WO2022018158A1

WO2022018158A1 - Cartridge for an aerosol generation device comprising a cartridge communication module

Info

Publication number: WO2022018158A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/070434
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gordon MONTGOMERY; Ying QIN
Original assignee: Jt International S.A.
Priority date: 2020-07-23
Filing date: 2021-07-21
Publication date: 2022-01-27
Also published as: JP2023534909A; EP4185143A1

Abstract

The present invention concerns an cartridge (14) for an aerosol generation device (12), comprising a cartridge body (36), the cartridge body (36) comprising: - a storage portion (38) for storing an aerosol forming precursor; - a heater (40) configured to heat the aerosol forming precursor to generate aerosol; - a cartridge power supply (42) configured to connect the heater (40) to the aerosol generation device (12) via a power link (PL) able to transmit a power signal between the heater (40) and the aerosol generation device (12); - a cartridge communication module (46) configured to generate cartridge data and to encode this cartridge data into the power signal transmitted by the power link (PL) by forming a cartridge high-frequency component of the power signal.

Description

CARTRIDGE FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE COMPRISING A CARTRIDGE COMMUNICATION MODULE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a cartridge for an aerosol generation device.

The present invention also concerns an aerosol generation assembly comprising such a cartridge and an aerosol generation device.

The present invention further concerns an operation method associated to such an aerosol generation assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of aerosol generation devices are already known in the art. Generally, such devices comprise a storage portion for storing an aerosol forming precursor, which can comprise for example a liquid or a solid. A heating system is formed of one or more electrically activated resistive heating elements arranged to heat said precursor to generate the aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the device. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece, through which a user inhales for delivery of the aerosol.

In some aerosol generation devices, the precursor is stored in a removable cartridge. Thus, when the precursor is consumed, the cartridge can be easily removed and replaced. In order to attach the removable cartridge to the device body, a screw- threaded connection can for example be used.

The heating system is powered by a battery presenting generally a rechargeable battery, as for example a lithium-ion battery. The power from the battery is usually controlled by a microcontroller based for example on heating system characteristics like for example the resistance of the heating coil.

In some cases known in the art, the aerosol generation assembly, made up of an aerosol generation device and a cartridge, comprises authenticating means for authenticating said device and/or said cartridge. These authenticating means make it possible to authenticate and/or identify the cartridge or the device so that a user can distinguish between, for example, a certified cartridge and a counterfeited cartridge. However, the aerosol generation assemblies known in the art present high electronic complexity to ensure such authentication. Such complexity makes the manufacturing of the assembly more difficult and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is to provide a cartridge for an aerosol generation device, in which the authentication can be carried out thanks to simple authentication means.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol generation device, comprising a cartridge body, the cartridge body comprising:

- a storage portion for storing an aerosol forming precursor;

- a heater configured to heat the aerosol forming precursor to generate aerosol;

- a cartridge power supply configured to connect the heater to the aerosol generation device via a power link able to transmit a power signal between the heater and the aerosol generation device;

- a cartridge communication module configured to generate cartridge data and to encode this cartridge data into the power signal transmitted by the power link by forming a cartridge high-frequency component of the power signal.

The cartridge data are used for authenticating the cartridge and/or the aerosol generation device. Since they are encoded into the power signal transmitted by the power link, the authentication can be carried out without needing any additional complex electronic component for authentication purpose only (e.g., identify tags, or separate data links, etc.), other than the electronic components constituting the power link, within the cartridge or the device.

According to some embodiments, the cartridge data comprises cartridge authentication data.

According to some embodiments, the cartridge communication module is further configured to extract from the power signal a device high-frequency component corresponding to device data encoded by the aerosol generation device into the power signal transmitted by the power link. Thanks to these features, the power signal that is transmitted between the cartridge and the device is used as a support for the authentication data. There is no need to implement another connection between the cartridge and the device to transmit such data.

According to some embodiments, the cartridge communication module is further configured to extract from the power signal a device high-frequency component corresponding to device data encoded by the aerosol generation device into the power signal transmitted by the power link.

