Aerosol generator and heater for aerosol generator

Abstract

This application proposes an aerosol generator and a heater for an aerosol generator, the aerosol generator comprising a battery cell for power supply and a heater, the heater comprising a first heating element, a second heating element and a third heating element arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction and a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode operably electrically connected to the battery cell to conduct current in the heater, the first and second heating elements being electrically connected in parallel between the first and second electrodes and the third heating element being connected between the first and third electrodes. The above aerosol generator is advantageous for flexibly controlling the differential heating of different segments of an aerosol generating product by allowing only the first and second heating elements to be connected in parallel and heating simultaneously, and by selecting whether or not to involve the third heating element in heating simultaneously.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] (Cross - reference to related applications) This application claims the priority of a Chinese patent application with the application number 202310488172.7 and the title of the invention "Aerosol Generator and Heater for Aerosol Generator", which was filed with the China National Intellectual Property Administration on April 28, 2023, and all of its contents are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The embodiments of this application relate to the technical field of heat - non - combustion aerosol generation, and particularly to an aerosol generator and a heater for an aerosol generator.

Background Art

[0003] Tobacco products (such as cigarette, cigar, etc.) generate tobacco smoke by burning tobacco during use. As an alternative to these products that burn tobacco, attempts have been made to manufacture products that release compounds without combustion.

[0004] Examples of such products include heating devices that release compounds by heating rather than burning materials. For example, the material can be tobacco or other non - tobacco products, and these non - tobacco products may or may not contain nicotine. Conventional heating devices include a plurality of tubular heaters that surround different segments of tobacco or other non - tobacco products and are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Further, by starting the plurality of spaced tubular heaters independently, different segments of tobacco or other non - tobacco products are heated respectively.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] One embodiment of this application is an aerosol generator configured to heat an aerosol - generating product to generate an aerosol, a battery cell for power supply, and a heater for heating the aerosol - generating product, wherein the heater includes at least A first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element are arranged sequentially in the vertical direction, The heater includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode that are electrically connected to the battery cell in an operable manner to conduct current, The present invention provides an aerosol generator in which the first heating element and the second heating element are electrically connected in parallel between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the third heating element is connected between the first electrode and the third electrode.

[0006] In some embodiments, In the first time step, the first heating element and the second heating element are connected in parallel and heated simultaneously by electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the first electrode and the other to the second electrode. The circuit further includes a configuration configured to connect the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element in parallel and heat them simultaneously by electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the first electrode and the other electrode to the second and third electrodes at the second time stage.

[0007] In some embodiments, the first heating element and the second heating element are connected in parallel, allowing them to start heating simultaneously.

[0008] In some embodiments, the first heating element and the second heating element cannot start heating independently of each other.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are connected in parallel and heated simultaneously during the second time stage, the power of the third heating element is greater than the power of the first heating element and the second heating element.

[0010] In some embodiments, in the vertical direction of the heater, the first heating element has a first length dimension, the second heating element has a second length dimension, and the third heating element has a third length dimension. The first length dimension and / or the second length dimension are smaller than the third length dimension.

[0011] In some embodiments, the first electrode extends in the longitudinal direction of the heater from the first heating element to the third heating element, and / or, the second electrode extends from the first heating element to the second heating element in the longitudinal direction of the heater, and / or, the third electrode is arranged to extend from the third heating element in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

[0012] In some embodiments, the first electrode includes a first width portion and a second width portion arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction, wherein the width dimension of the first width portion is smaller than the width dimension of the second width portion. The first width portion extends from the first heating element to the second heating element, The second width portion is coupled to the third heating element.

[0013] In some embodiments, the width dimension of the second electrode is smaller than the width dimension of the third electrode.

[0014] In some embodiments, To reduce the resistance of the first heating element and the second heating element, the device further includes one or more first blank electrodes arranged to extend from the first heating element to the second heating element, wherein the first blank electrodes are not electrically connected to the battery cell.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first blank electrode includes third and fourth width portions arranged sequentially in the longitudinal direction. The third width portion is coupled to the first heating element, the fourth width portion is coupled to the second heating element, and the third width portion has a different width dimension from the fourth width portion.

[0016] In some embodiments, To reduce the resistance of the third heating element, the third heating element further includes one or more second blank electrodes that are circumferentially spaced apart from each other, and the second blank electrodes are not electrically connected to the battery cell.

[0017] In some embodiments, the circuit In the first time stage, the first heating element and the second heating element are heated from room temperature to a first target temperature, and the third heating element is heated to a second target temperature by receiving heat from the second heating element. In the second time stage, the first heating element and the second heating element are heated to a third target temperature higher than the first target temperature, and the third heating element is configured to be heated to a fourth target temperature higher than the second target temperature.

