Improved cartridge and aerosol-generating system

Abstract

A cartridge for use with a cartridge holder having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field, the cartridge comprising: a reservoir for holding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge; an aerosolization chamber; wherein one or more liquid ingress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a liquid ingress area of the liquid transfer element and one or more vapor egress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element; wherein the vapor egress area is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber; wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the liquid transfer element adjacent to a pair of electrodes of the dielectric heating arrangement to expose the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to an alternating electric field caused by the pair of electrodes, wherein the reservoir comprises a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge, wherein the liquid feeding section is in fluid communication with the liquid transfer element via the liquid ingress area and configured to feed liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section at the inner portion of the cartridge to the liquid transfer element.

Description

[0001] FTR4074

[0002] P17561WO 1 / 56

[0003] IMPROVED CARTRIDGE AND AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM

[0004] The present disclosure relates to a cartridge, an aerosol-generating system comprising the cartridge, an electronic device, a cartridge holder for removably holding the cartridge, a method for operating the aerosol-generating system, a computer program and a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

[0005] Aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating devices, which may be cartridge holders, are typically designed as handheld devices that can be used by a user for consuming or experiencing, for instance in one or more inhalations or puffs, aerosol generated from an aerosol-forming substrate or an aerosol-forming article, for example by heating. The aerosol-forming devices of the present disclosure are mainly directed to the field of tobacco and tobacco-substitute products, for example electronic cigarettes, e-vapor devices, and / or vaporisers. The aerosol-forming devices of the present disclosure may also pertain to other types of inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers, for example inhalers, dispensers, or atomizers for medical applications.

[0006] Typical aerosol-forming systems can be designed as one-part systems or devices including an aerosol-forming device that can be operated by a user to generate aerosol. Alternatively, aerosol-forming systems can be designed as two-part systems or devices comprising an aerosolforming device and a companion device for storing and / or charging the aerosol-forming device. In either design or configuration, the aerosol-forming system or device can be used by a user for consuming or inhaling, for instance in one or more inhalations or puffs, aerosol generated based on heating an aerosol-forming article or substrate couplable to the aerosol-forming system. In the context of the present disclosure, an aerosol-forming device can refer to both a one-part device and a two-part device, unless explicitly specified otherwise.

[0007] The aerosol-forming article, also referred to as aerosol-generating article, cartridge, capsule, reservoir, or pod, can comprise an aerosol-generating or aerosol-forming substrate, for example a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco or nicotine-containing substrate, which can be vaporized and aerosolized by heating, in a puff-on-demand scheme, where the heater is only activated during the puff or inhalation by a user. Accordingly, the heater may be activated according to a response to draw. The heating may also be set manually, e.g. via respective input from a user via a user interface, such as a button activation. The aerosol-forming article may be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into the aerosol-forming device or system. In conventional systems or devices, the aerosol-forming article is usually formed as a pod, cartridge, capsule, or reservoir, that can be at least partly inserted into a receiving space or receptacle or receptacle chamber of the aerosol-forming device for aerosol consumption.FTR4074

[0008] P17561WO 2 / 56

[0009] Exemplary aerosol-forming substrates can comprise liquid substrate material, containing one or more active ingredients and one or more aerosol formers. The substrate material can, for example, be assembled, often with other elements or components, to form a substantially podshaped aerosol-forming article. Such aerosol-forming article can be configured in shape and size to be inserted at least partially into a receiving space of the aerosol-forming device. The aerosolforming device may comprise a heating element or heater device for heating the substrate of the aerosol-forming article to cause vaporization. The heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosol-forming article and / or the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively or additionally, aerosol-forming substrates can comprise one or more liquids and / or solids, which can, for example, be supplied to the aerosol-forming device in the form of a cartridge or container. Corresponding exemplary aerosol-forming articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the liquid. Usually, such cartridge or container can be coupled to, attached to or at least partially inserted into the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively, the cartridge may be fixedly mounted to the aerosol-forming device and refilled by inserting liquid and / or solid into the cartridge. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate or article may comprise or include one or more of nicotine, aroma, sugar, moisturising agent, botanicals, preservative, flavouring, for example cocoa, liquorice, menthol and lactic acid or other additives. The aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate or article may additionally or alternatively comprise one or more pharmaceutical agents or drugs and may include one or more adjuvants. In addition, the aerosol-forming substrate can further include one or more aerosol formers, for example but not limited to propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), glycerol esters, triacetin, or other.

[0010] For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-forming substrate. The heating element, heater device or heat source can be arranged in the handheld device or a handheld part of the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of or the entire heating element or heater device or heat source can be fixedly associated with or arranged within an aerosol-forming article, for instance in the form of a cartridge, which can be attached to and / or powered by the handheld device or handheld part of the aerosolforming device.

[0011] Conventionally, resistive heating may be used to heat the liquid substrate. However, the present disclosure relates to dielectric or microwave heating achieved through an alternating electrical field using electrical energy supplied via, drawn from or stored in an energy storage or battery of the aerosol-forming device. As used herein, a battery of the aerosol-forming device can generally refer to an energy storage of the aerosol-forming device configured to store electricalFTR4074

[0012] P17561WO 3 / 56

[0013] energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or more capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries. Typically, aerosol-forming devices comprise an energy storage, for example a battery, providing the electrical energy needed to operate the aerosol-forming device and especially for heating the aerosol-forming substrate and / or article, for example to generate aerosol in one or more usage sessions using one or more aerosol-forming articles. The battery may, for example, be a lithium-ion battery.

[0014] According to aspects of the present invention, aerosol-generating systems may form aerosol by heating a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, the constituents of which may be provided as a liquid from the start or which may at least partly be extracted from solid components included in the aerosol-forming article. Typically, the liquid is transported to the heating device by a liquid transfer element, for example a wicking element. The transport of liquid may be caused by capillary action due to small flow paths in the liquid transfer element, by gravity, or by other means, for example by pumping and / or an actuator.

[0015] In typical aerosol-generating systems, liquid aerosol-forming substrate is often supplied to the heating regions via lengthy flow and evaporation paths often arranged in an arbitrary manner. This can result in an inefficient supply and heating of the liquid and limited vapor generation and transport.

[0016] It may therefore be desirable to provide for an improved cartridge, aerosol-generating system and / or electronic device having an optimized liquid and vapor transfer configuration and thus providing an improved liquid supply, heating, and vaporization management.

[0017] Moreover, according to at least some embodiments described herein, given the advantages provided by the dielectric heating allowing for non-contact heating, it is possible to provide for a cartridge or pod that does not have any heating elements, and also does not require any electric terminals that would be needed to provide electric power to the cartridge heating elements, for example as seen in the state-of-the-art coil-and-wick or mesh-and-wick heater elements in e-vapor cartridges. The electrodes that can provide for the alternating electric field can be part of the cartridge holder, and the oscillator circuit is thereby fully comprised in the cartridge holder. This also allows making cartridges or pods that do not use any metal parts that are in contact with the e-liquid, which is the case for both resistive heated e-vapor cartridges, and inductively-heated e-vapor cartridges, and thereby it is possible to avoid contamination of the liquids or vapors over time by metal particles and residue. In addition, a cartridge or pod can be provided that can be easily recyclable, using a less diverse material composition for the manufacturing. An additional advantage is the simplified design of the system with a cartridge that does not require any EM shielding, but the shielding can be fully incorporated into the cartridge holder.

[0018] These advantages may be achieved by the features described herein.FTR4074

[0019] P17561WO 4 / 5Q

[0020] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a cartridge, an aerosol-generating system comprising the cartridge, an electronic device, a cartridge holder for removably holding the cartridge, a method for operating the aerosol-generating system, a computer program and a non-transitory computer-readable medium. It is noted that any disclosure presented herein with reference to an or one aspect of the present disclosure, equally applies to any other aspect of the present disclosure, unless explicitly stated otherwise.

[0021] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a cartridge for use with a cartridge holder having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field. The cartridge comprises a reservoir for holding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge, and an aerosolization chamber. One or more liquid ingress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a liquid ingress area of the liquid transfer element and one or more vapor egress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element. Further, the vapor egress area is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber. Further, the cartridge is configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the liquid transfer element adjacent to a pair of electrodes of the dielectric heating arrangement to expose the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to an alternating electric field caused by the pair of electrodes. Further, the reservoir comprises a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge, wherein the liquid feeding section is in fluid communication with the liquid transfer element via the liquid ingress area and configured to feed liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section at the inner portion of the cartridge to the liquid transfer element arranged at the outer portion of the cartridge.

[0022] Thus, an efficient liquid aerosol-forming substrate supply and vaporization can be achieved. In particular, distances between any point of liquid ingress surfaces to the vapor egress surfaces may be significantly shortened and an improved replenishment of the liquid transfer element can be achieved via the liquid feeding section arranged at the inner portion of the cartridge. When a user inhales during a puff, air may be for instance drawn via one or more inlets that will be described further below, may further pass by the one or more vapor egress surfaces of the liquid transfer element, and may accordingly pick up the vapor and then enter into the aerosolization chamber. The resulting aerosol could then be accordingly inhaled by the user via a main aerosol channel that may connect the outlet of the cartridge with the aerosolization chamber.

[0023] In some examples, the fluid communication between the liquid feeding section and the liquid transfer element can be configured to provide a liquid ingress flow across the liquid ingress area in a direction from the inner portion of the cartridge to the outer portion of the cartridge. Thus, a potentially disadvantageous flow along the extension direction the cartridge, in particular in a region between the liquid ingress area and the vapor egress area near the dielectric heatingFTR4074

[0024] P17561WO 5 / 5Q

[0025] arrangement can be prevented. In some examples, the cartridge can comprise an outer wall, and the liquid ingress area can be arranged opposite to the outer wall at the inner portion of the cartridge. Hence, a suitable spacing between the liquid ingress area and an outer portion of the cartridge, where the dielectric heating arrangement can be arranged, may be achieved. In some examples, a liquid flow distance between one or more of the liquid ingress surfaces to one or more of the vapor egress surfaces can be less than 4 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 1.5 mm. Hence, a suitable short liquid flow distance within the liquid transfer element may be achieved. In some examples, two vapor egress surfaces can be provided. In some examples, one liquid ingress surface can be provided. In some examples, the two vapor egress surfaces can be arranged at opposite sides of the liquid transfer element.

[0026] In some examples, the liquid transfer element can have a longitudinal shape, at least one width side surface forming the vapor egress surface, and one long side surface forming the liquid ingress surface. In particular, a length to width ratio of the liquid transfer element can be at least 1 :3, more preferably at least 1 :5. Thus, a stick or bar like appearance of the liquid transfer element may be achieved. Furthermore, in some examples one or more third surfaces of the liquid transfer element can define a dielectric heating interface area of the liquid transfer element. In particular, the dielectric heating interface area can be spatially distinct to the liquid ingress area and the vapor egress area. In some examples, the liquid transfer element can be made from a porous body permitting a liquid to capillary flow from the liquid ingress area to the heating zone. In some examples, the liquid transfer element can include a plurality of flow channels leading from the liquid ingress area to the vapor egress area. In particular, the flow channels can have a larger cross-sectional area at a downstream section at the vapor egress area as compared to a cross-sectional area at an upstream section at the liquid ingress area. Thus, a potential restriction of liquid flow through the liquid transfer element may be avoided. Furthermore, in some examples, the flow channels at the upstream section can have dimensions to provide for a capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0027] In some examples, the cartridge can be configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the dielectric heating interface area between the pair of electrodes of the cartridge holder. In some examples, the vapor egress area can be arranged to be opposite to the heating interface area. In particular, the heating interface area can extend substantially parallel to an insertion direction of the cartridge and / or a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. In some examples, the vapor egress area can extend substantially parallel to an insertion direction of the cartridge and / or a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. In some examples, the heating interface area can be rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element and / or an insertion direction of the cartridge. In some examples, the vapor egress area can at least partially confine the aerosolization chamber. Hence, part of an outer boundaryFTR4074

[0028] P17561WO 6 / 56

[0029] of the aerosolization chamber may be formed by the vapor egress area, and a respective egress of vapor from the liquid transfer element to the aerosolization chamber may be facilitated.

[0030] In some examples, the vapor egress area can be larger than the liquid ingress area. Thus, a limitation in the liquid flow through the liquid transfer element may be prevented. In some examples, the cartridge can comprise a central volume comprising no or only low dielectric material. Hence, a dielectric heating of the central volume may be prevented. For instance, the central volume can comprise air. In some examples, the central volume can be fluidly connected to an outer environment of the cartridge via an opening. Thus, outside air may be supplied to the central volume. In particular, at least part of the reservoir and / or the liquid feeding section can be arranged at an outer portion of the central volume. In other words, at least part of the reservoir and / or the liquid feeding section may be arranged between the central volume and an outer portion of the cartridge.

[0031] In some examples, the liquid transfer element may be circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal in transverse cross-section. However, it is understood that also different shapes may be generally employed. In some examples, the liquid transfer element may comprise a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element. For instance, the longitudinal extension can be at least two times a width of the liquid transfer element, and preferably at least three times the width of the liquid transfer element. Accordingly, a bar-like like-appearance may be provided. In some examples, the liquid transfer element can be rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the cartridge and / or an insertion direction of the cartridge. In some examples, the longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element can be aligned along a longitudinal axis of the aerosolization chamber. That is, a main extension direction of the liquid transfer element and a main extension direction of the aerosolization chamber may be aligned, for instance essentially parallel to each other. In some examples, the liquid transfer element can at least partially confine the aerosolization chamber. Hence, part of an outer boundary of the aerosolization chamber may be formed by liquid transfer element, and a respective egress of vapor from the liquid transfer element to the aerosolization chamber may be facilitated.

