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WO2025073958A1 - Dispositif de génération d'aérosol à chauffage diélectrique présentant un chauffage diélectrique par zones - Google Patents

Dispositif de génération d'aérosol à chauffage diélectrique présentant un chauffage diélectrique par zones Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2025073958A1
WO2025073958A1 PCT/EP2024/078046 EP2024078046W WO2025073958A1 WO 2025073958 A1 WO2025073958 A1 WO 2025073958A1 EP 2024078046 W EP2024078046 W EP 2024078046W WO 2025073958 A1 WO2025073958 A1 WO 2025073958A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
aerosol
temperature
generating device
forming substrate
dielectric
Prior art date
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Application number
PCT/EP2024/078046
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English (en)
Inventor
Stefan LAUENSTEIN
Oleg Mironov
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Philip Morris Products SA
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Philip Morris Products SA
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Publication of WO2025073958A1 publication Critical patent/WO2025073958A1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/50—Control or monitoring
    • A24F40/57—Temperature control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/46—Dielectric heating
    • H05B6/48—Circuits
    • H05B6/50—Circuits for monitoring or control
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/46—Dielectric heating
    • H05B6/54—Electrodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
    • H05B6/46—Dielectric heating
    • H05B6/62—Apparatus for specific applications

Definitions

  • Dielectric heating aerosol-generating device having a zoned dielectric heating
  • the present invention relates to an aerosol-generating device, and specifically to an aerosolgenerating device configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate by dielectric heating.
  • the present disclosure further relates to a method of dielectrically heating an aerosol-forming substrate by means of an aerosol-generating device, and to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosolgenerating device, and an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate.
  • Known electrically operated aerosol-generating systems typically heat an aerosol-forming substrate by one or more of: conduction of heat from a heating element to an aerosol-forming substrate, radiation of heat from a heating element to an aerosol-forming substrate, or drawing heated air through an aerosol-forming substrate. Most commonly, heating is achieved by passing an electrical current through an electrically resistive heating element, giving rise to Joule heating of the heating element. Inductive heating systems have also been proposed, in which Joule heating occurs as a result of eddy currents induced in a susceptor heating element.
  • the dielectric heating element may be shaped so that in operation an electric field strength has a varying intensity along at least one defined direction.
  • the defined direction may be straight, but may also be meandering or otherwise deviating from a straight line.
  • the travelling heat zone can be achieved in a particularly efficient and reproducible manner.
  • the dielectric heating element may comprise interdigitated or strip electrodes in a flat configuration and separated by at least one gap, wherein in a given direction the width of the gap increases.
  • the dielectric heating element may comprise cylindrical segments or strips forming a cylindrical or tubular heater having a cylindrical axis, wherein the spatially varying profile may change over time in a direction transverse to the cylindrical axis.
  • two substantially flat electrodes may be arranged opposing each other and may have an increasing distance from each other in a direction that is in the plane of the flat aerosol-forming substrate.
  • interdigitated or strip electrodes may be provided in a flat configuration, where in a given direction the gaps between the interdigitated electrodes or strips increase.
  • a delay-line oscillator is a form of electronic oscillator that uses a delay line, or delay element as its principal timing element.
  • a delay-line oscillator may be set to oscillate by inverting the output of the delay line or delay element and feeding that signal back to the input of the delay line or delay element with appropriate amplification.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed so that the oscillation circuit is enabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is below a first threshold value, and the oscillation circuit is disabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is above a second threshold value.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed by controlling the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate in a pulse width modulation, PWM, operation, wherein a ratio of a heating pulse width to a non-heating pulse width may be changed based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • the signal from the temperature determining unit may be compared to a defined set value, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device is performed in response to a result of the comparison, so that a closed loop temperature control is performed.
  • the controller may be operable to provide a first heating power during the preheating phase, the first heating power being higher than a second heating power provided during the puff heating phase.
  • the controller may be operable to provide to the oscillation circuit, during the preheating phase, at least 70% of a maximum supply voltage of the power source, preferably more than 80% of the maximum supply voltage of the power source.
  • the controller may be operable to provide to the oscillation circuit, during the puff heating phase, between 40% and 60% of a maximum supply voltage of the power source, preferably around 50% of the maximum supply voltage of the power source.
  • the temperature determining unit may include a temperature sensor that is operable to capture a temperature of an element of the aerosol-generating device that has dielectric properties.