[0018] In some embodiments, a chamber for receiving an aerosol generating product, and an opening through which the aerosol generating product can be at least partially received into or removed from the chamber during use, and further includes The first heating element and the second heating element are closer to the opening than the third heating element.

[0019] In some embodiments, the heater further includes a body that at least partially surrounds or defines the chamber, The first heating element includes a coating or film or heating mesh coupled to the body, and / or the second heating element includes a coating or film or heating mesh coupled to the body, and / or the third heating element includes a coating or film or heating mesh coupled to the body.

[0020] In some embodiments, the first heating element includes at least one of an infrared heating element or a resistive heating element. and / or, the second heating element includes at least one of an infrared heating element or a resistance heating element, and / or, the third heating element includes at least one of an infrared heating element or a resistance heating element.

[0021] In some embodiments, By electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the second electrode and the other to the third electrode, a circuit can be further included that is configured to connect the first heating element and the second heating element in parallel and then in series with the third heating element for simultaneous heating.

[0022] Another embodiment of the present application is an aerosol generating device configured to heat an aerosol generating product to generate an aerosol, a battery cell for power supply, a heater for heating an aerosol generating product, the heater including at least a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction, In the first time stage, only the first heating element and the second heating element are electrically connected in parallel to the battery cell to simultaneously heat only the first heating element and the second heating element, In the second time stage, the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are electrically connected in parallel to the battery cell to simultaneously heat the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element and a circuit configured as such, and further proposes an aerosol generating device including the same.

[0023] Another embodiment of the present application is, a tubular body, a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction on the body, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode for conducting current in the heater, and includes the same. Further, a heater for an aerosol generator is provided, wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are electrically connected in parallel between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the third heating element is connected between the first electrode and the third electrode.

[0024] The above-described aerosol generator is advantageous for flexibly controlling the differential heating of different segments of the aerosol generating product by allowing the first and second heating elements to be connected in parallel and heated simultaneously, and by selecting whether or not to involve the third heating element in the heating process. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0025] One or more embodiments are illustrated by corresponding figures in the drawings, but these illustrative descriptions are not limiting to embodiments, elements with the same reference numeral in the drawings are similar elements, and unless otherwise specified, the figures in the drawings are not limited to a specific scale. [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of an electronic atomizing device provided in one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the heater's structure from one viewing angle. [Figure 3] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the heater's structure from a different viewing angle. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the heater at one viewing angle. [Figure 5] This is a schematic diagram of one embodiment in which the heater shown in Figure 2 is connected to a battery cell. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram showing how current is induced in the heater shown in Figure 2 in one embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a schematic diagram of how current is induced in the heater shown in Figure 2 in another embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a schematic diagram of how current is induced in the heater shown in Figure 2 in another embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heater in another embodiment, viewed from one angle. [Figure 10]This is a schematic diagram of the heater shown in Figure 9 when it is unfolded in the circumferential direction. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a heater in another embodiment, viewed from one angle. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram of the heater shown in Figure 11 when it is unfolded in the circumferential direction. [Figure 13] This is a temperature curve of the heating process of a heater in one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0026] To facilitate understanding of this application, it will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings and specific embodiments.

[0027] One embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generator 100 that forms an inhalable aerosol by heating an aerosol generating product 1000, such as a cigarette, rather than burning it, thereby volatilizing or releasing at least one component of the aerosol generating product 1000.

[0028] In selective implementations, the aerosol generating product 1000 uses a tobacco-containing material that releases volatile compounds from the substrate when heated, or a non-tobacco material suitable for generating smoke by electric heating after heating. The aerosol generating product 1000 preferably uses a solid substrate, which may include one or more powders, granules, elongated fragments, strips, or sheets of one or more of vanilla leaves, tobacco leaves, homogenized tobacco, or expanded tobacco, or the solid substrate may contain additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavor compounds that are released when the substrate is heated.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, after the aerosol generating product 1000 is received by the aerosol generator 100, a part of it, such as the filter, is exposed outside the aerosol generator 100, which is advantageous for the user's smoking.

