Aerosol generator

Abstract

An aerosol generating device (100) is provided. The aerosol generating device includes a chamber (102) with an opening (104) for receiving an aerosol-generating medium (140), a heating element (106) configured to heat the aerosol-generating medium, and a movable base (108) configured to move along the length of the chamber, the movable base including one or more passages (116) configured to allow airflow through the movable base. The movable base divides the chamber to define a first region (136) toward the opening and a second region (138) away from the opening. One or more air inlets are disposed in the second region of the chamber and configured to provide an airflow path from outside the device to the second region by one or more air inlet passages (124) connecting one or more air inlet openings (122) adjacent the opening of the chamber to one or more air inlet openings in the second region of the chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices such as electronic cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular consumer products.

[0003] Heating devices for aerosolization or vaporization are known in the art. Such devices typically include a heater arranged to heat an aerosol generating product. In operation, the aerosol generating product is heated by the heater to aerosolize the components of the product for the consumer to inhale. Such devices are typically designed to heat the aerosol generating product without combustion. The aerosol generating product may be in a form similar to a conventional cigarette or may contain tobacco in a capsule, and other aerosol generating products may be a liquid or the liquid content in a capsule.

[0004] There is a need to improve the consumer experience of such products, and an object of the present invention is to address this need by improving the air flow within such an aerosol generating device.

Summary of the Invention

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to a first aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating device comprising a chamber having an opening for receiving an aerosol generating medium, a heating element configured to heat the aerosol generating medium when the aerosol generating medium is received in the chamber, and a movable base configured to move along the length of the chamber, the movable base including one or more passages configured to allow an air flow through the movable base.

[0006] In this way, the movable base can firmly hold aerosol generating media of different lengths in the chamber and provide an air flow to the aerosol generating media through one or more passages. This air flow path provides improved control of the air flow to the aerosol generating media and adapts to the pressure drop that occurs when a user inhales with the aerosol generating device. Thereby, the user experience is improved.

[0007] Optionally, the movable base divides the chamber, defining a first region facing the opening and a second region away from the opening.

[0008] Optionally, one or more air inlets are disposed in the second region of the chamber, and the one or more air inlets are configured to provide an air flow path from outside the device to the second region.

[0009] In this way, when a user of the aerosol generating device sucks or inhales the aerosol generating media, air outside the aerosol generating device can be drawn into and preheated in the second region of the chamber.

[0010] Optionally, one or more air inlets are disposed in the second region of the chamber, and are configured to provide an air flow path from outside the device to the second region by means of one or more air inlet passages connecting one or more air inlet openings adjacent to the opening of the chamber to the one or more air inlets in the second region of the chamber.

[0011] Optionally, one or more air inlet passages extend parallel to the chamber to feed air into the second region of the chamber.

[0012] In this way, the residual heat from the chamber contributes to preheating the air flow by heating the air in the passage extending parallel to the chamber.

[0013] Optionally, the heating element extends into the chamber in a direction towards the opening.

[0014] In this way, the heating element engages with the aerosol-generating medium so as to effectively heat the aerosol-generating medium to generate an aerosol.

[0015] Optionally, the first region is configured to heat the aerosol-generating medium, and the second region is configured to preheat the air flow to the aerosol-generating medium.

[0016] In this way, preheating of the air flow in the second region of the chamber can improve the user experience by mixing the aerosol generated in the first region of the chamber with the preheated air. This can create a more consistent temperature for the aerosol product. Furthermore, preheating the air before it is drawn into the aerosol-generating medium prevents ambient air (or cold air) inhalation from affecting the heating of the aerosol-generating medium. Such cold air can potentially lower the temperature within the aerosol-generating medium, thereby potentially requiring more power to be supplied to the heating element for aerosolization of the aerosol-generating medium. By preheating the air, the preheated air reduces or prevents the effect of the temperature drop within the aerosol-generating medium, so that less power has to be supplied to the portion of the heating element used for aerosolization.

[0017] Optionally, the movable base is configured to move along the heating element such that a first portion of the heating element is disposed in the first region of the chamber and a second portion of the heating element is disposed in the second region of the chamber.

[0018] In this way, a single heating element can have a first portion within the first region of the chamber for aerosolizing the aerosol-generating medium and a second portion within the second region of the chamber for preheating the air flow to the aerosol-generating medium. The portion of the heating element in the second region of the chamber does not engage with the aerosol-generating medium but can heat the air in the second region, which air is then drawn through the passage of the movable base into the aerosol-generating medium. This arrangement prevents waste of the heat generated at the second portion of the heating element.

