JP7828466B2 - Aerosol generating device and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to the field of electronic atomization, and more specifically to an aerosol generating device and a method for manufacturing the same.

A heat-not-burning (HNB) device is a composite device that combines a heating device with an aerosol-generating substrate (a treated plant leaf product). The external heating device heats the aerosol-generating substrate to a temperature that allows it to generate aerosol but not combustion, allowing the user to generate the desired aerosol from the aerosol-generating substrate without combustion. Currently, commercially available heat-not-burning devices primarily use resistance heating. That is, heating is achieved by inserting a central heating tip or heating pin into the aerosol-generating substrate from its center. Such devices require preheating before use, resulting in long standby times and inability to freely switch inhalation and deactivation. Furthermore, the aerosol-generating substrate carbonizes unevenly, resulting in insufficient baking, resulting in low utilization. Furthermore, the heating tip of HNB devices is prone to soiling the aerosol-generating substrate removal device and heating tip base, making cleaning difficult. Furthermore, the temperature of the aerosol-generating substrate in contact with the heating element may rise too high, causing partial decomposition and the release of substances harmful to the human body. For this reason, microwave heating technology is gradually replacing resistance heating as a new heating method. Microwave heating technology is characterized by its efficiency, speed, selectivity, and lack of heating delay, and can only heat materials with specific dielectric properties. The practical advantages of using microwave atomization include:

a. Microwave heating is radiative heating, not heat transfer, so instant inhalation and instant stopping are possible.

b. Because it does not have a heat-generating tip, there are no problems with tip breakage or cleaning the heat-generating tip.

c. The utilization rate of the aerosol-generating substrate is high, resulting in a more consistent smoking experience, making the smoking experience even more similar to that of a cigarette.

In related technology, microwave heating devices for heating aerosol-generating substrates typically use a resonator where microwaves are supplied from one end. However, because the resonant cavity is small, the distribution of electromagnetic waves within the resonator is somewhat uneven, resulting in less uniform heating.

The technical problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide an improved aerosol generating device and method for manufacturing the same, addressing the shortcomings of the related art.

The technical solutions adopted by this invention to solve the technical problems are as follows:

An aerosol generating device is provided, which includes a microwave resonator and a containing base.

The microwave resonator includes an external conductor unit that defines a resonant cavity, and an internal conductor unit disposed within the external conductor unit. The external conductor unit has an open end and a closed end. One end of the internal conductor unit is connected to the closed end of the external conductor unit, and the other end extends toward the open end of the external conductor unit.

The housing base is connected to the open end of the external conductor unit and includes a housing portion for housing an aerosol-generating substrate. The housing portion is disposed within the resonant cavity.

The internal conductor unit includes a conductor rod and a probe device. The conductor rod has a fixed end connected to the sealed end and a free end extending toward the housing. The probe device includes at least one probe extending to the side of the housing.

The probe device is provided in the housing and makes ohmic contact with the free end of the conductor rod.

In some embodiments, the probe device includes a base connected to the at least one probe. The base is provided on an end surface of the housing that faces the conductor rod.

In some embodiments, the probe device includes a base connected to the at least one probe. The probe device makes ohmic contact with the free end of the conductor rod via the base.

In some embodiments, the probe device includes a base connected to the at least one probe. The at least one probe has an elongated shape, one end connected to the base, and the other end extending parallel to the axis of the internal conductor unit and away from the internal conductor unit.

In some embodiments, the at least one probe includes at least two probes. The at least two probes are equally spaced and distributed circumferentially around the side wall of the housing.

In some embodiments, the at least one probe includes at least two probes. The lengths of the at least two probes are equal or different.

In some embodiments, the at least one probe includes at least two probes. The at least two probes include at least two sets of probes, each set having a different length. The at least two sets of probes are alternately and uniformly distributed around the circumference of the housing.

In some embodiments, the probe device engages, adheres to, or is integrally molded into the housing.

In some embodiments, the probe device is formed by integrally processing a conductive metal sheet, or by electroplating or printing.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the probe device ranges from 1 to 2000 micrometers.

In some embodiments, the at least one probe is distributed on the inner wall surface or outer side wall surface of the housing, or is fully or partially embedded within the side wall of the housing.

In some embodiments, the storage base further includes a fixing part connected to the storage part. The storage part includes an axially extending storage chamber for storing the aerosol-generating substrate. The fixing part includes an axial through-hole connecting the storage chamber to the surroundings. The fixing part is connected to the open end.

