CN117158655A - aerosol generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The application provides an aerosol-generating device comprising a housing; a first circuit board disposed within the housing; a light emitting element for emitting light is arranged on the first circuit board; an optical fiber including a first end proximate the light emitting element, a second end opposite the first end; light emitted by the light emitting element can be incident from the end of the first end and transferred between the first end and the second end; a holder for holding the optical fiber; a transparent window at least partially covering the optical fiber such that light within the optical fiber is transmitted from the transparent window to outside the housing. The aerosol generating device provided by the application has the advantages that the light emitted by the light emitting element can be emitted from the end part of one end of the optical fiber and transmitted between one end and the other end of the optical fiber, the display is uniform, the structure is simple, and the cost is low.

Description

Aerosol generating device

Technical Field

The application relates to the technical field of electronic atomization, in particular to an aerosol generating device.

Background

Existing aerosol-generating devices are typically provided with an indicator light for indicating the remaining power of the aerosol-generating device, etc.

The device generally adopts a plurality of light emitting elements to emit light, and then the light guide member guides the light to the plurality of light emitting elements so that the light of the plurality of light emitting elements is emitted outwards. In the structure of the indicator lamp, the structure is complex, and the cost is high.

Disclosure of Invention

The application aims to solve the problems of complex structure and poor display effect of the existing aerosol generating device.

The present application provides an aerosol-generating device for atomizing an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; comprising the following steps:

a housing;

a first circuit board disposed within the housing; a light emitting element for emitting light is arranged on the first circuit board;

an optical fiber including a first end proximate the light emitting element, a second end opposite the first end; light emitted by the light emitting element can be incident from the end of the first end and transferred between the first end and the second end;

a holder for holding the optical fiber;

a transparent window at least partially covering the optical fiber such that light within the optical fiber is transmitted from the transparent window to outside the housing.

The aerosol generating device provided by the application has the advantages that the light emitted by the light emitting element can be emitted from the end part of one end of the optical fiber and transmitted between one end and the other end of the optical fiber, the display is uniform, the structure is simple, and the cost is low.

Drawings

One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements, and in which the figures are not to scale, unless expressly stated otherwise.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol-generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 2 is a schematic view of another aerosol-generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 3 is a schematic view of an aerosol-generating device with a light guide assembly according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial schematic view of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a light guide assembly according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an optical fiber provided by an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic view of another aerosol-generating device having a light guide assembly according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial schematic view of FIG. 8;

fig. 10 is a schematic view of a portion of a housing provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order that the application may be readily understood, a more particular description thereof will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being "fixed" to another element, it can be directly on the other element or one or more intervening elements may be present therebetween. When an element is referred to as being "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or one or more intervening elements may be present therebetween. The terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer" and the like are used in this specification for illustrative purposes only.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in the description of the application herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and/or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 1, the aerosol-generating device comprises:

a chamber a within which the aerosol-generating article B is removably received;

the heating element 11, when the aerosol-generating article B is received within the chamber a, the heating element 11 may be inserted into the aerosol-generating article B for heating to generate an aerosol.

A battery 12 for supplying power; the battery 12 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery.

A circuit 13 for controlling the aerosol-generating device; for example, the control cell 12 provides power to the heating element 11.

In one example, the circuit 13 includes a controller. The controller is configured as a hardware component that controls the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device. The controller may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or as a combination of a general purpose microprocessor and memory having stored therein a program executable in the microprocessor. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The aerosol-generating article B preferably employs a tobacco-containing material that releases volatile compounds from a matrix upon heating; or may be a non-tobacco material capable of being heated and thereafter adapted for electrical heating for smoking. The aerosol-generating article B preferably employs a solid aerosol-forming substrate, which may comprise one or more of powders, granules, shredded strips, ribbons or flakes of one or more of vanilla leaves, tobacco leaves, homogenized tobacco, expanded tobacco; alternatively, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds to be released when the substrate is heated.

The heating means of the heating element 11 includes, but is not limited to, resistance heating, electromagnetic heating, infrared heating, and air heating. The shape of the heating element 11 includes, but is not limited to, needle-like, pin-like, or lamellar.

It should also be noted that, unlike the example of fig. 1, in other examples, it is also possible that the heating element 11 is configured to heat around at least part of the aerosol-generating article B, so-called circumferential heating or peripheral heating, etc.

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of another aerosol-generating device provided by an embodiment of the present application.

As shown in fig. 2, the aerosol-generating device comprises a nebulizer 100 and a power supply assembly 200, the nebulizer 100 being detachably connected to the power supply assembly 200. In other examples, it is also possible that the atomizer 100 is non-detachably connected, i.e. integrally formed, with the power supply assembly 200.

The atomizer 100 comprises a reservoir (not shown) for storing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate and a heating element 101, the heating element 101 heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form a smokable aerosol under the power supplied by a power supply assembly 200.

The atomizer 100 may also include a liquid transfer unit (not shown). The liquid transfer unit may be, for example, cotton fibers, metal fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers, porous ceramics, etc., and may transfer the liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the liquid storage chamber to the heating element 101 by capillary action.

