AN AEROSOL-GENERATOR COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ATOMISERS

Abstract

An aerosol-generator for an aerosol-generating device is provided, the aerosol-generator including: a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, each surface acoustic wave atomiser including: a substrate including an active surface, and at least one transducer disposed on the active surface of the substrate to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface; an atomisation region defined between the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers; and a supply element arranged to supply a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region. An aerosol-generating device including the aerosol-generator is also provided.

Claims

1-17- (canceled)

18. An aerosol-generator for an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generator comprising: a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, each surface acoustic wave atomiser comprising: a substrate comprising an active surface, and at least one transducer disposed on the active surface of the substrate and being configured to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface; an atomisation region defined between the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers; and a supply element arranged to supply a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region.

19. The aerosol-generator according to claim 18, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers abut each other to define an opening bounded by the substrates, and wherein the opening forms the atomisation region.

20. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein each of the at least one transducers is configured to generate surface acoustic waves in a direction towards the opening.

21. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein each of the substrates has a planar shape.

22. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers are disposed in a common plane.

23. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers are disposed in a non-coplanar arrangement with respect to each other.

24. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers are arranged to form a polyhedral shape.

25. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers comprises at least three surface acoustic wave atomisers.

26. The aerosol-generator according to claim 25, wherein each of the substrates has an isosceles trapezoidal prismatic shape.

27. The aerosol-generator according to claim 26, wherein each of the active surfaces of the substrates has an isosceles trapezoidal shape, and wherein shortest edges of each of the isosceles trapezoidal shapes together define the opening.

28. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein an edge portion of each of the substrates partially defines the opening, and wherein each edge portion has a square profile, a rounded profile, a triangular profile, or a bevelled profile.

29. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein the supply element comprises a capillary wick extending into the atomisation region.

30. The aerosol-generator according to claim 18, wherein each of the substrates comprises a passive surface opposite the active surface, and wherein the supply element comprises a groove formed in the passive surface of at least one of the substrates, the groove having an end in fluid communication with the atomisation region.

31. The aerosol-generator according to claim 30, wherein the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers further comprises a first surface acoustic wave atomiser comprising a first substrate and a second surface acoustic wave atomiser comprising a second substrate, wherein the first substrate overlies the second substrate so that the passive surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate are in contact with each other, wherein the supply element comprises a first groove formed in the passive surface of the first substrate and a second groove formed in the passive surface of the second substrate, and wherein the first groove and the second groove overlie each other to form a channel in fluid communication with the atomisation region.

32. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: an aerosol-generator according to claim 18; a controller configured to control the at least one transducer of each surface acoustic wave atomiser; a power supply; and a liquid storage portion configured to receive a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the supply element is arranged to supply liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the atomisation region.

33. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 32, further comprising a device housing, wherein the aerosol-generator is disposed within the device housing, and wherein the device housing defines at least one air inlet disposed upstream of the atomisation region and at least one air outlet disposed downstream of the atomisation region.

34. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 33, wherein each of the substrates has a planar shape, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers are disposed in a non-coplanar arrangement with respect to each other, and wherein the aerosol-generator is arranged within the device housing to define an airflow pathway extending between at least one of the planar substrates and a portion of the device housing.

35. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 33, wherein each of the substrates has a planar shape, wherein the substrates of the plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers are arranged to form a polyhedral shape, and wherein the aerosol-generator is arranged within the device housing to define an airflow pathway extending between at least one of the planar substrates and a portion of the device housing.

Description

[0124] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0125] FIG. 1 shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0126] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 1 taken along line 1-1;

[0127] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the channel of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 1;

[0128] FIG. 4 shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0129] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the channel of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 4;

[0130] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device comprising the aerosol-generator of FIGS. 4 and 5;

[0131] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an aerosol-generator according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0132] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of an aerosol-generating device comprising the aerosol-generator of FIG. 7;

[0133] FIG. 9a shows a side view of an aerosol-generator according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0134] FIG. 9b shows a top view of a surface acoustic wave atomiser of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 9a;

[0135] FIG. 9c shows a rear view of the surface acoustic wave atomiser of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 9a;

[0136] FIG. 10a shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0137] FIG. 10b shows a perspective view of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 10a.

