Aerosol supply device

Abstract

We provide an aerosol supply device. [Solution] The aerosol supply device 100 comprises an aerosol generator having one or more heating regions 110 for receiving at least a portion of an article 10 comprising an aerosol generating material 11; a magnetic field generator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field; and an AC voltage supply source configured to supply an AC voltage to the magnetic field generator at a frequency f1, wherein f1 < 500 kHz.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device, an aerosol supply system, and a method for generating an aerosol.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars generate tobacco smoke by burning the tobacco during use. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these articles by creating products that release compounds without burning. Examples of such products include so-called "non-combustion heating type" products, or tobacco heating devices or tobacco heating products, which release compounds by heating rather than burning the material. This material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

[0003] Aerosol supply systems incorporating the aforementioned devices or products are known. A typical system uses a heater to generate an aerosol from a suitable medium, which is then inhaled by the user. In many cases, it is necessary to replace or change the medium used in order to supply and inhale different aerosols. It is known to use an induction heating system as a heater to generate an aerosol from a suitable medium. An induction heating system generally consists of a magnetic field generating device for generating a varying magnetic field and a susceptor or heating material that can be heated by the penetration of the varying magnetic field to heat a suitable medium.

[0004] One problem with conventional configurations is that there can be switching losses.

[0005] Another problem with conventional configurations is the use of relatively high frequencies in the induction heating system. Multistrand wires configured for use at these high frequencies are relatively expensive. In addition to the cost, the relatively high expense means that, commercially, the induction heating system cannot be incorporated into consumables.

[0006] There is a need to provide an improved aerosol supply device. [Overview of the Initiative]

[0007] According to one aspect, an aerosol generator having one or more heating regions for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol generating material, A magnetic field generator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field, An AC voltage source configured to supply an AC voltage to a magnetic field generator at frequency f1, wherein f1 < 500 kHz, and An aerosol supply device is provided that includes the following.

[0008] Aerosol supply devices in various embodiments can reduce switching losses compared to conventional configurations. Furthermore, by operating in the AC frequency range below 500 kHz, a magnetic field generator that can incorporate an induction coil with multi-strand wires can be manufactured at a lower cost compared to conventional induction coils. In fact, the cost can be reduced to the point where the induction coil with multi-strand wires can be incorporated into an article containing aerosol generating material, or provided as part of another consumable.

[0009] Optionally, the magnetic field generator may comprise one or more inductor coils.

[0010] Optionally, one or more inductor coils may comprise one or more multi-strand wires, such as LITZ® wire.

[0011] Optionally, one or more multistrand wires may contain multiple strands, the thickness of each strand being thinner than the skin depth of the strand at frequency f1.

[0012] Optionally, the aerosol supply device may further comprise one or more susceptors.

[0013] Optionally, the magnetic field generator is configured to cause heating in one or more susceptors.

[0014] Optionally, one or more susceptors include (i) nickel, (ii) steel, (iii) a body having a nickel coating, optionally having a nickel coating thickness less than 5 μm, (iv) a mild steel sheet, optionally having a mild steel sheet with a thickness less than 50 μm, or (v) aluminum foil.

[0015] Optionally, frequency f1 is selected from the group including (i) < 50 kHz, (ii) 50 ~ 100 kHz, (iii) 100 ~ 150 kHz, (iv) 150 ~ 200 kHz, (v) 200 ~ 250 kHz, (vi) 250 ~ 300 kHz, (vii) 300 ~ 350 kHz, (viii) 350 ~ 400 kHz, (ix) 400 ~ 450 kHz, and (x) 450 ~ 500 kHz.

[0016] According to another embodiment, The aerosol supply device described above, Articles comprising aerosol-generating materials and An aerosol supply system is provided that includes the following features.

[0017] The article may optionally further comprise one or more susceptors.

[0018] Optionally, one or more susceptors include (i) nickel, (ii) steel, (iii) a body having a nickel coating, optionally having a nickel coating thickness less than 5 μm, (iv) a mild steel sheet, optionally having a mild steel sheet with a thickness less than 50 μm, or (v) aluminum foil.

[0019] Optionally, the article further comprises one or more inductor coils.

[0020] Optionally, one or more inductor coils comprise one or more multi-strand wires.

[0021] Optionally, one or more multi-strand wires include a plurality of strands, and the thickness of each strand is thinner than the skin depth of the strand at a frequency f1.

[0022] According to another aspect, an aerosol supply device comprising an aerosol generator having one or more heating regions for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol-generating material, an article comprising an aerosol-generating material and further comprising a magnetic field generator, is provided an aerosol supply system further comprising an alternating voltage supply source configured to supply an alternating voltage to the magnetic field generator at a frequency f1, where f1 < 500 kHz.

[0023] Optionally, the magnetic field generator comprises one or more inductor coils.

[0024] Optionally, one or more inductor coils comprise one or more multi-strand wires.

[0025] Optionally, one or more multi-strand wires include a plurality of strands, and the thickness of each strand is thinner than the skin depth of the strand at a frequency f1.

[0026] Optionally, the aerosol supply device further comprises one or more susceptors.

[0027] Optionally, the article further comprises one or more susceptors.

[0028] Optionally, the magnetic field generator is configured to cause heating in one or more susceptors.

[0029] Optionally, one or more susceptors include (i) nickel, (ii) steel, (iii) a body having a nickel coating, optionally having a nickel coating thickness less than 5 μm, (iv) a mild steel sheet, optionally having a mild steel sheet with a thickness less than 50 μm, or (v) aluminum foil.

[0030] Optionally, frequency f1 is selected from the group including (i) < 50 kHz, (ii) 50 ~ 100 kHz, (iii) 100 ~ 150 kHz, (iv) 150 ~ 200 kHz, (v) 200 ~ 250 kHz, (vi) 250 ~ 300 kHz, (vii) 300 ~ 350 kHz, (viii) 350 ~ 400 kHz, (ix) 400 ~ 450 kHz, and (x) 450 ~ 500 kHz.

