Aerosol-forming device, aerosol-forming article, and aerosol-forming system

Abstract

An aerosol-forming device, comprising: a reservoir configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate; a valve element fluidically connected to the reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet; and a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone; wherein the dielectric heating zone is located at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element, the valve element configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement, and the valve element configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the alternating electric field.

Description

[0001] FTR4076

[0002] 1 / 49

[0003] AEROSOL-FORMING DEVICE, AEROSOL-FORMING ARTICLE, AND AEROSOL-FORMING SYSTEM

[0004] The present disclosure generally relates to the field of aerosol-forming devices and systems for generating aerosol, also referred to as aerosol-generating devices and aerosol-generating systems. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an electronic aerosol-forming device and an electronic aerosol-forming system configured to generate or form aerosol, for example aerosol inhalable by a user in one or more user inhalations. Further, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article for use in an aerosol-forming device or system.

[0005] Aerosol-forming or aerosol-generating devices 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 vaporizers. 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, container, 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. 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 cartridge, capsule, container, reservoir, or pod, that can be at least partly inserted into a receiving space or receptacle or receptacle chamber of the aerosol-forming device for aerosol consumption.

[0008] 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 pod-FTR4076

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[0010] shaped 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, for example a dielectric heating arrangement. The heating element or heater device may be part of the aerosol-forming article and / or the aerosolforming 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, capsule, container, reservoir, or pod. Corresponding exemplary aerosolforming articles can, for example, comprise a cartridge containing or fillable with the liquid and / or solid substrate, which can be vaporized during aerosol consumption by the user based on heating the substrate and / or 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 in the form of a reservoir 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.

[0011] For generating the aerosol during use or consumption, heat can be supplied by a heating element, heater device, heating arrangement or heat source to heat at least a portion or part of the aerosol-forming substrate, for example by the use of a dielectric heating device. The heating element, heater device, heating arrangement 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.

[0012] 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 electrical energy. Accordingly, the term energy storage can include one or more batteries, one or moreFTR4076

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[0014] capacitors, one or more accumulators or other types of energy storage. Also, any reference to a battery herein can include a plurality of batteries.

[0015] 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. Exemplary energy storages may include a plurality of rechargeable battery cells, such as for example between two and ten, preferably between two and four battery cells. Further, exemplary re-chargeable battery cells may be based on lithium-ion battery cells. For example, a cathode material may comprise lithium-cobalt-oxide (LCO), lithium-manganese-oxide (LMO), lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC or NCM), lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), and / or lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminium-oxide (NCA). Alternatively or additionally, an anode material may comprise carbon (e.g. graphite), silicon and / or lithium-titanate-oxide (LTO).

[0016] The aerosol-forming device the present disclosure pertains to may, for example, refer to a handheld, battery-powered and / or portable device. Specifically, in the context of the present disclosure, the aerosol-forming device and / or the aerosol-forming system may be a portable device and / or system. It may be battery powered. Particularly, the aerosol-forming device 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 aerosol-forming device 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. However, the present disclosure is not limited in this respect, but can be implemented in various forms and designs of aerosol-forming devices and systems.

[0017] According to aspects of the present invention, aerosol-forming devices 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 or liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid may be transported to the heating device by a liquid transfer element, for example in the form of or comprising 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. To achieve enough flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the heating arrangement to be able to provide the user with the desired aerosol for consumption, liquid transfer elements of sufficient size may be provided, for example defined as a cross-sectional area of a flow.

[0018] Leakage of liquid aerosol-forming substrate in aerosol-forming devices is a recurring problem in the design of aerosol-forming devices and articles, such as cartridges and pods, to beFTR4076

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[0020] used in these devices. This problem can occur when liquid aerosol-forming substrate escapes from the reservoir in which it is normally contained, which can lead to issues such as wasted liquid, contamination of the device, and potentially even damage to the device.

[0021] A main factor that influences the problem of leakage is the design of the aerosol-forming device and / or article, which can contribute to leakage issues or prevent these. Previous design solutions that were proposed to address this problem focused on blocking a flow path from the liquid transfer element to an aerosolization chamber or blocking an air inlet to the aerosolization chamber. However, these design solutions did not yield satisfying results and required sometimes user intervention, which negatively affected the user experience of the user using the aerosolforming device.

[0022] Therefore, it may be desirable to provide for an improved aerosol-forming device, aerosolforming article and / or aerosol-forming system, which at least partly mitigates or overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. In particular, the aerosol-forming device, aerosol-forming article, and aerosol-forming system described herein may enable or allow for leakage prevention in an aerosol-forming device and system that effectively prevents leakage without requiring user intervention. These advantages may be achieved by the features described herein.

[0023] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to an aerosol-forming device, an aerosol-forming system, and an aerosol-forming article. 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. In particular, it is emphasized that any disclosure presented herein with respect to an aerosol-forming device equally applies to an aerosol-forming system comprising such aerosol-forming device and optionally a charger case or companion device as well as an aerosol-forming article and vice versa.

[0024] According to an aspect, there is provided an aerosol-forming device, also referred to herein as an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-forming device comprises a reservoir configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Further, the aerosol-forming device comprises a valve element fluidically connected to the reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet. And, the aerosol-forming device comprises a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone, wherein the dielectric heating zone is located at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element, the valve element configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement, and the valve element configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the electromagnetic field.FTR4076

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[0026] The dielectric heating arrangement may be configured to heat or dielectrically heat at least a part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by or based on dielectric heating to form an aerosol. Specifically, the dielectric heating arrangement may first form a vapor by heating at least part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be referred to as an e-liquid in case the aerosol-forming device is embodied as an e-cigarette or e-vapor-device. Consequently, an aerosol may be formed by the aerosol-forming device by subjecting the vapor to air and thereby mixing the vapor with air, e.g. in an aerosol channel or aerosol chamber. For example, the air may be provided inside the aerosol channel or chamber by an outer airflow from an air inlet of the aerosol-forming device. The outer airflow may in particular be an airflow stream of fresh air from a surrounding environment of the aerosol-forming device.

[0027] In the present aerosol-forming device, the valve element can be understood as a control element located between the reservoir receiving the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir and an exterior of the outlet of the valve element, to which the vapor may be released by the valve element. The exterior of the outlet may be the herein mentioned aerosol channel, to which the outlet of the valve element may be fluidically connected such that the vapor formed through the dielectric heating can stream into the aerosol channel, where it can form the user-inhalable aerosol when air is introduced into the aerosol channel as described herein. Consequently, the valve element can control the outflow of liquid aerosol-forming substrate by either opening or closing the outlet depending on the generation of the alternating electric field. Thereby, the valve element in interaction with the dielectric heating arrangement can ensure that substantially only vaporized substrate can exit the outlet for consequent aerosol forming, whereas liquid substrate is prevented from leaking out into the aerosol channel or at least out of the aerosol-forming device.

[0028] Advantageously, the dielectric heating arrangement is used in the aerosol-forming device for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and for opening the outlet of the valve element as well as closing the outlet if the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the alternating electric field. Accordingly, it can be ensured that when the valve element is opened by the influence of the alternating electric field, essentially only aerosol-forming substrate that is vaporized due to the dielectric heating is released through the outlet, preventing that aerosolforming substrate in liquid form leaks out of the valve element in the open state of the outlet. On the other hand, when the outlet of the valve element is closed, which may be the normal state of the valve element, a leakage of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet is also prevented. The opening and closing of the valve element is thereby performed, particularly solely, by vapor pressure, and does not require any active components or mechanisms other than the dielectric heating itself. The valve element or parts thereof, particularly valve segments may in particularly perform a linear motion for opening and closing. In this respect, one or more valveFTR4076

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[0030] segments, particularly as specified further herein, may move linearly or expand along a linear trajectory. Accordingly, the valve element may particularly open based on a linear motion or movement as opposed to, for example, a rotational movement of a door-like valve element or similar, which however is not excluded as another possibility.

[0031] The powering of the dielectric heating device can be controlled to form dose control of the delivered vapor via the valve element with a simple arrangement, also providing a solution to potential leakage that could prevent fine dose control. For example, the dielectric heating device can be controlled during a given time period at a given heating power to perform the delivery of a specific dose or volume of vapor to the aerosol channel. This feature can be used for dose delivery control for a pharmaceutical product, for example but not limited to pharmaceutical inhalers.

[0032] For example, the outlet of the valve element may be located at a first end of the valve element. The outlet of the valve element may be fluidically connected to the aerosol channel, wherein fluid flow through the fluidic connection is enabled in case the outlet is opened and prevented when the outlet is closed. A second end of the valve element opposite the first end may be located at or attached directly or indirectly to the reservoir for the fluidic connection thereto. For example, the second end may be directly attached to the reservoir or indirectly through one or more intermediate parts, such as a liquid transfer element, for example. The reservoir and the valve element may accordingly be directly or indirectly connected to one another in a configuration such that the valve element can receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate directly or via the liquid transfer element from the reservoir.

[0033] For example, the valve element and the reservoir may be separate components or parts. As separate components or parts, the valve element and the reservoir may be fluidically connected to one another by any means including but not limited to form-fitting, force-fitting, welding, brazing, adhesion, and cohesive connection. Alternatively, the valve element and the reservoir may together form a single component or part. In other words, the valve element and the reservoir may be made from one piece or, in other words, designed monolithically, in particular from the same material. In the alternative of a single component, the valve element and the reservoir may be respective portions of the single component with a valve function and a reservoir function. Further, the reservoir and / or valve element may be removable from the aerosol-forming device. In particular, but not limited thereto, the reservoir and / or the valve element may be part of the aerosol-forming article that may be used in the aerosol-forming device. Alternatively, one or both of the reservoir and the valve element may be non-removable from the aerosol-forming device or, in other words, fixed inside or a fixed part of the aerosol-forming device. The aerosolforming article, which may be including the reservoir and / or valve element, can generally be inFTR4076

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[0035] the form of a cartridge, pod or container, which can at least partly be filled with the liquid aerosolforming substrate, optionally with one or more further ingredients, including solid ingredients.

[0036] As used herein, the dielectric heating arrangement refers to a device configured to heat at least a part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to vaporize it through dielectric heating. Generally, dielectric heating leverages alternating electric fields to induce rotation of polar molecules that result in the generation of heat of dielectric materials, which can be induced by the alternating electric field. The term electric field as used herein includes or can be synonymously applied to electromagnetic fields. This heating method exploits the ability of polar molecules within the substrate material to align with an alternating electric field. As the field alternates, these molecules continuously realign, causing molecular friction and dielectric loss, which generates heat. This process is highly efficient for materials containing polar molecules, as is the case with liquid aerosol-forming substrates.

[0037] For heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by the dielectric heating arrangement, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be arranged at the dielectric heating zone, which includes the possibility that parts or the entirety of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate contained inside the reservoir or present in the valve element are inside of or in the vicinity of the dielectric heating zone such that the alternating electric field can heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate as explained herein. For this purpose, the dielectric heating zone is located at least either at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element. For example, when the dielectric heating zone is located at the reservoir only, the dielectric heating arrangement can only dielectrically heat the volume of the reservoir, which may still be causing the opening of the thereto fluidically connected valve element through the configuration of the valve element depending on the subjection to the alternating electric field. For example, as discussed herein further below as one example of the configuration of the valve element and / or reservoir, the vaporization of liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the reservoir may be causing opening of the thereto connected valve element at its outlet. In another example, when the dielectric heating zone is located also or only and at least partially in the valve element, the dielectric heating can occur at least partially at the valve element itself. For example, respective valve segments, in particular walls, may be thermally expandible and in case of dielectric heating expand such that they open the outlet. Particularly, these valve segments may expand or move along a linear trajectory and opposite to each other. In other words, the valve segments may linearly move away from one another, thereby opening the outlet in between these, particularly as opposed to, e.g., a rotational movement or mechanism of a door-type valve or closing element, or similar. Generally, the dielectric heating zone can extend in size only partially or fully in either the reservoir, the valve element, or both. In other words, the dielectric heating zone may be located within a portion of the reservoir, a portion of the valve element, or partially in both. In the case ofFTR4076

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[0039] the valve element, for example, the dielectric heating zone may be located at the first end of the valve element that comprises the outlet, in a middle portion between the first end and second end of the valve element, in the middle portion and the first end, in the second end and the middle portion, or at the second end only. Alternatively, the dielectric heating zone may be located in the entirety of the reservoir, the valve element, or both. The location and size of the dielectric heating zone may be defined by the location and design of the dielectric heating arrangement or its components, such as the further below explained resonant cavity and / or transmission line, or electrodes of a load capacitor, for example. For example, in the case of a load capacitor with electrodes as components of the dielectric heating arrangement where the electrodes are arranged to be substantially in parallel to each other, the dielectric heating zone would be defined in between the electrodes and by locating the reservoir, the valve element, or both partially or entirely in between the electrodes, the part(s) or portion(s) can be defined of the valve element, reservoir, or both which are subjected to the alternating electric field and accordingly dielectrically heated.

