EP4216739A1

EP4216739A1 - Aerosol-generating device and aerosol-generating article

Info

Publication number: EP4216739A1
Application number: EP21782967.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Patrick Debergh
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2020-09-28
Filing date: 2021-09-23
Publication date: 2023-08-02
Also published as: WO2022063918A1; JP2023542781A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device (2) and an aerosol-generating article (1 ), the aerosol-generating device (2) comprising at least one light source (210) for emitting light (300) into a cavity (200) of the device (2) and for illuminating at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article (1 ). At least a portion of the aerosol-generating article (1 ) is configured so that light (400, 400', 4000) is scattered and/or transmitted and/or diffused and/or re-emitted to the outside of the aerosol- generating device (2). The invention relates also to an aerosol generating device (2) that comprises at least one light source (210) for emitting light (300) into the cavity (200) and for illuminating the cavity (200). The light source (210) is configured such that, in operation, at least a portion of light (400) is scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted from said cavity (200) to the outside of the aerosol-generating device (2).

Description

AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE AND AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of tobacco, in particular to reconstituted tobacco as well as aerosol-generating articles. The present invention further relates to smoking devices, especially to an electrically heated e-liquid system or an electrically heated aerosol-generating system.

Background of the invention

Electronic cigarettes based on aerosol-generating consumable articles have gained popularity in the recent years. There are mainly two types: liquid vaporizers and heated tobacco inhaler devices. Heated tobacco inhaler devices are referred to as “heat-not-burn” systems (HNB). They provide a more authentic tobacco flavour compared to electronic cigarettes, which deliver an inhalable aerosol from heating of a liquid charge comprising aerosol formers, flavorants, and often nicotine. The HNB system’s working principle is to heat a tobacco material comprising an aerosol-forming substance (such as glycerine and/or propylene glycol) which vaporises during heating and creates a vapour that extracts nicotine and flavour components from the tobacco material. The tobacco substance is heated to between 200 and 350°C, which is below the normal burning temperatures of a conventional cigarette. The inhaler device is typically a hand-held heater, which is configured to receive rod-shaped consumable articles.

Electronic cigarettes are realized in different but quite similar shapes and colors. Most heat-not-burn aerosol generating articles have a white or slightly yellow or brown appearance and all are quite similar. Using colors to distinguish different brands or to provide an attractive visual aspect is known to be important for marketing a product. Colors may be used not only to provide an attractive visual aspect but also to provide static or dynamic information of the aerosol- generating article to the customer. At present, for example, colors of the articles are the ones of printed colors typically on a wrapper and/or a filter of the article. The ones that that are emitted during the use of an aerosol-generating article are limited to the white or blue-white or grey appearance of the smoke that is produced. The colored appearance is limited to the scattering of ambient light by the produced aerosol particles. So, the possible variation of colors when the article is consumed is non existing. In order to provide different colors than the one provided by the scattering of light by the aerosol particles it would be necessary to incorporate chemical substances into the aerosol generating substrate which is of course undesirable, and the range of possible colors would anyhow be very limited.

Independent of the color of the produced aerosol during the consumption of an article there is an additional interest to make an article more attractive by providing also a colored appearance of the aerosol generating article itself.

Some aerosol-generating devices may incorporate light sources, but they are limited to display information on a screen and not to provide an attractive appearance to a user. For example, US 2019/0000149 A1 describes an aerosol generating device for the use with cartridges that comprise aerosol-generating liquids. The device comprises a viewing window which may facilitate a user to view the remaining quantity of liquid. The view at the window may be improved by a light source arranged inside the device. But the light source has no other function than just improving the reading of the liquid level.

It would be desired to provide an aerosol-generating device that allows to provide a colored appearance of an aerosol-generating article inserted in a device and/or its produced smoke in operation. It would be further desirable to provide a device which allows to provide a, possibly variable, colored appearance during the consumption of an aerosol-generating article.

There is thus a need for a more attractive and versatile device for aerosol-generating articles such as HNB, vaping and smoking articles Summary of the invention

The inventors of the present invention have found solutions to the above-discussed desire of improved aerosol-generating articles and devices by providing a device and articles which allow to provide emitted light from the article to the local environment of a consume.

The proposed solution is based on providing a device that generates light which is scattered and/or reflected by an aerosol-generating article. The scattering or reflection of light is provided by the light re-emission properties of a surface or a portion of an article, such as a wrapper or a dedicated reflection area of the article.

In a first aspect the invention is related to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article comprising a consumable segment. The aerosol-generating device comprises, arranged in an outer body part, a power supply section and a cavity defining a cavity axis. The cavity has an opening, defining an opening center, accessible at the outer body part. The consumable segment of said article is inserted, at least partially, in the cavity.