[0019] Optionally, the heating element includes a plurality of heating zones configured to be heated separately based on their respective determined heating profiles, and the aerosol generating device further includes a controller configured to determine the position of the movable base along the heating element, and the heating profile is such that the heating zones of a first set of the plurality of heating zones arranged in a first region of the chamber operate at a first temperature, and the heating zones of a second set of the plurality of heating zones arranged in a second region of the chamber operate at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and is determined based on the determined position of the movable base.

[0020] In this way, different temperatures can be applied in the preheating region and the heating region. This can improve the user experience by enabling the setting of desired preheating and heating (or aerosolization) temperatures.

[0021] Optionally, the movable base is movable between an extended position at a first distance from the opening and a retracted position at a second distance from the opening, and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0022] In this way, aerosol generating media of different lengths can be received into the chamber.

[0023] Optionally, the heating element passes through the opening of the movable base.

[0024] Optionally, the movable base has a first surface facing the opening and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the opening, and one or more passages pass through the movable base to connect the first surface to the second surface.

[0025] Optionally, the heating element is a heating blade that can be inserted into the aerosol generating medium when received in the chamber.

[0026] In this way, the heating blade can efficiently aerosolize the aerosol generating medium.

[0027] Optionally, the heating blade includes a piercing end directed towards the opening of the chamber.

[0028] In this way, the heating blade can be efficiently connected to the aerosol generating medium.

[0029] Optionally, the heating element is configured to heat the aerosol generating medium without burning the aerosol generating medium.

[0030] In this way, aerosols are generated while preventing the generation of smoke.

[0031] According to a second aspect, there is provided an aerosol generating system including the aerosol generating device of the first aspect in which the aerosol generating medium is received in the chamber.

[0032] Optionally, for the aerosol generating device of the first aspect or the aerosol generating system of the second aspect, the aerosol generating medium is a tobacco rod.

[0033] Here, embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0034]

Fig. 1A

Fig. 1B

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0035] The aerosol generating device 100 is a device arranged to heat an aerosol generating medium 140 to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a consumer. In a specific example, the aerosol generating medium 140 can be a tobacco rod similar to a conventional rolled cigarette. That is, it is a wrap of tobacco fibers in paper. The aerosol generating device 100 can also be regarded as an electronic cigarette or a vapor generating device. In the context of the present disclosure, the terms vapor and aerosol can be used interchangeably. In some examples, the aerosol generating medium 140 can be a solid such as a liquid or fibrous material, or a combination thereof, that generates vapor or aerosol when heated.

[0036] FIG. 1A shows a cut-away view presenting a cross-section of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0037] The aerosol generating device 100 is configured to receive an aerosol generating medium 140, as shown in FIG. 1B, which shows a cut-away view presenting a cross-section of the aerosol generating device 100 in which the aerosol generating medium 140 is received therein. The aerosol generating medium 140 can contain an aerosol generating material. The aerosol generating medium 140 can be a consumable such as a rolled cigarette, also called a tobacco rod, and the aerosol generating material can be tobacco. The aerosol generating device 100 is configured to heat the aerosol generating medium 140 to generate an aerosol without burning the aerosol generating medium 140. Such a device can be regarded as a "heat-not-burn" device that heats tobacco to generate an aerosol without burning the tobacco.

[0038] In the following description, the aerosol generating medium 140 is referred to as a tobacco rod, but other suitable types of aerosol generating media 140 may be used as an alternative. For example, a cartridge containing a liquid and / or solid aerosol generating material may be used as an alternative.

[0039] The aerosol generating device 100 has a main body 146 in which a chamber 102 is disposed. An opening 104 of the main body 146 provides access to the chamber 102. The chamber 102 is configured to receive a tobacco rod 140 through the opening 104. The chamber 102 may have a cross-sectional size and shape defined by an inner wall 120 of the chamber 102 that corresponds to the size and shape of the tobacco rod 140 such that the tobacco rod 140 fits snugly within the chamber 102 and is held in a predetermined position by the inner wall 120. In one example, the shape of the chamber 102 is substantially cylindrical.

