EP4076032A1

EP4076032A1 - Aerosol generation article with optical code and system comprising the article

Info

Publication number: EP4076032A1
Application number: EP20820467.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Aleksandr KONTAREV; Layth Sliman BOUCHUIGUIR; Patrice Borne; Pranav KULKARNI
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2019-12-20
Filing date: 2020-12-14
Publication date: 2022-10-26
Also published as: WO2021122475A1; JP2023505934A

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation article with optical code and a system comprising the article and an aerosol generation device. More specifically, a consumable (1) for an aerosol generation device (2), comprises an aerosol-generating substrate (11) and a wrapper (12), the consumable (1) comprising information which is coded in the form of at least one machine-readable optical pattern (102) which is applied on a first surface (14) of a component of the consumable (1) and is covered by an outer wall (13) of the wrapper (12), wherein the outer wall (13) is light-permeable such that the optical pattern (102) can be read by an optical detection unit (23) of the aerosol generation device (2) through the wall when the consumable (1) is attached to the aerosol generation device (2) for consumption.

Description

Aerosol generation article with optical code and system comprising the article TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation article with optical code and a system comprising the article and an aerosol generation device.

BACKGROUND An aerosol generation device, or E-cigarette, is now a mainstream product to simulate a traditional tobacco cigarette. There are many types of aerosol generation devices, and the one which still has tobacco or substrate inside is one of the most popular types. The advantage of this type of aerosol generation device is that the user is still smoking tobacco, which means the smoking perception resembles the traditional cigarette. Besides, by heating but not burning the article, the aerosol generation device does not release the by-products of combustion such as tar and carbon monoxide. The operation method of the aerosol generation device is to contain an aerosol generation carrier inside and to heat it, but not to its burning point. There is also another type of E- cigarette, the operation method of which is to evaporate liquid to form smoke. For both types of aerosol generation devices, especially the one with substrate inside, a high- quality carrier is important. Hence, the authentication of the aerosol generation carrier (also referred to as consumable or smoking article, such as a “stick”) is important to guarantee the origin of the products for safety and health reasons. Furthermore, a proper control of the operation parameters such as heating the carrier at a matching temperature, is also important for delivering a pleasing aerosol taste. WO 2010/073122 Ai relates to an electrically heated smoking system comprising a smoking article including identification information printed thereon, and a detector capable of detecting the presence of the smoking article in the cavity and distinguishing the smoking article from other articles configured for use with the smoking system, based on the identification information printed on the smoking article. However, the traditional printing technology is not ideal in a heating environment, as the printing ink may not last long after the article has been heated, and it is easy to be copied and counterfeited. A code printed on the article may also be damaged by the user when removing the article from the pack thereby rendering the reading impossible. Further, the aesthetic of the article can be affected by providing a code, e.g. a barcode and the like on the surface of the article.

WO 2019/185749 Ai discloses a smokable article and an apparatus for generating aerosol from the smokable article. The apparatus maybe an aerosol provision device. A marker arrangement may be provided for capacitive or resistive sensing. This marker arrangement for capacitive or resistive sensing increases the costs for the consumable, and heating the material for resistive or capacitive sensing may produce gases which are detrimental for health.

US 2014/ 0238427 Ai relates to “indicia” disposed on the portion of the wrapper defining the mouth end cavity of the article. However, such an arrangement of the indicia is for reading by the user, and not by a detection unit of the device. Therefore, it still needs the user to check the information of the article and to set the device manually.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved consumable which allows authentication or settings information to be automatically detected by the aerosol generation system and hard to damage before and during use, which can be produced at low costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an aerosol generation article with an optical code and system comprising the article and an aerosol generation device, which solve some of or all of the above problems.

A 1st embodiment of the invention is directed to a consumable for an aerosol generation device, comprising an aerosol-generating substrate and a wrapper. The consumable comprises information which is coded in the form of at least one machine- readable optical pattern which is applied on a first surface of a component of the consumable and is covered by an outer wall of the wrapper, wherein the outer wall is light-permeable such that the optical pattern can be read by an optical detection unit of the aerosol generation device through the wall when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device for consumption.

With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, the internally printed pattern can avoid being damaged by the user when removing the article from the pack thereby rendering the reading impossible. Also, the aesthetic of the article can be significantly affected by providing the coded pattern, e.g. barcode and the like on the surface of the article. Therefore, the present invention provides a technical solution to the problem of providing information which can be detected by the aerosol generation device even though the information is provided in an aesthetically pleasing manner. It should be noted that the outer wall of the wrapper may be the wrapper itself, in particular in embodiments where the wrapper consists of one single layer.

