JP2024533600A - Aerosol Delivery Device - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol delivery device (300) for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product article (400) having a first section (403) containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section (404) containing a second aerosol-generating material is disclosed. The aerosol delivery device (300) includes a first aerosol generator (301) with a first heating element for generating an aerosol from the first aerosol-generating material, and a second aerosol generator (302) with a second heating element for generating an aerosol from the second aerosol-generating material. An insulating member (305) is disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element. [Selected Figure]

Description

The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device, an aerosol supply system, and an aerosol generation method.

background

Articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide an alternative to these types of articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. Devices are known that heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, typically to form an inhalable aerosol, without burning or combusting the smokable material. Such devices may be described as "non-combustion heating" devices or "tobacco heating products" (THPs) or "tobacco heating devices", or the like. A variety of different arrangements for volatilizing at least one component of the smokable material are known.

The materials may be, for example, combinations of tobacco or other non-tobacco products, or mixtures that may or may not contain nicotine.

It is desirable to provide an improved aerosol delivery device.

overview

According to one aspect, there is provided an aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, the device comprising:
a first aerosol generator comprising a first heating element for generating an aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material;
a second aerosol generator comprising a second heating element for generating an aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material;
An aerosol delivery device is provided, comprising a first heating element and a second heating element and an insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element.

According to various embodiments, an insulating member is provided between the first heating element and the second heating element. The insulating member may function as a spacer. The insulating member is positioned to maintain a desired spacing between the two heating elements and also functions to reduce heat transfer between the two heating elements. In particular, when an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol generating material is desired to be heated in an aerosol delivery device having two separate aerosol generators, it may be desired to heat the two sections to different temperatures. Thus, the insulating member is beneficial in allowing two different sections of the aerosol product article to be heated to different temperatures and helps to prevent one heating element, which may be heated to a high temperature, from inadvertently heating the other heating element to the same or similar temperature by thermal conduction.

The insulating member may be solid. The insulating member may be gas impermeable to prevent gas from passing through the insulating member.

Optionally, the first aerosol generator comprises a first induction coil and a first susceptor including a material heatable by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the first susceptor comprising a first heating element.

Optionally, the first susceptor is tubular.

Optionally, the first aerosol generator comprises a first resistive heater comprising a first heating element.

Optionally, the first resistive heater is tubular.

Optionally, the first heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or thin film.

Optionally, the second aerosol generator comprises a second induction coil and a second susceptor containing a material heatable by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the second susceptor comprising a second heating element.

Optionally, the second susceptor is tubular.

Optionally, the second aerosol generator comprises a second resistive heater comprising a second heating element.

Optionally, the second resistive heater is tubular.

Optionally, the second heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or thin film.

Optionally, an insulating member is disposed between an end of the first heating element and an end of the second heating element.

Optionally, the insulating member is positioned to maintain a spacing between the end of the first heating element and the end of the second heating element of 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, 2.4-2.5 mm, or 2.0 mm.

Optionally, an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.

Optionally, an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.

Optionally, the first heating element has a first outer diameter d1, the second heating element has a second outer diameter d2, and the insulating member has a third outer diameter d3, where d3>d2 and d3>d1.

Optionally, the insulating member is positioned such that it is in physical contact with the first heating element and/or the second heating element. Alternatively, the insulating member may be positioned such that it is not in physical contact with the first heating element and/or the second heating element.

According to various embodiments, there is provided an aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, the aerosol delivery device comprising:
a first aerosol generator including a first induction coil and a first susceptor for heating a first section;
a second aerosol generator including a second induction coil and a second susceptor for heating the second section;
A heat insulating member is provided between an end of the first susceptor and an end of the second susceptor.

According to various embodiments, an insulating member is provided between the first susceptor and the second susceptor. The insulating member is positioned to maintain a desired spacing between the two susceptors and also functions to reduce heat transfer between the two susceptors. In particular, when an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol generating material is desired to be heated in an aerosol delivery device having two separate heating units, it may be desired to heat the two sections to different temperatures. Thus, the insulating member is beneficial in allowing two different sections of the aerosol product article to be heated to different temperatures and helps prevent one susceptor, which may be heated to a high temperature, from inadvertently heating the other susceptor to the same or similar temperature by thermal conduction.

The insulating member may be arranged to maintain a spacing between the end of the first susceptor and the end of the second susceptor of 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, 2.4-2.5 mm, or 2.0 mm. The first susceptor may be substantially cylindrical or tubular, and/or the second susceptor may be substantially cylindrical or tubular. The end or lip of the first susceptor may be received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member. The end or lip of the second susceptor may be received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member. The first susceptor may have a first outer diameter d1, the second susceptor may have a second outer diameter d2, and the insulating member may have a third outer diameter d3, where d3>d2 and d3>d1. The insulating member may be positioned in physical contact with the first susceptor and/or the second susceptor.

Optionally, the insulating member is substantially annular or ring shaped.

Optionally, the insulating member comprises an insulating material.

Optionally, the insulating member comprises a plastic material.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device comprises a non-combustible aerosol delivery device.

The first heating element and the second heating element may be positioned to heat but not burn the aerosol product.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device further comprises an opening through which the aerosol product article may be inserted during use, the first aerosol generator being positioned closer to the opening than the second aerosol generator.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device further comprises a control circuit arranged to operate both the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator and, in use, heat the second section of the aerosol product article to a lower temperature than the first section of the aerosol product article.

Other embodiments are contemplated in which the second section of the aerosol product may be heated to a higher temperature than the first section of the aerosol product.

Optionally, the control circuitry is arranged to cause the first aerosol generator, in use, to heat the first section of the aerosol product article to a temperature T1, T1 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 250°C, (ii) 200-210°C, (iii) 210-220°C, (iv) 220-230°C, (v) 230-240°C, (vi) 240-250°C, (vii) 250-260°C, (viii) 260-270°C, (ix) 270-280°C, (x) 280-290°C, or (xi) 290-300°C.

In another embodiment, the control circuitry may be arranged to cause the second aerosol generator, in use, to heat the second section of the aerosol product to a temperature of T2, T2 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 250°C, (ii) 200-210°C, (iii) 210-220°C, (iv) 220-230°C, (v) 230-240°C, (vi) 240-250°C, (vii) 250-260°C, (viii) 260-270°C, (ix) 270-280°C, (x) 280-290°C, or (xi) 290-300°C.

Optionally, the control circuitry may be arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator and leave the first aerosol generator on for the duration of the use session.

According to various embodiments, the first aerosol generator may be arranged to remain on for at least 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the session.

According to another embodiment, the control circuit may be arranged to set the first aerosol generator to an initial target temperature T3 and then reduce the target temperature to a lower temperature T4 during a use session. According to one embodiment, T3 and/or T4 may be selected from the group consisting of: (i) 250°C, (ii) 200-210°C, (iii) 210-220°C, (iv) 220-230°C, (v) 230-240°C, (vi) 240-250°C, (vii) 250-260°C, (viii) 260-270°C, (ix) 270-280°C, (x) 280-290°C, or (xi) 290-300°C.

Optionally, the control circuitry may be arranged to cause the second aerosol generator, in use, to heat the second section of the aerosol product to a temperature of T2, T2 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 200°C, (ii) 150-160°C, (iii) 160-170°C, (iv) 170-180°C, (v) 180-190°C, (vi) 190-200°C, (vii) 200-210°C, (viii) 210-220°C, (ix) 220-230°C, (x) 230-240°C, or (xi) 240-250°C.

In another embodiment, the control circuitry may be arranged to cause the first aerosol generator, during use, to heat the first section of the aerosol product article to a temperature of T1, T1 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 200°C, (ii) 150-160°C, (iii) 160-170°C, (iv) 170-180°C, (v) 180-190°C, (vi) 190-200°C, (vii) 200-210°C, (viii) 210-220°C, (ix) 220-230°C, (x) 230-240°C, or (xi) 240-250°C.

Optionally, the control circuitry is arranged to turn on the second aerosol generator and to leave the second aerosol generator on for the duration of the use session.

According to various embodiments, the second aerosol generator may be arranged to remain on for at least 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the session.

According to another embodiment, the control circuit may be arranged to set the second aerosol generator to an initial target temperature T5 during a use session, then raise the target temperature to a temperature T6 for a period of time, and then further raise the target temperature to a temperature T7, where T7>T6>T5. According to one embodiment, T5=0 and T6 and/or T7 may be selected from the group consisting of: (i) 150-160°C, (ii) 160-170°C, (iii) 170-180°C, (iv) 180-190°C, (v) 190-200°C, (vi) 200-210°C, (vii) 210-220°C, (viii) 220-230°C, (ix) 230-240°C, (x) 240-250°C, (xi) 250-260°C, (xii) 260-270°C, (xiii) 270-280°C, (xiv) 280-290°C, or (xv) 290-300°C.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device further comprises an aluminum shroud disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to an outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device further comprises one or more layers of graphite or graphite tape disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to the outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device further comprises a device arranged to recognise an aerosol product item inserted into the aerosol delivery device during use and to determine whether the first and/or second aerosol generators should be activated.

Optionally, the insulating member is gas impermeable.