In some embodiments, the storage base includes several vertically elongated positioning ribs and several vertically elongated support ribs. The several positioning ribs are uniformly spaced and arranged circumferentially on the wall surface of the storage chamber and/or the through-hole. Each positioning rib extends in the vertical direction of the storage base. The several support ribs are uniformly spaced and distributed radially on the bottom surface of the storage chamber. A first air supply passage extending vertically is formed between every two adjacent positioning ribs, and a radial second air supply passage is formed between every two adjacent support ribs. The several second air supply passages are respectively connected to the several first air supply passages.

In some embodiments, the microwave resonator further includes a microwave supply connected to the microwave resonator. The microwave supply includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric layer interposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The inner conductor has a straight line shape and is in ohmic contact with the conductor rod perpendicular to the axis of the conductor rod.

In some embodiments, the microwave resonator further includes a microwave supply connected to the microwave resonator. The microwave supply includes an inner conductor, an outer conductor, and a dielectric layer interposed between the inner conductor and the outer conductor. The inner conductor includes a first section perpendicular to the axis of the conductor rod and a second section parallel to the axis of the conductor rod. The second section is in ohmic contact with an end wall of the outer conductor unit.

In some embodiments, the microwave resonator is a quarter-wave coaxial resonator.

In some embodiments, the containment base is made of one or a combination of plastic, microwave transparent ceramic, glass, aluminum oxide, zirconia, and silicon oxide.

In some embodiments, the axis of the inner conductor unit and the axis of the outer conductor unit overlap or are parallel to each other.

In some embodiments, the probe device and the conductor rod become separable or remain locked when the external force restraint is removed.

In some embodiments, the length of the at least one probe ranges from 0 to (L1 + 5) mm, where L1 is the length of the aerosol-generating substrate.

An aerosol generating device is provided, comprising a quarter-wave coaxial resonator and a housing base attached to the open end of the coaxial resonator. The housing base includes a housing portion for housing an aerosol-generating substrate. The housing portion is located within the resonant cavity of the coaxial resonator.

The coaxial resonator includes an internal conductor unit. The internal conductor unit includes a conductor rod adjacent to the short-circuited end of the coaxial resonator and a probe device adjacent to the open end. The probe device includes at least one probe extending to the side of the housing.

The probe device is installed in the housing and makes ohmic contact with the conductor rod.

In some embodiments, the probe device includes a base connected to the at least one probe. The base is provided on an end surface of the housing that faces the conductive rod. The probe device makes ohmic contact with the conductive rod via the base.

In some embodiments, the at least one probe includes at least two sets of probes of different lengths. The at least two sets of probes are alternately and uniformly distributed around the circumferential direction of the side wall of the receptacle.

In some embodiments, the conductor rod includes a free end facing the housing, and the probe device makes ohmic contact with the free end.

A method for manufacturing an aerosol generating device is provided. The method is characterized by comprising the following steps:

(1) Provide an outer conductor unit and a conductor rod, and attach the conductor rod axially within the outer conductor unit.

(2) Provide a storage base and a probe device, and install the probe device in the storage portion of the storage base to form an assembly.

(3) Attach the assembly to the external conductor unit to make ohmic contact between the probe device and the conductor rod.

Implementing the aerosol generating device and manufacturing method thereof of the present invention has the following beneficial effects: The probe device is mounted on the housing base and is independent of the conductor rod, making manufacturing convenient. Furthermore, the probe of the probe device extends to the outer periphery of the housing chamber, significantly improving the uniformity of the microwave field. This is advantageous for improving the uniformity of heating of the aerosol-generating substrate. This significantly enhances the uniformity of heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, thereby improving the utilization rate of the aerosol-generating substrate.

The present invention will be further explained below in conjunction with the drawings and examples.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of a vertical cross section of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the three-dimensional structure of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 1 when disassembled. FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of a vertical cross section of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 3 in an exploded state. FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a vertical cross section of an aerosol generating device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings so that the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention can be more clearly understood.