[0031] According to another embodiment, A step of providing one or more heating regions for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol-generating material, A step of generating a time-varying magnetic field using a magnetic field generator, A step of supplying an AC voltage to a magnetic field generator at frequency f1, wherein f1 < 500 kHz, and A method for generating an aerosol, including [a specific component], is provided. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0032] Next, various embodiments will be described as mere examples, with reference to the attached drawings. [Figure 1] This is a schematic side view of an example of an aerosol supply system. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of a method for heating aerosol-generating materials. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows another example of a method for heating aerosol-generating materials. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the inductor component of the aerosol supply device in the system. [Figure 5]Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the inductor in the inductor configuration. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is a side view of a multistrand wire with several strands exposed, and Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view of the multistrand wire. [Figure 7] Figure 7A is a plan view of the planar aerosol generator, Figure 7B is an end view of the aerosol generator showing that multiple susceptors are embedded in the aerosol generator, and Figure 7C is a side view of the aerosol generator showing that multiple susceptors are embedded in the aerosol generator. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0033] [Detailed explanation] As used herein, the term “aerosolizable material,” also called an aerosolizing material, includes materials that, when heated, typically release volatile components in the form of vapor or aerosol. “Aerosolizable material” may or may not contain tobacco. “Aerosolizable material” may include, for example, one or more of the following: tobacco itself, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, recycled tobacco, tobacco extracts, homogenized tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. “Aerosolizable material” may be in the form of ground tobacco, loose rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, recycled tobacco, recycled aerosolizable material, liquid, gel, solid, gelled sheet, powder, beads, granules, or lumps. “Aerosolizable material” may also include other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine depending on the product. “Aerosolizable material” may include one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

[0034] A susceptor is a material that can be heated by the penetration of a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The heating material may be a conductive material, and as a result, the heating material is inductively heated by the penetration of the fluctuating magnetic field. The heating material may also be a magnetic material, and as a result, the heating material is heated by magnetic hysteresis by the penetration of the fluctuating magnetic field. The heating material may be both conductive and magnetic, and as a result, the heating material can be heated by both heating mechanisms.

[0035] Induction heating is the process by which a conductive object is heated by allowing a fluctuating magnetic field to penetrate it. This process is described by Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction and Ohm's law. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device for passing a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to be heated are positioned in appropriate relative positions so that the fluctuating magnetic field generated by the electromagnet penetrates the object, one or more eddy currents are generated within the object. The object has resistance to the flow of current. Therefore, once such eddy currents are generated within the object, they flow against the object's electrical resistance, thereby heating the object. This process is called Joule heating, Ohmian heating, or resistance heating.

[0036] In one example, the susceptor is in a closed-circuit configuration. It has been found that when the susceptor is in a closed-circuit configuration, the magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnet during use becomes stronger, resulting in increased or improved Joule heating.

[0037] Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of a magnetic material is heated when a fluctuating magnetic field penetrates it. Magnetic materials can be thought of as containing many atomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic field penetrates such a material, the magnetic dipoles align along the magnetic field. Therefore, when a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field generated by an electromagnet, penetrates a magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changes along with the applied fluctuating magnetic field. This change in the orientation of the magnetic dipoles generates heat within the magnetic material.

[0038] When an object is both conductive and magnetic, introducing a fluctuating magnetic field into it can induce both Joule heating and magnetic hysteresis heating. Furthermore, using magnetic materials can strengthen the magnetic field, thereby intensifying the Joule heating.

[0039] In each of the above processes, heat is generated within the object itself rather than by heat conduction from an external heat source. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the material and geometry of the object, as well as the magnitude and direction of the fluctuating magnetic field relative to the object, a rapid temperature rise and a more uniform heat distribution within the object can be achieved. Furthermore, in induction heating and magnetic hysteresis heating, there is no need to physically connect the fluctuating magnetic field source to the object, which increases design flexibility and controllability of the heating profile, while also reducing costs.

[0040] The alternating current used to generate such fluctuating magnetic fields and currents is affected by the so-called "skin effect" at high frequencies. Such alternating currents in conductors primarily flow along the surface of the material, and the current density decreases exponentially with distance from the surface. This is the well-known "skin depth" equation.

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[0041] As the area of ​​a wire carrying current decreases, the effective resistance of the wire increases, leading to increased energy loss (known as "AC loss"). This can result in a decrease in the efficiency of a fluctuating magnetic field generator. Since the skin depth decreases with frequency, this energy loss increases as the frequency increases.

[0042] In induction heating systems, a similar effect occurs in the susceptor, where the induced current density decreases with distance from the susceptor surface. Therefore, by using a high-frequency magnetic field to reduce the skin depth of the susceptor, the current in the surface region of the susceptor increases, thereby enabling faster and more efficient heating.

[0043] According to various embodiments, the frequency f1 of the magnetic field generator may be less than 500 kHz. While this may reduce the heating efficiency of the susceptor, the applicants have found various advantages to operating at lower frequencies. In particular, as discussed above, at lower frequencies the skin depth of the induction coil becomes shallower, and therefore the AC losses of the inductor are reduced.

[0044] The inductor may include multi-strand wires such as Litz® wire. In such wires, current flows through multiple strands, each strand being insulated from the others. Each strand is thinner than the skin depth of the conductor, which can reduce AC losses due to the skin effect.

[0045] When using multi-strand wire, it is particularly beneficial to use frequencies below 500 kHz. By operating at low frequencies, the thickness of the strands in the multi-strand wire can be increased, and the number of strands can be reduced. Therefore, this multi-strand wire can be manufactured at a lower cost and have improved mechanical properties compared to multi-strand wire configured to operate at high frequencies.

[0046] According to one configuration, an aerosol supply device is disclosed comprising one or more heating regions for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol-generating material; a magnetic field generator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field; and an AC voltage source configured to supply an AC voltage to the magnetic field generator at a frequency f1, wherein f1 < 500 kHz. According to various embodiments, the frequency f1 may be selected from the group including (i) < 50 kHz, (ii) 50 to 100 kHz, (iii) 100 to 150 kHz, (iv) 150 to 200 kHz, (v) 200 to 250 kHz, (vi) 250 to 300 kHz, (vii) 300 to 350 kHz, (viii) 350 to 400 kHz, (ix) 400 to 450 kHz, and (x) 450 to 500 kHz.