[0138] FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 show an aerosol-generator 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 100 comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, in the form of a first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 and a second acoustic wave atomiser 103. The aerosol-generator 100 further comprises an atomisation region 104 and a supply element 105 for supplying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region 104.

[0139] The first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 comprises a substrate 106 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 107 arranged on an active surface 108 of the substrate 106. The transducer 107 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 comprises a first array of electrodes 109 and a second array of electrodes 110 interleaved with the first array of electrodes 109. The first and second arrays of electrodes 109, 110 are linear and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 107 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 108 of the substrate 106. The linear shape of the first and second arrays of electrodes 109, 110 results in surface acoustic waves having a linear wavefront directed towards the atomisation region 104.

[0140] The second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103 comprises a substrate 111 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 112 arranged on an active surface 113 of the substrate 111. The transducer 112 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103 comprises a first array of electrodes 114 and a second array of electrodes 115 interleaved with the first array of electrodes 114. The first and second arrays of electrodes 114, 115 are linear and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 112 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 113 of the substrate 111. The linear shape of the first and second arrays of electrodes 114, 115 results in surface acoustic waves having a linear wavefront directed towards the atomisation region 104.

[0141] The substrates 106, 111 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 102, 103 are arranged to abut each other at one end, and are secured together with adhesive (not shown). Where the substrates 106, 111 abut each other, the substrates 106, 111 define an opening in the active surfaces 108, 113, which forms the atomisation region 104. In this embodiment, each of the substrates 106, 111 has a planar shape, and the substrates 106, 111 are arranged in a common plane, as shown in FIG. 2. The first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 102, 103 are substantially identical, and are oriented in opposing directions, such that the first acoustic wave atomiser 102 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 108 in a first direction towards the atomisation region 104, and the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 113 in a second direction towards the atomisation region, the second direction being parallel and opposite to the first direction.

[0142] The supply element 105 is arranged between the substrates 106, 111 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 102, 103, and the supply element 105 comprises a channel 116 extending through the substrates 106, 111. An inlet 117 of the channel 116 is formed between a passive surface 118 of the substrate 106 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 and a passive surface 119 of the substrate 111 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103. An outlet 120 of the channel 116 is formed between the active surface 108 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 and the active surface 113 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 103. In this embodiment, the outlet 120 has a square shape, with an axis parallel to the first and second directions. The channel 116 extends between the inlet 117 and the outlet 120. The outlet 120 is positioned within the atomisation region 104. During use, a liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the atomisation region 104 through the channel 116, where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the first and second transducers 107, 112.

[0143] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the channel 116 has a cross-sectional area that varies in a direction from the inlet 117 to the outlet 120. In particular, the channel 116 has a curved wedge shape so that the cross-sectional area of the channel 116 increases in the direction from the inlet 117 to the outlet 120. The smaller cross-sectional area of the channel 116 at the inlet 117 facilitates control of the flow rate of liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the channel 116. The larger cross-sectional area of the channel 116 at the outlet 120 provides a larger surface area of liquid aerosol-forming substrate at the atomisation region 104 to facilitate atomisation of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. A curved transition is provided between the active surfaces 108, 113 and the channel 116, which facilitates the transfer of energy from the surface acoustic waves to the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the atomisation region 104.

[0144] FIGS. 4 and 5 show an aerosol-generator 200 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 200 comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, in the form of a first surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 and a second acoustic wave atomiser 203. The aerosol-generator 200 further comprises an atomisation region 204 and a supply element 205 for supplying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region 204.

[0145] The first surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 comprises a substrate 206 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 207 arranged on an active surface 208 of the substrate 206. The transducer 207 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 comprises a first array of electrodes 209 and a second array of electrodes 210 interleaved with the first array of electrodes 209. The first and second arrays of electrodes 209, 210 are curved and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 207 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 208 of the substrate 206. The curved shape of the first and second arrays of electrodes 209, 210 results in surface acoustic waves having a concave wavefront focussed towards the atomisation region 204.