[0040] A heating element 106 is disposed within the chamber 102 and is configured to heat the tobacco rod 140 when received within the chamber 102. In the examples of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the heating element 106 is a heating blade that extends from the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 into the interior of the chamber 102. Such a heating blade 106 may be elongated in the axial direction of the chamber 102, planar in the radial direction of the chamber 102, and may have a piercing end 130 that tapers to a point at the end closest to the opening 104. The bottom 114 of the chamber 102 can be regarded as the end of the chamber 102 opposite the opening 104. The heating element 106 extends from the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 towards the opening 104 of the chamber 102. The heating element 106 can extend completely along the axial length of the chamber 102 or can extend through a substantial portion of the axial length of the chamber 102. The heating element 106 is disposed substantially centrally within the chamber 102 and is dimensioned to fit around the tobacco rod 140. When inserted into the chamber 102, the first end 142 of the tobacco rod 140 is pierced by the heating element 106 and as the tobacco rod 140 is further pushed into the chamber 102, the heating element 106 engages the tobacco rod 140 by sliding through the axial length of the tobacco rod 140.

[0041] In an alternative embodiment, the heating element 106 may instead be incorporated into or attached to the inner wall 120 of the chamber 102 so as to surround the tobacco rod 140. In such an alternative embodiment, the heating element 106 can be a coil heater.

[0042] The heating element 106 is coupled to a power supply 132, such as a battery, and a controller 134 that operably controls the aerosol generator 100. The battery 132 and the controller 134 can be housed within the body 146 of the aerosol generator 100. The controller 134 detects when a heater ignition button (not shown) is pressed and controls the flow of power from the battery to the heating element 106 to heat the heating element 106 for an aerosolization session. The controller 134 can be a microcontroller unit and can include one or more processors and a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors to control the operation of the aerosol generator 100.

[0043] The tobacco rod 140 that can be inserted into the chamber 102 has a mouthpiece portion 148 at a second end 144 opposite the first end 142. In some examples, the mouthpiece portion 148 includes a filter plug. The tobacco rod 140 is composed of a mouthpiece portion 148 adjacent to an aerosolizable portion (e.g., a tobacco portion including tobacco fibers) that contains an aerosolizable material. When received in the chamber 102, the aerosolizable portion is housed within the chamber 102, and the mouthpiece portion 148 of the tobacco rod 140 extends outwardly from the opening 104. In this way, a user of the aerosol generator 100 can inhale through the mouthpiece portion 148 during an aerosolization session when the tobacco rod 140 is inserted into the chamber 102.

[0044] One or more air inlets 122 are disposed within the body 146 of the aerosol generating device 100 and are connected to the chamber 102 by an air inlet passage 124. When a user of the aerosol generating device 100 inhales on the tobacco rod 140, the pressure within the chamber 102 decreases and air is drawn into the chamber 102 from outside the device through the air inlet passage 124. The air inlet passage 124 is arranged to direct air into the chamber 102 substantially towards or at the bottom 114 of the chamber 102. In some examples, the opening for the air inlet 122 may be disposed adjacent to the opening 104 of the chamber 102 at an end face of the body 146 of the aerosol generating device 100. In such examples, the air inlet passage 124 can extend parallel to the length of the chamber 102 to direct air into the bottom of the chamber 102, which can be considered an in-flow counter-current as the air flow into the chamber moves substantially in the opposite direction to the air flow moving through the chamber 102 and towards the opening 104 through the tobacco rod 140. Disposing the opening for the air inlet 122 adjacent to the opening 104 of the chamber 102 prevents an operator from inadvertently blocking the opening of the air inlet 122 with their hand when holding the aerosol generating device 100. Residual heat from the chamber 102 can also warm the air flow as it passes through the passage 124 parallel to the chamber 102. In other examples, the opening for the air inlet 122 may be disposed in a side wall of the body 146 in a location proximate to the bottom of the chamber 102 to provide the shortest air flow path into the chamber 102 within the air flow passage 124.

[0045] The movable base 108 is placed within the chamber 102. The movable base 108 is configured to move in the axial direction of the chamber 102 (i.e., the direction towards and away from the opening 104 of the chamber 102) along the length of the chamber 102. The movable base 108 can be attached to a guide track that guides the movement of the movable base 108 through the chamber 102. The movable base 108 is a platform that the first end 142 of the tobacco rod 140 presses against when the tobacco rod 140 is inserted into the chamber 102. The movable base 108 has a cross-sectional shape and size that are approximately equal to that of the chamber 102, and a thickness dimension that is considerably smaller than the depth of the chamber 102. In one example, the movable base 108 may have a thickness of 2 to 10 mm, and the chamber 102 may have a depth of 10 to 50 mm.

