Flexible circuit board and aerosol generating device

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model discloses a flexible circuit board and an aerosol generating device, and the flexible circuit board comprises a connecting part which is provided with a connecting seat used for being connected with an external circuit; the electrode part comprises a first electrode part and a second electrode part which are insulated from each other, and the first electrode part and the second electrode part are oppositely arranged on the two sides of the connecting part and are connected with the connecting part; the shielding part comprises a first shielding part and a second shielding part, and the first shielding part and the second shielding part are oppositely arranged on the two sides of the connecting part and are both connected with the connecting part; wherein the first electrode part and the second electrode part can be enclosed to form a first cavity, the first shielding part and the second shielding part can be enclosed to form a second cavity, a capacitor is formed between the first electrode part and the second electrode part during enclosing, and the shielding parts surround and shield the electrode parts, so that the shielding part provides shielding for the capacitor. Through the mode, the assembling steps of the electronic equipment can be simplified, and the production efficiency of the electronic equipment can be improved.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This application relates to the field of hardware circuit technology, and in particular to a flexible circuit board and an aerosol generating apparatus having the flexible circuit board. [Background Technology]

[0002] Traditional tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, etc.) produce tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. Existing technologies offer alternatives to these traditional tobacco products by releasing compounds through heating without combustion. Examples of such products include aerosol generating devices. These devices typically include a housing chamber and a heating element. The housing chamber houses the aerosol-generating product used in conjunction with the device. The aerosol-generating product can be solid tobacco or a non-tobacco filler, such as a cigarette. When the aerosol-generating product is housed in the housing chamber, the heating element heats it, causing at least a portion of the active substances in the product to evaporate and generate an aerosol that can be inhaled by the user.

[0003] Such devices are typically designed with an automatic heating function. That is, the aerosol generating device is equipped with a sensing element. When the aerosol generating product is inserted into the aerosol generating device, the sensing element is triggered to generate a sensing signal. The aerosol generating device can then control the heating element to start heating based on this sensing signal.

[0004] Existing technologies utilize capacitors to achieve self-starting heating. When a cigarette is inserted into the receiving chamber, the capacitance of the capacitor changes, automatically starting the heating process. The capacitor typically consists of two thin electrode layers, covered by an insulating layer, and then a shielding layer. The electrode layers and shielding layer are connected to the main board, making the assembly process cumbersome and affecting production efficiency. [Utility Model Content]

[0005] This application provides a flexible circuit board for fabricating capacitors and shielding layers on the same flexible circuit board, simplifying the assembly steps of capacitors and shielding layers and thus improving assembly efficiency.

[0006] At least one embodiment of this application provides a flexible circuit board, comprising:

[0007] The connecting part is provided with a connector for connecting to an external circuit;

[0008] The electrode portion includes a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion that are insulated from each other. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting portion and are both connected to the connecting portion.

[0009] The shielding part includes a first shielding part and a second shielding part, which are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting part and are both connected to the connecting part.

[0010] The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion can be enclosed to form a first chamber, and the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion can be enclosed to form a second chamber. When enclosed, a capacitor is formed between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion. The shielding portion surrounds and blocks the electrode portion, thereby providing shielding for the capacitor.

[0011] In one embodiment, the connection portion includes a first portion extending in a straight line, and the electrode portion and the shield portion are spaced apart along the extension direction of the first portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the connecting portion further includes a second portion that bends and extends from the first portion, and the connecting seat is disposed on the second portion.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first portion and the second portion are perpendicular to each other.

[0014] In one embodiment, the shielding portion is uniformly surrounded by the electrode portion.

[0015] In one embodiment, there is a gap of 0.02 mm to 10 mm between the shielding part and the electrode part.

[0016] In one embodiment, the connector includes a BTB connector.

[0017] In one embodiment, the connector includes a ground pin, and the shield is electrically connected to the ground pin.

[0018] At least one embodiment of this application also provides an aerosol generating apparatus, comprising:

[0019] A chamber for removably receiving aerosol-generated articles;

[0020] A heating element for heating the aerosol-generating article to produce an aerosol;

[0021] The circuit board described in the above embodiments, wherein the capacitor is configured such that its capacitance value changes when the aerosol generating article is contained in or removed from the chamber;

[0022] The controller is configured to control the heating element to start heating based on the change in the capacitance value.

[0023] In one embodiment, a heat insulation member is provided between the shielding part and the electrode part.

[0024] In one embodiment, the insulation element comprises aerogel.