  • the aerosol-generating article comprising the aerosol-forming substrate may include a plate or surface exposed towards the temperature sensor, the plate or surface having an increased thermal radiation emissivity compared to the rest of the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise a dielectric resonator or antenna for detecting an electric field at the aerosol-forming substrate, and wherein the controller is operable to derive the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate from the detected electric field.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise at least one temperature marker, the temperature marker transitioning from a first physical state into a second physical state when reaching a defined marker temperature.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a flexible low-dielectric carrier film and wherein at least a part of the oscillation circuit is formed on the flexible low-dielectric carrier film.
  • the aerosol-generating device may comprise a temperature determining unit formed on or within the flexible low-dielectric carrier film.
  • the disclosure provides a method of dielectrically heating an aerosol-forming substrate by means of an aerosol-generating device, the method comprising the following steps: dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate by dipole rotation when subjected to an electric field caused by a dielectric heating element, wherein the dielectric heating element is comprised in an oscillation circuit of the aerosol-generating device, the oscillation circuit being fed by a power source; controlling heating of the aerosol-forming substrate by changing a parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the change of the electric field strength directly influences the heating energy and thus the generated temperature.
  • a particularly efficient manner of providing a temperature profile can thereby be achieved.
  • the defined direction may be straight, but may also be meandering or otherwise deviating from a straight line.
  • the controller may be configured to set or control a timely displacement rate of the spatially varying profile to a predetermined value or predetermined curve.
  • Changing of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may comprise increasing a supply voltage to the oscillation circuit.
  • the travelling heat zone can be achieved in a particularly efficient and reproducible manner.
  • the oscillation circuit may comprise a resonant feedback circuit including the dielectric heating element, so that the oscillation circuit is self-resonating.
  • the oscillation unit may comprise a DC-to-AC converter or a stripline oscillator.
  • the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a temperature determining unit for measuring a value indicative of the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the controller is operable for controlling the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate by changing the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise at least two temperature sensors which are arranged distanced away from each other along a defined direction.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may include enabling or disabling the switching unit by respectively making or breaking a connection between the power source and the switching unit.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may include enabling or disabling the switching unit by respectively enabling or disabling the resonant feedback circuit.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may include changing a switching frequency of the switching unit.
  • the voltage control unit may include a DC-DC converter, preferably a boost, buck, halfbridge, or full bridge converter, a voltage regulator, a charge pump circuit, or a combination thereof.
  • the signal from the temperature determining unit may be compared to a defined set value, and wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed in response to a result of the comparison, so that a closed loop temperature control is performed.
  • a maximum supply voltage of the power source preferably around 50% of the maximum supply voltage of the power source, may be provided to the oscillation circuit.
  • the temperature determining unit may include a temperature sensor that is operable to capture a temperature of an element of the aerosol-generating device that has dielectric properties.
  • the temperature determining device may comprise an infrared temperature sensor, an infrared camera, a pyrometer, a pyroelectric sensor, a time-of-flight sensor, or a combination thereof.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise a temperature probe that can penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate, when the aerosol-forming substrate is arranged in operational connection with the dielectric heating element.
  • the temperature determining unit may be operable to determine the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate based on a heating cavity temperature, a DC supply voltage, and/or a DC supply current.
  • the controller may comprise a trained artificial intelligence network for deriving the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise at least one temperature marker, the temperature marker transitioning from a first physical state into a second physical state when reaching a defined marker temperature.
  • the dielectric marker may comprise water and the marker temperature is an evaporation temperature of water.
  • the disclosure provides an aerosol-generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosolgenerating device for dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a power source; an oscillation circuit powered by the power source; a dielectric heating element fed by the oscillation circuit, the dielectric heating element being arranged for heating the aerosol-forming substrate by dipole rotation when subjected to an electric field caused by the dielectric heating element; a controller for controlling heating of the aerosol-forming substrate by changing a parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the dielectric heating element is shaped such that opposing electrodes have a variable, preferably increasing, distance towards each other along a given direction between the two opposing electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to change the parameter to cause a spatially and temporally varying profile of the electric field strength in a space or volume for receiving the aerosolforming substrate along the given direction, wherein the profile changes over time in response to the changing of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device.
  • the dielectric heating element may be formed so that in operation an electric field strength has a varying intensity along at least one defined direction.
  • the spatially varying profile may be such that a predetermined temperature along the spatially varying profile moves in the at least one direction.
  • the change over time of the spatially varying profile may be performed during a heating session for consumption of at least one puff.
  • the dielectric heating element may comprise at least two electrodes arranged to accommodate the aerosol-forming substrate in a heating cavity, the heating cavity defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least two electrodes may have a distance from each other which increases along the longitudinal axis.
  • the at least two electrodes may be arranged opposite to each other, wherein a distance across the longitudinal axis increases linearly from a first end towards a second end.
