Aerosol generating device with mirror elements

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating device having a non-coherent light source and one or more mirrors adapted to converge non-coherent light emitted by the light source on a portion of an aerosol-generating article inserted into the device; in addition, the present invention also relates to a method of heating at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article in the aerosol-generating device and an aerosol- generating system having the device and an aerosol-generating article.

Description

[0001] AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH MIRROR ELEMENTS

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to aerosol generating devices with mirror elements and aerosol generating systems.

[0004] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0005] The popularity and use of reduced-risk or modified-risk devices has grown rapidly in the past few years as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolling tobacco. Various devices and systems are available that heat or warm aerosolisable substances as opposed to burning tobacco in conventional tobacco products.

[0006] A commonly available reduced-risk or modified-risk device is the heated substrate aerosol generating device or heat-not-burn device. Devices of this type generate an aerosol or vapor by heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolisable material.

[0007] One technique for aerosol generation involves the use of light. The light heating, which is a non-contact heating method, heats an aerosol-generating substrate for producing aerosol. In this arrangement, a light source emits light which diverges from the light source and projects onto the aerosol generating substrate.

[0008] One of the challenges of this type of aerosol generating device is to make the diverging light from the light source heat the aerosol generating substrate efficiently. Hence, it is desirable to provide an aerosol generating system, including an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article, that is adapted to provide an efficient light heating to the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol generating article.

[0009] Therefore, one object of the present invention is to address and overcome the above issues and provide an aerosol generating system that can effectively heat the aerosol generating material. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Some, or all of the above objectives are achieved by the invention as defined by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined by the features of the dependent claims.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating device having a non-coherent light source and one or more mirrors adapted to converge non-coherent light emitted by the light source on a portion of an aerosolgenerating article inserted into the device.

[0012] With the arrangement of the non-coherent light source and the mirror element, the aerosol generating device can achieve effective and even heating of the aerosol generating substrate with less energy while maintaining a relatively small and compact design of the device.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, according to the first aspect, the one or more light sources are LEDs, in particular LEDs emitting blue light.

[0014] The visible light of the LED(s) can be absorbed by the aerosol generating substrate and heat the substrate to generate the aerosol. In particular, the light having a wavelength of blue light is more efficiently absorbed, resulting in the generation of more heat and thus aerosol.

[0015] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, according to the first or the second aspects, a wavelength of the non-coherent light extends from 415 nm up to and including 495 nm, preferably from 440 nm up to and including 465 nm, and most preferably from 450 nm up to and including 455 nm.

[0016] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, according to any one of the above aspects, at least one, preferably all of the one or more mirrors are curved, preferably concave, more preferably dome-shaped, in a way such that a curved portion of the mirror can converge non-coherent light emitted by the light source on a portion of an aerosolgenerating article inserted into the device.

[0017] In a fifth aspect of present disclosure, according to any one of the above aspects, at least one, preferably all, of the one or more mirrors are, in at least one cross section, parabolic, or arc-shaped. With such mirror elements, more light rays can be converged on the aerosol generating substrate such that it can be heated up effectively. Specifically, by employing the mirror having a concave reflective surface, the light maybe directed to the target area in which the aerosol generating substrate is arranged. In this way, any further optical elements for directing the light towards the target area may be omitted.

[0018] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, according to any one of the preceding aspects, a focal point of at least one or more mirrors, preferably multiple or all of the focal points of the one or more mirrors, coincides with a portion of the aerosolgenerating article inserted into the device.

[0019] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, according to any one of the above aspects, one of the one or more mirrors is a light-source-side mirror, which is placed at a side of the light source substantially opposite the article.

[0020] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, according to the above aspect, the light- source-side mirror is, in at least one cross-section, parabolic.

[0021] In a nineth aspect of the present disclosure, according to the seventh or eighth aspects, the light source and the light-source-side mirror are positioned in a way such that the light-source-side mirror encloses the light source.

[0022] In a tenth aspect of the present disclosure, according to any one of the above aspects, one of the one or more mirrors is an article-side mirror, which is placed at a side of the article substantially opposite the light source.

