Aerosol generating device
By combining a light guide and a beam focusing lens, efficient and controllable heating of the aerosol generating device is achieved, solving the problems of uneven heating and insufficient compactness, and improving the user experience and the flavor performance of tobacco products.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- JAPAN TOBACCO INT CORP
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-01
AI Technical Summary
Existing aerosol generating devices suffer from low energy efficiency, uneven heating, and insufficient device compactness during the heating-non-combustion process, which affects user experience and the taste performance of tobacco products.
The system employs a combination of light guide and beam focusing lens. The light guide focuses the beam into a linear light ray, which precisely heats the aerosol to generate a matrix. An auxiliary heater is used to improve the heating uniformity and efficiency.
It improves the energy efficiency and heating controllability of the aerosol generating device, avoids damage to surrounding parts, enhances the flavor performance of the aerosol, and achieves a compact device.
Smart Images
Figure CN121969263A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Aerosol generating device Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of aerosol generating apparatus. The aerosol generating apparatus is configured to receive a consumable article to be heated, for example, resistively or inductively, to generate an inhalable aerosol. The consumable article may include an aerosol precursor material, which is any of a liquid, gel, or solid and may or may not contain tobacco. Background Technology
[0002] Aerosol generating devices are alternatives to conventional cigarettes. Instead of producing inhalable smoke by burning aerosol-generating materials (such as tobacco), aerosol generating devices produce inhalable aerosols by the user heating, without burning, an aerosol precursor material comprising an aerosol-forming agent component. Aerosol generating devices are handheld inhaler devices with a housing housing the working parts. The housing of the aerosol generating device may be elongated for easy gripping. Aerosol generating device typically includes a housing for at least a portion or all of the consumable article, a heating unit, and a power supply unit (such as a battery). Vaporization is achieved when the heating unit heats the consumable article to form an aerosol that can be inhaled through the mouthpiece section or directly through the article.
[0003] There is a need to improve the energy efficiency of aerosol generating devices by reducing heat dissipation and to increase the controllability of the "heat-not-burn" process. It is also necessary to provide uniform heating of tobacco products to enhance flavor or the overall user experience. Furthermore, there is a need to seek compact heating devices to meet user expectations. Summary of the Invention
[0004] This disclosure provides improvements to aerosol generating apparatuses known in the art, which will be discussed in more detail later.
[0005] According to one aspect, an aerosol generating apparatus for generating aerosols from an aerosol generating matrix is provided, the aerosol generating apparatus comprising:
[0006] - A chamber for containing at least a portion or completely containing an article comprising the aerosol-generating matrix.
[0007] - A heater configured to heat the aerosol-generating matrix when it is present in the chamber to generate the aerosol, the heater including an optical mechanism comprising a light-emitting element to generate a light beam configured to generate heat.
[0008] The heater further includes a light guide comprising a body through which the light beam passes, and the light guide is configured to direct the light beam onto the aerosol generating matrix when the light beam is present in the chamber.
[0009] Using a light guide in conjunction with an optical mechanism provides better control over the light beam, which is focused into a linear beam for precise and controlled heating without combustion. The beam is essentially focused on the aerosol-generating matrix, thus improving efficiency due to less heat dissipation.
[0010] In addition, the use of light guides allows heat to be confined to a very small area, which avoids heating and damaging the surrounding parts of the aerosol generating device.
[0011] The following features can be implemented individually or in combination with each other:
[0012] The heater may include a beam focusing lens configured to converge a beam of light generated by a light-emitting element into a light guide.
[0013] Lenses can allow a wider beam of light to be focused into the light guide, thus increasing the efficiency of light transmission into the aerosol-generating matrix.
[0014] The focusing lens can be a different part from the light-emitting element. It can be an additional part of the light-emitting element or an additional part of the light guide.
[0015] The light guide and the cavity can be aligned along the assembly axis.
[0016] The body of the light guide may have an elongated portion extending along the assembly axis, preferably having a circular cross-section, and the cavity may include an elongated shape extending along the assembly axis.
[0017] The light guide may include a bottom portion surrounding a beam focusing lens. For example, the beam focusing lens may be dome-shaped. The bottom portion of the light guide may include a complementary dome-shaped surface surrounding the beam focusing lens.
[0018] A beam-focusing lens can extend between the light-emitting element and the light guide. The light guide can extend between the beam-focusing lens and the cavity.
