Heater element for an aerosol provision system, and an aerosol provision system

Abstract

A heater element for an aerosol provision system comprises: a heating part, configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the system to produce aerosol; and two electrical connection parts, configured to electrically connect to power electrodes of the system to provide power to the heating part; wherein at least one of the electrical connection parts comprises a first segment, whose resistivity is lower than the resistivity of the heating part. In embodiments, a first segment with lower electrical resistivity than the heater element may be implemented in the electrical connection part that generates heat but is not primarily used for heating the aerosol-generating material.

Description

[0001] HEATER ELEMENT FOR AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM, AND AN AEROSOL PROVISION SYSTEM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] This invention is related to the field of aerosol provision, particularly relating to a heater element for an aerosol provision system and the aerosol provision system.

[0004] Technical Background

[0005] An aerosol provision system refers to a system that contains aerosol-generating material and produces aerosol by heating aerosol-generating material (like tobacco) , rather than burning, for user puffs.

[0006] For heating the aerosol-generating material, the aerosol supply system is equipped with a heater element. The heater element generates heat upon electrification to heat the aerosol-generating material.

[0007] Generally, the heater element comprises a heating part and two electrical connection parts. The heating part is designed to heat the aerosol generating material to produce aerosol, while the two electrical connection parts are configured to connect with the system's power source to supply electricity to the heating part.

[0008] Both the heating part and the electrical connection parts have resistances and can generate heat upon electrification. However, the heat generated by the heating part is primarily used for heating the aerosol-generating material, thus its resistance is referred to as effective resistance, and the heat it generates is considered effective power consumption. On the other hand, the electrical connection parts are mainly used for electrical connections. Although they can generate heat, due to their position and other factors, the heat they produce is not primarily used for heating the aerosol-generating material, thus their resistance is referred to as ineffective resistance, and the heat they generate is considered ineffective power consumption. In current heating elements, the heating part and electrical connection parts are essentially integrated, with the electrical connection parts having relatively high resistance, leading to significant ineffective power consumption.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new technical solution to address one or more of these technical issues.

[0010] Summary of Invention

[0011] The invention aims to solve at least one of the technical issues present in the prior art. Therefore, the present invention discloses a heater element for an aerosol provision system and an aerosol provision system to address the issue of high ineffective power consumption and energy waste in the heater elements of the prior art.

[0012] The first aspect of an embodiment of this invention discloses a heater element for an aerosol provision system, the heater element comprising a heating part, configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the system to produce aerosol; and two electrical connection parts, configured to electrically connect to power electrodes of the system to provide power to the heating part; wherein at least one of the electrical connection parts comprises a first segment body, whose resistivity is lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

[0013] By incorporating a first segment body with a lower electrical resistivity in the electrical connection parts of the heater element, the aim is to reduce ineffective resistance, thereby lowering ineffective power consumption and minimizing energy wastage. As the ineffective resistance decreases, the proportion of effective resistance increases, enhancing the ratio of effective power consumption.

[0014] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the first segment body is composed of a material with a single resistivity to simplify the manufacturing process of the first segment body.

[0015] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the first segment body comprises at least two segmented bodies with different resistivities, and all the segmented bodies have resistivities lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

[0016] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the material of the first segment body comprises nickel; or, the material of the heating part comprises at least one of iron-chromium-aluminum, nickel-chromium, stainless steel, and titanium alloy.

[0017] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the cross-section of the first segment body is circular or rectangular.

[0018] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, when the cross-section of the first segment body is circular, the diameter of the first segment body is between 0.15-0.5mm.

[0019] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the diameter of the first segment body is between 0.3-0.4mm.

[0020] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the electrical connection parts comprise: a fixing part for installing and securing the heater element, and a pin extending from the fixing part to connect with the power electrode, where the pin forms at least a part of the first segment body.

[0021] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the fixing part and the pin together form the first segment body to further reduce ineffective resistance and decrease ineffective power consumption, the design aims to improve the support provided by the fixed part to the heating part

[0022] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the first segment body does not comprise the fixing part.

[0023] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the fixing part is integrally formed with the heating part. The fixed part is engineered to provide better support to the heating part In this design, thereby preventing deformation of the heating part. This enhancement also aims to improve the stability of the connection between the fixed part and the heating part, ensuring overall robustness and efficiency of the system.

[0024] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the fixing part has a different cross-sectional shape from the first segment body.

[0025] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, only one of the electrical connection parts comprises the aforementioned first segment body. The electrical connection part that does not comprise the first segment body is integrally formed with the heating part. This design ensures that one of the electrical connection parts provides better support to the heating part, thus preventing its deformation. The design ensures that one of the electrical connection parts effectively supports the heating part, further preventing its deformation.

[0026] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, when only the pin forms the first segment body, this segment is connected to the fixed part through snap-fitting, press-fitting, or welding methods; or, when both the pin and the fixed part constitute the first segment body, this first segment body is connected to the heating part through snap-fitting, press-fitting, or welding.

[0027] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the heater element is planar, and at least one of the two electrical connection parts is semi-enclosed, set around the outer circumference of the heating part, with the first segment body forming a part of the semi-enclosed shape.

[0028] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, both electrical connection parts are semi-enclosed, set around the outer circumference of the heating part, and together define the housing space of the heating part

[0029] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the semi-enclosed shape is L-shaped.

[0030] The second aspect of an embodiment of this invention discloses a heater element for aerosol supply system, comprising a heating part, configured to heat the aerosol-generating material within the system to produce aerosol; and two electrical connection parts, configured to electrically connect to the power electrodes of the system to provide power to the heating part; wherein at least one of the electrical connection parts includes a first segment body, and the resistance of the first segment body is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.1 Q.

[0031] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the resistivity of the first segment body is lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

[0032] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the resistance range of the heating part is greater than or equal to 1 Q and less than or equal to 2Q.

[0033] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the resistance of the heating part constitutes 80%-95% of the total resistance of the heater element.

[0034] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the heater element referred to here is the same as the one disclosed in the first aspect mentioned above.

[0035] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol supply system in this invention, the resistivity of the heating part is the same as that of all the electrical connection parts.

[0036] The third aspect of an embodiment of this invention discloses an aerosol supply system, the system comprising a housing for containing aerosol-generating material; and a heater element as described in the first or second aspect.