[0032] In some examples, the cartridge can further comprise at least one air channel arranged inside the cartridge, wherein the air channel can comprise at least one air inlet for establishing a fluid connection between an outer environment of the cartridge and the air channel. Accordingly, environmental air may be drawn into the cartridge. In some examples, the air inlet is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber. Air may be accordingly guided from the air inlet to the aerosolization chamber. In some examples, the air channel can be arranged to pass by the liquid transfer element for allowing vapor to egress from the vapor egress area into the air channel. In particular, the air channel can be configured for guiding vapor from the vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element via the aerosolization chamber towards the outlet. Thus, airFTR4074

[0033] P17561WO 7 / 56

[0034] drawn into the cartridge may pick up the vapor from the vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element, form an aerosol and can be accordingly transported further from the aerosolization chamber towards the outlet.

[0035] In some examples, the air inlet can be arranged ata bottom portion of the cartridge. In some examples, the air inlet can be arranged at an outer side portion of the cartridge. However, the air inlet is not necessarily arranged always at an outer portion. For instance, in some examples the air inlet can be arranged at an inner sidewall forming at least part of the central volume such that a fluid connection between the central volume and the air channel can be established.

[0036] In some examples, the cartridge can further comprise a cartridge body comprising one or more outer sidewalls for enclosing one or more elements of the cartridge. In some examples, the air inlet can be arranged at a lower outer sidewall of the cartridge body. In some examples, an air channel can be provided for fluidly connecting the central volume with upper and outer sidewalls of the cartridge body. Hence, a suitable air flow into and within the cartridge may be established, as desired.

[0037] In some examples, the liquid transfer element can have a partially spherical geometry. In some examples, a plurality of liquid transfer elements can be provided, wherein each liquid transfer element of the plurality of liquid transfer elements can be circumferentially spaced apart and fluidically separate from each other. Thus, respective multiple liquid ingress surfaces and vapor egress surfaces may be provided. In some examples, the aerosolization chamber can be in fluid communication with an outlet of the cartridge. In some examples, the cartridge can comprise an airflow passage fluidically coupling the aerosolization chamber to the outlet. In particular, the airflow passage can have a transverse cross-sectional area less than a transverse cross-sectional area of the aerosolization chamber. In some examples, the airflow passage and the aerosolization chamber can extend along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge. In some examples, the reservoir can partially or wholly surround the airflow passage.

[0038] In some examples, the cartridge can extend longitudinally between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the cartridge can terminate in an end portion at the distal end having a reduced cross-section or a same cross-section. Thus, the cartridge end portion may be accordingly shaped for being receivable by, and removably coupleable with, the cartridge holder. For instance, the end portion can comprise a cross-sectional shape being essentially rectangular, round, oval, polygon, or having an irregular shape.

[0039] In some examples, the cartridge can comprise a body having one or more inner and outer walls, wherein one or more of the inner and outer walls can include one or more of a low-dielectric material, a high-temperature resistant material and / or food grade microwave- safe material. The body can include a cartridge housing, which can have an outer wall, which may be for instance formed in a cylindrical, oval, or tubular manner. The outer wall of the cartridge housing mayFTR4074

[0040] P17561WO 8 / 56

[0041] include a thin wall portion at or adjacent to the liquid transfer element, for separating the liquid transfer element from the electrodes. The thickness of the thin wall portion may be at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm or at most 0.5 mm or at most 0.4 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.2 mm or at most 0.1 mm or at most 0.05 mm. To avoid structural weaking of the cartridge, the one or more walls adjacent to the liquid transfer element may be preferably formed thinner than the rest of the cylinder or tubular structure of the cartridge housing. The outer wall of the cartridge housing and in particular the thin wall portion may be preferably sufficient thin so that the distance of the liquid transfer element to the electrodes could be minimized to avoid a large power drop due to an increased distance from the electrodes. The outer wall of the cartridge housing may be preferably made of a low dielectric material. For instance, the portion of the outer wall of the cartridge housing that is in close range to electrodes to be subjected to a high dielectric field strength may be made of a material that has a lower relative permittivity than the remaining parts.

[0042] For instance, one or more of the inner and outer walls can include one or more of a Quartz glass material or other low-dielectric glass material, a PEEK material, a PEI material, a hard plastic material used for microwaveable food containers such as TritanTM (BPA-free copolyester), BPA-free polycarbonates, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), siloxane, polysiloxane, polypropylene, Polyethylene, Terephthalate (PET, PETE).

[0043] In some examples, the cartridge could not include the pair of electrodes for dielectric heating.

[0044] In some examples, the cartridge can comprise a plurality of liquid transfer elements which can include a first liquid transfer element and a second liquid transfer element. The first liquid transfer element can include a first liquid ingress surface which can be face the inner portion of the cartridge and which can be configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section. The first liquid transfer element can further include a first vapor egress surface which can face a first airflow channel. The second liquid transfer element can include a second liquid ingress surface which can be face the inner portion of the cartridge and which can be configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section. The second liquid transfer element can further include a second vapor egress surface which can face a second airflow channel. In some examples, the first liquid transfer element can include an additional vapor egress surface and the second liquid transfer element can include an additional vapor egress surface, wherein the additional vapor egress surfaces of the first and second liquid transfer elements can confine an additional airflow channel. In some examples, the cartridge can comprise a non-porous portion that can be arranged at least partially between the first liquid transfer element and the second liquid transfer element.FTR4074

[0045] P17561WO 9 / 56

[0046] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolgenerating system comprising a cartridge according to present disclosure and a cartridge holder for removably receiving the cartridge and having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field. In some examples, a heating zone in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be heated can be defined at a portion of the cartridge where the liquid transfer element can be, in a coupled condition, positioned adjacent to the pair of electrodes. In particular, the reservoir can be distanced from an outer wall of the cartridge at a portion of the cartridge adjacent to the heating zone. For instance, the reservoir can be distanced from the outer wall by at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, and more preferably 2 mm. In some examples, the heating zone can comprise a depth along an insertion direction of the cartridge of at least 15 mm, preferably of at least 20 mm. Further, in some examples the heating zone can comprise a width perpendicular to an insertion direction of the cartridge of less than 12 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, more preferably less than 8 mm.

[0047] In some examples, the dielectric heating arrangement can comprise an electrode assembly including at least one pair of electrodes, wherein the liquid transfer element can be positioned at least partially adjacent to the pair of electrodes, when the cartridge is in an inserted position of the holder. Thus, liquid aerosol forming substrate which has ingressed into the liquid transfer element could be accordingly heated by dielectric heating arrangement. Exemplarily, in a coupled condition, the pair of electrodes can be arranged adjacent to the outer portion of the cartridge. For instance, in a coupled condition, the liquid transfer element can be arranged at least partially between the pair of electrodes and the liquid feeding section. In some examples, the pair of electrodes can be arranged at an angle towards each other defining a liquid transfer element arrangement space, wherein, in a coupled condition, the liquid transfer element can be arranged at least partially in the liquid transfer element arrangement space. For instance, the pair of electrodes can be arranged towards each other in a curved manner as seen in a cross-sectional view along an insertion direction of the cartridge.

[0048] In some examples, the electrode assembly can be fully formed by the aerosol-generating system such that no elements of the electrode assembly are formed by the cartridge. Thus, complexity and manufacturing costs of the cartridge may be reduced. In some examples, the cartridge holder can comprise a receiving cavity for receiving an insertion end of the cartridge, wherein the electrode assembly is arranged around a periphery of the receiving cavity. For instance, the insertion end can define an end portion of reduced cross-section of the cartridge, or the insertion end can define an end portion of a same cross-section of the cartridge. Thus, the end portion may be accordingly shaped to be received by, and removably coupled with, the cartridge holder. Accordingly, the insertion end of the cartridge and the receiving cavity of theFTR4074

[0049] P17561WO 10 / 56

[0050] cartridge holder can define an interference fit when coupled together. For instance, the insertion end of the cartridge and the receiving cavity of the cartridge holder can have complementary tapered surfaces. In some examples, the receiving cavity can be formed by an inner receiving cavity wall, wherein a thickness of the inner receiving cavity wall is below 0.5 mm. Furthermore, in some examples, the inner receiving cavity wall can comprise a varying thickness, wherein a portion of the inner receiving cavity wall adjacent to which the liquid transfer element is to be positioned can have a reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the other portions of the inner receiving cavity wall. Also, a portion of the inner receiving cavity wall adjacent to which the liquid transfer element is to be positioned can be made of a first a material having a relative permittivity lower than a relative permittivity of a second material of the other portions of the inner receiving cavity wall. Exemplarily, the first material can have a relative permittivity of less than 4, preferably less than 3.

[0051] In some examples, the electrode assembly can comprise at least a first pair of electrodes of opposite polarities and a second pair of electrodes of opposite polarities, wherein the first and second electrode pairs can be arranged relative to each other to define a localized alternating electric field between the electrodes of each pair. In some examples, the electrode assembly can include at least one pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes. For instance, a distance between the two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be essentially constant for providing a homogenous electric field along an electrode extension direction. Exemplarily, the electrodes can extend planar. Furthermore, the electrodes can be arranged in a plane. In some examples, the electrodes can extend with respect to each other at an inclination. For instance, the inclination can comprise an angle in a range of about to 90° to 180°. In some examples, the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be linearly extending. In some examples, the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be extending in a curved manner. In some examples, the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be extending in a circle. Thus, the electrodes may surround the cartridge. In some examples, the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be formed as cylinder segments. Also, more than one pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes can be provided each defining a distinct electrode extension direction. In some examples, the electrode assembly can comprise a plurality of interdigitated electrodes. In some examples, one or more of the electrodes can comprise an upper electrode edge, wherein the upper electrode edge is spaced from an upper edge of the aerosol-generating system of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 8 mm and more preferably of at least 10 mm. Exemplarily, the plurality of interdigitated electrodes can comprise a circumferential arrangement of interdigitated electrodes.

[0052] In some examples, the cartridge can be free of any components of the dielectric heating arrangement. In some examples, the dielectric heating arrangement can be confined to the cartridge holder.FTR4074

[0053] P17561WO 11 / 56

[0054] In some examples, the aerosol-generating system can comprise a plurality of liquid transfer elements which can include a first liquid transfer element and a second liquid transfer element. The first liquid transfer element can include a first liquid ingress surface which can be face the inner portion of the cartridge and which can be configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section. The first liquid transfer element can further include a first vapor egress surface which can face a first airflow channel. The second liquid transfer element can include a second liquid ingress surface which can be face the inner portion of the cartridge and which can be configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section. The second liquid transfer element can further include a second vapor egress surface which can face a second airflow channel. In some examples, the first liquid transfer element and / or the second liquid transfer element can be aligned with an electric field peak amplitude provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement. In some examples, the first liquid transfer element can include an additional vapor egress surface and the second liquid transfer element can include an additional vapor egress surface, wherein the additional vapor egress surfaces of the first and second liquid transfer elements can confine an additional airflow channel. In some examples, one or more of the first and second vapor egress surfaces can be aligned with an electric field peak amplitude that can be provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement. In some examples, one or more of the additional vapor egress surfaces can be aligned to coincide with an electric field peak amplitude that can be provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement. In some examples, the aerosol-generating system can comprise a non-porous portion that can be arranged at least partially between the first liquid transfer element and the second liquid transfer element.

[0055] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an electronic device including an aerosol-generating system according to the present disclosure and / or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating system with electrical energy. In some examples, the electronic device can further comprise a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosolforming substrate.

[0056] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method for operating the aerosol-generating system according to the present disclosure or the electronic device according to the present disclosure comprising the steps of:

[0057] - Receiving, by the aerosol-generating system, at least partially a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0058] - Dielectrically heating, by a dielectric heating arrangement of the aerosolgenerating system, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and vaporizing the liquid aerosolforming substrate by an alternating electric field, andFTR4074

[0059] P17561WO V2 / 5Q

[0060] - Feeding, from a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge.

[0061] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer program, which, when executed by processing circuitry of an aerosol-generating system or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating system with electrical energy, causes the aerosol-generating system or the companion device to perform at least partially the steps of the method according to the present disclosure.

[0062] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the present disclosure.

[0063] In the context of the present disclosure, the cartridge holder and / or the aerosol-forming system may be a portable device and / or system. It may be battery powered. Particularly, the cartridge holder and / or the aerosol-forming system may be pocket-size, hand-held, suitable for one-hand use and / or may weigh less than 300 g, preferably less than 200 g. It may be shaped and / or sized to fit snugly into a user’s hand. It may be carried in jacket and / or trouser pockets. Particularly, the cartridge holder and / or the aerosol-forming system may be configured to provide aerosol for human inhalation and / or human consumption, particularly inhalation and / or consumption through the mouth.

[0064] The invention is defined in the claims. However, below there is provided a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0065] Example 1. A cartridge for use with a cartridge holder having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field, the cartridge comprising:

[0066] a reservoir for holding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0067] a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge;

[0068] an aerosolization chamber;

[0069] wherein one or more liquid ingress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a liquid ingress area of the liquid transfer element and one or more vapor egress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element;

[0070] wherein the vapor egress area is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber; wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the liquid transfer element adjacent to a pair of electrodes of theFTR4074

[0071] P17561WO 13 / 56

[0072] dielectric heating arrangement to expose the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to an alternating electric field caused by the pair of electrodes,

[0073] wherein the reservoir comprises a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge,

[0074] wherein the liquid feeding section is in fluid communication with the liquid transfer element via the liquid ingress area and configured to feed liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section at the inner portion of the cartridge to the liquid transfer element arranged at the outer portion of the cartridge.

[0075] Example 2. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0076] wherein the fluid communication between the liquid feeding section and the liquid transfer element is configured to provide a liquid ingress flow across the liquid ingress area in a direction from the inner portion of the cartridge to the outer portion of the cartridge.

[0077] Example 3. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0078] wherein the cartridge comprises an outer wall, and

[0079] wherein the liquid ingress area is arranged opposite to the outer wall at the inner portion of the cartridge.

[0080] Example 4. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0081] wherein a liquid flow distance between one or more of the liquid ingress surfaces to one or more of the vapor egress surfaces is less than 4 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 1.5 mm.

[0082] Example 5. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0083] wherein two vapor egress surfaces are provided.

[0084] Example 6. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0085] wherein one liquid ingress surface is provided.

