Aerosol provision device comprising an optical article sensor

Abstract

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

1 . An aerosol provision device configured to receive at least a portion of an article comprising aerosol generating material, the aerosol provision device comprising an article sensor and a processor, wherein the article sensor comprises a receiver for receiving a receiver signal from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information,
 wherein the processor is configured to:   determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and   in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the article sensor comprises a transmitter for transmitting a transmitter signal to the article, the transmitter signal causing the receiver signal to reach the receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein the operation parameter is a transmitter signal strength of the transmitter signal, wherein the processor is configured to increase transmitter signal strength to increase the receiver signal strength. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to increase a current supplied to the transmitter to increase the transmitter signal strength. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 2 , wherein the receiver is a light receiver configured to receive light from the article. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 5 , wherein the transmitter is a light source configured to transmit light to the article, wherein the receiver signal is light reflected from the article. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a colour of a portion of the article in dependence on the receiver signal. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation parameter is a sensitivity of the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to increase a sensitivity of the receiver to increase the receiver signal strength. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment is constant for measured receiver signal strengths below the detection threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to modify the operation parameter by an increment, wherein the increment increases with increasing difference between the detection threshold and measured receiver signal strength. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein following modification of the operation parameter, the processor is configured to determine whether the receiver signal strength remains below the detection threshold, and, in response to the receiver signal strength remaining below the detection threshold, further modify the operation parameter to further increase the receiver signal strength. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to return the operation parameter to a default value for a subsequent article. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to maintain a value of the operation parameter from the article to a subsequent article. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 determine whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength above an upper threshold; and   in response to the receiver signal strength being above the upper threshold, modify an operation parameter of the article sensor to reduce the receiver signal strength, wherein the upper threshold is greater than the detection threshold.   
     
     
         15 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the article information comprises a presence of the article, a type of the article and/or a unique article identifier 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1  and comprising a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an article, the receptacle being configured so that the receiver signal is received at or through a wall of the receptacle, wherein the receiver is located at the wall of the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 16 , wherein the wall comprises an opening, wherein the receiver is located beyond the opening to receive the receiver signal through the opening. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol provision device according to  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol provision device is a tobacco heating product. 
     
     
         19 . An aerosol provision system comprising an aerosol provision device according to  claim 1  and an article received by the aerosol provision device. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at a receiver of an article sensor or an aerosol provision device, a receiver signal from an article engaged with the aerosol provision device, the aerosol provision device configured to form an aerosol from the article, the receiver signal indicative of article information;   determining whether the receiver signal has a receiver signal strength below a detection threshold; and   in response to the receiver signal strength being below the detection threshold, modifying an operation parameter of the article sensor to increase the receiver signal strength.