According to another aspect, there is provided an aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, the device comprising:
a first aerosol generator comprising a first heating element for generating an aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, the first aerosol generator comprising a first resistive heater;
a second aerosol generator comprising a second heating element for generating an aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, the second aerosol generator comprising a second resistive heater;
An aerosol delivery device is provided, comprising: a first heating element, a second heating element, and a gas-impermeable insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element.

Optionally, an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member, and an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.

According to another aspect,
- an aerosol delivery device as described above;
- An aerosol delivery system is provided, comprising an aerosol production product having a first section that contains a first aerosol-generating material and a second section that contains a second aerosol-generating material, and further comprising a mouthpiece or filter section, wherein the first section is closer to the mouthpiece or filter section than the second section.

Optionally, the first aerosol-generating material comprises a liquid, gel or solid.

Gels may be provided as thin films. Solids may be provided in the form of granules.

Optionally, the second aerosol-generating material comprises a liquid, gel or solid.

Gels may be provided as thin films. Solids may be provided in the form of granules.

Optionally, the first aerosol-generating material and/or the second aerosol-generating material include an active substance and/or a flavorant.

Optionally, the active substance comprises a nutritional supplement, a nootropic substance or a psychoactive substance.

Optionally, the active agent is naturally occurring or synthetically derived.

Optionally, the active agent includes nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, one or more vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin.

Optionally, the active agent comprises one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco.

In some embodiments, the substance delivered includes a flavor.

According to one embodiment, the first aerosol-generating material has a first physical state and the second aerosol-generating material has a second physical state. The second physical state may be the same as or different from the first physical state.

According to one embodiment, the first aerosol generating material may comprise a liquid or gel (which may include a thin film) and the second aerosol generating material may comprise a solid, which may be provided in the form of granules. The solid may comprise tobacco, which may be provided in the form of tobacco granules.

Optionally, the aerosol delivery device is arranged to generate an aerosol from the aerosol product article, and arranged such that the temperature of the aerosol emitted from the mouthpiece or filter section of the aerosol product article is less than 40°C during use.

According to another aspect,
- providing an aerosol delivery device as described above;
- inserting an aerosol production article into the aerosol delivery device, the aerosol production article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material;
- activating a first aerosol generator and/or a second aerosol generator.

Various embodiments, together with other arrangements given for illustrative purposes only, will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly of an aerosol delivery device, provided for illustrative purposes. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the heating assembly shown in FIG. 1A with an aerosol production article disposed therein. FIG. 2A is a schematic cross-sectional view, provided for illustrative purposes, of an aerosol product for use with the aerosol delivery device shown in FIGS. 1A-1B. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the aerosol product. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a heating assembly of an aerosol delivery device according to one embodiment, the heating assembly comprising two aerosol generators, each comprising an induction coil and a susceptor, the two susceptors being separated from each other by an insulating portion. FIG. 4 illustrates an aerosol product according to one embodiment, the aerosol product comprising a filter section, a paper tube section, a liquid section, and a tobacco section.

Detailed Description

An aerosol-generating material is, for example, a material that is capable of generating an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or otherwise energized. The aerosol-generating material may be, for example, in the form of a solid, liquid, or gel that may or may not contain active substances and/or flavorings.

The aerosol generating materials may include one or more active substances and/or flavorings, one or more aerosol forming materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

Devices are known that heat an aerosol-generating material to volatilize at least one component of the aerosol-generating material, typically to form an aerosol that can be inhaled without burning or combusting the aerosol-generating material. Such devices may be described as "aerosol generating devices," "aerosol delivery devices," "non-combustion heating devices," "tobacco heating products," "tobacco heating product devices," "tobacco heating devices," and the like. In one embodiment, the aerosol delivery device is a tobacco heating product. A non-liquid aerosol-generating material for use with a tobacco heating product includes tobacco.

Electronic cigarette devices are also known that include an aerosol delivery device that vaporizes an aerosol-generating material in liquid form, which may or may not contain nicotine. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of, or provided as part of, a rod, cartridge, or cassette that can be inserted into the device. A heater for heating and vaporizing the aerosol-generating material may be provided as a "permanent" part of the device.

Non-combustion aerosol delivery systems may include hybrid systems that generate aerosol using a combination of aerosol-generating materials, one or more of which may be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be, for example, in solid, liquid or gel form and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

The aerosol delivery device can accept an article, also called a "smoking article," that includes an aerosol-generating material for heating. An "article," "aerosol-producing article," or "smoking article" in this context is a component that includes or contains an aerosol-generating material in use that is heated to volatilize the aerosol-generating material, and optionally other components in use. A user may insert the article into the aerosol delivery device before the article is heated to generate an aerosol, and the user then inhales the aerosol. The article may be of a predetermined or particular size, for example, configured to be placed in a heating chamber of the device sized to receive the article.

The aerosol delivery device according to various embodiments includes a plurality of aerosol generators. The aerosol generators are devices configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generators are heaters configured to provide thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol generators are configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-generating material without heating. For example, the aerosol generators may be configured to provide one or more of vibration, pressure increase, or electrostatic energy to the aerosol-generating material.

The aerosol generator may include an induction coil. In some examples, the coil is configured to cause heating of the at least one conductive heating element such that thermal energy is conducted from the at least one conductive heating element to the aerosol-generating material, thereby causing heating of the aerosol-generating material.

In some examples, the coil is configured to generate a varying magnetic field that, in use, permeates at least one heating element, thereby causing inductive heating and/or magnetic hysteresis heating of the at least one heating element. In such an arrangement, the or each heating element may be referred to as a "susceptor." A coil configured to generate a varying magnetic field that, in use, permeates at least one conductive heating element, thereby causing inductive heating of the at least one conductive heating element may be referred to as an "induction coil" or "inductor coil."

In some examples, the coil is helical. In some examples, the coil may surround at least a portion of a heating zone of the aerosol delivery device configured to receive the aerosol generating material. In some examples, the coil is a helical coil that surrounds at least a portion of the heating zone.

It has been found that inductive heating units within an aerosol delivery device reach their maximum operating temperature much more quickly than corresponding resistive heating elements. According to various embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be configured such that one or both heating units reach their maximum operating temperature at a rate of at least 100°C/sec. In certain embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be configured such that one or both heating units reach their maximum operating temperature at a rate of at least 150°C/sec.

Induction heating systems can be important because the magnitude of the varying magnetic field can be easily controlled by controlling the power supplied to the heating unit. Furthermore, induction heating does not require providing a physical connection between the source of the varying magnetic field and the heat source, which may allow greater design freedom and control over the heating profile and lower costs.

The aerosol delivery device may include a heating assembly. The heating assembly may include a first aerosol generator and a second aerosol generator. The first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator may include induction heating units, and the units may be independently controllable from one another. Heating the aerosol-generating material with independent heating units may provide more precise control of the heating of the aerosol-generating material. The independently controllable heating units may also provide different thermal energy to each portion of the aerosol-generating material, resulting in different temperature profiles between the portions of the aerosol-generating material.

According to various embodiments, the first and second aerosol generators may be configured to have different temperature profiles from one another during use, which may provide asymmetric heating of the aerosol generating material along a longitudinal plane between the mouth end and the distal end of the aerosol delivery device during use of the aerosol delivery device.

Alternatively, the first and second aerosol generators may be configured to have substantially the same temperature profile during use, thereby providing symmetric heating of the aerosol generating material along a longitudinal plane between the mouth end and the distal end of the aerosol delivery device during use of the aerosol delivery device.

An object that can be inductively heated is known as a susceptor. If the susceptor comprises a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, heat may also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses in the susceptor, i.e. by fluctuations in the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the magnetic material resulting from their alignment with a varying magnetic field. In induction heating, heat is generated inside the susceptor, allowing for rapid heating, as compared to heating by conduction, for example. Furthermore, no physical contact is required between the induction heater and the susceptor, allowing for greater freedom of construction and application.

Throughout this specification, reference may be made to the temperature of a heating element. The temperature of a heating element may also be referred to as the temperature of a heating unit that includes the heating element for convenience. This does not necessarily mean that the entire heating unit is at a given temperature. For example, when referring to the temperature of an induction heating unit, it does not necessarily mean that both the induction element and the susceptor have such a temperature. Rather, in this example, the temperature of the induction heating unit corresponds to the temperature of a heating element configured within the induction heating unit. For the avoidance of doubt, the temperature of a heating element and the temperature of a heating unit may be used interchangeably.

As used herein, a "temperature profile" refers to the change in temperature of a material over time. For example, the change in temperature of a heating element or unit measured at the heating element or unit over the course of a smoking session may be referred to as the temperature profile of that heating element or unit. During use, the heating element or heating unit provides heat to the aerosol-generating material to generate aerosol. Thus, the temperature profile of the heating element or heating unit induces a temperature profile in the aerosol-generating material disposed near the heating element or heating unit.

As used herein, an "operating temperature" with respect to a heating element or heating unit refers to any heating element temperature at which the element can heat the aerosol-generating material to generate sufficient aerosol for a satisfactory puff without burning the aerosol-generating material. The maximum operating temperature of a heating element is the highest temperature the element reaches during a smoking session. The minimum operating temperature of a heating element refers to the lowest heating element temperature at which sufficient aerosol can be generated by the heating element from the aerosol-generating material for a satisfactory puff. When multiple heating elements or heating units are present in an aerosol delivery device, each heating element or heating unit has an associated maximum operating temperature. The maximum operating temperature of each heating element or heating unit may be the same or may vary from heating element or heating unit to heating element.