Figures 1 to 4 show an aerosol-generating device 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. The aerosol-generating device 1 uses microwaves to heat an aerosol-generating substrate, thereby generating an aerosol through atomization, which can be inhaled by a user. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate is a solid aerosol-generating substrate, such as a processed plant leaf product. As can be appreciated, in other embodiments, the aerosol-generating substrate may be a liquid aerosol-generating substrate.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a microwave resonator 10, a storage base 20, and a microwave supply device 30. In some embodiments, the microwave resonator 10 may be cylindrical and may include a resonant cavity 13 in which microwaves are continuously oscillated. The storage base 20 is used to mount an aerosol-generating substrate and is fixedly or removably attached to the microwave resonator 10. This exposes the aerosol-generating substrate inside to the microwave field in the resonant cavity 13, causing it to be heated and atomized by the microwaves. The microwave supply device 30 is connected to the microwave resonator 10 and is used to supply microwaves generated by a microwave generator (not shown) into the resonant cavity 13. As can be understood, the microwave resonator 10 is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may have other shapes, such as a rectangular pillar or an elliptical pillar.

In some embodiments, the microwave resonator 10 may be a quarter-wave coaxial resonator and may include a cylindrical outer conductor unit 11 for electromagnetic shielding, a longitudinally elongated inner conductor unit 12 provided within the outer conductor unit 11 for waveguiding, and a medium (e.g., air) interposed between the outer wall surface of the inner conductor unit 12 and the inner wall surface of the outer conductor unit 11. The outer conductor unit 11 and the inner conductor unit 12 define the resonant cavity 13. A first end of the inner conductor unit 12 is in ohmic contact with an end wall 112 of the outer conductor unit 11 to form a short-circuited end A of the microwave resonator 10. A second end of the inner conductor unit 12 extends toward the opening 110 of the outer conductor unit 11 and forms an open end B of the microwave resonator 10 without making direct ohmic contact with the outer conductor unit 11. The receiving base 20 is attached (e.g., removably or non-removably fitted) to the open end B of the microwave resonator 10 and connected to the second end of the inner conductor unit 12. In some embodiments, the axis of the inner conductor unit 12 and the axis of the outer conductor unit 11 are overlapping or parallel to each other, and preferably overlapping each other.

In some embodiments, the external conductor unit 11 may include a conductive side wall 111, a conductive end wall 112, and an opening 110. In some embodiments, the side wall 111 may be cylindrical and include a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The end wall 112 closes the first end of the side wall 111 to form a sealed end of the external conductor unit 11. The opening 110 is formed at the second end of the side wall 111 to form an open end of the external conductor unit 11 for fitting the accommodating base 20 therein. A radially penetrating supply hole 1110 may be provided in the side wall 111 of the external conductor unit 11 adjacent to the end wall 112 for mounting a microwave supply device 30. Furthermore, a penetrating mounting hole 1120 is provided in the center of the end wall 112 for inserting the conductor rod 121 of the internal conductor unit 12. A first end (fixed end) of the internal conductor unit 12 is fixed to an end wall 112 of the external conductor unit 11 and is in ohmic contact with the end wall 112. A second end (free end) of the internal conductor unit 12 extends toward the opening 110 of the external conductor unit 11 and is mainly used for emitting microwaves without making direct ohmic contact with the external conductor unit 11. In some embodiments, a desired microwave field can be obtained by adjusting the shape and layout of the second end of the internal conductor unit 12.

In some embodiments, the external conductor unit 11 may be integrally manufactured from a conductive metal material, or may be made of a conductive metal such as aluminum, copper, gold, silver, or stainless steel. As can be appreciated, the external conductor unit 11 is not limited to being integrally manufactured from a conductive material, but may also be realized by plating a conductive layer on the surface of a non-conductive cylindrical body. In some embodiments, the conductive layer may be a gold-plated layer, a silver-plated layer, a copper-plated layer, or the like. Furthermore, as can be appreciated, the external conductor unit 11 is not limited to being cylindrical, but may be any other suitable shape, such as a rectangular cylindrical shape or an elliptical cylindrical shape.

In some embodiments, the inner conductor unit 12 includes a conductor rod 121 located at a first end (first fixed end) and coaxial with the outer conductor unit 11, and a probe device 122 located at a second end (first free end) and independent of the conductor rod 121 (i.e., the conductor rod 121 and the probe device 122 are not integrally connected). One end (second fixed end) of the conductor rod 121 is connected to the end wall 112 of the outer conductor unit 11, and the other end (second free end) is in ohmic contact with the probe device 122. The ohmic contact between the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121 allows microwaves to be conducted to the probe device 122 via the conductor rod 121. In some embodiments, the probe device 122 has a special configuration in terms of shape, layout, etc., which is used to promote more uniform distribution of the microwave field around the periphery of the receiving base 20. This achieves a more uniform microwave heating effect on the aerosol-generating substrate within the receiving base 20, thereby improving the utilization rate of the aerosol-generating substrate.