[0040] The dielectric heating arrangement can operate according to different operation principles to dielectrically heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the dielectric heating arrangement may include a resonant cavity and / or transmission line, which may refer to a substantially closed conductive structure or chamber designed to contain and sustain electromagnetic waves, typically in the microwave frequency or radiofrequency range. The reservoir and / or valve element may be located or placed, specifically in the form of a removable aerosol-forming article, at least partly within this resonant cavity and heated by the interaction of the electromagnetic waves with the liquid substrate material. In an alternative configuration, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise a load capacitor with electrodes between which at least a part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be placed or arranged. The electrodes can be operated by the control circuitry at a high-frequency or radio-frequency alternating current, such that a high-frequency or radiofrequency alternating electric field can be generated between the electrodes to heat the substrate material by interaction with the alternating electric field. It is emphasized that the present disclosure is not limited to a particular type of dielectric heating arrangement but can be applied or used with any design or operation principle of the dielectric heating arrangement, some of which are exemplary described herein further below. A frequency range of the electric field in the load capacitor and / or a frequency range of the electromagnetic waves in the resonant cavity may range from about 3 kHz to about 300 GHz. This frequency range may also be referred to as radio-frequency (RF) range. A sub-range of the RF range with frequencies of 3 MHz to about 30 MHz can be referred to herein as high-frequency (HF) range.

[0041] The aerosol-forming device may further comprise a control circuitry for controlling operation of the dielectric heating arrangement, and optionally one or more other functions of the aerosol-FTR4076

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[0043] forming device. The control circuitry may include one or more processors, for example a microcontroller unit (MCU), and / or one or more other processors. The control circuitry may generally be configured to execute programmed instructions, for example stored in a data storage or memory of the device, to manage the heating process of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by controlling the dielectric heating arrangement, controlling power supply to the dielectric heating arrangement and / or controlling a power source or energy storage of the aerosol-forming device. The control circuitry may be implemented in software and / or in hardware. At least a part of the control circuitry and / or at least a part of its functionalities may be implemented as Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), on a printed circuit board with one or more discrete components, as a microcontroller-based implementation, as Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or hybrid implementation using a combination thereof.

[0044] In an example, the outlet may be disposed between two valve segments of the valve element. The valve segments may be located opposite of one another and together form at least part of the valve element. The valve segments may for example be in the form of walls of the valve element. The outlet may be formed by a gap between the valve segments at ends thereof, specifically at the herein mentioned first end of the valve element. The gap may for example be formed by a slit or hole inside the valve element and in between the valve segments. For opening the outlet, the gap may be increased, whereas for closing the outlet, the gap may be reduced until the outlet is closed such that the gap cannot be seen anymore but both valve segments are in firm connection to one another.

[0045] In an example, each one of the valve segments may comprise a material layer. The material layers may be arranged opposite of one another. In other words, the valve segments may be formed by layers of material from which the valve element is composed, the layers being opposite of one another. Generally, different kinds of material of these layers with different properties may be chosen. One example of materials that may generally be chosen are plastics or synthetics materials. Generally, the selected material may be elastic, deformable and / or soft. These properties of the selected material may be dependent on temperature and increase when temperature increases due to the dielectric heating.

[0046] In an example, at least one of the valve segments or both valve segments may comprise an elastic property, a deformable property depending on their temperature and / or a softening property depending on their temperature. In case that both valve segments have any one or more of the aforementioned properties, the valve segments may have the same property or properties or each one of the valve segments may have a different property or combination of properties. Each one of these properties may be provided by corresponding choice of the respective material for the layer of the respective valve segment, e.g. an elastic material, a deformable material, and / or a softening material. The provided property or properties can contribute to the configurationFTR4076

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[0048] of the valve element that allows the opening and closing of the outlet dependent on the subjection to the alternating electric field. Specifically, each one of these properties may allow the valve segments to expand, in particular due to vapor pressure from the dielectric heating of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate but not limited thereto. Accordingly, one or both valve segments may alternatively be referred to as expandable with any one of the aforementioned properties. For example, in case of the elastic property, the valve segments can be expanded away from one another to open the outlet by the vapor formed by the dielectrically heated and vaporized liquid aerosol-forming substrate. In the case of the temperature-dependent deformable property, meaning that the valve segment increases in deformability with increased temperature, in particular elastically, and the softening, meaning that the material decreases in its Young’s modulus with increased temperature, the escape of the vapor formed by the dielectric heating through the thereby enabled expansion of the valve segments and thus opening of the outlet may be facilitated directly at the end of the valve segment comprising the outlet rather than through the vapor pressure.

[0049] In an example, at least one of the valve segments may be configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partially elastically separating from the other valve segment depending on a vapor pressure of vapor formed between the valve segments due to dielectric heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element, inside the reservoir, or inside both the valve element and the reservoir. More specifically, the vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the dielectric heating zone may cause an expansion of vapor that creates a pressure onto one or both valve segments or their material layers, that in turn can cause or contribute to the opening of the outlet and consequently cause the pressurized vapor to be realized. The elastic separation may involve the expansion of the at least one valve segment from the other valve segment and, when the dielectric heating stops, the elastic return to the closed state of the opening by returning of the at least one valve segment back at the other valve segment. Accordingly, a high elasticity of the material of one or both valve segments is beneficial. In the case of this elastic separation for the opening of the outlet, the dielectric heating zone does not need to be located at the valve segments or generally the valve element because it is the vapor pressure that allows to elastically separate the valve segments from one another, thereby opening the outlet for release of the vapor. Accordingly, for this elastic separation, the dielectric heating zone may be located at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element, enabling flexibility for the design of the valve element and reservoir with respect to the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0050] In an example, in addition or as alternative to the elastic separation described above, the valve element may be located in the dielectric heating zone, wherein at least one of the valve segments may be configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partial elasticFTR4076

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[0052] deformation and / or softening of the at least one valve segment depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments due to dielectric heating of the valve segments. In these cases, the dielectric heating is directly affecting one or both valve segments by increasing their temperature and utilizing their temperature-dependent deformability and / or softening property. While the deformability property may allow the deformation of the valve element for opening the outlet, the softening of the material of one or both valve segments can lead to easier stretching of the materials with less force, so that the generated vapor can more rapidly expand the valve segments and thereby open the outlet for the vapor to exit. In this way, one or both valve segments or generally the valve element may be expanded to open the outlet, enabling the release of simultaneously formed vapor inside the reservoir and / or the valve element for consequent aerosol formation. This mechanism can be used independent or together with the pressurization of vapor causing the elastic separation of the valve segments described above. Accordingly, the outlet of the valve element can not only be opened due to vapor pressure but also include the temperaturedependent deformation effect and / or temperature-dependent softening effect, or both, that can lead to the opening of the valve element. In addition, these temperature-dependent properties of the material of one or both valve segments can also provide for a particularly well sealed closing of the outlet when no dielectric heating is performed.

[0053] In an example, at least one of the valve segments may be configured, in particular with a coefficient of thermal expansion, for opening the outlet at a temperature of the valve segments of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 100°C, further in particular of at least 150°C. For example, the vaporization temperature may be relatively high, e.g. in the range of 150°C to 230°C or relatively lower than that. By designing at least one of the valve segments with a coefficient of thermal expansion that is at or below the vaporization temperature that is used in the aerosolforming device, it can be ensured that the at least one valve segment at least partially opens the outlet through the deformation of its material when the vaporization takes place or shortly before the vaporization is about to take place. At the same time, at least 70°C is a sufficiently high temperature, which may be below the vaporization temperature but is above high ambient temperatures or temperatures to which the aerosol-forming device could be exposed due to heat from other sources than the dielectric heating arrangement, such as due to exposure to sun light when the aerosol-forming device is left in an open space where it is exposed to sun light. Accordingly, it can be ensured that the outlet normally does not open and leak liquid aerosolforming substrate in case of high ambient temperatures or long and / or strong sun exposure while still providing the advantageous temperature dependent property or properties of the valve segment or valve segments.

[0054] In an example, at least one of the valve segments may comprise two material layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion, thereby forming a thermal actuator in a biomaterialFTR4076

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[0056] configuration. Accordingly, an additional material layer may be interposed on a material layer, where the materials may be different from one another at least in their coefficient of thermal expansion. Thereby, the opening characteristics of the outlet dependent on the temperature can be modified such that the heating of the valve segments can cause deformation of one of the material layers with respect to the other one, thereby ensuring proper and quick opening of the outlet when the valve segments are heated in addition to or instead of opening the outlet caused by the pressurized vapor.

[0057] In an example, an inner material layer of the two material layers forming the outlet may comprise a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than an outer material layer arranged on the inner material layer. Alternatively, the inner material layer of the two material layers forming the outlet may comprise a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than the outer material layer arranged on the inner material layer.

[0058] As described herein further in detail, the dielectric heating arrangement may for example comprise electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating. The electrodes may be arranged opposite to one another. In particular, the electrodes may be arranged in parallel to one another. The electrodes may be configured in the dielectric heating arrangement at a fixed or variable distance from one another. The dielectric heating zone may be formed in between the electrodes.

[0059] In an example, each one of the electrodes may be provided at or attached to a different one of the valve segments. For example, each one of the electrodes may be provided with one of its surfaces adjacent or in contact with a respective surface of each one of the valve segments. Specifically, but not limited hereto, the electrodes may be attached to the valve segments, in particular but not limited to at the contacting surfaces. For example, the electrodes may be adhered or otherwise bonded to the valve segments. Thereby, when the valve segments are moved away from one another or expanded for opening the outlet as explained herein, the electrodes are simultaneously moved away from one another, thereby reducing the dielectric heating power, in particular immediately and exponentially due to the relationship between dielectric heating power and electrode distance. Specifically, as soon as the outlet opens, the heating power may decrease, in particular drastically decrease due to the exponential relationship, such that the valve segment may close the outlet again as the heating power drops, for example by 90% or more. Accordingly, the electrodes may be variable in distance dependent on the movement or expansion of at least one of the valve segments. The distance between the valve segments can vary, for example to increase the heating power to a certain region. This design of electrode provision at or attachment to the valve segments can accordingly be used as a passive dosage control means.FTR4076

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[0061] In an example, at least one of the electrodes or each one of the electrodes may comprise a bimetal. Accordingly, instead or in addition to providing different coefficients of thermal expansion for material layers of at least one of the valve segments, a bimetal electrode can be used, such that the electrodes can also operate as a thermal actuator. This provides the same or similar effect for the modified opening characteristics of the outlet dependent on the temperature, causing temperature dependent deformation of one of the bimetal layers with respect to the other bimetal layer, which facilitates proper and quick opening of the outlet.