  • the oscillation circuit may comprise an oscillation unit for controlling the switching unit with a defined switching frequency.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise at least two temperature sensors which are arranged distanced away from each other along a defined direction.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may include enabling or disabling the switching unit by respectively making or breaking a connection between the power source and the switching unit.
  • the voltage control unit may include a DC-DC converter, preferably a boost, buck, halfbridge, or full bridge converter, a voltage regulator, a charge pump circuit, or a combination thereof.
  • the DC supply voltage may be provided as the output voltage of a voltage regulator or of a DC-DC converter.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed so that the oscillation circuit may be enabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is below a first threshold value, and the oscillation circuit may be disabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is above a second threshold value.
  • the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed by controlling the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate in a pulse width modulation, PWM, operation, wherein a ratio of a heating pulse width to a non-heating pulse width may be changed based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • the signal from the temperature determining unit may be compared to a defined set value, and wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device may be performed in response to a result of the comparison, so that a closed loop temperature control is performed.
  • the controller may be operable to control the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to perform, after performing the preheating phase, a puff heating phase where the temperature is maintained at least at a second target temperature.
  • the controller may be operable to provide a first heating power during the preheating phase, the first heating power being higher than a second heating power provided during the puff heating phase.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a solid matrix containing an aerosol former.
  • the dielectric heating element may comprise at least two electrodes that are placed on a dielectric carrier film or material, and wherein the temperature determining unit may be operable to capture the temperature of the dielectric carrier film or material.
  • the temperature determining unit may comprise a thermistor, a resistance-based temperature detector, a thermocouple, a fiber-optic temperature sensor, or a thermopile.
  • the temperature determining unit may be operable to determine the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate based on a heating cavity temperature, a DC supply voltage, and/or a DC supply current.
  • the dielectric marker may comprise water and the marker temperature may be an evaporation temperature of water.
  • the controller may cause dielectric heating of the aerosol-forming substrate that is located between the two electrodes with an average dielectric heating power density in a range between 1W/cm 3 to 25W/cm 3 , preferably between 1.5W/cm 3 and 15W/cm 3 per volume of substrate material during a time period of less than 15 minutes.
  • the average dielectric heating power density may be controlled or set to be in a range between 7W/cm 3 to 25W/cm 3
  • a target heating phase also called maintenance heating phase
  • the average dielectric heating power density is in a range between 1 W/cm 3 to 7W/cm 3 .
  • Example Ex4 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex3, wherein the controller is configured to set or control a timely displacement rate of the spatially varying profile to a predetermined value or predetermined curve.
  • Example Ex6 The aerosol-generating device according to Ex2, wherein the varying intensity is a decreasing intensity gradient along the at least one defined direction.
  • Example Ex7 The aerosol-generating device according to one of Ex1 to Ex6, wherein changing of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device comprises increasing a supply voltage to the oscillation circuit.
  • Example Ex8 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the dielectric heating element comprises at least two electrodes arranged to accommodate the aerosol-forming substrate in a heating cavity, the heating cavity defining a longitudinal axis, wherein the at least two electrodes have a distance from each other which increases along the longitudinal axis.
  • Example Ex10 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the dielectric heating element comprises at least two substantially flat electrodes opposing each other and having an increasing distance from each other in a direction that is in the plane of a flat heating cavity.
  • Example Ex17 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the oscillation circuit comprises an oscillation unit for controlling the switching unit with a defined switching frequency.
  • Example Ex19 The aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding examples, further comprising a temperature determining unit for measuring a value indicative of one or more temperatures of the aerosol-forming substrate; and wherein the controller is operable for controlling the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate by changing the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • Example Ex20 The aerosol-generating device according to Ex19, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises at least two temperature sensors which are arranged distanced away from each other along a defined direction.
  • Example Ex22 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex19 to Ex21 , wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device includes enabling or disabling the switching unit by using a biasing circuit to respectively enable or disable a switching of a transistor of the switching unit by moving the switching unit into an inoperable range of voltage or current.
  • Example Ex23 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex19 to Ex22, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device includes enabling or disabling the switching unit by respectively enabling or disabling a resonant feedback circuit.
  • Example Ex24 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex19 to Ex23, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device includes changing a switching frequency of the switching unit.
  • Example Ex36 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex33 to Ex35, wherein the controller is operable to provide to the oscillation circuit, during the puff heating phase, between 40% and 60% of a maximum supply voltage of the power source, preferably around 50% of the maximum supply voltage of the power source.
  • Example Ex37 The aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex19 to Ex36, wherein the temperature determining unit includes a temperature sensor that is operable to capture a temperature of an element of the aerosol-generating device that has dielectric properties.