In some embodiments, the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121 are designed to be independent of each other, so that the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121 can be fixed to the accommodating base 2 and the external conductor unit 11, respectively, before assembly. This provides great convenience in the design and assembly of the probe device 122. In some embodiments, the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121 are solid bodies independent of each other, so that after assembly, contact between them is simple surface-to-surface contact due to constraint by external force (pressure from the external conductor unit 11 and the accommodating base 20). Therefore, once the constraint by the external force is removed, they can be easily separated. This situation is particularly suitable for assembling the accommodating base 20 to the microwave resonator 10 in a removably manner to facilitate cleaning.

In some other embodiments, a locking structure may be provided between the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121. This allows the probe device 122 and the conductor rod 121 to be locked together after they are assembled. This situation is suitable when the accommodating base 20 is permanently assembled to the microwave resonator 10.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the conductor rod 121 may be made of a conductive material such as metal. In other embodiments, the conductor rod 121 may be formed by coating a second conductive layer on the outer wall surface of a cylinder made of a non-conductive material. The second conductive layer may be a thin metal plating layer, such as a gold plating layer, a silver plating layer, or a copper plating layer. As can be appreciated, in some embodiments, the conductor rod 121 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may have other shapes such as a rectangular pillar, an elliptical pillar, a stepped pillar, or an irregular pillar.

In some embodiments, the conductor rod 121 may include a cylindrical main body 1211 and a connecting portion 1212 axially connected to one end of the main body 1211. The diameter of the main body 1211 is smaller than the inner diameter of the side wall 111 of the external conductor unit 11. The diameter of the connecting portion 1212 is also smaller than the diameter of the main body 1211, and is inserted into the mounting hole 1120, with the end face of the main body 1211 closest to the connecting portion 1212 tightly contacting the inner wall surface of the end wall 112. The side of the connecting portion 1212 may also be formed with a male thread so that it can be threadably connected to a battery device (not shown) of the aerosol generation device 1.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4 , in some embodiments, the accommodating base 20 may include an accommodating portion 21 and a fixing portion 22 integrally connected to the accommodating portion 21. The accommodating portion 21 is used to accommodate the aerosol-generating substrate. The fixing portion 22 is used to close the opening 110 of the outer conductor unit 11 in the axial direction and to extend the accommodating portion 21 into the space surrounded by the sidewall 111 to connect to the inner conductor unit 12. In some embodiments, the accommodating base 20 may be made of a low-dielectric-loss material, such as one or a combination of plastic, microwave-transparent ceramic, glass, aluminum oxide, zirconia, and silicon oxide. Among plastic materials, PEEK (polyether ether ketone) and PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) are preferred. Preferably, the dielectric loss tangent of the material of the accommodating base 20 is less than 0.1.

In some embodiments, the accommodating portion 21 may be cylindrical and have an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the external conductor unit 11. The accommodating portion 21 may include an axial storage chamber 210. The storage chamber 210 is used to store an aerosol-generating substrate. The fixing portion 22 may be annular and coaxially connected to the accommodating portion 21. The fixing portion 22 is capable of coaxially closing the opening 11 of the external conductor unit 11, thereby fixing the accommodating portion 21 coaxially within the microwave resonator 10. The fixing portion 22 includes an axial through-hole 220 that connects the accommodating chamber 210 to the surrounding area. This allows the aerosol-generating substrate to be inserted into the accommodating chamber 210 via the through-hole 220.

In some embodiments, the receiving portion 21 may be cylindrical and include a flat bottom wall 211 and a cylindrical side wall 212 surrounding the bottom wall 211. The outer diameter of the side wall 212 is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer conductor unit 11. The outer surface of the side wall 212 may have several receiving grooves 2120 extending in the vertical direction. These receiving grooves 2120 are used for fitting with the probe device 122.

