Aerosol generating device including surface plasmon resonance heater and apparatus for manufacturing surface plasmon resonance heater

Abstract

A heater includes a substrate including a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface includes a curved surface and defines a cavity, a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure configured to generate heat by SPR and disposed on the first surface, and an opening configured to allow light to pass into the cavity and defined by the first surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heater configured to heat an aerosol generating article,   wherein the heater comprises:
 a substrate comprising a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface comprises a curved surface and defines a cavity; 
 a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) structure configured to generate heat by SPR and disposed on the first surface; and 
 an opening configured to allow light to pass into the cavity and defined by the first surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein a first area of the first surface faces a second area that is at least partially different from the first area of the first surface. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface has a substantially constant curvature. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises:
 an absorbing layer disposed on the second surface and configured to absorb the light penetrating through the substrate.   
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises:
 a reflective layer positioned on the second surface and configured to reflect the light penetrating through the substrate.   
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heater further comprises:
 a heat transfer body disposed on the second surface and configured to transfer the generated heat.   
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein the heat transfer body comprises:
 a first material having a first thermal property; and   a second material having a second thermal property that is different from the first thermal property.   
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the SPR structure comprises:
 a void area; and   a plurality of prism areas configured to define the void area and arranged in a circumferential direction of the void area.   
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the SPR structure comprises:
 a void area; and   a metal prism configured to define the void area and extend along the entire circumference of the void area.   
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the SPR structure comprises a plurality of metal particles of random size. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an optical fiber connected to the opening.   
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wick configured to carry the aerosol generating material and thermally coupled with the SPR structure.   
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cartridge containing the aerosol generating material and comprising a hole facing the opening.   
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a light source configured to generate light.