[0019] The body of the light guide may include a polymer. The polymer may be selected from the group consisting of thermoplastics, thermosetting materials, or elastomers. The polymer may be a transparent polymer.
[0020] The light guide may include a reflective coating applied to at least a portion of the outer wall of the body. This reflective coating preferably comprises an aluminum-plated surface.
[0021] The body of the light guide may include an elongated portion, which includes a top portion that forms a cover that overlaps with the elongated portion and has a curved edge that extends in a straight line with the elongated portion.
[0022] The chamber may include a bottom portion with an opening. The top portion of the body may extend through the opening within the bottom portion of the chamber.
[0023] The light guide can be fastened to the optical mechanism, preferably using high-temperature silicone adhesive. Other adhesives can also be used.
[0024] The aerosol generating apparatus may include an auxiliary heater configured to heat the aerosol generating matrix. The auxiliary heater may externally surround at least a portion or completely surround the chamber. The auxiliary heater may include an auxiliary heating element selected from the group consisting of resistance heating elements, induction heating elements, and piezoelectric heating elements, preferably resistance heating elements.
[0025] The light-emitting element can be a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).
[0026] VCSELs (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers) can, for example, have a divergence angle of approximately + / - 20°. Using combined lenses and light guides allows for more efficient energy transfer to the aerosol generation matrix. This, in turn, allows for the integration of smaller energy storage systems and increases the compactness of the aerosol generation device.
[0027] In other embodiments, the light-emitting element may be a topological cavity surface-emitting laser (TCSEL).
[0028] In other embodiments, the light-emitting element may be a light-emitting diode, preferably emitting infrared light. Infrared LEDs (“light-emitting diodes”) can be more divergent than VCSELs.
[0029] Typically, for the purposes of this invention and according to possible embodiments, the chamber and the light guide can be arranged such that at least a portion of the article is housed within the chamber in an operating position suitable for operation of the device together with the article, in which the light guide does not penetrate any segment of the article. In other words, according to possible embodiments, the relative positions of the aerosol-generating article and the light guide can such that the light guide is arranged outside the aerosol-generating article, i.e., the light guide does not extend within the article when the article is in the operating position. In particular, the light guide does not penetrate the article in the operating position, and / or any portion of the light guide is not surrounded by any portion of the article in the operating position. For example, this ensures that the article can be easily inserted into the chamber without excessive resistance due to friction between the article and the light guide. Alternatively, the relative positions can such that the chamber and the light guide can be arranged such that the light guide acts as a stop for inserting the article into the chamber up to the operating position, preferably having corresponding abutment surfaces of the article and the light guide perpendicular to the insertion direction for effective entry of the article into the chamber.
[0030] In another respect, in conjunction with the foregoing, this disclosure further relates to an aerosol generation system comprising an article and an aerosol generation device as described above, the article comprising an aerosol generation matrix at least partially or completely contained in a chamber.
[0031] The article of an aerosol generation system may be a rod. The aerosol generation matrix may include compressed tobacco or reconstituted tobacco.
[0032] Advantageously, the article, chamber, and light guide in the aerosol generation system can be positioned in one of the relative positions indicated above. Attached Figure Description
[0033] Other features, details, and advantages will be shown in the following detailed description and in the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0034] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a longitudinal cross-section of the aerosol generating device according to the example.
[0035] Figure 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an example of an aerosol generating device to be assembled along assembly axis A.
[0036] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the aerosol generating device in Figure 2 after assembly.
[0037] Figure 4 is a partial schematic diagram of the longitudinal cross-section of the aerosol generation system according to the example.
[0038] Figure 5 is an independent schematic perspective view of the light guide of the aerosol generating device according to the example.
[0039] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the longitudinal cross-section of the light guide of the aerosol generating device according to the example. Detailed Implementation
[0040] The aspects set forth below represent the information necessary to enable those skilled in the art to implement this disclosure. In different figures, the same reference numerals correspond to the same elements. These elements may be described in only one or more figures, but they apply to all figures unless otherwise stated.
[0041] In the following description, when referring to terms that define absolute position, such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” etc., or relative position, such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” etc., or qualifiers of orientation, such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” etc., unless otherwise stated, refer to the accompanying drawings or the orientation of the aerosol generating device with an intake pipe at the top.
