Patent Description:
Recently, there is growing demand for an alternative to traditional combustive cigarettes. For example, research has been conducted on a method of providing an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in a liquid or solid state, or generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material and then passing the generated aerosol through an aroma medium.

In an aerosol-generating apparatus for generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating article (e.g., a cigarette), a heater assembly for generating heat from electricity may be used. In general, the heater assembly includes electrodes that supply electricity to a heating element for generating heat from electricity, and when the electrodes contact each other, a short circuit may be generated. To prevent such short circuit, a heating element for surrounding a cigarette may be designed such that both ends do not contact each other.

In this case, however, some portions of an aerosol-generating article are not completely surrounded by the heating element, and thus the heating element may not sufficiently heat the aerosol-generating article, resulting in an insufficient amount of the aerosol.

As a new structure for the heater assembly of an aerosol-generating apparatus, a heating element using circuit patterns arranged on a surface of an insulating substrate is also being considered. In the heating element using the circuit patterns, the circuit patterns generates heat when electricity is supplied. In the circuit patterns, gaps between circuit patterns have to be sufficiently secured to prevent the short circuit. Therefore, there is a limitation to aerosol generation because heat may be insufficiently delivered to some portions of the aerosol-generating article that correspond to the gaps between the circuit patterns, when the circuit pattern surrounding the aerosol-generating article heats the aerosol-generating article. <CIT> relates to a roll-type vapor generator comprising: a metal mesh plate comprising a metal plate having a metal mesh or perforation formed therein so as to have a predetermined width and a predetermined length, and a first conductive portion and a second conductive portion having a predetermined width such that same are coupled to the upper and lower ends of the metal mesh, respectively, and having a length corresponding to the length of the metal mesh, the first and second conductive portions receiving power supplied from the outside and heating the metal mesh; and a vapor generating member having a width and a length corresponding to or smaller than the width and length of the metal mesh, the vapor generating member being obtained by forming a member for generating vapor through heating in a cardboard type or by applying same to the metal mesh plate, wherein the vapor generating member is positioned between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion of the metal mesh plate, and the metal mesh plate is rolled in a roll shape with the vapor generating member positioned therein, thereby constituting the roll-type vapor generator. <CIT> relates to a cylindrical heater for cigarette-type electronic cigarettes comprising: a support; an electrode pattern patterned on one surface of the support so as to generate heat; and a protective layer having insulating properties and covering the electrode pattern. The cylindrical heater is hollow so that some portions of the cigarette having specific length can be inserted.

One or more embodiments provide a heater assembly capable of generating a high-quality aerosol and an aerosol-generating apparatus including the same.

One or more embodiments also provide a heater assembly that uniformly and effectively heats the entire aerosol-generating article, and an aerosol-generating apparatus including the heating assembly.

According to an embodiment, a heater assembly includes a heating element formed in a mesh having a tubular shape, and configured to generate heat when electricity is supplied; and a plurality of electrodes respectively connected to opposite end portions of the heating element in a lengthwise direction, extending in a circumferential direction of the heating element, and configured to supply the electricity to the heating element.

According to the one or more embodiments, in a heater assembly and an aerosol-generating apparatus including the same, electrodes are arranged to extend in a circumferential direction of a heating element, and thus the heating element may uniformly heat the entire aerosol-generating article. Thus, the heating performance of the heating assembly may be improved, and a high-quality aerosol may be generated by uniformly heating the aerosol-generating article.

With respect to the terms used to describe in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like.

If one component or layer is mentioned to be "over," "above," "connected to," or "combined with" another component or layer, the one component or layer is arranged to be over, above, connected to, or combined with the other component or layer with or without an intervening component(s) or layer(s). In contrast, if one component or layer is mentioned to be "directly over," "directly above," "directly connected to," or "directly combined with" another component or layer, there is no additional components or layers between the components or layers. In the disclosure, the same reference numbers may indicate the same components.

In the present disclosure, 'embodiments' are distinguished from each other only for the purpose of explanation, the embodiments should not be construed to be exclusive. For example, some features in one embodiment may be applied to and implemented in other embodiment.

In addition, terms used in the present specification are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. In the present specification, the singular form also includes the plurality form unless specifically stated in the phrase.

While such terms as "first," "second," etc. may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

Throughout the specification, the "longitudinal direction" of a component may be a lengthwise direction in which a longitudinal axis of the component extends.

The plurality of electrodes may include a first electrode arranged at an upper end portion of the heating element and a second electrode arranged at a lower end portion of the heater element, and the first electrode and the second electrode may extend along an entire circumference of the heating element.

The first electrode may be arranged on an inner side or an outer side of the heating element, and the second electrode may be arranged on the inner side or the outer side of the heating element.

The heater assembly may further include a support arranged on an inner side of the heating element and including a material that transmits heat.

The heater assembly may further include a support arranged on an outer side of the heating element and including a material that blocks heat.

The plurality of electrodes may include a first electrode arranged at an upper end portion of the heating element, and a second electrode arranged at a lower end portion of the heating element, and the first electrode and the second electrode may extend from an inner side of the heating element to an outer side of the support.

The heating element may extend from an inner side of the support to an outer side of the support such that the opposite end portions of the heating element are arranged on the outer side of the support, and the plurality of electrodes may be respectively connected to the opposite end portions of the heating element arranged on the outer side of the support.