  • Example Ex75 The method according to any of Ex65 to Ex74, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device is performed so that the oscillation circuit is enabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is below a first threshold value, and the oscillation circuit is disabled when the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is above a second threshold value.
  • Example Ex76 The method according to any of Ex65 to Ex75, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device is performed by controlling the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate in a pulse width modulation, PWM, operation, wherein a ratio of a heating pulse width to a non-heating pulse width is changed based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • Example Ex77 The method according to any of the Ex65 to Ex76, wherein the signal from the temperature determining unit is compared to a defined set value, and wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device is performed in response to a result of the comparison, so that a closed loop temperature control is performed.
  • Example Ex78 The method according to any of Ex65 to Ex77, wherein the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate is controlled by first applying a preheating phase to reach a first target temperature at which at least one component of the aerosol-forming substrate vaporizes or at which a maintenance heat level is reached.
  • Example Ex79 The method according to Ex78, wherein, after performing the preheating phase, a puff heating phase is performed where the temperature is maintained at least at a second target temperature.
  • Example Ex80 The method according to any of Ex78 or Ex79, wherein a first heating power is provided during the preheating phase, the first heating power being higher than a second heating power provided during the puff heating phase.
  • Example Ex81 The method according to any of Ex78 to Ex80, wherein, during the preheating phase, at least 70% of a maximum supply voltage of the power source, preferably more than 80% of the maximum supply voltage of the power source, is provided to the oscillation circuit.
  • Example Ex84 The method according to any of Ex65 to Ex83, wherein the temperature determining unit includes a temperature sensor that is operable to capture a temperature of an element of the aerosol-generating device that has dielectric properties.
  • Example Ex88 The method according to any of Ex65 to Ex87, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises a non-contact temperature sensor arranged for detecting a heat radiation indicative of the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • Example Ex97 The method according to example Ex96, wherein the temperature marker comprises a magnetic susceptor having a Curie temperature defining the marker temperature, wherein a magnetic characteristic of the temperature marker changes when reaching the marker temperature.
  • Example Ex98 The method according to example Ex96, wherein the temperature marker comprises a dielectric marker, the dielectric marker changing a dielectric characteristic when reaching the marker temperature.
  • Example Ex101 The aerosol-generating system according to Ex100, wherein the dielectric heating element is formed so that in operation an electric field strength has a varying intensity along at least one defined direction.
  • Example Ex103 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex100 to Ex102, wherein the controller is configured to set or control a timely displacement rate of the spatially varying profile to a predetermined value or predetermined curve.
  • Example Ex104 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex100 to Ex103, wherein the change over time of the spatially varying profile is performed during a heating session for consumption of at least one puff.
  • Example Ex106 The aerosol-generating system according to one of the Ex100 to Ex105, wherein changing of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device comprises increasing a supply voltage to the oscillation circuit.
  • Example Ex109 The aerosol-generating system according to any of the Ex100 to Ex108, wherein the dielectric heating element comprises at least two substantially flat electrodes opposing each other and having an increasing distance from each other in a direction that is in the plane of a flat heating cavity.
  • Example Ex112 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex100 to Ex111, wherein the dielectric heating element comprises cylindrical segments or strips forming a cylindrical or tubular heater having a cylindrical axis, and wherein the spatially varying profile changes over time in a direction transverse to the cylindrical axis.
  • Example Ex113 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex107 or Ex108, wherein the at least two electrodes are arranged opposite to each other, wherein a distance across the longitudinal axis increases linearly from a first end towards a second end.
  • Example Ex119 The aerosol-generating system according to Ex118, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises at least two temperature sensors which are arranged distanced away from each other along a defined direction.
  • Example Ex121 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex120, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device includes enabling or disabling the switching unit by using a biasing circuit to respectively enable or disable a switching of a transistor of the switching unit by moving the switching unit into an inoperable range of voltage or current.
  • Example Ex127 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex124 to Ex126, wherein the DC supply voltage is provided as the output voltage of a voltage regulator or of a DC- DC converter.
  • Example Ex129 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex128, wherein the change of the parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device is performed by controlling the heating of the aerosol-forming substrate in a pulse width modulation, PWM, operation, wherein a ratio of a heating pulse width to a non-heating pulse width is changed based on a signal from the temperature determining unit.
  • PWM pulse width modulation
  • Example Ex131 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex130, wherein the controller is operable to control the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate by first applying a preheating phase to reach a first target temperature at which at least one component of the aerosol-forming substrate vaporizes or at which a maintenance heat level is reached.
  • Example Ex143 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex142, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises a thermistor, a resistance-based temperature detector, a thermocouple, a fiber-optic temperature sensor, or a thermopile.