[0042] Referring now to Figure 1, which illustrates an aerosol generating device 1. The aerosol generating device 1 includes a housing 11, such as a plastic or metal casing designed to house an energy storage device 12. The housing 11 can be designed to be as compact as possible and can have a comfortable grip shape. The energy storage device 12 may include, for example, a battery, the size of which is determined to provide sufficient energy to the aerosol generating device 1.
[0043] The housing 11 may have an intake conduit 13. This intake conduit 13 may be configured to allow an article of matter to be introduced into the aerosol generating device during use. The intake conduit 13 may include, for example, a protruding tubular portion, or, as shown herein, a simple orifice in the housing 11 through which the article of matter may be introduced, as will be explained below.
[0044] In the example shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may also have an assembly 15 of elements stacked along the assembly axis A as seen in the figure. Such an assembly can provide optimal compactness and efficiency.
[0045] In this example, component 15 may include, from bottom to top: a heater 4 including a light-emitting element 51; a focusing lens 7; a light guide 8; and a chamber 9 above the heater 4 for receiving an article 2 comprising an aerosol-generating matrix 3, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A suction conduit 13 may be aligned with component 15. In this example, chamber 9 has an elongated shape extending along assembly axis A. According to possible embodiments, such as shown in Figure 4 and disclosed in more detail below, the article 2 comprising the aerosol-generating matrix 3 is partially received in chamber 9, the article having at least a portion protruding outside the device, thus allowing the user to directly inhale the aerosol from the portion of the article protruding outside the device. However, embodiments in which the article 2 is completely received within chamber 9 are not excluded. In this case, the device is preferably provided with a suction nozzle communicating with the chamber 9 containing the article, thereby allowing the user to inhale the aerosol.
[0046] The general function of the aerosol generating device 1 is as follows and is shown in Figure 4: A light beam 6 is emitted from the light-emitting element 51 and focused by the focusing lens 7 toward the light guide 8. The light guide 8 is configured to guide the light beam 6 into the chamber 9 with maximum efficiency in order to heat the aerosol generating matrix 3 of the article 2 and generate an aerosol inhaled by the user.
[0047] In this example, as shown in Figure 1, the energy storage device 12 is elongated and extends parallel to component 15 and parallel to the assembly axis A. In another example, the energy storage device 12 may be aligned with component 15 and extend along the assembly axis 1, for example, below the light-emitting element 51.
[0048] Figure 2 shows the aerosol generating device 1 in more detail. The chamber 9 may include a peripheral wall 99 defining the internal space, which may be cylindrical. The chamber 9 may include an open upper end 96. The chamber 9 is designed to contain an article 2, which includes an aerosol generating matrix 3.
[0049] The chamber 9 can be connected to the suction conduit 13 via the upper end 96, such that an airflow generated by the user's inhalation can pass through the chamber 9 and be discharged through the suction conduit 13 and the article 2. The suction conduit 13 and the upper end 96 can be further configured, for example, to allow the article 2 to at least partially enter the interior space of the chamber 9 when the used aerosol generating matrix is refilled.
[0050] Article 2 includes an aerosol-generating matrix 3, which can be in liquid or solid form, for example, made from compressed or reconstituted tobacco. Article 2 can be a rod, which may be referred to as a heated non-combustible rod (HTS) as shown in Figures 2 and 4, or a parallelepiped box or another shape. Chamber 9 can be designed to contain one or more types of aerosol-generating matrices. In the example shown, chamber 9 is in the shape of a hollow rod to accommodate the rod-shaped article 2.
[0051] Heater 4 is configured to heat the aerosol generating matrix 3 in order to generate aerosols when the aerosol generating matrix 3 is present in chamber 9. The heating process of the aerosol generating matrix 3 is a heating-non-combustion process.
[0052] Heater 4 includes an optical mechanism 5 comprising a light-emitting element 51, thereby generating a light beam 6 configured to generate heat. The light-emitting element 51 may include an infrared LED (light-emitting diode), or an EEL (edge-emitting laser), or a VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser), or a TCSEL (topological-cavity surface-emitting laser), or any other type of light-emitting element known to those skilled in the art. In this example, the light-emitting element 51 comprises a VCSEL. The use of a VCSEL may be advantageous because it is efficient and has a more efficient manufacturing process that allows for mass production at minimal cost.