[0062] In an example, at least one inner side of the valve element forming the outlet comprises hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein. In particular, one or more inner sides of one or both valve segments may be comprising the hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures. Hydrophilic structures may be provided by materials or surfaces that have an affinity for water and other polar substances, which may be contained in or be part of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Hydrophilic structures can attract and hold water molecules due to their polar nature, for example containing functional groups like -OH, -COOH, or -NH2 that can form hydrogen bonds with water. Liquid retaining structures may be designed to hold liquids without leakage or percolation. Liquid retaining structures may be formed as macro- or microstructures of various geometries such as but not limited to holes, grooves, dents, slits, and similar, that can retain the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein. For example, these liquid retaining structures may be configured for enclosing or entrapping the liquid therein, when the outlet of the valve element is closed. Accordingly, the liquid retaining structures may for example comprise closed geometries during the closed state of the outlet of the valve element. The closed geometries may be opened upon the opening of the outlet. For example, these liquid retaining structures may be complementary formed on the opposite valve segments such that when the valve segments are moved away from one another when opening the outlet, the liquid retaining structures are opened and can release the meanwhile or consequently vaporized liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Thereby, the retaining or holding of liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element for consequent vaporization may be facilitated. The hydrophilic nature of the hydrophilic structures can help attract and retain the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, while the liquid retaining structures can provide physical containment. This combination can help prevent leakage and can ensure proper dispensing of the aerosolforming substrate from the outlet by the vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate when the outlet is opened. This can help to provide the liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the valve segment for forming vapor there. In particular, but not limited thereto, the hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures may be located at or provided at the first end of the valve segment near or comprising the outlet of the valve segment. This first end of the valve segment may for example comprise the shape of a nozzle. This can help to provide the liquid aerosol-FTR4076

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[0064] forming substrate at or near the outlet or nozzle for forming vapor and quickly releasing it from the valve segment.

[0065] In an example, the valve element may comprise an organosilicon compound. In particular, one or both of the valve segments or any one of their material layers may comprise or be made from an organosilicon compound. For example, but not limited thereto, the organosilicon compound that is being used may be siloxane and / or polysiloxane. Generally, organosilicon compounds are characterized by the presence of silicon-oxygen bonds in their molecular structure. Siloxanes are basic building blocks consisting of Si-O-Si bonds, while polysiloxanes are polymeric structures formed by repeating siloxane units. The use of these materials in the valve segment offers several advantages for the present application. For example, organosilicon compound materials can withstand a wide range of temperatures of up to 250°C or more, making them suitable to be located in the dielectric heating zone or, in other words, to locate the dielectric heating zone inside the valve segment. Further, in terms of chemical inertness, these materials exhibit a low chemical reactivity allowing the use of various substances in the liquid aerosolforming substrate without chemically reacting with the valve segment, ensuring long durability of the aerosol-forming device. Moreover, the Si-0 bonds in these materials allow for high chain flexibility, which provides elastomeric properties to the valve element, thereby facilitating or easing the opening and closing of the outlet. Also, siloxane and polysiloxane materials have excellent biocompatibility, making them suitable for medical applications of the aerosol-forming device.

[0066] In an example, the dielectric heating arrangement may be configured to carry out two dielectric heating phases, wherein a first dielectric heating phase is configured for preparing of opening or partially opening the outlet of the valve element, and a second dielectric heating phase is configured to opening or further opening the outlet of the valve element while or by forming the vapor by heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The first dielectric heating phase may be herein referred to as a pre-heating phase and the second dielectric heating phase may be herein referred to as a main heating phase. By the pre-heating phase, the material of one or both of the valve segments or generally the valve element may for example be exposed to a pre-heating temperature such that, dependent on the herein explained and potentially temperature dependent properties of the material, the material of the valve element can be elastically separated, elastically deformed and / or softened for easier consequent opening or further opening of the outlet when the temperature is increased in the main heating phase. For example, the temperature, controlled by the dielectric heating power used for achieving that temperature, may be lower than a vaporization temperature, lower than the temperature of the main heating phase, and / or at a low value within a vaporization temperature range at which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be vaporized. Accordingly, in the pre-heating phase, there may be no or only some vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, whereas in the main heating phase the actualFTR4076

[0067] 15 / 49

[0068] vaporization or most vaporization may be occurring at a higher temperature. During the main heating phase, the elastic deformation and / or softening may or may not be proceeding further depending on the temperature dependent properties of the material used in the valve segment. If the elastic separation, elastic deformation, and / or softening proceeds further, this alone may be sufficient or used to open the outlet. However, generally, as explained herein, the vaporization of the aerosol-forming substrate may be used by the pressure that it creates inside the valve segment to further open or generally open the outlet such that a further elastic deformation and / or softening is not needed during the main heating phase or is only complementary.

[0069] In an example, the preparing or partially opening of the opening of the outlet during the first dielectric heating phase may comprise elastically separating, elastically deforming and / or softening valve segments of the valve element for consequent opening or further opening of the outlet during the second dielectric heating phase. As explained herein, the valve segments may for this purpose comprise properties, some of which may be temperature dependent, such as but not limited to an elastic property, a deformable property and / or a softening property.

[0070] In an example, the outlet may be a liquid outlet for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir into the dielectric heating zone. In case of a liquid transfer element in between the valve element and the reservoir, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may in this case by released from the reservoir via the liquid transfer element into the dielectric heating zone. In this example, the dielectric heating zone may at least partially be located at or located in or extend inside the valve segment. For example, the dielectric heating zone may at least be located in or at an end of the valve segment, in particular in or at a second end opposite of a first end. The second end may be fluidically connected to or located at the reservoir or the liquid transfer element. The first end on the other hand may be a vapor outlet, which may have the shape or form of a nozzle, for releasing the vaporized aerosol-forming substrate or, in other words, vapor. Accordingly, it is possible to use the openable and closable outlet of the valve segment for leakage control at the interface of the valve segment to the reservoir, which includes the possibility of the liquid transfer element or other or further additional intermediate elements in between the valve segment and the reservoir.

[0071] In another example, the outlet may be a vapor outlet for releasing vapor formed in the dielectric heating zone. In this case, the outlet as vapor outlet may be located at the first end, where it may be formed at the end or part of a nozzle structure. In this case, the dielectric heating zone does not necessarily need to be also located inside or at the valve segment although this is a possibility. Accordingly, it is possible to use the openable and closable outlet of the valve segment for leakage control at the vapor outlet, which releases the vapor for consequent aerosol formation. Also, there is the possibility to configure the valve element to open both outlets, the liquid outlet and the vapor outlet, when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to the alternatingFTR4076

[0072] 16 / 49

[0073] electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement, and to configure the valve element to close both outlets when the valve element is not subjected to the alternating electric field. Thereby, a particularly secure leakage prevention may be achieved inside the aerosol-forming device.

[0074] In an example, the valve element may comprise a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising the outlet, in particular the vapor outlet. Formed or shaped as a nozzle portion, the outlet can be designed to release the vapor from the valve segment in a particularly controlled and directed manner for better circulation inside a thereto connected aerosol channel and / or out of the aerosol-forming device. In other words, the nozzle portion with the outlet may properly guide the flow of vapor out of the valve segment and into the aerosol channel through the shape or form of the nozzle portion. The nozzle portion may be located at the herein mentioned first end of the valve element.

[0075] In an example, the vapor outlet may be disposed between two valve segments of the valve element. The valve element may comprise a flow channel portion adjacent to the vapor outlet, the two material layers being spaced apart from one another in the flow channel portion by a distance, thereby forming a flow channel for transferring the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the vapor outlet. In other words, the flow channel portion inside the valve element is adjacent to the vapor outlet, to which it may be fluidically connected. The flow channel portion can be defined or surrounded by two material layers or generally valve segments opposite of one another, wherein the space or distance in between these defines the width or diameter of the flow channel portion having the flow channel. Through the flow channel, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and optionally the vapor formed by vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be transferred from the reservoir, optionally via the liquid transfer element, to the vapor outlet, from which it can be released into the aerosol channel. The flow channel accordingly allows for transfer of sufficient amounts of liquid and / or vaporized aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve segment and towards the outlet for vaporization and / or release from the outlet.

[0076] In an example, the distance may be less than 2 mm, in particular less than 1 mm, for enabling capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet. In other words, the particularly small distance of less than 2 mm or less than 1 mm enables that the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be transferred to the vapor outlet through capillary flow action, which ensures that sufficient liquid aerosol-forming substrate is always provided at the vapor outlet for vaporization and flow out of the vapor outlet. Generally, the flow channel portion may comprise different diameters or distances, such as the one less than 2 mm, which may be at or adjacent to the outlet, and another distance or diameter adjacent thereto and / or at the second end, which may be larger. This section of the flow channel portion larger in diameter or distance than the section at or adjacent to the outlet may be providing and / or retainingFTR4076

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[0078] substantial amounts of liquid aerosol-forming substrate, which can accordingly be transferred to the vapor outlet via the capillary flow action through the small distance or diameter section of the flow channel portion adjacent or at the outlet.

[0079] In an example, the reservoir may be configured to pressurize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for enabling pressurized flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet. Such pressurized flow may be used alternatively or additionally to the capillary flow described herein. The pressurization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be provided through different means. One example is compressing, squeezing or otherwise subjecting walls of the reservoir to a force that compresses an inner volume of the reservoir containing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Thereby, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be pressurized to flow towards the valve segment and up to the vapor outlet.

[0080] In an example, the aerosol-forming device may comprise a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to an inner volume of the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosolforming substrate to the outlet. Such liquid transfer element may accordingly be located or positioned in between the reservoir and the valve element, to both of which it may be fluidically connected. The liquid transfer element can be utilized for the transfer of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. For example, the liquid transfer element may include or be in the form of a wick or wicking element, which can be configured or arranged for drawing the liquid from the reservoir to the valve element. Materials that can for example be used for the wicking element can include organic cotton, silica, or ceramic. Generally, the wick or wicking element can ensure that the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is consistently supplied to the valve element for vaporization. A surface of the wicking element may be exposed to or contact the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the reservoir, such that substrate material can enter the wicking element, for example by capillary forces, diffusion, and / or osmotic forces. The surface exposed to or facing the liquid substrate may be referred to as liquid ingress surface or area of the wicking element. A further surface or part of the wicking element, which can also be referred to as vapor egress surface or area, can be arranged adjacent to, in contact with, or close to at least a part of the dielectric heating arrangement, such that the liquid substrate can be vaporized near or at the vapor egress surface and leave the wicking element as vapor.

[0081] In an example, the liquid transfer element may at least partially extend inside the dielectric heating zone. In other words, the dielectric heating zone may be at least partially located at the liquid transfer element. Thereby, the vaporization may also or alternatively occur inside the liquid transfer element, from which the vapor can flow towards and outside of the outlet.

[0082] In an example, the liquid transfer element may comprise a first portion located at a side of the valve element and a second portion located at a side of the reservoir, the second portion having a higher fluidic resistance than the first portion. By the so-called dielectrophoretic liquidFTR4076

[0083] 18 / 49

[0084] (LDEP) effect for a dielectric liquid aerosol-forming substrates, there is the possibility of vapor bubbles returning backwards from the outlet and inside the liquid transfer element and potentially even the reservoir. By providing the first portion at the valve element, which may be a downstream portion, with a smaller fluidic resistance than the second portion, which may be an upstream portion, it can be prevented that the vapor goes backwards in the liquid transfer element and to the reservoir. Also, this increases a motion of the vaporized aerosol-forming substrate towards the outlet of the valve element. The first portion and the second portion can be integrally or monolithically designed with one another. These portions, parts or sections of the liquid transfer element can accordingly be in a one-piece configuration of the liquid transfer element. Alternatively, it is possible to provide physically separated portions, which are attached to one another. The first portion may be at least partially extending into or inside the valve segment or generally be attached thereto. The second portion may at least have a surface in contact with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the reservoir.