  • the temperature determining unit comprises a thermistor, a resistance-based temperature detector, a thermocouple, a fiber-optic temperature sensor, or a thermopile.
  • Example Ex144 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex138, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises a non-contact temperature sensor arranged for detecting a heat radiation indicative of the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate.
  • Example Ex145 The aerosol-generating system according to Ex144, wherein the temperature determining device comprises an infrared temperature sensor, an infrared camera, a pyrometer, a pyroelectric sensor, a time-of-flight sensor, or a combination thereof.
  • Example Ex147 The aerosol-generating system according to any of the Ex118 to Ex146, wherein the temperature determining unit comprises a temperature probe arranged for penetrating the aerosol-forming substrate, when the aerosol-forming substrate is arranged in operational connection with the dielectric heating element.
  • Example Ex152 The aerosol-generating system according to any of Ex118 to Ex151 , wherein the temperature determining unit comprises at least one temperature marker, the temperature marker transitioning from a first physical state into a second physical state when reaching a defined marker temperature.
  • An aerosol-generating system comprising: an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, and an aerosol-generating device for dielectrically heating the aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a power source; an oscillation circuit powered by the power source; a dielectric heating element fed by the oscillation circuit, the dielectric heating element being arranged for heating the aerosol-forming substrate by dipole rotation when subjected to an electric field caused by the dielectric heating element; a controller for controlling heating of the aerosol-forming substrate by changing a parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device; wherein the dielectric heating element is shaped such that opposing electrodes have a variable, preferably increasing, distance towards each other along a given direction between the two opposing electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to change the parameter to cause a spatially and temporally varying profile of the electric field strength at in a space or volume for receiving the aerosol-forming substrate along the given direction, wherein the profile changes over time in response to the changing of the parameter or configuration
  • Figure 4 illustrates an oscillation circuit diagram according to embodiments of the disclosure
  • Figure 6 illustrates a frequency analyzer plot of a parallel resonant circuit showing the effect of the switching frequency on the phase shift and impedance of a parallel resonant circuit
  • FIGS 8A-D are isometric and schematic illustrations of flat interdigitated electrode arrangements for use in the oscillation circuit of Figures 2 to 4, according to embodiments of the disclosure;
  • Figure 19 is a schematic illustration of a control system utilizing a temperature sensing system for controlling the power delivered to an aerosol-forming substrate based on a detected aerosol-forming substrate temperature;
  • Figure 20 is a schematic illustration of a control system utilizing a temperature sensing system for controlling the power delivered to an aerosol-forming substrate based on a detected aerosol-forming substrate temperature, according to a further embodiment of the disclosure
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a dielectric heating aerosol-generating system 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.
  • the system 100 comprises an article 105 comprising an aerosol-forming substrate 110 and an aerosol-generating device 120 for heating the aerosolforming substrate 110.
  • the aerosol-generating device 120 comprises a first electrode 130 and a second electrode 135 separated by a cavity 140 for receiving the article 105.
  • the cavity 140 and the article 105 are sized such that the aerosol-forming substrate 110 is in contact with or in close proximity to both the first electrode 130 and the second electrode 135 when received within the cavity 140.
  • the first electrode 130 and the second electrode 135 form part of a feedback loop of an oscillation circuit 150 via a first and second electrical contact 160, 165.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate 110 may comprise tobacco-based or non-tobacco based materials having an aerosol forming material therein and one or more active agents or ingredients, such as nicotine, pharmaceutical, botanicals, flavorants, liquid substrates with one or more active agents or ingredients, or a combination thereof.
  • the aerosol-forming substrate 110 can also be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and thereby the aerosol-forming article 105 can be in the form of a cartridge, capsule, or liquid container, and the electrodes 130, 135 can be configured as a wicking element or capillary element for liquid transfer.
  • the aerosolgenerating device 120 is activated by a user pressing an activation button (not shown) that can be provided on an external surface of the aerosol-generating device 120. It will be appreciated that in other embodiments, the aerosol-generating device 120 may be activated in another manner, such as on detection of a user drawing on a mouthpiece (not shown) by a puff sensor provided on the mouthpiece, or a user holding the aerosol-generating device 120.
  • the oscillation circuit 150 When power is supplied to the oscillation circuit 150, the oscillation circuit 150 generates an alternating electric field across the first and second electrodes 130, 135 to dielectrically heat the aerosol-forming substrate 110 in the cavity 140, releasing volatile compounds.
  • feedback loop 270 includes a resonant circuit 272 comprising the load capacitor CL providing for a first 90° phase shift or quarter wave shift to the feedback signal.
