downstream or mouth end and the distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating device.

As used herein, the terms ‘tubular’, ‘tubular unit’, ‘tubular component’, ‘tubular element’, ‘tubular-shaped’, and ‘tubular shape’ refer to three-dimensional objects and three-dimensional geometric shapes comprising a bottom basal plane, a top basal plane, and a sidewall circumscribing a hollow central core, the sidewall being arranged between the bottom basal plane and the top basal plane. The sidewall extends along a longitudinal axis of the tubular element between the bottom basal plane and the top basal plane. The longitudinal axis may be perpendicular to one or both of the bottom basal plane and the top basal plane.

A bottom base of the tubular element lies within the bottom basal plane. A top base of the tubular element lies within the top basal plane. A cross-sectional shape of one or both of the bottom and top bases may be circular. A cross-sectional shape of one or both of the bottom and top bases may be non-circular, for example elliptic, stadium-shaped, or rectangular. One or both of the bottom base and the top base may be at least partly open to provide an internal hollow passage of the tubular element.

The tubular element may have the shape of a right circular hollow cylinder. The tubular element may have the shape of a non-circular hollow cylinder, for example an elliptic hollow cylinder, or a stadium-shaped hollow cylinder. The tubular element may have the shape of a hollow cuboid.

The longitudinal axis of the tubular element may be arranged in parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device. A longitudinal central axis of the tubular element may coincide with the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

As used herein ‘heating profile’ may refer to a set of instructions, which may be received by the controller and may define how the controller may activate the heater. The heating profile may comprise the duration for which individual or several heating elements of the heater assembly are activated. The heating profile may comprise a sequence according to which the individual or several heating elements are activated. The heating profile may comprise temperature values to which the individual or several heating elements may be heated.

A length of the aerosol-generating device may be between 50 millimeters and 150 millimeters, preferably between 80 millimeters and 120 millimeters, more preferably between 90 millimeters and 110 millimeters. A diameter of the aerosol-generating device may be between 10 millimeters and 30 millimeters, preferably between 15 and 25 millimeters, more preferably between 18 and 22 millimeters.

Below, there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example 1 : An aerosol-generating device comprising: a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article; and a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article, and at least one detector configured to detect the aerosol-generating article.

Example 2: The aerosol-generating device according to example 1 , wherein the heater assembly comprises at least one heating element.

Example 3: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding elements, wherein the at least one heating element is one of a resistive heating element, a heating track, and an induction heating element.

Example 4: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the at least one heating element coaxially surrounds the cavity.

Example 5: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the at least one heating element is hollow, preferably tube-shaped.

Example 6: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the at least one heating element is non-porous.

Example 7: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the heater assembly comprises a plurality of heating elements.

Example 8: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cavity comprises a longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Example 9: The aerosol-generating device according to example 5, wherein the plurality of heating elements is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Example 10: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a controller configured to activate the heater assembly, preferably configured to activate the plurality of heating elements individually or simultaneously.

Example 11 : The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is configured to activate the plurality of heating elements sequentially. Example 12: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is configured to activate several or each of the plurality of heating elements.

Example 13: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the controller is connected to a user interface configured for adjusting the controller to activate several or each of the plurality of heating elements.

Example 14: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a mouthpiece, preferably being removably attached to the cavity.

Example 15: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cavity comprises a proximal end adjacent to the mouth piece and a distal end adjacent to or being a base of the cavity.

Example 16: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises an air inlet arranged adjacent the distal end of the cavity.

Example 17: The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the air inlet is configured as an air restrictor.

Example 18: An aerosol-generating system comprising:

An aerosol-generating device according to any of examples 1 to 17; and

An aerosol-generating article, preferably a hollow tubular shaped aerosol-generating article.

Example 19: The aerosol-generating system according to example 9, wherein the cavity receives the aerosol-generating article.

Example 20: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 or Fehler! Verweisquelle konnte nicht gefunden werden., wherein the aerosol-generating article is arranged parallel to or aligning with the longitudinal axis of the cavity, preferably wherein the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article aligns with the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Example 21 : The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 10, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate comprising a plurality of portions.

Example 22: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 10, wherein several or each of the plurality of portions comprises a different aerosol-forming substrate.

Example 23: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 10, wherein the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity such that each individual heating element of the plurality of heating elements coaxially surrounds one of the plurality of portions.

Example 24: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 11 , wherein the detector is configured to produce an article-specific output, based on the detected aerosol-generating article.

Example 25: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 12, wherein the article-specific output comprises an article-specific heating profile.