[0053] The aerosol generating device 1 may further include a printed circuit board (PCB) connected to the energy storage device 12 and adapted to control the light-emitting element 51. The PCB can be operated via a button or any other type of user interface typically present on the housing 11 and designed to receive commands from the user of the aerosol generating device 1.
[0054] The beam focusing lens 7 is configured to converge the light beam 6 generated by the light-emitting element 51 into the light guide 8. Therefore, it allows a wider spectrum of light beams to be transmitted to the light guide. The light guide 8 is designed to allow the light beam 6 to pass through, thereby guiding the light beam 6 onto the aerosol generating matrix 3 when the aerosol generating matrix 3 is present in the chamber 9, in a manner that maximizes the amount of energy transmitted to the aerosol generating matrix 3.
[0055] For this purpose, the light guide 8 is configured to be through which the light beam 6 passes. In the example shown in Figure 4, the light guide 8 includes a body 81 through which the light beam 6 passes. In another example (not shown), the light guide 8 may include an open hollow channel extending along the assembly axis A to guide the light beam 6. This can allow for improved compactness.
[0056] In the example of Figure 4, an aerosol generation system 10 including an aerosol generation device and article 2 is partially shown. The body 81 of the light guide 8 includes an elongated portion having a circular cross-section in this example. The body 81 has an outer wall 86. The body 81 includes a bottom portion 84 surrounding a beam focusing lens 7 within the elongated portion. In this example, the beam focusing lens 7 has a convex external shape 71 facing the light guide 8. As in this example, the external shape 71 can be dome-shaped. Still in this example, as shown in Figure 6, the bottom portion 84 of the light guide 8 includes a recess 85. The recess 85 can, as in this example, include complementary dome-shaped surfaces that are concave towards the beam focusing lens 7 and adapted to surround the beam focusing lens 7. In this way, the bottom portion 84 of the light guide 8 can be stacked on the beam focusing lens 7. The cooperation between the two complementary dome-shaped surfaces can optimize the amount of light guided into the light guide 8 for effectiveness. In other embodiments, the recess 85 of the bottom portion 84 of the light guide 8 and the outer shape 71 of the beam focusing lens 7 may include complementary surfaces of any shape, such as conical or cylindrical. One of the complementary surfaces may be concave and the other may be convex so that one fits into the other.
[0057] The recess 85 of the bottom portion 84 of the light guide 8 and the outer shape 71 of the focusing lens 7 may include complementary surfaces that are rotatable about the assembly axis A. The two complementary surfaces may be coaxial about the assembly axis A. In another example, the recess 85 and the outer shape 71 do not have complementary shapes.
[0058] The beam focusing lens 7 advantageously extends between the light-emitting element 51 and the light guide 8. The light guide 8 preferably extends between the beam focusing lens 7 and the chamber 9. As shown, for example, in Figure 3, this stackable configuration provides optimal compactness for the device. The beam 6 is directly guided and focused onto the aerosol generating matrix 3.
[0059] The light guide 8 includes a reflective coating 82 applied to at least a portion of the outer wall 86 of the body 81. In an embodiment, the reflective coating 82 includes an aluminum-plated surface. The reflective coating 82 can be configured to confine the light beam 6 within the outer wall 86 of the light guide 8, thereby preventing light from escaping from its volume.
[0060] Therefore, as shown in FIG4, the light beam 6 is emitted from the light-emitting element 51 and reflected by the outer wall 86 of the body 81 having a reflective coating 82. Thus, the light beam 6 is confined within the boundary of the light guide 8 to be guided toward the cavity 9.
[0061] For the operating position of article 2 in chamber 9, as shown, for example, in FIG. 4, the bottom end of article 2 is separated from the top portion 87 of light guide 8 (see FIG. 6). It is possible that the bottom end of article 2 may abut against the top portion 87 of light guide 8, but preferably the light guide does not extend through the end surface of article 2 at the top portion 87. When article 2 is in this operating position relative to device 1, light beam 6 heats the aerosol generating matrix of article 2, which is suitable for generating an aerosol to be inhaled by the user of the device.