[0086] Example 7. The cartridge according to the preceding example in combination with example 5,

[0087] wherein the two vapor egress surfaces are arranged at opposite sides of the liquid transfer element.

[0088] Example 8. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,FTR4074

[0089] P17561WO 14 / 56

[0090] wherein the liquid transfer element has a longitudinal shape, at least one width side surface forming the vapor egress surface, and one long side surface forming the liquid ingress surface.

[0091] Example 9. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0092] wherein a length to width ratio of the liquid transfer element is at least 1:3, more preferably at least 1:5.

[0093] Example 10. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0094] wherein one or more third surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a dielectric heating interface area of the liquid transfer element.

[0095] Example 11. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0096] wherein the dielectric heating interface area is spatially distinct to the liquid ingress area and the vapor egress area.

[0097] Example 12. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples, wherein the liquid transfer element is made from a porous body permitting a liquid to capillary flow from the liquid ingress area to the heating zone.

[0098] Example 13. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples, wherein the liquid transfer element includes a plurality of flow channels leading from the liquid ingress area to the vapor egress area.

[0099] Example 14. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0100] wherein the flow channels have a larger cross-sectional area at a downstream section at the vapor egress area as compared to a cross-sectional area at an upstream section at the liquid ingress area.

[0101] Example 15. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0102] wherein the flow channels at the upstream section have dimensions to provide for a capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0103] Example 16. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 10 to 15, wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the dielectric heating interface area between the pair of electrodes of the cartridge holder.FTR4074

[0104] P17561WO 15 / 56

[0105] Example 17. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 10 to 16, wherein the vapor egress area is arranged to be opposite to the heating interface area.

[0106] Example 18. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 10 to 17, wherein the heating interface area extends substantially parallel to an insertion direction of the cartridge and / or a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

[0107] Example 19. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0108] wherein the vapor egress area extends substantially parallel to an insertion direction of the cartridge and / or a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

[0109] Example 20. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 10 to 19, wherein the heating interface area is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element and / or an insertion direction of the cartridge.

[0110] Example 21. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0111] wherein the vapor egress area at least partially confines the aerosolization chamber.

[0112] Example 22. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0113] wherein the vapor egress area is larger than the liquid ingress area.

[0114] Example 23. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge comprises a central volume comprising no or only low dielectric material.

[0115] Example 24. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0116] wherein the central volume comprises air.

[0117] Example 25. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 23 or 24, wherein the central volume is fluidly connected to an outer environment of the cartridge via an opening.

[0118] Example 26. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 23 to 25, wherein at least part of the reservoir and / or the liquid feeding section is arranged at an outer portion of the central volume.FTR4074

[0119] P17561WO 16 / 56

[0120] Example 27. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0121] wherein the liquid transfer element is circular, square, rectangular, hexagonal, or octagonal in transverse cross-section.

[0122] Example 28. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0123] wherein the liquid transfer element comprises a longitudinal extension along a longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element.

[0124] Example 29. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0125] wherein the longitudinal extension is at least two times a width of the liquid transfer element, and preferably at least three times the width of the liquid transfer element.

[0126] Example 30. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0127] wherein the liquid transfer element is rotationally symmetric about a longitudinal axis of the cartridge and / or an insertion direction of the cartridge.

[0128] Example 31. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0129] wherein the longitudinal axis of the liquid transfer element is aligned along a longitudinal axis of the aerosolization chamber.

[0130] Example 32. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0131] wherein the liquid transfer element at least partially confines the aerosolization chamber.

[0132] Example 33. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0133] further comprising at least one air channel arranged inside the cartridge,

[0134] wherein the air channel comprises at least one air inlet for establishing a fluid connection between an outer environment of the cartridge and the air channel.

[0135] Example 34. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0136] wherein the air inlet is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber.

[0137] Example 35. The cartridge according to one the preceding examples 33 or 34, wherein the air channel is arranged to pass by the liquid transfer element for allowing vapor to egress from the vapor egress area into the air channel.FTR4074

[0138] P17561WO 17 / 56

[0139] Example 36. The cartridge according to one the preceding examples 33 to 35, wherein the air channel is configured for guiding vapor from the vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element via the aerosolization chamber towards the outlet.

[0140] Example 37. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 33 to 36, wherein the air inlet is arranged at a bottom portion of the cartridge.

[0141] Example 38. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 33 to 37, wherein the air inlet is arranged at an outer side portion of the cartridge.

[0142] Example 39. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 33 to 38 in combination with example 23,

[0143] wherein the air inlet is arranged at an inner sidewall forming at least part of the central volume such that a fluid connection between the central volume and the air channel is established.

[0144] Example 40. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0145] further comprising a cartridge body comprising one or more outer sidewalls for enclosing one or more elements of the cartridge.

[0146] Example 41. The cartridge according to the preceding example in combination with example 33,

[0147] wherein the air inlet is arranged at a lower outer sidewall of the cartridge body.

[0148] Example 42. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 40 or 41 in combination with examples 23 and 33,

[0149] wherein an air channel is provided for fluidly connecting the central volume with upper and outer sidewalls of the cartridge body.

[0150] Example 43. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0151] wherein the liquid transfer element has a partially spherical geometry.

[0152] Example 44. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0153] wherein a plurality of liquid transfer elements is provided, and wherein each liquid transfer element of the plurality of liquid transfer elements is circumferentially spaced apart and fluidically separate from each other.FTR4074

[0154] P17561WO 18 / 56

[0155] Example 45. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0156] wherein the aerosolization chamber is in fluid communication with an outlet of the cartridge.

[0157] Example 46. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0158] comprising an airflow passage fl uidical ly coupling the aerosolization chamber to the outlet.

[0159] Example 47. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0160] wherein the airflow passage has a transverse cross-sectional area less than a transverse cross-sectional area of the aerosolization chamber.

[0161] Example 48. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 46 or 47, wherein the airflow passage and the aerosolization chamber extend along a longitudinal axis of the cartridge.

[0162] Example 49. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 46 to 48, wherein the reservoir partially or wholly surrounds the airflow passage.

[0163] Example 50. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0164] wherein the cartridge extends longitudinally between a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the cartridge terminates in an end portion at the distal end having a reduced crosssection or a same cross-section.

[0165] Example 51. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0166] wherein the liquid transfer element is disposed in the end portion.

[0167] Example 52. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 50 or 51 , wherein the end portion comprises a cross-sectional shape being essentially rectangular, round, oval, polygon, or having an irregular shape.

[0168] Example 53. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0169] wherein the cartridge comprises a body having one or more inner and outer walls, wherein one or more of the inner and outer walls include one or more of a low-dielectric material, a high-temperature resistant material and / or food grade microwave-safe material.

[0170] Example 54. The cartridge according to the preceding example,FTR4074

[0171] P17561WO 19 / 56

[0172] wherein one or more of the inner and outer walls include one or more of a Quartz glass material, a PEEK material, a PEI material, a hard plastic material used for microwaveable food containers such as TritanTM (BPA-free copolyester), BPA-free polycarbonates, high-density polyethylene (HDPE), siloxane, polysiloxane, polypropylene, Polyethylene, Terephthalate (PET, PETE).

[0173] Example 55. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples,

[0174] wherein the cartridge does not include the pair of electrodes for dielectric heating.

[0175] Example 56. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples, comprising a plurality of liquid transfer elements including a first liquid transfer element and a second liquid transfer element,

[0176] wherein the first liquid transfer element includes a first liquid ingress surface facing the inner portion of the cartridge and configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section and a first vapor egress surface facing a first airflow channel,

[0177] wherein the second liquid transfer element includes a second liquid ingress surface facing the inner portion of the cartridge and configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section and a second vapor egress surface facing a second airflow channel.

[0178] Example 57. The cartridge according to the preceding example,

[0179] wherein the first liquid transfer element includes an additional vapor egress surface and wherein the second liquid transfer element includes an additional vapor egress surface, wherein the additional vapor egress surfaces of the first and second liquid transfer elements confine an additional airflow channel.

[0180] Example 58. The cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 56 or 57, further comprising a non-porous portion arranged at least partially between the first liquid transfer element and the second liquid transfer element.

[0181] Example 59. An aerosol-generating system comprising a cartridge according to one of the preceding examples and a cartridge holder for removably receiving the cartridge and having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field.

[0182] Example 60. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example,FTR4074

[0183] P17561WO 20 / 5Q

[0184] wherein a heating zone in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is heated is defined at a portion of the cartridge where the liquid transfer element is, in a coupled condition, positioned adjacent to the pair of electrodes.

[0185] Example 61. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the reservoir is distanced from an outer wall of the cartridge at a portion of the cartridge adjacent to the heating zone.

[0186] Example 61. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the reservoir is distanced from the outer wall by at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, and more preferably 2 mm.

[0187] Example 63. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 57 to 59,

[0188] wherein the heating zone comprises a depth along an insertion direction of the cartridge of at least 15 mm, preferably of at least 20 mm.

[0189] Example 64. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 57 to 60,

[0190] wherein the heating zone comprises a width perpendicular to an insertion direction of the cartridge of less than 12 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, more preferably less than 8 mm.

[0191] Example 65. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples,

[0192] wherein the dielectric heating arrangement comprises an electrode assembly including at least one pair of electrodes, and

[0193] wherein the liquid transfer element is positioned at least partially adjacent to the pair of electrodes, when the cartridge is in an inserted position of the holder.

[0194] Example 66. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein, in a coupled condition, the pair of electrodes is arranged adjacent to the outer portion of the cartridge.

[0195] Example 67. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 or 66,FTR4074

[0196] P17561WO 21 / 56

[0197] wherein, in a coupled condition, the liquid transfer element is arranged at least partially between the pair of electrodes and the liquid feeding section.

[0198] Example 68. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 67,

[0199] wherein the pair of electrodes are arranged at an angle towards each other defining a liquid transfer element arrangement space,

[0200] wherein, in a coupled condition, the liquid transfer element is arranged at least partially in the liquid transfer element arrangement space.

[0201] Example 69. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 68,

[0202] wherein the pair of electrodes are arranged towards each other in a curved manner as seen in a cross-sectional view along an insertion direction of the cartridge.

[0203] Example 70. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 69,

[0204] wherein the electrode assembly is fully formed by the aerosol-generating system such that no elements of the electrode assembly are formed by the cartridge.

[0205] Example 71. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 70,

[0206] wherein the cartridge holder comprises a receiving cavity for receiving an insertion end of the cartridge,

[0207] wherein the electrode assembly is arranged around a periphery of the receiving cavity.

[0208] Example 72. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the insertion end defines an end portion of reduced cross-section of the cartridge, or

[0209] wherein the insertion end defines an end portion of a same cross-section of the cartridge.

[0210] Example 73. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 71 or 72,

[0211] wherein the insertion end of the cartridge and the receiving cavity of the cartridge holder define an interference fit when coupled together.FTR4074

[0212] P17561WO 22 / 56

[0213] Example 74. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 68 to 70,

[0214] wherein the insertion end of the cartridge and the receiving cavity of the cartridge holder have complementary tapered surfaces.

[0215] Example 75. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 71 to 74,

[0216] wherein the receiving cavity is formed by an inner receiving cavity wall, wherein a thickness of the inner receiving cavity wall is below 0.5 mm.1

[0217] Example 76. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the inner receiving cavity wall comprises a varying thickness,

[0218] wherein a portion of the inner receiving cavity wall adjacent to which the liquid transfer element is to be positioned has a reduced thickness compared to the thickness of the other portions of the inner receiving cavity wall.

[0219] Example 77. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 75 or 76,

[0220] wherein a portion of the inner receiving cavity wall adjacent to which the liquid transfer element is to be positioned is made of a first a material having a relative permittivity lower than a relative permittivity of a second material of the other portions of the inner receiving cavity wall.

[0221] Example 78. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the first material has a relative permittivity of less than 4, preferably less than 3.

[0222] Example 79. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 78,

[0223] wherein the electrode assembly comprises at least a first pair of electrodes of opposite polarities and a second pair of electrodes of opposite polarities, wherein the first and second electrode pairs arranged relative to each other to define a localized alternating electric field between the electrodes of each pair.

[0224] Example 80. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the first pair of electrodes and the second pair of electrodes are disposed adjacent to spatially distinct regions of the liquid transfer element to provide for distributed heating of liquid aerosol-forming substrate within the liquid transfer element.FTR4074

[0225] P17561WO 23 / 56

[0226] Example 81. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 80,

[0227] wherein the electrode assembly includes at least one pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes.

[0228] Example 82. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein a distance between the two parallelly-arranged electrodes is essentially constant for providing a homogenous electric field along an electrode extension direction.

[0229] Example 83. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 82,

[0230] wherein the electrodes extend planar.

[0231] Example 84. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example 65 to 83,

[0232] wherein the electrodes are arranged in a plane.

[0233] Example 85. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 81 to 84,

[0234] or wherein the electrodes extend with respect to each other at an inclination.

[0235] Example 86. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the inclination comprises an angle in a range of about to 90° to 180°.

[0236] Example 87. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 81 to 86,

[0237] wherein the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes is linearly extending.

[0238] Example 88. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 81 to 87,

[0239] wherein the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes is extending in a curved manner.

[0240] Example 89. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 81 to 88,

[0241] wherein the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes is extending in a circle.FTR4074

[0242] P17561WO 24 / 56

[0243] Example 90. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 81 to 89,

[0244] wherein the pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes is formed as cylinder segments.

[0245] Example 91. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 87 to 90,

[0246] wherein more than one pair of two parallelly-arranged electrodes is provided each defining a distinct electrode extension direction.

[0247] Example 92. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 91 ,

[0248] wherein the electrode assembly comprises a plurality of interdigitated electrodes.

[0249] Example 93. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 65 to 92,

[0250] wherein one or more of the electrodes comprise an upper electrode edge,

[0251] wherein the upper electrode edge is spaced from an upper edge of the aerosol-generating system of at least 5 mm, preferably of at least 8 mm and more preferably of at least 10 mm.

[0252] Example 94. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the plurality of interdigitated electrodes comprises a circumferential arrangement of interdigitated electrodes.