[0037] In one embodiment of the aerosol supply system in this invention, the system comprises an cartomizer bracket, the cartomizer bracket defining an atomization chamber for accommodating the heater element; the electrical connection parts each comprise a fixing part for installing and securing the heater element, and a pin extending from the fixing part to connect with the power electrode; the cartomizer bracket has an cartomizer opening for establishing an electrical connection between the power electrodes and the pins, and the pin extending from at least the fixing part further from the opening forms at least a part of the first segment body. This design ensures that the longer pins are preferably used to form the first segment body, which effectively reduces the ineffective resistance to a greater extent, thereby decreasing ineffective power consumption.

[0038] In one embodiment of the aerosol supply system in this invention, at least the fixing part further from the opening and the pin extending from it form the first segment body.

[0039] In one embodiment of the aerosol supply system in this invention, the electrical connection part closest to the opening does not include the first segment body.

[0040] In one embodiment of the aerosol supply system in this invention, the system comprises a porous ceramic substrate, with the heater element sintered onto the porous ceramic substrate; both electrical connection parts form the first segment body. The heater element is sintered onto a porous ceramic substrate, which mitigates the issue of deformation common with mesh heater elements when adhered to oil guide cotton. This requires less support from the fixed part. Consequently, this allows for as many electrical connection parts as possible to be formed as the first segment body, further reducing ineffective resistance and lowering ineffective power consumption.

[0041] In the embodiments of this invention, by incorporating a first segment body with a lower electrical resistivity than the heating part in the electrical connection parts, the resistance of the electrical connection parts can be reduced. This decrease in resistance reduces the ineffective power consumption generated by the electrical connection parts, thereby avoiding energy wastage. Correspondingly, if the effective resistance remains unchanged, its proportion increases, leading to an increase in effective power consumption. If the overall resistance of the heater element remains constant, then the effective resistance increases, further elevating its proportion and correspondingly increasing the effective power consumption.

[0042] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be partly given in the following description, will become apparent from the following description, or will be learned through the practice of the invention.

[0043] Brief description of the drawings

[0044] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the disclosed content of the present invention will become more understandable. It is easily understood by those skilled in the art that these drawings are only for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Moreover, similar numbers in the figures are used to represent similar components, among which:

[0045] Figures 1-4 are the structural diagrams of the heater elements in different embodiments of the aerosol provision system provided by this invention.

[0046] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional structure diagram of the aerosol provision system in an embodiment of this invention.

[0047] Figures 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views from different perspectives of the aerosol provision system provided in an embodiment of this invention.

[0048] Figure 8 is a partial structural diagram of the aerosol provision system, highlighting the liquid inlet structure, as provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0049] Figure 9 is a three-dimensional schematic of the cartomizer in the aerosol provision system provided by an embodiment of this invention.

[0050] Figure 10 is an exploded view of the cartomizer in the aerosol provision system provided by an embodiment of this invention.

[0051] Figure 11 is a partial structural diagram of the cartomizer provided in an embodiment of this invention.

[0052] Description of drawing labels:

[0053] 100: Housing; 101 : Mouthpiece; 102: Outlet; 103: Inlet; 104: First Seal Cap; 105: Second Seal Cap; 110: Upper Shell; 120: Lower Shell; 200: Containment Chamber; 300: Cartomizer; 310: Atomization Chamber; 320: Cartomizer Bracket; 321 : Structural Component; 322: Cartomizer Opening; 330: Airway Component; 341 : Heater Element; 3410: Heating Part; 3412, 3413: Electrical Connection Parts; 34121 , 34131 : Fixed Parts; 34122, 34132: Pins; 34123, 34133: Support Parts; 342: Oil Guide Body; 350: Base Assembly; 352: Electrode; 353: Atomization Chamber Bottom Cover; 354: First Airway Seal; 400: Power Source; 500: Controller; 600: Liquid Inlet Structure; 610: Support Frame; 611 : Containment Slot; 620: Liquid Inlet Channel; 621 : Annular Groove; 622: Liquid Guide Slot; 6211 : First Side Wall; 630: First Liquid Inlet Hole; 640: Vent Hole; 700: Second Airway Seal; 710: Second Liquid Inlet Hole; 810: First Opening.

[0054] Detailed Description

[0055] The following describes some embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these embodiments are only for explaining the technical principles of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0056] As used herein, the term “delivery system” is intended to encompass systems that deliver at least one substance to a user in use, and includes: combustible aerosol provision systems, such as cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and tobacco for pipes or for roll-your-own or for make-your-own cigarettes (whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco substitutes or other smokable material); non-combustible aerosol provision systems that release compounds from an aerosol-generating material without combusting the aerosol-generating material, such as electronic cigarettes, tobacco heating products, and hybrid systems to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials; and aerosol-free delivery systems that deliver the at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0057] According to the present disclosure, a “combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is combusted or burned during use in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0058] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a system selected from the group consisting of a cigarette, a cigarillo and a cigar.

[0059] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to a component for use in a combustible aerosol provision system, such as a filter, a filter rod, a filter segment, a tobacco rod, a spill, an aerosol-modifying agent release component such as a capsule, a thread, or a bead, or a paper such as a plug wrap, a tipping paper or a cigarette paper.

[0060] According to the present disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol provision system is one where a constituent aerosol-generating material of the aerosol provision system (or component thereof) is not combusted or burned in order to facilitate delivery of at least one substance to a user.

[0061] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol provision system.

[0062] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), although it is noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0063] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a heat-not-burn system. An example of such a system is a tobacco heating system.

[0064] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system is a hybrid system to generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or a plurality of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid or gel and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may comprise, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0065] Typically, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol provision device and a consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device.

[0066] In some embodiments, the disclosure relates to consumables comprising aerosol-generating material and configured to be used with non-combustible aerosol provision devices. These consumables are sometimes referred to as articles throughout the disclosure.

[0067] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a non-combustible aerosol provision device thereof, may comprise a power source and a controller. The power source may, for example, be an electric power source or an exothermic power source. In some embodiments, the exothermic power source comprises a carbon substrate which may be energised so as to distribute power in the form of heat to an aerosol-generating material or to a heat transfer material in proximity to the exothermic power source.

[0068] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol provision system may comprise an area for receiving the consumable, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0069] In some embodiments, the consumable for use with the non-combustible aerosol provision device may comprise aerosol-generating material, an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a filter, a mouthpiece, and / or an aerosol-modifying agent.

