Planar Heating Element with Conductive Bead Layer for Uniform Aerosol Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol-generating devices face issues with local heating and random heating patterns, leading to incomplete vaporization and carbonization of the liquid aerosol-generating substrate, resulting in burnt taste and harmful substances due to the limitations of wick-heater structures in conventional designs.

Innovation Solution

A planar heating element comprising a porous wick with a conductive bead layer and terminal parts for uniform heat distribution, where conductive beads are stacked on the wick's surface to generate heat across a large area without local deviations, preventing liquid carbonization and enhancing atomization efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a heater is located in a pattern form on the wick surface, then heating is concentrated in specific areas, but this causes local heating deviations, liquid carbonization, and non-uniform aerosol generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating concentrationVSAvoidheating uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is divided into multiple independent heating units arranged in a grid pattern, where each unit can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows uniform heat distribution across the entire wick surface while preventing local overheating and carbonization issues associated with single-point heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the wick are equipped with heating units having different heating capacities according to local requirements. The heating units are designed with varying power densities to compensate for heat loss patterns, ensuring uniform overall heating while allowing local adjustments to prevent carbonization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Area of stationary object

If a mesh network is used instead of pattern form heater, then heating area is increased, but instantaneous heating still occurs causing liquid carbonization and mesh structure deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating areaVSAvoidliquid carbonization
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mesh network is further segmented into multiple independently controllable heating units. Each unit can be activated selectively to distribute heat uniformly across the expanded heating area, preventing instantaneous heating hotspots that cause liquid carbonization while maintaining the benefits of increased heating coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating units operate in a sequential or periodic manner rather than simultaneously, distributing the heating process over time. This periodic activation pattern ensures uniform heat distribution across the large heating area while preventing instantaneous thermal shocks that cause carbonization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the entire wick is replaced with a bead structure, then heating occurs randomly throughout the area, but this prevents prediction of aerosol-generating areas and creates local heating deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating coverageVSAvoidheating control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bead structure is designed with varying properties in different regions - some beads are equipped with heating units while others serve as non-heating zones. This local differentiation allows precise control over heating locations, enabling prediction of aerosol-generating areas while maintaining comprehensive heating coverage through the distributed bead arrangement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bead structure serves as an intermediary between the power source and the liquid substrate. Each bead acts as an independent heating unit that can be selectively activated, providing controlled heat distribution throughout the wick area while maintaining predictability over where aerosol generation occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution ensures uniform heat distribution across the wick's surface, preventing liquid carbonization and enhancing atomization efficiency, resulting in a consistent aerosol generation with reduced burnt taste and harmful substances, even at low power density.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive bead layer (20) for heating the absorbed liquid aerosol-generating substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a porous wick (10) for absorbing a liquid aerosol-generating substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

an aerosol-generating device using a method of heating a liquid aerosol-generating substrate to vaporize the liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP4147590B1Planar heating element for generating aerosol, method for manufacturing same, and aerosol generation apparatus comprising same
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 KT&G CO LTD
  • EP4147590B1 patent drawingFigure 1(A)~2
  • EP4147590B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a planar heating element for generating an aerosol comprising a porous wick for absorbing a liquid aerosol-generating substrate, a conductive bead layer for heating the absorbed liquid aerosol-generating substrate, and a terminal part for delivering an electricity for heating to the conductive bead layer, a method for manufacturing the same, and an aerosol-generating device comprising the same.