[0025] The flexible circuit board provided in the above embodiments, by providing a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion, as well as a first shielding portion and a second shielding portion on the flexible circuit board, allows the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, as well as the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion, to be relatively enclosed, forming a capacitor between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion. The first shielding portion and the second shielding portion surround and shield the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion, thus shielding the capacitor. Therefore, in this way, a capacitor and a shielding portion for shielding the capacitor can be fabricated on the same flexible circuit board. Then, electrical connection with other components of the electronic device can be made through the same connector of the flexible circuit board, eliminating the need for separate capacitors and shielding portions. This simplifies the assembly steps of the electronic device and improves the production efficiency of the electronic device. [Attached Image Description]

[0026] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the flexible circuit board in its unfolded state according to an embodiment of this application;

[0028] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the flexible circuit board in its enclosed state;

[0029] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the flexible circuit board in another direction;

[0030] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of a flexible circuit board in its enclosed state;

[0031] Figure 5 An embodiment of this application includes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the aerosol generation device for flexible circuit boards;

[0032] Figure 6 Provided for another embodiment of this application, including Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the aerosol generation device for flexible circuit boards.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0033] To facilitate understanding of this application, a more detailed description is provided below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as being "fixed to" or "attached to" another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. When an element is described as being "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element, or one or more intermediate elements may exist between them. The terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and similar expressions used in this specification are for illustrative purposes only.

[0034] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0035] Furthermore, the technical features involved in the different embodiments of this application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0036] In the embodiments of this application, "installation" includes fixing or restricting a component or device to a specific position or place by means of welding, screwing, snapping, bonding, etc. The component or device may remain stationary in the specific position or place or may move within a limited range. After the component or device is fixed or restricted to the specific position or place, it may or may not be disassembled. This application does not impose any restrictions.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0038] One embodiment of this application provides a flexible circuit board 100 for use in electronic devices, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the flexible circuit board 100 includes a connecting part 10, an electrode part 20, and a shielding part 30. The connecting part 10 is provided with a connector 11, which is used to make electrical connections with other components of the electronic device, so that the flexible circuit board 100 can be electrically connected to other components of the electronic device, such as the motherboard of the electronic device.

[0039] The electrode portion 20 includes a first electrode portion 21 and a second electrode portion 22 that are insulated from each other. The shielding portion 30 includes a first shielding portion 31 and a second shielding portion 32. The first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting portion 10. Similarly, the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32 are also arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting portion 10. Due to the flexible circuit board 100's bendable nature, the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 can approach each other to enclose and form a first chamber 23, and the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32 can approach each other to enclose and form a second chamber 33. Furthermore, when enclosed, the shielding portion 30 surrounds and shields the electrode portion 20, such as... Figure 2 As shown.

[0040] The first electrode portion 21 is electrically connected to the positive pin of the connector 11, and the second electrode portion 22 is electrically connected to the negative pin of the connector 11. When the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 enclose each other to form a first chamber 23, the first electrode portion 21, the first electrode portion 22, and the first chamber 23 formed by the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 can form a capacitor. The shielding portion 32 surrounds and blocks the electrode portion 20 to provide shielding for the capacitor. Thus, a capacitance sensor can be set in the electronic device. The capacitance sensor is used to read the capacitance value of the capacitor, and the electronic device can realize the corresponding function according to the change of the capacitance value.

[0041] Specifically, one copper foil area of ​​the flexible circuit board 100 can be used as the first electrode 21, and the other copper foil area can be used as the second electrode 22. When the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 are enclosed, a capacitor can be formed between the two copper foil areas.

[0042] The method provided in this embodiment allows for the fabrication of capacitors and shielding portions 300 on the same flexible circuit board 100. Then, the capacitors can be electrically connected to other components of the electronic device via the same connector 11 of the flexible circuit board 100. This eliminates the need for separate capacitors and shielding portions, simplifying the assembly steps of the electronic device and improving its production efficiency.

[0043] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 and Figure 3As shown, the connecting portion 10 includes a first portion 12 extending in a straight line. The electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30 are spaced apart along the extending direction of the first portion 12. A rotating shaft A can be provided in the space between the electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30. The electrode portion 20 is then rotated about the rotating shaft A in the direction of arrow B, rotating it above the shielding portion 30 and keeping it parallel to it. Finally, the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22, as well as the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32, are rolled up together to form a connection as shown in the diagram. Figure 2 The enclosed state shown.

[0044] It is easy to understand that when the flexible circuit board 100 is in a flat state, the width W1a of the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 is less than or equal to the width W1b of the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32, respectively, while the length L1a of the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 is less than or equal to the width L1b of the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32, respectively. Figure 1 As shown, when the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22, as well as the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32, are enclosed, the shielding portion 30 can surround and block the electrode portion 20 in order to provide shielding for the capacitor.