In an embodiment of the aerosol delivery device, each heating element or heating unit may be positioned to heat but not burn the aerosol-generating material. The temperature profile of each heating element or heating unit may induce a temperature profile of each associated portion of the aerosol-generating material, but the temperature profiles of the heating element or heating unit and the associated portion of the aerosol-generating material may not correspond exactly. For example, there may be "bleed" in the form of conduction, convection, and/or radiation of thermal energy from one portion of the aerosol-generating material to another, there may be variations in the conduction, convection, and/or radiation of thermal energy from the heating element or heating unit to the aerosol-generating material, and there may be a delay between the change in the temperature profile of the heating element or heating unit and the change in the temperature profile of the aerosol-generating material depending on the thermal capacity of the aerosol-generating material.

The aerosol delivery device may include a controller for controlling each aerosol generator present in the aerosol delivery device. The controller may include a printed circuit board ("PCB"). The controller may be configured to control the power supplied to each heating unit, and thus the "programmed heating profile" of each heating unit present in the aerosol delivery device. For example, the controller may be programmed to control the current supplied to multiple inductors to control the resulting temperature profile of the corresponding induction heating element or induction heating unit. As between the temperature profiles of the heating element/unit and the aerosol generating material described above, the programmed heating profile of the heating element or heating unit may not exactly correspond to the observed temperature profile of the heating element or heating unit for the same reasons as above.

The term "operating temperature" may also be used in reference to an aerosol-generating material. In this case, the term refers to any temperature of the aerosol-generating material itself at which sufficient aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material for a satisfactory puff. The maximum operating temperature of the aerosol-generating material is the highest temperature reached by any portion of the aerosol-generating material during a smoking session. In some embodiments, the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol-generating material is greater than 200°C, 210°C, 220°C, 230°C, 240°C, 250°C, 260°C, or 270°C. In some embodiments, the maximum operating temperature of the aerosol-generating material is less than 300°C, 290°C, 280°C, 270°C, 260°C, or 250°C. The minimum operating temperature is the lowest temperature of the aerosol-generating material at which sufficient aerosol is generated from the material to generate sufficient aerosol for a satisfactory "puff". In some embodiments, the minimum operating temperature of the aerosol-generating material is greater than 90°C, 100°C, 110°C, 120°C, 130°C, 140°C, or 150°C. In some embodiments, the minimum operating temperature of the aerosol-generating material is less than 150°C, 140°C, 130°C, or 120°C.

An objective of the various embodiments is to reduce the time it takes for the aerosol delivery device to be ready for use and, more generally, to improve the inhalation experience of the user. Surprisingly, it has been found that by reducing the time it takes for the heating element or heating unit to reach an operating temperature, the phenomenon of "hot puff", which occurs when the generated aerosol contains a high water content, may be at least partially mitigated. Thus, the aerosol delivery device according to the various embodiments may provide the consumer with an inhalable aerosol having better organoleptic properties than the aerosol provided by a conventional aerosol delivery device that does not include a heating unit that quickly reaches its maximum operating temperature.

In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device is configured such that at least one heating element in the device reaches its maximum operating temperature within 20 seconds, and the first temperature at which the at least one heating unit is held for at least 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 20 seconds is the maximum operating temperature. That is, in these embodiments, the heating unit is not held at a temperature that is not the maximum operating temperature before reaching the maximum operating temperature. In some embodiments, the at least one heating unit reaches its maximum operating temperature within a given period of time from ambient temperature.

The aerosol delivery device may be configured to operate as described herein. The aerosol delivery device may be configured to operate in this manner, at least in part, by a controller that may be programmed to operate the device in one or more different modes. Thus, references herein to the configuration of the aerosol delivery device or its components may refer to a controller that is programmed to operate the aerosol delivery device disclosed herein, among other features (such as the spatial arrangement of the heating unit).

Aerosol-producing articles for aerosol delivery devices (such as tobacco heating products) typically contain more water and/or aerosol-generating agents than combustible smoking articles to facilitate the formation of aerosol during use. This higher water and/or aerosol-generating agent content may increase the risk of condensation collecting in the aerosol delivery device during use, especially away from the heating unit. This problem may be greater in aerosol delivery devices with enclosed heating chambers, especially aerosol delivery devices with external heaters, than in aerosol delivery devices with internal heaters (such as "blade" heaters). Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that a larger proportion/surface area of the aerosol-generating material is heated by the externally heated heating assembly, resulting in more aerosol being emitted than in aerosol delivery devices that heat the aerosol-generating material internally, resulting in more condensation of the aerosol in the aerosol delivery device.

Various programmed heating profiles may be employed in an aerosol delivery device configured to externally heat an aerosol generating material to provide a desired amount of aerosol to a user while keeping the amount of aerosol condensing within the aerosol delivery device relatively low. For example, the maximum operating temperature of a heating unit may affect the amount of condensation formed. A lower maximum operating temperature may result in less undesirable condensation. The difference between the maximum operating temperatures of heating units within a heating assembly may also affect the amount of condensation formed. Additionally, the point in a usage session at which each heating unit reaches its maximum operating temperature may affect the amount of condensation formed.

In use, the aerosol delivery device may heat the aerosol generating material to provide an inhalable aerosol. The aerosol delivery device may be referred to as "ready for use" when at least a portion of the aerosol generating material has reached a minimum operating temperature and the user can take a puff containing a satisfactory amount of aerosol. In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be ready for use within about 20 seconds, or within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds, or within 5 seconds of providing power to one or both heating units. The aerosol delivery device may be ready for use within about 20 seconds, or within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds, or within 5 seconds of activation of the device. The aerosol delivery device may begin providing power to a heating unit, such as a first aerosol generator or a second aerosol generator, when the device is activated, or may begin providing power to the heating unit after the aerosol delivery device is activated. The aerosol delivery device may be configured such that power begins to be provided to one or more heating units some time after activation of the aerosol delivery device, for example at least 1, 2 or 3 seconds after activation of the aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device may be configured such that power is not provided to one of the heating units, or to any heating units present in the heating assembly, until at least 2.5 seconds after activation of the aerosol delivery device. This may extend battery life by avoiding unintended activation of the heating units.

The aerosol delivery device may be ready for use more quickly than corresponding aerosol delivery devices known in the art, providing an improved user experience. Generally, because it takes some time to transfer sufficient thermal energy from the heating units to the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol, the aerosol delivery device is ready for use some time after one of the heating units reaches its maximum operating temperature. The aerosol delivery device may be ready for use within 20 seconds, or within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds, or within 5 seconds after one of the heating units reaches its maximum operating temperature.

In some embodiments, the user's sensory experience resulting from the aerosol generated by the device is similar to the sensory experience of smoking a combustible cigarette, such as a factory-produced cigarette.

The aerosol delivery device may indicate readiness for use via an indicator. In one embodiment, the aerosol delivery device may be configured such that the indicator indicates that the aerosol delivery device is ready for use within about 20 seconds, or within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds, or within 5 seconds after power is applied to one of the heating units. In a particular embodiment, the aerosol delivery device may be configured such that the indicator indicates that the aerosol delivery device is ready for use within about 20 seconds, or within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds, or within 5 seconds after activation of the device. In another embodiment, the device is configured such that the indicator indicates that the device is ready for use within about 20 seconds, i.e., within 15 seconds, or within 10 seconds after the first aerosol generator reaches its maximum operating temperature.

As used herein, a "puff" refers to a single inhalation by a user of the aerosol generated by an aerosol delivery device.

As used herein, a "use session" refers to a single period of use of an aerosol delivery device by a user. A use session begins when power is first supplied to at least one heating unit present in the heating assembly. After a period of time has elapsed since the start of the use session, the device is ready for use.

A use session ends when no power is supplied to any of the heating units in the aerosol delivery device. The end of a use session may coincide with the exhaustion of the aerosol product (when the total particulate matter yield (mg) in each puff is deemed unacceptably low by the user). A session may include multiple puffs. A session may have a duration of less than 7 minutes, or less than 6 minutes, or less than 5 minutes, or less than 4 minutes 30 seconds, or less than 4 minutes, or less than 3 minutes 30 seconds. In some embodiments, a use session may have a duration of 2-5 minutes, or 3-4.5 minutes, or 3.5-4.5 minutes, or about 4 minutes. A session is initiated by a user activating a button or switch on the device, which may initiate a temperature increase of at least one heating unit upon activation or some time after activation.

A use session may be determined to begin when power or energy is first provided to the heating units after an aerosol product item is inserted into the aerosol delivery device. A use session may be determined to begin when power or energy is first provided to one or more heating units to raise the temperature of the one or more heating units to an operating temperature Tmin so that a user can take a first puff of aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating material. According to various embodiments, Tmin may be within the following ranges: (i) 200-210°C, (ii) 210-220°C, (iii) 220-230°C, (iv) 230-240°C, (v) 240-250°C, (vi) 250-260°C, (vii) 260-270°C, (viii) 270-280°C, (ix) 280-290°C, and (x) 290-300°C.

A usage session may be determined to end when power or energy is no longer supplied to one or more heating units. A usage session may be determined to end when the aerosol generating material is substantially consumed or when the user is unable to take further puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material.