[0046] In some examples, the movable base 108 may be elastically biased by a spring or the like to a first position, or an extended position, within the chamber 102 (FIG. 1A). The first position may be substantially centered with respect to the length of the chamber 102 or towards the opening 104. When the tobacco rod 140 is pushed into the chamber 102, it presses against the movable base 108, and the movable base 108 moves downward within the chamber 102 away from the opening 104 against the elastic biasing force. The frictional force between the tobacco rod 140 and the inner wall 120 of the chamber 102 overcomes the elastic biasing force, holding the tobacco rod 140 in a predetermined position and holding the movable base 108 in a second position, or a contracted position, closer to the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 (FIG. 1B). That is, the movable base 108 is movable between an extended position at a first distance from the opening 104 and a contracted position at a second distance from the opening 104, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. Tobacco rods of different lengths may be inserted into the chamber 102. If the tobacco rod 140 is of a short length equal to or less than the depth of the chamber 102, it is disadvantageous for the tobacco to fall into the chamber 102 to such an extent that the mouthpiece portion 148 no longer extends sufficiently outside the chamber 102. The elastic biasing force applied to the movable base 108 prevents the tobacco rod 140 from slipping further into the chamber 102 than desired. In this way, the movable base 108 secures the tobacco rod 140 in an operable position within the chamber 102 such that the mouthpiece portion 148 of the tobacco rod 140 extends from the chamber 102.

[0047] Alternatively, or additionally, in other examples, the position of the movable base 108 can be manually controlled by the user of the aerosol generating device 100 between a first position (FIG. 1A) and a second position (FIG. 1B). For example, the movable base 108 can be connected to an electric motor or solenoid that drives the movable base 108 in a direction towards the opening 104 and away from the opening 104. The electric motor or solenoid is controlled by a controller 134 of the aerosol generating device 100 and is configured to move along the length of the chamber 102 in response to a user of the device selecting an input configured to instruct the controller 134 to move the movable base 108. In another example, the movable base 108 can be manually moved by the user of the aerosol generating device 100 in a mechanical manner. A through pin disposed in a slot or threaded glove can connect the movable base 108 to a handle external to the aerosol generating device 100, and this handle mechanically moves the movable base 108 along the length of the chamber 102 when moved by the user in a sliding or rotational manner. Advantageously, these means for adjusting the position of the movable base 108 enable the user of the aerosol generating device 100 to adjust the depth of the chamber 102, so that different lengths of tobacco rods can be received within the chamber 102 while ensuring that the mouthpiece portion 148 of the tobacco rod 140 still extends from the chamber 102 for the user to inhale.

[0048] The form of the movable base 108 can be disk-shaped. The movable base 108 has a first surface 110 facing towards the opening 104 of the chamber 102 and a second surface 112 on the opposite side of the movable base 108 to the first surface 110, facing towards the bottom 114 of the chamber 102.

[0049] A slot 118 through which the heating element 106 passes is disposed in the movable base 108. In this way, the movable base 108 can move along the length of the heating element 106 when moving within the chamber 102.

[0050] One or more holes 116 are disposed in the movable base 108. These holes 116 are through-holes that form passages 116 connecting the first surface 110 of the movable base 108 to the second surface 112 so as to allow an air flow to pass through the movable base 108. The through-holes 116 extend through the movable base 108 in the axial length direction of the chamber 102, that is, in the direction in which the tobacco rod 140 is inserted into the chamber 102.

