AN AEROSOL-GENERATOR COMPRISING MULTIPLE SUPPLY ELEMENTS

Abstract

An aerosol-generator for an aerosol-generating device is provided, including: a surface acoustic wave atomiser including: a substrate including an active surface defining an atomisation region, first and second transducers positioned on the active surface; first and second supply elements to respectively supply first and second liquid aerosol-forming substrates to the atomisation region; a controller to provide first and second drive signals respectively to the first and the second transducers to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface, provide the first drive signal only when the first substrate is supplied to the atomisation region by the first supply element, and provide the second drive signal only when the second substrate is supplied to the atomisation region by the second supply element. An aerosol-generating device including the aerosol-generator is also provided.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. An aerosol-generator for an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generator comprising: a surface acoustic wave atomiser comprising: at least one substrate comprising an active surface defining at least one atomisation region, a first transducer positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate, and a second transducer positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate; a first supply element arranged to supply a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the at least one atomisation region; a second supply element arranged to supply a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the at least one atomisation region; and a controller configured to: provide a first drive signal to the first transducer to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface of the at least one substrate, provide a second drive signal to the second transducer to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface of the at least one substrate, provide the first drive signal to the first transducer only when the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the at least one atomisation region by the first supply element, and provide the second drive signal to the second transducer only when the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the at least one atomisation region by the second supply element.

18. The aerosol-generator according to claim 17, wherein the at least one substrate further comprises a common substrate on which the first transducer and the second transducer are positioned.

19. The aerosol-generator according to claim 18, wherein the at least one atomisation region is a common atomisation region defined by the common substrate, and wherein the aerosol-generator further comprises a common supply element providing fluid communication between the common atomisation region and each of the first supply element and the second supply element.

20. The aerosol-generator according to claim 19, wherein the first supply element comprises a first flow control element configured to control a flow of the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region, wherein the second supply element comprises a second flow control element configured to control a flow of the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region, wherein the controller is further configured to: provide a first flow signal to the first flow control element to enable a flow of the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region, provide a second flow signal to the second flow control element to enable a flow of the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region, provide a first stop signal to the first control element to disable the flow of the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate when the controller provides the second flow signal to the second control element, and provide a second stop signal to the second control element to disable the flow of the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate when the controller provides the first flow signal to the first control element.

21. The aerosol-generator according to claim 17, wherein the at least one atomisation region comprises a first atomisation region positioned on the active surface to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer and a second atomisation region positioned on the active surface to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer, wherein the first supply element is further arranged to supply the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the first atomisation region, and wherein the second supply element is further arranged to supply the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the second atomisation region.

22. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to: provide the first drive signal to the first transducer only when the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the first atomisation region by the first supply element, and provide the second drive signal to the second transducer only when the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the second atomisation region by the second supply element.

23. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, further comprising at least one reflector positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate and being configured to reflect surface acoustic waves generated by at least one of the first transducer and the second transducer.

24. The aerosol-generator according to claim 23, wherein the at least one reflector comprises a common reflector, wherein the first atomisation region is positioned between the common reflector and the first transducer, and wherein the second atomisation region is positioned between the common reflector and the second transducer.

25. The aerosol-generator according to claim 21, further comprising at least one absorber positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate and being configured to absorb surface acoustic waves generated by at least one of the first transducer and the second transducer.

26. The aerosol-generator according to claim 25, wherein the at least one absorber comprises a common absorber, wherein the first atomisation region is positioned between the common absorber and the first transducer, and wherein the second atomisation region is positioned between the common absorber and the second transducer.

27. The aerosol-generator according to claim 17, further comprising: a third transducer positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate; and a third supply element arranged to supply a third liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the at least one atomisation region, wherein the controller is further configured to: provide a third drive signal to the third transducer to generate surface acoustic waves on the active surface of the at least one substrate, and provide the third drive signal to the third transducer only when the third liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied to the at least one atomisation region by the third supply element.

28. The aerosol-generator according to claim 27, wherein the at least one atomisation region comprises a first atomisation region positioned on the active surface to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer, a second atomisation region positioned on the active surface to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer, and a third atomisation region positioned on the active surface to receive surface acoustic waves generated by the third transducer, wherein the first supply element is further arranged to supply the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the first atomisation region, wherein the second supply element is further arranged to supply the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the second atomisation region, and wherein the third supply element is further arranged to supply the third liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the third atomisation region.