[0047] Referring to Figure 1, a schematic cross-sectional side view of an example of an aerosol supply system 1 is shown. System 1 comprises an aerosol supply device 100 and an article 10 comprising an aerosol generating material 11. The aerosol generating material 11 may be, for example, any type of aerosol generating material discussed herein. In this example, the aerosol supply device 100 is a tobacco heating product (also known in the art as a tobacco heating device or non-combustion heating device).

[0048] In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 is a non-liquid material. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 is a gel. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 contains tobacco. However, in other examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 may consist of tobacco, may consist substantially entirely of tobacco, may contain tobacco and a non-tobacco aerosol-generating material, may contain a non-tobacco aerosol-generating material, or may not contain tobacco. In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 may contain vapor or aerosol-forming agents or humectants (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol). In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 contains recycled aerosol-generating material such as recycled tobacco.

[0049] In some examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 is substantially cylindrical with a substantially circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis. In other examples, the aerosol-generating material 11 may have a different cross-sectional shape and / or may not be elongated.

[0050] The axial length of the aerosol-generating material 11 of article 10 may be, for example, 8 mm to 120 mm. For example, the axial length of the aerosol-generating material 11 may be longer than 9 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, or 20 mm. For example, the axial length of the aerosol-generating material 11 may be shorter than 100 mm, 75 mm, 50 mm, or 40 mm.

[0051] In some examples, such as the one shown in Figure 1, the article 10 includes a filter assembly 12 for filtering aerosols or vapors released from the aerosol-generating material 11 during use. Alternatively, or in addition to this, the filter assembly 12 may be for controlling the pressure drop along the length of the article 10. The filter assembly 12 may comprise one or more filters. The filter assembly 12 may be of any type used in the tobacco industry. For example, the filter may be made of cellulose acetate. In some examples, the filter assembly 12 is substantially cylindrical with a substantially circular cross-section and a longitudinal axis. In other examples, the filter assembly 12 may have a different cross-sectional shape and / or may not be elongated.

[0052] In some examples, the filter component 12 abuts against the longitudinal end of the aerosol-generating material 11. In other examples, the filter component 12 may be spaced apart from the aerosol-generating material 11 by gaps and / or one or more further components of the article 10. In some examples, the filter component 12 may contain an additive or fragrance source (such as a capsule or thread containing the additive or fragrance), which may be held, for example, by the body of the filter material or between two bodies of the filter material.

[0053] Article 10 may also include a wrapper (not shown) that is wrapped around the aerosol-generating material 11 and the filter component 12 to hold the filter component 12 relative to the aerosol-generating material 11. The wrapper may be wrapped around the aerosol-generating material 11 and the filter component 12 such that the free ends of the wrapper overlap each other. The wrapper may form part or all of the circumferential outer surface of Article 10. The wrapper can be made from any suitable material, such as paper, cardboard, or recycled aerosol-generating material (e.g., recycled cigarettes). The paper may be chip paper, which is known in the art. The wrapper may also include an adhesive (not shown) that helps to bond the overlapping free ends of the wrapper together to prevent the overlapping free ends from separating. In other examples, the adhesive may be omitted, or the wrapper may take a different form than that described. In other examples, the filter component 12 may be held relative to the aerosol-generating material 11 by a connector other than the wrapper, such as an adhesive. In some examples, the filter component 12 may be omitted.

[0054] The aerosol supply device 100 comprises a heating region 110 for receiving at least a portion of an article 10, an outlet 120 through which, when in use, the aerosol can be delivered from the heating region 110 to the user, and a heating device 130 for generating the aerosol by heating the article 10 when the article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating region 110. In some examples, such as that shown in Figure 1, the aerosol can be delivered from the heating region 110 to the user through the article 10 itself, rather than through any gaps adjacent to the article 10. Nevertheless, in such examples, the aerosol still passes through the outlet 120 even while moving within the article 10.

[0055] The aerosol supply device 100 may define at least one air inlet (not shown) that fluidly connects the heating region 110 to the outside of the aerosol supply device 100. The user can aspirate volatile components(s) of the aerosol-generating material by sucking them out of the heating region 110 through the article 10. Once the volatile components(s) are removed from the heating region 110 and the article 10, air can be drawn into the heating region 110 through the air inlet(s) of the aerosol supply device 100.

[0056] In this example, the heating region 110 extends along axis AA and is sized and shaped to accommodate only a portion of the article 10. In this example, axis AA is the central axis of the heating region 110. Furthermore, in this example, the heating region 110 is elongated, and therefore axis AA is the longitudinal axis AA of the heating region 110. The article 10 is at least partially insertable into the heating region 110 through the outlet 120 and protrudes from the heating region 110 through the outlet 120 when in use. In other examples, the heating region 110 may or may not be elongated and may be sized to accommodate the entire article 10. In some such examples, the aerosol supply device 100 may be positioned to cover the outlet 120 and may include a mouthpiece through which aerosol can be drawn from the heating region 110 and the article 10.

[0057] In this example, once the article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating region 110, the different portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 are located at different positions 111 to 115 within the heating region 110. In this example, these positions 111 to 115 are at different axial positions along the axis AA of the heating region 110. Furthermore, in this example, since the heating region 110 is elongated, the positions 111 to 115 can be considered to be at different positions spaced longitudinally along the length of the heating region 110. In this example, the article 10 can be considered to include five such portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11, located at the first position 111, the second position 112, the third position 113, the fourth position 114, and the fifth position 115, respectively. More specifically, the second position 112 is fluidly positioned between the first position 111 and the outlet 120, the third position 113 is fluidly positioned between the second position 112 and the outlet 120, the fourth position 114 is fluidly positioned between the third position 113 and the outlet 120, and the fifth position 115 is fluidly positioned between the fourth position 114 and the outlet 120.