Thanks to these features, the authentication can be carried out thanks to simple steps of comparison between data received from the device and verification data memorized, for example, in the cartridge.

According to some embodiments, the cartridge communication module is configured to generate said cartridge data upon establishing said power link or upon receiving device data from the aerosol generation device.

Thanks to these features, the authentication is carried out spontaneously upon, for example, connection of the cartridge and the aerosol generation device through the power link.

According to some embodiments, the data of the cartridge high-frequency component and/or the device high-frequency component of the power signal are(is) carried by single or multiple frequencies of this component or a spread spectrum of this component.

According to some embodiments, said single or multiple frequencies includes one or more characteristics from a characteristic list comprising temporal correlation fixed over time and temporal correlation varying over time.

Thanks to these features, it is possible to encode a high-frequency component into the power signal.

According to some embodiments, the power signal further comprises a wave component generated by the aerosol generation device to power the heater, the cartridge high-frequency component and/or the device high-frequency component being interposed with said wave component.

Thanks to these features, the data for authentication is transmitted between the cartridge and the aerosol generation device by the power signal through the power link so that there is no need for any specific additional communication link.

According to some embodiments, said wave component is a pulse-width modulation wave.

Thanks to these features, the average current or voltage delivered to the heater can be precisely controlled so that the temperature of the heater is precisely set. The duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation wave is continuously adapted to attain a target temperature of the heater.

The invention also relates to an aerosol generation assembly an aerosol generation device configured to operate with the cartridge, the aerosol generation device comprising a device body, the device body comprising:

- a battery configured to generate an electrical current;

- a controller configured to generate a power signal from the electrical current provided by the battery;

- a device power supply configured to connect the controller to the cartridge via a power link able to transmit the power signal generated by the controller;

- a device communication module configured to extract from the power signal transmitted by the power link a cartridge high-frequency component corresponding to cartridge data generated by the cartridge.

According to some embodiments, the device communication module is further configured to generate device data and to encode this device data into the power signal transmitted by the power link by forming a device high-frequency component of the power signal; and the device data signal comprises device authentication data.

Thanks to these features, the authentication can be further carried out based on device data associated to the aerosol generation device. According to some embodiments, the cartridge data comprises cartridge authentication data and/or feedback data; the device communication module is further configured to perform an authentication comprising analyzing the cartridge data; and the controller is configured to adjust the power signal based on said authentication.

According to some embodiments :

- before the authentication, the controller is configured to power the cartridge according to a normal operation mode;

- after the authentication, if the authentication failed, the controller is configured to modify the power signal to power the cartridge according to a restricted operation mode or to cut off the power signal.

According to some embodiments,

- before the authentication, the controller is configured to power the cartridge according to a restricted operation mode;

- after the authentication, if the authentication is successful, the controller is configured to modify the power signal to power the cartridge according to a normal operation mode.

Thanks to these features, a user of the aerosol generation assembly can notice if the authentication was successful or failed. If the authentication failed, the user is deterred from using the cartridge and/or the device. For example, this enables preventing the user from using an unregistered or unlicensed cartridge or device that could be dangerous to use.

The invention also relates to an operation method of an aerosol generation assembly according as describe here above; the method comprising the following steps:

- establish a power link between the cartridge and the aerosol generation device;

- generate a power signal that is transmitted in the power link to power the cartridge;

- generate cartridge data;

- encode the cartridge data into the power signal by forming a cartridge high- frequency component of the power signal;

- extract the cartridge high-frequency component corresponding to said cartridge data from the power signal. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

- Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of an aerosol generation assembly according to the invention;

- Figure 2 is a graph illustrating an example of a power signal transmitted between the cartridge and the aerosol generation device according to the invention;

- Figure 3 is a flowchart of an operation method according to a first embodiment of the invention, the operation method being carried out by the aerosol generation device of Figure 1 ; and

- Figure 4 is a flowchart of an operation method according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generation device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of aerosol generating unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapor which condenses into an aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heater system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapor to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking article such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of precursor as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapor. Aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming precursor” or “precursor” or “aerosolforming substance” or “substance” may refer to one or more of a: liquid; solid; gel; mousse; foam or other substances. The precursor may be processable by the heating system of the device to form an aerosol as defined herein. The precursor may comprise one or more of: nicotine; caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerine. A flavoring may also be present. The flavoring may include Ethylvanillin (vanilla), menthol, Isoamyl acetate (banana oil) or similar. A solid aerosol forming substance may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips of reconstituted tobacco (RTB).

FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 , an aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises an aerosol generation device 12 and a cartridge 14. The aerosol generation device 12 is configured to operate with the cartridge 14. The aerosol generation assembly 10 is arrangeable between a connected configuration in which the aerosol generation device 12 and the cartridge 14 are electrically connected and a disconnected configuration in which the aerosol generation device 12 and the cartridge 14 are electrically disconnected.

The aerosol generation device 12 comprises a device body 18.

The device body 18 extends between a hold end and a cartridge end. The device body 18 delimits an interior part of the aerosol generation device 12 comprising a battery 20 configured to generate an electrical current, a controller 22 configured to generate a power signal PS from the electrical current or voltage provided by the battery 20, a switch 24, a device power supply 26 configured to connect the controller 22 to the cartridge 14 via a power link PL to transmit the power signal PS, and a device communication module 28 configured to extract from the power signal PS carried on the power link PL a cartridge high-frequency component HF corresponding to cartridge data generated by the cartridge 14.

The device body 18 of the aerosol generation device 12 can comprise other internal components performing different functionalities of the device known per se. It should also be noted that Figure 1 presents only a schematic diagram of different components of the aerosol generation device 12 and does not necessarily show the real physical arrangement and dimensions of these components. Particularly, such an arrangement can be chosen according to the design of the aerosol generation device 12 and technical features of its components.

The battery 20 is for example a known battery designed to be charged using a power supply furnished by an external source. The battery 20 is further designed to provide a current of a predetermined intensity or voltage.

The controller 22 and the battery 20 are electrically connected. The controller 22 is configured to modulate the power signal PS provided by the battery 20. In particular, the controller 22 is configured to generate a wave component W in the power signal PS. As illustrated on Figure 2, the wave component W is for example a pulse-width modulation (PWM) wave. The wave component W thus comprises pulses, and a low level of the wave component W between two consecutives pulses. The amplitude of the power signal PS is for example representative of the intensity of the voltage or the current supplied from the device 12 to the cartridge 14 via the power link PL. For example, the controller 22 is configured to modify the duty cycle of the pulse-width modulation wave. The duty cycle is continuously adapted as a function of required power. In other words, the width of each pulse is continuously adapted as a function of required power. The adaptation of said width, equivalently of said duty cycle, makes it possible to adapt an average value of the wave component W.The controller 22 is further configured to modify the frequency of the PWM wave as a function of required power. The required power is for example characterized by a level of power required by the cartridge 14 to ensure its normal operating. The controller 22 is further configured to adjust the power signal PS as a function of at least an authentication as it will be described further below. In particular, the controller 22 is configured to adjust the wave component W of the power signal PS as a function of the authentication. The controller 22 is able to operate between a normal operation mode, a restricted operation mode and a shutdown mode. In the normal operation mode, the controller 22 is configured to generate a normal power signal PS, the features of which are adapted to a normal operation of the cartridge 14. For example, a normal power signal PS presents a maximum power level that can be provided by the battery 20 or an optimal power level to meet power needs by heater which is desired to ensure quality of generated aerosol or vapor. In the restricted operation mode, the controller 22 is configured to generate a restricted power signal PS, the features of which are adapted to a deteriorated operation of the cartridge 14. For example, the restricted power signal PS is a power signal PS with reduced power level, i.e., lower than the maximum power level that can be provided by the battery 20, or it is reduced power level lower than the required power level by heater to maintain the quality of aerosol. In other words, in the restricted operation mode, the device 12 may still be able to generate aerosol but quality or taste may be poor due to lower temperature caused by lower power delivered. In the shutdown mode, the controller 22 is configured to cut the power signal PS. For example, before the authentication, the controller 22 is in its normal operation mode. Alternatively, before the authentication, the controller 22 is in its restricted operation mode.

