Aerosol Generating Device and an Aerosol Generating System

Abstract

An aerosol generating device having a housing comprises a first aerosol generating unit and a chamber. The first aerosol generating unit is adapted to generate a first type of vapor from a solid substrate. The first aerosol generating unit further comprises a receiving interface for a consumable. The interface includes a plurality of heating elements with spikes that are arranged such that they are inserted into the consumable when the consumable is received by the interface. At least a part of the interface is arranged in the chamber of the housing. The spikes of the heating elements are arranged in at least two arrays and the opposing arrays of heating elements with spikes are configured to heat uniformly a region of the consumable between the opposing arrays.

1 . An aerosol generating device having a housing, comprising:
 a first aerosol generating unit adapted to generate a first type of vapor, from a solid substrate, the first aerosol generating unit comprising a receiving interface for a consumable, wherein the receiving interface comprises a plurality of heating elements including spikes arranged such that the spikes are inserted into the consumable when the consumable is received by the receiving interface, and   a chamber in which at least a part of the receiving interface is arranged and in which the spikes of the heating elements are arranged in at least two arrays, and   wherein the at least two arrays of the spikes of the heating elements are configured to heat a region of the consumable therebetween, and wherein the spikes at generally opposing sides of the chamber connect to each other to form a closed circuit.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the chamber has a cylindrical shape and a central axis, and wherein the at least two arrays extend along a direction of the central axis or along a direction of a circumference of the cylindrical shape. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 2 , wherein the spikes extend along an axial or radial direction of the chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spikes of the at least two arrays are arranged at the generally opposing sides of the chamber such that the consumable can be held in the receiving interface by the spikes. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spikes of the at least two arrays extend into the chamber from the generally opposing sides of the chamber, and wherein the at least two arrays are offset relative to one another. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 5 , wherein the spikes at least partly overlap. 
     
     
         7 . Aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the receiving interface comprises a temperature sensor, and wherein the temperature sensor is adapted to be inserted into the consumable. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, wherein at least portions of the heating elements are independently controllable by the controller. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 8 , wherein the chamber includes a first heating zone and a second heating zone, each comprising one or more of the heating elements, and wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second heating zones independently of each other. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the spikes of the heating elements include an air duct configured to allow an airflow through the spikes into the consumable. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 12 , wherein the first and second aerosol generating units are connected by an air flow passage, wherein the second aerosol generating unit includes a second unit inlet for receiving the first type of vapor through the air flow passage, and wherein there is no inlet in the housing for providing air flow into the second aerosol generating unit without passing through the first aerosol generating unit. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second aerosol generating unit adapted to generate a second type of vapor, from a liquid substrate, wherein the first aerosol generating unit is arranged upstream or downstream of the second aerosol generating unit with respect to a direction of airflow through the aerosol generating device during normal operation by the user. 
     
     
         13 . An aerosol generating system comprising:
 the aerosol generating device according to  claim 1 ; and   the consumable, wherein the consumable comprises the solid substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 13 , further comprising a liquid substrate, wherein only one of the solid substrate and the liquid substrate contains nicotine 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating system according to  claim 14 , wherein the solid substrate contains nicotine. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is a thermocouple. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is arranged at a downstream end of the receiving interface along a direction of airflow.