IR Laser Heating for Shisha Aerosol Substrates Without Charcoal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional shisha devices using charcoal produce high levels of carbon monoxide and harmful combustion by-products, and electrically heated devices suffer from lower aerosol mass, volume, and longer time to first puff due to poor substrate heating contact.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol-generating element that uses infrared (IR) radiation to heat the substrate, allowing contactless and targeted heating with IR emitters, combined with optional electrical heating means to enhance heating efficiency and mimic the charcoal heating experience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If charcoal is used to heat the substrate, then high aerosol mass and visible aerosol are produced, but high levels of carbon monoxide and harmful combustion by-products are generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerosol massVSAvoidcarbon monoxide

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the charcoal heating element from the system and replaces it with an electrical heater. This extraction eliminates the source of carbon monoxide and combustion by-products while maintaining the substrate heating function. The electrical heater provides controlled heating without combustion, resolving the contradiction between aerosol production and harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical combustion system (charcoal) with an electrical heating system. This substitution uses electrical energy to heat the substrate directly, eliminating the need for combustion while maintaining effective heating. The electrical heater transfers energy electrically rather than through chemical combustion, thereby eliminating harmful emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If electrical heaters are used to heat the substrate, then carbon monoxide production is reduced, but aerosol volume and time to first puff are worsened due to poor contact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon monoxideVSAvoidtime to first puff

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the heating parameters by using an electrical heater with optimized heating surface area and thermal conductivity. The heater is designed to achieve rapid heating of the substrate by optimizing contact area and thermal transfer efficiency. This allows the electrical heater to reach operational temperature faster, reducing time to first puff while maintaining low emissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the entire substrate is heated evenly, then heating efficiency is improved, but the traditional ritual experience is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidritual experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a movable heating element or adjustable heater position that allows dynamic control of the heating zone. This enables the user to move the heating focus across different areas of the substrate, mimicking the traditional charcoal movement ritual. The dynamic positioning maintains heating efficiency while preserving the ceremonial aspect of sequential heating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the heating process into sequential zones or areas by allowing the heater to move across different portions of the substrate. This segmentation enables targeted heating of specific areas rather than uniform heating of the entire substrate, preserving the ritualistic progression while maintaining overall heating efficiency through systematic coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Reduces carbon monoxide and combustion by-products, enhances heating speed, and maintains the traditional shisha ritual by providing efficient and flexible heating with reduced time to first puff.

Implementation Method 1

a photonic device configured to generate a beam of IR radiation. The aerosol-generating element is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate by directing the beam of IR radiation onto the aerosol-forming substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

Heating with IR radiation brings the benefit of high speed, flexibility and efficient heating... the aerosol-forming substrate is heated by absorption of IR radiation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIR absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12507732B2Infrared heated aerosol-generating element

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA

AI summary

An aerosol-generating element for generating an aerosol in a shisha device, the aerosol-generating element includes a receptacle for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate and a photonic device configured to generate a beam of IR radiation. The aerosol-generating element is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate by directing the beam of IR radiation onto the aerosol-forming substrate. The photonic device includes an IR laser diode. The range of wavelengths of the beam of IR radiation is from 1300 nanometers to 2000 nanometers.