The aerosol-generating device comprises at least one light source configured for emitting light in the cavity and for illuminating, in operation, at least a portion of the article and at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article being configured for scattering and/or diffusing and/or transmitting and/or re-emitting light to the outside of said aerosol-generating device. This allows to provide a colored appearance of the article to its environment. The color may be a variable color that is modified during the consumption of the article Any color may be provided defined in the CIE chromaticity diagram. The colored appearance is preferably provided by the scattering of the radiated light from the aerosol- generating system with the aerosol provided by the system.

In an embodiment, the consumable segment comprises a tobacco substrate. In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device is configured so that light that is scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted by at least a portion of said aerosol-generating article illuminates, in operation, outside of said device a smoke cloud provided by the article.

In an embodiment, the total emitted light to the outside of said system has a spatial intensity profile IP, relative to said opening centre, that has a solid angle 0 of at least IT steradian (sr), preferably at least 2TT sr.

In an embodiment, said total emitted light has a spatial intensity profile IP, relative to said opening centre that has a solid angle 0 of 4rrsr.

In an embodiment, the power density of emitted light is higher than 1 pW/sr, preferably higher than 1 mW/sr, more preferably higher than 10mW/sr.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device of the aerosol- generating system comprises an array of light sources. Using an array of light sources allows to provide a great flexibility of the design of a device while at the same time provide redundant light sources.

In an embodiment, said array of light sources is arranged along a circumference of the wall of said cavity. By arranging light sources along a circumference of the wall of a cavity an article may be illuminated uniformly and thus emitting or reflecting light in a uniform distribution around the article.

In an embodiment, said array of light sources are arranged in the length of said cavity. Arranging a plurality of light sources in the direction of the axial axis of the cavity allows to improve the intensity of the emitted light from the aerosol-generating article.

In an embodiment, at least one of said light sources is configured to emit a light beam inside the cavity, for illuminating a surface portion of a wrapper of an inserted article in the device. Most wrappers of aerosol-generating articles are made of highly scattering materials such as paper, which allows to provide emitted colors that are bright. In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device of the aerosol- generating system comprises an optical waveguide. The waveguide has an incoupling surface and at least one outcoupling surface. At least one light source is optically connected to said incoupling surface and at least one outcoupling surface is arranged in said device to direct light into said cavity. Using a waveguide to illuminate the article allows to arrange the light source away from the article or the heater or the cavity.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device of the aerosol- generating system comprises at least one further light source and at least one window for transmitting, out of the device, at least one light beam provided by said at least one further light source. Providing more than one light source allows to provide more color and intensity effects from off the article.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device of the aerosol- generating system comprises at least one sensor that is electrically connected to said at least one light source and is configured to adapt the intensity and/or colour of the emitted light of said at least one light source in function of the electrical signal output of said sensor. By using a sensor, the color and/or intensity of the emitted light by the article and the device may be adapted in function of predetermined parameters in the device. In variants, the color may be varied during the consumption of the article or the color and/or intensity may be adapted to provide information to the customer, for example a warning of the end of consumption.

In an embodiment, said sensor is a pressure sensor. Using a pressure sensor allows to provide intensity and/or color variations in function of the determined value of a pressure sensor that may be an airflow sensor.

Preferably, in an embodiment, the surface portion of the article which is configured for scattering and/or diffusing and/or transmitting and/or re-emitting light to the outside of said device, is part of a section of the article that does not comprise an aerosol generating substance. Articles that comprise a section without aerosol-generating substance may be adapted so as to provide a high re- emission of light, for example by introducing light reflecting elements or light reflecting particles or substances in such a section.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article comprises a light- reflecting, diffusing or scattering layer. By adapting highly light-reflecting, light- diffusing or light-scattering surfaces or layers to an article improves the reflection effects and thus the apparent brilliance of the perceived colors to a customer. The enhancement of the scattering effect may be enhanced by a surface treatment of a portion of the surface of an article or by arranging an additional layer to a portion of the surface of an article. Such an additional layer may be a sprayed layer.

In an embodiment, the surface portion comprises a light-reflective pattern configured for reflecting light in an inclined direction towards the mouth- end of the article. Such configuration allows to provide mouthpieces that have a bright color and/or intensity.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article comprises a luminescent material thereon upon excitation by the light source. By incorporating a luminescent material onto or into an article allows to emit light having a different wavelength than the wavelength of the light emitter, which may be a UV light emitter.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article may comprise an optical prism or a diffraction grating. Using optical deflection structures arranged on and/or into an article allows to provide bright color effects.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article is part of the outer wrapper and/or a paper tube of the article. Such surface portion provides a high scattering effect due to the high scattering properties of such layers. In variants surface portion may be a surface portion chosen from: a glue layer, a seam, a bond layer, an adhesive layer or a separation layer.