[0045] Alternatively, in some embodiments, if the flexible circuit board 100 is a double-sided or multi-sided board, the electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30 can be connected to different surfaces, but the electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30 can be arranged in the same position, so that the electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30 are in a stacked state. In this case, the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22, as well as the first shielding portion 31 and the second shielding portion 32, can be directly rolled up together to form a structure similar to... Figure 2 In the enclosed state shown, this method does not require rotating the electrode part 20 first.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, the connecting portion 10 also includes a second portion 13 that extends from the first portion 12 by bending. A connecting seat 11 is disposed on the second portion 13 so that the connecting portion 11 can be electrically connected to other components of the electronic device after the electrode portion 20 and the shielding portion 30 are enclosed. Preferably, the first portion 12 and the second portion 13 are perpendicular to each other.

[0047] And, in some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, in the enclosed state, there is a gap d of 0.02mm to 10mm between the shielding part 30 and the electrode part 20. If the distance is too close, the parasitic capacitance will be too large, which will affect the accuracy of the capacitance sensor reading the capacitance value. If the distance is too far, the shielding effect of the shielding part 30 will be weakened.

[0048] In some embodiments, such as Figure 2 As shown, in the enclosed state, the first chamber 23 formed by the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22, and the second chamber 33 formed by the first shield portion 31 and the second shield portion 32, share a common longitudinal axis L. That is to say, in the enclosed state, the shield portion 30 uniformly surrounds the electrode portion 20, and the gap d between the shield portion 30 and the electrode portion 20 remains equal. This is beneficial for reducing interference to the capacitive sensor and improving the accuracy of the capacitive sensor in reading the capacitance value of the capacitor.

[0049] In some embodiments, the connector 11 employs a BTB connector (Board-to-Board). Since the flexible circuit board 100 is typically used in smaller electronic devices, the BTB connector effectively utilizes the structure and space of both the flexible circuit board 100 and the electronic device, resulting in a more organized internal structure and a more compact overall design. Furthermore, BTB connectors are typically designed to be thin and lightweight, suitable for three-dimensional assembly within limited space, meeting the demands of electronic devices for lightweighting and miniaturization. Additionally, BTB connectors possess strong transmission capabilities, making them suitable for high-density data transmission requirements.

[0050] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1 As shown, both the first shielding part 31 and the second shielding part 32 are electrically connected to the grounding pin on the connector 11. The grounding pin allows the first shielding part 31 and the second shielding part 32 to be electrically connected to the metal casing of the electronic device, thereby improving the shielding effect of the shielding part 30. Specifically, one copper foil area on the flexible circuit board 100 can be electrically connected to the grounding pin on the connector 11, thus setting that copper foil area as the shielding part 33.

[0051] One embodiment of this application also provides an aerosol generating apparatus 200, such as... Figure 5 As shown, the aerosol generating device 200 includes a battery cell 210, a main board 220, and a heating element 230. The main board 220 is equipped with a controller for the aerosol generating device 200. The battery cell 210 and the heating element 230 are electrically connected to the controller, allowing the controller to control the battery cell 210 to supply electrical energy to the heating element 230. The aerosol generating device 200 also includes a longitudinally extending chamber 240, which houses the aerosol generating product 300 used in conjunction with the aerosol generating device 100. The heating element 230 is attached to the outer wall of the chamber 40, thereby heating the aerosol generating product 300 within the chamber 240. The active material filling the aerosol generating product 300 volatilizes upon heating, generating aerosols. The battery cell 210 serves as the power supply for the aerosol generating device 200 and can be either a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery cell.

[0052] The aerosol generating device 200 also includes an air passage 250 connecting the chamber 240 and the external air. When the user inhales on the aerosol generating product 300, the external air enters the chamber 240 through the air passage 250 and further enters the aerosol generating product 300. Then, it carries the aerosols volatilized in the aerosol generating product 300 and escapes along the airflow passage inside the aerosol generating product 300 for the user to inhale.

[0053] The aerosol-generating article 300 preferably uses a tobacco-containing material from which volatile compounds are released upon heating; alternatively, it may be a non-tobacco material suitable for electric heating and smoke generation after heating. The aerosol-generating article 300 preferably uses a solid matrix, which may include one or more of the following: vanilla leaves, tobacco leaves, homogenized tobacco, expanded tobacco, in powder, granules, fragments, strips, or sheets; or, the solid matrix may contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds to be released upon heating of the matrix.

[0054] In some embodiments, the heating element 230 is a mesh resistive heating element covering the outer wall of the chamber 240. The mesh resistive heating element 240 is electrically connected to the main board 220. After the heating element 230 is powered on, it generates heat and transfers the heat to the aerosol generating article 300 in the chamber 240, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 300.