[0058] The heating device 130 comprises a plurality of heating units 140a to 140e, each of which can heat one of each of the portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize its components when the article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating area 110. The plurality of heating units 140a to 140e may be axially aligned with each other along axis AA. The length of each of the portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 that can be heated in this manner in the direction of axis AA may be 1 mm to 20 mm, for example, 2 mm to 10 mm, 3 mm to 8 mm, or 4 mm to 6 mm.

[0059] The heating device 130 in this example comprises five heating units 140a to 140e, namely the first heating unit 140a, the second heating unit 140b, the third heating unit 140c, the fourth heating unit 140d, and the fifth heating unit 140e. The heating units 140a to 140e are located at different axial positions along the axis AA of the heating region 110. Furthermore, in this example, since the heating region 110 is elongated, the heating units 140a to 140e can be considered to be located at different positions spaced longitudinally along the length of the heating region 110. More specifically, the second heating unit 140b is located between the first heating unit 140a and the outlet 120, the third heating unit 140c is located between the second heating unit 140b and the outlet 120, the fourth heating unit 140d is located between the third heating unit 140c and the outlet 120, and the fifth heating unit 140e is located between the fourth heating unit 140d and the outlet 120. In other examples, the heating device 130 may have more heating units than the five heating units 140a-140e, or fewer than five heating units, such as only four, only three, only two, or only one. The number of portions(s) of the aerosol-generating material 11 that can be heated by each heating unit(s) may vary accordingly.

[0060] The heating device 130 also includes a controller 135 configured to operate heating units 140a to 140e to heat each portion 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 during use. In this example, the controller 135 is configured to operate the heating units 140a to 140e independently of each other, so that each portion 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 can be heated independently. This may be desirable for progressive heating of the aerosol-generating material 11 during use. Furthermore, in examples where portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 have different forms or characteristics, such as different tobacco mixtures and / or different applied or inherent flavors, the ability to heat portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 independently allows for heating of selected portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 at different times during a usage session, thereby generating aerosols with predetermined characteristics that depend on time. In some examples, the heating device 130 may also be able to operate in one or more modes configured such that the controller 135 operates two or more heating units from heating units 140a to 140e simultaneously during a session of use, such as all heating units from heating units 140a to 140e.

[0061] In this example, the heating units 140a to 140e each comprise an induction heating unit configured to generate a fluctuating magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. Thus, the heating device 130 can be considered to comprise a magnetic field generator, and the controller 135 can be considered to comprise a device capable of operating to supply a fluctuating current to the inductors 150 of each heating unit 140a to 140e. Furthermore, in this example, the aerosol supply device 100 comprises a susceptor 190 configured to heat the heating region 110 and the articles 10 within it when in use, by being heatable by the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field. That is, these parts of the susceptor 190 heat the respective parts 11a to 11e of the aerosol generating material 11 at the respective positions 111 to 115 of the heating region 110, by being heatable by the intrusion of a respective fluctuating magnetic field.

[0062] In some examples, the susceptor 190 is made of aluminum or contains aluminum. However, in other examples, the susceptor 190 may contain one or more materials selected from the group consisting of conductive materials, magnetic materials, and magnetic conductive materials. In some examples, the susceptor 190 may contain metal or a metal alloy. In some examples, the susceptor 190 may contain one or more materials selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, steel, ordinary carbon steel, mild steel, stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, molybdenum, silicon carbide, copper, and bronze. Other materials may be used in other examples.

[0063] In some cases, such as when the susceptor 190 is made of iron, for example, steel (e.g., mild steel or stainless steel) or aluminum, the susceptor 190 may include a coating that helps prevent corrosion or oxidation of the susceptor 190 during use. Such coatings may include, for example, nickel plating, gold plating, or ceramic or inert polymer coatings.

[0064] In this example, the susceptor 190 is tubular and surrounds the heating region 110. In fact, in this example, the inner surface of the susceptor 190 partially defines the extent of the heating region 110. The inner cross-sectional shape of the susceptor 190 may be circular, or a different shape such as elliptical, polygonal, or irregular. In other examples, the susceptor 190 may take a different form, such as a non-tubular structure that still partially surrounds the heating region 110, or a protruding structure such as a rod, pin, or blade that penetrates the heating region 110. In some examples, the susceptor 190 may be replaced by multiple susceptors, each of which is heated by the intrusion of one of the fluctuating magnetic fields, thereby heating one of the respective portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11. Each of the multiple susceptors may be tubular, or, for example, one of the other forms of the susceptor 190 discussed herein. In further examples, the aerosol supply device 100 may not have a susceptor 190, and the article 10 may heat each portion 11a-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 by providing one or more susceptors that can be heated by the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field. Each of the one or more susceptors of the article 10 may take any suitable form, such as a structure wrapped around the aerosol-generating material 11 or otherwise surrounding the aerosol-generating material 11 (e.g., a metal foil such as aluminum foil), a structure placed within the aerosol-generating material 11, or a group of particles or other elements mixed with the aerosol-generating material 11. In examples where the aerosol supply device 100 does not have a susceptor 190, the susceptor 190 may be replaced by a heat-resistant tube that partially defines the range of the heating region 110. Such a heat-resistant tube may be made of, for example, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or a ceramic material.

[0065] In this example, the heating device 130 includes a power supply (not shown) and a user interface (not shown) for the user to operate the device. In this example, the power supply is a rechargeable battery. In other examples, the power supply may be something other than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a battery-capacitor hybrid, or a connection to a commercial power supply.

[0066] In this example, the controller 135 is electrically connected between the power supply and the heating units 140a to 140e. In this example, the controller 135 is also electrically connected to the power supply. More specifically, in this example, the controller 135 controls the supply of power from the power supply to the heating units 140a to 140e. In this example, the controller 135 comprises an integrated circuit (IC) such as a printed circuit board (PCB). In other examples, the controller 135 may take a different form. In this example, the controller 135 is operated by the user operating a user interface. The user interface may comprise push buttons, toggle switches, dials, or touchscreens. In other examples, the user interface may be remote and wirelessly connected to the rest of the aerosol supply device 100 by Bluetooth® or the like.