[0051] The through-holes 116 provide an air flow path from the air inlet 122 to the tobacco rod 140. During use, when a user of the aerosol generating device 100 inhales at the mouthpiece portion 148 of the tobacco rod 140, air is drawn through the through-hole 112 of the movable base 108, into and through the tobacco rod 140, causing a pressure drop in the chamber 102. To balance this pressure drop, air is drawn into the chamber 102 from the air inlet 122 through the air inlet passage 124. As the user continues to inhale, the air flow moves through the through-hole 116 or passage of the movable base 108 to the first end 142 of the tobacco rod 140. The air flow interacts with the aerosol generated by the tobacco rod 140 to form an aerosol product that is drawn out through the mouthpiece portion 148 when the user inhales. That is, the through-holes 116 of the movable base 108 contribute to an air flow path that enters the chamber 102 from the air inlet 122, through the air inlet passage 124, through the through-holes 116 of the movable base 108, into the first end 142 of the tobacco rod 140, through the aerosolizable portion of the tobacco rod 140 and the mouthpiece portion 148 of the tobacco rod 140, and out of the second end 144 of the tobacco rod 140.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the movable base 108. In the example of FIG. 2, six through holes 116 are distributed around the slot 118 through which the heating element 106 passes. The slot 118 for the heating element 106 is placed at the center of the movable base 108 so as to correspond to the central position of the heating element 106 within the chamber 102. The six through holes 116 are presented for illustrative purposes only, and it will be understood that the movable base 108 may include any suitable number of through holes 116. The through holes 116 need not be distributed around the slot 118 in the arrangement depicted in FIG. 2, but instead can be distributed within the movable base 108 in any suitable arrangement. The upper limit on the number of through holes 116 can be set at the point where additional through holes 116 become disadvantageous due to weakening of the structural integrity of the movable base 108. It is preferable to have as many through holes 116 as possible in order to enable an even air flow to the tobacco rod 140 without substantially weakening the structural integrity of the movable base 108.

[0053] Preferably, the through holes 116 are distributed substantially evenly and / or symmetrically in the movable base 108 so as to provide an even air flow to the tobacco rod 140.

[0054] The slot 118 can be dimensioned to have a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the heating element 106, which is slightly larger so that the heating element 106 can pass through the slot 118 without being restricted. The gap between the heating element 106 and the edge of the slot 118 can, in addition to the through holes 116, enable a further air flow path through the movable base 108. Alternatively, the slot 118 can be dimensioned so that the heating element 106 fits through the slot 118 such that there is a snug fit between the heating element 106 and the movable base 108.

[0055] In one example, the through holes 116 can have a diameter in the range of 0.1 - 3.0 mm. The through holes 116 are preferably as large as possible in order to enable an even air flow to the tobacco rod without weakening the structural integrity of the movable base 108.

[0056] The movable base 108 can be made of a material that resists deformation when heat is applied so as to prevent the movable base 108 from deforming when the heating element 106 heats the tobacco rod 140. Such materials can include, for example, metals, plastics, and ceramics. The movable base 108 is also preferably formed of a thermally conductive material so as to assist in the spread of heat across the end of the tobacco rod 140 that abuts the movable base 108. This can contribute to warming the air flow to the tobacco rod 140. An example of such a material is aluminum.

[0057] As described above, in some examples, the heating element 106 can be disposed within or on the inner wall 120 of the chamber 102. In such examples, when there is no heating element 106 at the center of the chamber 102, the movable base 108 need not have a slot 118 for the heating element 106.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cut-away view of the region of the chamber 102 of the aerosol generating device 100, with the tobacco rod 140 not shown for clarity.

[0059] Due to the axial displacement of the movable base 108 from the opening 104 and the bottom 114 of the chamber 102, the movable base 108 divides the chamber 102 into two regions: a first chamber region 136 towards the opening 104 and a second chamber region 138 towards the bottom 114 of the chamber 102. That is, the movable base 108 divides the chamber 102 such that it has a first region 136 towards the opening 104 and a second region 138 away from the opening 104. The first region 136 and the second region 138 of the chamber 102 are separated by the movable base 108. The first surface 110 of the movable base 108 faces the first region 136 of the chamber 102, and the second surface 112 of the movable base 108 faces the second region 138 of the chamber 102.

[0060] The heating element 106 extends along the axial length of the chamber 102 through the movable base 108, so the heating element 106 is also divided into two parts by the movable base 108. The first part 150 of the heating element 106 is disposed within the first region 136 of the chamber 102, and the second part 152 of the heating element 106 is disposed within the second region 138 of the chamber 102. This division of the heating element 106 into two parts is presented in FIG. 4, which shows a cutaway view of the movable base 108 that axially divides the heating element 106 into the first part 150 and the second part 152.

[0061] When the movable base 108 moves, the length of the heating element 106 forming the first part 150 and the length forming the second part 152 change. Similarly, when the movable base 108 moves, the volume of the chamber 102 forming the first region 136 and the volume forming the second region 138 change.

