DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD

The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates an aerosol generating device, more particularly an electronic device to generate aerosol has been disclosed here.

BACKGROUND

Many smoking articles, alternatives or improvements over the traditional smoking of tobacco, have been proposed through the years. Exemplary alternate devices include devices, wherein combustion of a solid or liquid fuel is done to transfer heat to tobacco or wherein a chemical reaction is used to provide such heat source.

Alternate devices for delivery of nicotine such as electronic vaping devices, carbon heat not burn, etc. have not been able to meet consumer satisfaction. One possible reason being their inability to deliver the required quantity and/or consistency of nicotine and flavour as that by a conventional cigarette. Other issues can be related to the way of holding the device, device cleaning requirements, etc.

Reference has been made to US20140000638A1, where Reservoir and heater system for controllable delivery of multiple aerosolizable materials in an electronic smoking article has been disclosed. It relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, provision is there for separate delivery of two or more components of an aerosol precursor composition to one or more heaters so as to control the rate of delivery or the rate of heating of the separate components of the aerosol precursor composition.

Reference has been made to US 20140060554A1, where an electronic smoking article comprising on or more micro heaters has been disclosed. It relates to an electronic smoking article that provides for improved aerosol delivery. Particularly, the article comprises one or more micro heaters. In various embodiments, the micro heaters provide for improved control of vaporization of an aerosol precursor composition and provide for reduced power requirements to achieve consistent aerosolization. The present disclosure further relates to methods of forming an aerosol in a smoking article.

Reference has been made to US 20030108342 A1, where aerosol generator having heater arranged to vaporize fluid in fluid passage between bonded layers of laminate has been disclosed. An aerosol generator includes a fluid supply which supplies fluid to a fluid passage and a heater which heats the fluid into a gaseous state, the fluid passage being located between opposed layers of a laminate. The fluid passage can be a capillary sized passage formed by locating a mandrel between opposed layers of the laminate, bonding the layers together and removing the mandrel such that the space previously occupied by the mandrel forms the fluid passage. The opposed layers of the laminate can be copper sheets and ceramic layers can be provided on the outside of the copper layers. The aerosol generator can be used to generate aerosols containing medicated materials.

Reference has been made to US 6681769 B2, where aerosol generator having a multiple path heater arrangement has been disclosed. An aerosol generator includes a heater arrangement having heating sections and corresponding flow paths for volatilization of a multiple fluid in liquid form. The flow paths can include first and second flow paths which are parallel to each other and sized such that the first flow path is smaller than the second flow path. During delivery of liquid to the flow paths, a smaller amount of vaporized liquid can be ejected from the first flow path, and the bulk of the vaporized liquid can be ejected from the second flow path.

Some of the existing electronic devices to generate aerosol have a heater directly in contact with the aerosol generating substrate which is heated constantly at very high temperature irrespective of whether the consumer is taking a puff or not. This may lead to need for frequent charging and loss of nicotine or flavour after some time which may result in consumer’s dissatisfaction.

In view of the above cited prior art, it would be highly desirable to provide a user-friendly electronic aerosol generating device that can meet consumer requirements of consistent aerosol delivery, thus providing satisfaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.

An object of the present invention is to provide a user friendly aerosol generating electronic device designed to deliver the required quantity and/or consistency of nicotine and flavour.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electronic aerosol generating device with at least one heating arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is the arrangement of a peripheral heater, wherein the heater can be a multi-section one, with its length ranging from about 8 mm to about 20 mm.

Another object of the present invention is the arrangement of another heater, positioned for preheating the air before it enters the tobacco substrate.

Yet another object of the present invention is to configure atleast one heater in a way to ensure uniform heat transfer within the substrate.

Another object of the present invention is the air inlet and the air passage designed to preheat the air.

Yet another object of the present invention is the arrangement of at least one heater(s) along with the airflow design, providing a uniform heating of the substrate without excessive heating of any of any aerosol generating segment.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide consistent delivery aerosol, without compromising the quality of aerosol.

Yet another object of the present invention is the longer usage time (discharge cycle).

Yet another object of the invention is the flexibility of the internal and external construction which helps in holding and cleaning of the device.

Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention, an electronic aerosol generating device has been disclosed. The aerosol generator comprising heating assembly, with at least one heater for periphery heating of the aerosol generating substrate; an airflow inlet; airflow passage, said passage positioned in a way to ensure uniform heat distribution; device electronics, said electronics used to measure and monitor the temperature of the heater, thus designed to actuate to provide uniform heating; an opening for easy insertion of aerosol generating substrate and a removable collection disc for cleaning purposes of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an aerosol generating device with multiple heating arrangement, as prior art to the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates an aerosol generating device with peripheral heater, as prior art to the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a lateral cross-sectional view of one exemplar of the invention.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.

Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

By the term “substantially” it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.

Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

It is also to be understood that the term “module” is used in the specification to indicate an apparatus, unit, component and the like. The term “means” when used in the specification is taken to specify the mode by which desired result is achieved.

The present invention discloses an electronic aerosol generating device.

In the present invention, an electronic device for aerosol generation is disclosed. In particular, an electronic aerosol generating device with the provision of at least one heating arrangement. The aerosol generating device has an air inlet, the position of the inlet and design of the air passage, along with the airflow design and the heater temperature profile/actuation is designed in a way for a uniform heating of the aerosol generating substrate. The heater(s) is configured in a way to restrict excessive heating of any aerosol generating segment, ensuring longer usage time and consistency in delivery of the aerosol thus formed.

In one implementation, an electronic aerosol generating device has been disclosed. The aerosol generator comprising at least one heating assembly- for e.g. peripheral heater, which heats the aerosol generating substrate; an airflow inlet; airflow passage, said passage, positioned in a way to ensure uniform heat distribution; device electronics, said electronics used to measure and monitor the temperature of the heater, thus designed to actuate to provide uniform heating; device battery; an opening for easy insertion of aerosol generating substrate and removable collection disc for cleaning purposes of the device.

Reference is made to Figure 3 illustrating a lateral cross-sectional view of one exemplar of the invention. Aerosol generating substrate is inserted through the opening. The inlet for air flow allows the air to enter during a puff. Temperature profile of periphery heater is altered in a way to ensure uniform heat transfer from periphery to core. The peripheral heater is a multi-segmented one with its length ranging from about 8 mm to about 20 mm. The arrangement and positioning of the other heater ensures preheating of the air before it enters the tobacco substrate. The air enters through the sides, there contains the pre-heating assembly to pre-heat the air. Further it takes perpendicular turn to reach the peripheral heating section and then to the user.

Device electronics comprises of the required circuitry for the measurement of temperature and proper logic is configured within for the proper operation of the device. Temperature of the heating elements are monitored either directly or indirectly by the device electronics. Measurement of temperature can be done directly which includes but not limits to the use of sensors like thermocouple, thermistor. Indirect ways of measurement include but not limits to the use of feedback from the current drawn by the element or self-regulated heating element based on voltage.
The device battery helps in providing sufficient voltage to the device electronics and heater assembly for proper operation and needs to be charged from time to time for further use.

The aerosol generating substrate of the present invention includes but not limits to tobacco, which can be used in any desired form which includes film, mat, flakes, cut tobacco, recon/expanded tobacco.

The opening at one end of the device ensures easy insertion of the aerosol generating substrate and easy cleansing of the device. The cleaning system includes but does not limit to the use of a removable collection disc placed beneath the heating chamber, wherein deposits are collected during usage and can be cleaned or replaced from time to time.

Some of the advantages of the present invention, considered to be noteworthy are mentioned below:
1) The aerosol generating device along with the multiple heating arrangement and airflow design provides a uniform heating of the substrate.
2) The temperature and power profile of each heater can be altered, ensuring consistent deliveries and longer usage time (discharge cycle).
3) The flexibility offered by the device in terms of construction of interiors and exteriors for holding and cleaning of the device.

Although an electronic aerosol generating device have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods or devices described. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations of the aerosol generating device.
,CLAIMS:1. An electronic aerosol generating device, the device comprising:
a power source adapted to essentially operate the electronic aerosol generating device;
an opening for inserting an aerosol generating substrate to the device;
an airflow passage positioned along one of the sides of the device, so as to ensure uniform heat distribution;
a removable collection disc with airflow inlet;
at least one heater positioned peripherally and configured to heat aerosol generating substrate;
optionally, an additional heater is positioned before the peripheral heating assembly, to pre-heat the entering air;
an electronic circuitry configured to measure and/or monitor temperature of the heater, wherein the circuitry is further configured to actuate the heater for providing uniform heating.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power source is a rechargeable battery.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry adapted to monitor temperature of heating elements directly by thermocouple and / or thermistor and the like.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry adapted to monitor temperature of heating elements indirectly by utilizing feedback from current drawn by heating element or self-regulated heating element based on voltage.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerosol generating substrate non limitedly includes tobacco used in any desired form like film, mat, flakes, cut tobacco, recon/expanded tobacco and the like.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein temperature profile of the periphery heater is altered for uniformly transferring heat from periphery to core of the substrate.
7. The device claimed in claim 1, wherein the periphery heater is a multi-segmented one.