In variants, the scattering and/or reflection effects may be enhanced by the presence of a plurality of glue bands, preferably an array of glue bands. The glue bands may pertain to different components (e.g. tipping paper, plug wrap, paper tube, etc.) of the articles or be arranged at different levels of thickness of a same component.

In a variant, a plurality of glue dots or glue lines may be configured to enhance the color effects.

In variants, a cutting edge of a layer of the aerosol-generating article may be used to enhance the light scattering or reflection effects. The cutting edge may vary as to its form. For example, the cutting edge may have a variation of curvature and/or inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the consumable article. The cutting edge may have a variation according to a undulated, crenellated or toothed pattern. The pattern may be varied in amplitude, period, width and combinations thereof.

The invention is also achieved by an aerosol generating device comprising a power supply section, arranged in an outer body part, and a cavity defining a cavity axis, the cavity having an opening accessible at the outer body part. The aerosol-generating device comprises at least one light source for emitting light into the cavity and for illuminating the cavity. The light source is configured such that, in operation, at least a portion of light is scattered and/or diffused and/or transm itted and/or re-em itted from said cavity to the outside of the aerosol-generating device. The scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted from said cavity has a spatial angle of more than 2rrsr.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device of the invention, comprising light emitter for directing light onto an aerosol-generating article;

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an aerosol-generating device of the invention, comprising an array of light emitter for directing light onto an aerosol-generating article;

Figure 3 illustrates an embodiment of a device comprising a waveguide to direct light onto an article;

Figure 4 illustrates an enhanced view of a waveguide comprising an incoupling and outcoupling surfaces and a light source arranged to direct light to said incoupling surface;

Figure 5 and 6 illustrates an embodiment of a device comprising a pivotable section that comprises a light source;

Figures 7 illustrates an embodiment of a device comprising a sensor;

Figures 8-10 illustrate embodiments of device to illuminate an inserted article and at the same time directing light out of the device;

Figure 11 illustrates an embodiments of a device to illuminate an inserted article and at the same time directing light out of the device so as to illuminate produced smoke by the article.;

Figure 12 illustrates an embodiments of a device comprising a sensor that is electrically connected to a light source.

Figure 13 illustrates an intensity profile of light emitted by the mouthpiece of a smoking article that is illuminated by a light source arranged in an aerosol generating device. Figure 14 illustrates an intensity profile of light provided by the combination of light re-emitted by the mouthpiece of a smoking article and by a direct light , both provided by at least one light source of the aerosol-generating device.

Figure 15 illustrates another intensity profile of light provided by the combination of light re-emitted by the mouthpiece of a smoking article and by a direct light , both provided by at least one light source of the aerosol-generating device. In the embodiment of Figure 14 two light sources are arranged at a distal end of the aerosol-generating device.

Figures 16 -19 illustrate examples of possible typical global intensity profiles of light emitted from an aerosol-generating system.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to the appended drawings, but the invention is not limited thereto. The drawings described are only schematic and are non- limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to the practice of the invention.

The invention will be described in the following examples in relation to tobacco-based consumable articles but the scope of the invention shall not be construed as limited to tobacco based consumable articles but shall encompass any aerosol-generating consumable articles, such as smoking articles, heat-not- burn articles, e-liquid cartridges and cartomizers, which comprises an aerosol- generating substrate capable to generate an inhalable aerosol upon heating. Aerosol-generating articles, or articles, of the invention are also defined herein as consumables 1 or consumable articles.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating material" refers to a material capable of releasing upon heating volatile compounds, which can form an aerosol. The aerosol generated from aerosol-generating material of aerosol- generating articles described herein may be visible or invisible and may include vapours (for example, fine particles of substances, which are in a gaseous state, that are ordinarily liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as gases and liquid droplets of condensed vapours. The aerosol generating material may be a tobacco-based material such as reconstituted tobacco in any suitable form such as gathered sheet, shredded, sponge or foam.

The term “wrapper” is defined broadly as any structure or layer that protects and contains a charge of aerosol-generating material, and which allows to handle them. It has an inner surface that may be in contact with the aerosol- generating material and has an outer surface away from the aerosol-generating material. The wrapper may preferably comprise a cellulose based material such as paper and/or cellulose acetate. The wrapper may also be made of a biodegradable polymer or may be made of glass or a ceramic. The wrapper may be a porous material and may have a smooth or rough outer surface and may be a flexible material or a hard material. The wrapper may comprise at least one light reflection layer or be made of a light reflection layer

As used herein the term “constituents” refers to the detailed composition of the aerosol generating substance, for example tobacco, aerosol formers, binders, flavouring agents, nicotine and combinations thereof. An aerosol-forming substrate may be provided in a stable support. Such a support may be in the form of a powder, granules, small strips, sheets or foam.