29. The aerosol-generator according to claim 28, further comprising a reflector positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate to reflect surface acoustic waves generated by each of the first transducer, the second transducer, and the third transducer, wherein the first atomisation region is positioned between the reflector and the first transducer, wherein the second atomisation region is positioned between the reflector and the second transducer, and wherein the third atomisation region is positioned between the reflector and the third transducer.

30. The aerosol-generator according to claim 28, further comprising an absorber positioned on the active surface of the at least one substrate to absorb surface acoustic waves generated by each of the first transducer, the second transducer, and the third transducer, wherein the first atomisation region is positioned between the absorber and the first transducer, wherein the second atomisation region is positioned between the absorber and the second transducer, and wherein the third atomisation region is positioned between the absorber and the third transducer.

31. The aerosol-generator according to claim 29, wherein the reflector or the absorber has a tricuspoid shape.

32. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: an aerosol-generator according to claim 17; a power supply; a first liquid storage portion configured to receive the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the first supply element is further arranged to supply the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the first liquid storage portion to the at least one atomisation region; and a second liquid storage portion configured to receive the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate, wherein the second supply element is further arranged to supply the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the second liquid storage portion to the at least one atomisation region.

Description

[0101] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0102] FIG. 1 shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0103] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 1 taken along line 1-1;

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0105] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generator of FIG. 3 taken along line 3-3;

[0106] FIG. 5 shows an aerosol-generating device comprising the aerosol-generator of FIG. 3; and

[0107] FIG. 6 shows a top view of an aerosol-generator according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0108] FIGS. 1 and 2 show an aerosol-generator 100 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 100 comprises a surface acoustic wave atomiser 102, a first supply element 104 for supplying a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 102, and a second supply element 105 for supplying a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 102.

[0109] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 102 comprises a substrate 106 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, a first transducer 108 arranged on an active surface 110 of the substrate 106, and a second transducer 109 arranged on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. Each of the first and second transducers 108, 109 comprises a first array of electrodes 112 and a second array of electrodes 114 interleaved with the first array of electrodes 112. The first and second arrays of electrodes 112, 114 are curved and parallel with each other. During use, each of the first and second transducers 108, 109 generates surface acoustic waves on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The curved shape of the first and second arrays of electrodes 112, 114 results in surface acoustic waves having a concave wavefront. The concave wavefront of surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer 108 are focused towards a first atomisation region 116 on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The concave wavefront of surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer 109 are focused towards a second atomisation region 117 on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106.

[0110] The first supply element 104 comprises a first channel 118 extending through the substrate 106 between a first inlet 120 at a passive surface 122 of the substrate 106 and a first outlet 124 at the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The first outlet 124 is positioned within the first atomisation region 116. The first supply element 104 also comprises a first flow control element 130 comprising a micro pump. During use, a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the first flow control element 130 through the first channel 118 to the first atomisation region 116 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer 108.

[0111] The second supply element 105 comprises a second channel 119 extending through the substrate 106 between a second inlet 121 at the passive surface 122 of the substrate 106 and a second outlet 125 at the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The second outlet 125 is positioned within the second atomisation region 117. The second supply element 105 also comprises a second flow control element 131 comprising a micro pump. During use, a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the second flow control element 131 through the second channel 119 to the second atomisation region 117 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer 109.

[0112] The aerosol-generator 100 also comprises a controller 132 arranged to control the first and second transducers 108, 109 and the first and second flow control elements 130, 131. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the controller 132 is positioned on the substrate 106 of the surface acoustic wave atomiser 102; however, the skilled person will appreciate that the controller 132 may be provided separately from the surface acoustic wave atomiser 102.

[0113] The controller 132 is configured to provide a first drive signal to the first transducer 108 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The controller 132 is also configured to provide first flow signals and first stop signals to the first flow control element 130 to start and stop a flow of a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the first channel 118 and into the first atomisation region 116. The controller 132 is configured to provide the first drive signal to the first transducer 108 only when the first flow control element 130 is supplying the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the first atomisation region 116.