[0023] In an eleventh aspect of the present disclosure, according to any one of the seventh to nineth aspects, one of the one or more mirrors is an article-side mirror, which is placed at a side of the article substantially opposite the light source, preferably, in a way such that the non-coherent light source and at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the device are substantially surrounded by the article-side mirror and the light-source-side mirror.

[0024] In a twelfth aspect of the present disclosure, according to the tenth and eleventh aspects, the article-side mirror is, in at least one cross-section, arc-shaped.

[0025] In a thirteenth aspect of the present disclosure, according to the tenth to twelfth aspects, the light source is located outside the volume enclosed by the article-side mirror. With the above arrangement, more light from the light source can collectively illuminate a predetermined area of the aerosol generating article.

[0026] According to a fourteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of heating at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article in an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the above aspects.

[0027] According to a fifteenth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating system, comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the first to thirteenth aspects, and an aerosol-generating article.

[0028] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generating device with a noncoherent light source and mirrors according to one embodiment of the invention;

[0030] Fig. 2 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generating device with a light- source-side mirror according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0031] Fig. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an aerosol generating device with a light- source-side mirror and an article-side mirror according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] Fig. 4 shows a light ray diagram of an aerosol generating device having both a light- source-side mirror and an article-side mirror according to one embodiment of the invention; and

[0033] Figs. 5A and 5B show a cross section view of a part of an aerosol generating device having a light-source-side mirror and a light source, and a corresponding graph showing a relation between the central axis of the light source and its relative light density according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described hereinafter and in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0036] As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” “vaporizer system”, “inhaler” or “electronic cigarette” may include an electronic cigarette configured to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for smoking. The illustrated embodiments of the aerosol generating system in this invention are schematic, and it is also possible to combine some of the parts into single units, such as aerosol inlet and outlet, operator or computer modules, which are apparent to a person skilled in the art. An aerosol for smoking may refer to an aerosol with particle sizes of 0.5 - 7 microns. The particle size maybe less than 10 or 7 microns. The electronic cigarette maybe portable and can be used in various orientations and positions by the user. In the context of this invention, all relative terms such as up, down, upper, lower, above, beneath, and the like are positions relative to a reference position of the device, which is the position in which the device is held upright by the user. The relative terms are not intended to limit the scope of the invention to any specific orientation or position of the device, but rather to describe the relative arrangement of the components and features of the device.

[0037] [AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM]

[0038] Referring to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the aerosol generating system 1 comprises an aerosol generating device 10 and an aerosol generating article 20. The aerosol generating system 1 can be used as a substitute for a conventional cigarette comprising shredded tobacco.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the aerosol generating article 20 has a tobacco substrate, preferably reconstituted tobacco. The tobacco substrate may comprise tobacco strands or shreds or gathered tobacco sheets and binder. The substrate generally contains tobacco predominantly made up from tobacco leaf (or lamina) and / or stem and / or reconstituted tobacco. The substrate generally comprises an aerosol former. The aerosol former constitutes generally at least 5%, e.g. between 5 and 20% of the tobacco substrate. In order to make heat transfer more efficient, in addition to plant material and binder, thermal and / or light-conducting materials may be added into the substrate.

[0040] According to some other embodiments of this invention, the aerosol generating article 20 has approximately a sheet, card, plate, or cubical shape. It is essential to emphasize that the shapes described herein are provided as examples and are not intended to restrict or limit the aerosol generating article 20 for the device 10 of this invention. Various alternative shapes including but not limited to disc shape, cylindrical shape or sheet or planar shape are also envisaged within this invention. As seen in the Fig. 1, the aerosol generating device io is provided with an elongated main body no.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the aerosol generating device io comprises a mouthpiece 113 and a central airflow bore 115 connecting the mouthpiece 113. The mouthpiece 113 is provided at an end of a longitudinal side of the aerosol generating device 10. The mouthpiece 113 has an aerosol outlet 112. The mouthpiece 113 and the central airflow bore 115 are connected creating an airflow channel for the generated aerosol. Specifically, the aerosol generating device 10 has an airflow channel extending between an air inlet 111, arranged at a transverse side of the aerosol generating device 10, and the air outlet 112 of the mouthpiece 113.