[0030] As shown in Figure 1, the structure of the aerosol generator according to one embodiment of this application is such that the entire external shape of the device is substantially flattened cylindrical, and the external members of the aerosol generator 100 are The housing 10 has a hollow internal structure and further forms an assembly space that can be used for necessary functional components such as electronic devices and heaters, and the housing 10 has a near end 110 and a far end 120 that are opposite each other in the longitudinal direction, where, An opening 111 is provided at the near end 110, and the aerosol generating product 1000 can be received into the housing 10 and heated, or removed from the housing 10, through the opening 111. The far end 120 is provided with an intake port 121 to allow outside air to enter the housing 10 while smoking.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 is The apparatus further includes a chamber for housing or receiving an aerosol generating product 1000, which can be removably received into the chamber through an opening 111 during use. In some embodiments, the aerosol generating product 1000 has a length greater than 30 mm that is surrounded and heated by the heater 30.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 is The system further includes an air passage 150 located between the chamber and the intake port 121, and as shown by arrow R11 in Figure 1, during use, the air passage 150 provides a passage route from the intake port 121 into the chamber / aerosol generating product 1000.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 is Preferably, a rechargeable DC battery cell 130, and a power supply battery cell 130 that can be charged by connecting to an external power source, The system further includes a circuit board 140, such as a PCB board, on which circuits or MCU controllers, which may be integrated circuits, are arranged.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the aerosol generator 100 is The housing further includes a heater 30 that at least partially surrounds and defines the chamber, and when the aerosol generating product 1000 is received into the housing 10, the heater 30 heats the aerosol generating product 1000 from its outer periphery, at least partially surrounding or encircling it. Also, when the aerosol generating product 1000 is received into the housing 10, it is at least partially housed and held within the heater 30.

[0035] In some implementations, the length of the heater 30 is 20 to 50 mm, and / or the heater 30 has an inner diameter of 5.0 to 10.0 mm.

[0036] As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the heater 30 is basically configured in a vertically elongated tubular shape. The material is an infrared-transmitting material such as a quartz tube, glass tube, or ceramic tube, and the tubular body 31 is for containing and holding at least partially aerosol-generating product 1000 during use. The embodiment includes a first heating element 32, a second heating element 33, and a third heating element 34 formed or arranged on a main body 31, wherein the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are formed on the outer surface of the main body 31 by deposition, spraying, or coating.

[0037] The first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are arranged sequentially spaced apart. Furthermore, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are basically annular in shape, surrounding the main body 31. Also, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are closed in the circumferential direction.

[0038] In some specific implementations, the main body 31 has a wall thickness of approximately 0.05 to 1 mm, an inner diameter of approximately 5.0 to 8.0 mm, and a length of approximately 30 to 60 mm.

[0039] Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are formed on the inner surface of the main body 31.

[0040] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are coatings or thin layers formed on the main body 31 by deposition or spraying. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are films covering or bonded to the main body 31.

[0041] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are resistance heating elements that heat by Joule heating of the resistor. For example, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 may be a resistance heating coating or resistance heating trace covering or deposited on the body 31, or the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 may be a resistance heating mesh that is covered or wrapped around it. The material of the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 may be a metal material, metal alloy, graphite, carbon, conductive ceramic or other ceramic material with appropriate impedance, and a composite material of a metal material. Here, suitable metal or alloy materials include at least one of nickel, cobalt, zirconium, titanium, nickel alloys, cobalt alloys, zirconium alloys, titanium alloys, nickel-chromium alloys, nickel-iron alloys, iron-chromium alloys, iron-chromium-aluminum alloys, iron-manganese-aluminum alloys, or stainless steel. In this embodiment, the main body 31 receives heat from the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34, thereby heating the aerosol generating product 1000. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the main body 31 may include, for example, a metal or alloy tube that conducts heat easily, such as an aluminum alloy tube or a stainless steel tube.

[0042] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are electrically charged infrared heating elements, and by supplying a DC voltage directly to the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 can emit infrared rays and heat under voltage drive. Therefore, in these embodiments, the main body 31 includes at least one of infrared-transmitting materials such as quartz and acrylic.

[0043] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 may be a ceramic material such as zirconium, or a coating made of Fe-Mn-Cu, tungsten, or transition metal and their oxide materials.

[0044] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 are made of an oxide of at least one metal element such as Mg, Al, Ti, Zr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, or Zn, and these metal oxides can emit far-infrared rays that have a heating effect when heated to a suitable temperature. The thickness of the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 can preferably be controlled to 30 μm to 50 μm. As for the method of forming on the surface of the tubular body 31, the oxides of the above metal elements can be sprayed onto the outer surface of the tubular body 31 by atmospheric plasma spraying and then cured.

[0045] In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 have the same length, and the length of the third heating element 34 is greater than the length of the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33. In some specific embodiments, the length of the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 is 2.5 to 5.0 mm, and the length of the third heating element 34 is 5.0 to 10 mm. The length of the third heating element 34 is equal to the sum of the lengths of the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33.

[0046] Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 have essentially the same length. For example, in one specific embodiment, the length dimensions of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 are all 3 to 8 mm.

[0047] Alternatively, in some other modified embodiments, the length of one of the first heating element 32 and / or the second heating element 33 and / or the third heating element 34 is different from the other two. Alternatively, in some other modified embodiments, the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33 and the third heating element 34 each have lengths different from the other two.