[0085] In an example, the first portion may comprise a different porosity and / or average pore size than the second portion. The difference in fluidic resistances can accordingly be provided by varying the porosity and / or average pore sizes of the two portions. For example, different numbers of pores and / or average pore sizes may be provided generally using the same or different materials for both portions. Alternatively, different materials with different porosities and thus different fluidic resistances may be used. For example, instead of porosity, a liquid transfer element can be used with parallelly-arranged flow channels, for example microchannels.

[0086] In an example, at least the valve element and the reservoir may form a removable storage. The storage may alternatively be referred to as a container, as it may contain the liquid aerosolforming substrate. Such storage or container may exemplary be referred to as a cartridge or pod, which are common terminologies specifically in the field of e-cigarettes using e-liquids. The removable storage may be part of or be in the form of an aerosol-forming article. The removable storage may be disposable after use, i.e. depletion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored therein, and / or refillable with liquid aerosol-forming substrate by a user, for which purpose it may comprise a closeable opening, for example. The removability of the storage may in particular be a destruction-free removability, meaning that the storage may be removed and reintroduced into the aerosol-forming device without destruction of any part or attachment of the storage. There may be one or more coupling or attachment mechanisms on the aerosol-forming device and / or on the storage for removable coupling or attachment of the storage inside the aerosol-forming device. Specifically, these coupling or attachment mechanisms may be complementary to each other such that they for example interlock with one another.

[0087] In an example, the removable storage further includes a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate toFTR4076

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[0089] the outlet. Specifically, any intermediate part such as the liquid transfer element in between the valve element and the reservoir may additionally form the removable storage. In other words, a removable storage may be provided inside the aerosol-forming device, which may comprise the valve element and the reservoir and optionally other intermediate parts such as the liquid transfer element.

[0090] In an example, the storage may include an aerosol channel fluidically connected to the outlet. The aerosol channel may be fluidically connectable or connected to an air inlet for providing air for forming an aerosol inside the aerosol channel and to an inhalation outlet for inhalation of the formed aerosol by a user of the aerosol-forming device. Inside the aerosol channel, the mixture of incoming air from the air inlet and the vapor from the outlet forms the aerosol. Alternatively, the aerosol channel and / or the air inlet may be fixed parts of the aerosol-forming device, to which the storage may be fluidically connected via its outlet when coupled with or inserted into the aerosol-forming device.

[0091] In an example, the storage may be formed as a collapsible pouch. A collapsible pouch can be understood as a container or storage made at least partially from a flexible material designed to hold the liquid aerosol-forming substrate such that at least a flexible portion comprising the flexible material is collapsible. For example, the pouch may collapse or compress as the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is consumed. Advantageously, the collapsible design of the pouch can help maintain consistent pressure on the remaining liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the reservoir, improving the delivery of the substrate to the outlet.

[0092] In an example, the pouch may comprise cyclic olefin copolymer, COC, and / or cyclic olefin polymer, COP, COC and COP are high-performance polymers with superior performance characteristics over standard polymers like polyethylene, PE, or polypropylene, PP. For such as high heat resistance, chemical stability, and high optical clarity. For example, both, COC and COP, are amorphous polymers, meaning they lack a crystalline structure. This property gives them high transparency and optical clarity, making them ideal for use in medical inhalers or dispensers or other medical applications of the aerosol-forming device. Also, COC and COP exhibit low water absorption, meaning that they can resist moisture uptake, ensuring dimensional stability and suitability for the present moisture-sensitive application of storing the liquid aerosolforming substrate. Even further, COC and COP exhibit high heat resistance, which is advantageous in the present high-temperature environment of the dielectric heating zone, and a high chemical resistance, allowing to use a wide range of substances in liquid aerosol-forming substrate without needing to worry about the stability of the pouch even when storing pouches for a long time, for example in warehouses.

[0093] In an example, one or more biasing elements may be arranged at the valve element for closing the outlet when the valve element is not subjected to an alternating electric field of theFTR4076

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[0095] dielectric heating arrangement. Such biasing elements may be used in addition or as alternative to the herein described configurations by means of which the outlet may be closed, such as but no limited to arranging electrodes of the dielectric heating arrangement at different valve segments, thereby closing the outlet by means of the heating power drop due to the exponential relationship between dielectric heating power and electrode distance. Specifically, such biasing elements may be fully closing the outlet, for example by biasing the valve segments or material layers of the valve element against each other. Thereby, risk of leakage of liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be further reduced.

[0096] In an example, the one or more biasing elements may be in the form of any one or more of: a spring, an elastomer element, a temperature-sensitive actuator, and an elastic band wrapped around the valve element. For example, one or more springs may be preloaded against at least one valve segment or material layer against the other valve segment at a location near the outlet. Also, opposite springs may be preloaded against both opposite valve segments or material layers of the valve element. For opening the outlet, the preload force of the one or more springs may need to be overcome using the effects described herein to open the outlet, such as but not limited to vapor pressure opening the outlet. The one or more springs may for example be mechanical springs and have any shape or design, such as coil springs, leaf springs, or similar. Alternatively or additionally one or more elastomer elements may be used. The elastomer elements may be used in a similar way as the one or more springs. The elastomer elements may be elastically pretensioned against the valve element at the outlet and the pretension may need to be overcome by elastic deformation of the elastomer elements using the effects described herein to open the outlet, such as but not limited to vapor pressure opening the outlet. The elastomer elements may be provided for example as elastomeric blocks arranged at each one of the valve segments or material layers. It is alternatively or additionally possible to use an elastic band, which can be wrapped around the valve element at the outlet. The elastic band may be tightly wrapped around the valve element such that it is stretched by the outer dimensions of the valve element. The opening effect or mechanism for opening the outlet will accordingly need to further stretch the elastic band for opening the outlet. Also, or alternatively, it is possible to use an actuator that has temperature-sensitive properties or characteristics, meaning that the actuator actuates in response to the respective temperature to which it is exposed. Accordingly, when the actuator is placed near or in the dielectric heating zone, the actuator may be configured to close the outlet below a certain temperature, such as 60°C or 50°C or less. For example, the actuator may be a thermal or shape memory actuators. Such actuator may use a material like a shape memory alloy, such as Nitinol, that changes shape when heated.

[0097] In an example, the aerosol-forming device may comprise an aerosol channel or chamber for forming an aerosol from a dispensed vapor. The dispensed vapor may be dispensed from theFTR4076

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[0099] outlet. The aerosol channel may generally have an elongated shape or may be a chamber of any shape or form. The aerosol channel may be fluidically connected to the outlet of the valve element, an air inlet, and an inhalation outlet for inhalation of the formed aerosol by a user of the aerosolforming device.

[0100] In an example, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise an oscillation circuit, the oscillation circuit comprises a switching unit and a feedback loop connected to the switching unit, the feedback loop comprising the load capacitor. Additionally, or alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise a resonant cavity coupled to a microwave generator via an impedance matching circuit and a coupler, an area of the resonant cavity configured to heat the dielectric heating zone. Additionally, or alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise one or more transmission lines coupled to a microwave generator via an impedance matching circuit and a coupler, an area of the one or more transmission lines configured to heat the dielectric heating zone. Additionally, or alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise a microwave emitting antenna coupled to a microwave generator to irradiate the dielectric heating zone with an alternating electric field. Additionally, or alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement may comprise a loop gap resonator for irradiating the dielectric heating zone with the alternating electric field.

[0101] In an example, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be received inside the reservoir. According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol-forming system comprising an aerosol-forming device, as described hereinabove and hereinbelow. The aerosol-forming system comprises one or both an aerosol-forming article, and a companion device for charging and / or storing the aerosol-forming device. The aerosol-forming article may be comprising at least the reservoir, in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be received.

[0102] The companion device may also be referred to as charger case. The aerosol-forming device may be mechanically couplable to the companion device in order to store the aerosol-forming device and / or in order to charge an energy storage of the aerosol-forming device via the companion device.

[0103] A mechanical coupling of the aerosol-forming device and the companion device may, in the context of the present disclosure, include a contact between a part or surface of the companion device and a part or surface of the aerosol-forming device. For instance, when coupling the aerosol-forming device with the companion device, a part of a housing or outer surface of the aerosol-forming device may be in contact or direct contact with a part of a housing, compartment or surface of the companion device. Accordingly, a mechanical coupling of the aerosol-forming device and the companion device can include a mechanical or physical contact between the aerosol-forming device and the companion device.FTR4076

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[0105] For example, the aerosol-forming device may be mechanically couplable to the companion device based on at least partly inserting the aerosol-forming device into the companion device, for example into a cavity, compartment or recess of the companion device. Alternatively or additionally, the companion device may be mechanically couplable with the aerosol-forming device based on at least partly receiving the aerosol-forming device in the companion device.

[0106] In an exemplary configuration, the companion device may comprise a compartment, cavity or recess for at least partly receiving the aerosol-forming device, for example, such that the aerosol-forming device is at least partly encompassed in or surrounded by the companion device.

[0107] Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-forming device may be mechanically couplable to the companion device based on attaching a housing of the aerosol-forming device to the companion device. To attach the housing to the companion device, the companion device may, for example, comprise engagement means configured to engage with the housing of the aerosolforming device or corresponding engagement elements formed at or by the housing of the aerosol-forming device.

[0108] The control circuitry of the aerosol-forming device or a dedicated charging circuitry of the aerosol-forming device may be configured to charge the energy storage of the aerosol-forming device upon, based on or in response to mechanically coupling the aerosol-forming device with the companion device.

[0109] Also, the aerosol-forming article may be comprising at least the reservoir inserted into a corresponding receptacle of the aerosol-forming device. The aerosol-forming article may optionally comprise the valve element and / or the liquid transfer element. The aerosol-forming article may be the removable storage formed for example as a collapsible pouch as described herein. As alternative to the removable storage or generally the use of an aerosol-forming article, the reservoir may be fixed or permanently located inside the aerosol-forming device and refillable with liquid aerosol-forming substrate through a closable refill opening. In this case, the aerosolforming device may only be provided with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate received inside the reservoir.

[0110] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolforming article for use in an aerosol-forming device, comprising:

[0111] a reservoir configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0112] a valve element fluidically connected to the liquid reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the liquid reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet;

[0113] wherein the valve element is configured to open the outlet when the valve element, liquid reservoir, or both are subjected to an alternating electric field generated by a dielectric heating arrangement for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside a dielectric heating zone, andFTR4076

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[0115] the valve element is configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the electromagnetic field.

[0116] Specifically, instead or in addition to the aerosol-forming device comprising the reservoir, the valve element and / or the liquid transfer element, the aerosol-forming article, which may be removable or replaceable, can comprise one or more of these parts, in particular all of these. However, it is also possible that the aerosol-forming device for example comprises the valve segment whereas the removable or replaceable aerosol-forming article comprises the reservoir.

[0117] The outlet may be disposed between two valve segments of the valve element.

[0118] Each one of the valve segments may comprise a material layer, wherein the material layers may be arranged opposite of one another.

[0119] At least one of the valve segments may comprise an elastic property, a deformable property depending on their temperature and / or a softening property depending on their temperature.

[0120] At least one of the valve segments may be configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partially elastically separating from the other valve segment depending on a vapor pressure of vapor formed between the valve segments due to dielectric heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element, inside the reservoir, or inside both the valve element and the reservoir.

[0121] The valve element may be located in the dielectric heating zone, wherein at least one of the valve segments may be configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partial elastic deformation and / or softening of the at least one valve segment depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments due to dielectric heating of the valve segments.

[0122] At least one of the valve segments may be configured, in particular with a coefficient of thermal expansion, for opening the outlet at a temperature of the valve segments of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 100°C, further in particular of at least 150°C.

[0123] At least one of the valve segments may comprise two material layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0124] An inner material layer of the two material layers forming the outlet may comprise a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than an outer material layer arranged on the inner material layer.