[0070] In some embodiments, the delivery system is an aerosol-free delivery system that delivers at least one substance to a user orally, nasally, transdermally or in another way without forming an aerosol, including but not limited to, lozenges, gums, patches, articles comprising inhalable powders, and oral products such as oral tobacco which includes snus or moist snuff, wherein the at least one substance may or may not comprise nicotine.

[0071] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered may be an aerosol-generating material or a material that is not intended to be aerosolised. As appropriate, either material may comprise one or more active constituents, one or more flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and / or one or more other functional materials.

[0072] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises an active substance. The active substance as used herein may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may for example be selected from nutraceuticals, nootropics, psychoactives. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise for example nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, melatonin, cannabinoids, or constituents, derivatives, or combinations thereof. The active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of tobacco, cannabis or another botanical.

[0073] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises nicotine. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises caffeine, melatonin or vitamin B12.

[0074] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise one or more constituents, derivatives or extracts of cannabis, such as one or more cannabinoids or terpenes.

[0075] As noted herein, the active substance may comprise or be derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof. As used herein, the term "botanical" includes any material derived from plants including, but not limited to, extracts, leaves, bark, fibres, stems, roots, seeds, flowers, fruits, pollen, husk, shells or the like. Alternatively, the material may comprise an active compound naturally existing in a botanical, obtained synthetically. The material may be in the form of liquid, gas, solid, powder, dust, crushed particles, granules, pellets, shreds, strips, sheets, or the like.

[0076] Example botanicals are tobacco, eucalyptus, star anise, hemp, cocoa, cannabis, fennel, lemongrass, peppermint, spearmint, rooibos, chamomile, flax, ginger, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, licorice (liquorice), matcha, mate, orange skin, papaya, rose, sage, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, clove, cinnamon, coffee, aniseed (anise), basil, bay leaves, cardamom, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lavender, lemon peel, mint, juniper, elderflower, vanilla, Wintergreen, beefsteak plant, curcuma, turmeric, sandalwood, cilantro, bergamot, orange blossom, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, geranium, mulberry, ginseng, theanine, theacrine, maca, ashwagandha, damiana, guarana, chlorophyll, baobab or any combination thereof. The mint may be chosen from the following mint varieties: Mentha Arventis, Mentha c.v., Mentha niliaca, Mentha piperita, Mentha piperita citrata c.v., Mentha piperita c.v, Mentha spicata crispa, Mentha cardifolia, Mentha longifolia, Mentha suaveolens variegata, Mentha pulegium, Mentha spicata c.v. and Mentha suaveolens.

[0077] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or is derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is tobacco. In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa and hemp.

[0078] In some embodiments, the active substance comprises or derived from one or more botanicals or constituents, derivatives or extracts thereof and the botanical is selected from rooibos and fennel.

[0079] In some embodiments, the substance to be delivered comprises a flavour. As used herein, the terms "flavour" and "flavourant" refer to materials which, where local regulations permit, may be used to create a desired taste, aroma or other somatosensorial sensation in a product for adult consumers. They may include naturally occurring flavour materials, botanicals, extracts of botanicals, synthetically obtained materials, or combinations thereof (e.g., tobacco, cannabis, licorice (liquorice), hydrangea, eugenol, Japanese white bark magnolia leaf, chamomile, fenugreek, clove, maple, matcha, menthol, Japanese mint, aniseed (anise), cinnamon, turmeric, Indian spices, Asian spices, herb, Wintergreen, cherry, berry, red berry, cranberry, peach, apple, orange, mango, clementine, lemon, lime, tropical fruit, papaya, rhubarb, grape, durian, dragon fruit, cucumber, blueberry, mulberry, citrus fruits, Drambuie, bourbon, scotch, whiskey, gin, tequila, rum, spearmint, peppermint, lavender, aloe vera, cardamom, celery, cascarilla, nutmeg, sandalwood, bergamot, geranium, khat, naswar, betel, shisha, pine, honey essence, rose oil, vanilla, lemon oil, orange oil, orange blossom, cherry blossom, cassia, caraway, cognac, jasmine, ylang-ylang, sage, fennel, wasabi, piment, ginger, coriander, coffee, hemp, a mint oil from any species of the genus Mentha, eucalyptus, star anise, cocoa, lemongrass, rooibos, flax, ginkgo biloba, hazel, hibiscus, laurel, mate, orange skin, rose, tea such as green tea or black tea, thyme, juniper, elderflower, basil, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, rosemary, saffron, lemon peel, mint, beefsteak plant, curcuma, cilantro, myrtle, cassis, valerian, pimento, mace, damien, marjoram, olive, lemon balm, lemon basil, chive, carvi, verbena, tarragon, limonene, thymol, camphene), flavour enhancers, bitterness receptor site blockers, sensorial receptor site activators or stimulators, sugars and / or sugar substitutes (e.g., sucralose, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, saccharine, cyclamates, lactose, sucrose, glucose, fructose, sorbitol, or mannitol), and other additives such as charcoal, chlorophyll, minerals, botanicals, or breath freshening agents. They may be imitation, synthetic or natural ingredients or blends thereof. They may be in any suitable form, for example, liquid such as an oil, solid such as a powder, or gas.

[0080] In some embodiments, the flavour comprises menthol, spearmint and / or peppermint. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components of cucumber, blueberry, citrus fruits and / or redberry. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises eugenol. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from tobacco. In some embodiments, the flavour comprises flavour components extracted from cannabis.

[0081] In some embodiments, the flavour may comprise a sensate, which is intended to achieve a somatosensorial sensation which are usually chemically induced and perceived by the stimulation of the fifth cranial nerve (trigeminal nerve), in addition to or in place of aroma or taste nerves, and these may include agents providing heating, cooling, tingling, numbing effect. A suitable heat effect agent may be, but is not limited to, vanillyl ethyl ether and a suitable cooling agent may be, but not limited to eucolyptol, WS-3.

[0082] Aerosol-generating material is a material that is capable of generating aerosol, for example when heated, irradiated or energized in any other way. Aerosol-generating material may, for example, be in the form of a solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain an active substance and / or flavourants. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may comprise an “amorphous solid”, which may alternatively be referred to as a “monolithic solid” (i.e. non-fibrous). In some embodiments, the amorphous solid may be a dried gel. The amorphous solid is a solid material that may retain some fluid, such as liquid, within it. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may for example comprise from about 50wt%, 60wt% or 70wt% of amorphous solid, to about 90wt%, 95wt% or 100wt% of amorphous solid.