[0114] The controller 132 is configured to provide a second drive signal to the second transducer 109 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 110 of the substrate 106. The controller 132 is also configured to provide second flow signals and second stop signals to the second flow control element 131 to start and stop a flow of a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the second channel 119 and into the second atomisation region 117. The controller 132 is configured to provide the second drive signal to the second transducer 109 only when the second flow control element 131 is supplying the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the second atomisation region 117.

[0115] FIGS. 3 and 4 show an aerosol-generator 200 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol-generator 200 comprises a surface acoustic wave atomiser 202, a first supply element 204 for supplying a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 202, and a second supply element 205 for supplying a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 202.

[0116] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 comprises a substrate 206 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, a first transducer 208 arranged on an active surface 210 of the substrate 206, and a second transducer 209 arranged on the active surface 210 of the substrate 206. Each of the first and second transducers 208, 209 comprises first and second arrays of electrodes as described with respect to the first and second transducers 108, 109 of FIG. 1. Surface acoustic waves generated by the first and second transducers 208, 209 are focused towards a common atomisation region 216.

[0117] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 202 comprises a common channel 240 extending into the substrate 206 from a common outlet 225 positioned within the common atomisation region 216 at the active surface of the substrate 206.

[0118] The first supply element 204 comprises a first channel 218 extending into the substrate 206 from a first inlet 220 at a passive surface 222 of the substrate 206. The first channel 218 is in fluid communication with the common channel 240. The first supply element 204 also comprises a first flow control element 230 comprising a micro pump. During use, a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the first flow control element 230 through the first channel 218 and the common channel 240 to the common atomisation region 216 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer 208.

[0119] The second supply element 205 comprises a second channel 219 extending into the substrate 206 from a second inlet 221 at the passive surface 222 of the substrate 206. The second channel 219 is in fluid communication with the common channel 240. The second supply element 205 also comprises a second flow control element 231 comprising a micro pump. During use, a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the second flow control element 231 through the second channel 219 and the common channel 240 to the common atomisation region 216 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer 209.

[0120] The aerosol-generator 200 also comprises a controller 232 arranged to control the first and second transducers 208, 209 and the first and second flow control elements 230, 231. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 the controller 232 is positioned on the substrate 206 of the surface acoustic wave atomiser 202; however, the skilled person will appreciate that the controller 232 may be provided separately from the surface acoustic wave atomiser 202.

[0121] The controller 232 is configured to provide a first drive signal to the first transducer 208 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 210 of the substrate 206. The controller 232 is also configured to provide first flow signals and first stop signals to the first flow control element 230 to start and stop a flow of a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region 216 through the first channel 218 and the common channel 240. The controller 232 is configured to provide the first drive signal to the first transducer 208 only when the first flow control element 230 is supplying the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region 216.

[0122] The controller 232 is configured to provide a second drive signal to the second transducer 209 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 210 of the substrate 206. The controller 232 is also configured to provide second flow signals and second stop signals to the second flow control element 231 to start and stop a flow of a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region 216 through the second channel 219 and the common channel 240. The controller 232 is configured to provide the second drive signal to the second transducer 209 only when the second flow control element 231 is supplying the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the common atomisation region 216.

[0123] The controller 232 is configured to provide the second stop signal to the second flow control element 231 when the controller 232 provides the first flow signal to the first control element 230. The controller 232 is also configured to provide the first stop signal to the first flow control element 230 when the controller 232 provides the second flow signal to the second flow control element 231.

[0124] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device 300 comprising the aerosol-generator 200 of FIGS. 3 and 4. The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a first liquid storage portion 302 containing a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate 304, and a second liquid storage portion 303 containing a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate 305. The first flow control element 230 of the aerosol-generator 200 is arranged to supply the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate 304 from the first liquid storage portion 302 to the first inlet 220 of the aerosol-generator 200. The second flow control element 231 of the aerosol-generator 200 is arranged to supply the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate 305 from the second liquid storage portion 303 to the second inlet 221 of the aerosol-generator 200.

[0125] The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a power supply 308 comprising a rechargeable battery for supplying electrical power to the controller 232, the first and second transducers 208, 209 and the first and second flow control elements 230, 231.

[0126] The aerosol-generating device 300 also comprises a housing 312 in which the aerosol-generator 200, the first and second liquid storage portions 302, 303, and the power supply 308 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.