[0048] Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the extended lengths of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 gradually change in the axial direction of the heater 30. For example, in some specific embodiments, the extended lengths of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 gradually or sequentially increase, or the extended lengths of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 gradually or sequentially decrease.

[0049] Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the length dimension of the second heating element 33 is smaller than the length dimension of either the first heating element 32 or the third heating element 34. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the length dimension of the second heating element 33 is larger than the length dimension of either the first heating element 32 or the third heating element 34.

[0050] Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the heater 30 may include three heating elements: a first heating element 32, a second heating element 33, and a third heating element 34. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the heater 30 may further include four, five, six, or more heating elements arranged sequentially spaced apart in the axial direction of the main body 31, for example.

[0051] Alternatively, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the heater 30 is The first end 311 and the second end 312 are separated in the axial direction, During implementation, an infrared-transparent body 31 is configured in a tubular shape, with both ends in the longitudinal direction defining the first end 311 and the second end 312 of the heater 30, respectively, and the internal cavity 310 defining a chamber that receives at least the aerosol generating product 1000, The device further includes a first heating element 32, a second heating element 33, and a third heating element 34 formed on the main body 31 and arranged sequentially spaced apart in the axial direction of the main body 31.

[0052] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the first heating element 32 is positioned close to the first end 311, the third heating element 34 is positioned close to the second end 312, and the second heating element 33 is located between the first heating element 32 and the third heating element 34.

[0053] Furthermore, on the surface of the main body 31, An exposed segment 313 located between the first end 311 and the first heating element 32, An exposed segment 314 is located between the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33, causing the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 to be separated. An exposed segment 315 is located between the second heating element 33 and the third heating element 34, causing the second heating element 33 and the third heating element 34 to be separated. An exposed segment 316 located between the third heating element 34 and the second end 312 is further defined.

[0054] In some embodiments, the exposed segments 313, 314, and 315 have essentially the same dimensions in the axial direction of the main body 31. For example, in some specific embodiments, the exposed segments 313, 314, and 315 have a length of approximately 0.5 to 3 mm.

[0055] In some embodiments, the axial length of the body 31 of the exposed segment 316 is greater than the length of the exposed segment 313 and / or exposed segment 314 and / or exposed segment 315. For example, in some specific embodiments, the axial length of the body 31 of the exposed segment 316 is 3 to 5 mm.

[0056] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 are provided with temperature measurement markers to indicate the position for attaching or bonding temperature sensors. In order to accurately detect the temperatures of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34, the temperature sensors are bonded to the temperature measurement markers by bonding or welding during manufacturing.

[0057] In some embodiments, the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 are made of the same material, so that they have the same infrared radiation wavelength or infrared radiation efficiency when heating different segments of the aerosol generating product 1000.

[0058] Alternatively, in some other modified embodiments, one of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 is made of a different material from the other two, and one of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 and the other two have different WLPs (Wavelengths of Peak Frequency, which correspond to the maximum value of radiated power) in their infrared emission spectra, which can be adapted to the optimal absorption wavelength ranges of different organic components in the aerosol generating product 1000, respectively. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the three first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 are each made of different materials, and any two of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 have different infrared emission spectra and / or WLPs.

[0059] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the heater 30 further includes a first electrode 351 which is elongated or vertically shaped, a second electrode 352 which is elongated or vertically shaped, and a third electrode 353 which is elongated or vertically shaped. The first electrode 351 basically extends from the first end 311 to the second end 312, spanning the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34, or the first electrode 351 extends from the end of the first heating element 32 adjacent to the first end 311 to the third heating element 34, and is simultaneously conductive to the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34. The second electrode 352 extends in the vertical direction from the first heating element 32 to the second heating element 33 and is electrically connected to the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33. The second electrode 352 is separated from the first electrode 351 in the radial direction of the heater 30. The third electrode 353 extends to the third heating element 34 in the longitudinal direction and is electrically connected to the third heating element 34. The third electrode 353 is also separated from the first electrode 351 in the radial direction of the heater 30.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first electrode 351 and / or the second electrode 352 and / or the third electrode 353 are made of a low-resistivity metal or alloy such as silver, gold, palladium, platinum, copper, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, or alloys thereof. The first electrode 351 and / or the second electrode 352 and / or the third electrode 353 are formed by spraying or printing, etc. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the first electrode 351 and / or the second electrode 352 and / or the third electrode 353 are metal sheets or alloy sheets.

[0061] In some implementations, the second electrode 352 is coupled only to the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33, avoiding the third heating element 34, and the third electrode 353 is coupled only to the heating element 34, avoiding the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33.