[0146] The second surface acoustic wave atomiser 203 comprises a substrate 211 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 212 arranged on an active surface 213 of the substrate 211. The transducer 212 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 203 comprises a first array of electrodes 214 and a second array of electrodes 215 interleaved with the first array of electrodes 214. The first and second arrays of electrodes 214, 215 are curved and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 212 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 213 of the substrate 211. The curved shape of the first and second arrays of electrodes 214, 215 results in surface acoustic waves having a concave wavefront focussed towards the atomisation region 204.

[0147] The substrates 206, 211 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 202, 203 are arranged to abut each other at one end, and are secured together with adhesive (not shown). Where the substrates 206, 211 abut each other, the substrates 206, 211 define an opening in the active surfaces 208, 213, which forms the atomisation region 204. In this embodiment, each of the substrates 206, 211 has a planar shape, and the substrates 206, 211 are arranged in a common plane. The first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 202, 203 are substantially identical, and are oriented in opposing directions, such that the first acoustic wave atomiser 202 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 208 in a first direction towards the atomisation region 204, and the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 203 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 213 in a second direction towards the atomisation region, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.

[0148] The supply element 205 is arranged between the substrates 206, 211 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 202, 203, and the supply element 205 comprises a channel 216 extending through the substrates 206, 211. An inlet 217 of the channel 216 is formed between a passive surface 218 of the substrate 206 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 and a passive surface 219 of the substrate 211 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 203. An outlet 220 of the channel 216 is formed between the active surface 208 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 and the active surface 213 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 203. In this embodiment, the outlet 220 has a circular shape, with a centre that is the focal point of the concave wavefronts of the surface acoustic waves generated by the transducers 207, 212. The channel 216 extends between the inlet 217 and the outlet 220. The outlet 220 is positioned within the atomisation region 204. During use, a liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the atomisation region 204 through the channel 216, where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the first and second transducers 207, 212.

[0149] As shown in FIG. 5, the channel 216 has a cross-sectional area that varies in a direction from the inlet 217 to the outlet 220. In particular, the channel 216 has a curved funnel shape so that the cross-sectional area of the channel 216 increases in the direction from the inlet 217 to the outlet 220. A curved transition is also provided between the active surfaces 208, 213 and the channel 216.

[0150] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device 300 comprising the aerosol-generator 200. The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a liquid storage portion 302 containing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 304, and a flow control element 306 comprising a micro-pump. The micro-pump is arranged to supply the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 304 from the liquid storage portion 302 to the inlet 217 of the aerosol-generator 200.

[0151] The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a power supply 308 comprising a rechargeable battery, and a controller 310. The controller 310 is configured to provide control signals to the flow control element 306 to control a flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 304 from the liquid storage portion 302 to the inlet 320 of the aerosol-generator 200. The controller 310 is also configured to supply an electrical current from the power supply 308 to the aerosol-generator 200 to drive the first and second transducers 207, 212.

[0152] The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a housing 312 in which the aerosol-generator 200, the liquid storage portion 302, the flow control element 306, the power supply 308 and the controller 310 are contained. The housing 312 defines an air inlet 314, a mouthpiece 316, and an air outlet 318. During use, a user draws on the mouthpiece 316 to draw air through the housing 312 from the air inlet 314 to the air outlet 318. Aerosol generated by the aerosol-generator 200 is entrained in the airflow through the housing 312 for delivery to the user.

[0153] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an aerosol-generator 400 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 400 comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, in the form of a first surface acoustic wave atomiser 402 and a second acoustic wave atomiser 403. The aerosol-generator 400 further comprises an atomisation region 404 and a supply element 405 for supplying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region 404.