Example 26: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 13, wherein the controller is configured to receive the article-specific output.

Example 27: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 1414, wherein the controller is configured to activate the heater assembly based on the articlespecific output.

Example 28: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 14, wherein the user interface is configured for adjustment of the heating profile.

Example 29: The aerosol-generating system according to any of examples 9 to 15, wherein the user interface is configured for creation of an individual heating profile based on the article-specific output.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows an aerosol-generating device;

Fig. 2 shows an aerosol-generating system;

Fig. 3 shows an aerosol-generating system;

Fig. 4A, 4B and 4C show a heating element;

Fig. 5 shows an aerosol-generating article; and

Fig. 6A and 6B show an aerosol-generating system;

Figure 1 shows schematically a cross-section of an aerosol-generating device 10. The aerosol-generating device 10 comprises a cavity 12 for receiving an aerosol-generating article 36 (shown in Fig. 2). A mouthpiece 14 is provided at a proximal end 16 of the cavity 12. An air inlet 18 is provided at the distal end 16 of the cavity 12. The air inlet 18 enables ambient air to be drawn into the cavity 12 and to the user upon inhalation of the user at the mouthpiece 14. The air inlet 18 is configured as an air restrictor. The mouthpiece 14 is removable and enables insertion of an aerosol-generating article 36 into the aerosol-generating device 10 into the cavity 12 through the proximal end 16 of the cavity 12. The aerosol-generating device 10 comprises a heater assembly. The heater assembly comprises a first heating element 22 and a second heating element 24. Both heating elements 22, 24 are tubular-shaped. Both heating elements surround the cavity 12 coaxially. The aerosol-generating device 10 further comprises a detector 26. The detector 26 is configured to detect an inserted aerosol-generating article 36. The detector 26 comprises an optical emitter and an optical sensor (both not depicted). The optical emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation into the cavity 12. The optical sensor is configured to detect the emitted electromagnetic radiation. The detector 26 is connected to a controller 28. The controller 28 is configured to activate the heater assembly of the aerosol-generating device 10. The controller 28 is connected to the first heating element 22 and to the second heating element 24. The controller 28 is configured to activate both heating elements 22, 24 individually. The controller 28 is further connected to a user interface (not shown). The aerosol-generating device 10 further comprises a power source in the form of a battery 30 to power the aerosol-generating device 10. The aerosol-generating device 10 further comprises a housing 32.

Figure 2 shows an aerosol-generating system 34 wherein an aerosol-generating article 36 is received in the cavity 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10 of Figure 1. The aerosolgenerating article 36 is tubular-shaped and comprises a hollow central core. The tubular shaped aerosol-generating article 36 comprises a first portion 38 and a second portion 40. Each of the first portion 38 and the second portion 40 comprises a different aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article 36 is received in the cavity 12 such that the first portion 38 is coaxially surrounded by the first heating element 22 and the second portion 40 is coaxially surrounded by the second heating element 24. The aerosol-generating article 36 comprises an identification element (not shown). The optical emitter (not depicted) emits electromagnetic radiation into the cavity 12, which is reflected by the identification element and detected by the optical sensor (not shown). The detector 26 produces an article-specific output based on the detected electromagnetic radiation. The article-specific output comprises information regarding the detected aerosol-generating article 36 and an article-specific heating profile. The article-specific output is received by the controller 28. The controller 28 activates both heating elements 22, 24 based on the article-specific heating profile. Activating the first heating element 22 results in the first portion 38 being heated and forming an aerosol inside the hollow central core. Activating the second heating element 24 results in the second portion 40 being heated and forming an aerosol inside the hollow central core. Depending on the article-specific heating profile, the first portion 38 and the second portion 40 can be activated sequentially or simultaneously by the controller 28. Activating the first and second heating elements 22, 24 simultaneously results in a mixture of aerosols formed from the first and second portion 38, 40. Activating the first and second heating elements 22, 24 sequentially allows consuming the aerosols formed from the first and the second portions 38, 40 in a certain order. The aerosol-generating article 36 being received inside the cavity 12 forms combined with the air inlet 18 and the mouthpiece 14 one airflow channel. A user drawing air at the mouthpiece 14 generates an airflow 42, entering the cavity 12 through the air inlet 18, flowing through the hollow central core and reaching the user’s mouth via the mouthpiece 14. The airflow 42 takes up the formed aerosol inside the hollow central core and transports it into the user’s mouth and lungs.