According to a 2nd embodiment, in the 1st embodiment, the wrapper comprises multiple layers, wherein the first surface is an inner surface of the outermost layer or an inner or outer surface of an internal layer of the wrapper.

According to a 3rd embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, information which is coded in the form of at least one second machine-readable optical pattern is applied on a second surface, of a component of the consumable, which is covered by the outer wall of the wrapper, the second surface being distinct from the first surface of the consumable. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, multiple pieces of information can be applied to the consumable, and an individual pattern on a specific component of the consumable can have a corresponding setting data for the component of the consumable. For example, a customized pattern for a specific type of filter, which can be used in different types of consumables, can be printed on the filter before the consumable is assembled with the filter, and the information about the filter does not need to be added on every type of the consumable.

According to a 4th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the at least one machine-readable optical pattern represents a lD, 2D barcode such as a QR code, dots, or an image.

According to a 5th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the information is coded in the form of at least two machine-readable optical patterns applied on at least two separate surface areas, whose reflectivity or diffraction properties are different from one another. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, it is possible for the device to detect different information with different light sources installed in the aerosol generation device when the information is needed.

According to a 6th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, each surface area is on a separate band surrounding or enclosing a section of the aerosol-generating substrate. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, the manufacture of the consumable is simplified by just adding the required band without the need of changing the original consumable wrapping paper. It also helps for mass production as bands with the same coded information can be produced together and applied later on different types of consumables needing the same setting.

According to a 7th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the outer wall of the wrapper is at least partially transparent such that the optical pattern is visible from outside. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, the pattern can be detected by using visible light or ambient light, while the pattern can also be seen from outside by the user. According to an 8th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the pattern is applied on the first surface by printing a material which reflects the light detected by the optical detection unit.

According to a 9th embodiment, in the 8th embodiment, the material reflects UV, visible and/ or infrared light.

According to a 10th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the pattern is applied on the first surface by printing at least two materials having different reflectivity characteristics. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, the pattern can be detected by the optical detector with different light sources when needed.

According to an 11th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the first surface is a surface of a plug wrap, tipping paper, tobacco wrapper, and/or paper tube.

According to a 12th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the first surface is an outer surface of an inner tubular element covered by the wrapper and positioned, on the longitudinal axis of the consumable, between the aerosol generating substrate and a filter element. This arrangement of the pattern on the consumable reduces the risk of applying printing material on or too close to the substrate or the filter, which may impact the quality of the consumable

According to a 13th embodiment, in the previous embodiment, the tubular element is a hollow tube which is more rigid than the outer wall of the wrapper.

According to a 14th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the outer wall of the wrapper (12) has a thickness of less than 70 pm, preferably less than 60 pm, more preferably less than 50 pm, even more preferably less than 40 pm and most preferably less than 30 pm and/or a density of less than 60 gsm, preferably less than 50 gsm, more preferably less than 40 gsm, even more preferably less than 30 gsm and most preferably less than 20 gsm. With this arrangement of the pattern on the consumable, the light can easily penetrate the wrapper. According to a 15th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the wall is the outmost layer and/ or wrapper of the consumable.

According to a 16th embodiment, in any one of the previous embodiments, the wall is a portion of the outmost layer or wrapper, which wraps around or covers an inner element of the consumable.

A 17th embodiment of the invention is directed to a system comprising the consumable of any one of previous embodiments, and an aerosol generation device for the use of the consumable, the aerosol generation device comprising an optical detection unit configured to read the optical pattern when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device for consumption.

According to a 18th embodiment, in the 17th embodiment, the consumable has an insertion section which is configured to be inserted and contained within the device, and a protrusion section which is configured to protrude out of the device, when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device for consumption; and the optical pattern is arranged on the insertion section and/ or the protrusion section of the consumable.

According to a 19th embodiment, in any one of the 17th or 18th embodiment, the optical detection unit comprised by the device is arranged within the device and faces an inner space which is enclosed by the device; or the optical detection unit is attached to the device and/or arranged within the device, in a way that it faces towards the protrusion section of the consumable, when the consumable is attached to the aerosol generation device for consumption.

According to a 20th embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the aerosol generation device comprises a light source configured to emit UV, visible and / or infrared light, to be detected by the optical detection unit. According to a 21st embodiment, in any one of the preceding embodiments, the optical detection unit is a camera or image scanner.