[0067] In this example, the user operates the user interface, causing the controller 135 to cause alternating current to flow through at least one inductor 150 in each of the heating units 140a to 140e. This causes the inductor 150 to generate an alternating magnetic field. The inductor 150 and the susceptor 190 are positioned in an appropriate relative position so that the fluctuating magnetic field generated by the inductor 150 penetrates the susceptor 190. When the susceptor 190 is conductive, this penetration generates one or more eddy currents within the susceptor 190. The flow of eddy currents within the susceptor 190 against its electrical resistance causes the susceptor 190 to heat up by Joule heating. When the susceptor 190 is magnetic, the orientation of the susceptor 190's magnetic dipole changes with the applied magnetic field, thereby generating heat within the susceptor 190.

[0068] The aerosol supply device 100 may also include a secondary coil (not shown) which can function as a sensing coil for detecting the induced fluctuating current through the secondary coil when a fluctuating current is applied to at least one inductor 150 of each heating unit 140a-140e, so as controlled by the controller 135. Each inductor 150 of each heating unit 140a-140e may have its own secondary coil. In this example, when the controller 135 applies a fluctuating current to at least one inductor 150 of each heating unit 140a-140e, the inductor 150 generates an alternating magnetic field. The alternating magnetic field induces a fluctuating current in the secondary coil by generating eddy currents in the secondary coil. The secondary coil may be located, for example, above or below the inductor 150 in a plane parallel to the inductor 150.

[0069] In other examples where there are two or more inductors 150, the secondary coil may be positioned between these inductors 150 so that both inductors 150 induce a fluctuating current through the secondary coil. However, in other examples where each of the heating units 140a to 140e has two or more of each inductor 150, there may be a secondary coil for each inductor 150 so that each inductor 150 induces a fluctuating current in its respective secondary coil.

[0070] The current induced in the secondary coil generates a corresponding voltage across the secondary coil, which can be measured by the controller 135 and is proportional to the current flowing through the inductor 150. This means that the controller 135 can record the voltage across the secondary coil as a function of the device's driving frequency. Based on this measurement, the controller 135 can calculate the temperature of the heating chamber 110, the susceptor 190, or the article 10, respectively. The controller 135 can then adjust, as necessary, the characteristics of the fluctuating current or alternating current applied to the inductor 150 of at least one heating unit 140a to 140e in order to ensure that the temperature of the heating chamber 110, the susceptor 190, or the article 10 remains within a predetermined temperature range. These characteristics can be, for example, amplitude, frequency, or duty cycle.

[0071] In some examples, the secondary coil may be a coil of wire or a track on a PCB. In some examples, the secondary coil may contain one or more of nickel, steel, iron, and cobalt.

[0072] The aerosol supply device 100 may include a temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the heating chamber 110, the susceptor 190, or the article 10. The temperature sensor may be communicatively connected to the controller 135, so that the controller 135 can monitor the temperature of the heating chamber 110, the susceptor 190, or the article 10, respectively, based on the information output by the temperature sensor. In other examples, the temperature may be detected and monitored by measuring the electrical characteristics of the system, for example, the change in current in the heating units 140a to 140e. Based on one or more signals received from the temperature sensor, the controller 135 may adjust the characteristics of the fluctuating current or alternating current as needed to ensure that the temperature of the heating chamber 110, the susceptor 190, or the article 10 remains within a predetermined temperature range, respectively. This characteristic may be, for example, amplitude, frequency, or duty cycle. Within a predetermined temperature range, the aerosol-generating material 11 in the article 10 placed in the heating chamber 110 is heated sufficiently during use to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material 11 without burning it. Therefore, the controller 135 and the aerosol supply device 100 as a whole are configured to heat the aerosol-generating material 11 to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material 11 without burning it. This temperature range may be approximately 50°C to 350°C, such as approximately 100°C to 300°C, or approximately 150°C to 280°C. In other examples, the temperature range may be outside these ranges. In some examples, the upper limit of the temperature range can be higher than 350°C. In some examples, the temperature sensor may be omitted.

[0073] The respective configurations of heating units 140a to 140e will be discussed further below with reference to Figures 2 and 3. However, it is noteworthy at this stage that the magnitude or range of the fluctuating magnetic field measured in the direction of axis AA is relatively small, and as a result, the portion of the susceptor 190 into which the fluctuating magnetic field penetrates during use is correspondingly small.

[0074] Therefore, it is desirable that the susceptor 190 has sufficient thermal conductivity to increase the proportion of the susceptor 190 that is heated by thermal conduction as a result of the intrusion of a fluctuating magnetic field, and consequently increase the proportion of the aerosol-generating material 11 that is heated by the operation of each of the heating units 140a to 140e accordingly. It has been found that it is desirable to provide a susceptor 190 having a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W / m / K, optionally at least 50 W / m / K, and optionally at least 100 W / m / K. In this example, the susceptor 190 is made of aluminum and has a thermal conductivity of 200 W / m / K or more, such as 200 to 250 W / m / K, for example, about 205 W / m / K or 237 W / m / K. As described above, the length of each portion 11a to 11e of the aerosol generating material 11 in the direction of axis AA may be 1 to 20 millimeters, for example, 2 millimeters to 10 millimeters, 3 millimeters to 8 millimeters, or 4 millimeters to 6 millimeters.

[0075] In this example, the heating device 130 is configured to heat the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 before or faster than heating the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 during the heating session. More specifically, the controller 135 is configured to operate the first and second heating units 140a, 140b so that the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 is heated before or faster than heating the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 during the heating session. Thus, during the heating session, the position to which thermal energy is applied to the aerosol-generating material 11 of the article 10 is initially at a position relatively fluidly distanced from the outlet 120 and the user, and then that position moves toward the outlet 120. This offers the advantage that during the heating session, the aerosol is generated from a continuous "fresh" portion of the aerosol-generating material 11, which can provide the user with a sensory-satisfying experience that may be more similar to smoking a conventional, flammable, factory-made cigarette.

