AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH AMBIENT AIR ADAPTION

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device is provided, including: an air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the aerosol-generating device; an airflow channel fluidly connected with the air inlet; a filter element arranged in the airflow channel adjacent the air inlet and configured to filter the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device; and a heating element arranged at the airflow channel adjacent the air inlet and configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device, the heating element being further configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device to a temperature of between 15 C. and 35 C.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. An aerosol-generating device, comprising: an air inlet configured to allow ambient air to enter the aerosol-generating device; an airflow channel fluidly connected with the air inlet; a filter element arranged in the airflow channel adjacent the air inlet and configured to filter the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device; and a heating element arranged at the airflow channel adjacent the air inlet and configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device, wherein the heating element is further configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device to a temperature of between 15 C. and 35 C.

17. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element comprises a porous element.

18. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element is configured as a porous element.

19. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element is further arranged in the airflow channel such that the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device flows through the filter element.

20. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element is further configured to one or both of diffuse and spread the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device.

21. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is further configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device to a temperature of between 20 C. and 30 C.

22. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is further configured to heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device to a temperature of 25 C.

23. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is further arranged at least partly surrounding the airflow channel.

24. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the aerosol-generating device further comprises a temperature sensor and a controller, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure a temperature of the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device upstream of the heating element, and wherein the controller is configured to control the heating element based upon an output of the temperature sensor.

25. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the heating element if the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the ambient air is below 20 C.

26. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 24, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the heating element if the temperature sensor detects that the temperature of the ambient air is below 5 C.

27. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is overmolded onto the filter element.

28. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is printed onto the filter element.

29. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is further configured to heat the filter element to thereby heat the ambient air entering the aerosol-generating device.

30. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is further arranged in the airflow channel.

31. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the heating element is fluid-permeable.

32. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element is made of a ceramic material.

33. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element has a porosity of between 30% and 80%.

34. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 16, wherein the filter element has a porosity of between 50% and 60%.

Description

[0052] The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary aerosol-generating device according to the invention;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a main body of the aerosol-generating device;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a heating element of the aerosol-generating device.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary aerosol-generating device 10. The aerosol-generating device 10 comprises a mouthpiece 12 that is configured attachable to a main body 14 of the aerosol-generating device 10. Alternatively, the mouthpiece 12 may be integrated into the aerosol-generating device 10. As a further alternative, further elements of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be attachable between the mouthpiece 12 and the main body 14 of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows the main body 14 of the aerosol-generating device 10 in more detail. A power supply 16 in the form of a battery as well as a controller 18 is arranged within a housing 20 of the main body 14.

[0058] At the downstream or a distal end of the main body 14, a data and charging port 22 is provided. At the upstream or proximal end of the main body 14, protruding walls 24 are provided for attachment of the main body 14 with the mouthpiece 12. However, as indicated, the mouthpiece 12 or a different element of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be integrated with the main body 14. The protruding walls 24 may comprise one or both of mechanical and magnetic connection elements to enable a connection with the mouthpiece 12 or with a different modular element.

[0059] FIG. 2 further shows air inlets 26 arranged in the housing 20 of the main body 14. The air inlets 26 are configured as lateral air inlets 26. The air inlets 26 are arranged adjacent the upstream end of the main body 14. The air inlets 26 are configured to enable ambient air to be drawn into the aerosol-generating device 10, particularly into an airflow channel 38 of the aerosol-generating device 10.

[0060] The air inlets 26 may alternatively be placed anywhere else in the aerosol-generating device 10. Exemplarily, the air inlets 26 may be arranged at the upstream end of the aerosol-generating device 10. Alternatively, the air inlets 26 may be arranged in the mouthpiece 12. As a further alternative, a single air inlet may be provided instead of at least two air inlets 26 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0061] Adjacent the air inlets 26, a filter element 28 is arranged. The filter element 28 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape. The filter element 28 is made of a ceramic material. The filter element 28 is porous. The filter element 28 is fluid permeable. The filter element 28 allows ambient air to be drawn through the filter element 28. The ambient air is filtered that by the filter element 28. The ambient air is then drawn towards the mouthpiece 12, particularly towards an air outlet in the mouthpiece 12 so that the air can be inhaled by a user. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouthpiece 12 is configured to generate an inhalable aerosol. Alternatively, the aerosol generation can be facilitated in the main body 14, in which case the aerosol generation will take place downstream of the filter element 28.

[0062] FIG. 2 further shows a temperature sensor 30. The temperature sensor 30 is preferably configured as a thermocouple. The temperature sensor 30 is arranged adjacent an air inlet such that the temperature sensor 30 can detect the temperature of the ambient air that is drawn into the aerosol-generating device 10. The temperature sensor 30 is electrically connected with the controller 18 by appropriate wiring. The temperature sensor 30 is configured to detect the temperature of the ambient air and to output a corresponding signal to the controller 18. The controller 18 is configured to receive the output of the temperature sensor 30. The controller 18 is configured to control supply of electrical energy from the power supply 16 to a heating element 32 described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 3. The controller 18 is configured to control the supply of electrical energy on basis of the output of the temperature sensor 30. If the ambient air is too cold, the temperature of the ambient air is increased by the controller 18 operating the heating element 32.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows the heating element 32 in more detail. The heating element 32 is provided as a heating track on a substrate. The substrate is the filter element 28. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the heating element 32 is overmolded onto the filter element 28. The heating element 32 is overmolded with a porous material 34. This leads to a porous and fluid permeable heating element 32 such that the ambient air can be drawn through the filter element 28 and further through the heating element 32. The ambient air is thus filtered by the filter element 28 and at the same time heated such that a high-quality ambient air with a controlled temperature is provided for improved aerosol generation.

[0064] FIG. 3 further shows electrical contacts 36 for a contacting the heating element 32 with one or both of the controller 18 and the power supply 16. The electrical contacts 36 are configured such that electrical energy can be supplied from the power supply 16 to the heating element 32 to heat the heating element 32.

[0065] The heating element 32 of FIG. 3 is overmolded onto the filter element 28 of FIG. 2 or printed onto the heating element 32 of FIG. 2.