[0125] The aerosol-forming article may comprise electrodes for connecting to the dielectric heating arrangement, the electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating, and wherein the electrodes are arranged opposite of one another.

[0126] Each one of the electrodes may be provided at or may be attached to a different one of two valve segments of the valve element.

[0127] At least one of the electrodes may comprise a bimetal.FTR4076

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[0129] At least one inner side of the valve element forming the outlet may comprise hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein.

[0130] The valve element may comprise an organosilicon compound.

[0131] The outlet may be a liquid outlet for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir into the dielectric heating zone.

[0132] Alternatively, the outlet may be a vapor outlet for releasing vapor formed in the dielectric heating zone or such further vapor outlet may be provided in addition to the liquid outlet.

[0133] The valve element may comprise a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising the outlet, in particular a vapor outlet.

[0134] The vapor outlet may be disposed between two valve segments of the valve element, and the valve element may comprise a flow channel portion adjacent to the vapor outlet, the two material layers being spaced apart from one another in the flow channel portion by a distance, thereby forming a flow channel for transferring the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the vapor outlet.

[0135] The distance may be less than 2 mm, in particular less than 1 mm, for enabling capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0136] The reservoir may be configured to pressurize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for enabling pressurized flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0137] The aerosol-forming article may comprise a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to an inner volume of the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0138] The liquid transfer element may at least partially extend inside the dielectric heating zone. The liquid transfer element may comprise a first portion located at a side of the valve element and a second portion located at a side of the reservoir, the second portion having a higher fluidic resistance than the first portion.

[0139] The first portion may comprise a different porosity and / or average pore size than the second portion.

[0140] At least the valve element and the reservoir may form a storage that is removable from the aerosol-forming device.

[0141] The removable storage may further include a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0142] The storage may be formed as a collapsible pouch.

[0143] The pouch may comprise cyclic olefin copolymer, COC, and / or cyclic olefin polymer, COP. One or more biasing elements may be arranged at the valve element for closing the outlet whenFTR4076

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[0145] the valve element is not subjected to an alternating electric field of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0146] The one or more biasing elements may be in the form of any one or more of: a spring, an elastomer element, a temperature-sensitive actuator, and an elastic band wrapped around the valve element.

[0147] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosolforming system, comprising the aerosol-forming article and the dielectric heating arrangement or the aerosol-forming device.

[0148] As mentioned above, any disclosure herein related to the aerosol-forming device equally applies to the aerosol-forming systems, the aerosol-forming article, and vice versa.

[0149] 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.

[0150] Example 1: An aerosol-forming device, comprising:

[0151] a reservoir configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0152] a valve element fluidically connected to the reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet; and

[0153] a dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone;

[0154] wherein the dielectric heating zone is located at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element, the valve element configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement, and the valve element configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the alternating electric field.

[0155] wherein the dielectric heating arrangement is configured for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone to cause a vapor pressure and the valve element is configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement by the vapor pressure.

[0156] Example 2: The aerosol-forming device of example 1, wherein the outlet is disposed between two valve segments of the valve element.

[0157] Example 3: The aerosol-forming device of example 2, wherein each one of the valve segments comprises a material layer, wherein the material layers are arranged opposite of one another.FTR4076

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[0159] Example 4: The aerosol-forming device of example 2 or 3, wherein at least one of the valve segments comprises an elastic property, a deformable property depending on their temperature and / or a softening property depending on their temperature.

[0160] Example 5: The aerosol-forming device of example 4, wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partially elastically separating from the other valve segment depending on a vapor pressure of vapor formed between the valve segments due to dielectric heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element, inside the reservoir, or inside both the valve element and the reservoir.

[0161] Example 6: The aerosol-forming device of example 4 or 5, wherein the valve element is located in the dielectric heating zone, and wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partial elastic deformation and / or softening of the at least one valve segment depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments due to dielectric heating of the valve segments.

[0162] Example 7: The aerosol-forming device of example 6, wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured, in particular with a coefficient of thermal expansion, for opening the outlet at a temperature of the valve segments of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 100°C, further in particular of at least 150°C.

[0163] Example 8: The aerosol-forming device of any one of examples 2 to 7, wherein at least one of the valve segments comprises two material layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0164] Example 9: The aerosol-forming device of example 8, wherein an inner material layer of the two material layers forming the outlet comprises a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than an outer material layer arranged on the inner material layer.

[0165] Example 10: The aerosol-forming device of any one of examples 2 to 9, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement comprises electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating, and wherein the electrodes are arranged opposite to one another.

[0166] Example 11: The aerosol-forming device of example 10, wherein each one of the electrodes is provided at or is attached to a different one of the valve segments.

[0167] Example 12: The aerosol-forming device of example 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a bimetal.

[0168] Example 13: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein at least one inner side of the valve element forming the outlet comprises hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein.

[0169] Example 14: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the valve element comprises an organosilicon compound.FTR4076

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[0171] Example 15: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement is configured to carry out two dielectric heating phases, wherein a first dielectric heating phase is configured for preparing of opening or partially opening the outlet of the valve element, and a second dielectric heating phase is configured to opening or further opening the outlet of the valve element while forming the vapor by heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0172] Example 16: The aerosol-forming device of example 15, wherein the preparing or partially opening of the opening of the outlet during the first dielectric heating phase comprises elastically separating, elastically deforming and / or softening valve segments of the valve element for consequent opening or further opening of the outlet during the second dielectric heating phase.

[0173] Example 17: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the outlet is a liquid outlet for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir into the dielectric heating zone.

[0174] Example 18: The aerosol-forming device of any one of examples 1 to 16, wherein the outlet is a vapor outlet for releasing vapor formed in the dielectric heating zone.

[0175] Example 19: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the valve element may comprise a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising the outlet, in particular a vapor outlet.

[0176] Example 20: The aerosol-forming device of example 18 or 19, wherein the vapor outlet is disposed between two valve segments of the valve element, and the valve element comprises a flow channel portion adjacent to the vapor outlet, the two material layers being spaced apart from one another in the flow channel portion by a distance, thereby forming a flow channel for transferring the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the vapor outlet.

[0177] Example 21: The aerosol-forming device of example 20, wherein the distance is less than 2 mm, in particular less than 1 mm, for enabling capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0178] Example 22: The aerosol-forming device of example 20 or 21, wherein the reservoir is configured to pressurize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for enabling pressurized flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0179] Example 23: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the aerosol-forming device comprises a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to an inner volume of the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0180] Example 24: The aerosol-forming device of example 23, wherein the liquid transfer element at least partially extends inside the dielectric heating zone.FTR4076

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[0182] Example 25: The aerosol-forming device of example 23 or 24, wherein the liquid transfer element comprises a first portion located at a side of the valve element and a second portion located at a side of the reservoir, the second portion having a higher fluidic resistance than the first portion.

[0183] Example 26: The aerosol-forming device of example 25, wherein the first portion comprises a different porosity and / or average pore size than the second portion.

[0184] Example 27: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein at least the valve element and the reservoir form a removable storage.

[0185] Example 28: The aerosol-forming device of example 27, wherein the removable storage further includes a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0186] Example 29: The aerosol-forming device of example 27 or 28, wherein the storage includes an aerosol channel fluidically connected to the outlet, the aerosol channel further being fluidically connectable to an air inlet for providing air for forming an aerosol inside the aerosol channel and to an inhalation outlet for inhalation of the formed aerosol by a user of the aerosolforming device.

[0187] Example 30: The aerosol-forming device of any one of examples 27 to 29, wherein the storage is formed as a collapsible pouch.

[0188] Example 31: The aerosol-forming device of example 30, wherein the pouch comprises cyclic olefin copolymer, COC, and / or cyclic olefin polymer, COP.

[0189] Example 32: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein one or more biasing elements are arranged at the valve element for closing the outlet when the valve element is not subjected to an alternating electric field of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0190] Example 33: The aerosol-forming device of example 32, wherein the one or more biasing elements are in the form of any one or more of: a spring, an elastomer element, a temperature-sensitive actuator, and an elastic band wrapped around the valve element.

[0191] Example 34: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the aerosol-forming device comprises an aerosol channel or chamber for forming an aerosol from a dispensed vapor, the aerosol channel fluidically connected to the outlet of the valve element, an air inlet and an inhalation outlet for inhalation of the formed aerosol by a user of the aerosolforming device.

[0192] Example 35: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement comprises:

[0193] an oscillation circuit, the oscillation circuit comprises a switching unit and a feedback loop connected to the switching unit, the feedback loop comprising the load capacitor;FTR4076

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[0195] a resonant cavity coupled to a microwave generator, an area of the resonant cavity configured to heat the dielectric heating zone;

[0196] one or more transmission lines coupled to a microwave generator, an area of the one or more transmission lines configured to heat the dielectric heating zone;

[0197] a microwave emitting antenna coupled to a microwave generator to irradiate the dielectric heating zone with an alternating electric field; and / or

[0198] a loop gap resonator for irradiating the dielectric heating zone with the alternating electric field.

[0199] Example 36: The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples, wherein the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is received inside the reservoir.

[0200] Example 37: An aerosol-forming system, comprising the aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous examples and an aerosol-forming article comprising at least the reservoir, in which the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is received.

[0201] Example 38: An aerosol-forming article for use in an aerosol-forming device, comprising: a reservoir configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;

[0202] a valve element fluidically connected to the reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet;

[0203] wherein the valve element is configured to open the outlet when the valve element, reservoir, or both are subjected to an alternating electric field generated by a dielectric heating arrangement for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside a dielectric heating zone, and the valve element is configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the electromagnetic field.

[0204] Example 39: The aerosol-forming article of example 38, wherein the outlet is disposed between two valve segments of the valve element.

[0205] Example 40: The aerosol-forming article of example 39, wherein each one of the valve segments comprises a material layer, wherein the material layers are arranged opposite of one another.

[0206] Example 41: The aerosol-forming article of example 39 or 40, wherein at least one of the valve segments comprises an elastic property, a deformable property depending on their temperature and / or a softening property depending on their temperature.

[0207] Example 42: The aerosol-forming article of example 41 , wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partially elastically separating from the other valve segment depending on a vapor pressure of vapor formed between the valve segments due to dielectric heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element, inside the reservoir, or inside both the valve element and the reservoir.FTR4076

[0208] 30 / 49

[0209] Example 43: The aerosol-forming article of example 41 or 42, wherein the valve element is located in the dielectric heating zone, and wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partial elastic deformation and / or softening of the at least one valve segment depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments due to dielectric heating of the valve segments.

[0210] Example 44: The aerosol-forming article of example 43, wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured, in particular with a coefficient of thermal expansion, for opening the outlet at a temperature of the valve segments of at least 70°C, in particular of at least 100°C, further in particular of at least 150°C.

[0211] Example 45: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 39 to 44, wherein at least one of the valve segments comprises two material layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

[0212] Example 46: The aerosol-forming article of example 45, wherein an inner material layer of the two material layers forming the outlet comprises a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion than an outer material layer arranged on the inner material layer.

[0213] Example 47: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 39 to 46, wherein the aerosol-forming article comprises electrodes for connecting to the dielectric heating arrangement, the electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating, and wherein the electrodes are arranged opposite of one another.

[0214] Example 48: The aerosol-forming article of example 47, wherein each one of the electrodes is provided at or is attached to a different one of two valve segments of the valve element.

[0215] Example 49: The aerosol-forming article of example 47 or 48, wherein at least one of the electrodes comprises a bimetal.

[0216] Example 50: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 49, wherein at least one inner side of the valve element forming the outlet comprises hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein.

[0217] Example 51: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 50, wherein the valve element comprises an organosilicon compound.

[0218] Example 52: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 51, wherein the outlet is a liquid outlet for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir into the dielectric heating zone.