[0127] FIG. 6 shows a top view of an aerosol generator 400 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. The aerosol generator 400 is similar to the aerosol generator 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2, but comprises an additional transducer, atomisation region and supply element. The skilled person will appreciate that the construction and operation of the aerosol generator 400 is otherwise similar to the construction and operation of the aerosol generator 400.

[0128] The aerosol generator 400 comprises a surface acoustic wave atomiser 402, a first supply element 404 for supplying a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 402, a second supply element 405 for supplying a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 402, and a third supply element 454 for supplying a third liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the surface acoustic wave atomiser 402.

[0129] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 402 comprises a substrate 406 comprising a sheet of piezoelectric material, a first transducer 408 arranged on an active surface 410 of the substrate 406, a second transducer 409 arranged on the active surface 410 of the substrate 406, and a third transducer 458 arranged on the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. Each of the first, second and third transducers 408, 409, 458 comprises first and second arrays of electrodes as described with respect to the first and second transducers 108, 109 of FIG. 1. Surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer 408 are focused towards a first atomisation region 416. Surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer 409 are focused towards a second atomisation region 417. Surface acoustic waves generated by the third transducer 458 are focused towards a third atomisation region 466.

[0130] The surface acoustic wave atomiser 402 also comprises a reflector 470 having a tricuspid shape and positioned between the first, second and third atomisation regions 416, 417, 466. The reflector 470 is arranged to reflect surface acoustic waves generated by each of the first, second and third transducers 408, 409, 458 towards the respective first, second and third atomisation regions 416, 417, 466. In an alternative embodiment, the reflector 470 may be replaced by an absorber.

[0131] The first supply element 404 comprises a first channel 418 extending through the substrate 406 between a first inlet at a passive surface of the substrate 406 and a first outlet at the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The first outlet is positioned within the first atomisation region 416. The first supply element 404 also comprises a first flow control element comprising a micro pump. During use, a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the first flow control element through the first channel 418 to the first atomisation region 416 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the first transducer 408.

[0132] The second supply element 405 comprises a second channel 419 extending through the substrate 406 between a second inlet at the passive surface of the substrate 406 and a second outlet at the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The second outlet is positioned within the second atomisation region 417. The second supply element 405 also comprises a second flow control element comprising a micro pump. During use, a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the second flow control element through the second channel 419 to the second atomisation region 417 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the second transducer 409.

[0133] The third supply element 454 comprises a third channel 468 extending through the substrate 406 between a third inlet at the passive surface of the substrate 406 and a third outlet at the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The third outlet is positioned within the third atomisation region 466. The third supply element 454 also comprises a third flow control element comprising a micro pump. During use, a third liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied by the third flow control element through the third channel 468 to the third atomisation region 466 where it is atomised by surface acoustic waves generated by the third transducer 458.

[0134] The aerosol-generator 400 also comprises a controller 432 arranged to control the first, second and third transducers 408, 409, 458 and the first, second and third flow control elements. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the controller 432 is positioned on the substrate 406 of the surface acoustic wave atomiser 402; however, the skilled person will appreciate that the controller 432 may be provided separately from the surface acoustic wave atomiser 402.

[0135] The controller 432 is configured to provide a first drive signal to the first transducer 408 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The controller 432 is also configured to provide first flow signals and first stop signals to the first flow control element to start and stop a flow of a first liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the first channel 418 and into the first atomisation region 416. The controller 432 is configured to provide the first drive signal to the first transducer 408 only when the first flow control element is supplying the first liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the first atomisation region 416.

[0136] The controller 432 is configured to provide a second drive signal to the second transducer 409 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The controller 432 is also configured to provide second flow signals and second stop signals to the second flow control element to start and stop a flow of a second liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the second channel 419 and into the second atomisation region 417. The controller 432 is configured to provide the second drive signal to the second transducer 409 only when the second flow control element is supplying the second liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the second atomisation region 417.

[0137] The controller 432 is configured to provide a third drive signal to the third transducer 458 for generating surface acoustic waves on the active surface 410 of the substrate 406. The controller 432 is also configured to provide third flow signals and third stop signals to the third flow control element to start and stop a flow of a third liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the third channel 468 and into the third atomisation region 466. The controller 432 is configured to provide the third drive signal to the third transducer 458 only when the third flow control element is supplying the third liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the third atomisation region 466.