[0055] In such Figure 6 In another embodiment shown, the aerosol generating apparatus 200 can also heat the aerosol generating article 300 using electromagnetic induction heating. The heating element 230 extends at least partially into the chamber 240, and its end extending into the chamber 240 is configured as a pin or plate to facilitate smooth insertion of the heating element 230 into the aerosol generating article 300 for heating. A coil (not shown) is wound around the outer wall of the chamber 240. The controller controls the battery cell 210 to supply alternating current to the coil. Under the action of the alternating current, the coil generates a changing magnetic field. This changing magnetic field penetrates the heating element 230, inducing eddy currents in the heating element 230. The heating element 230 generates heat under the influence of the eddy current effect and the hysteresis effect, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 300.

[0056] The suitable material for the heating element 230 can be any one of graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, stainless steel, niobium, aluminum, nickel, iron, copper, nickel-containing compounds, titanium, and metallic composites. In some embodiments, to better induce eddy currents and improve heating efficiency, the heating element 230 is preferably made of ferromagnetic materials or composed of ferromagnetic materials, such as ferritic iron, ferromagnetic alloys (e.g., ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel), ferromagnetic particles, and ferrite.

[0057] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, when the flexible circuit board 100 is in an enclosed state, the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 can be arranged to wrap around the outer wall of the chamber 240. When the aerosol generating product 300 is housed in the chamber 240, the insulating medium between the first electrode portion 21 and the second electrode portion 22 changes. According to the capacitor formula C = εS / 4πkd (where ε represents the dielectric constant of the dielectric, S represents the area of ​​the two plates facing each other, and d represents the distance between the two plates), the change in the insulating medium will cause the dielectric constant ε to change, which in turn will cause the capacitance value C of the capacitor to change.

[0058] The controller has a preset threshold or threshold range. The main board 220 is equipped with a capacitance sensor for reading the capacitance value of the capacitor. The capacitance sensor is electrically connected to the controller on the main board 220. The capacitance sensor is configured to read the capacitance value of the capacitor at preset intervals and send the read capacitance value to the controller. When the change in capacitance value between any two consecutive intervals meets the threshold or threshold range, the controller determines that an aerosol generating product 300 is contained in the chamber 240. The controller can then control the heating element 230 to start heating, thereby realizing the automatic start heating function of the aerosol generating device.

[0059] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, a heat insulation component 260 is provided between the shielding part 30 and the electrode part 20. The heat insulation component 260 serves two purposes: firstly, it provides insulation to reduce heat loss from the chamber 240; secondly, it ensures that the shielding part 30 and the electrode part 20 maintain a gap of 0.02 mm to 10 mm. Preferably, the heat insulation component 260 can be made of aerogel. Aerogel has extremely low thermal conductivity, typically between 0.01 and 0.03 W / m·K, which makes it excellent in heat insulation. Compared with other traditional insulation materials, aerogel has a lower thermal conductivity, enabling the same insulation effect to be achieved with a thinner thickness, thereby saving space and material usage.

[0060] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them; under the concept of this application, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of this application as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity; although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A flexible circuit board, characterized in that, include: The connecting part is provided with a connector for connecting to an external circuit; The electrode portion includes a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion that are insulated from each other. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting portion and are both connected to the connecting portion. The shielding part includes a first shielding part and a second shielding part, which are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the connecting part and are both connected to the connecting part. The first electrode portion and the second electrode portion can be enclosed to form a first chamber, and the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion can be enclosed to form a second chamber. When enclosed, a capacitor is formed between the first electrode portion and the second electrode portion. The shielding portion surrounds and blocks the electrode portion, thereby providing shielding for the capacitor.

2. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting portion includes a first portion extending in a straight line, and the electrode portion and the shielding portion are spaced apart along the extending direction of the first portion.

3. The flexible circuit board according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connecting portion further includes a second portion that bends and extends from the first portion, and the connecting seat is disposed on the second portion.

4. The flexible circuit board according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first part and the second part are perpendicular.

5. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shielding portion is uniformly surrounding the electrode portion.

6. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that, There is a gap of 0.02 mm to 10 mm between the shielding part and the electrode part.

7. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector includes a BTB connector.

8. The flexible circuit board according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connector includes a grounding pin, and the shield is electrically connected to the grounding pin.

9. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that, include: A chamber for removably receiving aerosol-generated articles; A heating element for heating the aerosol-generating article to produce an aerosol; The circuit board according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the capacitor is configured such that its capacitance value changes when the aerosol generating article is contained in or removed from the chamber; The controller is configured to control the heating element to start heating based on the change in the capacitance value.

10. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that, A heat insulation component is provided between the shielding part and the electrode part.

11. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, The thermal insulation component includes aerogel.

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