[0154] The first surface acoustic wave atomiser 402 comprises a substrate 406 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 407 arranged on an active surface 408 of the substrate 406. The second surface acoustic wave atomiser 403 comprises a substrate 411 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 412 arranged on an active surface 413 of the substrate 411. Each of the first and second transducers 407, 412 comprises first and second arrays of interleaved electrodes as described with respect to the first and second transducers 107, 112 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The first and second arrays of electrodes of each of the first and second transducers 407, 412 are linear and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 407 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 402 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 408 of the substrate 406. During use, the transducer 412 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 403 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 413 of the substrate 411. The linear shape of the arrays of electrodes of the first and second transducers 407, 412 results in surface acoustic waves having a linear wavefront directed towards the atomisation region 404.

[0155] The substrates 406, 411 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 402, 403 are arranged to abut each other at one end, and are secured together at their abutting ends with adhesive (not shown). Where the substrates 406, 411 abut each other, the substrates 406, 411 define an opening 420 in the active surfaces 408, 413, which forms the atomisation region 404. In this embodiment, each of the substrates 406, 411 has a substantially cuboidal shape, and the substrates 406, 411 are arranged in different, non-parallel planes that intersect where the substrates 406, 411 abut. As such, the substrates 606, 411 are arranged in a generally triangular or V-shaped configuration.

[0156] In this embodiment, the supply element 405 is a capillary wick 416 that is arranged in the space between the substrates 406, 411, and extends from the opening 420 between the substrates 406, 411 at one end to a liquid reservoir 422 at the opposite end. The liquid reservoir 422 is also arranged in the space between the substrates 406, 411. The liquid reservoir 422 contains a liquid aerosol-forming substrate that is supplied to the atomisation region 404 by the capillary wick 416.

[0157] The aerosol-generator 400 is shown arranged in an aerosol-generating device 500 in FIG. 8. The aerosol-generating device 500 comprises a hollow, substantially cylindrical housing 512 defining airs inlet 514, and a mouthpiece 516 having an air outlet 518. The aerosol-generator 400 is arranged within the housing 512, between the air inlets 514 and the mouthpiece 516, such that the air inlets 514 are positioned upstream of the atomisation region 404 and the air outlet 518 is positioned downstream of the atomisation region 404.

[0158] During use, a user draws on the mouthpiece 516 to draw air through the housing 512 from the air inlet 514 to the air outlet 518. Aerosol generated by the aerosol-generator 300 is entrained in the airflow through the housing 512 for delivery to the user.

[0159] Airflow between the air inlets 514 and the air outlet 518 is shown by the dotted arrows in FIG. 8. The aerosol-generator is positioned such that airflow pathways are defined between the active surfaces 406, 411 of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 402, 403, and internal surfaces of the housing 512. The non-coplanar arrangement of the active surfaces 406, 411 enables the aerosol-generator 400 and the housing 512 to have complementary shapes, which in turn enables the size and shape of the airflow pathways between the aerosol-generator 400 and the housing 512 to be easily controlled during manufacture of the aerosol-generating device 500. Controlling the size and shape of the airflow pathways ensures that the resistance to draw through the device is controlled during manufacture of the aerosol-generating device 500.

[0160] FIGS. 9a, 9b and 9c show an aerosol-generator 600 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 600 comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, in the form of a first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 and a second acoustic wave atomiser 603. The aerosol-generator 600 further comprises an atomisation region 604 and a supply element 605 for supplying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region 604.

[0161] The first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 comprises a substrate 606 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 607 arranged on an active surface 608 of the substrate 606. The second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 comprises a substrate 611 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 612 arranged on an active surface 613 of the substrate 611. Each of the first and second transducers 607, 612 comprises first and second arrays of interleaved electrodes as described with respect to the first and second transducers 107, 112 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The first and second arrays of electrodes of each of the first and second transducers 607, 612 are linear and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 607 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 608 of the substrate 606. During use, the transducer 612 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 613 of the substrate 611. The linear shape of the arrays of electrodes of the first and second transducers 607, 612 results in surface acoustic waves having a linear wavefront directed towards the atomisation region 604.

[0162] In this embodiments, each of the first and second surface acoustic wave atomisers 602, 603 comprises a substantially identical substrate 606, 611. Accordingly, only the substrate of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 is described here, and shown in FIGS. 9b and 9c.

