Heater for consumables including solid aerosol generating substrate

Abstract

A heater for heating a consumable including a solid aerosol-generating substrate, the heater comprising: a base; and a heating element attached to a support surface of the base, the heating element including a mold surface configured to deform and heat the aerosol-generating substrate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a heater for an aerosol generating device. In particular, the present application relates to a heater configured to heat a solid aerosol generating substrate to generate an aerosol. Such a device can heat a tobacco or other suitable aerosol generating substrate material by conduction, convection and / or radiation rather than burning it to generate an aerosol for inhalation.

Background Art

[0002] The popularity and use of risk reduction devices or risk modification devices (also called vaporizers) as an aid to help smokers who wish to quit smoking conventional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos and roll-your-own cigarettes have grown rapidly in recent years. A variety of devices and systems are available for heating or warming aerosolizable substances, which is different from burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

[0003] Commercially available risk reduction devices or risk modification devices are aerosol generating devices or non-combustion heating devices that heat a substrate. This type of device typically generates an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol generating substrate containing moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolizable material to a temperature typically in the range of 150 to 350 °C. By heating rather than burning or combusting the aerosol generating substrate, an aerosol is released that contains the components desired by the user but does not contain toxic and carcinogenic by-products resulting from combustion and burning. Furthermore, the aerosol produced by heating tobacco or other aerosolizable material typically does not contain the burnt or bitter taste resulting from combustion and burning, which can be unpleasant for the user, and thus the substrate does not require sugars and other additives typically added to such materials to make the smoke and / or vapor more palatable to the user.

[0004] In such devices, it is desirable to improve the heating rate and efficiency. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an alternative heater configuration that can improve either or both the heating rate and / or heating efficiency, or that can be controlled to improve either the heating rate or heating efficiency.

[0005] In a previous application by the present applicant, European Patent Application Publication No. 20176125.1, the above-mentioned problem is addressed by a layered heating structure, in which heat is supplied to the heating surface on the opposite side of the heating layer by being transferred from a conductive track through an electrically insulating layer and then through a heat-conducting layer (e.g., a layer of stainless steel). In this arrangement, the conductive track is separated from and protected from the heating surface, and the heating surface can be easily cleaned. However, it is still believed that the heating rate and efficiency can be further improved. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect, the disclosure provides a heater for heating a consumable including a solid aerosol generating substrate, comprising a base and a heating element attached to a support surface of the base, wherein the heating element includes a molded surface configured to deform and heat the aerosol generating substrate.

[0007] This configuration allows the heating element to reach closer to the center of the aerosol-generating substrate, and therefore heat can be delivered more efficiently throughout the entire aerosol-generating substrate.

[0008] Optionally, the heating element includes a thick conductive track that extends along and protrudes from the support surface. This configuration ensures that the heat-generating location is positioned as close as possible to the aerosol-generating substrate to further enhance heating efficiency.

[0009] Optionally, the heater includes a substrate that protrudes from the base to form a molded or bladed shape, and conductive tracks on the substrate. This configuration allows for the creation of a molded surface without increasing the thickness of the heating element.

[0010] Optionally, the circuit board is an extension of the base.

[0011] Optionally, the conductive track may have a meandering configuration. This configuration increases the resistance of the conductive track in a given region of the support surface.

[0012] Optionally, the heating element protrudes at least 0.5 mm from the support surface.

[0013] Optionally, the base comprises a porous ceramic material, and at least a portion of the supporting surface is exposed to receive vapor or aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating substrate. This configuration provides increased space for vapor / aerosol formation near the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0014] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generator comprising a substrate storage chamber configured to receive consumables including a solid aerosol generating substrate, wherein the substrate storage chamber includes a heater according to a first aspect, which is disposed on the surface of the heating chamber and whose support surface faces the inside of the substrate storage chamber.

[0015] Optionally, the aerosol generator further includes an air passage for drawing air through the aerosol generator, and a heater is positioned between the substrate storage chamber and the air passage. This configuration provides a physical barrier between the substrate and the air passage, thereby ensuring that the substrate does not enter the air passage and simplifying maintenance of the air passage.

[0016] Optionally, the heating element extends across almost the entire surface of the substrate storage chamber.