As depicted in Fig. 2, the size and dimension of the heating elements of the aerosol generating device corresponds to the size and dimensions of the aerosol-generating articles to be used with the device. In particular, the heater elements are positioned such that each heater is associated with one of the individual substrate portions of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating device is configured to be used with aerosol-generating articles comprising different types of aerosol-forming substrate. By detecting the type of aerosolgenerating article, information on the type of the inserted aerosol-generating articles is obtained. By activating the heating elements in a controlled manner, the individual portions of the inserted aerosol-generating article are heated in the desired sequence. A user may input the desired sequence in advance of the puffing experience via a user interface (see Fig. 6).

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional side view and a cross-sectional top view along a plane a’-a’ of an aerosol-generating system 34. The tubular shaped aerosol-generating article 36 is hereby received in the cavity 12 of the aerosol-generating device 10. The detector 26 is arranged inside a recess of the cavity 12 and is oriented towards the aerosol-generating article 36. Figure 3 particularly shows the first portion 38 and the hollow central core, through which air flows during a user’s puff.

Figure 4A to 4C show different views of a heating element 46. The heating element 46 is tubular-shaped and defined by an outer diameter 48, an inner diameter 50 and a length 52. The inner diameter 50 defines the cross-sectional size of a hollow central core 54 of the heating element 46. The inner diameter 50 of the heating element 46 amounts to 10 millimeters. The inner diameter 50 of the heating element 46 may be slightly larger than an outer diameter of the cavity 12. The outer diameter 48 of the heating element 46 amounts to 16 millimeters. The length 52 of the heating element 46 amounts to 10 millimeters.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating article 36 and its portions. The aerosol-generating article 36 comprises first portion 38 and second portion 40. Both portions 38, 40 are arranged in a stacking manner as to form the elongated and tube- shaped aerosol-generating article 36. The first portion 38 and the second portion 40 comprise different aerosol-forming substrates. The first portion 38 and the second portion 40 are enclosed by a wrapper 56. Each of the first portion 38 and the second portion 40 is tubularshaped and defined by a length 58, an outer diameter and an inner diameter. The inner diameter defines the cross-sectional size of a hollow central core of the respective portion 38, 40. The inner diameter of the respective portion 38, 40 amounts to 6 millimeters. The outer diameter of the respective portion 38, 40 amounts to 10 millimeters. The length 58 of the respective portion 38, 40 amounts to 10 millimeters.

Figure 6A and 6B each show a view of the aerosol-generating device 10. Figure 6A shows the aerosol-generating device 10 from an outside view. The aerosol-generating device 10 is enclosed by housing 32. The aerosol-generating device 10 comprises user interface 60 provided as one of a touchscreen or graphical display. The user interface 60 enables the user to adjust the controller. Adjusting the controller enables the user to activate the first and second heating element 22, 24, individually. The user may vary the time span and sequence, in which the first and second heating element 22, 24 may be activated, by interacting with the interface.

Figure 6B shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device 10 of Figure 6A. The first heating element 22 and the second heating element 24 are both operable by the user interface 60.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device comprising: a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article; and a heater assembly configured for heating individual portions of the aerosol-generating article, and at least one detector configured to detect the aerosol-generating article.

2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the heater assembly comprises at least one heating element, preferably a plurality of heating elements.

3. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heating element coaxially surrounds the cavity.

4. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one heating element is hollow, preferably tube-shaped.

5. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cavity comprises a longitudinal axis of the cavity, preferably wherein the plurality of heating elements is aligned along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

6. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a controller configured to activate the heater assembly, preferably configured to activate the plurality of heating elements individually or simultaneously.

7. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured to activate the plurality of heating elements sequentially.

8. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is connected to a user interface configured for activation of several or each of the plurality of heating elements.

9. An aerosol-generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 1 to 8; and an aerosol-generating article, preferably a hollow tubular shaped aerosol-generating article.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 9, wherein the aerosolgenerating article comprises an aerosol-forming substrate comprising a plurality of portions, preferably wherein several or each of the plurality of portions comprises a different aerosolforming substrate.

11 . The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 10, wherein the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity such that each individual heating element of the plurality of heating elements coaxially surrounds one of the plurality of portions.

12. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the detector is configured to produce an article-specific output, based on the detected aerosolgenerating article.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the article-specific output comprises an article-specific heating profile.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 13, wherein the controller is configured to receive the article-specific output, preferably wherein the controller is configured to activate the heater assembly based on the article-specific output.

15. The aerosol-generating system according to any of claims 9 to 14, wherein the user interface is configured for adjustment of the article-specific heating profile and/or creation of an individual heating profile based on the article-specific output.