[0042] The aerosol generating device 10 further comprises an article container 114, an electronic control circuitry 116 configured to control an operation of the aerosol generating device 10, and a power source 117, preferably a lithium battery.

[0043] The aerosol-generating article 20 is arranged to be replaceable within the article container 114. In use, after the user places the aerosol-generating article 10 within the article container 114, the aerosol-generating article 20 is ready to be heated within the article container 114.

[0044] In some embodiments of the invention, the aerosol-generating article 20 may be placed through the mouthpiece 113 of the aerosol generating device 10. Alternatively, a drawer-like design may be arranged in the aerosol generating device 10 so that the aerosol generating article 20 can be placed inside the article container 114 during replacement.

[0045] [ARTICLE CONTAINER]

[0046] Referring to the drawings and in particular to Fig. 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the article container 114 is configured to contain and heat the aerosol generating article 20 so as to generate aerosol for the user to consume.

[0047] The article container 114 is arranged between the air inlet 111 and the aerosol outlet 112.

[0048] The article container 114 comprises a light source 120 and light converging means 118, 119 configured to converge the light emitted by the light source 120 to at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 20, when the aerosol generating article 20 is fully received within or inserted into the article container 114. In order to fix the aerosol generating article 20 within the article container 114, the heating module may further comprise article support means (not shown)configured to securely contain and fix the article 20 within the aerosol generating device 10. The article support means may be made of metal, plastic or any other suitable material. In the preferred embodiment, the article support means 121 is a bracket. The bracket body has a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol generating article 20. Preferably, the bracket body is designed to accommodate various shapes and sizes of the aerosol generating article 20, such as a rectangular shape or a square shape. Specifically, the bracket body is configured to engage with a part of the aerosol generating article and provide a stable support. Preferably, the bracket body is designed to support the edges of the aerosol generating article 20 only, so that the remaining area of the outer surface of the aerosol generating article 20 is not obstructed by the bracket body. In such a way, the bracket 121 allows the aerosol generating article 20 to be substantially exposed to the light source 120 and the light converging means 118, 119, which is beneficial for the heating of the aerosol generating article 20.

[0049] [NON-COHERENT LIGHT SOURCE]

[0050] As shown in the figures, the light source 120 is arranged at a position of the aerosol generating device 10 such that the light source 120 faces at least one side of the aerosol generating article 20 when received within the device 10. In other words, the light source is arranged next to the article support means 121.

[0051] Specifically, the light source 120 is a non-coherent light source. The non-coherent light sources 120 (also commonly known as lamp or incoherent light sources) according to the preferred embodiments include incandescent bulbs, filament light bulbs, fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitted from the noncoherent light source 120 diffuses, unlike in the case of a laser. This results in a divergence of the emitted light from the light source 120. In the more preferred embodiments of this invention, the non-coherent light source 217 is a high-power LED light source. High power LEDs are known at near infra-red (850 nm) and ultraviolet (405 nm) spectra. In the more preferred embodiments of this invention, the LED light source emits blue light (380 to 500 nm wavelength). High power LEDs can generate heat to a degree such that an aerosol can be formed from the aerosol generating article 10 after being radiated by the light. According to the preferred embodiment, one LED is set as the non-coherent light source 120. In other embodiments, multiple LEDs are set as the non-coherent light source 120. [LIGHT CONVERGING MEANS]

[0052] In order to utilize the light radiation from the non-coherent light sources 120 more efficiently for heating up the aerosol generating articles 20, the article container 114 of this invention further comprises light converging means.