[0062] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate more detailed information regarding an example of the light guide 8. For example, an elongated portion of the body 81 extends along the assembly axis A. This elongated portion is used to guide the light beam 6. In this embodiment, the elongated portion also includes a circular cross-section. In other embodiments, the cross-section of the light guide 8 may be elliptical, polygonal, or have another shape. In an example where the light-emitting element 51, the beam focusing lens 7, and the light guide 8 form a stackable configuration, the light guide 8 may, for example, include an elongated shape extending along the stacking direction of the configuration, for example, along the assembly axis A. The assembly axis A may pass through the light-emitting element 51, the focusing lens 7, and the light guide 8. Furthermore, the assembly axis A may pass through the chamber 9 and the intake conduit 13. The chamber 9 may include an elongated shape extending in a direction parallel to the assembly axis A.
[0063] The light guide 8 may include a body 81 that includes an elongated portion extending along the assembly axis A, and the cavity 9 may include an elongated shape extending in a direction parallel to the assembly axis A. In an embodiment, both the light guide 8 and the cavity 9 may include elongated shapes that extend along the assembly axis A, and are thus aligned sequentially one after another along the assembly axis A.
[0064] In embodiments including the focusing lens 7, the focusing lens 7, the light guide 8, and the chamber 9 can be aligned along the assembly axis A.
[0065] In another example, the focusing lens 7, the light guide 8, and the cavity 9 each have a generally rotational shape about the assembly axis A (which is obtained by rotating the profile about the axis). The focusing lens 7, the light guide 8, and the cavity 9 are therefore coaxial along the assembly axis A.
[0066] The body 81 of the light guide 8 may include a polymer, preferably a transparent polymer, so that the light beam can pass through the body.
[0067] The body 81 may include a hollow portion, such as a channel, which extends from the bottom of the elongated portion through the elongated portion to the top of the light guide 8 to allow the light beam 6 to pass through.
[0068] In this example, the body 81 includes a top portion 87 that forms a cap that overlaps with the elongated portion and has a convex curved edge 83 extending in a straight line with the elongated portion. The curved edge 83 forms a radius, particularly visible in Figure 5, which helps to focus the beam of light inside the chamber 9 onto the aerosol-generating matrix 3. This focused beam 6 allows for more localized heating, which in some cases can prevent burning of surrounding portions. In this example, the article 2 may include paper surrounding the rod-shaped aerosol-generating matrix 3, and the curved edge 83 prevents the beam from burning the surrounding paper, which would produce an unpleasant burning smell for the user.
[0069] In this example, the top portion 87 may include a flat portion 88 located at the center of the top portion 87. When the body 81 has an elongated shape extending along the assembly axis A, the flat portion 88 may be perpendicular to the assembly axis A. The curved edge 83 may connect the elongated portion of the body 81 to the flat portion 88 by forming a radius, as shown in particular in Figures 5 and 6.
[0070] As shown in Figure 2, the chamber 9 may include a receiver 94, which is open at, for example, the upper end 96, and is designed to contain the aerosol generating matrix 3. For example, if the article 2 is a rod, as shown, the receiver 94 may have a cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the article 2 to prevent the aerosol generating matrix 3 from moving within it.
[0071] The chamber 9 may further include a bottom cup holder 91 and a top cup holder 92, which are configured to secure the receiver 94 to a structural portion 14 of the device. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bottom cup holder 91 and the top cup holder 92 are used to secure the receiver 94 to the structural portion 14, which itself is secured to the housing 11 of the aerosol generating device 1. The chamber 9 may further include a top seal 93, which is configured to prevent leakage of air and / or moisture from the intake conduit 13 inside the housing 11. The top seal 93 may extend, for example, between the top cup holder 92 and the housing 11. The top seal may be made of any material that allows for a sealing function, such as rubber or an elastomer.
[0072] Structural portion 14 may include a structural body 141 that is elongated along the assembly axis A. Additional structural portion 14 may include first fastening portions configured to cooperate with second fastening portions of the housing 11 of the aerosol generating device 1. Structural portion 14 may include a plurality of third fastening portions configured to hold the chamber 9, for example, by holding the bottom cup holder 91 and the top cup holder 92, and to hold the light guide 8, and / or the light mechanism 5. The plurality of third fastening portions may be configured to align the light guide 8 and the chamber 9 along the assembly axis A.