[0083] The aerosol-generating material may comprise one or more active substances and / or flavours, one or more aerosol-former materials, and optionally one or more other functional material.

[0084] The aerosol-former material may comprise one or more constituents capable of forming an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol-former material may comprise one or more of glycerol, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butylene glycol, erythritol, meso-Erythritol, ethyl vanillate, ethyl laurate, a diethyl suberate, triethyl citrate, triacetin, a diacetin mixture, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenyl acetate, tributyrin, lauryl acetate, lauric acid, myristic acid, and propylene carbonate.

[0085] The one or more other functional materials may comprise one or more of pH regulators, colouring agents, preservatives, binders, fillers, stabilizers, and / or antioxidants.

[0086] The material may be present on or in a support, to form a substrate. The support may, for example, be or comprise paper, card, paperboard, cardboard, reconstituted material, a plastics material, a ceramic material, a composite material, glass, a metal, or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, the support comprises a susceptor. In some embodiments, the susceptor is embedded within the material. In some alternative embodiments, the susceptor is on one or either side of the material.

[0087] A consumable is an article comprising or consisting of aerosol-generating material, part or all of which is intended to be consumed during use by a user. A consumable may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a wrapper, a mouthpiece, a filter and / or an aerosol-modifying agent. A consumable may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, that emits heat to cause the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol in use. The heater may, for example, comprise combustible material, a material heatable by electrical conduction, or a susceptor.

[0088] A susceptor is a material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, such as an alternating magnetic field. The susceptor may be an electrically-conductive material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes induction heating of the heating material. The heating material may be magnetic material, so that penetration thereof with a varying magnetic field causes magnetic hysteresis heating of the heating material. The susceptor may be both electrically-conductive and magnetic, so that the susceptor is heatable by both heating mechanisms. The device that is configured to generate the varying magnetic field is referred to as a magnetic field generator, herein.

[0089] An aerosol-modifying agent is a substance, typically located downstream of the aerosol generation area, that is configured to modify the aerosol generated, for example by changing the taste, flavour, acidity or another characteristic of the aerosol. The aerosol-modifying agent may be provided in an aerosol-modifying agent release component, that is operable to selectively release the aerosol-modifying agent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be an additive or a sorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, comprise one or more of a flavourant, a colourant, water, and a carbon adsorbent. The aerosol-modifying agent may, for example, be a solid, a liquid, or a gel. The aerosol-modifying agent may be in powder, thread or granule form. The aerosol-modifying agent may be free from filtration material.

[0090] An aerosol generator is an apparatus configured to cause aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to heat energy, so as to release one or more volatiles from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is configured to cause an aerosol to be generated from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generator may be configured to subject the aerosol-generating material to one or more of vibration, increased pressure, or electrostatic energy.

[0091] The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery systems (which may also be referred to as vapour delivery systems) such as nebulisers or e-cigarettes. Throughout the following description the term "e-cigarette" or "electronic cigarette" may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with aerosol delivery system I device and electronic aerosol delivery system I device. Furthermore, and as is common in the technical field, the terms "aerosol" and "vapour", and related terms such as "vaporise", "volatilise" and "aerosolise", may generally be used interchangeably.

[0092] Aerosol delivery systems (e-cigarettes) often, though not always, comprise a modular assembly comprising a reusable device part and a replaceable (disposable / consumable) cartridge part. Often, the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the aerosol generating material and the vaporiser (which may collectively be called a ‘cartomizer’) and the reusable device part will comprise the power provision (e.g. rechargeable power source) and control circuitry. It will be appreciated these different parts may comprise further elements depending on functionality. For example, the reusable device part will often comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics, and the replaceable cartridge device part in some cases comprises a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature. Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to the control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, bayonet, or magnetic coupling with appropriately arranged electrical contacts. When the aerosol generating material in a cartridge is exhausted, or the user wishes to switch to a different cartridge having a different aerosol generating material, the cartridge may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge attached in its place. Systems and devices conforming to this type of two-part modular configuration may generally be referred to as two-part systems / devices.

[0093] It is common for electronic cigarettes to have a generally elongate shape. For the sake of providing a concrete example, certain embodiments of the disclosure will be taken to comprise this kind of generally elongate two-part system employing disposable cartridges. However, it will be appreciated that the underlying principles described herein may equally be adopted for different configurations, for example single-part systems or modular systems comprising more than two parts, refillable devices and single-use disposables, as well as other overall shapes, for example based on so-called box-mod high performance devices that typically have a boxier shape. More generally, it will be appreciated certain embodiments of the disclosure are based on aerosol delivery systems which are operationally configured to provide functionality in accordance with the principles described herein and the constructional aspects of systems configured to provide the functionality in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure is not of primary significance.

[0094] As described in the background technology, the electrical connection part of the heater element is an ineffective resistance, producing ineffective power consumption. To minimize this ineffective power consumption, an embodiment of this invention creatively proposes configuring the electrical connection part of the heater element to include a first segment body with a lower resistivity than the heater element's heating part. This reduces the resistance of the electrical connection part, thereby reducing ineffective power consumption. Correspondingly, if the effective resistance remains unchanged, its proportion and corresponding effective power consumption increase; if the total resistance of the heater element remains constant, the effective resistance and its proportion increase further, resulting in higher effective power consumption. Compared to existing technology, under the same power supply conditions, the embodiments of this invention can reduce ineffective power consumption, minimize energy wastage, and enhance the system's atomization capability.

[0095] Embodiment one

[0096] The heater element is a component in the aerosol provision system that heats the aerosol-generating material to produce aerosol. This embodiment details one such heater element configuration.

[0097] Figures 1-4 are the three-dimensional structural diagrams of the heater elements in various embodiments of the aerosol provision system. As shown in Figures 1-4, the heater element 341 comprises a heating part 3410, designed to heat the aerosol-generating material in the system to produce aerosol. It also features two electrical connection parts 3412 and 3413, which are connected to the system's power source electrodes to supply power to the heating part 3410. Additionally, the heater element 341 comprises support parts, such as 34123 and 34133, which do not generate heat when the heater element is electrified. The resistance of the heater element 341 is primarily constituted by the heating part 3410 and the electrical connection parts 3412 and 3413. Although these electrical connection parts generate heat upon electrification, their primary function is electrical connection rather than heating the aerosol-generating material, thus they are considered ineffective resistances, resulting in ineffective power consumption.