[0219] Example 53: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 51, wherein the outlet is a vapor outlet for releasing vapor formed in the dielectric heating zone.FTR4076

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[0221] Example 54: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 53, wherein the valve element may comprise a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising the outlet, in particular a vapor outlet.

[0222] Example 55: The aerosol-forming article of example 53 or 54, wherein the vapor outlet is disposed between two valve segments of the valve element, and the valve element comprises a flow channel portion adjacent to the vapor outlet, the two material layers being spaced apart from one another in the flow channel portion by a distance, thereby forming a flow channel for transferring the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir to the vapor outlet.

[0223] Example 56: The aerosol-forming article of example 55, wherein the distance is less than 2 mm, in particular less than 1 mm, for enabling capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0224] Example 57: The aerosol-forming article of example 55 or 56, wherein the reservoir is configured to pressurize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for enabling pressurized flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the flow channel and to the vapor outlet.

[0225] Example 58: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 57, wherein the aerosol-forming article comprises a liquid transfer element fl uidical ly connecting the valve element to an inner volume of the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0226] Example 59: The aerosol-forming article of example 58, wherein the liquid transfer element at least partially extends inside the dielectric heating zone.

[0227] Example 60: The aerosol-forming article of example 58 or 59, wherein the liquid transfer element comprises a first portion located at a side of the valve element and a second portion located at a side of the reservoir, the second portion having a higher fluidic resistance than the first portion.

[0228] Example 61: The aerosol-forming article of example 60, wherein the first portion comprises a different porosity and / or average pore size than the second portion.

[0229] Example 62: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 61, wherein at least the valve element and the reservoir form a storage that is removable from the aerosolforming device.

[0230] Example 63: The aerosol-forming article of example 62, wherein the removable storage further includes a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

[0231] Example 64: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 61 to 64, wherein the storage is formed as a collapsible pouch.

[0232] Example 65: The aerosol-forming article of example 64, wherein the pouch comprises cyclic olefin copolymer, COC, and / or cyclic olefin polymer, COP.FTR4076

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[0234] Example 66: The aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 65, wherein one or more biasing elements are arranged at the valve element for closing the outlet when the valve element is not subjected to an alternating electric field of the dielectric heating arrangement.

[0235] Example 67: The aerosol-forming article of example 66, wherein the one or more biasing elements are in the form of any one or more of: a spring, an elastomer element, a temperaturesensitive actuator, and an elastic band wrapped around the valve element.

[0236] Example 68: An aerosol-forming system, comprising the aerosol-forming article of any one of examples 38 to 67 and the dielectric heating arrangement or the aerosol-forming device.

[0237] Examples will now be further described with reference to the figures in which:

[0238] Figure 1 schematically shows an exemplary aerosol-forming system;

[0239] Figure 2 schematically illustrates an oscillator circuitry for an aerosol-forming system. Figures 3A and 3B each schematically illustrate an example of a resonant circuit for an aerosol-forming system;

[0240] Figure 4A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view on a portion of an aerosol-forming system comprising liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a valve element having an outlet for releasing vaporized aerosol-forming substrate in a closed state;

[0241] Figure 4B schematically illustrates a perspective view on the valve element of the aerosolforming system of Fig. 4A;

[0242] Figure 4C schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of the portion of the aerosolforming system of Fig. 4A, wherein the outlet is in an opened state;

[0243] Figure 5 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view on a detail of the aerosol-forming system of Figs. 4A and 4C;

[0244] Figures 6A and 6B schematically illustrate frontal views on the detail of the aerosol-forming system of Fig. 5 in the closed state and the opened state of the outlet of the valve element;

[0245] Figures 7A and 7B schematically illustrate frontal views views on an alternative configuration of the detail of the aerosol-forming system of Figs. 5, 6A and 6B in the closed state and the opened state of the outlet of the valve element.

[0246] Figure 8 schematically illustrates a perspective view on a reservoir formed by valve segments held in a frame.

[0247] The figures are schematic only and not to scale.

[0248] Figure 1 shows an exemplary and schematic aerosol-forming system 500 for forming or, in other words, generating aerosol, for example for consumption or inhalation by a user in one or more usage sessions. The system 500 comprises an aerosol-forming device 100 and optionally a companion device 300 for storing the aerosol-forming device 100. The companion device 300 may be a charging device or charger case for charging the aerosol-forming device 100 and / or an energy storage 190 or power supply 190 thereof.FTR4076

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[0250] The aerosol-forming device 100 may comprise an insertion opening 101 for at least partially or completely inserting an aerosol-forming article 200. The aerosol-forming article 200 may include or be shaped as a cartridge, container, capsule, pod or any other storage comprising a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210. In particular, the aerosol-forming article 200 may comprise a reservoir 220 (see Fig. 4A) for containing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210. Alternatively, or additionally, the aerosol-forming device 100 may comprise the reservoir 220 and receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 as a refill of the reservoir 220. In any case, the liquid aerosolforming 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.

[0251] Optionally, the aerosol-forming device 100 may comprise a mouthpiece (not shown), through which a user may inhale aerosol provided by the aerosol-forming device 100 for consumption during a usage session. The aerosol may be provided from the liquid aerosolforming substrate 210 provided inside or contained within the aerosol-forming device 100.

[0252] The exemplary aerosol-forming device 100 of Figure 1 further includes a dielectric heating arrangement 110 configured to dielectrically heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210. In the example of Figure 1 , the dielectric heating arrangement 110 comprises a load capacitor 112 with a first electrode 114 and a second electrode 116, which are arranged opposite to each other and are spaced-apart from each other by a distance, in the example with the aerosol-forming article 200 in a direction orthogonal or transverse to an insertion direction or axis 103 for inserting the aerosol-forming article 200. The insertion direction or axis 103 may define or be parallel to a longitudinal direction or axis of the device 100. The two opposing and spaced-apart electrodes 114, 116 form or define a heating chamber 120 configured to at least partly receive the aerosolforming article 200 or liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 therebetween.

[0253] The heating chamber 120 and at least part of the aerosol-forming article 200 may be sized such that the aerosol-forming substrate 210 is in contact or in close proximity to both the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 of the load capacitor 112 when received within the heating chamber 120. Moreover, the load capacitor 112 with the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 can form part of a feedback loop 133 (see Figure 3) of an oscillator circuitry 130, also referred to herein as oscillation circuit 130, via a first and second electrical contact 132, 134. It should be noted that the load capacitor 112 can comprise more than one electrode pair, in particular, the load capacitor 112 can comprise two, three, four, or even more pairs of interdigitated electrodes 114, 116. Also, it should be noted that the embodiment with load capacitor 112 is exemplary only. Alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 may forFTR4076

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[0255] example comprise a resonant cavity (see Figure 3B) configured to receive the liquid aerosolforming substrate 210 for dielectric heating thereof.

[0256] In other examples, the first electrode 114 and the second electrode 116 may form part of the aerosol-forming article 200 comprising the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210. In such embodiments, the heating chamber 120 or a corresponding cavity between the first and second electrical contacts 132, 134 can be sized such that, when the aerosol-forming article 200 is placed or located within the heating chamber 120, an electrical connection is established between the first electrode 114 and the first electrical contact 132, and the second electrode 116 and the second electrical contact 134.

[0257] The aerosol-forming device 100 further comprises a power supply 190, power source 190 or energy source 190, and a control circuitry 140 electrically, communicatively and / or operatively coupled to the dielectric heating arrangement 110 and / or the 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 aerosol-forming device 100 can be portable, battery-powered and handheld.

[0258] The control circuitry 140 can be configured to control the energy source 190 and / or the dielectric heating arrangement 110. In particular, the control circuitry 140 can be configured to control a supply of electrical power from the energy source 190 to the dielectric heating arrangement 110, thereby controlling the heating, a heating operation, activation and / or deactivation of the dielectric heating arrangement 110. The control circuitry 140 can include one or more controllers, microcontrollers, or processors 142 for data processing.

[0259] The energy source 190 may be charged based on connecting terminals of the device 100 with a main power supply, e.g., a USB charger. Alternatively, the energy storage 190 may be charged based on mechanically coupling the aerosol-forming device 100 with the companion device 300. In Figure 1, both the aerosol-forming device 100 and the companion device 300 comprise an energy storage 190, 310. In an example, energy storage 190 of the aerosol-forming device 100 may be charged based on coupling the device 100 to the companion device 300, for example based on at least partly inserting the device 100 into a compartment or recess of the companion device 300. Upon mechanically coupling the device 100, 300, an electrical connection between terminals or electrical connections of the aerosol-forming device 100 and the companion device 300 can be established to charge the energy storage 190 of the aerosol-forming device 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 aerosol-forming device 100 and the energy storage 310 of the companion device 300 may beFTR4076

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[0261] removable and / or replaceable. In other words, energy storages 190, 310 may be replaceable energy storages or batteries.

[0262] The aerosol-forming device 100 may further comprise a communications arrangement 150 or interface 150 for communicatively coupling the aerosol-forming device 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 edge 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.

[0263] The aerosol-forming device 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 control circuitry 140, particularly by the controller 142 and / or processor 142.

[0264] One or more sensors 154 may be arranged on, at or in the aerosol-forming device 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.

[0265] The aerosol-forming device 100 may further comprise one or more user interface components 156 or user interfaces 156, 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 one or more interface components 156 may be used or function as a power button to activate or deactivate the dielectric heating arrangement 110 thereby to activate or deactivate the aerosol-forming device 100. Upon activation of the aerosolforming device 100, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 may be activated and heat may be applied to at least a part of the aerosol-forming article 200 or liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210, such that aerosol can be generated for consumption or inhalation by the user, for example in a usage session. The one or more user interface components 156 can be arranged on an outer surface of the device 100 or can be integrated in a housing of the device 100.

[0266] In use, power or electrical energy can be provide from the energy storage 190 to the dielectric heating arrangement 110, for example when a user activates the device 100. For example, the device 100 can be activated by one or more of a sensor signal of at least one sensor 154 of the aerosol-forming device, insertion of an aerosol-forming article 200 at least partly into the aerosol-forming device 100, coupling of an aerosol-forming article 200 to the aerosol-formingFTR4076

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[0268] device 100, mechanical decoupling of the aerosol-forming device 100 from the companion device 300, and a control signal from the one or more user interfaces 156 triggered by the user of the aerosol-forming device 100. As noted above, sensor 154 can include one or more of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an image sensor, a pyrometer, a presence sensor, and a touch sensor, such that the device 100 can be activated for example by moving it, by touching it or by the mere presence of the user in the vicinity of the device 100.

[0269] When a user initiates a user inhalation or puff, air at ambient temperature can be drawn from an external environment of the device 100 via an air inlet, air channel or airflow path 160 towards the dielectric heating arrangement 110. The air drawn by the user has a lower temperature than the dielectric heating arrangement 110 and liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 that may be pre-heated to the pre-heating temperature. Hence, the drawn air departs a cooling effect onto the dielectric heating arrangement 110 and liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210, which leads to a decrease in temperature and hence to an increase in relative permittivity of the liquid aerosol-forming substate 210. As a consequence, the capacitance of the load capacitor 112 increases, and an oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130 decreases due to the increasing capacitance, and hence increasing LC constant of the oscillator circuitry 130. Since also resistive losses will increase with increasing relative permittivity, the power consumption of the dielectric heating arrangement 110 will increase. One or more of these effects, respectively one or more of these changes in the capacitance of the load capacitor 112, 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 an onset, a start and / or occurrence of the user inhalation.

[0270] Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an oscillator circuitry 130 for use in the aerosol-forming system 100 of Figure 1, respectively in a dielectric heating arrangement 110 thereof. Oscillator circuitry 130 comprises a switching unit 131 or switching device 131 interconnected with a resonator feedback loop 133 or feedback loop 133 to provide for a self-oscillating signal to the switching device 131. The switching device 131 comprises a single transistor, such as a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or a field effect transistor (FET). The oscillator circuitry 130 can further comprise a choke 135 that acts on an input to the feedback loop 133 to provide for a stimulation signal, for example a stimulation voltage.