The power supply assembly 200 includes a battery cell 201 and a circuit 202.

The electrical core 201 provides electrical power for operating the aerosol-generating device. The battery cell 201 may be a rechargeable battery cell or a disposable battery cell.

The circuitry 202 may control the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device. The circuit 202 controls not only the operation of the electrical core 201 and the heating element 101, but also the operation of other elements in the aerosol-generating device.

In an example, the circuit 202 includes a controller. The controller is configured as a hardware component that controls the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device. The controller may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or as a combination of a general purpose microprocessor and memory having stored therein a program executable in the microprocessor. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

It should be noted that, in the example of fig. 2, the heating element 101 may be a conventional resistive heating element. In other examples, the heating element 101 may also be an ultrasonic atomizing plate for generating high frequency oscillations to atomize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form a smokable aerosol.

Based on the aerosol generating device, the application further provides a light guide assembly.

Fig. 3-6 illustrate a light guide assembly according to an example of the present application, wherein the light guide assembly is disposed at an upper end of the housing 30.

The light guide assembly includes a transparent window 31, an optical fiber 32, a holder 33, a circuit board 34, and a bracket 35.

The transparent window 31 has a circular ring shape. At least a portion of the material contained in the transparent window 31 is transparent, and the transparent window 31 may be made of a material such as plastic or glass. In other examples, the transparent window 31 may be formed by a portion of the housing 30.

The optical fiber 32 includes a first end 321, a second end 322, and a body extending from the first end 321 to the second end 322. The optical fiber 32 is polymerized from a liquid polymer compound. The optical fiber 32 may be formed of one or more strands of fiber optic filaments, and may also be in a network configuration. The optical fiber 32 may be a point light emitting fiber or a line light emitting fiber. The diameter of the optical fiber 32 is 0.25 mm-3 mm; preferably, the diameter is between 0.25mm and 2.5mm; preferably, the diameter is between 0.25mm and 2mm; preferably, the diameter is between 0.25mm and 1.5mm; preferably, the diameter is between 0.75mm and 1.5mm; in a specific example, the diameter of the optical fiber 32 is 1mm. The optical fiber 32 may be comprised of one or more optical fiber filaments. The optical fiber 32 has a certain flexibility and can be plastically deformed into various shapes, such as a regular shape of a circle, a square (including a rectangle or a square), an ellipse, a bar shape, etc., or other irregular shape. The bending radius of the optical fiber 32 is 4 mm-8 mm; preferably, the diameter is between 4mm and 7mm; preferably, the diameter is between 4mm and 6mm.

The end of the first end 321 is preferably configured as a substantially planar surface, in correspondence with which the light emitting element 341 has a corresponding substantially planar surface.

The holder 33 includes a receiving groove 331 and a through hole 332. The through hole 332 communicates with the accommodation groove 331 and extends into the housing 30 of the aerosol-generating device, and the accommodation groove 331 has a circular shape. The holder 33 is integrally formed with the housing 30, for example, by injection molding; the retainer 33 may also be a separate component from the housing 30, attached to the housing 30 by an accessory such as a locking mechanism, adhesive, screw, or the like.

The wiring board 34 and the bracket 35 are disposed within the housing 30. The wiring board 34 is held on the holder 35. The circuit board 34 is provided with a light emitting element 341, and the operating state of the aerosol generating device is displayed by controlling the color, intensity, flicker frequency, and other properties of the light emitted by the light emitting element 341; such as indicating the remaining power of the battery cell, whether the aerosol-generating device is operating or being pumped, etc. The light emitting element 341 is disposed near the through hole 332, preferably coaxially with the through hole 332. In other examples, the light emitting element 341 may also protrude into the through hole 332.

In this example, the circuit board 34 is not provided with a controller, and is preferably made of a flexible material. Correspondingly, a further wiring board (not shown) may also be included in the housing 30, spaced from the wiring board 34, on which further wiring board a controller is mounted for controlling the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device.

When assembled, the optical fiber 32 is plastically deformed into a circular shape, the body of the optical fiber 32 is accommodated in the accommodation groove 331, and a part of the optical fiber 32 is bent and held in the through hole 332. The end of the first end 321 faces the light emitting element 341. The end of the first end 321 may be spaced from the light emitting element 341 by a distance as small as possible, typically 0.05mm to 0.5mm; preferably, the diameter is between 0.05mm and 0.2mm; further preferably, the diameter is 0.05mm to 0.15mm; in a specific example, the end of the first end 321 is spaced from the light emitting element 341 by a distance of 0.1mm. The end of the first end 321 may also be in contact with the light emitting element 341, such that as much light as possible is emitted by the light emitting element 341 into the optical fiber 32. In an example, a color filter may be disposed between an end of the first end 321 of the optical fiber 32 and the light emitting element 341, and the color filter may change the color of the light beam so that the color light may enter the optical fiber 32.

The transparent window 31 is covered on the optical fiber 32. In this way, the light emitted from the light emitting element 341 is incident from the end of the first end 321 and is transmitted between the first end 321 and the second end 322, and the light in the optical fiber 32 is transmitted from the transparent window 31 to the outside of the case 30.