  • Feedback loop 270 further includes a capacitive element 274 providing for a second 90°-phase shift or quarter wave shift to the feedback signal, such that the feedback signal reaching the input of the switching unit 260 is inverted and phase-shifted by 180°.
  • Switching unit 260 is itself configured for inverted switching operation to provide a 180-phase shift between the input UIN and the output UOUT of the switching unit 260.
  • the resonant circuit 272 including resonant cavity can have any shape, but preferably has a cylindrical shape or a rectangular parallelepiped shape.
  • the resonant cavity can be configured as a split-ring resonator.
  • capacitor Ci the feedback loop with resonant circuit 272 and capacitive element 274 can also be described as a bandpass filter or Pi or TT network that generates a 180- phase shift.
  • the resonant circuit 272 of the feedback loop 270 is not connected to ground, but is suspended with ends at each capacitor Ci and C2, thereby not having a direct ground connection at either end of resonant circuit 272, reducing stray elements and ground influences for more predictable operation.
  • the resonant circuit 272 including load capacitor CL acts as an inductive load providing a first 90° phase shift, also referred to as a quarter-wave phase shift, and capacitive element 274 exemplarily including a high quality factor capacitor C2 connected to ground, provides for the second 90° phase shift or quarter-wave phase shift.
  • one branch of the parallel resonator circuit PRC comprises an inductor LTOT and the load capacitor CL connected in series of the first branch.
  • This branch can be improved by splitting LTOT into two inductors Li and L2 on each side of the load capacitor CL, as shown in Figure 5D, to provide a split inductor or split-coil design and a more symmetric application of the voltage UL across the load capacitor CL, thereby improving dielectric heating efficiency.
  • the capacitor CE of the second branch can be replaced with an inductor (as shown in Figure 5F) due to capacitor CE‘S minimal capacitive effect on CL.
  • inductors Li and L2 can be mutually magnetically coupled to form a mutual inductance M, thereby forming the parallel circuit branch or second branch of the resonant circuit 272, as shown in Figure 5E.
  • the mutual magnetic coupling can be achieved by the close proximity of the two inductors Li and L2 with alignment of winding axis of the coils, or by use of a mutual magnetic core, or both. This has the advantage of providing a parallel-resonator circuit PRC without the use of additional wires for the second branch, and without additional windings or separate magnetic cores for a second parallelly-arranged inductor.
  • This split inductor principle can also be referred to as a split coil resonator.
  • the resonant circuit 272 could also be implemented as shown in the Figure 5F, where the mutual inductance M (seen two times due to the mutuality) is replaced by a separate inductive element, for example inductor LE.
  • the resonant circuit 272 can be configured as another type of tank circuit providing for the 90- phase shift in a given frequency range.
  • the resonant circuit 272 can be implemented as a series resonant circuit, having the load capacitor CL connected in series with one or more inductive elements, configured to provide for an inductive response or 90°- phase shift in a given frequency range that is suitable for dielectric heating.
  • a decreasing efficiency occurs with increasing switching frequency f s
  • an exponentially increasing transistor price is the consequence of an increased switching frequency f s to ensure operability
  • a decreasing electric field strength occurs with increasing switching frequency f s .
  • FIG. 6 shows a frequency analyzer plot of an exemplary resonant circuit 272, specifically a plot of a parallel resonator circuit PRC showing the relationship between the oscillation frequency (with a series resonance at 855 MHz and a parallel resonance at 1.246 GHz), the phase shift across the PRC (with a relatively flat inductive 90° frequency response between the two resonant frequencies) and the effective impedance of the PRC.
  • the delay caused by the delay line DL that acts on feedback loop 270 is in a range between 35% and 90% of a difference between the period of the parallel resonance frequency f PAR and the period of the series resonance frequency fsER, again providing that the above two conditions (i) and (ii) are fulfilled, more preferably a range between 50% and 85%.
  • a parallel resonance frequency is at 1.25GHz, therefore having a period of 800ps (picoseconds), and a series resonance is at 855MHZ, and therefore a period of 1169ps, there is a difference of 369ps between the period of f PAR and fsER.
  • Figure 7B illustrates an alternative split coil resonator arrangement, wherein instead of one full loop coil for Li and L2, an omega-shaped loop is used.
  • Other winding shapes are also possible while providing substantially the same functionality.
  • FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate electrode arrangements comprising a pair of electrode plates 130, 135 aligned in parallel, however other electrode arrangements are also possible.
  • the heating energy applied to the substrate to be heated, and consequently also the temperature, will also decrease in this direction.
  • a power supplied to the heater for example by increasing a DC supply voltage
  • the electrodes of the heating element are shaped so that by changing a parameter or configuration of the aerosol-generating device, such as the DC supply voltage, a travelling of an isotherm can be achieved.