[0017] Optionally, the aerosol generating device further includes a compression element configured to press and compress a consumable against a heater. By compressing the substrate, the efficiency of heating and vapor / aerosol generation is increased.

[0018] According to a third aspect, the present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system including a heater and a consumable according to the first aspect, wherein the heating element protrudes from the surface of the ceramic base by at least 5% of the thickness of the consumable.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a schematic perspective view of a heater. [Figure 2A] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heater. [Figure 2B] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heater configured to deliver heat to an aerosol generating substrate during use. [Figure 3] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of another heater. [Figure 4A-4C] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of an aerosol generating device incorporating the heater of FIG. 2A or 3. [Figure 5] It is a schematic diagram of a specific example of an aerosol generating device. [Figure 6] It is a schematic diagram of a second specific example of an aerosol generating device. [Figure 7A-7C] It is a schematic cross-sectional view of another example of an aerosol generating device incorporating the heater of FIG. 2A or 3.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a heater Ⅰ.

[0021] The heater includes a base 11 and a heating element 12 attached to the support surface of the base 11. Specifically, in this embodiment, the heating element 12 is a first conductive track.

[0022] The first conductive track 12 is operable to generate heat by resistive heating as current flows along the track. The first conductive track 12 may have a meandering shape, for example, to increase the length and resistance of the track. At each end 121 of the first conductive track 12, there is an electrical connector for attaching a power source to the first conductive track 12. In this embodiment, the electrical connector is a solder pad, although any other type of electrical connector may be used.

[0023] The heater 1 optionally also includes a second conductive track 13 attached to the support surface of the base 11. The second conductive track 13 is used to detect temperature based on the resistance-temperature characteristics of the second conductive track 13. That is, by measuring the resistance value of the second track 13 and using the resistance-temperature characteristics to convert the resistance value to a temperature value, the second conductive track 13 indirectly detects temperature. The resistance-temperature characteristics may be specifically measured for the second conductive track 13 or may be calculated based on the material and dimensions of the second conductive track 13. At each end 131 of the second conductive track 13, there is an electrical connector for attaching a power source to the second conductive track 13. In this embodiment, the electrical connector is a solder pad, although any other type of electrical connector may be used.

[0024] The heating element 12 and the second conductive track 13 may each be formed of a conductive material such as copper or graphite. More preferably, the heating element 12 (and also optionally the second conductive track 13) is formed of an inert material (such as gold or platinum) that does not oxidize even when heated.

[0025] The second conductive track 13 is configured such that its electrical resistance is higher than that of the heating element 12 at a given temperature (e.g., room temperature of 20°C). The higher the resistance of the second track 13, the more sensitive it is to temperature changes, while the lower the resistance of the heating element 12, the greater the current drawn into the heating element 12 and the faster the heating rate. This difference in resistance can be achieved by using different materials. For example, the heating element 12 may contain copper, while the second conductive track 13 may contain platinum, stainless steel, or conductive ceramic. Platinum has the advantage, in particular, that its resistance changes very linearly with temperature. As an addition or alternative, the difference in resistance can also be achieved by forming the tracks with different dimensions. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the second conductive track 13 is longer and thinner than the first conductive track 12.

[0026] In some embodiments, instead of having separate conductive tracks for heating and temperature sensing, a single conductive track may perform both functions. That is, the second conductive track 13 may be omitted, and temperature sensing may be performed by measuring the resistance of the first conductive track 12 and using the resistance-temperature characteristics of the first conductive track 12. Furthermore, a separate temperature sensor that does not form part of the structure in Figure 1 may be used.

[0027] Additionally, in some embodiments, two or more heating elements (e.g., conductive tracks) may be configured to generate heat independently, thereby allowing the overall heating rate to be varied by changing the number of heating elements to which power is supplied.

[0028] Figure 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater 1 along the dashed line X marked in Figure 1. Figure 2B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heater 1 configured to deliver heat to the aerosol generating substrate 2 during use.

[0029] The heating element 12 is operable to radiate heat during use, as shown in Figure 2B, in order to deliver heat to the aerosol generating substrate 2.

[0030] When the aerosol-generating substrate 2 is heated, steam is formed, and the steam then cools to form an aerosol.