Manufactured aerosol-generating consumable articles may have a cross section of any regular or irregular shape, and can have, for example, an elliptical or circular cross-section, defined in a plane orthogonal to a longitudinal axis. Articles define a lateral X-Y plane orthogonal to a virtual insertion axis 208 (Fig.1 ).

Herein, the proximal end of an aerosol-generating device is the end of the device to the side of the opening of the device that serves to introduce a smoking article. The distal end of an aerosol-generating device is opposite to the proximal end. The term “light emission by an article” is a broad term and encompasses here any reflection, diffusion, scattering or re-emission of light. Light emission may also be provided by diffraction or direct or indirect emission such as provided by luminescence effects by an article, or any combination of the defined effects.

A typical aerosol-generating article 1 has a proximal end 12 and a distal end 14 and comprises the following typical elements: a consumable section 1 b; a consumable paper wrap 120 , for example a tobacco paper wrap; a rig idify ing element, preferably a paper tube; a hollow filter segment, and a centre hole segment; a combining wrap arranged onto said paper wrap; plug wraps that cover the filter segments; a tipping layer, typically a paper tipping layer surrounding a central cavity.

In embodiments, the consumable section 1 b comprises a tobacco substrate 11 . For example, the tobacco substrate may be reconstituted tobacco. It can be formed under strips, shreds, gathered sheet(s), powder, fibres or any combinations thereof. It may contain tobacco powder and/or tobacco fibres, non- tobacco components such as binder(s), aerosol former(s), non-tobacco fibres (e.g. cellulose pulp), flavours, acids and combinations thereof.

All the mentioned typical layers of an article 1 may contribute at least partially to the emission of light as described further. The invention is achieved by providing an aerosol-generating device 2 and an aerosol-generating system comprising said aerosol-generating device 2 and an aerosol-generating article 1 . The aerosol-generating article 1 comprising a surface portion which is part of a section of the article that does not comprise an aerosol generating substance. Articles 1 that comprise a section without aerosol-generating substance may be adapted so as to provide a high re- emission of light, for example by introducing light reflecting elements in such a section.

In a first aspect, the invention is related to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device 2 that comprises, arranged in an outer body part, a power supply section and a cavity 200 defining a cavity axis 208 and a wall 206. The cavity 200 has an opening 202, having a center 202 a, accessible at the outer body part and configured to receive an aerosol-generating article 1 , with the consumable segment 1 b of said article introduced at least partially in the cavity 200.

The aerosol-generating device 1 comprises at least one light source 210 for emitting light 300 into said cavity 200 and for illuminating at least a portion of an at least partially inserted article 1 in said cavity 200, and so that light is transmitted or emitted by at least a portion of said article to the outside of said device. The light source 210 is preferably a LED arranged in the wall 206 of the cavity 200. The emitted light 300 by the light source 210 illuminates a portion of the article 1 and the light is reflected or scattered by the reflecting and scattering properties of the wrapper of the article. A LED may have a spectral emission band to provide light beams having a limited wavelength range such as red, green, or blue light. This allows to provide a colored appearance of the article to its environment. The light source may be a composite light source such as a light source comprising a red, green and blue LED. The device may be configured to allow to select the wavelength band of the emitted light. The color of the emitted light by the article may be a variable. For example, the color of the emitted light 400 by the article may be modified during the consumption of the article Under illumination of a portion of the article, any color may be provided that is defined in the CIE chromaticity diagram (Ref: Commision Internationale de I’Eclairage, CIE 15:2004; Colorometry ISBN 3-901906-33-9) Fig. 3 illustrates a typical configuration wherein the area of the article to which light 300 is directed is separate from the area that reemits or reflects or scatters the incident light 300. This is possible due to the highly scattering properties of most of the layers, such as the wrappers of aerosol-generating articles. Incident light on the article 1 is highly scattered and is propagated by multiple scattering inside the outer layers and/or some inner layers of the article. Most articles comprise highly light scattering layers such that a side illumination of an article is sufficient to provide re-emitted light by the surface opposite to the light collecting area of an article. This effect may be enhanced by arranging light sources to opposite sides of an article 1 such as illustrated in for example Figure 2.

In variants of any embodiment of the invention, the light scattering effects of the incident light that penetrates partially in an aerosol-generating stick may be enhanced by internal layers of an article 1 . Such internal layers may be configured to enhance the internal light reflectance and/or the internal light scattering so that more light is reflected and/or scattered to the environment of an article.

Also, the light scattering and/or reflection effects may be enhanced by a surface treatment of the articles 1 , for example by making smoother or rougher, during or after the manufacturing process, a portion of the surface. Also, an additional layer may be arranged on the article so as to provide higher scattering and/or reflection and/or color effects. Such an additional layer may be added to the article 1 by any technique, and may be for example a layer that is glued, sprayed or projected onto the surface of an article 1 .

For example, glue layers may have or be configured to have waveguiding and/or diffractive properties and/or reflection properties.

