Movable-Heater Aerosol Generating Devices for Compact Heating Profiles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol generating devices with multiple heaters face challenges in miniaturization, energy efficiency, increased energy consumption, external heat generation, low internal durability, and assembly difficulties, leading to user inconvenience and higher costs.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generating device with a movable heater that moves along the longitudinal direction of an accommodation portion, supported by a heater support, allowing it to adjust its position based on the specifications of the aerosol generating article, and includes a detecting sensor to optimize heating profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate heaters are used to heat different parts of the aerosol generating article, then the flavor and taste of the generated aerosol is improved, but the device size increases and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating profile precisionVSAvoiddevice size
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is designed to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the accommodation portion, allowing a single heater to dynamically adjust its position to heat different parts of the aerosol generating article. This dynamic positioning replaces the need for multiple fixed heaters, achieving various heating profiles while maintaining a compact device size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate heaters are used to heat different parts of the aerosol generating article, then the flavor and taste of the generated aerosol is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating profile precisionVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating functions that would require separate heaters are merged into a single heater that can move to different positions. This consolidation reduces the total number of heating elements, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while still achieving the desired heating profiles for different article components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple separate heaters are used, then various heating profiles can be achieved, but external heat generation increases and internal durability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating profile controlVSAvoidexternal heat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The movable heater can be positioned at specific locations along the accommodation portion to heat only the required parts of the aerosol generating article. This localized heating approach prevents unnecessary heat generation in other areas, reducing external heat generation while maintaining precise heating profile control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

Improves flavor and taste of generated aerosol, enhances energy efficiency, reduces charging frequency, and increases user convenience while preventing external heat generation and improving device stability and safety.

Implementation Method 1

a heater that may detect an aerosol generating article and that may move to a position corresponding to a certain point of the aerosol generating article according to the detected aerosol generating article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP3806670B1Aerosol generating device and aerosol generating system including the same
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP3806670B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3806670B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3
  • EP3806670B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

An aerosol generating device includes an accommodation portion configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article through an opening, a heater configured to heat the accommodation portion and move along a longitudinal direction of the accommodation portion; and a heater support that supports the heater and move the heater along the longitudinal direction of the accommodation portion, wherein the heater moves between a first position corresponding to a first point of the aerosol generating article and a second position corresponding to a second point of the aerosol generating article, and wherein the first position and the second position differ according to specifications of the aerosol generating article.