The heater assembly may further include a protective film arranged on at least one of an inner side and an outer side of the heating element.

Opposite edges of the heating element in a circumferential direction of the heating element may contact each other.

Opposite end portions of the heating element in a circumferential direction of the heating element may overlap each other.

The plurality of electrodes may respectively include a plurality of terminals protruding outwards from the heating element.

According to another embodiment, an aerosol-generating apparatus includes the heater assembly, which includes a heating element formed in a mesh having a tubular shape, and configured to generate heat when electricity is supplied; and a plurality of electrodes respectively connected to opposite end portions of the heating element in a lengthwise direction, extending in a circumferential direction of the heating element, and configured to supply the electricity to the heating element, and an electricity supply unit configured to supply electricity to the heater assembly.

Referring to <FIG>, an aerosol generating device <NUM> includes a battery <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and a vaporizer <NUM>. Also, a cigarette <NUM> may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device <NUM>.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> includes the vaporizer. However, the embodiments are not limited to the implementation method thereof, and the vaporizer may be omitted. In case the vaporizer is omitted from the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating article <NUM> contains an aerosol generating material, so that the aerosol generating article <NUM> generates aerosol when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is heated by the heater <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate only components of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, which are related to the present embodiment.

Also, <FIG> illustrate that the aerosol generating device <NUM> includes the heater <NUM>. However, according to embodiments, the heater <NUM> may be omitted.

<FIG> illustrates that the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> are arranged in series. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, the vaporizer <NUM>, and the heater <NUM> may be differently arranged.

When the cigarette <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may operate the vaporizer <NUM> to generate aerosol from the vaporizer <NUM>. The aerosol generated by the vaporizer <NUM> is delivered to the user by passing through the cigarette <NUM>. The vaporizer <NUM> will be described in more detail later.

Thus, the heated heater <NUM> may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

However, the heater <NUM> is not limited to the example described above and may include any other heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device <NUM> or may be set by a user.

<FIG> illustrate that the heater <NUM> is positioned outside the cigarette <NUM>, but the position of the cigarette <NUM> is not limited thereto. For example, the heater <NUM> may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article <NUM>, according to the shape of the heating element.

The vaporizer <NUM> may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article <NUM> to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device <NUM> and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer <NUM> passes through the cigarette <NUM> to be delivered to the user.

The aerosol generating device <NUM> may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery <NUM>, the controller <NUM>, and the heater <NUM>. For example, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may include at least one sensor (e.g., a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol generating article insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article <NUM> is inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be similar to a general combustive cigarette. For example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol generating material and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the aerosol generating article <NUM> may also include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material made in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion.

Alternatively, only a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device <NUM>, or a portion of the first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted thereinto.

For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM>. For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/or a size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device <NUM> may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount of smoke and a smoking impression may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the aerosol generating article <NUM> through at least one hole formed in a surface of the aerosol generating article <NUM>.

<FIG> is a drawing illustrating an example of a cigarette.

Referring to <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> may include a tobacco rod <NUM> and a filter rod <NUM>. The first portion described above with reference to <FIG> may include the tobacco rod <NUM>, and the second portion may include the filter rod <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates that the filter rod <NUM> includes a single segment. However, the filter rod <NUM> is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod <NUM> may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod <NUM> may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod <NUM> may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The aerosol generating article <NUM> may be packaged by at least one wrapper <NUM>. The wrapper <NUM> may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the cigarette <NUM> may be packaged via one wrapper <NUM>. As another example, the aerosol generating article <NUM> may be doubly packaged by two or more wrappers <NUM>. For example, the tobacco rod <NUM> may be packaged by a first wrapper, and the filter rod <NUM> may be packaged by wrappers. Also, the tobacco rod <NUM> and the filter rod <NUM>, which are respectively packaged via separate wrappers, may be coupled to each other, and the entire cigarette <NUM> may be packaged via a third wrapper. When the filter rod <NUM> includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged by wrappers. Also, the entire cigarette <NUM> including the plurality of segments, which are respectively packaged via the separate wrappers and which are coupled to each other, may be re-packaged via another wrapper.

When the filter rod <NUM> includes a segment configured to cool the aerosol, the cooling segment may include a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material. For example, the cooling segment may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the cooling segment may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above-described example and is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol.

Although not illustrated in <FIG>, the cigarette <NUM> according to an embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter may be arranged at one side of tobacco rod <NUM> being opposite to the filter rod <NUM>. The front-end filter may prevent the tobacco rod <NUM> from being detached outwards and prevent a liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device <NUM> (<FIG>) from the tobacco rod <NUM>, during smoking.

Claim 1:
A heater assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising:
a heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>) formed in a mesh having a tubular shape, and configured to generate heat when electricity is supplied; and
a plurality of electrodes (30a, 30b, 130a, 130b) respectively connected to opposite end portions of the heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>) in a lengthwise direction, extending in a circumferential direction of the heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>), and configured to supply the electricity to the heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>),
characterised in that
the heater assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>) further comprises a support (<NUM>) having a tubular shape and being arranged on an inner side of the heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>) and comprising a material that transmits heat, and
wherein the plurality of electrodes (30a, 30b, 130a, 130b) respectively comprise a plurality of terminals (30t) protruding outwards from the heating element (<NUM>, <NUM>).