As used herein, the terms “wrapper”, “wrapping paper” and “layer” shall mean any wrapper which covers the substrate of the consumable. Other terms, such as “the plug wrap”, “the tipping paper”, “the tobacco wrapper”, “the combining wrapper” are all well-known terms of the art which represents specific parts of the consumable.

It should be understood that the terminology “inner” means a direction towards the centre of a circle of a cross-section of a tubular element, and “outer” means a direction outwards the centre of a circle of a cross-section of a tubular element. The terminology “internal” means inside an object, place etc.

Preferred embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure i(a) is a schematic exploded diagram of a first embodiment of the consumable according to the invention;

Figure i(b) is a schematic diagram of an overview of the first embodiment of the consumable according to the invention;

Figure i(c) is a schematic exploded diagram of a second embodiment of the consumable according to the invention;

Figure i(d) is a schematic exploded diagram of a third embodiment of the consumable according to the invention;

Figure 2(a) is a schematic exploded diagram of a fourth embodiment of the consumable according to the invention; Figure 2(b) is a schematic exploded diagram of a fifth embodiment of the consumable according to the invention;

Figure 3(a) is a schematic exploded diagram of a first embodiment of the system according to the invention;

Figure 3(b) is a schematic exploded diagram of a section of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention;

Figure 3(c) is a schematic exploded diagram of a third embodiment of the system according to the invention, with a sixth embodiment of the consumable according to the invention inserted in an aerosol generation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figure i(a), which is a schematic exploded diagram of a first embodiment of a consumable 1, the consumable 1 comprises a tobacco substrate 11, a cooling segment 103 such as a paper tube, and a filters 105. The tobacco substrate 11 is usually individually wrapped in a wrapper 11. The filter 105 may comprise several filter segments, such as a plain fiber filter segment and a center hole filter segment, both wrapped individually by a plug wrap 16, and combined by wrapper 20. A tipping paper 17 may combine the filter 105, cooling segment and tobacco segment. Many variations to this embodiment are possible such as providing a filter 105 with a single filter segment. An optical pattern 102 representing coded authentication information in the form of a barcode is printed or coated on the internal surface of the tipping paper 17.

The tobacco substrate 11 may include a tobacco material in various forms such as shredded tobacco and granulated tobacco, and/ or the tobacco material may include tobacco leaf and/or reconstituted tobacco, such as in the form of sheets, strips or foam.

The optical pattern can be printed using ink or coating such as metal oxide coating. The coating may comprise ATO (Antimony Tin Oxide) or can be any known material for reflecting and/or diffracting infrared light. The optical pattern maybe constituted of surface areas having different optical properties amongst: reflective, absorbing, refractive or diffractive properties. It is understood that in some embodiments, the entire tipping paper 17 may be covered with a material which can reflect infrared light, and the barcode is formed by the area which is not printed or coated with such a material, or is printed or coated with a material which absorbs infrared light. In this manner, a device with an infrared light source can reflect the code to an infrared detection unit of the device for an authentication determination. In other embodiments, the pattern 102 can be applied by any material which reflects and/ or diffracts UV light, and/or visible light (i.e. from 380 to 740 nm). In a possible mode, the infrared source may also be the heater or a heating element of the aerosol generating device.

In variants, the pattern 102 and/or its support to which it is arranged maybe at least partially transparent to incident light and may be applied on any material that transmits at least partially UV light and/or visible light and/or infrared light. In embodiments, a light source may be arranged at a side of an article that is different from the side at which the code 102 is arranged, for example at an opposite side. For example, in the case of a paper wrapper, visible light may be transmitted through the paper wrapper and reach, by light diffusion or scattering, a code 102 that is arranged to the opposite side. The light that is received by the code 102 may be transmitted by the code to a detector placed at the side of the code, opposite the site of the light source. This allows to provide solutions wherein a light source may be arranged in another place or site than the location of the detector part of an aerosol generating device.

In variants, an aerosol generating device may comprise a light source arranged to illuminate directly a code 102 at one of its sides and another light source may be used to illuminate the code 102 at another side, such as described above. This allows to complexify the code and reduce further the risk of counterfeit. In still other variants, at least two codes may be arranged on an article and so that one code 102 provides a reflected light beam and another code provides a transmitted light beam, i.e. a light beam that passes through and interacts with the code 102.

The authentication information 102 is shown as a barcode in this embodiment, but it can be any known machine-readable optical pattern which represents, for example, a lD, 2D barcode such as a QR code, dots, or an image. It can code information about the type of the consumable or a relevant aerosol device setting for the consumable etc. The information can be coded by any known protocol.