  • This travelling heating zone leads to a more homogenous composition of the generated aerosol over time because not all the substrate is heated to a particular temperature at once. This is particularly advantageous when different ingredients are present in the substrate, which have different evaporation temperatures. For instance, menthol evaporates at 160°C, water at 100°C.
  • the varying temperature profile is a result of the temporally and spatially varying electric field strength.
  • the dielectric heating element is shaped such that opposing electrodes have a variable, preferably increasing, distance towards each other along a given direction between the two opposing electrodes, wherein the controller is configured to change the parameter to cause a spatially and temporally varying profile of the electric field strength in a space or volume for receiving the aerosol-forming substrate along the given direction, wherein the spatially varying profile changes over time in response to the changing of the parameter or configuration of the aerosolgenerating device.
  • the heating power e.g. a supply voltage or a switching frequency
  • the portion of the substrate S that is first depleted from aerosol-former can act as a filter for the aerosol generated thereafter, for example by portion of the substrate (HZ2) that is further upstream.
  • the upstream side would be the bottom end, while the downstream side would be the upper end.
  • the substrate S could be either a flat- long itudi nally shaped substrate or a cylindrical stick, or have other shapes that define an extension along an airflow path.
  • the distance between the electrodes E1 and E2 can change logarithmically to compensate for the exponential change of heating power with the distance between the electrodes E1 and E2.
  • Figures 14A and 14B illustrate the principle according to the present disclosure applied to a cylindrical or tubular aerosol-forming substrate 110.
  • a first alternating voltage ULI is applied between the electrodes Ei , E2 at a first instant of time and at a following instant of time, a second alternating voltage Ui_2 is applied between the electrodes E1 and E2, ULI being smaller than Ui_2.
  • a given electric field strength value moves radially inwards towards the inner core of the aerosol-forming substrate 110, such that the penetration depth of the heat zone HZ1 to HZ2 towards an inner core of the aerosol-forming substrate 110 is expanded.
  • the isotherm travels in a direction across to the radial axis over time.
  • the heating power per volume of substrate material [W/cm 3 ] depends on the electric field strength, but also linearly depends on the dielectric constant of the substrate material that is heated.
  • An aerosol-forming substrate 110 includes usually high dielectric aerosol-former, such as but not limited to glycerine and sometimes polypropylene glycol (PPG).
  • the dielectric constant of the substrate 110 may therefore have a high dielectric constant value of exemplarily 10 or more when it is in the unconsumed state, and the dielectric constant of the substrate 110 may decrease to less than 3 upon heating and depletion. Therefore, with the given exemplary and non-limiting numerical example, the heating power per volume can decrease by a factor 3 or more for a given volume of substrate material.
  • the temperature sensor 1950 may comprise a sensor which either penetrates or is physically coupled to the surface of the aerosol-forming substrate, as illustrated in Figure 16.
  • Another way to capture a value indicative of the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate 110 is by measuring the temperature of the insulation/substrate material on which the electrode arrangement is placed.
  • a first example of a temperature marker comprises a susceptor material with a particular Curie temperature.
  • the Curie temperature may be between about 200°C and about 450°C, preferably between about 240°C and about 400°C, for example about 280°C.
  • one way to measure the temperature is by using a non-contact sensor (such as a near infrared sensor (NIR)), to capture heat radiation from the aerosol-forming substrate 110, or from a plate/device 1890 at the aerosol-forming substrate 110 material that increases or homogenizes the heat radiation and has greater thermal conductive properties than the aerosol-forming substrate 110.
  • a non-contact sensor such as a near infrared sensor (NIR)
  • NIR near infrared sensor
  • the biasing voltage of the switching unit can be manipulated to put the transistor outside of a range where oscillation occurs. Either the biasing or DC voltage, or the DC supply voltage could be increased or lowered, to increase or lower the heating power delivered to the load capacitor CL until a measured temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate reaches a target temperature or is within a target temperature range.
  • the biasing voltage could be moved to put the switching unit 260 outside of a range where oscillation happens with the biasing or DC voltage, or the DC supply voltage could be increased or lowered, to thereby increase or lower the heating power at the load capacitor CL to control the temperature based on a measured value, in comparison to a desired set value.
  • a first stage is a stage where the substrate temperature is ramped up as fast as possible. This stage may also be called a pre-heating phase. Then, a second stage follows at which the delivered power is reduced. This phase may be referred to as a puff heating phase. In some examples, this phase is also called target heating phase or maintenance heating phase.