[0076] Furthermore, in some examples, the controller 135 is configured to shut off the power supply to the first heating unit 140a for at least part (or all) of the period during which the controller 135 is configured to operate the second heating unit 140b. This offers the further advantage that the aerosol generated in a given portion of the aerosol-generating material 11 does not need to pass through another portion of the aerosol-generating material 11 that was previously heated (which could adversely affect the aerosol).

[0077] In some examples where the heating device 130 has three or more heating units, such as the example shown in Figure 1, the heating device 130 may also be configured to heat at least one further portion 11b-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the further portions 11b-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 before or faster than heating the even further portions 11c-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 that are fluidly closer to the outlet 120, during the heating session. That is, the controller 135 may be configured to appropriately operate the heating units so that at least one further portion 11b-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 is heated before or faster than heating the even further portions 11c-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11. For example, in the device shown in Figure 1, the heating device 130 may be configured to (i) heat the second portion 11b of the aerosol generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the second portion 11b of the aerosol generating material 11 before or earlier than heating the third portion 11c of the aerosol generating material 11; (ii) heat the third portion 11c of the aerosol generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the third portion 11c of the aerosol generating material 11 before or earlier than heating the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol generating material 11; and (iii) heat the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol generating material 11 before or earlier than heating the fifth portion 11e of the aerosol generating material 11.

[0078] It will be understood that the greater the number of heating units and associated aerosol-generating material 11 portions relative to a given duration of the heating session, the greater the opportunity to generate aerosols from "fresh" or unused portions of the aerosol-generating material 11 extending along a given axial length. Alternatively, the heating session may be longer if the number of heating units and associated aerosol-generating material 11 portions is greater relative to a given duration of heating each portion of the aerosol-generating material 11. It should be understood that the overall heating session can be adjusted (e.g., shortened) by adjusting (e.g., shortening) the duration for which individual heating units can operate, and at the same time, the operating temperature can be reached more quickly by adjusting (e.g., increasing) the power supplied to the heating elements. A balance can be struck between the number of heating units (which may determine the number of "fresh puffs"), the overall session length, and the achievable power supply (which may be determined by the characteristics of the power supply).

[0079] Referring to Figure 2, a flowchart is shown illustrating an example of a method for heating an aerosol-generating material during a heating session using an aerosol supply device. The aerosol supply device used in Method 200 comprises a heating region for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising the aerosol-generating material, an outlet through which, during use, the aerosol can be delivered from the heating region to the user, and a heating device for generating an aerosol by heating the article when the article is at least partially placed within the heating region. The aerosol supply device may be, for example, the one shown in Figure 1, or any appropriate variation thereof discussed herein.

[0080] Method 200 includes step 210 of heating the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 of article 10 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11, before or earlier than step 220 of heating the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 of article 10 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11, when article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating area 110, wherein the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 is fluidly positioned between the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 and the outlet 120.

[0081] From the teachings of this specification, it will be understood that, as discussed above, the heating device 130 can also be appropriately configured to include a step of heating at least one further portion 11b-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the further portions 11b-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 before, or sooner than, heating the further portions 11c-11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 that are fluidly closer to the outlet 120.

[0082] Referring to Figure 3, a flowchart is shown illustrating another example of a method for heating an aerosol-generating material during a heating session using an aerosol supply device. The aerosol supply device used in Method 300 comprises a heating region for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol-generating material, an outlet through which, during use, an aerosol can be delivered from the heating region to a user, and a heating device for generating an aerosol by heating the article when the article is at least partially placed within the heating region. The heating device comprises a first heating unit, a second heating unit, a third heating unit, and a controller configured to operate the first, second, and third heating units. The aerosol supply device may be, for example, the one shown in Figure 1, or any appropriate variation thereof discussed herein.

[0083] Method 300 involves the controller 135 independently controlling the first, second, and third heating units 140a, 140b, and 140c when the article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating area 110, causing the first heating unit 140a to heat the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 of the article 10 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 (for example, before or faster than the second portion 11b), and the second heating unit 140b to heat the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 of the article 10 (for example, before or faster than the third portion 11c). The process includes the steps of heating the aerosol-generating material 11 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the second portion 11b (faster) and heating the aerosol-generating material 11 of article 10 to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the components of the third portion 11c (aerosol-generating material 11) in a third heating unit 140c, wherein the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 is fluidly positioned between the first portion 11a of the aerosol-generating material 11 and the outlet 120, and the third portion 11c of the aerosol-generating material 11 is fluidly positioned between the second portion 11b of the aerosol-generating material 11 and the outlet 120.

[0084] When the aerosol supply device used in Method 300 is equipped with sufficient heating units, it will be understood from the teachings herein that Method 300 can be appropriately configured to include a heating device 130 in which the fourth and fifth heating units 140d, 140e are also controlled independently of each other when the article 10 is at least partially placed within the heating area 110, such that the fourth heating unit 140d is heated to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol-generating material 11 of the article 10, and the fifth heating unit 140e is heated to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize the fifth portion 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 of the article 10, and the components of the fifth portion 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11. Here, the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol generating material 11 is fluidly positioned between the third portion 11c of the aerosol generating material 11 and the outlet 120, and the fifth portion 11e of the aerosol generating material 11 is fluidly positioned between the fourth portion 11d of the aerosol generating material 11 and the outlet 120.

[0085] Next, one of the heating units 140a to 140e of the heating device 130 will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 4 and 5. These figures are a schematic cross-sectional side view of the inductor assembly 150 of the heating unit and a schematic perspective view of the inductor 160 of the inductor assembly 150, respectively.

[0086] The inductor assembly 150 comprises an electrically insulating support 172 and an inductor 160. The support 172 has a first side 172a and a second side 172b on opposite sides, and portions 162 and 164 of the inductor 160 are located on the first and second sides 172a and 172b, respectively, of the support 172.