[0073] As shown in Figure 3, the bottom cup holder 91 may include a hollow cylindrical body 911 extending, for example, along the assembly axis A, having two open longitudinal ends 912. The cylindrical body 911 may include a plurality of tabs 913 extending circumferentially and longitudinally in a direction parallel to the assembly axis A. The tabs 913 may be arranged regularly around the receiver 94, for example, to hold the receiver. The hollow cylindrical body 911 may be configured to allow a light guide 8 to pass through. The hollow cylindrical body 911 may also be configured to maintain the light guide 8 in alignment with the assembly axis A by inserting the light guide 8 through the hollow cylindrical body 911 of the bottom cup holder 91. The hollow cylindrical body 911 may include first fastening portions 914 configured to cooperate with complementary second fastening portions 142 of the structural portion 14.
[0074] The chamber 9 may include a transparent portion or a bottom portion 97 having an aperture 98, which is configured to allow a focused beam 6 to penetrate the chamber 9 to heat the aerosol-generating matrix 3. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the light guide 8 penetrates into the chamber 9 through the aperture 98 at the bottom portion 97 of the chamber 9, the aperture being arranged, for example, in the bottom of the receiver 94 and / or the bottom cup holder 91, in this example in both the bottom of the receiver 94 and the bottom cup holder 91. In this case, as shown, the top portion 87 of the body 81 may extend through the aperture 98 within the bottom portion 97 of the chamber 9. When the light guide 8 and the chamber 9 are coaxial along the assembly axis A, heating therefore operates at the bottom of the chamber 9 and can propagate in an upward manner to more consistently heat the aerosol-generating matrix 3.
[0075] Advantageously, the bottom portion 97 of chamber 9 includes an aperture 98 that allows not only light but also air to pass through. For example, housing 11 may include an air inlet to allow some air to enter from the outside when the user inhales. The air inlet may be an orifice or at least one slot arranged in the housing (not shown). Air can then pass through the opening at the bottom portion 97 of chamber 9 to fill itself with aerosol and generate an airflow through the inhalation conduit 13 to the user's mouth. In an example where the bottom portion 97 of chamber 9 does not include an aperture 98 but includes a transparent portion configured only to allow light to pass through, at least one opening may be arranged in another wall of chamber 9, such as in a side wall, or in the case of a circular cross-section of an elongated chamber, in the case of a peripheral wall 99 of chamber 9.
[0076] The light mechanism 5 may include a light-emitting element 51 and a support plate 52, which is arranged, for example, in the example specifically shown in FIG3, extending substantially perpendicular to the assembly axis A. A light guide 8 may be fastened to the light mechanism 5 via a surface of at least a portion of the plane of the support plate 52 (e.g., the upper surface of the support plate 52). In an embodiment, the light guide 8 may be fixed to the light mechanism 5 with high-temperature silicone adhesive to withstand the high operating temperature of the device. In another example, the light guide 8 may be fastened in a different manner. For example, the light guide 8 may be held at a distance from the light mechanism 5 by means of fastening devices of structural portion 14, or may include any other fastening solution known to those skilled in the art.
[0077] The PCB can be fastened to the PCB support wall 53, for example. The PCB support wall 53 can be made of the same material as the support plate 52.
[0078] In the example shown in Figure 4, in addition to heater 4 (including light mechanism 5), the aerosol generating apparatus may further include an auxiliary heater 95 configured to heat the aerosol generating matrix 3. This auxiliary heater 95 can prove effective in helping to perform more consistent heating of the aerosol generating matrix 3. For energy efficiency, the auxiliary heater 95 may be arranged close to the chamber 9; for example, the auxiliary heater may at least partially or completely surround the peripheral wall 99 defining the chamber 9 externally. The auxiliary heater 95 may include an auxiliary heating element selected from the group consisting of resistance heating elements, induction heating elements, and piezoelectric heating elements. In a preferred example, the auxiliary heating element 95 includes a resistance heating element.
[0079] In the example using auxiliary heater 95, the auxiliary heater can be connected to the PCB and energy storage device 12, and can be controlled independently or in cooperation with the light mechanism 5 of heater 4.