A usage session may be determined to relate to a period of time during which a user can take multiple puffs of aerosol generated from the aerosol generating material without replacing or refilling the aerosol generating material.

In some embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be operable in at least a first (e.g., base) mode of operation and a second (e.g., boost) mode of operation.

The heating assembly may be operable in up to two operating modes, or may be operable in more than two modes, such as three modes, four modes, or five modes. Each operating mode may be associated with a predefined heating profile for each heating unit in the heating assembly, such as a programmed heating profile. One or more of the programmed heating profiles may be programmed by a user. Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the programmed heating profiles may be programmed by a manufacturer. In these examples, one or more of the programmed heating profiles may be fixed such that an end user cannot change the one or more programmed heating profiles.

The operating mode may be user selectable. For example, a user may select a desired operating mode by interacting with a user interface. Power may begin to be supplied to the first aerosol generator substantially simultaneously with the desired operating mode being selected.

Each mode may be associated with a temperature profile that is different from the temperature profiles of the other modes. Additionally, one or more modes may be associated with a different time at which the device is ready for use. For example, the heating assembly may be configured such that in a first mode, the device is ready for use a first period of time after the start of a use session, and in a second mode, the device is ready for use a second period of time after the start of the session. The first period of time may be different from the second period of time.

In some examples, the heating assembly may be configured such that the aerosol delivery device is ready for use within 30, 25, 20, or 15 seconds of providing power to the heating unit when operating in the first mode. The heating assembly may also be configured such that the aerosol delivery device is ready for use within a shorter period of time when operating in the second mode, i.e., within 25, 20, 15, or 10 seconds of providing power to the heating unit when operating in the second mode. In certain embodiments, the aerosol delivery device may be configured such that an indicator indicates that the aerosol delivery device is ready for use within 20 seconds of selecting the first (e.g., base) mode and within 10 seconds of selecting the second (e.g., boost) mode.

Providing an aerosol delivery device, such as a tobacco heating product, with a heating assembly operable in multiple modes (e.g., base and boost modes) gives consumers more options, especially when each mode is associated with a different maximum heater temperature. Furthermore, such an aerosol delivery device can provide different aerosols with different properties because volatile components in the aerosol generating material volatilize at different rates and concentrations at different heater temperatures. This allows a user to select a particular mode based on the desired properties of the inhalable aerosol, such as the degree of tobacco flavoring, nicotine concentration, and aerosol temperature. For example, a mode that more quickly renders the aerosol delivery device ready for use (e.g., the second or "boost" mode) may provide a more rapid first puff, or a higher nicotine content per puff, or a more concentrated flavoring per puff. Conversely, a mode that renders the aerosol delivery device ready for use at a later point in the use session (e.g., the first or base mode) may provide a longer overall use session, a reduced nicotine content per puff, and a more sustained delivery of flavoring.

In embodiments in which the aerosol delivery device is ready for use more quickly in the second (e.g., boost) mode and/or the first and/or second aerosol generators have a higher maximum operating temperature in the second mode, the second mode may be referred to as a "boost" mode. Various embodiments provide an aerosol delivery device operable in a first "regular" or "base" mode and a second "boost" mode. The "boost" mode may provide a faster first puff, or a higher nicotine content per puff, or a more concentrated flavor per puff.

The aerosol delivery device may include up to two heating units. In other examples, the aerosol delivery device may include more than two independently controllable heating units, such as three, four or five independently controllable heating units.

As mentioned above, in some embodiments, at least one of the heating units provided in the heating assembly may comprise an induction heating unit. In these embodiments, the heating unit may comprise an inductor (e.g., one or more inductor coils), and the aerosol delivery device may be arranged to pass a variable current, such as an alternating current, through the inductor. The variable current in the inductor generates a varying magnetic field. When the inductor and the heating element are appropriately positioned relative to one another, the varying magnetic field generated by the inductor penetrates the heating element and generates one or more eddy currents within the heating element. When such eddy currents are generated in the object, their flow against the electrical resistance of the object heats the object by Joule heating, since the heating element has a resistance to the flow of current. Providing a varying magnetic field to the susceptor may conveniently be referred to as providing energy to the susceptor.

Another aspect is an aerosol generation system comprising an aerosol delivery device as described herein in combination with an aerosol product article.

Now, for illustrative purposes, an aerosol delivery device will be described.

FIG. 1A shows an inductive heating assembly 100 of an aerosol delivery device, provided for illustrative purposes to show various aspects of a non-combustion heated aerosol delivery device. FIG. 1B shows a cross-sectional view of the inductive heating assembly 100 of the device. The heating assembly 100 has a first or proximal or mouth end 102 and a second or distal end 104. In use, a user inhales the formed aerosol from the mouth end 102 of the aerosol delivery device. The mouth end 102 may be an open end.

The heating assembly 100 includes a first induction heating unit 110 and a second induction heating unit 120. The first induction heating unit 110 includes a first inductor coil 112 and a first heating element 114. The second induction heating unit 120 includes a second inductor coil 122 and a second heating element 124.

1A and 1B show the aerosol product article 130 received within a single susceptor 140 (see FIG. 1B). The single susceptor 140 forms both the first induction heating element 114 and the second induction heating element 124. The susceptor 140 may be formed from any material suitable for heating by induction. For example, the susceptor 140 may include a metal. In some embodiments, the susceptor 140 may include a non-ferrous metal, such as copper, nickel, titanium, aluminum, tin, or zinc, and/or an iron-based material, such as iron, nickel, or cobalt. Additionally or alternatively, the susceptor 140 may include a semiconductor, such as silicon carbide, carbon, or graphite.

Each induction heating element present in the aerosol delivery device may have any suitable shape. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the induction heating elements 114, 124 surround the aerosol product article and define a receptacle for externally heating the aerosol product article. In other arrangements (not shown), one or more induction heating elements may be substantially elongated and may be positioned to penetrate the aerosol product article and heat the aerosol product article internally.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the first induction heating element 114 and the second induction heating element 124 may be provided together as an integral susceptor element 140. That is, in some embodiments, there is no physical distinction between the first heating element 114 and the second heating element 124. Rather, the different characteristics between the first and second aerosol generators 110, 120 are defined by separate inductor coils 112, 122 surrounding each induction heating element 114, 124, so that they may be controlled independently of one another. In other embodiments (not shown), physically separate induction heating elements may be employed.

The first and second inductor coils 112, 122 may be made from a conductive material. For example, the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 may be made from LITZ® wire/cable that is helically wound to provide the helical inductor coils 112, 122. LITZ® wire includes multiple individual wires that are individually insulated and twisted together to form a single wire. LITZ® wire is designed to reduce skin effect losses in the conductor. In the exemplary induction heating assembly 100, the first and second inductor coils 124, 126 are made from copper LITZ® wire with a circular cross section. In other examples, the LITZ® wire can have other shaped cross sections, such as circular.

The first inductor coil 112 is configured to generate a first varying magnetic field for heating the first induction heating element 114, and the second inductor coil 122 is configured to generate a second varying magnetic field for heating a second section of the susceptor 124. The first inductor coil 112 and the first induction heating element 114 together form the first induction heating unit 110. Similarly, the second inductor coil 122 and the second induction heating element 124 together form the second induction heating unit 120.

In this example, the first inductor coil 112 is adjacent to the second inductor coil 122 in a direction along the longitudinal axis of the device heating assembly 100 (i.e., the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 do not overlap). The susceptor fixture 140 may comprise a single susceptor. The ends 150 of the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 may be connected to a controller, such as a PCB (not shown). In an embodiment, the controller may comprise a PID controller (proportional integral derivative controller).

The varying magnetic field generates eddy currents in the first induction heating element 114, thereby rapidly heating the first induction heating element 114 to a maximum operating temperature within a short period of time, e.g., 20, 15, 12, 10, 5, or 2 seconds, after supplying alternating current to the coil 112. Locating the first induction heating unit 110, which is configured to quickly reach a maximum operating temperature, closer to the mouth end 102 of the heating assembly 100 than the second induction heating unit 120 may mean that an acceptable aerosol is provided to the user as soon as possible after the start of a usage session.

It will be appreciated that the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 may have at least one characteristic that differs from one another in some examples. For example, the first inductor coil 112 may have at least one characteristic that differs from the second inductor coil 122. More specifically, in one example, the first inductor coil 112 may have a different inductance value than the second inductor coil 122. In FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 are of different lengths such that the first inductor coil 112 is wound over a smaller section of the susceptor 140 than the second inductor coil 122. Thus, the first inductor coil 112 may include a different number of turns than the second inductor coil 122 (assuming that the spacing between the individual turns is substantially the same). In yet another example, the first inductor coil 112 may be made of a different material than the second inductor coil 122. In some examples, the first and second inductor coils 112, 122 may be substantially identical.

In this example, the first inductor coil 112 and the second inductor coil 122 are wound in the same direction. However, in another embodiment, the inductor coils 112, 122 may be wound in opposite directions. This can be useful when the inductor coils are active at different times. For example, the first inductor coil 112 may operate to heat the first induction heating element 114 first, and then the second inductor coil 122 may operate to heat the second induction heating element 124. Winding the coils in opposite directions helps reduce current induced in inactive coils when used with certain types of control circuits. In one example, the first inductor coil 112 may be a right-handed helical spiral and the second inductor coil 122 may be a left-handed helical spiral. In another example, the first inductor coil 112 may be a left-handed helical spiral and the second inductor coil 122 may be a right-handed helical spiral.