[0098] In this embodiment, at least one electrical connection part includes a first segment body with a resistivity lower than that of the heating part. By setting at least part of the structure of at least some electrical connection parts as a first segment body with lower resistivity than the heating part, the ineffective resistance value can be reduced, thus decreasing ineffective power consumption and energy wastage. If the effective resistance remains unchanged, its proportion and corresponding effective power consumption increase; if the total resistance of the heater element remains constant, the effective resistance and its proportion increase further, enhancing the system's atomization capability.

[0099] In this embodiment of the invention, the heating part of the heater element 3410 is designed with a mesh structure featuring open holes, which can be circular or polygonal. The overall shape of the heater element341 can be either planar or coiled into a tubular form, with no specific restrictions set by this invention.

[0100] As shown in Figures 1-4, the electrical connection parts 3412 comprises a fixed part 34121 and a pin 34131 ; the electrical connection parts 3413 comprises a fixed part 34131 and a pin 34132. In the embodiments of this invention, parts or all of one or both electrical connection parts can be designed as the first segment body, as represented by the thinner sections in the Figure1-4.

[0101] In one embodiment of this invention, only the pin of one electrical connection part forms the first segment body. The fixed part of this connection and the entirety of the other connection are not part of the first segment body. As shown in Figure 1 , only the pin 34122 of the electrical connection part 3412 is formed as the first segment body. The fixed part 34121 of electrical connection part 3412 and the entire electrical connection part 3413 can be integrally formed with the heating part 3410 to provide better support and prevent deformation. The materials of the fixed part 34121 and pin 34122 might be different, making integral formation challenging. The pin 34122, forming the first segment body, can be connected to the fixed part 34121 through methods such as snap-fitting, press-fitting, or welding.

[0102] In an embodiment where the pin of an electrical connection part forms the first segment body while the fixed part does not, the cross-sectional shapes of the fixed part and the first segment body can differ. For instance, the fixed part could have a rectangular cross-section, while the first segment body could be circular. The shape of the fixed part's cross-section is designed to facilitate integral formation with the heating part and provide better support. This invention does not specify exact shapes for these components.

[0103] In one embodiment of the invention, the pin and fixed part of one electrical connection part in the heater element form the first segment body. The other electrical connection part does not form the first segment body. As shown in Figure 2, both the fixed part 34121 and the pin 34122 of the electrical connection part 3412 constitute the first segment body. The other electrical connection part 3413, in contrast, does not form the first segment body. This configuration allows for the fixed part and pin of an electrical connection part to be integrally formed, simplifying the connection process. The fixed part can then be attached to the heating part using methods such as snap-fitting, press-fitting, or welding. The electrical connection part that does not form the first segment body can be integrally formed with the heating part, providing better support and preventing deformation of the heating part. Considering the heater element, the lengths of the pins in different electrical connection parts may vary. As shown in Figure 1 , the heater element 341 is planar, and at least one of the electrical connection parts 3412 and 3413 is arranged in a semi-surrounding shape around the outer perimeter of the heating part 3410. Preferably, both electrical connection parts 3412 and 3413 are in a semi-surrounding shape, enclosing the space around the heating part 3410. In this semi-surrounding structure, the length of the pin 34122 in the electrical connection part 3412 is greater than the length of the pin 34132 in the electrical connection part 3413. In this embodiment, the longer pin 34122, or the longer pin 34122 along with the fixed part 34121 , can be selected to form the first segment body, thus further reducing ineffective resistance and decreasing ineffective power consumption. This selection of a longer pin to form the first segment body is also applicable in non-surrounding configurations of the invention.

[0104] In one embodiment of this invention, the pins of both electrical connection parts in the heater element form the first segment body. As shown in Figure 3, the pins 34122 of electrical connection part 3412 and 34132 of electrical connection part 3413 form the first segment body. The fixed parts 34121 of 3412 and 34131 of 3413 do not form the first segment body. In this case, the fixed parts of both electrical connection parts can be integrally formed with the heating part, providing better support from different directions and positions, preventing deformation of the mesh heating part. In an alternative embodiment, the fixed part of one of the electrical connection parts can also form the first segment body.

[0105] In one embodiment of this invention, the pins of both electrical connection parts and fixed parts in the heater element form the first segment body. As shown in Figure 4, both the pins and fixed parts of the two electrical connection parts in the heater element form the first segment body. This includes pin 34122 and fixed part 34121 of electrical connection part 3412, and pin 34132 and fixed part 34131 of electrical connection part 3413. This configuration maximally reduces ineffective resistance, thereby decreasing ineffective power consumption.

[0106] It is noted that when the heating part has a structure prone to deformation, like a mesh heating part, the electrical connection parts also serve a supporting role. The invention considers balancing the reduction of ineffective resistance with the need for support. For instance, configuring some parts of the electrical connections as the first segment body while leaving others to provide better support. Alternative methods to enhance support are also possible, such as sintering mesh heater elements onto a porous ceramic substrate, which obviates concerns about deformation. This allows for more electrical connection parts to be set as the first segment body, further reducing ineffective resistance and power consumption.

[0107] In one embodiment of this invention, the first segment body is made from a material with a uniform electrical resistivity. This uniformity in resistivity across different parts of the first segment body simplifies the manufacturing process, as each section of the first segment body will have the same electrical characteristics.

[0108] In an alternative embodiment, the first segment body can comprise at least two segments with different electrical resistivities. However, all these segments will have a resistivity that is lower than that of the heating part.

[0109] In this embodiment of the invention, the material used for the first segment body comprises low-resistivity nickel that complies with safety standards even when heated. The materials for the heating part can comprise one or more of the following: iron-chromium-aluminum, nickel-chromium, stainless steel, or titanium alloy.

[0110] In one embodiment of the invention, the cross-section of the first segment body is either circular or rectangular.

[0111] For the circular cross-section, the diameter of the first segment body ranges from 0.15 to 0.5 mm.

[0112] In one embodiment of the heater element for aerosol provision system in this invention, the diameter of the first segment body is between 0.3 to 0.4 mm.

[0113] In one embodiment of this invention, when the cross-section of the first segment body is rectangular, the width ranges from 0.5 to 2 mm, and the thickness ranges from 0.05 to 0.15 mm.