Similar, in other examples, a rigidifying component may also have may have waveguiding and/or diffractive properties and/or reflection properties. A rigidifying component is an inner tubular member covered by a wrapper. The inner tubular member may be a paper or polymer tube of thickness greater than the thickness of the wrapper. The tubular member may be positioned between an aerosol generating portion and a filter portion of the consumable article. The tubular member may have the function of cooling the temperature of the vapor circulating therethrough. The tubular member may be hollow or filled with a porous filling material such as light meshed, nonwoven material, honeycomb or open-cell material and the like. The insertion of a filling material may increase the contact surface in the tubular member to enhance the cooling effect.

In an embodiment the aerosol-generating device 2 of the system comprises an array of light sources 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220 such as illustrated in Figure 2. In embodiments, arrays of light sources 210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220 may be arranged around an article 1 and/or arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis 208 of said cavity 200. By arranging light sources along a circumference of the wall of a cavity 200, an article 1 may be illuminated uniformly and thus emitting or reflecting light in a uniform distribution around the article. Arranging a plurality of light sources in the length of the cavity allows to improve the intensity of the emitted light from the article 1 .

In an embodiment, at least one of said light sources is configured to emit a light beam inside the cavity 200, for illuminating a surface portion of a wrapper of an inserted article in the device. Most wrappers of aerosol-generating articles are made of highly scattering materials such as paper, which allows to provide emitted colors that are bright. The at least one light source may be arranged close to the opening 202 of the device 202 or to a closed end 204 opposite to the opening. In variants, a device 2 must not necessarily comprise such a closed end 204. An end of the cavity may comprise for example an aperture (not illustrated in Figures) in which a light source is arranged or may comprise an aperture having a diameter smaller than the maximal diameter of the cavity 200.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 3, the aerosol-generating device 2 comprises an optical waveguide 230 configured to guide a guided light beam 234. The waveguide 230 has an incoupling surface 240 and at least one outcoupling surface 250, 251 , 252, 253, 255, 257. In a variant, of which an enlarged view is shown in Fig. 4, the waveguide 230 may be curved and have an incoupling surface 240’ that faces the extremity 204 of the cavity 200. At least one light source is optically connected to said incoupling surface and at least one outcoupling surface is arranged in said device to direct at least one lightbeam 350, 352, 354, 356 into said cavity 200. Using a waveguide 230 to illuminate the article 1 allows to arrange the light source, emitting a light beam 302, away from the article 2 or the heater or the cavity 200.

Figure 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of a device comprising a body 2a and pivotable section 2b hat comprises a light source 210. The pivotable section may comprise a light pin that is introduced at least partially into the article 1 . The light pin is configured to guide or transmit light 300 in the article and light 400 will be, in operation of the device 2, emitted by the article by internal multiple reflection and /or scattering or light diffusion effects. Using a light-pin that penetrates partially in the article, when the pivotable section 2b is closed, has the additional advantage to fix mechanically the article 1 in the cavity 200.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figures 8 the aerosol-generating device 2 comprises at least one further light source 215and at least one window 500 for transmitting, out of the distal end of the device 2, at least one light beam 400’ provided by said at least one further light source 215.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figures 9. the aerosol-generating device 2 comprises at least one light source 210 and at least one window 501 , 503 for transmitting, out of the side of the proximal end of the device 2, at least one light beam 360, 360’. Such lateral emitted light beams 360, 360’ may be provided either by the same light source that illuminates the side of an article or by at least one other light source that may be a different light source, such as a LED emitting another spectrum.

For example, in the variant of Figure 8, a light source 210 is arranged to illuminate a portion of an inserted article 1 , and at least another light source 215 is arranged to the distal side of the device 2. Such an arrangement allows to provide an illuminated mouthpiece of an article and to also provide the possibility at the same time of a colored appearance of another portion such as an extremity of the device 2. A window 500 may be arranged in the distal end of the device 2 and may be a light diffusing window. In another example, illustrated in Figure 10, a plurality of secondary light sources 211 , 213 may be arranged to the distal extremity of a device 2 to provide light 400’ to the environment of the device 2 and in at least two directions. As illustrated in Figure 10, at least three windows 502, 504, 506 may be arranged in a device 2 to provide light beams to the environment of the device 2, in addition to the light emitted by the article 1 .