[0062] In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 to 4, the first electrode 351, the second electrode 352, and the third electrode 353 each have different width dimensions. Specifically, The first electrode 351 includes a first width portion 3511 and a second width portion 3512 arranged in the vertical direction, of which the first width portion 3511 is coupled to or straddles the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33, and the second width portion 3512 is coupled to the third heating element 34, and the width dimension d11 of the first width portion 3511 is smaller than the width dimension d12 of the second width portion 3512. The second electrode 352 has the same width dimension d11 as the first width portion 3511. The third electrode 353 has the same width dimension d12 as the second width portion 3512, and the width dimension 12 of the third electrode 353 is larger than the width dimension d11 of the second electrode 352.

[0063] In some specific examples, the width dimension d11 is 2.5 to 3.5 mm, and the width dimension 12 is approximately 3.5 to 4.5 mm.

[0064] In some embodiments, the first electrode 351 and / or the second electrode 352 and / or the third electrode 353 are directly connected to the circuit board 140 by welding lead wires, and the circuit board 140 further connects the first electrode 351 and / or the second electrode 352 and / or the third electrode 353 to the battery cell 130, thereby selectively guiding current in the circumferential direction of the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34.

[0065] Alternatively, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment in which the heater 30 and the battery cell 130 are electrically connected by a circuit on the circuit board 140. As shown in Figure 5, the second electrode 352 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the battery cell 130 via the switch transistor Q1, the third electrode 353 is electrically connected to the positive terminal of the battery cell 130 via the switch transistor Q2, the first electrode 351 is grounded and further connected to the negative terminal of the battery cell 130. When in use, the circuit can selectively turn on only one or both of the switch transistors Q1 and Q2 at the same time to connect the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 in parallel and heat them simultaneously, or selectively connect only the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 in parallel and heat them simultaneously, or heat only the third heating element 34 alone.

[0066] For example, Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of how current is induced in the heater 30 in one embodiment. As shown in Figure 6, the circuit can simultaneously generate a current i11 flowing circumferentially through the first heating element 32 and a current i12 flowing through the second heating element 33 by turning on the switch transistor Q1 and turning off the switch transistor Q2. Furthermore, the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 are connected in parallel to heat simultaneously. Also, Figure 6 shows that when the switch transistor Q2 is off, no current flows through the third heating element 34, or the third heating element 34 does not heat at this time.

[0067] Similarly, the circuit may create a current flowing circumferentially through the third heating element 34 by turning off the switch transistor Q1 and turning on the switch transistor Q2, thereby heating only the third heating element 34, while leaving the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 unheated.

[0068] For example, Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of how current is induced in the heater 30 in another embodiment. As shown in Figure 7, by turning on both switch transistor Q1 and switch transistor Q2, the circuit simultaneously generates current i11 flowing circumferentially through the first heating element 32, current i12 flowing through the second heating element 33, and current i13 flowing through the third heating element 34, thereby enabling the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 to be connected in parallel and heated simultaneously.

[0069] Figure 7 shows that when both switch transistors Q1 and Q2 are turned on and connected in parallel for simultaneous heating, the current i11 of the first heating element 32 and the current i12 of the second heating element 33 are substantially equal, and substantially equal to half the current i13 of the third heating element 34.

[0070] During use, the circuit can selectively use the method shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7 at different time stages to selectively heat different segments of the aerosol generating product 1000. For example, in one specific embodiment, the circuit's control of the heating process for different segments of the aerosol generating product 1000 includes the following:

[0071] In S100, during the first time step, as shown in Figure 6, the switch transistor Q1 is turned on and the switch transistor Q2 is turned off, thereby connecting only the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 in parallel and heating them simultaneously. During this step, the first segment surrounded by the first heating element 32 and the second segment surrounded by the second heating element 33 of the aerosol generating product 1000 are heated simultaneously, and the first and second segments, which are close to the filter of the aerosol generating product 1000, rapidly generate aerosols for the user to smoke.

[0072] In S200, during the second time step, as shown in Figure 7, the switch transistors Q1 and Q2 are simultaneously turned on, thereby connecting the first heating element 32, the second heating element 33, and the third heating element 34 in parallel and heating them simultaneously. In this step, the first segment of the aerosol generating product 1000 surrounded by the first heating element 32, the second segment surrounded by the second heating element 33, and the third segment surrounded by the third heating element 34 are heated simultaneously, generating a large amount of aerosol as a whole and providing it to the user.

[0073] Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 5 to 7, the circuit arrangement only allows the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 to be connected in parallel and heated simultaneously, and the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 cannot start heating independently of each other.