[0031] The base 11 preferably comprises a porous material such as a porous ceramic, and at least a portion of the support surface on which the heating element 12 is placed is exposed to receive vapor or aerosol. Since the porous ceramic has pores through which vapor or aerosol can pass, the porous base can receive vapor or aerosol generated from the aerosol generating substrate 2, providing further space for the vapor to form and cool to become aerosol particles. Additionally, the porous ceramic can carry the vapor or aerosol from the aerosol generating substrate 2 toward, for example, a place where a user can inhale the aerosol. On the other hand, using a ceramic material has the advantage of high heat resistance. That is, the porous ceramic can support vapor / aerosol generation near the heating element 12 without being damaged. For example, the porous ceramic may be similar to the liquid conductor described in European Patent Application Publication No. 3526972A1.

[0032] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the base 11 does not have to be porous and may instead consist of stainless steel (e.g., stainless steel of grade 1.4404 (316L) or 1.4301 (304)). In such embodiments, an electrical insulator may be placed between the heating element 12 and the base 11.

[0033] In addition to extending along the support surface of the base 11 as shown in Figure 1, the heating element 12 may include a thick conductive track protruding from the support surface as shown in Figure 2A. This type of thick conductive track forms a mold surface, which reaches near the center of the substrate by deforming the solid aerosol generating substrate, thereby delivering heat to the substrate more efficiently. To avoid reducing the resistance of the resistive track, the thick conductive track may be configured as a thin blade projection from the support surface.

[0034] As further shown in Figure 2A, a protective layer 14 is provided covering the heating element 12 and the second conductive track 13. The protective layer 14 is configured to protect the heating element 12 and the second conductive track 13 from oxidation when they become hot during use. Furthermore, the material of the protective layer 14 may be selected to be an electrical insulator, which allows the winding routing of the first and second conductive tracks 12 and 13 to be packed more densely without the risk of short circuits. The protective layer 14 may include, for example, silica, polyimide, alumina, or photoresist material. The protective layer 14 may have a thickness of, for example, 1 to 2 nm.

[0035] However, in order to maximize thermal contact between the heating element 12 and the aerosol generating substrate 2, the protective layer 14 is preferably omitted. If the heating element 12 is made of an inert material that does not oxidize even at high temperatures, the protective layer 14 may be omitted.

[0036] In order to better correlate the temperature detected by the second conductive track 13 with the temperature resulting from heat generation in the heating element 12, it is preferable to position the second conductive track close to the heating element 12.

[0037] In order to correlate the temperature detected by the second conductive track 13 with the temperature resulting from heat generation in the first conductive track 12, the first conductive track 12 should be positioned to surround the second conductive track 13. Referring again to Figure 1, the first conductive track 12 forms an open loop between two electrical contacts at the end 121 of the first conductive track 12, which are aligned on one side of the heater assembly 1. The second conductive track 13 is confined between the first conductive track 12 and the side of the layered heater assembly where the contacts 121 are located, which means that the second conductive track 13 is almost completely surrounded by the first conductive track 12.

[0038] Advantageously, the second conductive track 13 may similarly form an open loop between its two ends 131, and the electrical contacts of both tracks may be aligned along one side of the heater.

[0039] Referring to Figure 2B, the heater 1 is designed for use in which the aerosol generating substrate 2 rests on the heating element 12 of the heater 1 and the support surface of the base 11.

[0040] Aerosol generating substrate 2 is a solid substrate that may contain, for example, nicotine or tobacco and an aerosol former. Here, the term solid encompasses soft and unsolidified materials and is mainly used to distinguish it from liquid aerosol generating substrate 2. Tobacco can take the form of various materials, e.g., shredded tobacco, granular tobacco, tobacco leaves and / or reconstituted tobacco. Suitable aerosol formers include polyols (e.g., sorbitol, glycerol and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol) and non-polyols (e.g., monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, esters such as triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, triethyl citrate, glycerin or vegetable glycerin). In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent may be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol. The substrate may contain at least one of a gelling agent, a binder, a stabilizer, and a humectant.

[0041] The thick conductive track of the heating element 11 may protrude from the support surface by a projection distance of at least 5% of the thickness D of the consumable. In absolute terms, the projection distance is preferably at least around 0.5 mm, and more preferably at least around 0.75 mm.

[0042] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of another heater 1 along the dashed line X marked in Figure 1.

