AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH INDUCTION COIL WITH MOVABLE THIRD CONTACT

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a heating arrangement including an induction coil, first, second, and third contacts; and a controller, in which the first contact is arranged contacting a proximal end of the induction coil, in which the second contact is arranged contacting a distal end of the induction coil, in which the third contact is arranged contacting the induction coil between the first and the second contacts, in which the first, the second, and the third contacts are electrically connected to the controller, in which the controller is configured to control supply of an alternating electrical current between only a pair of the first, the second, and the third contacts, and in which the first and the second contacts are fixed contacts and the third contact is configured as a movable contact. A method for heating a heating arrangement of an aerosol-generating device is also provided.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: a heating arrangement comprising an induction coil, a first contact, a second contact, and a third contact; and a controller, wherein the first contact is arranged contacting a proximal end of the induction coil, wherein the second contact is arranged contacting a distal end of the induction coil, wherein the third contact is arranged contacting the induction coil between the first contact and the second contact, wherein the first, the second, and the third contacts are electrically connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to control supply of an alternating electrical current between only a pair of the first, the second, and the third contacts, and wherein the first contact and the second contact are fixed contacts and the third contact is configured as a movable contact.

17. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, further comprising a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the induction coil of the heating arrangement is arranged at least partly surrounding the cavity.

18. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 17, wherein a space of the cavity surrounded by a portion of the induction coil between the first contact and the third contact is a first heating zone, wherein a space of the cavity surrounded by a portion of the induction coil between the second contact and the third contact is a second heating zone, and wherein a space of the cavity surrounded by the induction coil between the first contact and the second contact comprises the first heating zone and the second heating zone.

19. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to control supply of the alternating electrical current between the first contact and the third contact such that the portion of the induction coil surrounding the first heating zone creates an alternating magnetic field in the first heating zone.

20. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to control supply of the alternating electrical current between the second contact and the third contact such that the portion of the induction coil surrounding the second heating zone creates an alternating magnetic field in the second heating zone.

21. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to control supply of the alternating electrical current between the first contact and the second contact such that the induction coil surrounding both the first heating zone and the second heating zone creates an alternating magnetic field in both the first and the second heating zones.

22. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to control supply of the alternating electrical current between a first pair of the first, the second, and the third contacts for a first predetermined time, and to control supply of the alternating electrical current between a different second pair of the first, the second, and the third contacts for a second predetermined time.

23. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, further comprising a motor configured to move the movable third contact.

24. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, further comprising an actuator configured to enable a user to manually move the movable third contact.

25. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the induction coil is a helical coil and the movable third contact is configured to move axially along the induction coil.

26. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to operate movement of the movable third contact.

27. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the movable third contact is configured as a sliding contact.

28. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, further comprising a communication interface configured to enable a user to control operation of the controller.

29. A method for heating a heating arrangement of an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating arrangement and a controller, the heating arrangement comprising an induction coil, a fixed first contact, a fixed second contact, and a movable third contact, the first contact being arranged contacting a proximal end of the induction coil, the second contact being arranged contacting a distal end of the induction coil, the third contact being arranged contacting the induction coil between the first contact and the second contact, the first, the second, and the third contacts being electrically connected to the controller, and the controller being configured to control supply of an alternating electrical current between only a pair of the first, the second, and the third contacts, the method comprising the following steps: supplying the alternating electrical current only between the first contact and the third contact for a predetermined time; and then moving the third contact while supplying the alternating electrical current only between the first contact and the third contact; and then supplying the alternating electrical current only between the first contact and the second contact for another predetermined time.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein, during movement of the third contact, the third contact is moved in a direction towards the second contact.

Description

[0081] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0082] FIG. 1 shows first, second and third contacts and an induction coil of a heating arrangement of an aerosol-generating device according to the invention;

[0083] FIG. 2 shows the aerosol-generating device;

[0084] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the aerosol-generating device; and

[0085] FIG. 4 shows a susceptor to be used in the heating arrangement.

[0086] FIG. 1 shows parts of a heating arrangement of an aerosol-generating device. The heating arrangement comprises an induction coil. The induction coil 10 is configured to generate an alternating magnetic field to heat a susceptor. The susceptor is surrounded by the induction coil 10 and not shown in FIG. 1. The induction coil 10 is electrically contacted such that alternating current can be supplied to the induction coil. The energy is supplied in the form of an AC current.

[0087] A first contact 12 is provided and arranged to contact the induction coil 10 at a proximal end 14 of the induction coil. A second contact 16 is provided and arranged to contact the induction coil 10 at a distal end 18 of the induction coil. A third contact 20 is provided and arranged to contact the induction coil 10 between the first contact 12 and the second contact 16. The first contact 12 and the second contact 16 are fixed contacts. These contacts do not move and are fixed to the induction coil 10 exemplarily by soldering. The third contact 20 is configured as a movable contact. The third contact 20 is configured to move in an axial direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the induction coil. The third contact 20 is configured as a sliding contact. The third contact 20 is configured to create an electrical contact point to the induction coil.