The battery 20 and the controller 22 are electrically connected via the switch 24. The switch 24 is arrangeable between a closed configuration in which a current passes between the battery 20 and the controller 22 and an open configuration in which no current passes between the battery 20 and the controller 22. The aerosol generation device 12 further comprises for example a button (not illustrated) for controlling the switch 24 between the closed and open configurations. For example, the authentication (that will be detailed below) is performed when the switch 24 is arranged in its closed position after a user pushes the button. Alternatively, the aerosol generation device 12 comprises at least a sensor (not illustrated) configured for sensing a puff taken by a user through the cartridge 14, the switch 24 being arranged in its closed configuration when a puff is detected and in its open configuration when no puff is detected. For example, the authentication is performed when a first puff is taken by the user.

The device power supply 26 comprises a device connector 32. The device connector 32 is a connection point for electrically connecting the device 12 to the cartridge 14. For this purpose, the device connector 32 may be formed for example by a pair of contacts able to cooperate with similar contacts arranged on the cartridge 14 to establish the power link PL. For the power link PL to be established, the assembly 10 should be in its connected configuration.

The device communication module 28 and the device power supply 26 are electrically connected. The device communication module 28 is configured to generate device data and to encode said device data into the power signal PS transmitted by the power link PL by forming at least a device high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS. The device data comprises for example device authentication data. The device communication module 28 is further configured to extract from the power signal PS transmitted by the power link PL at least a cartridge high-frequency component HF. This cartridge high-frequency component HF corresponds to cartridge data generated by the cartridge 14 and encoded by the cartridge 14 into the power signal PS transmitted via the power link PL. In this case, the power wave generated by the device is a carrier of the cartridge/device data, by adding the cartridge/device high-frequency component HF onto the wave W and the cartridge/device high-frequency component HF becomes a part of the power signal PS, as showed on Figure 2. The cartridge/device high-frequency component HF is detectable on any position of the electrical link/connection and thus can be extracted and decoded by the device/cartridge. The cartridge data will be described in further detail below. The device communication module 28 is further configured to perform the authentication comprising analysing cartridge data.

In reference to figure 2, it is clear that, in case the wave component W is a pulse- width modulation wave, the high-frequency component HF is present on pulses of the pulse-width modulation wave. According to some examples, the high-frequency component HF can also be present between pulses of the pulse-width modulation wave, i.e. when the wave component W is at its low level.

Further, basing on the result of the authentication, the device communication module 28 is further configured to cause the controller 22 to switch its operation mode between the normal operation mode, the restricted operation mode and the shutdown mode. Particularly, when the authentication is successful, the device communication module 28 is for example configured to cause the controller 22 to pass to its normal operation mode. When the authentication is failed, the device communication module 28 is for example configured to cause the controller 22 to operate in its restricted operation mode or shutdown mode. In an embodiment when the controller 22 operates in its restricted operation mode during authentication, the controller switches to the normal operation mode if the authentication is successful or maintains in the restricted operation mode if the authentication failed. As such, unauthorized cartridge can only generate poor undesired aerosol, and thus poor user experience.

The cartridge 14 comprises a cartridge body 36.

The cartridge body 36 delimits an interior part of the cartridge 14 comprising a storage portion 38 for storing an aerosol forming precursor, a heater 40 configured to heat the aerosol forming precursor to generate aerosol, a cartridge power supply 42 configured to connect the heater 40 to the aerosol generation device 12 via the power link PL that is able to transmit the power signal PS between the heater 40 and the aerosol generation device 12, a memory 44, and a cartridge communication module 46 configured to generate cartridge data and to encode this cartridge data into the power signal PS by forming a cartridge high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS. The cartridge body 36 of the cartridge 14 for example comprises other internal components performing different functionalities known per se. Like for the aerosol generation device 12, it should be noted that Figure 1 presents only a schematic diagram of different components of the cartridge 14 and does not necessarily show the real physical arrangement and dimensions of these components. Particularly, such an arrangement can be chosen according to the design of the cartridge 14 and technical features of its components.

