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EP-4312619-B1 - AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH PHOTONIC HEATING MEANS

EP4312619B1EP 4312619 B1EP4312619 B1EP 4312619B1EP-4312619-B1

Inventors

  • CAPELLI, Sébastien
  • EMMETT, Robert William
  • GONZALEZ FLOREZ, Ana Isabel

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20220324

Claims (13)

  1. An aerosol-generating device comprising, a heating chamber (10) for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate (36), and a heater assembly for heating the aerosol-forming substrate (36), wherein the heater assembly comprises a photonic device (12) configured for generating a beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation, wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured for heating the aerosol-forming substrate (36) by directing the beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation onto the aerosol-forming substrate (36), wherein the heating chamber (10) is arranged between the photonic device (12) and a mouth-end of the aerosol-generating device with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, wherein the heating chamber (10) comprises a first side wall (10a) parallel to a longitudinal axis of the heating chamber (10), and a second side wall (10b) arranged in perpendicular to the first side wall (10a), wherein the surface of the first side wall (10a) is larger than the surface of the second side wall (10b), and wherein the aerosol-generating device is configured for heating the aerosol-forming substrate (36) by directing the beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation through at least a portion of the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10) and towards the aerosol-forming substrate (36).
  2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, comprising a beam (32) guiding means for directing the beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation towards the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10).
  3. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 2, wherein the beam (32) guiding means comprises a reflective surface arranged to deflect an incident beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation towards the heating chamber (10).
  4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the reflective surface is arranged on an inclined wall of the aerosol-generating device, wherein the inclined wall is inclined at an angle smaller than 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device, and wherein the inclined wall is arranged coaxially around the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10), preferably, wherein the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10) comprises an IR transparent material (28).
  5. The aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the beam guiding means comprises an IR reflecting material (30).
  6. The aerosol-generating device according to according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an airflow path (26) extending through the heating chamber (10) in a direction parallel to the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10).
  7. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of the first side wall (10a) of the heating chamber (10) comprises a window (38) being substantially transparent for the beam (32) of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the photonic device (12), preferably, wherein the window (38) is located at a distal end of the heating chamber (10).
  8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, wherein the window (38) comprises one or more of fused silica, lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, calcium fluoride, barium fluoride, silicon, germanium, copper, zinc selenide, and sapphire.
  9. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the photonic device (12) comprises an IR laser diode.
  10. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a cooling system (14) for cooling the photonic device (12), wherein the cooling system (14) comprises an airflow path extending from an air inlet (22) to the heating chamber (10) past the photonic device (12).
  11. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of a wall of the heating chamber (10) comprises an IR blocking material, preferably, wherein the IR blocking material is located at a proximal end of the heating chamber (10) with respect to a longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.
  12. The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or both of an inner side of a wall of the heating chamber (10) and an inner side of a wall of the aerosol-generating device comprises or is coated with an IR reflecting material (30).
  13. An aerosol-generating system, comprising the aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims and an aerosol-generating article comprising the aerosol-forming substrate (36), wherein the aerosol-generating article is configured to be at least partly inserted into the heating chamber (10).

Description

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor. Such devices may heat an aerosol-forming substrate contained in an aerosol-generating article without burning the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article may have a shape suitable for insertion of the aerosol-generating article into a heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device. For example, the aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape. A heating element may be arranged in or around the heating chamber for heating the aerosol-forming substrate once the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device. It is known to heat the aerosol-forming substrate by heating a surface which is in thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. The heat from the heated surface is transferred to the aerosol-forming substrate by means of heat conduction. This often requires an intimate physical contact between the heated surface and the aerosol-forming substrate. Generally, residues generated from a heated aerosol-forming substrate may accumulate on heated surfaces contacting the substrate. Document WO 2019/138055 A1 relates to an aerosol-generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element arranged to heat an aerosol-forming substrate when the aerosol-forming substrate is received by the aerosol-generating device. The heating element comprises a plurality of metallic nanoparticles arranged to receive light from a light source and generate heat by surface plasmon resonance. Document DE 4328243C1 relates to a device for inhaling an inhalable substance including a reservoir and a radiation heating appliance. Document US 2020/390155 A1 pertains to a laser heater assembly for a vaporizer including a power source, a laser source, a lens, and a reaction chamber. Document WO 2020/148214 A1 concerns a cartridge for a radiation heated aerosol-generating device. Document US 2019/142071 A1 relates to a modularized vaporizer, which enables a fuel module, a heating module, or a vaporizing module to be coupled and separated, in a drawer manner, to and from a body portion housing since a fuel module chamber, a heating module chamber, or a vaporizing module chamber is provided in the body portion housing. It would be desirable to have an aerosol-generating device that may heat the aerosol-forming substrate in a contactless manner. It would be desirable to have an aerosol-generating device that may heat the aerosol-forming substrate without having a heated surface physically contacting the aerosol-forming substrate. It would be desirable to have an aerosol-generating device that may heat the aerosol-forming substrate with less residue accumulation. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device having only low thermal mass to be heated. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that can be quickly heated. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that allows for the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to quickly respond to a change in the heating protocol. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device with low thermal hysteresis effects. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that efficiently heats the substrate. It would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device that allows for the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to quickly respond to a change of the target temperature. According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device according to claim 1. The incident beam of electromagnetic radiation may enter the heating chamber, for example, via a transparent portion of the first side wall, or via an opening in the first side wall. Upon the electromagnetic radiation, the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate may rise up to a temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate required in the process of aerosol formation. The aerosol-generating device may be configured for heating the aerosol-forming substrate by directing the beam of electromagnetic radiation to the aerosol-forming substrate, or onto the aerosol-forming substrate. The beam of electromagnetic radiation directed to or onto the aerosol-forming substrate may at least partly penetrate into the aerosol-forming substrate. As used herein, the terms 'surface of the first side wall' and 'surface of the second side wall' refer to the respective areas, or surface areas, of the side walls. The area of the first side wall exceeds the area of the second side wall. For example, the heating chamber may have the shape of an elongated cylinder resembling to some extent the shape of a traditional cigaret