[0074] In several other modified embodiments, for example, Figure 8 shows a schematic diagram of another modified embodiment in which the heater 30 is connected to the battery cell 130 by a circuit. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, the circuit connects the second electrode 352 to the positive electrode of the battery cell 130, the third electrode 353 to the negative electrode of the battery cell 130 by ground, and the first electrode 351 is not connected to the circuit. Furthermore, in Figure 8, the first heating element 32 and the second heating element 33 are connected in parallel and then connected in series to the third heating element 34 via the first electrode 351, thereby forming a current i21 flowing from the second electrode 352 to the first electrode 351 in the circumferential direction of the first heating element 32, a current i22 flowing from the second electrode 352 to the first electrode 351 in the circumferential direction of the second heating element 33, and a current i23 flowing from the first electrode 351 to the third electrode 353 in the circumferential direction of the third heating element 34.

[0075] Figures 9 and 10 show schematic diagrams of heater 30a in another embodiment, in which heater 30a is A tubular body 31a having a first end 311a and a second end 312a separated in the vertical direction, The main body 31a is sequentially arranged with spaces between them in the vertical direction, and the first heating element 32a, second heating element 33a, and third heating element 34a are arranged on the main body 31a, A first electrode 351a extending from the first heating element 32a to the third heating element 34a, The second electrode 352a extends from the first heating element 32a to the second heating element 33a and is positioned away from the first electrode 351a in the radial direction of the heater 30a, The heater 30a includes a third electrode 353a coupled to the third heating element 34a and positioned away from the first electrode 351a in the radial direction of the heater 30a, and the second electrode 352a and the third electrode 353a are substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of the heater 30a.

[0076] The first electrode 351a includes a first width portion 3511a and a second width portion 3512a arranged in the vertical direction, of which the first width portion 3511a is coupled to or straddles the first heating element 32a and the second heating element 33a, and the second width portion 3512a is coupled to the third heating element 34a, the width dimension d11 of the first width portion 3511a is smaller than the width dimension d12 of the second width portion 3512a, the second electrode 352a has the same width dimension d11 as the first width portion 3511a, the third electrode 353a has the same width dimension d12 as the second width portion 3512a, and the width dimension 12 of the third electrode 353a is larger than the width dimension d11 of the second electrode 352a.

[0077] Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, the heater 30a is One or more first blank electrodes 361a are arranged circumferentially surrounding and spaced apart from the first heating element 32a and the second heating element 33a, extending from the first heating element 32a to the second heating element 33a and avoiding the third heating element 34a. The system further includes one or more second blank electrodes 362a arranged circumferentially around the third heating element 34a and spaced apart, avoiding the first heating element 32a and the second heating element 33a.

[0078] In this embodiment, the first blank electrode 361a and the second blank electrode 362a are not connected to the circuit during use. The first blank electrode 361a and the second blank electrode 362a are made of a low-resistivity metal or alloy material. When current is conducted in the first heating element 32a and the second heating element 33a by the first electrode 351a and the second electrode 352a, the first blank electrode 361a, being made of a low-resistivity material, can reduce the resistance of the first heating element 32a and the second heating element 33a. Also, when current is conducted in the third heating element 34a by the first electrode 351a and the third electrode 353a, the second blank electrode 362a, being made of a low-resistivity material, can reduce the resistance of the third heating element 34a.

[0079] Figures 9 and 10 show that the first blank electrode 361a includes a third width portion 3611a and a fourth width portion 3612a arranged sequentially in the vertical direction, with the third width portion 3611a coupled to the first heating element 32a and the fourth width portion 3612a coupled to the second heating element 33a.

[0080] In the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, the width dimension d13 of the third width portion 3611a is larger than the width dimension d14 of the fourth width portion 3612a. Also, the width dimension d15 of the second blank electrode 362a is larger than the width dimension d13 of the third width portion 3611a. Furthermore, in the embodiments, because the width dimension d15 of the second blank electrode 362a is larger, the resistance value of the third heating element 34a is reduced more significantly when current is guided in the circumferential direction.

[0081] In the embodiments shown in Figures 9 and 10, the width dimension d15 of the second blank electrode 362a is smaller than the width dimension d11 of the second electrode 352a.

[0082] In some specific embodiments, the width dimension d11 of the second electrode 352a is 3.0 mm, the width dimension d12 of the third electrode 353a is 3.7 mm, the width dimension d13 of the third width portion 3611a of the first blank electrode 361a is 1.48 mm, the width dimension d14 of the fourth width portion 3612a of the first blank electrode 361a is 1.0 mm, and the width dimension d15 of the second blank electrode 362a is 2.0 mm.