  • an oscillation unit may be coupled to a switching unit or buffer to convert a DC supply voltage to an AC signal fed to a resonant or quasi-resonant load circuit comprising the load capacitor.
  • the system may utilize one or more of resonant antennas, microstrips, waveguides, for high-frequency sensing.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un dispositif de génération d'aérosol, et plus particulièrement un dispositif de génération d'aérosol conçu pour chauffer un substrat de formation d'aérosol par chauffage diélectrique. L'invention concerne un dispositif de génération d'aérosol destiné à chauffer diélectriquement un substrat de formation d'aérosol. Le dispositif de génération d'aérosol comprend une source d'alimentation ; un circuit d'oscillation alimenté par la source d'alimentation ; un élément chauffant diélectrique alimenté par le circuit d'oscillation, l'élément chauffant diélectrique étant conçu pour chauffer diélectriquement le substrat de formation d'aérosol par rotation dipolaire lorsqu'il est soumis à un champ électrique provoqué par l'élément chauffant diélectrique ; et un dispositif de commande destiné à commander le chauffage du substrat de formation d'aérosol par modification d'un paramètre ou d'une configuration du dispositif de génération d'aérosol. L'élément chauffant diélectrique est formé de telle sorte que des électrodes opposées aient une distance variable, de préférence croissante, l'une vers l'autre le long d'une direction donnée entre les deux électrodes opposées. Le dispositif de commande est conçu pour modifier le paramètre pour provoquer un profil variable dans l'espace et dans le temps de l'intensité de champ électrique dans un espace ou un volume destiné à recevoir le substrat de formation d'aérosol le long de la direction donnée. Le profil variable dans l'espace change dans le temps en réponse à la modification du paramètre ou de la configuration du dispositif de génération d'aérosol.
PCT/EP2024/078046 2023-10-05 2024-10-04 Dispositif de génération d'aérosol à chauffage diélectrique présentant un chauffage diélectrique par zones Pending WO2025073958A1 (fr)

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Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015177294A1 (fr) 2014-05-21 2015-11-26 Philip Morris Products S.A. Article de production d'aérosol avec suscepteur multi-matériaux
WO2018041924A1 (fr) 2016-09-01 2018-03-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. Ensemble suscepteur et article de génération d'aérosol le comprenant
KR101951762B1 (ko) * 2017-03-31 2019-02-25 (주)엔피홀딩스 액체가열장치
WO2020064686A1 (fr) 2018-09-25 2020-04-02 Philip Morris Products S.A. Ensemble chauffant et procédé de chauffage par induction d'un substrat de formation d'aérosol
WO2020079811A1 (fr) * 2018-10-18 2020-04-23 三菱電機株式会社 Appareil de chauffage par induction
CN114424845A (zh) * 2022-02-24 2022-05-03 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 一种分段控温的烟具加热方法、装置及电子设备
WO2022184786A1 (fr) * 2021-03-02 2022-09-09 Philip Morris Products S.A. Système de génération d'aérosol chauffé diélectriquement avec élément chauffant segmenté
GB2607062A (en) * 2021-05-27 2022-11-30 Dyson Technology Ltd A hair styling appliance
WO2023173813A1 (fr) * 2022-03-17 2023-09-21 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 Structure de génération d'aérosol à chauffage diélectrique ayant une plaque d'électrode en peigne

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2015177294A1 (fr) 2014-05-21 2015-11-26 Philip Morris Products S.A. Article de production d'aérosol avec suscepteur multi-matériaux
WO2018041924A1 (fr) 2016-09-01 2018-03-08 Philip Morris Products S.A. Ensemble suscepteur et article de génération d'aérosol le comprenant
KR101951762B1 (ko) * 2017-03-31 2019-02-25 (주)엔피홀딩스 액체가열장치
WO2020064686A1 (fr) 2018-09-25 2020-04-02 Philip Morris Products S.A. Ensemble chauffant et procédé de chauffage par induction d'un substrat de formation d'aérosol
WO2020079811A1 (fr) * 2018-10-18 2020-04-23 三菱電機株式会社 Appareil de chauffage par induction
WO2022184786A1 (fr) * 2021-03-02 2022-09-09 Philip Morris Products S.A. Système de génération d'aérosol chauffé diélectriquement avec élément chauffant segmenté
GB2607062A (en) * 2021-05-27 2022-11-30 Dyson Technology Ltd A hair styling appliance
CN114424845A (zh) * 2022-02-24 2022-05-03 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 一种分段控温的烟具加热方法、装置及电子设备
WO2023173813A1 (fr) * 2022-03-17 2023-09-21 湖北中烟工业有限责任公司 Structure de génération d'aérosol à chauffage diélectrique ayant une plaque d'électrode en peigne

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