[0087] More specifically, the inductor 160 comprises a conductive element 160. The element 160 comprises a conductive, non-spiral first portion 162 that coincides with a first plane P1, and a conductive, non-spiral second portion 164 that coincides with a second plane P2 spaced apart from the first plane P1. In this example, the second plane P2 is parallel to the first plane P1, but this is not required in other examples. For example, the second plane P2 may be at an angle of 20 degrees or less, or 10 degrees or less, or 5 degrees or less with respect to the first plane P1. The inductor 160 also comprises a first conductive connector 163 that electrically connects the first portion 162 to the second portion 164. The first portion 162 is on the first side 172a of the support 172, and the second portion 164 is on the second side 172b of the support 172. The conductive connector 163 penetrates the support 172 from the first side surface 172a to the second side surface 172b. The conductive connector 163 may have a structure in which the surface of the through hole provided in the support 172 is plated (for example, copper plated).

[0088] The support 172 can be made from any suitable electrical insulating material(s). In some examples, the support 172 comprises a matrix (such as epoxy resin, with optionally added fillers such as ceramics) and a reinforcing structure (such as glass fiber or woven or nonwoven fabrics like paper).

[0089] Inductor 160 can be made from any suitable conductive material(s). In some examples, inductor 160 is made of copper.

[0090] In some examples, the inductor assembly 150 includes or is formed from a PCB. In such examples, the support 172 is a non-conductive substrate of the PCB, which can be formed from a material such as FR-4 glass epoxy or cotton paper impregnated with phenolic resin, and the first and second parts 162, 164 of the inductor 160 are tracks on the substrate. This facilitates the manufacturing of the inductor assembly 150 and allows the parts 162, 164 of the element 160 to be thinned and densely arranged, as will be discussed in more detail below.

[0091] In this example, the first portion 162 is the first partial annular body 162, and the second portion 164 is the second partial annular body 164. Furthermore, in this example, each of the first and second portions 162 and 164 follows only a portion of its respective circular path. Thus, the first portion or first partial annular body 162 is the first arc, and the second portion or second partial annular body 164 is the second arc. In other examples, the first and second portions 162 and 164 may follow paths other than circular ones, such as elliptical, polygonal, or irregular shapes. However, matching the shapes of the first and second portions 162 and 164 to the shapes (or at least one aspect of their shape, such as the outer circumference) of their respective adjacent portions of the susceptor 190 (whether provided on the aerosol supply device 100 or on the article 10) helps to improve and make the magnetic coupling between the inductor 160 and the susceptor 190 more consistent. Furthermore, in the example where the first and second parts 162 and 164 are arcs, making the radii of the arcs equal can also help to generate a more consistent magnetic field along the length of the inductor 160, and therefore more consistent heating of the susceptor 190.

[0092] The inductor assembly 150 has through holes 152 coaxial with the first and second portions 162, 164 or the partial annular body radially inward. In the assembled device 100, the susceptor 190 and heating region 110 extend through the through holes 152, and as a result, portions 162, 164 of element 160 together at least partially surround the susceptor 190 and heating region 110. In examples where the susceptor 190 is replaced by multiple susceptors, each of the multiple susceptors may be arranged to extend through the through holes 152 of one or more inductor assembly 150 of their respective heating units 140a-140e. In some examples, this susceptor or each susceptor does not extend through the through holes 152, but rather aligns with the associated element 160 (e.g., axially).

[0093] As discussed above, in the case where the heating device 130 does not have a susceptor, the heating region 110 can still extend through some or all of the through-holes 152 of the inductor components 150 of each heating unit 140a to 140e. In some such cases, article 10 comprises one or more susceptors, such as metal foil (e.g., aluminum foil) wrapped around or surrounding the aerosol-generating material 11, and / or susceptors in the form of pads at one end of article 10 axially adjacent to the aerosol-generating material 11 of article 10. In some cases, the susceptors of article 10 comprising a liquid, gel, or other fluid aerosol-generating material may include susceptors (e.g., metal) in or coated on a wick (e.g., ceramic). In some cases, portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 may have the same respective forms or characteristics, or different respective forms or characteristics, such as different tobacco mixtures and / or different applied or inherent flavors. In some such examples, article 10 may comprise a plurality of susceptors, each of which is arranged to heat one of each of the portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 and is heatable. In some examples, the portions 11a to 11e of the aerosol-generating material 11 are separated from each other. In other examples, there may be a plurality of heating regions, each of which is located between a pair of inductor components 150.

[0094] Figure 6A shows a single-configuration multi-strand wire 1000, where the individual strands 1010 are exposed. Figure 6B shows a cross-section of a single-configuration multi-strand wire. Each strand of the multi-strand wire may be insulated from the other strands by an insulator 1011.

[0095] The diameter d of each individual strand 1010 may be smaller than the skin depth of the conductor at the frequency f1 of the fluctuating magnetic field.

[0096] According to various embodiments, the frequency f1 of the fluctuating magnetic field is less than 500 kHz. As mentioned above, at these frequencies, the skin depth of the conductor increases, and therefore the individual strand diameters of the multi-strand wires of the induction coil can be made larger than at higher frequencies, and correspondingly, the multi-strand wires can be made with fewer strands.

[0097] Such multi-strand wires may be easier and cheaper to manufacture than multi-strand wires configured to operate at higher frequencies. Furthermore, a larger strand diameter can increase the robustness of the multi-strand wire, which improves the durability of the inductor coil.

[0098] Improved durability and reduced costs may allow induction coils to be included in articles containing aerosol-generating materials rather than in aerosol-supplying devices. Therefore, induction coils can be provided in articles containing aerosol-generating materials. Alternatively, induction coils may be provided in aerosol-supplying devices.

[0099] Aerosol supply devices, aerosol generation systems, and inductor coils in various configurations prove particularly useful when generating aerosols from substantially flat articles comprising aerosol-generating materials. The substantially flat articles may be supplied in either an array or circular form. Other configurations are also possible.

[0100] For example, in some configurations in which substantially flat articles are provided in the form of an array, multiple heating regions may be provided. For example, according to one configuration, one heating region may be provided for each part, pixel, or section of the article.