[0043] In another heater 1 shown in Figure 3, the heater 1 further includes an extension 15, the extension 15 protruding from the base 11 and forming one or more mold shapes or blade shapes configured to deform the aerosol generating substrate 2.

[0044] In another heater 1 shown in Figure 3, the heating element 12 does not need to be thick, and the molded surface of the heating element 12 may simply include a flat heating element 12 placed on the extension 15. For example, the extension 15 may protrude from the base 11 by a projection distance of at least 0.5 mm, more preferably at least 0.75 mm. On the other hand, the heating element 12 may be a thin conductive track, and its thickness may be about 100 nm to 1 μm. In one specific example, the thickness of the first conductive track 12 is 500 nm, and the thickness of the second conductive track 13 is 300 nm.

[0045] The extension 15 is preferably an integral part of the base 11. If the base 11 is porous, the presence of the extension 15 increases the surface area for vapor / aerosol to escape from the aerosol generating substrate 2 when the heating element 11 heats the aerosol generating substrate 2.

[0046] Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C are schematic cross-sectional views of an example of an aerosol generator 3 incorporating the heater assembly 1 described above, with reference to Figure 2A or 3, where lines x, y, and z indicate the relative planes of the cross-sectional view.

[0047] The aerosol generator 3 includes a first housing element 31 and a second housing element 32. When the aerosol generator 3 is in the closed position as shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the cooperation of the first housing element 31 and the second housing element 32 defines a substrate storage chamber 33, in which a portion 2 of the aerosol-generating substrate aerosol is sealed, and an aerosol is generated from the portion 2 of the aerosol-generating substrate.

[0048] The first housing element 31 includes a recess 33 (receiving means) for receiving a portion 2 of the aerosol generating substrate, and the second housing element 32 includes a lid surface 332 positioned opposite the flat bottom surface 331 of the recess. The recess 33 may be substantially rectangular and have a length L and width W and a depth d in the plane of Figure 4A. The portion 2 of the aerosol generating substrate may have the same length L and width W, but may have a depth D.

[0049] Additionally, when the aerosol generator 3 is in the closed position, the lid surface 332 is positioned opposite the bottom surface 331 of the recess 33, and if the depth D of portion 2 is greater than the depth d of the recess 33, portion 2 is compressed toward the bottom surface 331 of the recess 33 by the lid surface 332. In this embodiment, the lid surface 332 is simply a functional extension of the flat surface around the second housing element 32, and is a portion of the flat surface that is positioned opposite the bottom surface of the recess 33 when in the closed position.

[0050] The heater assembly 1 is positioned to supply heat to the substrate storage chamber 33 on surface 331 in order to heat the aerosol-generating substrate and generate an aerosol. That is, the support surface of the base 11 is positioned to correspond to surface 331 and faces into the substrate storage chamber 33. Preferably, the heating element 12 extends over substantially the entire surface 331 to broaden the surface area for delivering heat to the aerosol-generating substrate 2.

[0051] Combining the heater 1 of the present invention with the aerosol generating substrate by compressing it between surfaces 331 and 332 means that the molded surface of the heater 1 deforms portion 2 of the aerosol generating substrate according to the molded surface of the heating element 11. Because the heating element 1 deforms portion 2 due to pressure, the heating element 11 is suitable for increasing the surface area of ​​the aerosol generating substrate 2. Additionally, compressing a specific portion of the aerosol generating substrate according to the molded surface improves the efficiency of heating the aerosol generating substrate.

[0052] However, compressing the aerosol-generating substrate reduces the available space within the substrate where vapor / aerosols can form. The porous base 11 can compensate for this by providing additional porous space where vapor / aerosols can form.

[0053] The aerosol-generating substrate portion 2 may optionally include a pressure-activated heat-generating element, such as a capsule for an exothermic reaction component.

[0054] The apparatus 3 also includes an air passage 35 that penetrates the substrate storage chamber 33, which is provided to extract the generated aerosol from the substrate storage chamber 33. In the embodiments shown in Figures 4A-4C, the air passage 35 includes an inlet 351 connected between the outside of the apparatus 3 and one end of the substrate storage chamber 33, and an outlet 352 connected between the outside of the apparatus 3 and the other end of the substrate storage chamber 33. The outside of the apparatus 3, around the outlet 352, is configured as a mouthpiece so that the user can inhale air and aerosol from the apparatus 3. Alternatively, air may be artificially blown through the air passage 35 (e.g., by a fan).