[0253] Example 95. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples,

[0254] wherein the cartridge is free of any components of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0255] Example 96. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples,

[0256] wherein the dielectric heating arrangement is confined to the cartridge holder.

[0257] Example 97. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples,

[0258] comprising a plurality of liquid transfer elements including a first liquid transfer element and a second liquid transfer element,FTR4074

[0259] P17561WO 25 / 56

[0260] wherein the first liquid transfer element includes a first liquid ingress surface facing the inner portion of the cartridge and configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section and a first vapor egress surface facing a first airflow channel,

[0261] wherein the second liquid transfer element includes a second liquid ingress surface facing the inner portion of the cartridge and configured to receive liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section and a second vapor egress surface facing a second airflow channel.

[0262] Example 98. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding example, wherein the first liquid transfer element and / or the second liquid transfer element is aligned with an electric field peak amplitude provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0263] Example 99. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 97 or 98,

[0264] wherein the first liquid transfer element includes an additional vapor egress surface and wherein the second liquid transfer element includes an additional vapor egress surface, wherein the additional vapor egress surfaces of the first and second liquid transfer elements confine an additional airflow channel.

[0265] Example 100. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 97 to 99,

[0266] wherein one or more of the first and second vapor egress surfaces are aligned with an electric field peak amplitude provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0267] Example 101. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 97 to 100,

[0268] wherein one or more of the additional vapor egress surfaces are aligned to coincide with an electric field peak amplitude provided at an edge portion of a conductive feature of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0269] Example 102. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 97 to 101,

[0270] further comprising a non-porous portion arranged at least partially between the first liquid transfer element and the second liquid transfer element.FTR4074

[0271] P17561WO 26 / 56

[0272] Example 103. An electronic device including an aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples and / or a companion device configured to charge the aerosolgenerating system with electrical energy.

[0273] Example 104. The electronic device according to the preceding example,

[0274] wherein the electronic device further comprises a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosolforming substrate.

[0275] Example 105. A cartridge holder for removably holding a cartridge according to one of the preceding examples 1 to 58.

[0276] Example 106. A method for operating the aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding examples 59 to 102, the electronic device according to one of the preceding examples 103 or 104 or the cartridge holder according to the preceding example 105 comprising the steps of:

[0277] - Receiving, by the aerosol-generating system, at least partially a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0278] - Detecting, by a puff triggering mechanism, a puff,

[0279] - Dielectrically heating, by a dielectric heating arrangement of the aerosol-generating system, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and vaporizing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field, and

[0280] - Feeding, from a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge.

[0281] Example 107. A computer program, which, when executed by processing circuitry of an aerosol-generating system or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating system with electrical energy, causes the aerosol-generating system or the companion device to perform at least partially the steps of the method according to the preceding example 97.

[0282] Example 108. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the preceding example 107.

[0283] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0284] Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary electronic device;

[0285] Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary oscillation circuit for use in an aerosol-generating system;FTR4074

[0286] P17561WO 27 / 56

[0287] Figure 3A shows a schematic illustration of an exemplary oscillation circuit;

[0288] Figure 3B shows a schematic illustration of another exemplary oscillation circuit;

[0289] Figure 4 shows an exemplary oscillation circuit diagram;

[0290] Figure 5A schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system;

[0291] Figure 5B schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system;

[0292] Figure 5C schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an excerpt of an exemplary aerosol-generating system;

[0293] Figure 6A-6C schematically show multiple longitudinal cross-sectional views of an exemplary cartridge,

[0294] Figure 7 schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system;

[0295] Figure 8 schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system;

[0296] Figure 9A schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary cartridge,

[0297] Figure 9B schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system,

[0298] Figure 10A schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an excerpt of an exemplary aerosol-generating system,

[0299] Figure 10B schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an excerpt of an exemplary aerosol-generating system,

[0300] Figure 11 schematically shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system,

[0301] Figure 12A schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary cartridge,

[0302] Figure 12B schematically shows a longitudinal side view of an exemplary cartridge holder, Figure 12C schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary cartridge,

[0303] Figure 13A schematically shows a numerical simulation of a generated alternating electric field of an exemplary cartridge holder,

[0304] Figure 13B schematically shows a numerical simulation of a generated alternating electric field of an exemplary cartridge holder,

[0305] Figure 14 schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system;FTR4074

[0306] P17561WO 28 / 5Q

[0307] Figures 15A and 15B show perspective views of a resonant cavity;

[0308] Figures 16 schematically shows a flowchart of an exemplary method according to the present invention.

[0309] The figures are schematic only and not to scale.

[0310] Figure 1 shows an electronic device 500 for forming or generating aerosol, for example for consumption or inhalation by a user in a longitudinal view. The electronic device 500 comprises an aerosol-generating system 450 including a cartridge holder 100 and an aerosol forming article 200, which is exemplarily shown in form of a cartridge 200, which can be received by the cartridge holder 100. The electronic device 500 can optionally further comprise a companion device 300 for accommodating a cartridge holder 100. The companion device 300 may be a charging device or charger case for charging the cartridge holder 100 and / or an energy source 190 or power supply 190 thereof.

[0311] The cartridge holder 100 may comprise a receiving space 101 for at least partially or completely receiving an aerosol forming article 200, which may be in form of a cartridge 200, container 200, capsule 200, or pod 200 having a liquid-aerosol forming substrate 210, which may also be referred to as vaporizable liquid 210 or liquid substrate 210. The vaporizable liquid 210 can be vaporized or aerosolized for inhalation, as shown in greater detail in Figures 5A and 5B. The receiving space 101 may be suitably shaped to removably receive the cartridge 200 by some attachment mechanism, for example a press-fit, interference fit, magnetic attachment, mechanical lock such as snap-fit, bayonet lock, thread, attachment clips or other.

[0312] The vaporizable liquid 210 may also be referred under the term aerosol-forming substrate 210. Generally, the aerosol-forming substrate 210 may comprise tobacco-based or non-tobacco based materials having an aerosol forming material therein and optionally one or more active agents or ingredients, such as nicotine, pharmaceutical, botanicals, flavorants, liquid substrates with one or more active agents or ingredients, or a combination thereof.

[0313] Cartridge 200 includes an aerosol outlet 215 (see FIG. 5A), or optionally, the cartridge holder 100 may comprise a separate mouthpiece (not shown) that can be fluidically interconnected to the cartridge 200, through which a user may inhale aerosol provided from outlet 215 to the cartridge holder 100 for consumption. The aerosol may be provided from an aerosol forming article 200 or substrate 210 provided inside or contained within the cartridge holder 100.

[0314] The exemplary cartridge holder 100 of Figure 1 further includes a dielectric heater arrangement 110 configured to dielectrically heat the vaporizable liquid 210 when the cartridge 200 is received in the receiving space 101. In the variant shown, the cartridge 200 has a cylindrical shape, and a cylindrically formed inner wall 103 can define the receiving space 101, wherein the cylindrically formed inner wall 103 is configured to receive at least partially a cylindrically formedFTR4074

[0315] P17561WO 29 / 56

[0316] insertion portion of a cartridge 200. In another example, the receiving space 101 can be configured to receive a cuboid-shaped cartridge 200, oval-shaped cartridge, oblong-shaped cartridge, or any other shape. In the configuration of the cuboid-shaped receiving space 101, at least one cuboid-shaped inner wall 103 can define the receiving space 101 such that the cuboidshaped inner wall 103 is configured to receive at least partially a cuboid-shaped insertion portion of the cuboid-shaped cartridge 200.

[0317] In the example of Figure 1, the dielectric heater arrangement 110 comprises a load capacitor 126 with a first electrode 114 and a second electrode 116, which are arranged adjacent, for instance arranged opposite or not opposite to each other and are spaced-apart from each other in a direction orthogonal or transverse to an insertion direction or axis 30 for inserting the aerosol forming article 200. The insertion direction or axis 30 may define or be parallel to a longitudinal direction or axis of the cartridge holder 100. The two opposing and spaced-apart electrodes 114, 116 form or define a heating or receiving chamber 165 configured to at least partly receive the aerosol forming article 200 or substrate 210 therebetween.

[0318] The heating chamber 165 and the aerosol forming article 200 can be sized such that the aerosol forming substrate 210 is in close proximity to both the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 of the load capacitor 126 when received within the heating chamber 165. Moreover, the load capacitor 126 with the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 can form part of a feedback loop 133 (see Figure 2) of an oscillator circuit 130, also referred herein to as oscillation circuit 130 or oscillation circuitry 130, for example via a first and second electrical contact 161, 163. It should be noted that the load capacitor 126 can comprise more than one electrode pair, in particular, the load capacitor 126 can comprise two, three, four, or even more pairs of oppositely-polarized electrodes 114, 116. Also, it should be noted that the embodiment with load capacitor 126 is exemplary only. Alternatively, the dielectric heater arrangement 110 may comprise a resonant cavity, a transmission line, or both, configured to receive the substrate 210 for dielectric heating thereof. A controller 140, which may also be referred to as control circuitry 140 can be configured to control a duty cycle ratio of the oscillator circuit 130 defining the ratio of an on-time at which the oscillator 130 provides the RF voltage to the at least two electrodes 114, 116 are powered to dielectrically heat the vaporizable liquid 21 Oto an off-time at which the at least two electrodes 114, 116 are not powered.

[0319] In other examples, the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 may form part of the aerosol forming article 200 comprising the aerosol forming substrate 210. In such embodiments, the heating chamber 165 or a corresponding receiving space between the first and second electrical contacts 161, 163 can be sized such that, when the aerosol forming article 200 is placed or located within the heating chamber 165, an electrical connection is establishedFTR4074

[0320] P17561WO 30 / 56

[0321] between the first electrode 114 and the first electrical contact 161 , and the second electrode 116 and the second electrical contact 163.

[0322] The cartridge holder 100 further comprises a power supply 190, power source 190 or energy source 190, and a controller 140 electrically, communicatively and / or operatively coupled to the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and / or an oscillator circuit 130. In this embodiment, the power supply 190 can be a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, for example with one or more lithium-ion battery cells. Hence, the cartridge holder 100 can be portable, battery-powered and handheld.

[0323] The controller 140 can be configured to control the energy source 190 and / or the dielectric heater arrangement 110. In particular, the controller 140 can be configured to control a supply of electrical power from the energy source 190 to the dielectric heater arrangement 110 for example via a controllable DC-DC converter, voltage regulator, or on / off switching device, thereby controlling the heating, a heating operation, activation and / or deactivation of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 for instance according to one of a plurality of different puff or heating modes. The controller 140 can further include one or more microcontrollers or processors 142 for data processing.

[0324] The energy source 190 may be charged based on connecting terminals of the cartridge holder 100 with a main power supply, e.g., a USB charger. Alternatively, the energy storage 190 may be charged based on mechanically coupling the cartridge holder 100 with the companion device 300. In Figure 1, both the cartridge holder 100 and the companion device 300 comprise an energy storage 190, 310. In an example, energy storage 190 of the cartridge holder may be charged based on coupling the cartridge holder 100 to the companion device, for example based on at least partly inserting the cartridge holder 100 into a compartment or recess of the companion device 300. Upon mechanically coupling the cartridge holder 100, 300, an electrical connection between terminals or electrical connections of the cartridge holder 100 and the companion device 300 can be established to charge the energy storage 190 of the cartridge holder 100 via the energy storage 310 of the companion device 300. The energy storage 310 of the companion device 300 can, for example, be re-charged via connection to a main power supply, e.g., a USB charger. Alternatively, or additionally, one or both the energy storage 190 of the cartridge holder 100 and the energy storage 310 of the companion device 300 may be removable and / or replaceable. In other words, energy storages 190, 310 may be replaceable energy storages or batteries.

[0325] The cartridge holder 100 may further comprise a communications arrangement 150 or interface 150 for communicatively coupling the cartridge holder 100 with the companion device 300 or other devices, such as a smart phone or server, for example, via an Internet connection, a wireless LAN connection, a WiFi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a mobile phone network, a mobile data connection for example but not limited to a 3G / 4G / 5G connection, an edgeFTR4074

[0326] P17561WO 31 / 56

[0327] connection, an LTE connection, a BUS connection, a wireless connection, a wired connection, an optical data connection such as but not limited to IrDa, a radio connection, a near field connection, and / or an loT connection.

[0328] The cartridge holder 100 may further comprise a data storage 152 or memory for storing information, program code or data. Data storage 152 may also store collected values of sensors and / or one or more mathematical functions or formulas, software and / or computer instructions that can be executed by the controller 140 and / or processor 142.

[0329] One or more sensors 154 may be arranged on, at or in the cartridge holder 100 to collect data. One or more of the sensors 154 may for example be a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an image sensor, a pyrometer, a presence sensor, a touch sensor, a temperature sensor, a strain sensor, a pressure sensor, a flow sensor or any other suitable sensor. The controller 140 can be configured to control the dielectric heater arrangement 110 to receive an indication signal that is indicative if the cartridge 200 is received in the receiving space 101. The indication signal can also include a dielectric response or measurement signal of the cartridge 200. In this case the controller can be configured to control the dielectric heater arrangement 110 according to different puff or heating modes adapted to the type of aerosol forming article 200 received.

[0330] Exemplarily, the puff or heating modes may include for instance an idle or ready-mode with pre-heating for puff detection purposes or a pre-heating mode to achieve a viscosity change. The cartridge holder 100 may further comprise a puff triggering mechanism 157 in operative connection with the controller 140 and configured to detect a puff. For instance, the puff triggering mechanism 157 may be adapted to detect the puff manually triggered by the user. In another embodiment, the puff triggering mechanism 157 may comprise a puff detection sensor 158. In one example, the puff detection sensor 158 is a pressure sensor or flow sensor configured to detect a puff based on a pressure or air flow detection. The cartridge holder 100 may further comprise a user interface 156 including one or more components, for example comprising an input and / or output element, for example in the form of a pushbutton, a capacitive button, a touch display, one or more LEDs, an acoustic interface or the like. The user interface 156 may be used or function as a power button to activate or deactivate the dielectric heater arrangement 110 thereby to activate or deactivate the cartridge holder 100.