In this example, the second end 322 is disposed near the first end 321 or disposed adjacent to the first end 321. Thus, light can be transmitted through the end of the second end 322 to form a relatively complete light ring. In other examples, the second end 322 may be disposed away from the first end 321, and the end of the second end 322 may be configured to be opaque, such as by coating the end of the second end 322 with an opaque material, or by shielding the end of the second end 322 by a shielding portion disposed on the retainer 33 to prevent light from passing out of the end of the second end 322.

It should also be noted that in the example of fig. 3-6, the housing includes one or more viewing apertures that form a predetermined pattern. At this time, the transparent window 31 may be provided in the case 30 and near the window hole; after passing through the transparent window 31, the light in the optical fiber 32 is transmitted from the window hole to the outside of the housing 30. It will be appreciated that the pattern formed by the arrangement of the plurality of window apertures is not limited and may be circular, annular, arcuate, triangular, square, other regular or irregular.

Fig. 7-10 illustrate another example of a light guide assembly according to the present application, which is disposed around a key C, unlike the examples of fig. 3-6.

In the example of fig. 7-10, the holder is part of the housing 40, the annular receiving groove 431 is arranged around an opening into which the key C fits; the through hole 432 communicates with the receiving groove 431 and extends toward the inside of the housing 40 of the aerosol-generating device.

Similar to the example of fig. 3-6, the wiring board 44 is held on the holder 45, the light emitting element 341 is mounted on the wiring board 44, and the light emitting element 441 is disposed near the through hole 432; the optical fiber 42 is plastically deformed into a circular shape, the body of the optical fiber 42 is accommodated in the accommodating groove 431, and a part of the optical fiber 42 is bent and then is held in the through hole 432; the transparent window 41 is covered on the optical fiber 42.

Thus, when the key C is operated, the light emitting element 341 may be controlled to emit light to indicate the operation state of the aerosol-generating device; such as indicating the remaining power of the battery cell, whether the aerosol-generating device is operating or being pumped, etc.

As will be appreciated in connection with fig. 3 or 8, the aerosol-generating device further comprises an insertion opening into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted or removed from the heating chamber.

In another example, the light guide assembly may be disposed around the insertion port. In the process of inserting or removing the product, the light guide assembly can be controlled to emit light, so that a user can check the condition in the heating cavity conveniently.

It will be appreciated that the arrangement scenario of the light guide assembly is not limited to the above, for example: it may be arranged around at least one of a movable cover for shielding the insertion port, a cleaning hole, and a charging port.

It should be noted that the description of the present application and the accompanying drawings illustrate preferred embodiments of the present application, but the present application may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein, which are not to be construed as additional limitations of the application, but are provided for a more thorough understanding of the present application. The above-described features are further combined with each other to form various embodiments not listed above, and are considered to be the scope of the present application described in the specification; further, modifications and variations of the present application may be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing teachings, and all such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of this application as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (16)

1. An aerosol-generating device for atomizing an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; characterized by comprising the following steps:

a housing;

a first circuit board disposed within the housing; a light emitting element for emitting light is arranged on the first circuit board;

an optical fiber including a first end proximate the light emitting element, a second end opposite the first end; light emitted by the light emitting element can be incident from the end of the first end and transferred between the first end and the second end;

a holder for holding the optical fiber;

a transparent window at least partially covering the optical fiber such that light within the optical fiber is transmitted from the transparent window to outside the housing.

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises one or more viewing apertures forming a predetermined pattern, the transparent window being disposed within the housing and adjacent to the viewing aperture; after passing through the transparent window, the light in the optical fiber is transmitted from the window hole to the outside of the shell.

3. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, further comprising a second circuit board disposed spaced apart from the first circuit board, the second circuit board having a controller disposed thereon.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the first circuit board is made of a flexible material.

5. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the first end is spaced from the light-emitting element by a distance of 0.05mm to 0.5mm; alternatively, an end of the first end is held in contact with the light emitting element.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the end of the first end is configured as a substantially planar first surface, the light-emitting element having a substantially planar second surface corresponding to the first surface.

7. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein an end of the second end is configured to be light-tight; or,

the aerosol-generating device further comprises a shielding portion for shielding an end of the second end to prevent light from penetrating out of the end of the second end.

8. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second end is arranged adjacent to the first end; alternatively, the second end is disposed distally from the first end.

9. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre is arranged around at least one of a key, an insertion opening into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted, a removable cover for shielding the insertion opening, a cleaning aperture, a charging opening.

10. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre is plastically deformable into a circular, square or oval shape.

11. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre has a bend radius of from 4mm to 8mm.

12. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre has a diameter of 0.25mm to 3mm.

13. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the optical fibre is configured to be bent and, after bending, such that an end of the first end is arranged facing the light-emitting element.

14. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the holder is integrally formed with the housing; alternatively, the retainer is a separate component from the housing.

15. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a receiving slot, a through-hole communicating with the receiving slot and extending into the housing;

the optical fiber is at least partially accommodated in the accommodating groove, and part of the optical fiber is bent and then is kept in the through hole.

16. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 15, wherein the light-emitting element is arranged close to the through-hole; alternatively, the light emitting element at least partially protrudes into the through hole.