[0080] List of reference numerals
[0081] - 1: Aerosol Generating Device
[0082] - 2: Products
[0083] - 3: Aerosol generation matrix
[0084] - 4: Heater
[0085] - 5: Optical Mechanism
[0086] - 6: Beam
[0087] - 7: Focusing Lens
[0088] - 8: Optical Guide
[0089] - 9: Chamber
[0090] - 10: Aerosol Generation System
[0091] - 11: Outer shell
[0092] - 12: Energy Storage Devices
[0093] - 13: Inhalation Tube
[0094] - 14: Structural Part
[0095] - 51: Light-emitting element
[0096] - 52: Support plate
[0097] - 53: Supporting wall
[0098] - 71: External shape
[0099] - 81: Ontology
[0100] - 82: Reflective coating
[0101] - 83: Curved edge
[0102] - 84: Bottom section
[0103] - 85: Concave
[0104] - 86: Outer wall
[0105] - 87: Top section
[0106] - 88: Flat section
[0107] - 91: Bottom Cup Holder
[0108] - 92: Top Cup Holder
[0109] - 93: Top Seal
[0110] - 94: Received item
[0111] - 95: Auxiliary heater
[0112] - 96: Top
[0113] - 97: Bottom section
[0114] - 98: Kong
[0115] - 99: Zhoubi
[0116] - 141: Structural Ontology
[0117] - 142: Second fastening part
[0118] - 911: Cylindrical body
[0119] - 912: Open End
[0120] - 913: [Unclear text - possibly a typo]
[0121] - 914: First fastening part
[0122] - A: Assembly axis
[0123] - PCB: Printed Circuit Board.
Claims
1. An aerosol generating apparatus (1) for generating aerosols from an aerosol generating matrix (3), the aerosol generating apparatus comprising: - Chamber (9), which is used to contain at least a portion or completely contain the article (2) including the aerosol generating matrix (3), - Heater (4), which is configured to heat the aerosol generating matrix (3) when it is present in the chamber (9) in order to generate the aerosol, the heater (4) including a light mechanism (5) including a light-emitting element (51) to generate a light beam (6) configured to generate heat, the heater (4) further including a light guide (8) including a body (81) through which the light beam (6) passes, the light guide (8) being configured to guide the light beam (6) onto the aerosol generating matrix (3) when the light beam (6) is present in the chamber (9).
2. The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The heater (4) further includes a beam focusing lens (7) configured to focus the light beam (6) generated by the light-emitting element (51) into the light guide (8).
3. The aerosol generating device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The light guide (8) and the chamber (9) are aligned along the assembly axis (A).
4. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The body (81) of the light guide (8) has an elongated portion, preferably having a circular cross-section, extending along the assembly axis (A), and wherein the chamber (9) includes an elongated shape extending along the assembly axis (A).
5. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in conjunction with claim 2, wherein, The light guide (8) includes a bottom portion surrounding the beam focusing lens (7), preferably the beam focusing lens (7) is dome-shaped, and the bottom portion of the light guide (8) includes a complementary dome-shaped surface surrounding the beam focusing lens (7).
6. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims in conjunction with claim 2, wherein, The beam focusing lens (7) extends between the light-emitting element (51) and the light guide (8), and the light guide (8) extends between the beam focusing lens (7) and the chamber (9).
7. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The body (81) of the light guide (8) comprises a polymer, preferably a transparent polymer.
8. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The light guide (8) includes a reflective coating (82) applied to at least a portion of the outer wall (86) of the body (81), wherein the reflective coating (82) preferably includes an aluminum-plated surface.
9. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The body (81) includes an elongated portion, which includes a top portion (87) that forms a cover that overlaps with the elongated portion and has a curved edge (83) that extends in a straight line with the elongated portion.
10. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The chamber (9) includes a bottom portion (97) having a hole (98), and wherein the top portion (87) of the body (81) extends through the hole (98) in the bottom portion (97) of the chamber (9).
11. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The light guide (8) is fastened to the light mechanism (5), preferably with high-temperature silicone sealant.
12. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims includes an auxiliary heater (95) configured to heat the aerosol generating matrix (3), the auxiliary heater (95) surrounding at least a portion or completely surrounding the chamber (9) externally, and preferably includes an auxiliary heating element (95) selected from the group consisting of resistance heating elements, induction heating elements and piezoelectric heating elements, preferably resistance heating elements.
13. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The light-emitting element (51) is a vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL).
14. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The light-emitting element (51) is a topological cavity surface-emitting laser (TCSEL).
15. The aerosol generating apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The light-emitting element (51) is a light-emitting diode, which preferably emits infrared light.
16. An aerosol generation system (10) comprising an article (2) and an aerosol generation device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, the article comprising an aerosol generation matrix (3) at least partially or completely contained in the chamber (9).
17. The aerosol generation system (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein, The article (2) is a rod, and the aerosol generating matrix (3) preferably comprises compressed tobacco or reconstituted tobacco.