[0055] In the embodiments shown in Figures 4A to 4C, the first housing member 31 and the second housing member 32 are connected by one or more fasteners 36 (hinge in this example) along a substantially aligned pivot line in the longitudinal direction between the inlet 351 and the outlet 352. The first and second housing elements 31 and 32 move between an open position (shown in Figure 4A) and a closed position (shown in Figures 4B and 4C) by rotating on the hinge 36. In the open position, the recess 331 is exposed, allowing for the addition or removal of portions 2 of the aerosol-generating substrate and cleaning of the device 3 (and in particular the heater assembly 1). In the closed position, the substrate storage chamber is complete and aerosol generation is possible. In another embodiment, the first housing member 31 and the second housing member 32 can be completely separated in the open position and interconnected in the closed position (e.g., by one or more releasable fasteners such as magnets or snap-fit ​​connectors).

[0056] Figure 5 is a perspective view in the open position of a first specific example of the aerosol generator 3, which corresponds to the apparatus roughly shown in Figure 4.

[0057] In this example, the first and second housing elements 31 and 32 each include inner portions 311 and 321 and outer portions 314 and 322, respectively. The outer portions 314 and 322 comprise an outer casing configured as a handheld unit. For example, the outer portions 314 and 322 may include a rigid metal casing to support the more fragile inner portions 311 and 321. As an addition or alternative, the outer portions 314 and 322 may have a lower thermal conductivity than the inner portions, which is to protect the user's hands (for example, by providing an elastomer grip on the outer surface of the device).

[0058] Additionally, in the first specific example, the air passage 35 includes an inlet 351 by including a plurality of different inlets 3511 (two in this example) at one end of the outer portion 322 of the second housing element 32. Thus, air flows into two parallel passages. These passages are formed as grooves on the surface of the inner portion 321 of the second housing element 32, connected between the inlet and outlet. These grooves are surrounded and separated by a portion of the compression surface 332, which has the effect of providing an improved aerosol generation region adjacent to the improved airflow region within portion 2 of the aerosol generation substrate.

[0059] These grooves have a flow path with a varying width between the inlet and outlet, with the inlet being small and the outlet being relatively large. In this configuration, when air is drawn into the device 3 in the closed position, a pressure gradient is generated within the air flow path 35, causing the air pressure adjacent to the aerosol-generating substrate portion 2 to decrease, further increasing aerosol generation.

[0060] Additionally, in the first specific example, the heater assembly (not shown in Figure 5, but configured on the flat bottom surface 331 of the recess in the same manner as in Figures 4B and 4C) is powered by an external power supply connected by wires 16. The device 1 may be manufactured for use with an external power supply, which can be done by cutting or molding a space for the wires 16 into the inner portion 311 of the first housing element 31 and providing a glue-filled portion 381 that separates the air passage 35 from the wires 16. Alternatively, portion 381 may be an additional solid part that fits into a fixed position, such as a snap-fit ​​or pressure-fit part. In some embodiments, the wires 16 connected to the external power supply may be replaced by an internal power supply. Using an internal power supply, the aerosol generator may be provided as a portable, handheld device.

[0061] Furthermore, in the first specific example, the device 3 includes several closing means 391, 392, and 393, which improve the degree to which the device 3 closes in the closed position, thereby making the device 3 easier to operate and enabling better aerosol generation.

[0062] Firstly, the first and second housing elements 31 and 32 are held in place when closed using one or more releasable fasteners (e.g., a pair of opposing magnets 391) located opposite the hinge 36. The presence of releasable fasteners means that it is not necessary to manually hold the device 3 in the closed position while aerosol generation is occurring, thereby making the device easier to use.

[0063] Secondly, a tab surface 392 is provided, which can be manually operated by the user to open and close the device 3 between the open and closed positions. The presence of the tab surface 392 means that the strength of the releasable fastener can be increased without making it difficult for the user to switch the device 3 from the closed position to the open position.

[0064] Thirdly, a gasket 393 is provided, which enhances the sealing of the air passage 35 between the inlet and outlet when in the closed position. The gasket may be made of an elastomer such as rubber.

[0065] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a second specific example of an aerosol generator in the open position.