[0331] The cartridge holder 100 can further include a determination unit 159 in operative connection with the controller 140 for determining a reception of different types of cartridge 200Upon determination that the cartridge 200 is received, the controller 140 can be accordingly configured to control the dielectric heater arrangement 110 according to different heating modes adapted to the type of aerosol forming article 200.FTR4074

[0332] P17561WO 32 / 56

[0333] Further, the cartridge holder 100 can include processing circuitry 400, which can execute a computer program 420 to cause the cartridge holder 100 to perform the steps of the method of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the companion device 300 may include the processing circuitry 400 to perform the respective method steps. The computer program can be for instance stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium 410.

[0334] Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an oscillator or oscillation circuit 130 for use in a dielectric heating aerosol-forming system 500 or cartridge holder 100. The oscillation circuit 130 may comprise a switching unit 135 interconnected with a resonant feedback loop 133 to provide for a self-oscillating signal to the switching unit 135. The switching unit 135 may comprise a single transistor, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or a field effect transistor (FET).

[0335] The oscillation circuit 130 may further comprise a choke 137 that acts on an input to the feedback loop 133 to provide for a stimulation signal, for example a stimulation voltage. The oscillation circuit may also comprise a biasing unit 139 acting on the feedback loop 133 for providing a variable or controllable biasing signal, for example a biasing voltage for setting the operating conditions. In the variant shown, the feedback signal can be described as a voltage. The output voltage UOUT of the switching unit 135 may be coupled to the feedback loop 133 providing a feedback switching signal in the form of a voltage U|Nto the switching unit 135. The configuration of the feedback loop 133 may be such that the output signal, e.g. the voltage UOUT of the switching unit 135, can undergo a phase change and arrives inverted at the input U|Nof the switching unit 135 for resonant oscillation. In other configurations, a current could be used as the feedback signal with a switching unit 135 comprising a BJT.

[0336] The feedback loop 133 may be configured to be self-oscillating and may oscillate at or close to a given resonance frequency determined by the values of the passive components of the feedback loop 133. Feedback loop 133 may be configured to provide a 180° phase shift from the output UOUT to input UIN of switching unit 135 for oscillation, and, in addition, a transistor T (Figure 4) may be configured for inverting operation.

[0337] As shown in Figure 3A and Figure 3B, feedback loop 133 may include a resonant circuit 134 comprising a load capacitor 126 providing for a first 90 degrees phase shift or quarter wave shift to the feedback signal. The heating zone according to the present disclosure may be arranged or may be provided inside the load capacitor 126. Feedback loop 133 may further include a capacitive element 136 providing for a second 90 degrees phase shift or quarter wave shift to the feedback signal, such that the feedback signal reaching the input of the switching unit 135 may be inverted and phase-shifted by 180 degrees. Switching unit 135 may itself be configured for inverted switching operation to provide a 180 degree phase shift between the input U|Nand the output UOUT of the switching unit 135.FTR4074

[0338] P17561WO 33 / 56

[0339] Resonant circuit 134 may comprise first and second electrodes 114, 116, together forming a load capacitor 126 (see Figure 4). When an aerosol-forming substrate is situated between the first and second electrodes 114, 116, it may form part of the load capacitor 126. Importantly, the load capacitor 126 may be formed in the feedback loop 133, and not at a separate output or part of a separate circuitry that is connected to the switching unit 116. This may enable a high-frequency oscillating voltage to be created across the electrodes 114, 116 of load capacitor 126, which is needed for sufficient and efficient dielectric heating of the aerosol-forming substrate 210, without having an additional output or circuit to the already resonating feedback loop 133. This may avoid unnecessary losses and circuit complexity. The resonant circuit 134 may comprise a series resonator circuit or a parallel resonator circuit.

[0340] Figure 4 illustrates an oscillation circuit 130 according to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Oscillation circuit 130 may comprise a switching unit 116 in the form of a transistor T having an intrinsic capacitance Ci. Moreover, transistor T may be configured for inverting operation, for example as an inverting common source FET, MOSFET, more specifically a LDMOS, or a common emitter BJT. The source terminal of transistor T may be coupled to a DC power supply 190 via a choke 137. Between the gate and source terminals of transistor T a feedback loop 133 may extend. The feedback loop 133 may comprise a resonant circuit 134 including a load capacitor 126 having a first and second electrode 114, 116 separated by an aerosol-forming substrate 210 supplied from the aerosol-forming article 200. In the variant shown, the resonant circuit 134 may also be connected to ground via a delay line DL and a capacitor 124 connected in series to the delay line DL. The circuit 130 may further comprise a biasing unit 139 coupled to the gate terminal of the transistor T via the delay line DL. As shown in Figure 4, the biasing unit 139 may be electrically connected between the delay line DL and the capacitor 124, so that the biasing unit 139 may be somewhat isolated from the high oscillation frequency of the feedback loop 133.

[0341] The delay line DL may be a time delay element, for example an element that has inductive behavior, for slowing down the arriving voltage wave from the feedback loop 133 during a period of the oscillation. This may allow to tune the resonant circuit 134 to a desired switching and oscillation frequency, to move the oscillation frequency away from the natural resonant frequency given by the resonant circuit 134. This may ensure that oscillation circuit 130 remains in a predefined frequency operating range to provide for the requisite inverted or 90° phase shifted feedback and also to make sure that the feedback loop has a low impedance to provide for a high gain.

[0342] The oscillation circuit 130 is shown with electrical contacts 161, 163 that may be arranged on each side of the load capacitor 126. The first and second electrodes 114, 116 are part of the removable aerosol-forming article 200 and are therefore removable from the rest of the oscillationFTR4074

[0343] P17561WO 34 / 56

[0344] circuit 130. Electrical contacts 161, 163 provide a removable electrical connection between the first and second electrode 114, 116 and the feedback loop 133. As exemplarily shown in the Figure 4, electrical contacts 161 , 163 may be arranged at different positions in the oscillator circuit 130, resulting in different components being arranged on the aerosol-forming article 200 side or the cartridge holder 100 side. For example, electrical contacts 161 , 163 may be arranged between the load capacitor 126, i.e. the electrodes 114, 116, and the inductors 118 and 120. In this case, only the electrodes 114, 116 may be arranged on and removable with the aerosol-forming article 200. As another example, the electrical contacts 161 , 163 may be arranged between the inductors 118 and 120 and the load capacitor 126, i.e. the electrodes 114, 116, on the one hand, and the rest of the oscillation circuit 130 on the other. In this case, the electrodes 114, 116 and the inductors 118 and 120 may be arranged on and removable with the aerosol-forming article 200.

[0345] In embodiments where the load capacitor 126 is fixed within the feedback loop 133, for example electrical contacts 161, 163 provide electrical connections from the first and second electrodes 114, 116 to the next components in the feedback loop 133, e.g. inductors 118 and 120 or other components. Hence, the resonant feedback loop 133 can comprise at least one first inductor 118 connected in series with one of the at least two electrodes 114, 116 and at least one second inductor 120 connected to another one of the at least two electrodes 114, 116, wherein the at least two electrodes 114, 116 may be connected in series between the first inductor 118 and the second inductor 120.

[0346] With respect to the power supply voltage, a DC power supply voltage is provided, that is preferably in a range that is suitable for battery operation with one or more standard battery cells.

[0347] The DC power supply 190 may be accordingly configured for powering the oscillator circuit 130.

[0348] Preferably, the DC power supply voltage is below 14V. For example, it is possible to operate the oscillation circuit 130 on a single battery cell, for example an 18650 battery cell (Li-Ion), or a similar battery cell, that provides for 3.2V to 3.9V. However, more preferably, a voltage of one battery cell of an exemplary 3.5V to 7V for power supply can be boosted, for example by a DC-DC converter (e.g. a boost circuit), or a voltage doubler. Alternatively or in addition, two or more battery cells can be used in series, or other configurations or arrangements that allow to increase a voltage from one or more battery cell can be used. It is also possible to have a controllable output voltage (e.g. DC-DC converter, voltage regulator), to control the temperature of heating by a change to the DC supply voltage, or to boost the voltage (for example to 10-12V) for maximum power at the preheating stage, to speed up the preheating stage with the goal to reach the aerosolization temperature quickly. Control of the DC supply voltage is one way that makes it possible to rapidly change heating power despite the oscillation circuit 130 freely oscillating.FTR4074

[0349] P17561WO 35 / 56

[0350] A first capacitor 122 may be arranged in parallel to the transistor T and therefore in parallel with the intrinsic capacitor of the transistor T (e.g. a field effect transistor). This may facilitate a less voltage-dependent oscillation and frequency, stabilize the oscillation, and also improve the overall dielectric heating efficiency. Capacitance of the first capacitor 122 may be chosen to be larger than the maximal intrinsic capacitor Ci of transistor T at the operating conditions, so that the variation of the intrinsic transistor based on frequency, temperature, etc. has much less or negligible influence on the feedback loop 133. For example, in a non-limiting embodiment, the value may be in a range between 2pF to 100pF, more preferably in a range between 5pF and 50pF.

[0351] Capacitive element 136 may comprise a second capacitor 124 arranged at the output or end of the resonant circuit 134. In one embodiment, capacitive element 136 may comprise more than one capacitor. As described above, capacitive element 136 may have the function of providing a 90° phase shift to the feedback voltage of feedback loop 133 with minimized losses or other undesired effects, and it therefore needs to have a high-quality factor or Q factor, preferably above 1000 at 100MHz. The capacitance value for capacitor the second 124 of the capacitive element 136 may be relatively high as compared to the first capacitor 122, for example in a range between 500pF to 100nF, more preferably between 1nF and 50nF, which may lead to a low impedance of capacitive element 136. In one embodiment, the capacitive element 136 may be implemented as an RC network to provide for the 90° phase shift, for example using two single-resistor-capacitor networks, having two capacitors in the feedback loop, each capacitor connected to ground via a resistor.

[0352] Resonant circuit 134, together with capacitive element 136, may provide for a 180° phase shift and a voltage gain from the output UOUT to the input U|N, and transistor T (for example a FET) may be configured for inverting operation, thereby also providing for another 180° phase shift. This may result in a resonant or close-to resonant oscillation and an amplified voltage across the electrodes 114 and 116 of the load capacitor 126, as compared to the DC supply voltage. When operating close to resonance, the resonant circuit 134 circuit may behave inductively, having a high Q factor. Furthermore, the feedback loop 133 may be impedance-matched with the transistor T, to provide for a high gain, leading to an increased voltage across the load capacitor 126.

[0353] The combination of capacitor 122, the feedback loop with resonant circuit 134 and capacitive element 136 may also be described as a bandpass filter or Pi or TT network that generates a 180° phase shift. In the illustrated embodiment, the resonant circuit 134 of the feedback loop 133 may not be connected to ground, but may be suspended with ends at each capacitor 122 and 124, thereby not having a direct ground connection at either end of resonant circuit 134, reducing stray elements and ground influences for more predictable operation.FTR4074

[0354] P17561WO 36 / 56

[0355] At the operating frequency, the resonant circuit 134 including load capacitor 126 may act as an inductive load providing a first 90° phase shift, also referred to as a quarter-wave phase shift, and capacitive element 136, which may exemplarily include a high quality factor capacitor 124 connected to ground, may provide for the second 90° phase shift or quarter-wave phase shift.

[0356] In some embodiments, oscillation circuit 130 may be based on other resonant feedback loop oscillation circuit configurations, for example, but not limited to, the use of a Colpitts or Hartley type oscillator, using an inverting transistor T. The oscillation circuit 130 described herein is exemplary only, and other types of oscillation circuits can be used, for example other types of resonant oscillator circuits where the load capacitor 126 for causing the dielectric heating is part of the resonant feedback loop 133, or signal oscillators that are connected to an amplifier and an impedance matching circuit to apply an RF voltage to the electrodes 114, 116 for causing the alternating electric field for dielectric heating. Forced oscillators or forced oscillation circuits may also be used. The given embodiments of the oscillation circuit 130 are therefore merely exemplary and not intended to limit the invention.

[0357] The controller can be configured to control a resonant feedback loop frequency of the resonant feedback loop 133, wherein the resonant feedback loop frequency may be controlled so as to assume different resonant feedback loop frequency values, e.g. in different heating modes. Further, the controller 140 may be accordingly configured to set different resonant feedback loop frequency values by changing an inductance value of the first inductor 118 and / or the second inductor 120 of the resonant feedback loop 133. For instance, the controller 140 can be configured to increase the resonant feedback loop frequency value by reducing the inductance value by short circuiting one of the first inductor 118 or second inductor 120 for removing the inductive coupling between the first inductor 118 and second inductor 120.

[0358] In some examples, the controller 140 can also be configured to set different resonant feedback loop frequency values by changing a capacitance value of one or more of the plurality capacitors 122, 124. This may include providing at least one additional capacitor connected in parallel with the load capacitor 126, wherein the controller can be configured to set different resonant feedback loop frequency values by enabling or disabling the additional capacitor.

[0359] Figures 5A and 5B each show a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-forming system 500. Figure 5A shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cartridge holder 100, and Figure 5B shows a transverse cross-sectional view as indicated by the plane 20 shown in Figure 5A.

