Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article is provided, the electrically operated smoking device including: a heater; a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive the smoking article; a microcontroller; and a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system including an image detector and being connected to the microcontroller, the microcontroller being configured to correlate image data from the image detector with stored image data relating to one or more types of acceptable smoking articles, and the microcontroller being further configured to control power to the heater so that the heater follows a particular temperature profile or power profile, depending on which stored image data most strongly correlates to captured image data. A smoking system including the electrically operated smoking device and a smoking article is also provided.

Abstract: A light emitter module includes a refractory membrane arranged to be heated to a thermal emission temperature such that an emitting surface of the membrane emits radiation in the IR and/or visible spectrum. The radiation is collimated by transmissive optical element adjacent to the emitting surface with a curved exit surface on which an optical filter is deposited. The transmissive optical element may be a planoconvex lens. The disclosure relates also to compound sources with several thermal sources facing an array of micro-lenses with a common plane entry surface on the backside and a plurality of convex surfaces on the forward side, each covered by an optical filter.

Abstract: An IR emitter device includes an IR emitting membrane having a first surface and a second surface, and a mirror facing the first or second surface. The IR emitting membrane is arranged to be heated to an IR emission temperature so that the first and second surfaces radiate IR light at the IR emission temperature. The emissivity of the first and second surfaces is lower than 0.7. At least a portion of the IR emitting membrane includes through holes. Any cross section of said holes in a plane parallel to the first or second surface has a maximum dimension larger than the longest wavelength of the predefined region of the electromagnetic spectrum for which the IR emitter device has been designed. The sum of the areas of the holes is at least 10% of the area of each of the first or second surfaces.

Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article, is provided, including: a housing defining a cavity to at least partially receive the smoking article; a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system positioned on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source and an image detector; and an opaque shield disposed between the light source and the image detector, the opaque shield being configured to prevent light from the light source directly entering the image detector, without first being reflected by the smoking article. A smoking system including the electrically operated smoking device and a smoking article is also provided.

Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article is provided, including: a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive the smoking article; and an image sensor configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the image sensor being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, an image detector, and a plurality of microlenses held in a support structure, the plurality of microlenses being configured to provide a mosaic of inverted images on the image detector. A smoking system is also provided.

Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article is provided, the device including: a housing defining a cavity to at least partially receive the smoking article; and a sensing system to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being positioned on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, a mirror, an imaging lens, and an image detector, the mirror being positioned on an internal surface of the cavity adjacent to the light source and the imaging lens.

Abstract: A thermal emitter device, including a thermal emitting membrane including a surface, wherein the membrane can be heated to a thermal emission temperature so that the surface radiates IR or visible light, wherein the emissivity of the surface is lower than 0.7. A lens includes a surface facing the surface of the membrane, and has a reflectivity normal to the lens surface included in the range 4% to 40%, to partially reflect the radiated IR or visible light, wherein the distance between the lens surface and the surface is equal or lower than L/4, where L is a major length of the membrane. A part of the IR or visible light reflected by the lens is reabsorbed by the membrane, and another part of the IR or visible light reflected by the lens is reflected by the membrane toward the lens, having therefore another chance to go through the lens.

Abstract: A sensor (1) for detection of gas, in particular for detection of CO2. The sensor (1) has a contact face (2) which is directed towards a measuring site. The sensor (1) includes at least one radiation source (3), a measurement volume (4) for receiving the gas to be measured, and at least a first detector (5) for detection of radiation transmitted from the source (3) to the first detector (5) through the measurement volume (4). The sensor has a path (6) of the radiation between radiation source (3) and first detector (5). The radiation propagates along the path in a non-imaging way.

Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article is provided, including: a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive the smoking article; and an image sensor configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the image sensor being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, an image detector, and a plurality of microlenses held in a support structure, the plurality of microlenses being configured to provide a mosaic of inverted images on the image detector. A smoking system is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article, the device including a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive the smoking article; and a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, an image detector, and a plurality of microlenses disposed on the image detector.