In some embodiments, the storage base 20 may include several longitudinal positioning ribs 23 and several longitudinal support ribs 25. The several positioning ribs 23 are uniformly spaced and arranged circumferentially on the wall surface of the storage chamber 210 and/or the through-hole 220. Each positioning rib 23 extends parallel to the axis of the storage base 20. The several support ribs 25 are uniformly spaced and distributed radially on the bottom surface of the storage chamber 210. The positioning ribs 23 can be used, first, to secure the aerosol-generating substrate inserted into the storage chamber 210 and/or the through-hole 220, and second, to form a first air supply passage extending longitudinally between every two adjacent positioning ribs 23. The support ribs 25 are used, first, to support the aerosol-generating substrate, and second, to form several radial second air supply passages. The several second air supply passages are respectively connected to the several first air supply passages. This allows the surrounding air to be drawn into the bottom of the aerosol-generating substrate and then enter the aerosol-generating substrate, carrying the aerosol generated by microwave heating.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3 , in some embodiments, the probe device 122 may include a base 1221 and several elongated probes 1222. The base 1221 is in close contact with the end face of the accommodating base 20 facing the conductor rod 121 (i.e., the outer surface of the bottom wall 211 of the accommodating section 21) and is in ohmic contact with the conductor rod 121. The several probes 1222 are spaced apart and erected in the circumferential direction of the base 1221, and are in close contact with the accommodating grooves 2120 on the side wall surface of the accommodating section 21 of the accommodating base 20, thereby promoting a more uniform distribution of the microwave field around the periphery of the accommodating section 21.

The probe 1222 of the probe device 122 extends upward to the side of the storage chamber 210, significantly improving the uniformity of the microwave field. This is advantageous for improving the uniformity of heating of the aerosol-generating substrate. This significantly enhances the uniformity of heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, thereby improving the utilization rate of the aerosol-generating substrate. By providing the probe 1222 on the side wall of the storage section 21 of the storage base 20, the electric field strength within the aerosol-generating substrate can be in the range of 894.3 to 8086.4, with an electric field strength ratio of up to 9.04. This significantly improves uniformity. In contrast, other typical configurations that do not include this type of probe 1222 typically have an electric field strength ratio of 30 or more, resulting in poor uniformity. As can be appreciated, the probe 1222 is not limited to being fixed to the side wall 212 of the storage section 21. In some embodiments, a similar effect can be achieved even when there is a gap between the probe 1222 and the side wall 212.

In some embodiments, the probe device 122 has a weak electric field at the bottom and a strong electric field at the ceiling. Therefore, if the probe 1222 of the probe device 122 is close to the ceiling of the aerosol-generating substrate, rapid heating of the ceiling of the aerosol-generating substrate can be achieved, and the aerosol is released quickly. This is advantageous for improving the vapor release rate and reducing preheating time. On the other hand, a different probe length design can improve the uniformity of heating of the aerosol-generating substrate.

In some embodiments, the addition of the probe 1222 to the probe device 122 significantly narrows the variation in the optimal supply frequency range of the microwave resonator 10 throughout the entire atomization and inhalation process, narrowing it to within 20 MHz from approximately 150 MHz. This reduces the requirements for the microwave source and is more advantageous in meeting national regulations. The nationally regulated microwave heating frequency range is 2400-2500 MHz. In some embodiments, the microwave supply efficiency is significantly improved throughout the entire atomization process, allowing the overall supply efficiency to be maintained at 80% or higher.

In some embodiments, the probe device 122 may be formed by molding a conductive material. For example, stamping or bending a conductive material can facilitate the process and improve efficiency. Alternatively, the probe device 122 may be formed by coating the receiving base 20 using processes such as electroplating or printing. In some embodiments, the thickness of the probe device 122 is 1 to 2000 micrometers. The material of the probe device 122 is at least one of copper, copper alloy, stainless steel, aluminum, and aluminum alloy.

In this embodiment, the base 1221 is annular. The central hole of the base 1221 faces the through-hole at the bottom of the storage base 20. As can be appreciated, the base 1221 may have other shapes, such as a disk, square disk, or polygonal disk, that cover the lower end surface of the storage base 20.

In some embodiments, the probe 1222 is arranged to extend upward from the bottom of the storage section 21 of the storage base 20 along the side wall. The probe 1222 is located outside the side wall 212 of the storage section 21 and is in close contact with the outer wall surface of the storage section 21. A storage groove 2120 formed in the outer wall surface of the storage section 21 is used to engage and position the probe 1222.