[0360] Unless stated otherwise, the aerosol-forming system 500 of Figures 5A and 5B comprises the same features, functions and elements as the cartridge holder 100 and system 500 described with reference to each of Figures 1 to 4. The exemplary system 500 of Figures 5A and 5B is specifically designed for vaporizing vaporizable liquid 210.FTR4074

[0361] P17561WO 37 / 5Q

[0362] The aerosol-forming article 200 of the cartridge holder 100 is formed as cartridge 200, container 200 or pod 200, or liquid-reservoir 200 that can be inserted along a longitudinal axis 30 of the cartridge holder 100 into a body 170 of the cartridge holder 100. It is understood that the cartridge 200 presented herein is merely exemplarily to facilitate the understanding of the underlying technical principles of the present invention. However, of course also any other similarly suitable type of cartridge 200 may be employed with the cartridge holder 100 according to the present disclosure and is accordingly encompassed by the present disclosure. The cartridge 200 can include a respective housing 173, which may be made of a low dielectric material to reduce parasitic heating, and that could fit into the receiving space 103 of the cartridge holder 100. The cartridge housing 173 can have an outer wall, which may be for instance formed in a cylindrical, oval, or tubular manner, or any other shape. The outer wall of the cartridge housing 173 may include a thin wall portion 179 for separating the liquid transfer element 220 from the electrodes 114, 116. The thickness of the thin wall portion 179 may be at most 0.8 mm or at most 0.7 mm or at most 0.6 mm or at most 0.5 mm or at most 0.4 mm or at most 0.3 mm or at most 0.2 mm or at most 0.1 mm or at most 0.05 mm. In the Figure, the thin wall portion 179 the thin wall portion 179 is highlighted by the dashed line. To avoid structural weaking of the cartridge 200, the one or more walls adjacent to the liquid transfer element 220 may be preferably formed thinner than the rest of the cylinder or tubular structure of the cartridge housing 173. The outer wall of the cartridge housing 173 and in particular the thin wall portion 179 may be preferably sufficient thin so that the distance of the liquid transfer element 220 to the electrodes 114, 116 could be minimized to avoid a large power drop due to an increased distance. The outer wall of the cartridge housing 173 may be preferably made of a low dielectric material. For instance, the portion of the outer wall of the cartridge housing 173 that is in close range to electrodes 114, 116 to be subjected to a high dielectric field strength may be made of a material that has a lower relative permittivity than the remaining parts.

[0363] The housing 173 may include a cartridge alignment element 175, which is depicted as a protrusion arranged at the bottom portion of the cartridge housing 173. The cartridge alignment element 175 may accordingly engage upon reception of the cartridge 200 in the receiving space of the cartridge holder 100 with a corresponding device alignment element 177, which is depicted as a corresponding recess. It is understood that the alignment elements may well have any other suitable shape to enable a respective engagement. For instance, is well conceivable that the cartridge alignment element 175 is formed as a recess and the corresponding device alignment element 177 is formed as a protrusion. In case the cartridge 200 does not have a cylindrical shape, not alignment elements may be needed,

[0364] An alignment between the cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 100 may include to achieve a particular positioning of the portion of the cartridge 200 received by the receiving spaceFTR4074

[0365] P17561WO 38 / 56

[0366] 101. For instance, a rotational alignment of the cartridge 200 in the receiving space 101 around the insertion axis 30 may be achieved when the cartridge alignment element 175 is engaged with the device alignment element 177. Furthermore, the depicted arrangement at the bottom of cartridge 200 and at the floor of the heating chamber 165 (cf. Fig. 1) allows to keep a design of the airflow along the side walls.

[0367] The cartridge 200 includes a reservoir 205 that is at least partly filled with the liquid aerosolforming substrate 210, which may also be referred to as vaporizable liquid 210, liquid substrate 210, e-liquid 210, or e-juice 210. In particular, a bottom part 212 or end 212 of the cartridge 200 may be inserted into a heating chamber 165 of the cartridge holder 100. At an opposite end 214 of the aerosol-forming article 200, an aerosol outlet 215 can be formed, via which the user can draw air and inhalable aerosol.

[0368] The heating chamber 165 is defined by two semi-circular, half cylindrical, or arc-like shaped electrodes 114, 116 of a dielectric heater arrangement 110 of the cartridge holder 100. Also more than two electrodes 114, 116 or electrode pairs may be utilized. For example, a plurality of two, three or more electrode pairs of interdigitated electrodes may be arranged around at least a part of a circumference or perimeter of the cartridge 200. However, also different shapes and orientations of the electrodes 114, 116 of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 could be provided, as further set forth in this disclosure.

[0369] The at least two electrodes 114, 116 are part of a load capacitor 126 of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 configured to dielectrically heat the liquid substrate 210. The length of the electrodes 114, 116 measured parallel to an insertion direction of the cartridge 200 or longitudinal axis of the cartridge holder 100, defines a dielectric heating zone 222, in which substrate material can be dielectrically heated and vaporized.

[0370] In order to vaporize the liquid substrate 210 in a controlled manner, the cartridge 200 comprises a liquid transfer element 220, for example a wicking element 220, which can include a porous material that can be soaked with the liquid substrate 210, for example via capillary forces, diffusion, gravity or osmotic forces, or a combination thereof. The liquid transfer element 220 can be configured to draw the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to at least a part of the dielectric heater arrangement 110, in particular towards the electrodes 114, 116. Common materials used for the wicking element 220 can include organic cotton, silica, or ceramic.

[0371] In the example shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the cartridge 200 includes two liquid transfer elements 220 arranged opposite to each other. Specifically, the two electrodes 114, 116 are spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the cartridge holder 100 or cartridge 200, such that two gaps 115, 117 are formed in circumferential direction of the cartridge holder 100 or cartridge 200. In each gap 115, 117, one of the liquid transfer elements 220 is arranged, as can best be seen in FIG. 5B. Also, each of the gaps 115, 117 forms or defines aFTR4074

[0372] P17561WO 39 / 56

[0373] load capacitor 126, which functions similar or analogue to the load capacitor 126 of Figures 1, 3B and 4.

[0374] As also mentioned above, the electrodes 114, 116 can be part of the cartridge 200 and contacted to respective electrical contacts of the cartridge holder 100. Alternatively, the electrodes 114, 116 can be part of the cartridge holder 100.

[0375] To ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the cartridge 200, and in particular reservoir 205 comprises a liquid feeding section 230 or feeding structure 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200, which can for example, be a hollow cylindrical structure in the center of the cartridge 200 at the bottom end 212, which is placed inside the heating chamber 165 or heating zone 222. There can also be individual liquid feeding structures for each liquid transfer element 220. In the presented example, the liquid feeding section 230 is in fluid communication with the liquid transfer element 220 via the liquid ingress area defined by liquid ingress surfaces 240 and configured to feed liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 from the liquid feeding section 230 at the inner portion of the cartridge 200 to the liquid transfer element 220. Further, an empty or hollow space 105 is provided in the central region of the cartridge 200. While the hollow space 105 could be used as additional liquid storage space for the reservoir, it serves to reduce the material volume close to the dielectric heating zone, to reduce parasitic heating of the cartridge 200 in areas where it is not desired. It can also have a cooling function to allow for air cooling of the heating zone of the cartridge 200.

[0376] A surface 240 of each of the liquid transfer elements 220 that faces the feeding structure 230 acts as liquid ingress area or surface (LIS), via which liquid substrate 210 is drawn by the liquid transfer elements 220. As the liquid transfer elements 220 are arranged in the gaps 115, 117 formed between the electrodes 114, 116 in circumferential direction, an electrical field strength between the electrodes 114, 116 can be very high at or near the liquid transfer elements 220, such that the liquid substrate 210 can be vaporized within the liquid transfer elements 220. Vaporized substrate material can then exit or leave the liquid transfer elements 220 via so-called vapor egress areas or surfaces (VES) 242 of the wicking elements 220, which are arranged opposite to the liquid ingress surfaces 240 in radial direction of the cartridge holder 100 or cartridge 200.

[0377] As can best be seen in Figure 5B, the liquid transfer elements 220 can be dome-like shaped, cylindrical segment shape, or have a trapezoidal cross-section, or be curved towards the inside of the cartridge 200, such that the respective vapor egress surface 242 is larger than the liquid ingress surface 240 of each liquid transfer element 220. This is advantageous given the expansion of the liquid substrate 210 upon vaporization.

[0378] In the depicted embodiment, a non-porous portion 224 of the liquid transfer element 220 could be provided to reduce volumetric heating. For example, a section at the cartridge housingFTR4074

[0379] P17561WO 40 / 56

[0380] 173 can be formed to increase a distance of the soaked part of the liquid transfer element 220 to the location with the highest dielectric field strength. For instance, the non-porous portion 222 can be a solid ceramic body or core to avoid soaking, while the remaining parts of the liquid transfer element 220 are porous. Accordingly, an undesired volumetric heating of certain un-soaked portions of the liquid transfer element 220 may be selectively prevented. In some examples, the cartridge housing 173 may be formed to cut out a section of liquid transfer element 220, and separated by a barrier wall or membrane to prevent leakage towards inner areas of the cartridge 200, which allows to reduce the effective relative permittivity and thereby reduce heating of the portion 224.

[0381] In a variant, non-porous portion 224 can also be made of a material having a high relative permittivity, for example higher that the relative permittivity of the material chosen of the cartridge housing 173 and the relative permittivity of the rest of the liquid transfer element 220, even higher than the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 soaked in the liquid transfer element 220. This way, non-porous portion 224 could act as a dielectric susceptor element to be dielectrically heated and thereafter generate radiative heat in addition to the direct dielectric heating of the liquid aerosolforming substrate 210 at the dielectric heating zone 222.

[0382] In another variant, non-porous portion 224 can be a void or a cavity to create a change in relative permittivity, to hereby cause an intensification of the amplitude of the alternating dielectric field due to the discontinuity of the relative permittivity relative to the rest of the liquid transfer element 220.

[0383] Between the cartridge 200 and the body 170 of the cartridge holder 100, an air channel 180 or airflow path 180 is formed. The airflow path 180 can have multiple sections that may be fluidly coupled or connected. In particular, an air inlet 181 can be formed as a gap between the cartridge 200 and the body 170, for example at or close to the end 214 of the cartridge 200 where the aerosol outlet 215 is formed. The gap or air inlet 181 may span the entire or only a part of the circumference of the cartridge holder 100. Accordingly, the gap or air inlet 181 can be ring-like or annular formed. In a variant, air inlets 181 and airflow path 180 can traverse the side wall of the cartridge holder 100 to reach the receiving cavity.

[0384] The air inlet 181 connects to lateral sections 182 of the airflow path 180, which lateral sections 182 extend in longitudinal direction of the cartridge holder 100 between the electrodes 114, 116 and the liquid transfer elements 220 on two opposite sides of the heating chamber 165 along each of the vapor egress surfaces 242 towards the end 212 of the cartridge 200. The lateral sections 182 can also be formed as tubular or cylindrical sections that surround at least a part of the heating chamber 165 and dielectric heater arrangement 110 along its circumference.

[0385] Near or close to the bottom part or end 212 of the cartridge 200, the airflow path 180, respectively, the lateral sections 181 thereof are connected via inlets or openings 184 at theFTR4074

[0386] P17561WO 41 / 56

[0387] bottom of the heating chamber 165 to an interior volume 260 or interior channel 260 of the cartridge 200 that is in fluid communication with the aerosol outlet 215, such that air can be drawn via the openings 184 towards the aerosol outlet 215 of the cartridge 200 through the interior volume 260 and the aerosol channel 186. The interior channel or volume 260 of the cartridge 200 may also serve as aerosolization chamber 262, as indicated by the circular arrow in Figure 5A. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be accordingly vaporized at the vapor egress area and thereafter the vapor can arrive at the aerosolization chamber 262 to mix with fresh incoming air to form an aerosol. It should be noted that various designs and configurations of the airflow path 180 are possible. For example, on two opposing sides of the vapor egress surface 242 of each liquid transfer element 220, a lateral airflow channel 182 may be formed.

[0388] Similar to the functionality of the cartridge holder 100 of Figure 1, upon activation of the cartridge holder 100 of Figures 5A and 5B, the control circuitry 140 may power the dielectric heater arrangement 110 to a first power level to heat up the at least a part of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and / or liquid substrate 210 in the heating zone 222 to a pre-heating temperature above ambient temperature and below a volatilization or vaporization temperature sufficient to release aerosol from the liquid substrate 210. When heated to the pre-heating temperature, the control circuitry 140 can monitor or determine one or more operational parameters of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and / or the power consumption of the dielectric heater arrangement 110to determine when a user inhalation takes place. Detecting a respective puff of a user may be accordingly accomplished by a puff triggering mechanism 157 which is in operative connection with the controller 140 operatively connected to the dielectric heater arrangement 110 of the cartridge holder 100. The controller 140 may be configured to control a heating performed by the dielectric heater arrangement 110 according to one of a plurality of different puff heating modes.

[0389] As an example, the puff triggering mechanism includes the detection if a user initiates a user inhalation or puff. In this case air at ambient temperature can be drawn from an external environment of the cartridge holder 100 via the air inlets 181 of the airflow path into the lateral sections 182. The lateral sections 182 of the airflow path 180 pass by the vapor egress surfaces 242 of the liquid transfer elements 220 and pass by the electrodes 114, 116, as shown by the arrows in Figure 5A, such that the drawn air cools the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and / or liquid substrate 210 in the heating zone 222. This leads to a decrease in temperature and hence to an increase in relative permittivity of the liquid substate 210 and the cartridge wall elements around the liquid transfer element 220. As a consequence, the capacitance of load capacitors 126 defined or formed by the gaps 115, 117 arranged between the electrodes 114, 117 in circumferential direction increases, and an oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130 decreases due to the increasing capacitances, and hence increasing LC constant of the oscillator circuitry 130. In addition, the power consumption of the dielectric heater arrangement 110FTR4074

[0390] P17561WO 42 / 5Q

[0391] increases due to increased losses. One or more of these effects, respectively one or more of these changes in the capacitance of the load capacitors 126, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130 and the power consumption can be determined or monitored by the control circuitry 140 in order to detect the onset, start and / or occurrence of the user inhalation.

[0392] Upon detecting the user inhalation, control circuitry 140 can increase the power provided to the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and power it at the second power level, where the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and / or liquid substrate 210 can be heated to the volatilization or vaporization temperature to generate inhalable aerosol. Air drawn through the inlets 181 and lateral sections 182 of the airflow path 180 flows past the vapor egress surfaces 242 of the liquid transfer elements 220, where vapor is released into the airflow. The airflow, enriched with vapor, then flows towards the central interior volume or interior channel 260 of the cartridge 200 via the openings 184, where aerosol can be formed, for example in an aerosolization chamber. The air, enriched with aerosol, can then be drawn into the user’s mouth via the aerosol outlet 215 of the cartridge 200.