[0271] The oscillator circuitry 130 also comprise a biasing unit 136 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 device 131 is coupled to the feedback loop 133 providing a feedback switching signal in the form of a voltage U|Nto the switching device 131. The configuration of the feedback loop 133 is such that the output signal, e.g. the voltage UOUT of theFTR4076

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[0273] switching device 131 can undergo a phase change and arrives inverted at the input U|Nof the switching device 131 for resonant oscillation. In other configurations, a current could be used as the feedback signal with a switching device 131 comprising a BJT.

[0274] Feedback loop 133 is configured to provide a 180° phase shift from the output UOUT to input UIN of switching device 131 for oscillation, and in addition, a transistor can be configured for inverting operation.

[0275] As shown in Figure 3A, feedback loop 133 includes a resonant circuit 137 comprising the load capacitor 112 providing fora first 90 degrees phase shift or quarter wave shift to the feedback signal. Feedback loop 133 further includes a capacitive element 138 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 device 131 is inverted and phase-shifted by 180 degrees. Switching device 131 is itself configured for inverted switching operation to provide a 180 degree phase shift between the input U|Nand the output UOUT of the switching device 131.

[0276] Resonant circuit 137 comprises the first and second electrodes 114, 116 of the dielectric heating arrangement 110, together forming the load capacitor 112. When an aerosol-forming substrate 210 is arranged between the first and second electrodes 114, 116, it forms part of the load capacitor 112. Importantly, the load capacitor 112 is formed in the feedback loop 133, and not at a separate output or part of a separate circuitry that is connected to the switching device 131. This enables a high-frequency oscillating voltage to be created across the electrodes 114, 116 of load capacitor 112, 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, which would create unnecessary losses and circuit complexity. The resonant circuit 137 may comprise a series resonator circuit or a parallel resonator circuit.

[0277] The feedback loop 133 is configured to be self-oscillating and will oscillate at or close to a given resonance or oscillation frequency determined by the values of the passive components of the feedback loop 133. Since oscillator circuitry 130 is operatively coupled to the control circuitry 140, the control circuitry 140 can determine the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130. This enables the control circuitry 140 to determine a change in the oscillation frequency which can be caused by the cooling effect of air drawn by the user in a user inhalation, thereby detecting the user inhalation. Hence, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 can act as puff sensor allowing to detect the user inhalation without requiring a dedicated or separate sensor.

[0278] Further, the switching device 131 can be coupled to one of the electrodes 114, 116 via a transistor 139, which can be configured for inverting operation, for example as an inverting common source Field Effect Transistor (FET), Metal Oxide Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET), or a common emitter Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT).FTR4076

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[0280] The control circuitry 140 can, for example, be configured to determine the switching frequency of the switching device 131 and / or the switching frequency at a gate terminal of the transistor 139 in order to determine the change in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuitry 130, which is indicative of a change in the relative permittivity of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 in the load capacitor 112 caused by the change in temperature, as described in detail herein. Alternatively, or additionally, the control circuitry 140 can determine a frequency of the alternating electric field in the load capacitor 112 in order to determine the change in the oscillation frequency of the oscillator circuity 130 that is caused by the change in the relative permittivity of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 in the load capacitor 112. Hence, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 can act as puff sensor allowing to detect the user inhalation without requiring a further sensor.

[0281] In an alternative embodiment, resonant circuit 137, respectively, the oscillator circuitry 130, may include a resonant cavity 141, as schematically illustrated in Figure 3B. The resonant circuit 137 including resonant cavity 141 may have an interior volume configured to receive the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210, for example having an opening for inserting the liquid aerosolforming substrate 210. In an example, the resonant circuit 137 including resonant cavity 141 can be configured as a A / 4 resonator. The resonant circuit 137 including resonant cavity 141 may be configured to behave like an RLC circuit. The inductor L and the capacitor C are arranged in parallel to each other, to have a parallel resonance or a frequency close to the parallel resonance that can be stimulated by the switching device 131. Resonant circuit 137 including cavity 141 may be coupled to the feedback loop 133 using one or more of a capacitive coupling, an inductive antenna coupling (magnetic coupling), a direct electric coupling, or a window coupling (e.g. coupling with a loop).

[0282] The resonant circuit 137 including resonant cavity 141 can have any shape, but preferably has a cylindrical shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape. In one embodiment, the resonant cavity 141 can be configured as a split-ring resonator.

[0283] The oscillator circuitry 130 and / or resonant circuit 137 can include an impedance matching device 142 configured to supply electromagnetic waves to the resonant cavity 141. The impedance matching device 142 can be configured to adapt or change an impedance in accordance with an impedance of the resonant cavity 141 that can include the substrate 210. Hence, if the impedance of the resonant cavity 141 changes due to a changing relative permittivity of the substrate caused by a change in temperature, the impedance matching device 142 adopts its impedance. Also, this can be operatively controlled by the control circuitry 140, thereby enabling the control circuitry 140 to detect the user inhalation based on determining the impedance of the impedance matching device 142. Hence, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 can act as puff sensor allowing to detect the user inhalation without requiring a further sensor.FTR4076

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[0285] Figure 4A schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view on a portion of an aerosol-forming system 500 comprising liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 and a valve element 230 having an outlet 236 for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 after its vaporization by the dielectric heating arrangement 210. In Figure 4A, the outlet 236 is exemplary shown in a closed state, whereas Figure 4C essentially shows the same configuration of aerosol-forming system 500 with the outlet 236 being in an open state. Figure 4B shows a perspective view on an exemplary design of the valve element 230.

[0286] In Figures 4A and 4C, the valve element 230 is exemplary shown located between the two electrodes 114, 116 of the dielectric heating arrangement 110 coupled to the oscillation circuit 130. Exemplary, the electrodes 114, 116 are embodied herein as electrode plates located at a distance from the valve element 230, in this exemplary embodiment the electrodes 114, 116 being arranged in parallel. This can also be seen in Figures 6A and 6B, showing frontal views onto the valve segment 230, specifically its first end or nozzle portion, in the closed state of the outlet 236 (Fig. 6A) and the opened state of the outlet 236 (Fig. 6B). In Fig. 6A, it can be seen that the electrodes 114, 116 are distanced from each one of the valve segments 232, 234. This distance is reduced when the valve segment 230 opens the outlet 236 by the expansion or separation of the valve segments 232, 234 as exemplary shown in Fig. 6B. However, a distance between valve segments 232, 234 and the electrodes 114, 116 is not necessary. Instead the electrodes 114, 116 could be attached or bonded to the valve element 230 as exemplary shown in Figs. 7A and 7B. Thereby, when the valve segments 232, 234 are moved away from one another or expanded for opening the outlet 236 as shown in Fig. 7B, the electrodes 114, 116 are simultaneously moved away from one another, thereby reducing the dielectric heating power, in particular immediately and exponentially due to the relationship between dielectric heating power and electrode distance.

[0287] Further exemplary, the valve element 230 is shown in Figs. 4A and 4C to extend entirely or substantially along the length of the electrodes 114, 116. However, this is not necessary as shown for example in Figure 5, where only an end, also referred to herein as a first end, comprising the outlet 236 is shown to be located in between the electrodes 114, 116. Any portion of the valve element 230 may be located in between the electrodes 114, 116.

[0288] In any case, in Figures 4A and 4C, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 is shown to be arranged such that it can dielectrically heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 when it is located inside the valve element 230. For this purpose, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 has a dielectric heating zone, in which the alternating electric field is generated by the two opposing electrodes 114, 116. It is noted again that other dielectric heating arrangements 110 are also possible, for example resonant cavities fed by a microwave, transmission lines fed by a microwave, or combinations thereof. The dielectric heating zone is located inside the valveFTR4076

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[0290] element 230 by virtue of arrangement of the valve element 230 in between the electrodes 114, 116. Alternatively, the dielectric heating arrangement 110 may form a dielectric heating zone in any other part or portion of the aerosol-forming system 500, in which the liquid aerosol-forming liquid 210 may be stored or temporarily located, such as the reservoir 220 or the optional liquid transfer element 240. For this purpose, the reservoir 220 and / or liquid transfer element 240 may be located in between the electrodes 114, 116 or generally the dielectric heating zone by any configuration of a dielectric heating arrangement 110 described herein may be located at the reservoir 220, at the valve element 230, at the liquid transfer element 240, or any one or more of these. Accordingly, there may also be multiple dielectric heating zones distributed throughout one or more of the aforementioned parts.

[0291] The reservoir 220 is generally formed as a reservoir for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210, which can thus supply the valve element 230 with the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210, e.g. via the liquid transfer element 240. In this example, the reservoir 220, liquid transfer element 240 and valve element 230 are denoted with reference signs indicating that these could be parts of an aerosol-forming article 200. For example, the reservoir 220, liquid transfer element 240 and / or valve element 230 may together form an aerosol-forming article 200 that can be in the form of a removable storage, specifically at least partially in the form of a collapsible pouch, e.g. at least with its reservoir 220. Alternatively, however, any one or more of the reservoir 220, transfer element 240 and valve element 230 may be parts of the aerosol-forming device 100, specifically non-removable or fixed parts.

[0292] Figure 8 shows an example of a reservoir 220 formed of or with two valve segments 232, 234 or, generally, layers of material, specifically elastic material. The valve segments 232, 234 may be held together by or in a frame 250. The frame 250 may be part of the aerosol-forming device 100 or of the aerosol-forming article 200. The reservoir 220 may be formed as a pouch, for example.

[0293] The entirety of reservoir 220, valve element 230 and liquid transfer element 240 may be fixed or non-removable with respect to the aerosol-forming device 100 such that the reservoir 220 can be refilled with liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 through a corresponding refill opening (not shown). Alternatively, for example, only the reservoir 220 may be part of an aerosol-forming article 200, which may be removable from the aerosol-forming device 100 or a receptacle thereof such that it can be replaced together with liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 contained therein. In such case, the liquid transfer element 240 and / or the valve element 230 may be fixed parts, which can be fluidically connected to the reservoir 220 each time the aerosol-forming article 200 is replaced. And, for example, the liquid transfer element 240 may be part of the aerosol-forming article 200 such that only the valve element 230 is fixed inside the aerosol-forming device 100. Accordingly, different combinations and variations are possible, in which the respective parts ofFTR4076

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[0295] valve element 230, reservoir 220, and the optional liquid transfer element 240 can be (fixed) part of an aerosol-forming article 200 removable from the aerosol-forming device 100 or (fixed) part of the aerosol-forming device 100. In any case, when the aerosol-forming article 200 is inserted into the aerosol-forming device 100, the aerosol-forming device 100 will also comprise the valve element 230, the reservoir 220, and optionally the liquid transfer element 240.

[0296] The valve element 230 comprises two opposite valve segments 232, 234, each of which may comprise or be formed from one or more material layers. The first end of the valve element 230, away from the reservoir 220 and shown to the left in Figure 4A, comprises the outlet 236, which can be formed in between the two valve segments 232, 234. The first end, as specifically seen in Fig. 4B, can be formed as a nozzle portion. In Figure 4A, the valve segments 232, 234 can be pressed together to form the closed outlet 236 of the nozzle portion of the valve element 230, whereas in between the first end or nozzle portion and an opposite second end fluidically connected to the liquid transfer element 240 in this example, a flow channel portion 231 formed by a gap or distance between the two valve segments 232, 234. The flow channel portion 231 adjacent to the outlet 236 allows the flow of liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 from the reservoir 220 to the outlet 236.