The storage portion 38 is designed to store the precursor used to generate aerosol. Particularly, based on the nature of the precursor, the storage compartment is designed to store the precursor in a liquid and/or solid form. The storage portion 38 is for example fixed with respect to the cartridge body 36. The storage portion 38 is for example a pod or capsule containing e-liquid or a consumable such as a tobacco rod.

The heater 40 is in contact with the storage portion 38 or integrated partially into the storage portion 38. The heater 40 is configured to be powered by the aerosol generation device 12. In particular, the heater 40 and the cartridge power supply 42 are electrically connected so that the power signal PS is transmitted from the aerosol generation device 12 to the heater 40 via the power link PL. In particular, the wave component W generated by the aerosol generation device 12 powers the heater 40.

The cartridge power supply 42 comprises a cartridge connector 50. In the connected configuration of the aerosol generation assembly 10, the cartridge connector 50 and the device connector 32 are electrically connected so as to form the power link PL. In the disconnected configuration of the aerosol generation assembly 10, the cartridge connector 50 and the device connector 32 are electrically disconnected. According to the different embodiments of the invention, the device connector 32 can present a pair of contacts or other suitable means making it possible to establish the power link PL with the aerosol generation device 12.

The memory 44 comprises verification data. Said verification data comprises device authentication verification data. Said device authentication verification data is associated to at least an aerosol generation device 12 as described above. The memory 44 comprises for example different types of device authentication verification data associated to different aerosol generation devices 12 of the type described above. The device authentication verification data may for example comprises a unique identifier associated to the aerosol generation device 12 as described above or to the type of such aerosol generation devices.

The cartridge communication module 46 and the cartridge power supply 42 are electrically connected. The cartridge communication module 46 and the memory 44 are also connected. The cartridge communication module 46 is configured to extract from the power signal PS a device high-frequency component HF corresponding to device data encoded by the aerosol generation device 12 into the power signal PS transmitted by the power link PL. Upon extraction of a device high-frequency component HF corresponding to device data, the cartridge communication module 46 is configured to request and receive verification data from the memory 44. Alternatively, the cartridge communication module 46 is configured to request and receive verification data from the memory 44 upon establishment of the power link PL. The cartridge communication module 46 is further configured to compare device authentication data with device authentication verification data and generate feedback data based on this comparison. When the device authentication data and the device authentication verification data match, the authentication is said to be positive or successful, the feedback data is then positive feedback data. When the device authentication data and the device authentication verification data mismatch, the authentication is said to be negative or failed, the feedback data is then negative feedback data. The cartridge communication module 46 is further configured to generate cartridge data and to encode this cartridge data into the power signal PS transmitted via the power link PL by forming at least a cartridge high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS. The cartridge data comprises said feedback data. The data of the or each high-frequency component HF encoded in the power signal PS by the device communication module 28 and/or by the cartridge communication module 46 is carried by single or multiple frequencies of this component or a spread spectrum of this component. The or each high-frequency component is for example a single sine wave, a sum of sine waves, a phase shifted sine wave or a spread spectrum type wave. The or each high-frequency component HF is interposed with the wave component W of the power signal PS. Said single or multiple frequencies are with temporal correlation. According to a variant, the single or multiple frequencies are without temporal correlation. According to another variant, the single or multiple frequencies are fixed. According to yet another variant, the single or multiple frequencies are varying over time.

An operation method 100 performed by the aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention will now be explained in reference to figure 3 presenting a flowchart of its steps.

Initially, it is considered that the aerosol generation assembly 10 is in its connected configuration.

During step 110, a power link PL is established between the cartridge 14 and the aerosol generation device 12.

During step 120, the controller 22 generates a power signal PS transmitted through the power link PL to power the cartridge 14.

During step 125, the device communication module 28 generates device data and encodes said device data into the power signal PS by forming at least a device high- frequency component HF (corresponding to the device data) of the power signal PS.

During step 130, the cartridge communication module 46 receives the device data transmitted via the power link PL and generates cartridge data in response to this device data. In particular, during this step, the cartridge communication module 46 extracts the at least one device high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS corresponding to device data. The cartridge communication module 46 then requests and receives verification data from the memory 44. The cartridge communication module 46 then compares device authentication data with device authentication verification data and generates cartridge data comprising feedback data based on the comparison.