The coils 112, 122 may have any suitable geometric shape. Without wishing to be bound by theory, configuring the induction heating element smaller (e.g., smaller helical pitch, fewer helical turns, shorter overall helical length) may increase the speed at which the induction heating element can reach a maximum operating temperature. In some embodiments, the first coil 112 may have a length in the longitudinal direction of the heating assembly 100 of less than about 20 mm, less than 18 mm, less than 16 mm, or about 14 mm. The first coil 112 may have a shorter length in the longitudinal direction of the heating assembly 100 than the second coil 124. Such an arrangement may provide asymmetric heating of the aerosol product article along the length of the aerosol product article.

The single susceptor 140 in this example is hollow and thus defines a receptacle in which the aerosol generating material is received. For example, the article 130 can be inserted into the susceptor 140. In this example, the susceptor 140 is tubular with a circular cross section. The induction heating elements 114, 124 surround the aerosol product article 130 and are positioned to heat the aerosol product article 130 from the outside. The aerosol supply device is configured such that when the aerosol product article 130 is received in the susceptor 140, the outer surface of the article 130 abuts the inner surface of the susceptor 140. This ensures that heating occurs most efficiently. The article 130 in this example includes an aerosol generating material. The aerosol generating material is positioned within the susceptor 140. The article 130 may also include other components such as a filter, a packaging material, and/or a cooling structure. The heating assembly 100 is not limited to two heating units. In some examples, the heating assembly 100 may include three, four, five, six, or more than six heating units. Each of these heating units may be controllable independently of the other heating units present in the heating assembly 100.

2A and 2B, there are shown a partial cross-sectional view and a perspective view of an example of an aerosol product article 200, provided for illustrative purposes only. The aerosol product article 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B corresponds to the aerosol product article 130 shown in FIG. 1.

The aerosol product article 200 may be in any shape suitable for use with an aerosol delivery device. The aerosol product article 130 may be in the form of, or provided as part of, a cartridge or cassette or rod that can be inserted into the device. In the arrangement shown in Figures 1A, 1B and 2, the aerosol product article 130 is in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod including a body 202 of smokable material and a filter assembly 204 in the form of a rod.

The filter assembly 204 includes three segments: a cooling segment 206, a filter segment 208, and a mouth end segment 210. The article 200 has a first end 212, also known as the mouth end or proximal end, and a second end 214, also known as the distal end. The body 202 of aerosol-generating material is positioned toward the distal end 214 of the article 200.

In one example, the cooling segment 206 is positioned adjacent to the body of aerosol-generating material 202 between the body of aerosol-generating material 202 and the filter segment 208 such that the cooling segment 206 is in abutting relationship with the aerosol-generating material 202 and the filter segment 208. In other examples, there may be a separation between the body of aerosol-generating material 202 and the cooling segment 206, and between the body of aerosol-generating material 202 and the filter segment 208. The filter segment 208 is positioned between the cooling segment 206 and the mouth end segment 210. The mouth end segment 210 is positioned adjacent to the filter segment 208 toward the proximal end 212 of the article 200. In one example, the filter segment 208 is in abutting relationship with the mouth end segment 210. In one embodiment, the overall length of the filter assembly 204 is between 37 mm and 45 mm, and optionally, the overall length of the filter assembly 204 is 41 mm.

In use, the portions 202a, 202b of the body 202 of aerosol-generating material may correspond to the first and second induction heating elements 114, 124, respectively, of the portion 100 shown in FIG. 1B.

The body of smokable material may have multiple portions 202a, 202b corresponding to multiple induction heating elements present in the aerosol delivery device. For example, the aerosol product article 200 may have a first portion 202a corresponding to the first induction heating element 114 and a second portion 202b corresponding to the second induction heating element 124. These portions 202a, 202b may exhibit different temperature profiles from each other during a use session. The temperature profiles of the portions 202a, 202b may be derived from the temperature profiles of the first induction heating element 114 and the second induction heating element 124, respectively.

When there are multiple portions 202a, 202b of the body 202 of aerosol-generating material, any number of the substrate portions 202a, 202b may have substantially the same composition. In certain examples, all of the substrate portions 202a, 202b have substantially the same composition. The body 202 of aerosol-generating material may be an integral continuum, and there may be no physical separation between the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b. Additionally, the first portion 202a and the second portion 202b may be of substantially the same composition.

According to various embodiments, the body 202 of aerosol-generating material includes tobacco. The body 202 of smoking material may be comprised of tobacco, may be comprised substantially entirely of tobacco, may include tobacco and aerosol-generating materials other than tobacco, may include aerosol-generating materials other than tobacco, or may be free of tobacco. The aerosol-generating material may include an aerosol-generating agent, such as glycerol. In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material may include one or more tobacco components, a filler component, a binder, and an aerosol-generating agent.

An "aerosol generating agent" is an agent that facilitates the generation of an aerosol. An aerosol generating agent can facilitate the generation of an aerosol by facilitating the initial vaporization and/or condensation of a gas into an inhalable solid and/or liquid aerosol. In some embodiments, an aerosol generating agent may improve the delivery of flavorings from an aerosol product.

In certain embodiments, the aerosol-generating material includes a tobacco component in an amount of 60-90% by weight of the tobacco composition, a filler component in an amount of 0-20% by weight of the tobacco composition, and an aerosol-generating agent in an amount of 10-20% by weight of the tobacco composition. The tobacco component may include reconstituted tobacco with paper in an amount of 70-100% by weight of the tobacco component. In one example, the body 202 of aerosol-generating material is 34 mm to 50 mm long, optionally, the body 202 of aerosol-generating material is 38 mm to 46 mm long, and further optionally, the body 202 of aerosol-generating material is 42 mm long.

In one example, the overall length of the article 200 is between 71 mm and 95 mm, optionally, the overall length of the article 200 is between 79 mm and 87 mm, and further optionally, the overall length of the article 200 is 83 mm. The axial end of the body 202 of aerosol-generating material is visible at the distal end 214 of the article 200. However, in other embodiments, the distal end 214 of the article 200 may include an end member (not shown) that covers the axial end of the body 202 of aerosol-generating material.

The body 202 of aerosol-generating material is positioned approximately around the circumference of the filter assembly 204 to surround the filter assembly 204 and is joined to the filter assembly 204 by an annular beveled paper (not shown) that extends partially along the length of the body 202 of aerosol-generating material. In one example, the tipping paper is made from 58 GSM standard tipping paper. In one example, the tipping paper has a length of 42 mm to 50 mm, and optionally, the tipping paper has a length of 46 mm.

In one example, the cooling segment 206 is an annular tube positioned around the cooling segment and defining an air gap within the cooling segment. The air gap provides a chamber for the flow of heated volatile components generated from the body 202 of aerosol-generating material. The cooling segment 206 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, but is rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur during manufacture and while the article 200 is inserted into the device 100 in use. In one example, the wall thickness of the cooling segment 206 is about 0.29 mm.

The cooling segment 206 provides a physical displacement between the aerosol generating material 202 and the filter segment 208. The physical displacement provided by the cooling segment 206 provides a thermal gradient over the length of the cooling segment 206. In one example, the cooling segment 206 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 40° C. between the heated volatile component entering the first end of the cooling segment 206 and the heated volatile component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 206. In one example, the cooling segment 206 is configured to provide a temperature difference of at least 60° C. between the heated volatile component entering the first end of the cooling segment 206 and the heated volatile component exiting the second end of the cooling segment 206. This temperature difference over the length of the cooling element 206 protects the temperature sensitive filter segment 208 from the high temperature of the aerosol generating material 202 when heated by the heating assembly 100 of the device aerosol delivery device. If no physical displacement is provided between the filter segment 208 and the body 202 of aerosol-generating material and the heating elements 114, 124 of the heating assembly 100, the temperature sensitive filter segment 208 may be damaged during use and therefore will not effectively perform its required function.

In one example, the length of the cooling segment 206 is at least 15 mm. In one example, the length of the cooling segment 206 is between 20 mm and 30 mm, more specifically between 23 mm and 27 mm, more specifically between 25 mm and 27 mm, more specifically 25 mm.

The cooling segment 206 may be made from paper and is therefore constructed of materials that do not produce compounds of concern, e.g., toxic compounds, when used adjacent to the heater assembly 100 of the aerosol delivery device. In one example, the cooling segment 206 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube that provides a hollow interior chamber but maintains mechanical rigidity. A spirally wound paper tube can meet the stringent dimensional accuracy requirements of high speed manufacturing processes for tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness.

In another example, the cooling segment 206 is a recess formed from a rigid plug wrap or tipping paper. The rigid plug wrap or tipping paper is manufactured to be sufficiently rigid to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur while the article 200 is inserted into the device 100 during manufacture and in use.

For each example of cooling segment 206, the dimensional accuracy of the cooling segment is sufficient to meet the dimensional accuracy requirements of a high speed manufacturing process.

The filter segment 208 may be formed of any filter material sufficient to remove one or more volatile compounds from the heated volatile components from the smokable material. In one example, the filter segment 208 is made from a monoacetate material, such as cellulose acetate. The filter segment 208 provides cooling and reduced irritation from the heated volatile components without depleting the amount of the heated volatile components to a level that is unsatisfactory for the user.