[0101] In other configurations, a substantially flat article may be rotated so that segments of the article are heated by heaters of similar shape. According to this configuration, a single heating region may be provided.

[0102] The article may comprise multiple separate parts of an aerosol-generating material.

[0103] In some cases, the support may be formed from a material selected from metal foil, paper, carbon paper, oil-resistant paper, ceramics, carbon allotropes such as graphite and graphene, plastics, cardboard, wood, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the support may contain or be composed of tobacco material, such as a sheet of recycled tobacco. In some cases, the support may be formed from a material selected from metal foil, paper, cardboard, wood, or a combination thereof. In some cases, the support itself is a laminated structure comprising layers of materials selected from the aforementioned list. In some cases, the support may also function as a flavoring carrier. For example, the support may be impregnated with flavorings or tobacco extracts.

[0104] In some cases, the support may be nonmagnetic.

[0105] In some cases, the support may be magnetic. This feature may be used to secure the support to the assembly during use, or to generate a specific shape for the aerosol-generating material. In some cases, the aerosol-generating material may have one or more magnets that can be used to secure the material to an induction heater during use.

[0106] In one particular case, the support may be foil backed with paper. The paper layer may be in contact with the aerosol-generating material, and the properties discussed in the previous paragraph are given by this contact. The foil backing is substantially impermeable and controls the flow of aerosols. The metal foil backing also serves to conduct heat to the aerosol-generating material.

[0107] In some cases, the support is formed from or includes a metal foil, such as aluminum foil. The metal support can improve the conduction of thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material. In addition to or instead of this, the metal foil can function as a susceptor in an induction heating system. In certain configurations, the support comprises a metal foil layer and a support layer such as cardboard. In these configurations, the thickness of the metal foil layer may be less than about 20 μm, such as about 1 μm to about 10 μm, with about 5 μm being preferred. In some cases, the thickness of the support may be about 0.010 mm to about 2.0 mm, with about 0.015 mm, 0.02 mm, 0.05 mm, or 0.1 mm to about 1.5 mm, 1.0 mm, or 0.5 mm being preferred.

[0108] Refer to Figures 7A to 7C. According to one configuration, an aerosol generator 204 can be provided for use with an aerosol supply device, which includes a planar aerosol generator 204. The planar aerosol generator 204 may comprise a carrier component 242, one or more susceptor elements 224b, and one or more parts 244a to 244f of aerosol generating material, as will be shown and described in more detail with reference to Figures 7A to 7C.

[0109] Figure 7A is a top view of the aerosol generating product 204 with a single configuration, Figure 7B is an end view of the aerosol generating product 204 with a single configuration along its longitudinal (length) axis, and Figure 7C is a side view of the aerosol generating product 204 with a single configuration along its width axis.

[0110] One or more susceptor elements 224b may be formed from aluminum foil, but it should be understood that in other embodiments other metallic materials and / or conductive materials may be used. As seen in Figure 7C, the carrier component 242 may comprise several susceptor elements 224b whose size and position correspond to individual portions of the aerosol-generating materials 244a to 244f arranged on the surface of the carrier component 242. That is, the susceptor elements 224b may have similar widths and lengths to the individual portions of the aerosol-generating materials 244a to 244f.

[0111] The susceptor element 224b is shown embedded in the carrier component 242. However, in other configurations, the susceptor element 224b may be placed on or positioned on the surface of the carrier component 242. According to another configuration, the susceptor may be provided as a single layer substantially covering the carrier component 244. According to one configuration, the aerosol generating product 204 may comprise a substrate or support layer, a single layer of aluminum foil functioning as a susceptor, and one or more regions of the aerosol generating material 244 deposited on the aluminum foil susceptor layer.

[0112] In one configuration, the arrangement of induction heating coils may be provided to supply energy to individual portions of the aerosol-generating material 244. However, in another configuration, a single induction coil may be provided, and the aerosol-generating product 204 may be configured to move relative to a single induction coil. Therefore, there may be fewer induction coils than the individual portions of the aerosol-generating material 244 provided on the carrier component 242 of the aerosol-generating product 204, and as a result, relative movement of the aerosol-generating product 204 and the induction coil(s) is required to allow energy to be supplied individually to each individual portion of the aerosol-generating material 244.

[0113] Alternatively, a single induction coil may be provided, and the aerosol generator 204 may be rotated relative to the single induction coil.

[0114] While the above describes an embodiment in which spatially separate portions of the aerosol-generating material 244 are deposited on the carrier component 242, it should be understood that in other embodiments, the aerosol-generating material 244 may not be provided in spatially separate portions, but instead as a continuous sheet, film, or layer of the aerosol-generating material 244. In these embodiments, specific regions of the sheet of aerosol-generating material 244 can be selectively heated to generate aerosols, much as described above. In particular, the regions (corresponding to portions of the aerosol-generating material) may be defined in a continuous sheet of aerosol-generating material 244 based on the dimensions of one or more induction heating elements.

[0115] Depending on the configuration, the aerosol generating product 204 may comprise a disc-shaped or circular article.

[0116] To address various challenges and advance technology, this disclosure illustrates various embodiments throughout. These embodiments enable the implementation of the claimed invention and provide superior inductors, superior inductor structures, superior inductor assemblies, superior magnetic field generators, superior aerosol supply devices, and superior aerosol supply systems. The advantages and features of this disclosure are representative examples of the embodiments and do not encompass or exclude all advantages and features. They are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the features disclosed in the claims and elsewhere. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects of this disclosure should not be considered to limit this disclosure as defined by the claims or to limit equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments can be utilized and modified without departing from the scope and / or spirit of this disclosure. Various embodiments may appropriately comprise, consist of, or substantially consist of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. This disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

[Claim 1] an aerosol generator having one or more heating regions for receiving at least a portion of an article comprising an aerosol generating material, A magnetic field generator configured to generate a time-varying magnetic field, An AC voltage supply source configured to supply an AC voltage to the magnetic field generator at frequency f1, wherein f1 < 500 kHz, and An aerosol supply device equipped with the following features.

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