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 9, a portion of the direct scattered light from an article 1 may be directed outside the device 2. Figure 9 illustrates light 400 emitted by an article 1 by light scattering and at least another light beam 360, 360’ that is provided by the direct scattering of the illuminated area of the aerosol article 1 . The direct scattered light 350, 360’ is directed outside the device 2 through a at least one side window 501 , 503 arranged in the outer body of the device 2. So, in the embodiment of Figure 9, the light that is radiated outside the aerosol-generating system is the cumulated light from scattered light 400 provided by the proximal portion 1 a of the article 1 and the direct scattered and/or reflected light sent through a window 501 , 503 in the body of the device 2. Such an arrangement may provide wider 3D intensity profiles as illustrated in Figures 17-19 and commented further.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 11 , the aerosol-generating device 2 may be configured to illuminate the article 1 and at the same time also to illuminate smoke 1000 that is generated by the article 1 when consumed. In variants, by using at least a second light source 210’, bright color and/or intensity effects may be provided by the scattered light 430 from the aerosol generated in operation of the device 2.

In an embodiment, illustrated in Figure 12, the aerosol-generating device 2 comprises at least one sensor 600 that is electrically connected to said at least one light source 210. A sensor system comprising said at least one sensor 600 configured to adapt the intensity and/or colour of the emitted light 400 of said at least one light source in function of the electrical signal output of said sensor. By using a sensor 600, the color and/or intensity of the emitted light 400 by the article 2, and also possibly additionally by the device 2, may be adapted in function of predetermined parameters in the device 2. In variants, the color may be varied during the consumption of the article 1 or the color and/or intensity may be adapted to provide information to the customer, for example a warning of the end of consumption of the article 1 .

In an embodiment, said sensor 600 is a pressure sensor. Using a pressure sensor allows to provide intensity and/or color variations in function of the determined value of a pressure sensor that may be an airflow sensor.

Different embodiments of the invention allow to provide different spatial intensity profiles of light emitted from the aerosol-generating system. Some are discussed hereafter.

For example, Figure 13 illustrates an intensity profile IP of light emitted by the mouthpiece of a smoking article that is illuminated by a light source arranged in an aerosol generating device 2. Intensity profiles IP as illustrated in Figures 13-19 are presented as a curve that joins the virtual arrows R1 -R10, which each representing the local intensity along a direction R1 -R10 and relative to a virtual reference center for example the center 202a of the aperture 202 of the aerosol-generating device 2 or the center 2’ of the device or any other chosen reference center. The intensity profile in the embodiment of Figure 13 extends over a 3D solid angle Q, expressed in steradians (sr), relative to said center 202a, that has an angular aperture O of at least 2TT steradian, i.e at least the angular extension of half a sphere having as center the virtual center 202a.

It is understood that the intensity distributions IP is not symmetric but may present local domes or lobes, or intensity spikes and may be asymmetric relative to any predetermined reference center. Intensity distributions IP provided by the re-emission by scattering and/or reflections of light by the article 1 depend strongly on the nature and microscopic texture of the wrapper and/or filter 1 a of the article. The scattering depends on the microscopic structure of the composition of the article. For example, fine-structured paper wrapper parts scatter more efficiently light that smooth parts such as a separation layer of the filter. The intensity of the scattering effect by the article 1 is higher when the illuminating light sources are closer to the aperture 202 of the device 2. If light radiated by the aerosol-generating system is only provided by the smoking article 1 , i.e. by re-emission of incident light directed onto a portion of the smoking article 1 , the light emission is limited to an intensity profile IP mainly in the area of the proximal end of the device 2 and/or article 1 , such as illustrated in Figure 13. In order to enlarge the spatial extent 0 of the intensity profile IP, an aerosol generating device 2 may be designed so that at least one light source projects a light beam directly to the side of the device 2. This is illustrated in the design variant of Figure 14. Figure 14 illustrates an enlarged intensity profile IP of light provided by the combination of light re-emitted by the mouthpiece 1 a of a smoking article 1 and by a direct light, both provided by at least one light source of the aerosol-generating device. Figure 14 illustrates an embodiment comprising a window 501 , 503 arranged in front of at least one light source arranged inside the aerosol-generating device 2. An arrangement according to the embodiment of Figure 14 allows to provide a greater spatial emission solid angle 0 compared to the embodiment of Figure 13. In variants, the light source 210 that illuminates a surface of the smoking article 1 , inside said aerosol-generating device 2, may have a different wavelength or light spectrum than the light sources that provide direct light to the side of an aerosol-generating device 2.

Figure 15 illustrates another intensity profile of light provided by the combination of light re-emitted by the mouthpiece of a smoking article and by direct emitted or reflected light, i.e. without scattering from the article 1 , both provided by at least one light source of the aerosol generating device. In the embodiment of Figure 15, direct emitted light is emitted by two light sources 211 , 213 that are arranged at a distal end of the aerosol-generating device 2. In the example of Figure 15, the intensity profile IP of the total emitted light 4000 presents two lobes relative to two reference centers 202a and 14a and presents a minimum intensity R6, R10 radial relative to the device 2. The two lobes may have different spatial distributions and spatial angular extents Q1 , 02.