In a preferred embodiment, the information code may also be located on any other wrapper of the consumable l, such as the tobacco wrapper 18, the combining wrapper 20 or the plug wrapper 16, as long as light can penetrate the corresponding wrappers covering the code so that the information can be read by an optical detection unit 23 of the aerosol generation device 2.

Referring to Figure i(b), the pattern 102, illustrated as the area between the dotted lines, is printed as a barcode on the inner surface of a wrapper 12 of the consumable 1. Hence, the barcode, namely the machine-readable optical pattern 102, is covered by an outer wall 13 of the wrapper 12, wherein the outer wall 13 is light-permeable such that the optical pattern 102 can be read by the optical detection unit 23 of the aerosol generation device 2 through the wall 13 when the consumable 1 is attached to the aerosol generation device 2 for consumption. In an example, the outer wall 13 is the tipping paper 17, namely the outmost layer or wrapper 17. In other embodiments, the outer wall 13 can be a material applied on the tipping paper or other wrapping paper, or a combination with other wrapping paper of the consumable 1 that externally covers the tipping paper. In the preferred embodiments, in which the outer wall 13 is the outermost wrapping paper, the pattern 102 may be applied on the inner surface of the wrapping paper. In the most preferred embodiments, the wall 13 is a portion of the outmost layer or wrapper 12, which wraps around or covers the inner elements or components of the consumable 1. The inner elements or components are the elements or components of the consumable that are filled inside the wrapper 17, and comprise the tobacco substrate 11, the cooling segment 103 such as a paper tube, and the filters 105. In other embodiments, where another wrapping paper of the consumable 1 is provided that externally covers the wrapper 12, the code may be provided on the outer surface of the internal wrapping paper. Further, the outer wall of the wrapper typically has a thickness of less than 70 pm, preferably less than 60 pm, more preferably less than 50 pm, even more preferably less than 40 pm and most preferably less than 30 pm and/or a density of less than 60 gsm, preferably less than 50 gsm, more preferably less than 40 gsm, even more preferably less than 30 gsm and most preferably less than 20 gsm, so that the light can easily penetrate the wall. In another embodiment, a wrapper 12 is formed by multiple combined sheets, and the pattern 102 is printed on one of the internal sheets. Thus, a wrapper can be pressed as one piece of wrapper from several sheets of paper, and the code can be printed on a surface of one of these sheets. Referring to Figure i(c), the patterns 102 can be applied on the surfaces of separate bands, such as ring bands surrounding or enclosing a section of the aerosol-generating substrate 11 or other parts of the consumable 1. Such an arrangement can render the manufacturing of the consumable easier, by just attaching the specific ring band 105 without the need of changing the original consumable wrapping paper. It also helps for mass production, as bands with the same coded information can be produced together and applied later on different types of consumables 1 needing the same setting.

Referring to Figure i(d), the pattern can also be applied on the paper tube 103, which is a hollow tube, which is more rigid than the outer wall 13 of the wrapper 12 (herein, the tipping paper 17). Applying the pattern 102 on the paper tube 103 reduces the risk that applying printing material on or close to the substrate 11 or the filter 105 may impact the quality of the consumable 1. Likewise, not shown in the figures, the pattern 102 can be applied on the tipping paper 17 and be positioned, on the longitudinal axis of the consumable, between the aerosol generating substrate and a filter element.

Referring to Figure 2(a), multiple patterns 102 representing, for example, different information about the consumable 1 can be applied on two separate surface areas of the internal surface 14 of the consumable 1. In other preferred embodiments, different patterns 102 can be applied on different materials, e.g. with different reflectivity or diffraction properties, so that it is possible for the device to detect different pieces of information with different light source installed in the aerosol generation device 2. The device can also be enabled to, for example, detect different pieces of information during different periods during the consumption of the product by the user.

Referring to Figure 2(b), information which is coded in the form of at least one machine-readable optical pattern 102; herein, a first machine-readable optical pattern 102 and a second machine-readable optical pattern 1021 are applied on two different surfaces 14 and 15 on different layers of the wrapper of the consumable 1. More specifically, the first pattern 102 is printed as a barcode (not shown) on a material able to reflect infrared light on the outermost wrapper 15 of the consumable 1 and the second pattern 1021 is printed as a 2D or QR code (not shown) repeated around the tubular profile of the consumable 1 on material capable of reflecting UV light on the outer surface 14 of an inner layer of the consumable 1. In another preferred embodiment, the pattern 102 can be printed on different (e.g. more internal) layers of the consumable 1. In a further preferred embodiment, the patterns 102 are applied on different surfaces with different reflectivity characteristics.