[0393] As described with reference to Figure 1 , as soon as the user stops inhaling, the temperature of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and liquid substrate 210 increases, which leads to a decrease in the relative permittivity of the substrate liquid 210. As a consequence, the capacitances of the load capacitors 126 decrease, the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130 increases, and the power consumption of the dielectric heater arrangement 110 decreases. One or more of these changes can be determined or detected by the control circuitry 140, thereby detecting termination of the user inhalation.

[0394] Upon detecting termination of the user inhalation, the control circuitry 140 may cut the power supply to the dielectric heater arrangement 110, and the next or subsequent user inhalation can be determined or detected, as the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and liquid substrate 210 may still have a temperature well above room or ambient temperature. Optionally, however, the control circuitry 140 may power the dielectric heater arrangement 110 at the first power level to ensure that the dielectric heater arrangement 110 and liquid substrate 210 have at least the pre-heating temperature, to allow for cooling by air drawn by the user in the subsequent user inhalation, which can then be detected again by the control circuitry 140.

[0395] The dielectric heating arrangement 100 can be accordingly configured to perform a single puff heating upon triggering of a puff.

[0396] Further, the cartridge holder 100 may comprise one or more field absorption elements 188 adapted to absorb an electromagnetic field induced for instance by the dielectric heating arrangement 110. In the depicted embodiment, one ring-shaped field absorption element 188 is arranged at a top portion of the body 170 of the cartridge holder 100 around the insertion opening 101. The absorption element 188 may be accordingly made of materials suitable forFTR4074

[0397] P17561WO 43 / 56

[0398] electromagnetic field absorption. Thus, an undesired spread of the electromagnetic field towards certain areas may be prevented.

[0399] Figure 5C schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an excerpt of another exemplary aerosol-generating system 450. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment already presented with respect to Figs. 5A and 5B and the same reference signs indicate the same or similar elements, and it is accordingly referred to the above explanations of these features. The following explanations are accordingly directed to the differences with respect to the embodiments described in Fig. 5A and 5B. As is apparent, the excerpt of Fig. 5C only shows the left-hand side portion of the aerosol-generating system 450 and respective explanations to this portion likewise applies to the mirrored right-hand side portion of the of the aerosol-generating system 450, where the same elements can be provided. Contrary to Fig. 5B, the non-porous portion 224 is in Fig. 5C not part of the cartridge 200, but is formed instead by an external cavity, thereby forming a dielectric void that can be used for electric field intensification. In other words, the liquid transfer element 220 can comprise a cut-out section, at which volumetric heating can be suitably prevented. As is particularly visible in Fig. 5C, the cartridge housing 173 includes arc shaped structural walls extending up to the liquid transfer element 220. That is, the structural walls of the cartridge housing 173 can include a gap in which the liquid transfer element 220 can be arranged. The thin wall portion 179 can be continuous, as depicted, or can only cover one or more parts of the liquid transfer element 220 and / or the structural wall of the cartridge housing 173. Thus, a particular thin separation layer may be suitably formed.

[0400] Figures 6A to 6C each show a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge 200 at different longitudinal cross-sectional views 21-1, 21-2 and 21-3 shown in Figure 6A, 6B and 6C, respectively, and Figure 7 shows a corresponding transverse cross-sectional view perpendicular the longitudinal direction of an aerosol-generating system 450 including a cartridge 200 and a cartridge holder 100, wherein the respective planes of the longitudinal cross-sections 21-1, 21-2 and 21-3 are indicated. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment already presented with respect to Figs. 5A and 5B and the same reference signs indicate the same or similar elements, and it is accordingly referred to the above explanations of these features. Hence, in the following only some of the differences to the embodiment of Fig. 5A and 5B are highlighted. In particular, the air inlets 181 are arranged ata bottom portion of the cartridge 200 so that air can flow from the bottom portion to the top portion of the cartridge 200 along respective air channels 180 which are arranged next to the liquid transfer elements 220. Furthermore, the feeding structure 230 is circumferentially arranged in a transverse cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (cf. Fig. 7), at least in the area of the dielectric heating zone 222. In another example, air could enter from sidewalls of the cartridge 200, provided for instance at the lower portion of the cartridge 200. For instance, respective airFTR4074

[0401] P17561WO 44 / 56

[0402] inlets 181 could be provided at an outer sidewall of the cartridge 200-, or from an opposed inner side walls that lead to the central hollow space 105. Such an arrangement could prevent liquid leakage as the e-liquid could collect at the bottom of the cartridge 200 without leaking through air inlet 181. Respective air channels 180 could then accordingly link the central hollow space 105 with the upper outer sidewalls of the cartridge body, to provide for airflow. Air may then than pass by the one or more liquid transfer elements 220 preferably on both sides to pass the vapor egress surfaces 242. Furthermore, the feeding structure 230 containing the liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 is circumferentially arranged, as particularly visible from FIG. 7. Hence, the feeding structure 230 is formed as a hollow cylindrical element feeding both liquid transfer elements 220. In other examples, there can also be individual feeding structures 230 adapted to individually feed each liquid transfer element 220. Also in this embodiment, to ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the reservoir 205 comprises a liquid feeding section 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200.

[0403] Figure 8 schematically shows a cross-sectional view of parts of an exemplary aerosolgenerating system 450 in a transverse cross-sectional view. As depicted, the aerosol-generating system 450 comprises a cartridge 200 which has a cuboid or rectangular parallelepiped shape having two opposing long sides and two opposing short sides. The cartridge 200 includes a plurality of liquid transfer elements 220 arranged oppositely on the long sides of the cartridge 200 extending along a transverse axis perpendicular to the insertion direction. Furthermore, a plurality of first electrodes 114 and second electrodes 116 are arranged oppositely on the long sides of the cartridge 200. In the depicted embodiment, the electrodes 114, 116 are part of the cartridge holder 100 (now shown). For the sake of representability only on the upper long side the first and second electrodes 114, 116 and liquid transfer elements 220 are labeled. However, it is clear that the corresponding first and second electrodes 114, 116 and liquid transfer elements 220 are similarly provided at the lower long side. The cartridge 200 includes a feeding structure 230, which is configured to supply vaporizable liquid 210 stored in the cartridge 200 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the liquid feeding structure 230 centrally arranged inside the cartridge 200 to be away from the heating zone. In particular, each liquid transfer element 220 includes a liquid ingress surface 240 facing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 and two liquid egress surfaces 242 facing respective airflow channels 180. Again, this configuration is labeled only for the lower left liquid transfer element 220 for representability reasons, but is of course likewise provided at each liquid transfer element 220 of the depicted cartridge 200. Thus, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 may be accordingly dielectrically heated and vaporized by the first and second electrodes 114, 116, and the generated vapor may be accordingly taken up by air streaming through the airflow channels 180 adjacent to the vapor egress surfaces 242 for inhalation.FTR4074

[0404] P17561WO 45 / 56

[0405] Figure 9A shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge 200 at a longitudinal cross-sectional view, and Figure 9B shows a corresponding transverse cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating system 450 perpendicular the longitudinal direction as indicated by the plane 22 and additionally presents the arrangement of an electrode pair 114, 116 of a cartridge holder 100 adjacent to the cartridge 200. The plane 22 of the cross-section shown in Figure 9B is accordingly indicated in Figure 9A. This embodiment essentially corresponds to the embodiment already presented with respect to Figures 5 to 8 and the same reference signs indicate the same or similar elements, and it is accordingly referred to the above explanations of these features. Hence, in the following only the differences to the previous embodiments are highlighted. This embodiment is a simplified version showing a non-symmetric variant with only one a single liquid transfer element 240 extending longitudinally, i.e. in parallel to an insertion direction 30 in the lower portion or leg of the cartridge 200. The electrode pair 114, 116 is arranged in an angled manner and is arranged adjacent to the liquid transfer element 240 when the cartridge 200 is inserted in the cartridge holder 100. However, as already explained above, in other examples the electrodes 114, 116 can also be part of the cartridge 200. Accordingly, only two airflow channels 180 are provided on the long sides of the liquid transfer element 220. Hence, vaporizable liquid 210 can be supplied to the liquid transfer element 220 by the feeding structure 230 via the liquid ingress surface 240. The liquid 210 can then be vaporized by the dielectric field applied that the heating zone 222 from the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 and subsequently supplied to the airflow channels 180 via the respective vapor egress surfaces 242. Also in this embodiment, the total vapor egress surface 242 is larger than the liquid ingress surface 240. Furthermore, also in this embodiment, to ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the reservoir 205 comprises a liquid feeding section 230 arranged at an essentially inner portion of the cartridge 200. The lower narrow leg of the cartridge 200 can have a diamond or square shape, with electrodes 114, 116 at a corner 266 of the cartridge holder 100 having a correspondingly diamond-shaped or square-shaped receiving space 101. However, it will be appreciated that this cross-sectional shape is merely exemplarily, and of course also other shapes are possible, such as rectangular, round, oval, polygon, irregular shapes.

[0406] Figure 10A shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 100 at a longitudinal cross-sectional view. The variant shows a cartridge 200 with an angled corner 266 for arrangement of a liquid transfer element 220 at the corner 266. The two surfaces on which the two electrodes 114, 116 are angled at an angle 264 of less than 180° (cf. Fig. 12B). In particular, the electrodes 114, 116 are arranged at an angle in a range of larger 90° degree and smaller than 180°. The angle 264 is represented in detail in Fig. 12B, which shows a side view of the heating chamber 165 indicating the horizontal circumferential positioning of theFTR4074

[0407] P17561WO 46 / 56

[0408] electrodes 114, 116 and the respective angle 264 between the surfaces at which the electrodes 114, 116 are arranged. Air can enter from the air inlet 181 arranged at a lower side surface of the cartridge holder 100. A respective air flow channel or path 180 guides the air towards and across the liquid transfer element 220. Liquid transfer elements 220 is supplied with liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 via the liquid ingress surface 240. Also in this embodiment, to ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the reservoir 205 comprises a liquid feeding section 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200. The liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 is accordingly heated and vaporized by the dielectric field applied from the first and second electrodes 114, 116. The generated vapor can then exit the liquid transfer element 220 towards the lateral sections 182 of the airflow channel 180 via the vapor egress surface 242.

[0409] Figure 10B shows a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 100 at a longitudinal cross-sectional view, which corresponds to the embodiment shown in Figure 10A with the difference that the angle 265 between the surfaces carrying the electrodes 114, 116 is smaller, namely 90°. In other words, the first electrode 114 is arranged in the longitudinal direction (here in a horizontal direction) and perpendicular to the second electrode 116, which is accordingly arranged at a flat bottom surface (here in a vertical direction) of the heating chamber 165. It is apparent, that the embodiments shown in figures 10A and 10B merely represent examples of the configuration according to the present invention having an angle between the electrodes of less than 180°. Accordingly, other configurations may exhibit different suitable angles, as desired. Also in this embodiment, to ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the reservoir 205 comprises a liquid feeding section 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200.

[0410] Figure 11 shows cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a cartridge 200 and the cartridge holder 100 at a longitudinal cross-sectional view, where the cartridge 200 can have an insertion portion that is substantially cylindrical, allowing an insertion at any angle around the insertion direction, relative to the cartridge holder 100. Like Fig. 10A, the electrodes 114, 116 are arranged as two circular bands in an angled configuration, wherein the electrodes 114, 116 are arranged at an angle in a range of larger 90° degree and smaller than 180° and the liquid transfer element 240 is arranged having a ring-like shape at the corner 266 of the receiving space 101 of the cartridge holder 100. Also in this embodiment, air can enter from the air inlets 181 arranged ata lower side surface of the cartridge holder 100. A respective airflow path guides the air towards and across the liquid transfer element 220. Liquid transfer element 220 exhibits a ring-like shape around the insertion direction and can be supplied with liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 via the liquid ingress surface 240. Also in this embodiment, to ensure a homogenous supply of the liquid substrate 210 from the reservoir 205 to the liquid transfer elements 220, the reservoir 205FTR4074

[0411] P17561WO 47 / 56

[0412] comprises a liquid feeding section 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200. The liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 is accordingly heated and vaporized by the dielectric field applied from the first and second electrodes 114, 116 formed as circular bands. The generated vapor can then exit the liquid transfer element 220 towards the lateral sections 182 of the airflow channel 180 via the vapor egress surface 242. The electrode 114, 116 arrangement is shown in a side view in Fig. 12B. Further, Figure 12C shows a corresponding transverse cross-sectional view perpendicular the longitudinal direction as indicated by the plane 23. From the cross-sectional view of Fig. 12C, it is apparent that the liquid transfer element 220 are not continuously formed as a ring but form two liquid transfer element sections 220-1 and 220-2 in form for two separate ring sections. However, in other examples also only one liquid transfer element section 220-1 or 220-2 may be provided, accordingly forming only one section of a ring. Hence, airflow channels 180 may be provided, so that the incoming air from inlets 181 can bypass the liquid transfer element 220 from the sides, which may accordingly allow to increase the vapor egress surface 242. In an alternative example, Figure 12A shows a corresponding transverse cross-sectional view perpendicular the longitudinal direction as indicated by the plane 23, with the difference that the liquid transfer element 220 forms a full circle and wherein four liquid supply channels are provided between four airflow channels 180 for supplying the liquid aerosol forming substrate 210 to the circular liquid transfer element 220. Hence, an airflow can be established at the respective vapor egress surfaces 242, which accordingly increases the total surface area for providing an increased vapor egress area compared to the configuration shown in Figure 12C. Furthermore, contrary to the configuration shown in Figure 12C, a central hollow space 105 is provided. Fig. 16 shows a flowchart of a method 40 for operating the cartridge holder 100 or the electronic device 500 according to the present disclosure. The method 40 comprises the step S1-1 of receiving, by the aerosol-generating system 450, at least partially a cartridge 200 comprising a liquid aerosolforming substrate 210. The method 40 comprises the step S2-1 of detecting, by a puff triggering mechanism, a puff. The method 40 further comprises the step S3-1 of heating dielectrically heating, by a dielectric heating arrangement 110 of the aerosol-generating system 450, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 and vaporizing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 by an alternating electric field. The method 40 further comprises the step S4-1 of feeding, from a liquid feeding structure 230 arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge 200 liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 to a liquid transfer element 220 arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge 200.