[0053] Specifically, the light converging means are one or multiple mirror(s) 118, 119. As shown in the figures, in order to converge the light, the mirror(s) face(s) at least one side of the non-coherent light sources 120. The mirror(s) 118,119 is / are distanced from the aerosol generating article 10 (or the article support means 121) such that once aerosol is generated from the aerosol generating article 20, airflow carrying the generated aerosol can go through the article 20, the article container 114 and to the aerosol outlet 112 freely. Preferably, the mirrors 118, 119 are curved in at least one cross section. In other words, the mirror(s) 118, 119 has / have a concave shape with an inward-curved reflective surface. The concave shape may form a cavity on a plate-like mirror. The specific shapes of the mirrors 118, 119 according to this invention vary according to the shape of the aerosol generating article 20. In preferred embodiment, the mirror(s) 118, 119 preferably has / have a dome-shape, which is the shape of the mirror itself, so that the mirror(s) 118, 119 can at least partially enclose the aerosol generating article 10 when fully received. However, the shapes described herein are provided as examples and are not intended to restrict or limit the shape of the mirror(s) 118, 119 of this invention. Various alternative shapes including but not limited to hemi- ellipsoidal shapes are also envisaged within this invention.

[0054] In some preferred embodiments, as shown in Fig. 2, the article container 114 comprises one or more mirror(s) 118, i.e., the light-source-side mirror, placed at a side of the light source 120 substantially opposite the aerosol generating article 20 when fully received (or the article support means 121). Accordingly, the light source 120 maybe arranged between the aerosol generating article 20 (or the article support means 121) and the light-source-side mirror 118. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2, the non-coherent light source 120 and the light-source-side mirror 118 are positioned in a way such that the light-source-side mirror encloses the non-coherent light source 120. In other words, the non-coherent light source 120 is positioned within the volume of the light-source-side mirror 118, or is interior to the concave shape of the light-source-side mirror 118, but the light-source-side mirror 118 does not completely surround or enclose either the non-coherent light source 120 or the aerosol generating article 20. Alternatively, the light source 120 maybe arranged on the mirror 118 (Fig. 5A). As mentioned above, the concave mirror has a reflective surface that is curved in a way such that the light beams that travel towards directions away from the aerosol generating article 20 are reflected to be redirected by the reflective surface of the mirror 118 and towards the aerosol generating article 20. Hence, with the light-source-side mirror 118, the light from the non-coherent light source 120 can be substantially converged on at least one surface of the aerosol generating article 20 that is facing the light-source-side mirror 118 when in use. The light-source-side mirror 118 and the noncoherent light source 120 may be arranged in a way such that at least one focal point of the light-source-side mirror 118 coincides with a portion of the aerosol generating article 20.

[0055] In order to utilize the radiation of the non-coherent light source 120 more efficiently, at least one section of the light-source-side mirror 118 represents a parabolic as shown in the figures. Accordingly, the non-coherent light source 120 is arranged at or adjacent to the apex or the peak of the parabolic shape of the light-source-side mirror 118. As shown in Fig. 5B, the mirror 118 with a parabolic shape as shown in Fig. 5A produces or distributes a higher light intensity to the central axis AA’, so that the light from the light source 117 can substantially converge onto the aerosol generating article 20 that is arranged close to the light-source-side mirror 118 when in use.

[0056] In some other preferred embodiments, as shown in Fig. 2, the article container 114 further comprises one or more mirror(s) 119, i.e., the article-side mirror 119, placed at a side of the article 20 (or the article support means 121) substantially opposite the light source 120. Accordingly, the aerosol generating article 20 (or the article support means 121) is arranged between the light source 120 and the article-side mirror 119. Specifically, the article-side mirror 119 and the non-coherent light source 120 are arranged in a way such that the light from the non-coherent light source 120 can be reflected and converged onto at least the side(s) of the aerosol generating article 20 facing away from the non-coherent light source 120. Specifically, the light beams from the light source can be further reflected by the article side mirror 119. As shown in Fig. 6, light beams which travel towards the article side mirror 119 are: the light beams from the light source 120 which are neither reflected nor received by the aerosol generation article 20; and the light beams from the light source 120 reflected by the light-source- side mirror 118 but not received by the aerosol generating article 20. With this arrangement, the non-coherent light source 120 can heat more sides of the aerosol generating article. Preferably, the article-side mirror 119 is, in at least one cross-section, arc-shaped. As shown in the figures, the light source 120 is preferably located outside IO the volume enclosed by the article-side mirror 119. In other words, the light source 120 is exterior to the concave shape of the article-side mirror 119.