[0114] When the cross-section of the first segment body is another shapes, in the embodiments of this invention, the cross-sectional area of the first segment body is between 0.015 to 0.3 mm2.

[0115] Embodiment two

[0116] The heater element in the aerosol provision system serves to heat the aerosol-generating material, thereby producing aerosol. The embodiment two of this invention provides a detailed introduction to another variant of the heater element.

[0117] In one embodiment of this invention, the structure of the heater element can refer to Figure 1 and the introduction in Embodiment One, which is not elaborated here again. To reduce the ineffective power consumption of the heater element, in Embodiment Two, at least one electrical connection part includes a first segment body, with a resistance value greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.1 Q.

[0118] By setting at least part of the structure of at least some electrical connection parts as the first segment body with a resistance value in the range of 0-0.1 Q, this embodiment utilizes a lower ineffective resistance to reduce ineffective power consumption and energy wastage. Correspondingly, if the effective resistance remains unchanged and the ineffective resistance is low, the proportion of effective resistance increases, leading to an increase in effective power consumption. Similarly, if the overall resistance of the heater element remains constant and the ineffective resistance is low, then the effective resistance increases, further elevating its proportion and subsequently increasing the effective power consumption. Compared to existing technology, under the same power supply conditions, this embodiment of the invention can reduce ineffective power consumption, minimize energy wastage, and enhance the system's atomization capability.

[0119] In one embodiment of this invention, like Embodiment One, the first segment body's resistivity is set to be lower than that of the heating part, providing a smaller resistance value. The configuration of the first segment body can refer to the description in Embodiment One, which is not detailed here.

[0120] In alternative embodiments, the heating part and all electrical connection parts have the same resistivity. The resistance value of the first segment body can be determined through parameters other than resistivity, such as cross-sectional area and length, without specific restrictions.

[0121] In one embodiment of this invention, the resistance value of the heating part ranges from greater than or equal to 1 Q to less than or equal to 2Q. More preferably, the resistance value of the heating part accounts for 80%-95% of the total resistance of the heater element. This is to increase the proportion of effective resistance of the heating part, thereby increasing the proportion of effective power consumption, ensuring as much energy as possible is provided to the heating part and avoiding energy wastage.

[0122] Embodiment three

[0123] Corresponding to the heater elements provided in Embodiment One and Two, Embodiment Three of the invention presents an aerosol provision system incorporating at least one of those heater elements.

[0124] Figure 5 is a three-dimensional structure of the aerosol provision system, while Figures 6 and 7 provide cross-sectional views from different perspectives. The system features an elongated structure extending along a longitudinal axis and includes a housing 100 that extends between a proximal end and a distal end. The housing 100 is equipped with a mouthpiece 101 at the proximal end, featuring an outlet 102, and also has an inlet 103 located either at the distal end, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, or at another position on the housing.

[0125] The interior of housing 100 accommodates the aerosol-generating material (e.g., e-liquid) in a containment chamber 200, a cartomizer 300, a power source (battery assembly) 400, and a controller (control circuit) 500. These components are arranged along the height of the system. The power source 400 is configured to supply power to the heating component in the cartomizer 300 under the control of the controller 500. The cartomizer 300 contains an atomization chamber 310, which is fluidly connected to the containment chamber 200, allowing the aerosol-generating material to enter the atomization chamber 310 and be heated by the heating component. An airway is formed within the housing, connecting the inlet 103, atomization chamber 310, and outlet 102. When a user inhales, external air enters through the inlet 103, passes through the atomization chamber 310 — picking up the aerosol — and exits through the outlet 102 to the user.

[0126] In one embodiment of this invention, the system comprises a first seal cap 104 to seal the outlet 102 and a second seal cap 105 for the inlet 103. When the aerosol provision system is not in use, these caps can be applied to ensure safety and hygiene.

[0127] As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the housing 100 of the system comprises two separate parts: an upper housing 110 with the mouthpiece 101 , and a lower housing 120. The upper housing 110 houses the containment chamber 200 and the cartomizer 300, while the lower housing 120 contains the power source 400 and the controller 500. The lower part of the upper housing 110 fits inside the lower housing 120. In the interchangeable embodiments, the upper housing 110 and lower housing 120 do not overlap along the height of the system, and the lower end of the upper housing 110 connects with the upper end of the lower housing 120 to form the complete housing 100.

[0128] In one embodiment, the upper housing 110 and lower housing 120 are designed to be detachably connected. This allows for the easy replacement of the aerosol-generating material or the cartomizer 300 inside the upper housing 110, or for connecting the cartomizer 300 with different power sources 400. It is understood that in other embodiments, once the upper housing 110 and lower housing 120 are assembled, they are permanently connected.

[0129] In an alternative embodiment, differing from the structure shown in Figures 5-7 where the upper and lower housings are separate components, the housing 100 can also be designed as a single, integrally formed structure. This configuration of having separate upper and lower housings offers advantages in terms of assembling internal components and reusability, compared to a single-piece housing structure.

[0130] In other embodiments of this invention, the aerosol provision system can have a box-like structure, with the cartomizer 300 and power source 400 arranged along the horizontal axis. The housing 100 can be either a single, integrally formed box-like structure or consist of two connected parts, one housing the containment chamber 200 and cartomizer 300, and the other housing the power source 400 and controller 500. These two parts of the housing can be designed to be detachably connected. However, in replaceable embodiments, once these two parts are assembled, they are permanently connected.

[0131] The mouthpiece 101 in this invention can either be integrally formed with the housing 100 or be detachably connected to it. A detachable mouthpiece 101 is beneficial for cleaning purposes and also facilitates access to the interior of the housing 100 for replacing the aerosol-generating material.

[0132] The power source 400 is designed to supply power to the cartomizer 300, typically as a battery component. In other examples, the battery could be substituted with portable power sources (like capacitive energy storage devices such as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors), mechanical power sources (like a spring or generator), or alternative chemical energy sources (like fuel cells).

[0133] The aerosol-generating material in the invention can be in solid, powder, or liquid form. In one embodiment, the containment chamber 200 is designed to hold liquid aerosol-generating material. As shown in Figures 5-7, the containment chamber 200 includes an outer wall, which can be integrally formed with the housing 100, making the outer wall a part of the housing 100. Alternatively, the outer wall and the housing 100 can be two separate components, with the housing positioned outside the outer wall. The outer wall covers at least part of the exterior of the cartomizer 300, and the containment chamber 200 is formed by the outer wall and a portion of the surface of the cartomizer 300.