The density of the cellulose acetate tow material of the filter segment 208 controls the pressure drop across the filter segment 208, which in turn controls the retraction resistance of the article 200. Therefore, the selection of the material for the filter segment 208 is important in controlling the retraction resistance of the article 200. Additionally, the filter segment 208 performs a filtration function in the article 200.

In one example, the filter segment 208 is made from 8Y15 grade filter tow material, which provides a filtering effect for the heated volatile material while also reducing the size of the condensed aerosol droplets resulting from the heated volatile material, which in turn reduces the irritation and throat impact of the heated volatile material to a satisfactory level.

The presence of the filter segment 208 provides an insulating effect by providing additional cooling to the heated volatile components exiting the cooling segment 206. This additional cooling effect reduces the contact temperature of the user's lips on the surface of the filter segment 208. One or more flavors may be added to the filter segment 208 in the form of direct injection of a flavored liquid into the filter segment 208 or by embedding or disposing one or more flavored breakable capsules or other flavor carriers within the cellulose acetate tow of the filter segment 208.

In one example, the filter segment 208 is 6 mm to 10 mm in length, optionally 8 mm. The mouth end segment 210 is an annular tube positioned around and defining an air gap in the mouth end segment 210. The air gap provides a chamber for heated volatile components flowing from the filter segment 208. The mouth end segment 210 is hollow to provide a chamber for aerosol accumulation, yet is rigid enough to withstand axial compressive forces and bending moments that may occur while the article is inserted into the device 100 during manufacture and use. In one example, the wall thickness of the mouth end segment 210 is about 0.29 mm.

In one example, the mouth end segment 210 has a length between 6 mm and 10 mm, optionally 8 mm. In one example, the mouth end segment has a thickness of 0.29 mm. The mouth end segment 210 may be manufactured from a spirally wound paper tube that provides a hollow interior chamber but maintains critical mechanical stiffness. A spirally wound paper tube can meet the stringent dimensional accuracy requirements of high speed manufacturing processes for tube length, outer diameter, roundness and straightness. The mouth end segment 210 provides the function of preventing liquid condensation that accumulates at the outlet of the filter segment 208 from coming into direct contact with the user.

It should be appreciated that in one example, the mouth end segment 210 and the cooling segment 206 may be formed from a single tube, with the filter segment 208 positioned within the tube separating the mouth end segment 210 and the cooling segment 206.

The article 200 is provided with a ventilation region 216 that allows air to flow from the exterior of the article 200 to the interior of the article 200. In one example, the ventilation region 216 takes the form of one or more vent holes 216 formed through an outer layer of the article 200. The vent holes may be positioned within the cooling segment 206 to aid in cooling the article 200. In one example, the ventilation region 216 comprises one or more rows of holes, optionally each row of holes disposed circumferentially around the article 200 in a cross section substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the article 200.

In one example, there are 1-4 rows of vent holes to provide ventilation to the article 200. Each row of vent holes may have 12-36 vent holes 216. The vent holes 216 may be, for example, 100-500 μm in diameter. In one example, the axial spacing between the rows of vent holes 216 is 0.25 mm-0.75 mm, and optionally, the axial spacing between the rows of vent holes 216 is 0.5 mm.

In one example, the vent holes 216 are uniform in size. In another example, the vent holes 216 vary in size. The vent holes can be created using any suitable technique, such as one or more of a laser technique, mechanical drilling of the cooling segment 206, or pre-drilling of the cooling segment 206 before it is formed into the article 200. The vent holes 216 are positioned to provide effective cooling to the article 200.

In one example, the row of vents 216 is positioned at least 11 mm from the proximal end 212 of the article, and optionally, the vents are positioned 17 mm to 20 mm from the proximal end 212 of the article 200. The positions of the vents 216 are positioned such that a user does not block the vents 216 when using the article 200.

By providing a row of vent holes 17-20 mm from the proximal end 212 of the article 200, the vent holes 216 can be positioned on the outside of the device 100 when the article 200 is fully inserted into the device 100, as can be seen in FIG. 1. By positioning the vent holes on the outside of the apparatus, unheated air can enter the article 200 from outside the device 100 through the vent holes to help cool the article 200.

The length of the cooling segment 206 is such that when the article 200 is fully inserted into the device 100, the cooling segment 206 is partially inserted into the device 100. The length of the cooling segment 206 provides a first function of providing a physical gap between the heater facility and the heat sensitive filter facility 208 of the device 100 when the article 200 is fully inserted into the device 100, and a second function of allowing the vent 216 to be positioned within the cooling segment while also being positioned outside the device 100. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the majority of the cooling element 206 is positioned within the device 100. However, there is a portion of the cooling element 206 that extends from the device 100. It is in this portion of the cooling element 206 that the vent 216 extends from the device 100 where it is positioned.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, various embodiments of the aerosol delivery device will be described in more detail.

3 shows a heating assembly of an aerosol delivery device 300 according to one embodiment. The aerosol delivery device 300 has a first section that accommodates a first aerosol generating material and a second section that accommodates a second aerosol generating material, and is arranged to generate an aerosol from an aerosol product article that is inserted into an upper opening of the body of the aerosol delivery device 300 in use. An aerosol product article that may be inserted into the aerosol delivery device 300, having a first section that accommodates a first aerosol generating material and a second section that accommodates a second aerosol generating material, is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4.

The aerosol product article that may be inserted into the aerosol delivery device 300 may comprise several sections. According to one embodiment, the aerosol product article may comprise a mouthpiece section that may comprise a cellulose acetate filter. The mouthpiece section may be followed by a paper tube section. The paper tube section may be followed by a first (e.g., liquid or gel) section that may comprise a cartomizer or cartridge having a liquid or gel reservoir, and the first (e.g., liquid or gel) section may be followed by a second (e.g., solid) section that may comprise an active substance.
The active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, and psychoactive agents. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco.

According to one embodiment, the second section may comprise a tobacco rod. The gel may be provided in the form of a thin film. The aerosol delivery device 300 shown in FIG. 3 comprises a first aerosol generator comprising a first induction coil 301 and a first susceptor 303 for heating a first section of the aerosol product article when the aerosol product article is inserted into the aerosol delivery device 300.

The aerosol delivery device 300 further comprises a second aerosol generator comprising a second induction coil 302 and a second susceptor 304 for heating a second section of the aerosol product article when the aerosol product article is inserted into the aerosol delivery device 300.

Other embodiments are also contemplated in which either the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator may comprise a resistive heater comprising an electrically conductive heating element. The resistive heater may comprise an electrical resistive winding or thin film that may be disposed inside a tube surrounding the aerosol product article.

According to one embodiment, the first aerosol generator may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor, and the second aerosol generator may comprise a resistive heater. Alternatively, the first aerosol generator may comprise a resistive heater, and the second aerosol generator may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor.

It will therefore be appreciated that the heating element that heats either the first section or the second section of the aerosol generating material may comprise either a susceptor (in an induction heating unit) or an electrically conductive heating element such as an electrical resistive winding or thin film (in a resistive heating unit).

The first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator are positioned to heat but not burn the aerosol product.

According to various embodiments, an insulating member, portion or spacer 305 is provided between the first susceptor 303 and the second susceptor 304 (or more generally between the first heating element and the second heating element), the insulating member, portion or spacer 305 being positioned to maintain a separation distance between the first susceptor 303 and the second susceptor 304 (or between the first heating element and the second heating element).

The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 is positioned to maintain a desired spacing between the two susceptors 303, 304 (or heating elements) and may also function to reduce heat transfer between the two susceptors 303, 304 (or heating elements). In particular, when an aerosol product article having a first section containing a first aerosol generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol generating material is desired to be heated in the aerosol delivery device 300, it may be desired to heat the two sections of the aerosol product article to different temperatures. Thus, the insulating member, portion or spacer 305 is beneficial in allowing two different sections of the aerosol product article to be heated to different temperatures and helps prevent one susceptor (or heating element) that may be heated to a high temperature from inadvertently heating the other susceptor (or heating element) to the same or similar temperature by thermal conduction.

The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be substantially annular or ring shaped. The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be solid and may be gas impermeable such that gas cannot pass through the insulating member, portion or spacer 305.

The insulating members or spacers 305 are positioned to maintain a spacing between the ends of the first susceptor 303 (or first heating element) and the ends of the second susceptor 304 (or second heating element) of 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, 2.4-2.5 mm, or 2.0 mm. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the separation distance maintained between the two heating elements is less than 1.5 mm or greater than 2.5 mm.

The first susceptor 303 (or heating element) may be substantially cylindrical or tubular, and/or the second susceptor 304 (or heating element) may also be substantially cylindrical or tubular. According to one embodiment, an end or lip of the first susceptor 303 (or heating element) may be received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member or spacer 305. Similarly, according to one embodiment, an end or lip of the second susceptor 304 (or heating element) may be received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member or spacer 305.

The first susceptor 303 (or heating element) may have a first outer diameter d1, the second susceptor 304 (or heating element) may have a second outer diameter d2, and the insulating member, part or spacer 305 may have a third outer diameter d3, where d3>d2 and d3>d1.

The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be positioned to be in physical contact with the first susceptor 303 (or heating element) and/or the second susceptor 304 (or heating element).