[0057] Specifically, the non-coherent light source 120 and / or at least a portion of the aerosolgenerating article 20 inserted into the device 10 are partially or substantially surrounded by the article-side mirror and the light-source-side mirror 118. With this arrangement, the radiation from the non-coherent light source 120 is maximally utilized.

[0058] The configuration with both the article side mirror 119 and the light source side mirror 118 is advantageous because it provides more flexibility to the arrangement of the mirrors, the light source 120 and the aerosol generating article 20. Consequently, the manufacturing tolerance can also be reduced.

[0059] As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in the preferred embodiments, the article side mirror 119 comprises a larger reflective surface, i.e., a greater mirror diameter, than the light source side mirror 118.

[0060] Optionally, to ensure that the article 20 can access inside the article container 114, the light-source-side mirror 118 and the article-side mirror 119 do not form a closed volume. In other words, when the article 20 is fully inserted within the article container 114, the light-source-side mirror 118 and the article-side mirror 119 do not fully enclose the article 20, so that at least a part of the article 20 is exposed to the outside of the light-source-side mirror 118 and the article-side mirror 119.

[0061] Alternatively, the light-source-side mirror 118 and the article-side mirror 119 are arranged in a way such that both the article 20 and the non-coherent light source 120 are completely enclosed and encircled by the mirror elements 118, 119 when in use.

[0062] REFERENCES

[0063] I aerosol generating system

[0064] 10 aerosol generating device

[0065] II main body

[0066] 111 aerosol outlet 112 aerosol inlet

[0067] 113 mouthpiece

[0068] 114 article container

[0069] 115 central airflow bore 116 electronic control circuitry

[0070] 117 battery

[0071] 118 light-source-side mirror

[0072] 119 article-side mirror

[0073] 120 non-coherent light source 20 aerosol generating article

Claims

Claims1. An aerosol-generating device having a non-coherent light source and one or more mirrors adapted to converge non-coherent light emitted by the light source on a portion of an aerosolgenerating article inserted into the device, wherein one of the one or more mirrors is an articleside mirror, which is placed at a side of the article substantially opposite the light source and is arranged in a way such that the light from the non-coherent light source can be reflected and converged onto at least a side of the aerosol generating article facing away from the non-coherent light source.

2. The aerosol-generating device of the preceding claim, characterized in that the one or more light sources are LEDs, in particular LEDs emitting blue light.

3. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a wavelength of the non-coherent light extends from 415 nm up to and including 495 nm, preferably, from 440 nm up to and including 465 nm, and most preferably, from 450 nm up to and including 455 nm.

4. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably all of the one or more mirrors are curved, preferably concave, more preferably dome-shaped.

5. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one, preferably all of the one or more mirrors are, in at least one cross-section, parabolic, or arcshaped.

6. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a focal point of at least one or more mirrors, preferably multiple or all of the focal points of the one or more mirrors, coincides with a portion of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the device.

7. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the one or more mirrors is a light-source-side mirror, which is placed at a side of the light source substantially opposite the article.

8. The aerosol-generating device of the preceding claim, characterized in that the light-source- side mirror is, in at least one cross-section, parabolic.

9. The aerosol-generating device of claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the light source and the light-source-side mirror are positioned in a way such that the light-source-side mirror encloses the light source.

10. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the one or more mirrors is an article-side mirror, which is placed at a side of the article substantially opposite the light source, preferably, in a way such that the non-coherent light source and / or at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the device are partially or substantially surrounded by the article-side mirror and the light-source-side mirror.

11. The aerosol-generating device of the preceding claim 10, characterized in that the article-side mirror is, in at least one cross-section, arc-shaped.

12. The aerosol-generating device of any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light source is located outside the volume enclosed by the article-side mirror.

13. A method of heating at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article in an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the preceding claims.

14. An aerosol-generating system, comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, and an aerosol-generating article.

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