[0066] In the second specific example, the first and second housing elements 31 and 32 are connected by a pivot line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction between the inlet 351 and the outlet 352. In this example, the inlet may be the gap between the first housing element 31 and the second housing element 32 along the pivot line.

[0067] Additionally, to enhance the seal provided by the gasket 393, the gasket is positioned to engage with the recess 33 and the outer recess wall 316 of the first housing element 31 that extends around the heater assembly 1.

[0068] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, in some embodiments, the wires 16 connected to the external power supply can be replaced with an internal power supply 382. Using an internal power supply, the aerosol generator 3 can be provided as a portable, handheld device. In the example of Figure 7, the internal power supply 382 is located within the extension inlet portion 313 of the device 3, but other arrangements of the internal power supply will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

[0069] Figures 7A, 7B, and 7C are schematic cross-sectional views of alternative examples of the aerosol generator 3 incorporating the heater 1 described above, with reference to Figure 2A or 3, where lines x, y, and z indicate the relative planes of the cross-sectional view.

[0070] This alternative example is almost identical to the example described above, with reference to Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C; only the differences are explained here.

[0071] In this alternative example, the heater 1 is positioned between the substrate storage chamber 33 and the air passage 35, as shown in Figures 7B and 7C.

[0072] As described above, in some embodiments, the base 11 of the heater 1 incorporates a porous material such as porous ceramic. Therefore, steam and / or aerosols can pass through the porous structure of the base 11 and move into the air passage 35.

[0073] As an addition to or alternative to the porous structure of the base bulk material, the base 11 may include one or more ducts specifically configured to allow vapors and / or aerosols to pass through as they move from the substrate storage chamber 33 to the air passage 35.

[0074] As air is drawn in along the air passage 35, the pressure inside the air passage 35 decreases near the base 11, thereby allowing vapor and / or aerosols to be further drawn into the air passage 35 through the porous structure or duct.

[0075] In order to accommodate the heater 1 with the modified configuration, the first housing element 31 and the second housing element 32 may be configured to divide the device 3 in a plane that does not include the air passage 35, unlike the first example in Figures 4A-4C.

[0076] Specifically, the plane of the open aerosol generator 3 shown in Figure 7A corresponds to lines x and z shown in Figures 7B and 7C, and this plane is away from the air passage 35. This means that the air passage 35 is completely enclosed within the first housing element 31 at this point.

[0077] As an alternative to the examples in Figures 7A-7C, the first housing element 31 and the second housing element 32 may be configured to be separated in a plane between the heater assembly 1 and the substrate storage chamber 33, in which case the heater assembly 1 is part of the first housing element 31 and the internal space of the substrate storage chamber 33 is a recess in the second housing element 32.

Claims

1. A heater for heating consumables including a solid aerosol generating substrate, The base and, The heating element attached to the support surface of the base and Includes, The heating element includes a molded surface configured to deform and heat the aerosol generating substrate. The heating element includes a thick conductive track that extends along the support surface and protrudes from the support surface. A heater wherein the base comprises a porous ceramic material, and at least a portion of the support surface is exposed to receive vapor or aerosol generated from the aerosol generating substrate.

2. The heater according to claim 1, further comprising an extension protruding from the base and forming a molded or bladed shape, and a conductive track on the extension.

3. The heater according to claim 2, wherein the extension is integral with the base.

4. The heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conductive track has a meandering shape.

5. The heater according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating element protrudes from the support surface by a projection distance of at least 0.5 mm.

6. Aerosol generating apparatus comprising a substrate storage chamber configured to receive consumables including a solid aerosol generating substrate, wherein the substrate storage chamber comprises a heater according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the heater being disposed on the surface of the substrate storage chamber and the support surface facing the inside of the substrate storage chamber.

7. The aerosol generator according to claim 6, further comprising an air passage for drawing air through the aerosol generator, wherein the heater is positioned between the substrate storage chamber and the air passage.

8. The aerosol generator according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the heating element extends over substantially the entire surface of the substrate storage chamber.

9. The aerosol generating apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a compression element configured to press the consumable against the heater and compress it.

10. An aerosol generating system comprising a heater and the consumables according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the heating element protrudes from the surface of the ceramic base by at least 5% of the thickness of the consumables.

Images