[0413] Figure 13A schematically shows a numerical simulation of a generated alternating electric field of an exemplary cartridge holder 100 and in particular of a dielectric heater arrangement 110 thereof in a transverse cross-sectional view. The view may correspond for instance to a view as presented in plane 20 of Fig. 5A. Two opposing electrodes 114 and 116 are provided and arranged to substantially enclose the receiving space 101 forming the heating chamber 165. TheFTR4074

[0414] P17561WO 48 / 56

[0415] two electrodes 114 and 116 are spaced by gaps 115, 117. Two opposite dielectric heating zones 222-1, 222-2 are generated, wherein each heating zone 222-1, 222-2 includes a region of increased DHPD, such as the region 289 encircled. The high DHPD regions 289 may be provided in each heating zone 222-1, 222-2 for instance at peripheral portions of the receiving space 101, e.g. at the respective gaps 115, 117 between the electrodes 114, 116. In some examples, the heating zones 222-1, 222-2 may correspond to the high DHPD regions 289. A high energy absorption to a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 may be accordingly provided at the region 289, which may accordingly heat the respective substrate 210 arranged in or nearby the region 289. Hence, the further the substrate 210 is distanced with respect to the region 289 of the respective heating zone 222-1 , 222-2, the lower may be the DHPD the substrate 210 experiences, and the lower may be therefore the heating of the substrate 210. In the depicted configuration, each heating zone 222-1, 222-2 may also include two field peak amplitudes 111 at respective edge portions 112B of the respective electrodes 114 and 116 where a highest DHPD may be provided. It may be therefore desirable to arrange a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 to high DHPD portions or areas of the heating zone 222-1 , 222-2. Notably, in some examples, e.g. if the gaps 115, 117 are small, the respective two field peak amplitudes 111 may also nearly or substantially merge to a single field peak amplitude 111 in the region 289.

[0416] Furthermore, a lower DHPD may be provided at central portions 112A of the electrodes 114, 116 in a circumferential extension direction of the electrodes 114, 116, while a higher DHPD can be provided at edge portions 112B of the electrodes 114, 116 in the circumferential direction. In other words, the DHPD may decrease from the edge portion 112B to the central portion 112A when moving along a circumferential inner surface of the respective electrode 114, 116, and may increase again when moving further along the circumferential inner surface to the other edge portion 112B. Furthermore, the DHPD may increase from a central portion of the receiving space 101 to peripheral portions of the receiving space 101 arranged adjacent to the edge portions 112B of the electrodes 114, 116.

[0417] Even though the above example is described with respect to a configuration of two halfci rcularly formed electrodes 114, 116, it is clear that this configuration is merely exemplary, and that the above principles likewise apply to any other respective configuration including any other conductive feature noted in this disclosure suitable for providing a respective heating zone 222, for instance, but not limited to, conductive elements of a resonant cavity or resonators, for example inner conductive plates having an internal slit, spacing or gap, etc.

[0418] For instance, a different configuration is depicted in Figure 13B, which represents a numerical simulation of a generated alternating electric field of an exemplary cartridge holder 100 and in particular of a dielectric heater arrangement 110 thereof having a resonant cavity 521 with a partially circumferentially extending slit 526 (see Figs. 15A and 15B). As presented, on eachFTR4074

[0419] P17561WO 49 / 56

[0420] edge portion 112B of the slit 526 a dielectric heating zone 222-1, 222-2 is generated, wherein each heating zone 222-1, 222-2 includes a high DHPD region 289.

[0421] Figure 14 schematically shows a transverse cross-sectional view of an excerpt of an exemplary aerosol-generating system 450 including a cartridge holder 100 and a cartridge 200, similar to the view of the embodiments presented in Figures 5C and 7. However, this embodiment may particularly employ the occurrence of two field peak amplitudes 111 at respective edge portions 112B of the respective electrodes 114 and 116 where a highest DHPD may be provided (cf. above Fig. 13A). As explained above with regard to Fig. 13A and 13B, the present invention is not delimited to electrodes 114, 1116, but respective edge portions of other conductive features, such as edge portions of a slit 526 of a resonant cavity 521, as presented in Fig. 13B, may be likewise employed. Thus, in this embodiment, the liquid transfer element 220 has a split configuration, such that a first liquid transfer element 220A and a second liquid transfer element 220B are provided, which are supplied with liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 from the inner portion of the cartridge 100. The first liquid transfer element 220A and a second liquid transfer element 220B are in particular aligned, e.g. centrally aligned, with the electric field peak amplitude 111 provided at each electrode edge portion 112B. In some examples, a split configuration of the liquid transfer element 220 may not be preferred, e.g. when the gaps 115, 117 are small, and for instance an essentially single field peak amplitude 111 is provided, as noted above. In the split configuration depicted in Figure 14, the first liquid transfer element 220A comprises a first liquid ingress surface 240A and the second liquid transfer element 220B comprises a second liquid ingress surface 240B facing the inner portion of the cartridge 100 for aerosol-forming substrate 210 uptake. Further, the first liquid transfer element 220A comprises a first vapor egress surface 242A for releasing vapor to a first airflow channel 180A and the second liquid transfer element 220B comprises a second vapor egress surface 242B for releasing vapor to a second airflow channel 180B. In the depicted embodiment, the first and second airflow channels 180A, 180B can be arranged on opposite sides such extending circumferentially such that vapor is guided away from the first and second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B, as indicated by the arrows. Between the first and second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B, in some examples, an additional airflow channel 180C may be arranged between the first and second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B. In this example, each of the firstand second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B comprise an additional vapor egress surface 242C facing the additional airflow channel 180C for vapor release. The additional vapor egress surfaces 242C may be arranged on a side of the first and second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B opposite to the first and second vapor egress surfaces 242A, 242B, respectively. In another example, instead of the additional airflow channel 180C, a non-porous portion 224 may be provided between the first and second liquid transfer elements 220A, 220B. In some examples, the respective additional vapor egressFTR4074

[0422] P17561WO 50 / 56

[0423] surfaces 242C may be arranged to coincide with the electric field peak amplitude 111, thereby favouring vaporization at the surface 242C. Of course, it is also possible that there is just one liquid transfer element 220A or 220B arranged along one of the edges of the pair of electrodes 114, 116, thereby exploiting only one electric field peak amplitude 111 of the two.

[0424] Figure 15A and 15B show several perspective views of a resonant cavity 521 with a round traversing opening 522 to illustrate the external shape of the resonant cavity according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The resonant cavity 521 has electrically conductive walls 537. An inner volume of the resonant cavity 521 may be housed in the walls 537. The external walls 537 of the resonant cavity 521 are electrically conductive and may be made out of copper or other electrically conductive metal layers. However, other suitable materials may also be used, particularly materials of high electric conductivity. Resonant cavity 521 may comprise or be at least partially filled with an inner dielectric filling 523, which may be made of or which may comprise a ceramic or ceramic material or other dielectric material. In particular, inner volume of the resonant cavity 521 may be at least partially filled with inner dielectric filling 523. A traversing opening 522 may be provided through the resonant cavity 521, for example though the external walls 537 and the inner dielectric filling 523. As depicted, a slit is 526 is provided at an inner side of the traversing opening 522, which can enable to generate a strong electric field, in particular at the edge portions 112B (see Fig. 13B). Of course, the depicted shape of the slit as extending partially around the inner side is non-limiting and merely exemplary, and the slit 526 can be also shaped in any other arbitrary manner. For instance, the slit 526 can also extending in a full circumference, or multiple slits 526 may be provided. The traversing opening 522 may be configured to receive the cartridge 200 and / or its liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210. The arrow 30 in Figure 15A indicates the insertion direction of the resonant cavity 521. In other words, the cartridge 200 may be insertable in the insertion direction 30 into the traversing opening 522 through the resonant cavity 521. The resonant cavity 521 may be configured to dielectrically heat the cartridge 200 and / or its substrate 210 in the traversing opening 522. The extension of the resonant cavity 521 in a first lateral direction may be the first lateral length LDR1. The extension of the resonant cavity 21 in a second lateral direction may be the second lateral length LDR2. The first lateral length LDR1 of the resonant cavity 521 may be the same or may be different from the second lateral length LDR2 of the resonant cavity 521. The extension of the resonant cavity 521 along the insertion direction 30, which may be perpendicular to the first and second lateral directions, i.e. to the first lateral length LDR1 and the second lateral length LDR2 of the resonant cavity 21, may be the height H of the resonant cavity 521. Moreover, Figure 15A shows that the resonant cavity’s 521 height H may be smaller or shorter than the first lateral length LDR1 or the second lateral length LDR2 of the resonant cavity 521. In other words, the extension of the resonant cavity 521 in the insertion direction 30, which is its height H, may be smaller than theFTR4074

[0425] P17561WO 51 / 56

[0426] extension of the resonant cavity 521 in either a first or second lateral direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. The Figures 15A and 15B show a substantially flat and / or substantially planar resonant cavity 521. Due to this configuration, the cartridge 200 may be only partially arranged inside a heating chamber 165 formed by the resonant cavity 521 in the traversing opening 522 through the resonant cavity 521. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 may also only partially be arranged inside the resonant cavity 521. The receiving volume 520 may be the volume of the heating chamber 165. This means that only a part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 may be dielectrically heated by the resonant cavity 521, creating a temperature gradient in the substrate 210. In some examples, a gap 115, 117 such as for instance a slit or open strip may be arranged in a conductive layer. In some examples, the gap 115, 117 may partially or fully surround the traversing opening 522, for example wherein exclusively one or multiple gaps 115, 117 partially or fully surround the traversing opening 522. In some examples, the gap 115, 117 is free of material of the conductive layer. In some examples, the gap 115, 117 may extend in a plane perpendicular or parallel to the insertion direction 30.

[0427] For the purpose of the present description and of the appended claims, except where otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. In this context, therefore, a number A is understood as A ± 10% of A. Within this context, a number A may be considered to include numerical values that are within general standard error for the measurement of the property that the number A modifies. The number A, in some instances as used in the appended claims, may deviate by the percentages enumerated above provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the maximum and minimum points disclosed and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

[0428] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art and practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.

[0429] In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of theseFTR4074

[0430] P17561WO 52 / 56

[0431] measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

FTR4074P17561WO 53 / 56CLAIMS1. A cartridge for use with a cartridge holder having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field, the cartridge comprising:a reservoir for holding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate;a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge;an aerosolization chamber;wherein one or more liquid ingress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a liquid ingress area of the liquid transfer element and one or more vapor egress surfaces of the liquid transfer element define a vapor egress area of the liquid transfer element; wherein the vapor egress area is in fluid communication with the aerosolization chamber; wherein the cartridge is configured to be removably coupled to the cartridge holder to position at least a portion of the liquid transfer element adjacent to a pair of electrodes of the dielectric heating arrangement to expose the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to an alternating electric field caused by the pair of electrodes,wherein the reservoir comprises a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge,wherein the liquid feeding section is in fluid communication with the liquid transfer element via the liquid ingress area and configured to feed liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid feeding section at the inner portion of the cartridge to the liquid transfer element arranged at the outer portion of the cartridge.

2. The cartridge according to the preceding claim,wherein the fluid communication between the liquid feeding section and the liquid transfer element is configured to provide a liquid ingress flow across the liquid ingress area in a direction from the inner portion of the cartridge to the outer portion of the cartridge.

3. The cartridge according to one of the preceding claims,wherein a liquid flow distance between one or more of the liquid ingress surfaces to one or more of the vapor egress surfaces is less than 4 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, more preferably less than 1.5 mm.

4. The cartridge according to one of the preceding claims,wherein the vapor egress area is larger than the liquid ingress area.FTR4074P17561WO 54 / 565. The cartridge according to one of the preceding claims,wherein at least part of the reservoir and / or the liquid feeding section is arranged at an outer portion of a central volume of the cartridge.

6. An aerosol-generating system comprising a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims and a cartridge holder for removably receiving the cartridge and having a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate by an alternating electric field.

7. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim,wherein a heating zone in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is heated is defined at a portion of the cartridge where the liquid transfer element is, in a coupled condition, positioned adjacent to the pair of electrodes.

8. The aerosol-generating system according to preceding claim,wherein the reservoir is distanced from an outer wall of the cartridge at a portion of the cartridge adjacent to the heating zone.

9. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim,wherein the reservoir is distanced from the outer wall by at least 1 mm, preferably 1.5 mm, and more preferably 2 mm.

10. The aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims,wherein the dielectric heating arrangement comprises an electrode assembly including at least one pair of electrodes, andwherein the liquid transfer element is positioned at least partially adjacent to the pair of electrodes, when the cartridge is in an inserted position of the holder,preferably wherein, in a coupled condition, the liquid transfer element is arranged at least partially between the pair of electrodes and the liquid feeding section.

11. An electronic device including an aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims and / or a companion device configured to charge the aerosol-generating system with electrical energy.FTR4074P17561WO 55 / 5612. A cartridge holder for removably holding a cartridge according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 5.

13. A method for operating the aerosol-generating system according to one of the preceding claims 6 to 10, the electronic device according to claim 11 or the cartridge holder according to claim 12 comprising the steps of:Receiving, by the aerosol-generating system, at least partially a cartridge comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;Detecting, by a puff triggering mechanism, a puff,Dielectrically heating, by a dielectric heating arrangement of the aerosol-generating system, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and vaporizing the liquid aerosolforming substrate by an alternating electric field, andFeeding, from a liquid feeding section arranged at an inner portion of the cartridge liquid aerosol-forming substrate to a liquid transfer element arranged at an outer portion of the cartridge.

14. A computer program, which, when executed by processing circuitry of an aerosol-generating system or a companion device configured to charge an aerosol-generating system with electrical energy, causes the aerosol-generating system or the companion device to perform at least partially the steps of the method according to the preceding claim.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a computer program according to the preceding claim.

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