In some embodiments, the probe 1222 may be located inside the side wall 212 of the accommodating portion 21 and inserted from the bottom surface of the accommodating portion 21 to the inner wall surface of the accommodating chamber 210 of the accommodating portion 21. In some embodiments, the inner wall surface of the accommodating chamber 210 may be provided with an accommodating groove 2120 into which the probe 1222 is engaged and positioned. In some embodiments, the probe 1222 is completely or partially embedded in the side wall 212 of the accommodating portion 21. In addition, the side wall 212 of the accommodating portion 21 may be provided with an insertion hole extending upward from the bottom for inserting the probe 1222. Alternatively, the probe 1222 may be directly covered when the accommodating base 20 is molded.

The length of the probe 1222 ranges from 0 to L mm, where L is the length L1 of the aerosol-generating substrate in the containing base 20 plus approximately 5 mm. In other words, the length of the probe 1222 ranges from 0 = ^to (L1 + 5) mm. For example, if the aerosol-generating substrate is the aerosol-generating substrate HEETS from IQOS, the length L1 of the aerosol-generating substrate is 12 mm, so the length L of the probe 1222 ranges from 0 = ^to 17 mm.

Preferably, the position of the end of the free end of the probe 1222 corresponds to the position of one end of the bottom wall 211 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating substrate within the container 21. Preferably, the length L of the probe 1222 is 0 to (12 mm + the thickness of the bottom of the container 21). That is, after the tobacco stick is inserted, the highest point of the probe 1222 and the highest point of the tobacco portion of the tobacco stick (i.e., the aerosol-generating substrate) are substantially aligned.

In some embodiments, the number of probes 1222 is at least two to provide more uniform atomization of the aerosol-generating substrate within the receptacle 21. In the illustrated embodiment, there are four probes 1222, and the probes 1222 are distributed circumferentially around the receptacle 21 to provide circumferential atomization. In some embodiments, the probes 1222 are equally spaced around the receptacle base 20 to improve uniformity.

In some embodiments, the lengths of the circumferential probes 1222 may be the same or different. Preferably, the number of probes 1222 is an even number, and each set of probes 1222 includes two or more different lengths. For example, when two lengths are used, the probes 1222 alternate in the circumferential direction. That is, one long probe and one short probe alternate. In the illustrated embodiment, four probes 1222 are used, two long and two short. The two long probes 1222 are 11 mm long, and the two short probes 1222 are 6 mm long. In some embodiments, providing multiple sets of probes 1222 of different lengths can improve uniformity in heating of the aerosol-generating substrate. Similarly, the number of probes 1222 may be an odd number. For example, nine probes may be divided into three sets of three probes. The probes 1222 in a set have the same length, while the probes 1222 in different sets have different lengths. These three sets of probes 1222 may be alternately and uniformly distributed around the circumferential direction of the side wall of the storage section 21.

The material of the housing base 20 is a low dielectric loss material with a dielectric dissipation factor of less than 0.1, allowing microwaves to pass through. Furthermore, the material of the housing base 20 is one or a combination of plastic, microwave-transparent ceramic, glass, aluminum oxide, zirconia, and silicon oxide, and the plastic is PEEK or PTFE.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the microwave supply device 30 may be a coaxial connector and may include an inner conductor 31, an outer conductor 33, and a dielectric layer 32 interposed between the inner conductor 31 and the outer conductor 33. When the microwave supply device 30 is attached to the microwave resonator 10, the inner conductor 31 makes ohmic contact with the inner wall surface of the outer conductor unit 11 and/or the surface of the conductor rod 121 of the inner conductor unit 12, and the outer conductor 33 makes ohmic contact with the surface of the outer conductor unit 11, thereby supplying microwaves into the microwave resonator 10.

In some embodiments, the inner conductor 31 of the microwave feeder 30 is linear. When the microwave feeder 30 is attached to the microwave resonator 10, the inner conductor 31 is in ohmic contact with the surface of the conductor rod 121 and is perpendicular to the axis of the conductor rod 121.

The following steps may be used when manufacturing the aerosol generating device 1.

(1) An outer conductor unit 11 and a conductor rod 121 are provided, and the lower end of the conductor rod 121 is inserted into the side wall 111 of the outer conductor unit 11 along the axial direction.

(2) Provide a storage base 20 and a probe device 122, and attach the probe device 122 to the storage portion 21 of the storage base 20 to form an assembly.