The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be positioned such that it is not in physical contact with the first susceptor 303 (or heating element) and/or the second susceptor 304 (or heating element). That is, there may be an air gap between the insulating member and one or both of the first and second susceptors (or heating elements). The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may comprise an insulating material, such as a plastic material or other suitable insulating material.

According to another arrangement, the first susceptor 303 and the second susceptor 304 may be separated by an air gap, i.e., no spacer 305 is provided. Other arrangements are contemplated, more generally in which the first and second heating elements are separated by an air gap. The total thickness of the air gap and/or insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, or 2.4-2.5 mm. The total thickness of the air gap or insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may be 2.0 mm. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the total thickness may be less than 1.5 mm or more than 2.5 mm.

The insulating member, portion or spacer 305 may comprise a plastic part or spacer that may be positioned to keep the susceptors 303, 304 or heating elements separated by an optimal separation distance that may be in the range of 1.5-2.5 mm according to various embodiments. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the insulating member, portion or spacer 305 positioned between the two heating elements may comprise any suitable insulating material.

The aerosol delivery device 300 comprises an opening into which the aerosol product is inserted during use. A first aerosol generator comprising a first induction coil 301 and a first susceptor 303 (or more generally a first heating element) is positioned closer to the opening than a second aerosol generator comprising a second induction coil 302 and a second susceptor 304 (or more generally a second heating element).

The aerosol delivery device 300 comprises a control circuit arranged to operate both the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator. In particular, the control circuit is arranged to operate the first and second induction coils 301, 302 to generate a time-varying magnetic field. The time-varying magnetic field induced by the first induction coil 301 heats the first susceptor 303, and the time-varying magnetic field induced by the second induction coil 302 heats the second susceptor 304.

Alternatively, the control circuitry may be arranged to pass a current through the first resistive heating element and/or the second resistive heating element, the resistive heating elements comprising a conductive element.

According to various embodiments, the second section of the aerosol product article (which may include solid granules) may be arranged to be heated to a lower temperature (e.g., 200°C) than the first section of the aerosol product article, which may include a cartomizer or cartridge containing a liquid or gel, which may be arranged to be heated to a temperature of, for example, 250°C. However, other embodiments are contemplated in which the first section may include solid granules and the second section may include a liquid or gel. The gel may include a thin film.

The control circuitry may be arranged to cause the first aerosol generator, comprising the first induction coil 301 and the first susceptor 303 (or more generally the first heating element), to heat the first section of the aerosol product article to a temperature of about 250°C during use. According to various embodiments, the first aerosol generator may be arranged to heat the first section of the aerosol product article to a temperature of 200-210°C, 210-220°C, 220-230°C, 230-240°C, 240-250°C, 250-260°C, 260-270°C, 270-280°C, 280-290°C or 290-300°C.

The control circuitry may be arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator and leave the first aerosol generator on for the entire duration of the session. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the control circuitry may be arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator for at least 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the entire duration of the session.

The control circuitry may be arranged to cause the second aerosol generator, in use, to heat the second section of the aerosol delivery device to a temperature of T2, which may be 200°C. Other embodiments are contemplated in which T2 is within the range of 150-160°C, 160-170°C, 170-180°C, 180-190°C, 190-200°C, 200-210°C, 210-220°C, 220-230°C, 230-240°C or 240-250°C.

The control circuitry may be arranged to turn on the second aerosol generator and leave the second aerosol generator on for the duration of the session. Other embodiments are contemplated in which the control circuitry may be arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator for at least 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the total duration of the session.

The aerosol delivery device 300 may further include an aluminum shroud disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator. The aluminum shroud may be disposed to retain heat within the heating assembly of the aerosol delivery device 300. The aluminum shroud may also reduce heat transfer to the outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device 300. One or more layers of graphite or graphite tape may be disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device 300 and/or to reduce heat transfer to the outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device 300.

The aerosol delivery device 300 may further include a recognition device arranged to recognize an aerosol product having a first section containing a first aerosol generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol generating material when the aerosol product is inserted into the aerosol delivery device 300. The recognition device may be arranged to determine whether the first and second aerosol generators should be activated.

According to various embodiments, an aerosol delivery system is disclosed that includes both an aerosol delivery device 300 and an aerosol product article having a first section that contains a first aerosol generating material and a second section that contains a second aerosol generating material. The aerosol product article further includes a mouthpiece section, and the first section of the aerosol product article is closer to the mouthpiece section than the second section of the aerosol product article.

The aerosol delivery device 300 is arranged to generate an aerosol from the aerosol product. The aerosol delivery device 300 may be arranged such that the temperature of the aerosol emitted from the mouthpiece section of the aerosol product is less than 40°C during use.

Figure 4 shows an aerosol product article 400 in more detail according to one embodiment. The aerosol product article 400 comprises a filter section 401, which according to one embodiment may be 10 mm long. The filter section 401 may comprise cellulose acetate filter tow, such as Tow 5.0/30,000. The cellulose acetate tow may be surrounded by an outer wrap, which may comprise HENGFENG® 27 gsm paper.

The filter section 401 is sometimes referred to as the mouthpiece section, as the user places the filter section 401 in the mouth. After the filter section 401 is provided a paper tube section 402, which according to one embodiment may be 16mm long. The paper tube section 402 is essentially a spacer and may comprise DELFORT® 21.0mm/21.8mm.

After the paper tube section 402, a first section 403 is provided. In the particular embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the first section 403 comprises a cartomizer or cartridge that may comprise a non-woven cotton wick 405 that may be impregnated with gel or liquid. The wick 405 may be surrounded by an outer wrap of aluminum foil 406 that may have a thickness of 32 μm.

The aerosol product article 400 further comprises a second section 404 following the first section 403, the second section 404 may comprise a tobacco plug. More generally, the second section 404 may comprise an active substance. The active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive substances. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substance may comprise one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco.

A first (e.g., liquid or gel) section 403 and a second (e.g., solid) section 404 may be provided in an outer wrap of HENGFENG® 27 gsm paper. The first (e.g., liquid or gel) section 403 of the aerosol product article 400 may contain a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material, and the second (e.g., solid) section 404 may contain a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include granules formed from an active substance. The active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive agents. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substance may include one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco.

According to the embodiment shown and described with reference to FIG. 4, the overall length of the aerosol product article 400 may be 48 mm, and the aerosol product article may have a diameter of 22.8 mm, 22.9 mm, or 23.0 mm.

Alternative embodiments are contemplated in which the aerosol product may be configured differently. For example, according to one embodiment, the aerosol product may comprise a filter section, a paper tube section, and a combined first and second section, the combined first and second sections including a mixture of shredded gel and tobacco. More generally, the combined first and second sections may include a mixture of active substances. The active substances may be physiologically active materials, which are materials intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substances may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive agents. The active substances may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substances may include one or more components, derivatives, or extracts of tobacco. According to one embodiment, the overall length of the aerosol product may be, for example, greater than 75 mm, and the diameter may be, for example, less than 20.35 mm.

According to another embodiment, the aerosol product may comprise a filter section, a paper tube section, and a combined first and second section, the combined first and second sections comprising a tobacco rod formed with a double layer wrap encasing the tobacco rod. More generally, the combined first and second sections may comprise a rod formed from a mixture of active substances. The active substances may be physiologically active materials, which are materials intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substances may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive agents. The active substances may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substances may include, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substances may include one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco.

The double layer wrap may comprise a gel sheet directly surrounding the rod. A paper outer overwrap may be provided. According to this embodiment, the aerosol product may have a total length of 75 mm and a diameter of 20.35 mm.

According to another embodiment, the aerosol product may comprise a filter section, a paper tube section, a first section comprising a solid rod containing an active substance, and a second section comprising a cartomizer or cartridge containing a liquid or gel. The active substance may be a physiologically active material, which is a material intended to achieve or enhance a physiological response. The active substance may be selected from, for example, dietary supplements, nootropics, psychoactive substances. The active substance may be naturally occurring or synthetically obtained. The active substance may comprise, for example, nicotine, caffeine, taurine, theine, vitamins such as B6 or B12 or C, or melatonin. The active substance may comprise one or more components, derivatives or extracts of tobacco.

It will thus be appreciated that this alternative embodiment reverses the position of the liquid or gel section and the rod section as shown in FIG. 4. According to this embodiment, the aerosol product may have a total length of 75 mm and a diameter of 20.35 mm.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as a representative sample of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Additionally, the present disclosure may include other inventions not currently claimed but which may be claimed in the future.