In embodiments, the light power density of the emitted light beams 400, 400’, 400”, 360, 360’, 4000, having an intensity profile IP as described herein, may be greater than 1 microwatt per steradian (1 pW/sr), or greater than 1 mW/sr or greater than 10mW/sr. It is understood that, in variants, the power density may be greater in a predetermined direction relative to the longitudinal axis 208 of an aerosol-generating device 2, and relative to a predetermined reference point. Such reference point may be for example the center 202a of the opening 200 or the center 2’ of the device 2, or as illustrated in Figure 16 the center of the proximal end 1 a of the article 1 . For example, the total emitted light may have a solid angle of IT steradians directed at 45° relative to longitudinal axis 208 and relative to said opening center 202a.

Figures 16 -19 illustrate examples of possible typical global intensity profiles IP of light emitted from an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol- generating system may be configured so that the total emitted light 4000 from the system has a predetermined light profile that may have a maximum intensity in a predetermined direction, for example the direction having a predetermined angle a relative to the longitudinal axis 204 of the device 2. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 17 the maximum intensity, relative to the center of the proximal end 1 a of the article 1 , is provided in the direction of the distal end of the device. Figure 18 illustrates a variant having a maximal intensity, relative to the center 2’ of the device, orthogonal to the device 2. In an embodiment illustrated in Figure 19, the 3D intensity profile IP may present a minimum in a predetermined direction a, relative to a defined center 2’ of the device 2 .

In variants, light effects may be provided by pulsing or slowly varying the light intensities of the light sources 210, 211 , 212, 213, 214, 217, 218, 220, 302, 210’ of the aerosol-generating device 2. Slowly varying light intensities are defined as variations that occur at a frequency slower than 5Hz. Slowly varying intensities may be combined with pulsed light variations, for example to provide flickering light effects that are enhanced by the presence of aerosols, during the operation of the aerosol-generating system.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article 1 comprises a light- reflecting, diffusing or scattering surface. By adapting highly light-reflecting, light- diffusing or light-scattering surfaces or layers to an article 1 improves the reflection effects and thus the apparent brilliance of the perceived colors and optical effects to a consumer. In an embodiment, the surface portion comprises a light-reflective pattern configured for reflecting light in an inclined direction towards the mouth-end of the article. Such configuration allows to provide mouthpieces that have a bright color and/or intensity.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article 1 may comprise at least one optical prism, preferably a microprism having a largest dimension of 0.2-0.5 mm. The article 1 may also comprise a diffraction grating or a layer that is configured as a zero-order optical filter or any other nanostructure that provides bright color effects. Using optical deflection structures arranged on and/or into an article allows to provide bright color effects.

In an embodiment, the surface portion of the article 1 is part of the outer wrapper and/or a paper tube of the article 1 . Such surface portion provides a high scattering effect due to the high scattering properties of such layers. In variants, surface portion may be a surface portion chosen from: a glue layer, a seam, a bond layer, an adhesive layer or a separation layer.

In variants, the scattering or reflection effects may be enhanced by the presence of a plurality of glue bands, preferably an array of glue bands. The glue bands may pertain to different components (e.g. tipping paper, plug wrap, paper tube, etc.) of the articles or be arranged at different levels of thickness of a same component.

In a variant, a plurality of glue dots or glue lines may be used to enhance the color effects.

In variants, a cutting edge of a layer of the article may be configured to enhance the light scattering or reflection effects. The cutting edge may vary as to its form. For example, the cutting edge may have a variation of curvature and/or inclination relative to the longitudinal axis of the consumable article. The cutting edge may have a variation according to a undulated, crenellated or toothed pattern. The pattern may be varied in amplitude, period, width and combinations thereof.

It is understood that the light effects as described herein may be provided by the aerosol-generating system wherein the article 1 is not fully inserted in the device 2, but both are always in cooperation. Indeed, an aerosol generating device 2 may provide a lighting and/or color effect for example, before or while introducing an aerosol-generating article 1 . In embodiments, for example, emitted light from the aerosol-generating device 2 and/or article 1 may vary. For example, a red light may be emitted before the introduction of an article 1 inside said cavity 200 and the color may change until becoming green when the article 1 is fully inserted into the cavity 200.

The invention relates also to an aerosol generating device 2 comprising a power supply section, arranged in an outer body part 110, and a cavity 200 defining a cavity axis 208, the cavity 200 having an opening 202 accessible at the outer body part. The aerosol-generating device 2 comprises at least one light source 210 for emitting light 300 into the cavity 200 and for illuminating the cavity 200, the light source 210 is configured such that, in operation, at least a portion of light 4000 is scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted from said cavity 200 to the outside of the aerosol- generating device 2. Indeed, this may be possible even without an inserted article as the light may be outcoupled out of the cavity and/or by the lateral windows.

In an embodiment of the aerosol generating device, the scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted light 4000 emitted out of said aerosol generating device 2 has a spatial angle of more than 2rrsr.