(3) The above assembly is pushed into the opening 110 of the external conductor unit 11 to make ohmic contact between the base 1221 of the probe device 122 and the free end of the conductor rod 121.

(4) Provide a microwave supply device 30 and insert it into the supply hole 1110 of the external conductor unit 11. Then, make ohmic contact between the internal conductor 31 of the microwave supply device 30 and the conductor rod 121, and make ohmic contact between the external conductor 33 and the external conductor unit 11.

The step numbers above are not intended to limit the process, and the order of steps performed in parallel in a specific manufacturing process can be adjusted without any problems. For example, the order of steps (1) and (2) above can be reversed.

Figure 5 shows an aerosol generator 1a according to some other embodiments of the present invention. This has almost the same structure as the aerosol generator 1 described above, except that a microwave supply device 30a is used instead of the microwave supply device 30 of the aerosol generator 1 described above.

As shown in the figures, in some embodiments, the microwave supply device 30a may be a coaxial connector and may include an inner conductor 31a, an outer conductor 33a, and a dielectric layer 32a interposed between the inner conductor 31a and the outer conductor 33a. When the microwave supply device 30a is attached to the microwave resonator 10, the inner conductor 31a makes ohmic contact with the inner wall surface of the external conductor unit 11, and the external conductor 33a makes ohmic contact with the surface of the external conductor unit 11, thereby supplying microwaves into the microwave resonator 10.

In some embodiments, the inner conductor 31a of the microwave supply unit 30a may be L-shaped and may include a first section 311a perpendicular to the axis of the microwave resonator 10 and a second section 312a parallel to the axis of the microwave resonator 10. The second section 312a is in ohmic contact with the end wall 112 of the outer conductor unit 11.

As can be understood, the above technical features can be used in any combination without limitation.

The above description is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the scope of the present invention. Any modifications of equivalent structure or flow made using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect application in other related technical fields, are also within the scope of protection of the present invention for the same reasons.

Claims (21)