[0062] As described, the movable base 108 is either pushed towards the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 by the tobacco rod 140 or moved towards the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 to accommodate the tobacco rod 140. In either case, the movable base 108 does not move completely to the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 (as shown in FIG. 1B), so the second region 138 of the chamber 102 can still exist when the tobacco rod 140 is received into the chamber 102.

[0063] When inserted into the chamber 102, the tobacco rod 140 is placed only in the first region 136 of the chamber 102 and not in the second region 138. The first part 150 of the heating element is inserted into the tobacco rod 140 so as to aerosolize the tobacco portion of the tobacco rod 140. The second part 152 of the heating element 106 does not engage the tobacco rod 140. In fact, the second region 138 of the chamber 102 is empty since the tobacco rod 140 is not received in this region, and the second part 152 of the heating element 106 does not directly heat the tobacco rod 140.

[0064] The air inlet passage 124 is disposed toward or at the bottom 114 of the chamber 102 so as to be placed in the second region 138 of the chamber 102. The air inlet passage 124 feeds air from the air inlet 122 into the second region 138 of the chamber 102. When the heating element 106 is triggered to heat the tobacco rod 140, the first portion 150 of the heating element 106 heats the tobacco rod 140, and the second portion 152 of the heating element 106 heats the air within the second region 138 of the chamber 102. That is, when ambient air 126 (air at the temperature outside the device) is drawn into the second region 138 of the chamber 102, it is heated by the second portion 152 of the heating element 106 to form preheated air 128 before being drawn out through the through hole 116 of the movable base 108. This heating of the ambient air 126 in the second region 138 of the chamber 102 forms a preheated air flow 128 to the tobacco rod 140. Thus, the second region 138 of the chamber 102 can be regarded as a preheating region as it preheats the air flow, and the first region 136 of the chamber 102 can be regarded as a heating region as it heats (and aerosolizes) the aerosol generating material.

[0065] In this way, the heat generated in the portion of the heating element 106 that does not engage the tobacco rod 140 is not wasted. This is particularly beneficial for a shorter length tobacco rod. Since a larger portion of the heating element 106 does not engage such a short tobacco rod, a larger portion of the heat would be wasted. The preheating region 138 realized by the movable base 108 and the through hole 116 enables the heat that would otherwise be wasted to be utilized to preheat the air flow rather than being wasted.

[0066] Preheating the air in the second region 138 of the chamber 102 can improve the user experience by mixing the aerosol generated by aerosolizing the aerosol - generating material in the tobacco rod 140 with the preheated air. This can create a more consistent temperature for the aerosol product. Additionally, preheating the air before it is drawn into the tobacco rod 140 prevents the suction of ambient air (or cold air) 126 from affecting the heating of the tobacco rod 140 by the first portion 150 of the heating element 106. Such cold air 126 can potentially lower the temperature inside the tobacco rod 140, thereby potentially requiring more power to be supplied to the heating element 106. By preheating the air 128, the preheated air reduces or prevents the effect of the temperature drop inside the tobacco rod 140, resulting in less power being required to be supplied to the heating element 106 for aerosolization.

[0067] In the foregoing arrangement, the same power is applied to heat both portions of the heating element 106. In the modified arrangement, the heating element 106 can be divided into a plurality of heating zones that are separately supplied with different powers and thus can be heated to different temperatures. The heating zones may be formed by a plurality of sections of a heating track within and along the length of the heating element 106, and each section of the heating track is separately connected to the controller 134 and the power supply 132 so as to be separately controlled for heating purposes.

[0068] The controller 134 can determine the position of the movable base 108 along the axial length of the heating element 106. For example, the controller 134 can determine the position of the movable base 108 along the guide track and determine the corresponding position along the heating element 106 from this position. Based on the determined position of the movable base 108 along the heating element 106, the controller 134 can determine which heating zones are in the first region 136 of the chamber 102 (i.e., which heating zones form the first portion 150 of the heating element 106) and which heating zones are in the second region 138 of the chamber 102 (i.e., which heating zones form the second portion 152 of the heating element 106) in order to select an appropriate heating profile. The heating profile corresponds to the position of the relative position of the movable base along the heating element, and the heating profile may be stored in a memory accessible by the controller. That is, each heating profile corresponds to a different combination of heating zones in the first portion 150 of the heating element 106 and the second portion 152 of the heating element 106.