[0083] Alternatively, Figures 11 and 12 show schematic diagrams of heater 30b in another embodiment, in which heater 30b is A tubular body 31b having a first end 311b and a second end 312b that are separated in the vertical direction, The main body 31b is sequentially arranged with spaces between them in the vertical direction, and the first heating element 32b, second heating element 33b, and third heating element 34b are arranged on the main body 31b, A first electrode 351b extending from the first heating element 32b to the third heating element 34b, The second electrode 352b extends from the first heating element 32b to the second heating element 33b and is positioned away from the first electrode 351b in the radial direction of the heater 30b, The heater 30b includes a third electrode 353b coupled to the third heating element 34b and positioned away from the first electrode 351b in the radial direction of the heater 30b, and the second electrode 352b and the third electrode 353b are substantially aligned in the longitudinal direction of the heater 30b.

[0084] Furthermore, in the embodiments shown in Figures 11 and 12, the heater 30b is One or more first blank electrodes 361b are arranged circumferentially surrounding and spaced apart from the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b, extending from the first heating element 32b to the second heating element 33b and avoiding the third heating element 34b. The system further includes one or more second blank electrodes 362b arranged circumferentially around the third heating element 34b and spaced apart, avoiding the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b.

[0085] In this embodiment, the first blank electrode 361b and the second blank electrode 362b are not connected to the circuit during use. The first blank electrode 361b and the second blank electrode 362b are made of a low-resistivity metal or alloy material. When current is conducted in the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b by the first electrode 351b and the second electrode 352b, the first blank electrode 361b, being made of a low-resistivity material, can reduce the resistance of the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b. Also, when current is conducted in the third heating element 34a by the first electrode 351b and the third electrode 353b, the second blank electrode 362b, being made of a low-resistivity material, can reduce the resistance of the third heating element 34a.

[0086] In the embodiments shown in Figures 11 and 12, the first electrode 351b, the second electrode 352b, and the third electrode 353b have substantially constant widths. The first blank electrode 361b and the second blank electrode 362b also have constant widths.

[0087] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, the second electrode 352b has a width dimension d21, the first electrode 351b and the third electrode 353b have the same width dimension d22, the first blank electrode 361b has a width dimension d23, and the second blank electrode 362b has a width dimension d24.

[0088] Figure 13 shows the heating curves of different segments of the aerosol generating product 1000 by the heater 30b shown in Figure 11 in one embodiment, where curve S1 is the temperature curve of heating by the first heating element 32b, curve S2 is the temperature curve of heating by the second heating element 33b, and curve S3 is the temperature curve of heating by the third heating element 34b. As shown in Figure 13, the heating process includes the following.

[0089] In S100b, during the first time phase (time 0 to t1), the switch transistor Q1 is turned on and the switch transistor Q2 is turned off according to the circuit connection method in Figure 6, and the first electrode 351b and the second electrode 352b are connected to the battery cell 130. As a result, the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b are connected in parallel and begin heating simultaneously, heating from room temperature to the first target temperature T11. During this first time phase, the third heating element 34b itself does not generate heat, and can only receive a small amount of heat conducted from the main body 31b by heat conduction, rising from room temperature to the second target temperature T31. Clearly, during the first time phase, the rate of heating of the third heating element by heat conduction is slower than that of the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b.

[0090] In S200b, during the second time phase (times t1 to t2), both switch transistors Q1 and Q2 are turned on according to the circuit connection method shown in Figure 7, thereby connecting the first heating element 32b, the second heating element 33b, and the third heating element 34b in parallel and starting heating simultaneously.

[0091] Therefore, in the second time stage, the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b continue heating, heating from the first target temperature T11 to the third target temperature T12, and in the second time stage, the third heating element 34b heats from the second target temperature T31 to the fourth target temperature T32.

[0092] Furthermore, in the second time stage, due to the second blank electrode 362b and longer length of the third heating element 34b, the resistance value of the third heating element 34 is lower and it has greater power in parallel heating. Therefore, in the second time stage, the third heating element 34b heats up at a higher heating rate than the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b, and as a result, the third heating element 34b heats up and heats up more quickly in the second time stage.

[0093] In some embodiments, the duration of the first time phase is 30 to 120 seconds, and the duration of the second time phase is 90 to 180 seconds.

[0094] In some embodiments, during the first time step, the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b are heated from room temperature to a first target temperature T11 of approximately 200-350°C, and during the first time step, the third heating element 34b receives heat from the second heating element 33b by heat conduction and is heated to a second target temperature T31 of approximately 30-100°C. During the second time step, the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b continue heating to a third target temperature T12 of approximately 250-400°C, and during the second time step, the third heating element 34b continues heating to a fourth target temperature T32 of approximately 250-400°C. In some embodiments, the third target temperature T12 and the fourth target temperature T32 may be the same or approximate. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, as shown in Figure 13, the fourth target temperature T32 may be lower than the third target temperature T12.