The microwave resonator (10) includes an outer conductor unit (11) that defines a resonant cavity (13), and an inner conductor unit (12) that is disposed within the outer conductor unit (11). The outer conductor unit (11) has an open end and a closed end. The inner conductor unit (12) has one end connected to the closed end of the outer conductor unit (11) and one end extending toward the open end of the outer conductor unit (11). The accommodating base (20) has a base (20) that is connected to the open end. an aerosol generating device comprising a receptacle (21) connected to the resonant cavity (13) and configured to accommodate an aerosol-generating substrate, the receptacle (21) being disposed within the resonant cavity (13); the internal conductor unit (12) comprising a conductor rod (121) and a probe device (122), the conductor rod (121) having a fixed end connected to the closed end and a free end extending toward the receptacle (21); and the probe device (122) comprising at least one probe (1222) extending to a side of the receptacle (21),
The probe device (122) is provided in the housing (21) and is in ohmic contact with the free end of the conductor rod (121);
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the at least one probe (1222) includes at least two probes (1222), the at least two probes (1222) include at least two sets of probes (1222) having different lengths between the sets, and the at least two sets of probes (1222) are distributed alternately and uniformly in the circumferential direction of the side wall (212) of the storage section (21) . The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the probe device (122) includes a base (1221) connected to the at least one probe (1222), and the base (1221) is provided on an end surface of the housing (21) facing the conductor rod (121). The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the probe device (122) includes a base (1221) connected to the at least one probe (1222), and the probe device (122) makes ohmic contact with the free end of the conductor rod (121) via the base (1221). The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the probe device (122) includes a base (1221) connected to the at least one probe (1222), and the at least one probe (1222) is elongated, with one end connected to the base (1221) and the other end parallel to the axis of the internal conductor unit (12) and extending in a direction away from the base (1221) . The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the probe device (122) is engaged with, adhered to, or integrally molded into the housing portion (21). 2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the probe device (122) is formed by integrally processing a conductive metal sheet, or by electroplating or printing. The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the probe device (122) ranges from 1 to 2000 micrometers. The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the at least one probe (1222) is distributed on the inner wall surface or outer wall surface of the container (21), or is embedded wholly or partially within the side wall (212) of the container (21). The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the storage base (20) further includes a fixing portion (22) connected to the storage portion (21), the storage portion (21) including an axially extending storage chamber (210) for storing the aerosol-generating substrate, the fixing portion (22) including an axial through-hole (220) connecting the storage chamber (210) to the surroundings, and the fixing portion (22) being connected to the open end. The aerosol generating device described in claim 9, characterized in that the storage base (20) includes several vertical positioning ribs (23) and several vertical support ribs (25), the several positioning ribs (23) are uniformly spaced and arranged circumferentially on the wall surface of the storage chamber (210) and/or the through hole (220), the several support ribs (25) are distributed radially on the bottom surface of the storage chamber (210), a first air supply path extending vertically is formed between at least some adjacent positioning ribs (23), and a second air supply path extending radially is formed between at least some adjacent support ribs ( 25 ), and the several second air supply paths are respectively connected to the several first air supply paths. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 further comprises a microwave supply device (30, 30a) connected to the microwave resonator, the microwave supply device (30, 30a) comprising an inner conductor (31, 31a), an outer conductor (33, 33a), and a dielectric layer (32, 32a) interposed between the inner conductor (31, 31a) and the outer conductor (33, 33a), the inner conductor (31, 31a) having a straight line shape and making ohmic contact with the conductor rod (121) perpendicular to the axis of the conductor rod (121). The aerosol generating device of claim 1 further includes a microwave supply device (30, 30a) connected to the microwave resonator, the microwave supply device (30, 30a) including an inner conductor (31, 31a), an outer conductor (33, 33a), and a dielectric layer (32, 32a) interposed between the inner conductor (31, 31a) and the outer conductor (33, 33a), the inner conductor (31, 31a) including a first section (311a) perpendicular to the axis of the conductor rod (121) and a second section (312a) parallel to the axis of the conductor rod (121), the second section (312a) making ohmic contact with the end wall (112) of the outer conductor unit (11). The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the microwave resonator (10) is a quarter-wave coaxial resonator. The aerosol generating device of claim 1, characterized in that the storage base (20) is manufactured using one or a combination of the following materials: plastic, microwave-transparent ceramic, glass, aluminum oxide, zirconia, and silicon oxide. The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the axis of the inner conductor unit (12) and the axis of the outer conductor unit (11) overlap or are parallel to each other. The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the probe device (122) and the conductor rod (121) become separable or remain locked together when the external force restraint is removed. The aerosol generating device described in claim 1, characterized in that the length range of the at least one probe (1222) is 0 to (L1 + 5) mm, where L1 is the length value of the aerosol generating substrate. 1. An aerosol generating device comprising: a quarter-wave coaxial resonator (10); and a housing base (20) attached to an open end (B) of the coaxial resonator (10), the housing base (20) including a housing portion (21) for housing an aerosol-generating substrate, the housing portion (21) being located within a resonant cavity (13) of the coaxial resonator (10), the coaxial resonator (10) including an inner conductor unit (12), the inner conductor unit (12) including a conductor rod (121) adjacent to a short-circuited end (A) of the coaxial resonator (10) and a probe device (122) adjacent to the open end (B), the probe device (122) including at least one probe (1222) extending to a side of the housing portion (21),
The probe device (122) is provided in the housing (21) and is in ohmic contact with the conductor rod (121);
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the at least one probe (1222) includes at least two probes (1222), the at least two probes (1222) include at least two sets of probes (1222) having different lengths between the sets, and the at least two sets of probes (1222) are distributed alternately and uniformly in the circumferential direction of the side wall (212) of the storage section (21) . The aerosol generating device described in claim 15, characterized in that the probe device (122) includes a base (1221) connected to the at least one probe (1222), the base (1221) is provided on an end surface of the accommodating section (21) opposite the conductor rod (121), and the probe device (122) makes ohmic contact with the conductor rod (121) via the base ( 1221 ). The aerosol generating device of claim 15 , characterized in that the conductor rod (121) includes a free end facing the housing portion (21), and the probe device (122) is in ohmic contact with the free end. 20. A method of manufacturing a device according to claim 1 or 18, comprising the steps of:
(1) providing an outer conductor unit (11) and a conductor rod (121), and mounting the conductor rod (121) in the outer conductor unit (11) along an axial direction;
(2) providing a receiving base (20) and a probe device (122), and placing the probe device (122) in a receiving portion (21) of the receiving base (20) to form an assembly;
(3) A method for manufacturing an aerosol generating device, comprising the step of attaching the assembly to the external conductor unit (11) and bringing the probe device (122) into ohmic contact with the conductor rod (121).