During step 140, the cartridge communication module 46 encodes the cartridge data, that is the feedback data, into the power signal PS by forming at least a cartridge high-frequency component HF (corresponding to the cartridge data) of the power signal PS. Preferably, the cartridge high-frequency component corresponding to the cartridge data is different from the device high-frequency component corresponding to the device data. According to another example, the cartridge high-frequency component and the device high-frequency component present the same component of the power signal PS. In this case, by adding the cartridge high-frequency component HF into the power signal PS, the cartridge communication module 46 replaces the device high-frequency component HF previously presented into the power signal PS.

During step 150, the device communication module 28 extracts from the power signal PS the cartridge high-frequency component HF corresponding to said cartridge data. If the authentication was successful, the device communication module 28 controls the controller 22 so that the controller 22 is in its normal operation mode. If the authentication failed, the device communication module 28 controls the controller 22 so that the controller 22 is in its restricted operation mode.

SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An aerosol generation assembly 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention is described below. The second embodiment of the aerosol generation assembly 10 is similar to the first embodiment except the differences explained below.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, the aerosol generation device 12 further comprises a device memory. The device memory comprises verification data. Said verification data comprises cartridge authentication verification data. Said cartridge authentication verification data is associated to at least a cartridge 14 as described above. The device memory comprises for example different types of cartridge authentication verification data associated to different cartridges 14 of the type described above. According to this second embodiment, the device communication module 28 and the device memory are electrically connected. Upon extraction of a cartridge high-frequency component HF corresponding to cartridge data, in particular corresponding to cartridge authentication data, the device communication module 28 is configured to request and receive verification data from the device memory. Alternatively, the device communication module 28 is configured to request and receive verification data from the device memory upon establishment of the power link PL. The device communication module 28 is further configured to compare the cartridge authentication data with cartridge authentication verification data. When the cartridge authentication data and the cartridge authentication verification data match, the authentication is said to be positive or successful. When the device authentication data and the device authentication verification data mismatch, the authentication is said to be negative or failed.

The cartridge authentication verification data may for example comprises a unique identifier associated to the cartridge 14 as described above or to the type of such cartridge. According to other embodiment of the invention, the memory 44 may comprise said cartridge authentication data as for example a unique identifier of the cartridge.

An operation method 200 performed by the aerosol generation assembly 10 according to the second embodiment of the invention will now be explained in reference to figure 4 presenting a flowchart of its steps.

During step 210, a power link PL is established between the cartridge 14 and the aerosol generation device 12.

During step 220, the controller 22 generates a power signal PS transmitted through the power link PL to power the cartridge 14.

During step 230, the cartridge communication module 46 generates cartridge data. Said cartridge data comprises cartridge authentication data.

During step 240, the cartridge communication module 46 encodes said cartridge data into the power signal PS by forming at least a cartridge high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS. During step 250, the device communication module 28 extracts the at least one cartridge high-frequency component HF of the power signal PS corresponding to cartridge data. The device communication module 28 then requests and receives verification data from the device memory. The device communication module 28 then compares cartridge authentication data with cartridge authentication verification data. If the authentication was successful, the device communication module 28 controls the controller 22 so that the controller 22 is in its normal operation mode. If the authentication was failed, the device communication module 28 controls the controller 22 so that the controller 22 is in its restricted operation mode.

Claims

1. Cartridge (14) for an aerosol generation device (12), comprising a cartridge body (36), the cartridge body (36) comprising:

- a storage portion (38) for storing an aerosol forming precursor;

- a heater (40) configured to heat the aerosol forming precursor to generate aerosol;

- a cartridge power supply (42) configured to connect the heater (40) to the aerosol generation device (12) via a power link (PL) able to transmit a power signal (PS) between the heater (40) and the aerosol generation device (12);

- a cartridge communication module (46) configured to generate cartridge data and to encode this cartridge data into the power signal (PS) transmitted by the power link (PL) by forming a cartridge high-frequency component (HF) of the power signal (PS).