[0095] In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the circuit arrangement allows the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b to be connected in parallel and heated simultaneously. Furthermore, the lengths of the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b are the same, so during heating, the temperatures of the first heating element 32b and the second heating element 33b change in approximately the same way.

[0096] It should be noted that while the specification and drawings of this application illustrate preferred embodiments of this application, they are not limited to the embodiments described herein. Furthermore, those skilled in the art may make improvements and modifications based on the above description, all of which shall fall within the scope of protection of the claims attached to this application.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device configured to generate aerosols by heating an aerosol generating product, Battery cells for power supply, A heater for heating an aerosol generating product, wherein the heater comprises at least: A first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element are arranged sequentially in the vertical direction. The heater includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode that are electrically connected to the battery cell in an operable manner to conduct current, An aerosol generator characterized in that the first heating element and the second heating element are electrically connected in parallel between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the third heating element is electrically connected between the first electrode and the third electrode.

2. In the first time step, the first heating element and the second heating element are connected in parallel and heated simultaneously by electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the first electrode and the other to the second electrode. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit configured to connect the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element in parallel and heat them simultaneously, by electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the first electrode and simultaneously connecting the other to the second and third electrodes in the second time stage.

3. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heating element and the second heating element are connected in parallel, enabling simultaneous starting of heating.

4. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heating element and the second heating element cannot start heating independently of each other.

5. The aerosol generator according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the second time stage, when the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are connected in parallel and heated simultaneously, the power of the third heating element is greater than the power of the first heating element and the second heating element.

6. In the vertical direction of the heater, the first heating element has a first length dimension, the second heating element has a second length dimension, and the third heating element has a third length dimension. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first length dimension and / or the second length dimension are smaller than the third length dimension.

7. The first electrode extends in the longitudinal direction of the heater from the first heating element to the third heating element. and / or, the second electrode extends from the first heating element to the second heating element in the longitudinal direction of the heater, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the third electrode is arranged to extend to the third heating element in the longitudinal direction of the heater.

8. The first electrode includes a first width portion and a second width portion arranged sequentially in the vertical direction, wherein the width dimension of the first width portion is smaller than the width dimension of the second width portion. The first width portion extends from the first heating element to the second heating element, The aerosol generator according to claim 7, characterized in that the second width portion is coupled to the third heating element.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the width dimension of the second electrode is smaller than the width dimension of the third electrode.

10. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising one or more first blank electrodes arranged to extend from the first heating element to the second heating element in order to reduce the resistance of the first heating element and the second heating element, wherein the first blank electrodes are not electrically connected to the battery cell.

11. The first blank electrode includes a third width portion and a fourth width portion that are sequentially arranged in the longitudinal direction. The aerosol generator according to claim 10, characterized in that the third width portion is coupled to the first heating element, the fourth width portion is coupled to the second heating element, and the third width portion has a different width dimension from the fourth width portion.

12. The aerosol generator according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising one or more second blank electrodes arranged circumferentially spaced apart on the third heating element in order to reduce the resistance of the third heating element, wherein the second blank electrodes are not electrically connected to the battery cell.

13. The aforementioned circuit is In the first time step, the first heating element and the second heating element are heated from room temperature to a first target temperature, and the third heating element is heated to a second target temperature by receiving heat from the second heating element. The aerosol generator according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the second time step, the first heating element and the second heating element are heated to a third target temperature higher than the first target temperature, and the third heating element is heated to a fourth target temperature higher than the second target temperature.

14. A chamber for receiving aerosol-generating products, The present invention further includes an opening through which an aerosol-generating product can be at least partially received into or removed from the chamber during use, The aerosol generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heating element and / or the second heating element are closer to the opening than the third heating element.

15. The aerosol generator according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit that can be configured to connect the first heating element and the second heating element in parallel and then in series with the third heating element by electrically connecting one of the positive and negative electrodes of the battery cell to the second electrode and the other to the third electrode, thereby heating them simultaneously.

16. An aerosol generating device configured to generate aerosols by heating an aerosol generating product, Battery cells for power supply, A heater for heating an aerosol generating product, comprising a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element arranged sequentially in at least the vertical direction, In the first time stage, by electrically connecting only the first heating element and the second heating element in parallel to the battery cell, only the first heating element and the second heating element are heated simultaneously. In the second time stage, the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element are electrically connected in parallel to the battery cell, thereby simultaneously heating the first heating element, the second heating element, and the third heating element. An aerosol generator characterized by including a circuit configured as follows.

17. A tubular body and The main body comprises a first heating element, a second heating element, and a third heating element arranged sequentially in the vertical direction, The heater includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode for conducting current, A heater for an aerosol generator, characterized in that the first heating element and the second heating element are electrically connected in parallel between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the third heating element is connected between the first electrode and the third electrode.

Images