[0088] FIG. 1A in the upper part of FIG. 1 shows a first option of option for operating the heating arrangement. Alternating current is supplied only between a pair of the contacts. Generally, alternating current is supplied between a pair of the first contact 12, the second contact 16 and the third contact. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, alternating current is supplied between the second contact 16 and the third contact. The area surrounded by the induction coil 10 between the second contact 16 and the third contact 20 is referred to as the second heating zone 24. The area surrounded by the induction coil 10 between the first contact 12 and the third contact 20 is referred to as the first heating zone 22. The area surrounded by the induction coil 10 between the first contact 12 and the second contact 16 is referred to as the third heating zone 26. In the example shown in FIG. 1A, only the second heating zone 24 is operated, since alternating current is supplied only between the second contact 16 and the third contact. This mode of operation may be chosen at any point during the operation cycle of the aerosol-generating device. The operation cycle of the aerosol-generating device may denote the process of depleting the aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-forming article.

[0089] FIG. 1B in the lower part of FIG. 1 shows a second option for operating the heating arrangement. In contrast to FIG. 1A, alternating current is supplied between the first contact 12 and the third contact 20 to heat the first heating zone 22.

[0090] FIG. 2 shows the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol generating device comprises a cavity 30 for receiving the aerosol-generating article 28 comprising the aerosol-forming substrate. The heating arrangement, particularly the induction coil 10 of the heating arrangement, is arranged surrounding the cavity 30. The third contact 20 is mounted on a sliding arrangement 32. By means of the sliding arrangement 32, the third contact 20 is made movable. The movement of the third contact 20 is enabled in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the induction coil 10 such that the movable contact can establish a different axial electrical contact point to the induction coil.

[0091] FIG. 2 further shows a controller 34. The controller 34 is electrically connected with the third contact 20 via the sliding arrangement 32. The controller 34 is electrically connected with the first contact 12. The controller 34 is electrically connected with the second contact 16. The controller 34 is configured to control supply of alternating current from a power supply in the form of a battery 36 to the induction coil 10 via the first contact 12, the second contact 16 and the third contact. The controller 34 is configured to supply alternating current only to a pair of the first contact 12, the second contact 16 and the third contact.

[0092] The controller 34 is further configured to control operation of the sliding arrangement 32. The controller 34 is configured to control movement of the third contact 20 via the sliding arrangement 32. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a motor for moving the sliding arrangement 32. The controller 34 is configured to control operation of the motor. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a manual actuator such that a user can move the sliding arrangement 32.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment in which multiple heating arrangements are provided. The heating arrangements are arranged side by side parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device. Each heating arrangement is configured as the heating arrangement described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 and 2. As a consequence, multiple induction coils 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 are provided and multiple third contacts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, all of the third contacts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 are mounted on the same sliding arrangement 32. Thus, all of these third contacts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 are moved at the same time. The size of the heating zones of the respective heating arrangements are as a consequence changed in an identical fashion. Alternatively, one or more of the third contacts 20.1, 20.2, 20.3 may be separately mounted on a separate sliding arrangement 32 to allow separate adjustment of the heating zones of the heating arrangement. The controller 34 may be configured to control supply of alternating current between pairs of the contacts of all of the heating arrangements in the same way and at the same time. Alternatively, the controller 34 may be configured to control supply of alternating current between pairs of the contacts of the separate heating arrangements as desired. Exemplarily, the controller 34 may supply alternating current only to one of the heating arrangements and not to the other heating arrangements or to some heating arrangements and not to other heating arrangements.

[0094] FIG. 4 shows a susceptor 38 that can be used in the heating arrangement. The susceptor 38 comprises a ceramic substrate 40. The ceramic substrate 40 of the susceptor 38 is pin-shaped. The susceptor 38 can be arranged centrally along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device and is configured for penetrating into the aerosol-generating article 28 when the aerosol-generating article 28 is inserted into the cavity 30. The ceramic substrate 40 is tangentially wrapped with metal strips 42. The metal strips 42 are made from a material suitable for induction heating. The susceptor 38 is optimized for operation with the different heating zones 22, 24, 26. Preferably, each heating zone 22, 24, 26 will cover multiple metal strips 42. Only or predominantly the metal strips 42 within a heating zone 22, 24, 26 will be heated when the heating zone 22, 24, 26 is operated, since the metal strips 42 are configured electrically isolated from each other. The metal strips 42 may also be thermally insulated from each other by an insulating foil or insulating layer.

[0095] Instead of the susceptor 38 shown in FIG. 4, a tubular metal susceptor is preferably employed. The tubular susceptor is hollow and has a shape that the aerosol-generating article 28 can be inserted into the tubular susceptor and be held within the tubular susceptor. The tubular susceptor may form the inner wall of the cavity 30.