Abstract: An electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article is provided, the device including: a housing defining a cavity to at least partially receive the smoking article; and a sensing system to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being positioned on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, a mirror, an imaging lens, and an image detector, the mirror being positioned on an internal surface of the cavity adjacent to the light source and the imaging lens.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article, including a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a smoking article; and a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, a mirror, an imaging lens, and an image detector, the mirror being disposed on an internal surface of the cavity adjacent to the light source and the imaging lens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system including at least one objective lens (2) for receiving light from an object (1), an array of image forming elements (4) for generating multiple images of the object on an image sensor plane (SP) and a filter (F). The optical system is configured to form a real image of the filter on the array of image forming elements to filter the multiple images of the object, the filter being arranged with respect to the at least one objective lens so that a real image of the filter is formed on the array of image forming elements, and wherein the optical system is configured to be telecentric in the image plane of the filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical system including at least one objective lens (2) for receiving light from an object (1), an array of image forming elements (4) for generating multiple images of the object on an image sensor plane (SP) and a filter (F). The optical system is configured to form a real image of the filter on the array of image forming elements to filter the multiple images of the object, the filter being arranged with respect to the at least one objective lens so that a real image of the filter is formed on the array of image forming elements, and wherein the optical system is configured to be telecentric in the image plane of the filter.

Abstract: Optical system including at least one objective lens, an optical filter and an imaging lens or a first aperture array comprising a plurality of aperture elements. The at least one objective lens, the optical filter, and the imaging lens or first aperture array are arranged along an optical axis to form at least one projection of the optical filter on the imaging lens or on the first aperture array. The optical system further includes a filter selection means for selecting filtered electromagnetic radiation to be provided to the imaging lens or the first aperture array.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article, the device including a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive the smoking article; and a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, an image detector, and a plurality of microlenses disposed on the image detector.

Abstract: A sensor (1) for detection of gas, in particular for detection of CO2. The sensor (1) has a contact face (2) which is directed towards a measuring site. The sensor (1) includes at least one radiation source (3), a measurement volume (4) for receiving the gas to be measured, and at least a first detector (5) for detection of radiation transmitted from the source (3) to the first detector (5) through the measurement volume (4). The sensor has a path (6) of the radiation between radiation source (3) and first detector (5). The radiation propagates along the path in a non-imaging way.

Abstract: A sensor (1) for detection of gas, in particular for detection of CO2. The sensor (1) has a contact face (2) which can be directed towards a measuring site. The sensor (1) includes at least one radiation source (3), a measurement volume (4) for receiving the gas to be measured, and at least a first detector (5) for detection of radiation transmitted from the source (3) to the first detector (5) through the measurement volume (4). The sensor has a path (6) of the radiation between radiation source (3) and first detector (5). The radiation propagates along the path in a non-imaging way.

Abstract: There is provided an electrically operated smoking device configured to receive a smoking article, including a housing defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a smoking article; and a sensing system configured to detect indicia on the smoking article, the sensing system being disposed on a periphery of the cavity and including a light source, a mirror, an imaging lens, and an image detector, the mirror being disposed on an internal surface of the cavity adjacent to the light source and the imaging lens.

Abstract: The disclosure concerns an infrared emitter is provided comprising a metalized membrane emitting infrared light in operation. The membrane comprises a two dimensional array of infrared wavelength sized through-holes and to each side a thin metal layer comprising also an array of through-holes. The through-holes are arranged as a two-dimensional periodic array and each of said through-holes have a cross section having a maximum and a minimum dimension of less than any wavelength of the emitted infrared light. The peak wavelength of the emitted infrared light is proportional to the periodicity of the through-holes. At least one of the metal layers is connected to an electrical current source that provides an electrical current that heats at least one of the metal layers so that a narrow bandwidth and highly directive light beam of infrared light is emitted. The membrane is arranged on a membrane support and both are made of a material that resists to temperatures higher than 400°.