The various embodiments described herein are presented only to aid in the understanding and teaching of the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as a representative sample of embodiments and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects described herein should not be considered as limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or limitations on the equivalents of the claims, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the present invention may suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of any suitable combination of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, the present disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.
[Items of the invention]
[Item 1]
1. An aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, comprising:
a first aerosol generator including a first heating element for generating an aerosol from the first aerosol-generating material;
a second aerosol generator including a second heating element for generating an aerosol from the second aerosol-generating material;
a heat insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element;
An aerosol delivery device comprising:
[Item 2]
2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first aerosol generator comprises a first induction coil and a first susceptor including a material that can be heated by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the first susceptor comprising the first heating element.
[Item 3]
3. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the first susceptor is tubular.
[Item 4]
2. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first aerosol generator comprises a first resistive heater comprising the first heating element.
[Item 5]
5. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein the first resistive heater is tubular.
[Item 6]
6. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or a thin film.
[Item 7]
7. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second aerosol generator comprises a second induction coil and a second susceptor comprising a material heatable by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the second susceptor comprising the second heating element.
[Item 8]
8. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the second susceptor is tubular.
[Item 9]
7. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second aerosol generator comprises a second resistive heater comprising the second heating element.
[Item 10]
10. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9, wherein the second resistive heater is tubular.
[Item 11]
11. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the second heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or a thin film.
[Item 12]
12. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the insulating member is disposed between an end of the first heating element and an end of the second heating element.
[Item 13]
13. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the insulating member is positioned to maintain a spacing between an end of the first heating element and an end of the second heating element of 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, 2.4-2.5 mm, or 2.0 mm.
[Item 14]
14. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.
[Item 15]
15. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.
[Item 16]
16. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first heating element has a first outer diameter d1, the second heating element has a second outer diameter d2, and the insulating member has a third outer diameter d3, wherein d3>d2 and d3>d1.
[Item 17]
Item 17. The aerosol delivery device of any one of items 1 to 16, wherein the insulating member is positioned in physical contact with the first heating element and/or the second heating element.
[Item 18]
Item 18. The aerosol delivery device of any one of items 1 to 17, wherein the insulating member is substantially annular or ring-shaped.
[Item 19]
Item 19. The aerosol delivery device of any one of items 1 to 18, wherein the insulating member comprises an insulating material.
[Item 20]
20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 19, wherein the insulating member comprises a plastic material.
[Item 21]
21. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a non-combustion aerosol delivery device.
[Item 22]
22. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an opening through which an aerosol product article is inserted during use, the first aerosol generator being positioned closer to the opening than the second aerosol generator.
[Item 23]
23. The aerosol delivery device of claim 22, further comprising a control circuit arranged to operate both the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator and, during use, heat the second section of the aerosol product article to a lower temperature than the first section of the aerosol product article.
[Item 24]
24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to cause the first aerosol generator, during use, to heat the first section of the aerosol product article to a temperature of T1, T1 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 250°C, (ii) 200-210°C, (iii) 210-220°C, (iv) 220-230°C, (v) 230-240°C, (vi) 240-250°C, (vii) 250-260°C, (viii) 260-270°C, (ix) 270-280°C, (x) 280-290°C, or (xi) 290-300°C.
[Item 25]
25. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23 or 24, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator and to leave the first aerosol generator on for the duration of a use session.
[Item 26]
26. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to cause the second aerosol generator to heat the second section of the aerosol product article, during use, to a temperature of T2, T2 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 200°C, (ii) 150-160°C, (iii) 160-170°C, (iv) 170-180°C, (v) 180-190°C, (vi) 190-200°C, (vii) 200-210°C, (viii) 210-220°C, (ix) 220-230°C, (x) 230-240°C, or (xi) 240-250°C.
[Item 27]
27. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the control circuit is configured to turn on the second aerosol generator and leave the second aerosol generator on for the duration of a usage session.
[Item 28]
28. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an aluminum shroud disposed on an exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to an outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device.
[Item 29]
29. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising one or more layers of graphite or graphite tape disposed on an exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to an outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device.
[Item 30]
30. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a device arranged to recognise an aerosol product item inserted into the aerosol delivery device during use and to determine whether the first and/or second aerosol generators should be activated.
[Item 31]
31. The aerosol delivery device of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulating member is gas impermeable.
[Item 32]
1. An aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, comprising:
a first aerosol generator including a first heating element for generating an aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, the first aerosol generator including a first resistive heater;
a second aerosol generator comprising a second heating element for generating an aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, the second aerosol generator comprising a second resistive heater;
a gas impermeable insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element;
An aerosol delivery device comprising:
[Item 33]
33. The aerosol delivery device of claim 32, wherein an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member, and an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member.
[Item 34]
Item 34. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of items 1 to 33,
an aerosol production article having a first section containing a first aerosol-forming material and a second section containing a second aerosol-forming material, and further comprising a mouthpiece or filter section, the first section being closer to the mouthpiece or filter section than the second section;
An aerosol delivery system comprising:
[Item 35]
Providing an aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 33;
inserting an aerosol production article into the aerosol delivery device, the aerosol production article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material;
activating the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator;
A method for generating an aerosol comprising:

Claims (35)

1. An aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, comprising:
a first aerosol generator including a first heating element for generating an aerosol from the first aerosol-generating material;
a second aerosol generator including a second heating element for generating an aerosol from the second aerosol-generating material;
an insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first aerosol generator comprises a first induction coil and a first susceptor including a material heatable by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the first susceptor comprising the first heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 2, wherein the first susceptor is tubular. The aerosol delivery device of claim 1, wherein the first aerosol generator comprises a first resistive heater comprising the first heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4, wherein the first resistive heater is tubular. The aerosol delivery device of claim 4 or 5, wherein the first heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or a thin film. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second aerosol generator comprises a second induction coil and a second susceptor including a material that can be heated by penetration by a varying magnetic field, the second susceptor comprising the second heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 7, wherein the second susceptor is tubular. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second aerosol generator comprises a second resistive heater comprising the second heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9, wherein the second resistive heater is tubular. The aerosol delivery device of claim 9 or 10, wherein the second heating element comprises an electrical resistive winding or a thin film. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the insulating member is disposed between an end of the first heating element and an end of the second heating element. The aerosol delivery device of claim 12, wherein the insulating member is positioned to maintain a distance between the end of the first heating element and the end of the second heating element of 1.5-1.6 mm, 1.6-1.7 mm, 1.7-1.8 mm, 1.8-1.9 mm, 1.9-2.0 mm, 2.0-2.1 mm, 2.1-2.2 mm, 2.2-2.3 mm, 2.3-2.4 mm, 2.4-2.5 mm, or 2.0 mm. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the first heating element has a first outer diameter d1, the second heating element has a second outer diameter d2, and the insulating member has a third outer diameter d3, where d3>d2 and d3>d1. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the insulating member is positioned so as to be in physical contact with the first heating element and/or the second heating element. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the insulating member is substantially annular or ring-shaped. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the insulating member comprises an insulating material. 20. The aerosol delivery device of claim 19, wherein the insulating member comprises a plastic material. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 20, comprising a non-combustion aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 21, further comprising an opening through which an aerosol product is inserted during use, the first aerosol generator being positioned closer to the opening than the second aerosol generator. 23. The aerosol delivery device of claim 22, further comprising a control circuit arranged to operate both the first aerosol generator and the second aerosol generator and, in use, heat the second section of the aerosol product to a lower temperature than the first section of the aerosol product. 24. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to cause the first aerosol generator, in use, to heat the first section of the aerosol product to a temperature T1, T1 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 250°C, (ii) 200-210°C, (iii) 210-220°C, (iv) 220-230°C, (v) 230-240°C, (vi) 240-250°C, (vii) 250-260°C, (viii) 260-270°C, (ix) 270-280°C, (x) 280-290°C, or (xi) 290-300°C. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23 or 24, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to turn on the first aerosol generator and to leave the first aerosol generator on for the duration of a use session. The aerosol delivery device of claim 23, 24 or 25, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to cause the second aerosol generator to heat the second section of the aerosol product, in use, to a temperature of T2, T2 being selected from the group consisting of: (i) 200°C, (ii) 150-160°C, (iii) 160-170°C, (iv) 170-180°C, (v) 180-190°C, (vi) 190-200°C, (vii) 200-210°C, (viii) 210-220°C, (ix) 220-230°C, (x) 230-240°C, or (xi) 240-250°C. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the control circuitry is arranged to turn on the second aerosol generator and to leave the second aerosol generator on for the duration of a usage session. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 27, further comprising an aluminum shroud disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to an outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 28, further comprising one or more layers of graphite or graphite tape disposed on the exterior of the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator to retain heat within the aerosol delivery device and/or to reduce heat transfer to an outermost housing of the aerosol delivery device. The aerosol delivery device of any one of claims 1 to 29, further comprising a device arranged to recognise an aerosol product item inserted into the aerosol delivery device during use and to determine whether the first and/or second aerosol generators should be activated. The aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the insulating member is gas impermeable. 1. An aerosol delivery device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol product having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material, comprising:
a first aerosol generator including a first heating element for generating an aerosol from a first aerosol-generating material, the first aerosol generator including a first resistive heater;
a second aerosol generator comprising a second heating element for generating an aerosol from a second aerosol-generating material, the second aerosol generator comprising a second resistive heater;
an insulating member disposed between the first heating element and the second heating element, the insulating member being gas impermeable. 33. The aerosol delivery device of claim 32, wherein an end or lip of the first heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member, and an end or lip of the second heating element is received or positioned within a hole or recess formed in the insulating member. An aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 33;
1. An aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol production article having a first section that contains a first aerosol-generating material and a second section that contains a second aerosol-generating material, and further comprising a mouthpiece or filter section, wherein the first section is closer to the mouthpiece or filter section than the second section. Providing an aerosol delivery device according to any one of claims 1 to 33;
inserting an aerosol production article into the aerosol delivery device, the aerosol production article having a first section containing a first aerosol-generating material and a second section containing a second aerosol-generating material;
and actuating the first aerosol generator and/or the second aerosol generator.

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