Heating Apparatus for an Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

A heating apparatus for an aerosol generating device includes an insulator including an inner wall and an outer wall that are separated from one another, a cavity in which an aerosol forming substance can be received, positioned adjacent the inner wall of the insulator, a heater provided inside the insulator on the inner wall, configured to heat an aerosol forming substance received in the cavity by thermal conduction to generate an aerosol, and a first connection pad provided on the inner wall, configured to electrically connect the heater to a power source. The first connection pad is joined to the outer wall and the inner wall to seal the insulator, and the heater is spaced apart from the outer wall. The first connection pad at least partially covers the heater to provide a protective layer over the heater.

1 . A heating apparatus for an aerosol generating device, comprising:
 an insulator, comprising an inner wall and an outer wall that are separated from one another;   a cavity configured to receive an aerosol forming substance, positioned adjacent the inner wall of the insulator;   a heater provided inside the insulator on the inner wall, configured to heat an aerosol forming substance received in the cavity by thermal conduction to generate an aerosol; and   a first connection pad provided on the inner wall, configured to electrically connect the heater to a power source;   wherein the first connection pad is joined to the outer wall and the inner wall to seal the insulator, and wherein the heater is spaced apart from the outer wall; and   wherein the first connection pad at least partially covers the heater to provide a protective layer over the heater.   
     
     
         2 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are separated by a vacuum such that the insulator is a vacuum insulator, and wherein the first connection pad is joined to the outer wall and the inner wall to seal the vacuum inside the vacuum insulator. 
     
     
         3 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection pad is configured to have an increased mechanical robustness with respect to the heater. 
     
     
         4 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises an electrically resistive track that is printed or coated on the inner wall. 
     
     
         5 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection pad covers a substantially full amount of the heater. 
     
     
         6 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection pad has an electrical resistance that is less than an electrical resistance of the heater. 
     
     
         7 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heater and the first connection pad comprise different materials. 
     
     
         8 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a second connection pad provided on the inner wall, wherein the second connection pad is joined to the inner wall and the outer wall to seal the insulator. 
     
     
         9 . The heating apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the first connection pad and the second connection pad are connected to different parts of the heater and respectively configured to connect to opposite terminals of a power source to enable an electric current to flow through the heater. 
     
     
         10 . An aerosol generating device comprising the heating apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 10 , further comprising a controller configured to control operation of the heater, wherein the first connection pad is electrically coupled to the controller. 
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing the heating apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 providing the heater on the inner wall;   providing the first connection pad on the inner wall in electrical connection with the heater;   joining the first connection pad to the inner wall and the outer wall; and   covering the heater with the first connection pad at least partially to provide a protective layer over the heater.   
     
     
         13 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 12 , wherein the heater comprises an electrically resistive track that is coated onto the inner wall, and wherein the step of providing the heater on the inner wall comprises coating the inner wall with an electrically resistive material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 12 , wherein the step of joining the first connection pad to the inner wall and the outer wall comprises welding the outer wall to the inner wall and the first connection pad. 
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing of  claim 14 , wherein the welding comprises laser welding performed at least partially in a vacuum.