[0134] To achieve aerosolization, the liquid aerosol-generating material in the containment chamber 200 needs to be transported to the atomization chamber 310. For this purpose, the system includes a liquid inlet structure 600 that conveys the liquid aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber 200 to the atomization chamber 310.

[0135] Figure 8 is a partial structural diagram of the aerosol provision system in this embodiment, illustrating the liquid inlet structure. Referring to Figures 6-8, the liquid inlet structure 600 includes a support frame 610, a liquid inlet channel 620, a first liquid inlet hole 630, and a vent hole 640. The liquid inlet channel 620 is connected to both the containment chamber 200 and the atomization chamber 310, facilitating the flow of liquid aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber to the atomization chamber.

[0136] The support frame 610 in this invention features interconnected liquid guide channels 622 and an annular groove 621. It is understood that the annular groove 621 is located on the upper surface of the support frame 610, facing the containment chamber 200. The liquid guide channels 622 may consist of multiple sections, with at least some parts extending longitudinally along the aerosol provision system. These channels and the annular groove

[0137] 621 together form the aforementioned liquid inlet channel 620. Some liquid guide channels

[0138] 622 extending longitudinally are adjacent to the atomization chamber 310 in the lateral direction of the system. The liquid guide channel 622 includes a first side wall 6211 that encloses one side of the atomization chamber 310, with both the first liquid inlet hole 630 and the vent hole 640 located on this first side wall 6211 and penetrating through it. Both the first liquid inlet hole 630 and the vent hole 640 connect the liquid guide channel 622 to the atomization chamber 310. The aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber 200 enters the atomization chamber 310 via the liquid guide channels 622 and the first liquid inlet hole 630. The vent hole 640 is designed to connect with the external atmosphere of the aerosol provision system, allowing external air to enter the atomization chamber 310 and then into the liquid guide channels 622 through the vent hole 640, and finally into the containment chamber 200 to maintain liquid pressure balance as the aerosol-generating material is consumed.

[0139] In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the vent hole 640 is positioned above the first liquid inlet hole 630 along the height of the system. This arrangement ensures that any bubbles formed in the aerosol-generating material do not easily get stuck at the first liquid inlet hole 630, preventing its clogging. As a result, the aerosol-generating material smoothly flows from the containment chamber 200 to the atomization chamber 310, ensuring consistent system performance.

[0140] Additionally, the system comprises a second airway seal 700 to ensure a sealed connection between the support frame 610 and the containment chamber 200. The shape and size of the second airway seal 700 are adapted to match the end of the support frame 610 that is close to the containment chamber 200. This configuration prevents leakage of the aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber 200, protecting other components like the battery assembly. To maintain fluid communication between the containment chamber 200 and the liquid guide channels 622, the second airway seal 700 has a second liquid inlet hole 710. This allows the aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber 200 to enter the liquid guide channels 622 through this second liquid inlet hole 710.

[0141] Figure 9 is a three-dimensional schematic of the cartomizer in the aerosol provision system, and Figure 10 is an exploded view of the cartomizer, both provided by this embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figures 6, 7, 9, and 10, the cartomizer 300 comprises an atomization chamber 310, a cartomizer bracket 320 forming the atomization chamber 310, an airway component 330, and a heating component located inside the atomization chamber 310. The cartomizer bracket 320 comprises structural components 321 and the support frame 610, which together form the atomization chamber. The support frame 610 has a containment slot 611 where the airway component 330 is fitted. The heating component is held in place within the containment slot 611 by both the support frame 610 and the airway component 330 and is connected to the structural component 321 and the support frame 610.

[0142] As shown in Figure 10, the heating component consists of a stacked heater element 341 and an oil guide body 342. An airway is formed between the airway component 330 and the heater element 341. The oil guide body 342 is placed on the side of the heater element 341 that is away from the airway, and it is attached to the wall of the support frame 610 where the first liquid inlet hole 630 is located.

[0143] The oil guide body 342 is designed to transport the liquid aerosol-generating material from the containment chamber 200 to the heater element 341. In one embodiment of the invention, the oil guide body 342 can be made of materials like cotton or ceramic, which facilitate oil guiding. In another embodiment, the oil guide body 342 can have a multi-layered porous structure.

[0144] As an illustrative and non-limiting example, the oil guide body 342 near the heater element 341 has a lower oil guiding rate than the side further from the heater element 341 . The oil absorption rate on the side of the oil guide body 342 closer to the heater element 341 is higher than on the side further away. This design ensures that the part of the oil guide body 342 closer to the heater element 341 has a higher oil guiding efficiency, enhancing its oil conducting capability, while the part further from the heater element 341 has a higher oil absorption rate, increasing the amount of oil absorption at the heater element 341 .

[0145] In a replaceable embodiment of this invention, the oil guide body is a porous ceramic substrate, with the heater element sintered onto it. This removes the need to consider additional support for the heating part, allowing both electrical connection parts to form the first segment body to maximally reduce ineffective resistance and power consumption.

[0146] In another embodiment of this invention, the surface of the airway component 330 is designed with multiple grooves to collect any condensate formed in the atomization chamber 310, thereby preventing leakage outside the chamber.

[0147] As shown in Figure 11 , the support frame 610 of the cartomizer bracket has an opening 322 designed for electrical connection between the electrode 352 and the pins. Among the two fixed parts, fixed part 34121 is farther from the cartomizer opening 322, and fixed part 34131 is closer to it. The pin 34122 extending from the fixed part 34121 , which is farther from the cartomizer opening 322, is longer. In this embodiment of the invention, it is preferable that at least a part of the pin extending from the fixed part farthest from the cartomizer opening forms at least part of the first segment body. This is to reduce ineffective resistance and power consumption as much as possible. In one embodiment of this invention, at least the fixed part farthest from the cartomizer opening and its extending pin form the first segment body.

[0148] In one embodiment of the invention, the electrical connection part that comprises the fixed part closer to the cartomizer opening does not include the first segment body. This configuration provides better support for the heating part.