In variants the code 102 may, at least partially, be made of a fluorescent or phosphorescent substance.

Figure 3(a) illustrates a system comprising the consumable 1 and the aerosol generation device 2 for the use of the consumable. The consumable 1 has an insertion section which is configured to be inserted and contained in the device 2, and a protrusion section which is configured to protrude out of the device 1, when the consumable 1 is maximally inserted into the device 2 and/or the consumable 1 is attached to the aerosol generation device 2 for consumption. The aerosol generation device 2 comprises an optical detection unit 23 configured to read the optical pattern 102 when the consumable 1 is attached to the aerosol generation device 2 for consumption. The optical pattern 102 is located at the insertion section of the consumable 1. More specifically, the insertion section of the consumable 1 has a heated section and a non-heated section, wherein the heated section is the section where the consumable is inserted or contained in the cavity of the heating chamber of the device 2. The non-heated section is a section where the consumable 1 is inserted or contained in the device 2 but sticks out from the heating chamber, namely the section which is inserted into or contained in the cooling tube 22, which is described in detail below, when the consumable 1 is maximally inserted or contained in the device 2. Herein, the optical pattern 102 is located at the heated section of the consumable 1. The aerosol generation device 2 comprises multiple light sources 21 configured to emit UV and infrared light, and an optical detection unit 23, such as a camera, image scanner or any known image detector, to read the light reflected from the pattern 102. The optical detection unit 23 is arranged within the device 1 and faces an inner space which is enclosed by the cavity of the heating chamber. Specifically, the optical detection unit 23 is set inside the heating chamber of the device 2 with a downward angle, so that it can easily detect the pattern 102 in a wider angle, or the optical detection unit 23 may include a lens which can adjust the angle of the light reflected from the pattern 102 to its image detector. Herein, downward means that the optical detection unit 23 is directed in the consumable insertion direction 104 of the device. In a preferred embodiment, the optical detection unit 23 comprises a mirror (not shown) which is capable of reflecting the light reflected by the pattern 102 to the image detector, such as a CCD or CMOS camera (not shown), in the optical detection unit 23.

Figure 3(b) illustrates an upper section of another preferred embodiment of the system. The device comprises a cooling tube 22 (shown in the thicker dotted square) which is located between the opening of the device 2 and the heating chamber 24 (partially shown). The cooling tube 22 may be part of the casing of the device or a separate collar or a combination of both. The optical detection unit 23 is arranged within the device 1 and faces an inner space which is enclosed by the cooling tube 22 of the device 2. Specifically, the optical detection unit 23 is installed in a cavity with a mirror 27, the light source 21 and an aperture 26 which is sealed by a plastic or glass window. The internal pattern 102 (shown within the area of two thinner dotted lines) is applied on the longitudinal position, aligned with the aperture 26 so that the light reflected by the internal pattern 102 of the consumable 1 can be transmitted to the optical detection unit 23. In other words, the internal pattern 102 is located at the insertion section of the consumable 1, more specifically, the non-heated portion of the consumable 1, when the consumable 1 is maximally inserted or contained in the device 2. The internal pattern may be applied in the region of the filters 105 or cooling segment 103 or across both segments 105, 103. Figure 3(c) illustrates an embodiment of the consumable which has a pattern printed on a section of the consumable 1 which remains outside of the device when the consumable 1 is inserted in the device 2. More specifically, the pattern 102 is printed on the combining wrapper 20 as shown in Figure 1, which is transparent or at least partially transparent, so that the pattern internally printed is visible from the outside, and the device 2 can detect the pattern 102 with ambient light or visible light from a light source 21, such as an LED, installed in the device 2. In other words, the internal pattern 102 is located at the protrusion section of the consumable 1, when the consumable 1 is maximally inserted or contained in the device 2. The optical detection unit 23 is attached to the device 2 and/ or arranged within the device 2, more specifically, at an outer surface of the device. The optical detection unit 23 is arranged in a way such that it faces towards the protrusion section of the consumable 1. The user can also see the pattern 102 and he can turn the pattern 102 towards the optical detection unit 23 which is set on a front end of a closure 28 of the device 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE DRAWINGS