2. Cartridge (14) according to claim 1 , wherein the cartridge data comprises cartridge authentication data.

3. Cartridge (14) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cartridge communication module (46) is further configured to extract from the power signal (PS) a device high- frequency component (HF) corresponding to device data encoded by the aerosol generation device (12) into the power signal (PS) transmitted by the power link (PL).

4. Cartridge (14) according to claim 3, wherein the device data comprises device authentication data and wherein the cartridge communication module (46) is further configured to compare the device authentication data with verification data and generate feedback data based on this comparison; wherein the cartridge data encoded into the power signal (PS) comprises said feedback data.

5. Cartridge (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge communication module (46) is configured to generate said cartridge data upon establishing said power link (PL) or upon receiving device data from the aerosol generation device (12).

6. Cartridge (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the data of the cartridge high-frequency component (HF) and/or the device high-frequency component (HF) of the power signal (PS) are(is) carried by single or multiple frequencies of this component or a spread spectrum of this component.

7. Cartridge (14) according to claim 6, wherein said single or multiple frequencies includes one or more characteristics from a characteristic list comprising temporal correlation fixed over time and temporal correlation varying over time.

8. Cartridge (14) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power signal (PS) further comprises a wave component (W) generated by the aerosol generation device (12) to power the heater (40), the cartridge high-frequency component (HF) and/or the device high-frequency component (HF) being interposed with said wave component (W).

9. Cartridge (14) according to claim 8, wherein said wave component (W) is a pulse- width modulation wave, and the high-frequency component (HF) is present on pulses of the pulse-width modulation wave.

10. Aerosol generation assembly (10) comprising a cartridge (14) according to any one of the preceding claims and an aerosol generation device (12) configured to operate with the cartridge (14), the aerosol generation device (12) comprising a device body (18), the device body (18) comprising:

- a battery (20) configured to generate an electrical current;

- a controller (22) configured to generate a power signal (PS) from the electrical current provided by the battery (20);

- a device power supply (26) configured to connect the controller (22) to the cartridge (14) via a power link (PL) able to transmit the power signal (PS) generated by the controller (22);

- a device communication module (28) configured to extract from the power signal (PS) transmitted by the power link (PL) a cartridge high-frequency component (HF) corresponding to cartridge data generated by the cartridge (14).

11. Aerosol generation assembly (10) according to claim 10, wherein:

- the device communication module (28) is further configured to generate device data and to encode this device data into the power signal (PS) transmitted by the power link (PL) by forming a device high-frequency component (HF) of the power signal (PS) ; and

- the device data signal comprises device authentication data.

12. Aerosol generation assembly (10) according to any one of claims 10 to 11 , wherein:

- the cartridge data comprises cartridge authentication data and/or feedback data;

- the device communication module (28) is further configured to perform an authentication comprising analyzing the cartridge data; and

- the controller (22) is configured to adjust the power signal (PS) based on said authentication.

13. Aerosol generation assembly (10) according to claim 12, wherein:

- before the authentication, the controller (22) is configured to power the cartridge (14) according to a normal operation mode;

- after the authentication, if the authentication failed, the controller (22) is configured to modify the power signal (PS) to power the cartridge (14) according to a restricted operation mode or to cut off the power signal (PS).

14. Aerosol generation assembly (10) according to claim 12, wherein:

- before the authentication, the controller (22) is configured to power the cartridge (14) according to a restricted operation mode;

- after the authentication, if the authentication is successful, the controller (22) is configured to modify the power signal (PS) to power the cartridge (14) according to a normal operation mode.

15. Operation method (100; 200) of an aerosol generation assembly according to any one of claims 10 to 14; the method comprising the following steps:

- establish (110; 210) a power link (PL) between the cartridge (14) and the aerosol generation device (12);

- generate (120; 220) a power signal (PS) that is transmitted in the power link (PL) to power the cartridge (14);

- generate (130; 230) cartridge data;

- encode (140; 240) the cartridge data into the power signal (PS) by forming a cartridge high-frequency component (HF) of the power signal (PS); - extract (150; 250) the cartridge high-frequency component (HF) corresponding to said cartridge data from the power signal (PS).