[0149] As shown in Figures 10 and 11 , the cartomizer 300 also comprises a base assembly 350, which is detachably connected to the cartomizer bracket 320 to define the bottom of the atomization chamber 310. The base assembly 350 specifically comprises an atomization chamber bottom cover 353 and a first airway seal 354, positioned on the side of the bottom cover 353 facing the atomization chamber 310. Both the atomization chamber bottom cover 353 and the first airway seal 354 have corresponding electrode holes for the electrode 352 to pass through.

[0150] The electrical connection between the power source 400 and the heater element 341 is accomplished through the connection of the electrode 352 with the pins 34122 and 34132. As shown in Figure 11 , the cartomizer bracket has a positioning hole, which is specifically located on the support frame 610. The first opening 810 is located on the positioning hole for the electrode 352 to enter through, with the pins 34122 and 34132 extending into the positioning hole where they are connected to the electrode 352 without soldering. This solderless connection inside the positioning hole simplifies the assembly process and reduces the system's size.

[0151] In one embodiment of this invention, the electrode 352 extends from the distal end towards the proximal end, while the pins 34122 and 34132 extend from the proximal end towards the distal end. In this case, the first opening 810 is located on the side of the support frame 610 facing the distal end, allowing the electrode 352 to extend directly into the first opening 810.

[0152] Certainly, in other embodiments of the invention, the first opening 810 can be located at different positions on the support frame 610. For example, the first opening 810 can be placed on the side of the support frame 610 facing the proximal end. Here, the electrode can extend from the distal end towards the proximal end and bend to enter the first opening 810.

[0153] Considering the arrangement of the power source, cartomizer, heater element, and electrode, the invention allows for various configurations. The extension direction of the positioning hole and the orientation of the first opening can be set according to specific needs, with no particular limitations specified in this invention.

[0154] In one embodiment of this invention, the connection between the pins and the electrode can be achieved without soldering, using methods such as pressure contact, elastic connection, snap-fit, magnetic attraction, or adhesive bonding.

[0155] In another embodiment, the pins and electrode can enter the positioning hole through different openings, allowing for a solderless connection where the side of one interfaces with the side or end of the other within the positioning hole.

[0156] In the description of this specification, the referential terminology "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples" means that specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are comprised in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the indicative expression of the above-mentioned terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the described specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable way in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0157] Moreover, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used merely for descriptive purposes and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the characteristics defined as "first," "second," etc., may explicitly or implicitly comprise at least one such characteristic. In the description of this invention, the term "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0158] In this invention, unless explicitly defined and limited, terms such as "mounting," "connecting," "connection," "fixing," etc., should be understood broadly. For instance, the connection can be a fixed connection or a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediary medium, it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless explicitly defined otherwise. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meanings of these terms in the context of the invention based on the circumstances.

[0159] Although the embodiments of the invention have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are exemplary and should not be considered as limiting the invention. Those skilled in the art within the scope of the invention can make variations, modifications, replacements, and variations to the above-described embodiments.

Claims

Claims1. A heater element for an aerosol provision system, the heater element comprising: a heating part, configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the system to produce aerosol; and two electrical connection parts, configured to electrically connect to power electrodes of the system to provide power to the heating part; wherein at least one of the electrical connection parts comprises a first segment body, whose resistivity is lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

2. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the first segment body is composed of a material with a single resistivity.

3. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 1 , wherein the first segment body comprises at least two segmented bodies with different resistivities, and all the segmented bodies have resistivities lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

4. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 1, wherein the material of the first segment body comprises nickel; or, the material of the heating part comprises at least one of iron-chromium-aluminum, nickel-chromium, stainless steel, and titanium alloy.

5. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cross-section of the first segment body is circular or rectangular.

6. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 5, wherein when the cross-section of the first segment body is circular, and the diameter of the first segment body is between 0.15-0.5mm.

7. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 6, characterized in that, the diameter of the first segment body is between 0.3-0.4mm.

8. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the electrical connection part comprises: a fixing part for installing and securing the heater element, and a pin extending from the fixing part to connect with the power electrode, wherethe pin forms at least a part of the first segment body.

9. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 8, wherein the fixing part and the pin together form the first segment body.

10. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 8, wherein the first segment body does not include the fixing part.

11. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 10, wherein the fixing part is integrally formed with the heating part.

12. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 11 , wherein the fixing part has a different cross-sectional shape from the first segment body.

13. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heater element is planar, and at least one of the two electrical connection parts is in semi-enclosed shape, set around the outer circumference of the heating part, with the first segment body forming a part of the semi-enclosed shape.

14. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 13, wherein both electrical connection parts are semi-enclosed, set around the outer circumference of the heating part, and together define the housing space of the heating part.

15. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 15, wherein the semi-enclosed shape is L-shaped.

16. A heater element for an aerosol provision system, the heater element comprising: a heating part, configured to heat aerosol-generating material within the system to produce aerosol; and two electrical connection parts, configured to electrically connect to power electrodes of the system to provide power to the heating part; wherein at least one of the electrical connection parts includes a first segment body, and the resistance of the first segment body is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 0.1 Q.

17. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 16, wherein the resistivity of the first segment body is lower than the resistivity of the heating part.

18. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 16, wherein the resistance range of the heating part is greater than or equal to 1 Q and less than or equal to 2Q.

19. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the resistance of the heating part constitutes 80%-95% of the total resistance of the heater element.

20. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 16, wherein the heater element is according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

21. The heater element for an aerosol provision system according to claim 16, wherein the resistivity of the heating part is the same as that of all the electrical connection parts.

22. An aerosol provision system comprising: a housing for containing aerosol-generating material; and a heater element according to any one of claims 1 to 15 or 20.

23. The aerosol provision system according to claim 22, wherein the system comprises an cartomizer bracket, the cartomizer bracket defining an atomization chamber for accommodating the heater element; the electrical connection parts each comprise a fixing part for installing and securing the heater element, and a pin extending from the fixing part to connect with the power electrode; and the cartomizer bracket has an cartomizer opening for establishing an electrical connection between the power electrodes and the pins, and the pin extending from at least the fixing part further from the opening forms at least a part of the first segment body.

24. The aerosol provision system according to claim 23, wherein at least the fixing part further of the two electrical connection parts from the opening and the pin extending from it form the first segment body.

25. The aerosol provision system according to claim 23, wherein the electrical connection part closer to the opening does not include the first segment body.

26. The aerosol provision system according to claim 22, wherein the system comprises a porous ceramic substrate, with the heater element sintered onto the porous ceramicsubstrate; and both electrical connection parts form the first segment body.

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