(I) Consumable (2) Aerosol generation device

(II) Aerosol-generating substrate

(12) Wrapper

(13) Outer wall

(14) First surface (15) Second surface

(16) Plug wrap

(17) Tipping paper

(18) Tobacco wrapper (20) Combining wrapper (21) Light source

(22) Cooling tube

(23) Optical detection unit

(24) Heating chamber (26) Aperture (27) Mirror

(28) Closure (102) Optical pattern

(1021) Second machine-readable optical pattern (103) Inner tubular element

Claims

1. A consumable (l) for an aerosol generation device (2), comprising an aerosol generating substrate (11) and a wrapper (12), the consumable (1) comprising information which is coded in the form of at least one machine-readable optical pattern (102) which is applied on a first surface (14) of a component of the consumable (1) and is covered by an outer wall (13) of the wrapper (12), wherein the outer wall (13) is light- permeable such that the optical pattern (102) can be read by an optical detection unit (23) of the aerosol generation device (2) through the wall when the consumable (1) is attached to the aerosol generation device (2) for consumption.

2. The consumable (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wrapper (12) comprises multiple layers, wherein the first surface (14) is an inner surface of the outermost layer or an inner or outer surface of an internal layer of the wrapper.

3. The consumable (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein information which is coded in the form of at least one second machine-readable optical pattern (102) is applied on a second surface (15), of a component of the consumable (1), which is covered by the outer wall (13) of the wrapper (12), the second surface (15) being distinct from the first surface (14) of the consumable (1).

4. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one machine-readable optical pattern (102) represents a lD, 2D barcode, a QR code, dots, or an image.

5. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the information is coded in the form of at least two machine-readable optical patterns (102) applied on at least two separate surface areas, whose reflectivity or diffraction properties are different from one another.

6. The consumable (1) according to claim 5, wherein each surface area is on a separate band (105) surrounding or enclosing a section of the aerosol-generating substrate (11).

7. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer wall (13) of the wrapper (12) is at least partially transparent such that the optical pattern (102) is visible from outside.

8. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pattern (102) is applied on the first surface (14) by printing a material which reflects the light detected by the optical detection unit (21), wherein the material reflects UV, visible and/or infrared light.

9. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pattern (102) is applied on the first surface (14) by printing at least two materials having different reflectivity characteristics.

10. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface (14) is a surface of a plug wrap (16), tipping paper (17), tobacco wrapper (18), and/or paper tube (103).

11. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first surface (14) is an outer surface of an inner tubular element (103) covered by the wrapper (12) and positioned, on the longitudinal axis of the consumable, between the aerosol generating substrate (11) and a filter element (105).

12. The consumable (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the tubular element (103) is a hollow tube which is more rigid than the outer wall (13) of the wrapper (12).

13. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer wall of the wrapper (12) has a thickness of less than 70 pm, preferably less than 60 pm, more preferably less than 50 pm, even more preferably less than 40 pm and most preferably less than 30 pm and/or a density of less than 60 gsm, preferably less than 50 gsm, more preferably less than 40 gsm, even more preferably less than 30 gsm and most preferably less than 20 gsm.

14. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer wall (13) is the outmost layer and/or wrapper (17) of the consumable (1).

15. The consumable (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall (13) is a portion of the outmost layer or wrapper (12), which wraps around or covers an inner element of the consumable (1).

16. A system comprising the consumable of any one of the preceding claims and an aerosol generation device (2) for use of the consumable, the aerosol generation device (2) comprising an optical detection unit (23) configured to read the optical pattern (102) when the consumable (1) is attached to the aerosol generation device (2) for consumption.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the aerosol generation device (2) comprises a light source (21) configured to emit UV, visible and/ or infrared light, to be detected by the optical detection unit (23), the optical detection unit (23) is a camera or image scanner.

18. The system of any one of claims 16 or 17, wherein the consumable (1) has an insertion section which is configured to be inserted and contained within the device (2), and a protrusion section which is configured to protrude out of the device (1), when the consumable (1) is attached to the aerosol generation device (2) for consumption; and the optical pattern (102) is arranged on the insertion section and/or the protrusion section of the consumable (1).

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the optical detection unit (23) comprised by the device (2) is arranged within the device (1) and faces an inner space which is enclosed by the device (2); or the optical detection unit (23) is attached to the device (2) and/or arranged within the device (2), in a way that it faces towards the protrusion section of the consumable (1), when the consumable (1) is attached to the aerosol generation device (2) for consumption.

20. The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the optical detection unit (23) is a camera or image scanner.