[0163] The substrate 606 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 has a generally rectangular profile, with a generally planar active surface 608. The transducer 607 is arranged towards one end of the active surface 607, and the atomisation region 604 is arranged at the opposite end of the active surface 607.

[0164] The substrate 606 also comprises a passive surface 618 opposite to the active surface 606. The passive surface 618 comprises a groove 621 extending centrally along the length of the passive surface 618, from an opening 620 at the end having the atomisation region 604 to a cavity 622 formed at the opposite end of the passive surface 618. The groove 621 forms half of the supply element channel 616 of the aerosol-generator, the other half of the supply element channel 616 being formed by the corresponding groove in the passive surface of the substrate 613 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603. The cavity 622 forms half of a liquid reservoir of the aerosol-generator, the other half of the liquid reservoir being formed by the corresponding cavity in the passive surface of the substrate 613 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603.

[0165] An edge portion of the active surface 608 of the substrate 606 of the first acoustic wave atomiser 602, at the atomisation region 604, has a rounded profile, tapering towards the opening 620. The edge portion of the active surface 608 is also curved or rounded towards the passive surface 618. This rounded profile of the substrate 606 towards the opening 620 and the passive surface 618 facilitates delivery of surface acoustic waves from the transducer 607 to the atomisation region 604.

[0166] When the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 and the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 are arranged for use, the substrate 606 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 overlies the substrate 611 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 so that the passive surfaces of the substrates 606, 611 are in contact with each other. The groove 621 in the passive surface 618 of the substrate 606 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 overlies the corresponding groove in the passive surface of the substrate 611 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 to form a channel 616. The cavity 622 in the passive surface 618 of the substrate 606 of the first surface acoustic wave atomiser 602 overlies the corresponding cavity in the passive surface of the substrate 611 of the second surface acoustic wave atomiser 603 to form a liquid reservoir. The liquid reservoir is configured to hold a supply of liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The channel 616 fluidly connects the liquid reservoir to the opening 620 at the atomisation region 604. Accordingly, the channel 616 forms the liquid supply element. Advantageously, such a configuration of surface acoustic wave atomisers provides a compact aerosol-generator that is straightforward to manufacture.

[0167] FIGS. 10a and 10b show an aerosol-generator 700 according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 700 comprises a plurality of surface acoustic wave atomisers, in the form of six surface acoustic wave atomisers 702. The aerosol-generator 700 further comprises an atomisation region 704 and a supply element 705 for supplying a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the atomisation region 704.

[0168] Each of the surface acoustic wave atomisers 702 are identical, and so only one of the atomisers is described.

[0169] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 702 comprises a substrate comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, and a transducer 707 arranged on an active surface of the substrate. The transducer 707 comprises first and second arrays of interleaved electrodes as described with respect to the first and second transducers 107, 112 of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The first and second arrays of electrodes of the transducer 707 are linear and parallel with each other. During use, the transducer 707 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface of the substrate. The linear shape of the array of electrodes of the transducer 707 results in surface acoustic waves having a linear wavefront directed towards the atomisation region 704.

[0170] The substrate of each of the surface acoustic wave atomisers 702 has a generally isosceles trapezoidal prismatic shape, with an active surface having an isosceles trapezoidal shape. The substrates are arranged in a generally truncated hexagonal pyramid, with the long edges of the substrates abutting together. In this embodiment, the long edges of adjacent substrates are secured together with an adhesive (not shown). The shortest edges of each of the substrates together define an opening 720. In this embodiment, the supply element 705 is in the form of a capillary wick, and one end of the capillary wick extends through the opening 720 for delivering liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the opening 720 and the atomisation region 704. Advantageously, such a configuration and arrangement of substrates provides a compact aerosol-generator configuration that is relatively straightforward to manufacture and arrange within an aerosol-generating device.

[0171] It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are example embodiment of the present disclosure, and other arrangements and configurations of features are envisaged in accordance with the present disclosure.