[0069] For the selected heating profile, the controller 134 controls the power to the heating element 106 such that the heating zones in the first region 136, i.e., the heating zones forming the first portion 150, are heated to a first temperature (or supplied with a first power level), and the heating zones forming the second portion 152 are heated to a second temperature (or supplied with a second power level). The first temperature and the second temperature (or the first power level and the second power level) can be different. In this way, the first portion 150 of the heating element 106 can be heated to a different temperature than the second portion 152. This enables preheating the air in the preheating region using the second portion 152 of the heating element 106 at a temperature different from the temperature of the first portion 150 of the heating element 106 used for aerosolization. For example, it may be preferable to use a higher or lower heating temperature for preheating the air than the temperature used for aerosolization of the aerosol-generating material.

[0070] In some examples, user input can be used to set desired temperatures for a first portion 150 of the heating element 106 (i.e., the aerosolization temperature) and / or a second portion 152 of the heating element 106 (i.e., the preheating temperature).

[0071] In a further modification, the controller 134 can control the power to the heating element 106 such that the heating zones within the second portion 152 of the heating element 106 are not heated (i.e., power is not supplied to them). In this way, the air is not preheated in the second region 138 of the chamber 102. In some examples, this can save battery power as power is only supplied to the first portion 150 of the heating element 106 that is required for aerosolization of the aerosol-generating material.

[0072] In the previous description, the movable base 108 has been described as being movable within the chamber 102. However, in an alternative, such a base that divides the chamber 102 may instead be fixed in position within the chamber 102. That is, the features previously described in relation to the movable base 108 may instead be incorporated into a fixed base arranged along the length of the heating element 106 so as to divide the chamber 102 into a heating region 138 and a preheating region 138.

[0073] In the previous description, the aerosol-generating medium 140 has been described as a tobacco rod 140. In an alternative, other suitable types of aerosol-generating medium 140 may be used. In one example, the aerosol-generating medium 140 may instead be a cartridge containing a liquid and / or solid aerosol-generating material. The heating element 106 can be inserted into the cartridge and the through-hole 116 of the movable base 108 can supply an air flow to the cartridge.

[0074] It will be readily understood that any feature of any of the embodiments described herein can be readily combined with any feature of any of the other embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a chamber having an opening for receiving an aerosol generating medium; a heating element configured to heat the aerosol generating medium when the aerosol generating medium is received in the chamber; a movable base configured to move along the length of the chamber, the movable base including one or more passages configured to allow an air flow through the movable base, the movable base dividing the chamber and defining a first region facing the opening and a second region away from the opening; one or more air inlets disposed in the second region of the chamber, the one or more air inlets being configured to provide an air flow path from outside the device to the second region by way of one or more air inlet passages connecting one or more air inlet openings adjacent to the opening of the chamber to the one or more air inlets in the second region of the chamber; and wherein the first region is configured to heat the aerosol generating medium and the second region is configured to preheat an air flow to the aerosol generating medium.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more air inlet passages extend parallel to the chamber for feeding air into the second region of the chamber.

3. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element extends into the chamber in a direction towards the opening.

4. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the movable base is configured to move along the heating element such that a first portion of the heating element is disposed in the first region of the chamber and a second portion of the heating element is disposed in the second region of the chamber.

5. The heating element includes a plurality of heating zones configured to be heated separately based on respective determined heating profiles. The aerosol generating device further includes a controller configured to determine the position of the movable base along the heating element, and the heating profile is such that a first set of heating zones of the plurality of heating zones arranged in the first region of the chamber operate at a first temperature, and a second set of heating zones of the plurality of heating zones arranged in the second region of the chamber operate at a second temperature different from the first temperature, and is determined based on the determined position of the movable base. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4.

6. The movable base is movable between an extended position at a first distance from the opening and a retracted position at a second distance from the opening, and the second distance is greater than the first distance. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The heating element passes through an opening of the movable base. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The movable base has a first surface facing the opening and a second surface on the opposite side of the first surface and facing away from the opening, and the one or more passages pass through the movable base to connect the first surface to the second surface. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. The heating element is a heating blade that can be inserted into the aerosol generating medium when received in the chamber. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. The heating blade includes a piercing end portion directed toward the opening of the chamber. The aerosol generating device according to claim 9.

11. The heating element is configured to heat the aerosol generating medium without burning the aerosol generating medium. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. An aerosol generating system including the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the aerosol generating medium is received in the chamber.

13. The aerosol generating medium is a tobacco rod. The aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 or the aerosol generating system according to claim 12.

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