Claims

Claims An aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device (2) and an aerosol-generating article (1 ) comprising a consumable segment (1 b), the aerosol-generating device (2) comprising a power supply section, arranged in an outer body part (110), and a cavity (200) defining a cavity axis (208), the cavity (200) having an opening (202), defining an opening centre (202a), accessible at the outer body part, said consumable segment (1 b) being inserted, at least partially, in the cavity (200) wherein said aerosol-generating device (2) comprises at least one light source (210) configured for emitting light (300) in the cavity (200) and for illuminating, in operation, at least a portion of the article (1 ) and wherein at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article is configured for scattering and/or diffusing and/or transmitting and/or re-emitting light (400) to the outside of said aerosol-generating device (2). The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 wherein the consumable segment (1 b) comprises a tobacco substrate (11 ). The aerosol-generating system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured so that light (400) that is scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted by at least a portion of said aerosol-generating article (1 ) illuminates, in operation, outside of said device (2) a smoke cloud (1000) provided by the article (1 ). The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the total emitted light (4000) to the outside of said system has a spatial intensity profile (IP), relative to said opening center (202a), that has a solid angle (Ω) of at least IT steradian (sr), preferably at least 2TT sr. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 5 wherein said total emitted light (4000) has a spatial intensity profile (IP), relative to said opening center (202a), that has a solid angle (Ω) of 4ττsr. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

5 wherein the power density of emitted light (400, 430, 4000) is higher than 1 pW/sr, preferably higher than 1 mW/sr, more preferably higher than 10mW/sr. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

6 wherein said aerosol-generating device (2) comprises an array of light sources (210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220). The aerosol-generating system according to claim 7 wherein said array of light sources (210, 212, 214, 216, 218, 220) is arranged along a circumference of the wall (206) of said cavity (200). The aerosol-generating system according to claim 7 wherein said array of light sources (210-220) is arranged in the direction of the axial axis (208) of said cavity (200). The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

9 wherein at least one of said light sources (210, 211 , 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 218, 220, 251 , 302, -220) is configured to emit a light beam (300, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 350, 352, 354, 356) inside the cavity (200), for illuminating a surface portion of a wrapper (100) of an inserted part of the article (1 ) in the aerosol- generating device (2) . The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

10 comprising an optical waveguide (230) having an incoupling surface and at least one outcoupling surface, and wherein said at least one light source (210) is optically connected to said incoupling surface and wherein said at least one outcoupling surface (250, 251 , 253, 255, 257) is arranged in said device (2) to direct light beams (350, 352, 354, 356) into said cavity (200).

12. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

11 wherein the aerosol-generating device (2) comprises at least one further light source (210’, 211 , 213, 215 ) and at least one window (500, 501 , 503, 502, 504, 506) for transmitting, out of the device (2), at least one light beam (400’) provided by said at least one further light source (211 , 213, 215).

13. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to

12 wherein the aerosol-generating device (2) comprises at least one sensor (600) that is electrically connected to said at least one light source (210) and configured to adapt the intensity and/or colour of the emitted light (310-320) of said at least one light source (210) in function of the electrical signal output of said sensor.

14. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13 wherein said sensor (600) is a pressure sensor.

15. An aerosol-generating system according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said aerosol generating article (1 ) comprises a surface portion which is configured for scattering and/or diffusing and/or transmitting and/or re-emitting light to the outside of said aerosol- generating device (2).

16. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the surface portion is part of a section (1 c) of the article (1 ) that does not comprise an aerosol generating substance (11 ).

17. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the surface portion of the article (1 ) comprises a light- reflecting, diffusing or scattering layer. 18. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the surface portion comprises a light-reflective pattern configured for reflecting light in an inclined direction towards the mouth-end of the article (1 ).

19. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the surface portion of the article (1 ) comprises a luminescent material to provide emitted light upon excitation by the light source.

20. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 15, wherein the surface portion of the article (1 ) comprises an optical prism.

21. The aerosol-generating system according to claims 15 to 20, wherein the surface portion of the article is part of the outer wrapper and/or a paper tube of the article.

22. An aerosol generating device (2) comprising a power supply section, arranged in an outer body part (110), and a cavity (200) defining a cavity axis (208), the cavity (200) having an opening (202) accessible at the outer body part , wherein the aerosol-generating device (2) comprises at least one light source (210) for emitting light (300) into the cavity (200) and for illuminating the cavity (200), and the light source (210) is configured such that, in operation, at least a portion of light (4000) is scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted from said cavity (200) to the outside of the aerosol-generating device (2).

23. An aerosol generating device (2), wherein said scattered and/or diffused and/or transmitted and/or re-emitted light (4000) from said aerosol generating device (2) has a spatial angle of more than 2ττsr.