Abstract: An aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating article having an indicium arranged on an outer surface thereof and an aerosol-generating device usable with the article. The aerosol-generating device includes a cavity, a heater, and an optical reader system. The cavity has an opening accessible at the outer body part and is configured to receive a consumable article comprising an indicium arranged on the article. The optical reader system includes at least one waveguide that has an incoupling surface, an outcoupling surface, and a detector. The waveguide is configured to illuminate the indicium in the cavity with a light beam and to transmit a reflected light beam provided by the indicium to the detector (30) of the optical reader system. A related method for authenticating a consumable article is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating consumable article comprising at least one indicium containing coded information about the article arranged on a surface of said article. The coded information is implemented in at least one array of readable code elements that are readable upon illumination by an optical magnification reader system, said readable code elements having a density of at least 10 elements per square mm of said indicium. The invention is also related to an aerosol-generating device configured to receive a consumable article. The aerosol-generating device comprises an optical magnification reader system configured to provide an optically magnified image of at least a portion of said indicium on a detector and to read said coded information, to recognize the authenticity of the consumable article.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a flexible substrate; at least one sensor mounted on the flexible substrate arranged to provide an electrical output signal dependent upon a first parameter; and at least one conductive trace provided on the flexible substrate arranged to provide a direct current path to the at least one sensor and having an electrical property dependent upon a second parameter and arranged to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the second parameter.

Abstract: A strain sensor comprising: a stretchable substrate comprising a plurality of layers; non-stretchable magnetic material fastened to at least one of the plurality of layers; and at least one coil of conductive thread wound through the substrate to mechanically interconnect the plurality of layers, wherein at least a portion of the at least one coil of conductive thread is located around at least a portion of the non-stretchable magnetic material.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing radiation is provided. Certain examples provide an apparatus including: a first layer including a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to be responsive to changes in an electric field in the vicinity of the sensor; a second layer including a substrate configured to produce charge carriers in response to incident radiation; and a third layer including a plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to be selectively addressed during a readout operation of the sensor. Certain examples, relate to an apparatus for sensing X-rays or sensing neutrons including a graphene field effect transistor.

Abstract: An apparatus and wearable device comprising an apparatus wherein the wearable device comprises: an actuator arranged to move in a first direction and a second direction in response to an electrical input signal; at least one member, coupled to the actuator and arranged to extend towards the second direction; and wherein the actuator is arranged relative to the at least one member so that displacement of the at least one member caused by movement of the actuator in the first direction is restricted and displacement of the at least one member caused by movement of the actuator in the second direction provides a tactile output.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: a flexible substrate; at least one sensor mounted on the flexible substrate arranged to provide an electrical output signal dependent upon a first parameter; and at least one conductive trace provided on the flexible substrate arranged to provide a direct current path to the at least one sensor and having an electrical property dependent upon a second parameter and arranged to provide an electrical output signal indicative of the second parameter.

Abstract: A charge-carrier Hall-effect sensor comprising: a semiconductor or a semimetal layer; a pair of electric current contacts in electrical contact with the semiconductor or semimetal layer and separated in a first longitudinal direction along a first electric current channel; a pair of voltage contacts in electrical contact with the semiconductor or semimetal layer and separated in a second transverse direction, orthogonal to the first direction, and positioned on either side of the electric current channel; an electrically insulating layer underlying the semiconductor or the semimetal layer; and a ferromagnetic layer underlying the electrically insulating layer comprising at least one region having a magnetic moment with a component perpendicular to a plane comprising the pair of electric current contacts and the pair of voltage contacts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, the method comprising: applying a conductive contact to a subject's skin; positioning an electrode relative to the conductive contact to enable an electrical connection between the subject's skin and the electrode wherein the electrical connection enables a bio-parameter of the subject to be detected; and wherein at least one of the conductive contact and the electrode are magnetised so as to enable a magnetic field from the magnetised at least one conductive contact and/or electrode to align the conductive contact and the electrode.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing radiation is provided. Certain examples provide an apparatus including: a first layer including a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to be responsive to changes in an electric field in the vicinity of the sensor; a second layer including a substrate configured to produce charge carriers in response to incident radiation; and a third layer including a plurality of electrodes, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to be selectively addressed during a readout operation of the sensor. Certain examples, relate to an apparatus for sensing X-rays or sensing neutrons including a graphene field effect transistor.

Abstract: A charge-carrier Hall-effect sensor comprising: a semiconductor or a semimetal layer; a pair of electric current contacts in electrical contact with the semiconductor or semimetal layer and separated in a first longitudinal direction along a first electric current channel; a pair of voltage contacts in electrical contact with the semiconductor or semimetal layer and separated in a second transverse direction, orthogonal to the first direction, and positioned on either side of the electric current channel; an electrically insulating layer underlying the semiconductor or the semimetal layer; and a ferromagnetic layer underlying the electrically insulating layer comprising at least one region having a magnetic moment with a component perpendicular to a plane comprising the pair of electric current contacts and the pair of voltage contacts.