[0297] In Figs. 4A and 4C, it is shown how the liquid transfer element 240 comprises a first portion 242 located at a side of the valve element 230 and a second portion 241 located at a side of the reservoir 220. Exemplary, the second portion 241 may have a higher fluidic resistance than the first portion 242, e.g. by comprising a different porosity and / or average pore size compared to the second portion 241. In this example, the first portion 242 is shown to extend into or inside the flow channel portion 231 , thereby enabling the guiding of liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 through the liquid transfer element 240 to the valve element 230 and consequently to the outlet 236. Specifically, by the dielectrophoretic liquid, LDEP, effect of vapor bubbles and e-vapor liquid, vapor bubbles could return back into liquid transfer element 240 and even reservoir 220. To prevent vaporized liquid substrate 210 to go backwards to the liquid transfer element 240 and reservoir 220, and to increase a motion of the vaporized liquid substrate 210 towards the inner outlet 236 of the valve element 230, the liquid transfer element 240 can be made of the two herein specified portions 241, 242, which may be integrally designed with one another or monolithically designed or separate parts. The second portion 241 is exemplary shown to be a downstream portion, whereas the first portion 242 is an upstream portion with a higher fluidic resistance, preventing the backward flow of vaporized liquid substrate 210 to the reservoir 220.

[0298] Figure 5 shows an alternative or additional example of the valve element 230, where the flow channel portion 231 is relatively narrow, specifically with a diameter or distance between valve segments 232, 234 of 2 mm or less. This narrow flow channel portion 231 enables a capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 towards the outlet 236. Additionally, Figs. 4A, 4CFTR4076

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[0300] and 5 show liquid retaining structures 233 for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 therein. The liquid retaining structures 233 are exemplary shown at the first end or nozzle portion of the valve element 230 and to be formed by corresponding cavities, holes, grooves or similar. By retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 in these liquid retaining structures 233, it can be facilitated in Fig. 5 particularly that the liquid substrate 210 is vaporized and exerts pressure onto the valve segments 232, 234, thereby pushing them away from one another and opening the outlet 236. Additionally, or alternatively, the valve segments 232, 234 may comprise hydrophilic structures (not shown) for further improving the attraction of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 by the valve element 230 and thus ensuring that liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 may be vaporized inside the valve element 230 to open and / or exit the outlet 236.

[0301] In the example of Figs. 4A and 4C, for pressing the respective valve segments 232, 234 or their material layers against one another at the first end or nozzle portion of the valve element 230, two biasing elements 237 are arranged at the valve element 230. These biasing elements 237 are closing the outlet 236 when the valve element 230 is not subjected to an alternating electric field of the dielectric heating arrangement 110 as described below. In this example, each one of the biasing elements 237 is arranged at one of the valve segments 232, 234 and merely exemplary shown to be attached or arranged at the electrodes 114, 116 for biasing the valve segments 232, 234 towards one another. Further exemplary, the number of biasing elements 237 here is two but there could be less or more biasing elements 237. Also, exemplary, the biasing elements 237 are shown as springs but are not limited thereto and alternatively could be elastomer elements, temperature-sensitive actuators, and / or an elastic band that may be wrapped around the first end or nozzle portion of the valve element 230. While it may be advantageous to use the biasing elements 237 to ensure closing the outlet 236 when no dielectric heating is performed, the biasing elements 237 may also be omitted and other mechanisms or effects could be used to close the outlet 236, such as the choice of material and thereby the material properties of the valve segments 232, 234 as explained herein below.

[0302] For opening the valve element 230, specifically its outlet 236, as shown in Figure 4C on the other hand, the dielectric heating is being used by subjecting the dielectric heating zone to an alternating electric field generated by the electrodes 114, 116 in this example. In the example of Figures 4A and 4C with the location of the dielectric heating zone inside the valve element 230, the valve segments 232, 234 and the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 contained inside the valve element 230 can be heated and this heating effect can be used to open the outlet 236. For example, the flow channel portion 231 may be normally at least partially filled with liquid aerosolforming substrate 210 and / or the liquid transfer element 240 may at least partially, specifically with a first portion 242 thereof, be located at the valve element 230 and / or extend inside there, specifically through the second end of the valve element 230 and inside the flow channel portionFTR4076

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[0304] 231. As explained, the filling of the flow channel portion 231 with liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 can for example be achieved by the capillary flow action and / or the extension of the first portion 242 of the liquid transfer element 240 into the flow channel portion 231.

[0305] When heated by the dielectric heating, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 will vaporize and generate a pressurized stream of vapor that can open the outlet 236, even against the biasing force of the biasing elements 237, in case these are provided in the aerosol-forming device 100. For this purpose, one or both valve segments 232, 234 may comprise a material with elastic properties, such that the outlet 236 can be opened by elastic separation of the valve segments 232, 234 away from each other caused by the vapor pressure. Further, as explained, alternatively or additionally, the flow channel portion 231, at least at the first end or nozzle portion or generally proximate or adjacent the outlet 236, can have a particularly small gap or distance of e.g. 2 mm or less, thereby enabling capillary flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 thereto, ensuring that liquid aerosol-forming substrate 210 is always present at the first end of the valve element 230 capable of being vaporized to open the outlet 236 by elastically pushing the valve segments 232, 234 at the nozzle portion away from one another as seen in Fig. 4C or Fig. 5.

[0306] Alternatively or additionally, the valve segments 232, 234 or at least one of the valve segments 232, 234 may be provided with a deformable property depending on their or its temperature and / or a softening property depending on their or its temperature. In this case, at least one of the valve segments 232, 234 may be configured to at least partially open the outlet 236 by at least partial elastic deformation and / or softening of the at least one of the valve segments 232, 234 depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments 232, 234 due to dielectric heating of the valve segments 232, 234. Any one of these effects may be used in addition or as alternative to the opening of the outlet 236 due to vapor pressure of vaporized substrate 210.

[0307] It is noted that the outlet 236 is merely exemplary shown to be at the first end of the valve element 230. Alternatively, it is possible that the first end is opened and that an openable and closeable outlet or opening for vapor release of vaporized substrate 210 could be located anywhere else inside the valve element 230, specifically at the second end opposite the first end at the fluidic connection to the liquid transfer element 240 or the reservoir 220 in case there is no liquid transfer element 240.

[0308] The valve element 230 is fluidically connected to an aerosol channel 161, into which the aerosol from the vaporized aerosol-forming substrate 210 released from the opened outlet 236 as seen in Fig. 4C may be released. The air inlet 160 shown in Fig. 1 may be fluidically connected to the aerosol channel 161, thereby supplying air from an outside of the aerosol-forming device 100 to the aerosol channel 161. This air is mixed with the vaporized substrate 210, therebyFTR4076

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[0310] forming the user-inhalable aerosol that can for example be guided or streamed to an inhalation channel, a mouthpiece or similar (not shown).

[0311] The reservoir 220, the optional liquid transfer element 240, and / or the valve element 230 may for example be formed as a collapsible pouch made of or including COC or COP or similar material. Also, it is possible that reservoir 220, the valve element 230, and / or the optional liquid transfer element 240 form a removable cartridge that can be inserted into the aerosol-forming device 210. In this case, the aerosol channel 161 can be part of the aerosol-forming device 100 or can also be part of the removable cartridge or pod. The material used for the valve element 230 may in particular but not limited thereto be an elastic, high-temperature, and / or low dielectric material, for example but not limited to a siloxane rubber, or polysiloxane. These materials are typically mixed inorganic-organic polymers with the chemical formula (R2SiO)n where R is an organic side group (e.g., methyl, CH3) attached to a siloxane ...-Si-O-Si-O-Si-O-... “backbone” or chain. An example that could be used is polydimethylsiloxane, PDMS. These materials are sometimes referred to as “Silicones”, not to be confused with the chemical element Si, e.g. Silicon. This material typically has a relatively low relative permittivity of 2.68 and undergoes pyrolysis at relatively high temperatures of 400°C -650°C and has a Young’s modulus of 360-870 Kpa.

[0312] 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.

[0313] 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.

[0314] 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 areFTR4076

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[0316] recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

FTR407646 / 49CLAIMS1. An aerosol-forming device, comprising:a reservoir configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;a valve element fluidically connected to the reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet; anda dielectric heating arrangement for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone;wherein the dielectric heating zone is located at the reservoir, at the valve element, or both the reservoir and the valve element, the valve element configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement, and the valve element configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the alternating electric field.

2. The aerosol-forming device of claim 1, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement is configured for dielectrically heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate arranged at a dielectric heating zone to cause a vapor pressure and the valve element is configured to open the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is subjected to an alternating electric field generated by the dielectric heating arrangement by the vapor pressure.

3. The aerosol-forming device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the outlet is disposed between two valve segments of the valve element, and wherein at least one of the valve segments comprises an elastic property, a deformable property depending on their temperature and / or a softening property depending on their temperature.

4. The aerosol-forming device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partially elastically separating from the other valve segment depending on a vapor pressure of vapor formed between the valve segments due to dielectric heating and vaporization of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside the valve element, inside the reservoir, or inside both the valve element and the reservoir.

5. The aerosol-forming device of claim 3 or 4, wherein the valve element is located in the dielectric heating zone, and wherein at least one of the valve segments is configured to at least partially open the outlet by at least partial elastic deformation and / or softening of the at least one valve segment depending on an increase of temperature of the valve segments due to dielectric heating of the valve segments.FTR407647 / 496. The aerosol-forming device of claim 5, wherein:at least one of the valve segments is configured with a coefficient of thermal expansion for opening the outlet at a temperature of the valve segments of at least 70°C; and / orat least one of the valve segments comprises two material layers with different coefficients of thermal expansion.

7. The aerosol-forming device of any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement comprises electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating, wherein the electrodes are arranged opposite to one another, and wherein each one of the electrodes is provided at or attached to a different one of the valve segments.

8. The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the dielectric heating arrangement is configured to carry out two dielectric heating phases, wherein a first dielectric heating phase is configured for preparing of opening or partially opening the outlet of the valve element, and a second dielectric heating phase is configured to opening or further opening the outlet of the valve element while or by forming the vapor by heating the liquid aerosolforming substrate, wherein the preparing or partially opening of the opening of the outlet during the first dielectric heating phase comprises elastically separating, elastically deforming and / or softening valve segments of the valve element for consequent opening or further opening of the outlet during the second dielectric heating phase.

9. The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous claims, wherein:the outlet is a liquid outlet for releasing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the reservoir into the dielectric heating zone; orthe outlet is a vapor outlet for releasing vapor formed in the dielectric heating zone.

10. The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the valve element may comprise a nozzle portion, the nozzle portion comprising the outlet as vapor outlet.

11. The aerosol-forming device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the liquid aerosolforming substrate is received inside the reservoir.

12. An aerosol-forming article for use in an aerosol-forming device, comprising:a liquid reservoir configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate;FTR407648 / 49a valve element fluidically connected to the liquid reservoir for receiving the liquid aerosolforming substrate from the liquid reservoir, wherein the valve element comprises an outlet;wherein the valve element is configured to open the outlet when the valve element, liquid reservoir, or both are subjected to an alternating electric field generated by a dielectric heating arrangement for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate inside a dielectric heating zone, and the valve element is configured to close the outlet when the dielectric heating zone is not subjected to the alternating electric field.

13. The aerosol-forming article of claim 12, wherein the aerosol-forming article comprises electrodes for connecting to the dielectric heating arrangement, the electrodes forming a load capacitor for the dielectric heating, wherein the electrodes are arranged opposite of one another, and wherein each one of the electrodes is provided at or is attached to a different one of two valve segments of the valve element.

14. The aerosol-forming article of claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one inner side of the valve element forming the outlet comprises hydrophilic structures and / or liquid retaining structures for retaining the liquid aerosol-forming substrate therein.

15. The aerosol-forming article of any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the aerosol-forming article comprises a liquid transfer element fluidically connecting the valve element to an inner volume of the reservoir for guiding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the outlet.

16. An aerosol-forming system, comprising:the aerosol-forming article of any one of claims 12 to 15 and a dielectric heating arrangement or an aerosol-forming device.

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