EP4360481A1

EP4360481A1 - A handheld device for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user

Info

Publication number: EP4360481A1
Application number: EP22203657.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Samuel FREIENMUTH; Torsten PRENTER
Original assignee: Eqoy International Group Ag
Current assignee: Eqoy International Group Ag
Priority date: 2022-10-25
Filing date: 2022-10-25
Publication date: 2024-05-01

Abstract

A handheld device for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user comprises a mouthpiece and a heating structure comprising a ceramic tube. Further, the handheld device comprises a first electrically conductive structure connected to a first electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube. Additionally, the handheld device comprises a second electrically conductive structure connected to a second electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube, wherein at least a part of the ceramic tube is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Description

Field

The disclosure relates to concepts for vaporizing liquid, which is afterwards inhaled by a user.

Background

A large variety of electronic cigarettes and inhalation devices are known. Often a liquid is heated to high temperatures to produce vapor that can be inhaled by the user. Unhealthy components can result from excessive heating.

Summary

Examples relate to a handheld device for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user. The handheld device comprises a mouthpiece and a heating structure comprising a ceramic tube. Further, the handheld device comprises a first electrically conductive structure connected to a first electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube. Additionally, the handheld device comprises a second electrically conductive structure connected to a second electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube. At least a part of the ceramic tube is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Brief description of the Figures

Some examples of apparatuses and/or methods will be described in the following by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross section of a handheld device for vaporizing liquid;
Fig. 2a shows a schematic longitudinal section of a ceramic tube of a heating structure;
Fig. 2b shows a schematic cross section of the ceramic tube of Fig. 2a; and
Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross section of a handheld device for vaporizing liquid indicating an air flow.

Detailed Description

Some examples are now described in more detail with reference to the enclosed figures. However, other possible examples are not limited to the features of these embodiments described in detail. Other examples may include modifications of the features as well as equivalents and alternatives to the features. Furthermore, the terminology used herein to describe certain examples should not be restrictive of further possible examples.
Throughout the description of the figures same or similar reference numerals refer to same or similar elements and/or features, which may be identical or implemented in a modified form while providing the same or a similar function. The thickness of lines, layers and/or areas in the figures may also be exaggerated for clarification.
When two elements A and B are combined using an "or", this is to be understood as disclosing all possible combinations, i.e. only A, only B as well as A and B, unless expressly defined otherwise in the individual case. As an alternative wording for the same combinations, "at least one of A and B" or "A and/or B" may be used. This applies equivalently to combinations of more than two elements.
If a singular form, such as "a", "an" and "the" is used and the use of only a single element is not defined as mandatory either explicitly or implicitly, further examples may also use several elements to implement the same function. If a function is described below as implemented using multiple elements, further examples may implement the same function using a single element or a single processing entity. It is further understood that the terms "include", "including", "comprise" and/or "comprising", when used, describe the presence of the specified features, integers, steps, operations, processes, elements, components and/or a group thereof, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, processes, elements, components and/or a group thereof.
Fig. 1 shows a handheld device 10 (e.g. for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user). The handheld device 10 comprises a mouthpiece 11 and a heating structure 15 comprising a ceramic tube. Further, the handheld device 10 comprises a first electrically conductive structure 16 connected to a first electrode of the heating structure 15 being in contact with the ceramic tube. Additionally, the handheld device 10 comprises a second electrically conductive structure 17 connected to a second electrode of the heating structure 15 being in contact with the ceramic tube. At least a part of the ceramic tube is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
By using a ceramic structure for vaporizing a liquid, the temperature can be easily controlled and vapor can be produced at low temperatures. In this way, undesired or unhealthy components in the vapor or smoke can be reduced or avoided. It may be possible to provide clean vapor or smoke.
The temperature, which the ceramic tube reaches during operation, may depend on the electrical resistance of the ceramic tube between the first electrode and the second electrode and the voltage applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical resistance of the ceramic tube between the first electrode and the second electrode may depend on the material of the ceramic tube and the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode.
For example, a battery (e.g. primary or secondary battery) may provide a supply voltage and the heating structure 15 may comprise an electrical resistance so that the ceramic tube is heated to a temperature of at least 100 °C (or at least 90°C, at least 110°C or at least 120°C) and/or at most 190 °C (or at most 170°C, at most 150°C or at most 210°C), when a current flow through the ceramic tube is activated for at least 0.5 s (or at least Is or at least 1.5 s) and/or at most 4 s (or at most 3 s or at most 2 s). A user may take a drag on the handheld device 10 for approximately 1-3 s per inhalation cycle. During that time, the ceramic tube may be heated to more than 100°C, but less than 190°C.
For example, the ceramic tube may comprise, may be made of or may be essentially composed of (e.g. non-porous or porous) aluminum oxide (e.g. Al2O3), zirconium oxide (e.g. ZrO2) or other ceramic material. For example, the ceramic tube may be an aluminum oxide tube. For example, the ceramic tube may comprise, may be made of or may be essentially composed of porous ceramic material. The porous ceramic material may have a porosity of more than 20% (or more than 30% or more than 50%). By using a porous material for the ceramic tube, the liquid to be vaporized may flow into the pores of the porous material and may be easily vaporized and exit the ceramic tube through the central opening. For example, the ceramic tube may be a porous aluminum oxide tube.
For example, an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode through at least a part of the ceramic tube (e.g. the part of the ceramic tube, which is located between the first electrode and the second electrode) is at least 0.20 ohm (or at least 0.3 ohm, at least 0.5 ohm, at least 1 ohm or at least 1.5 ohm) and/or at most 3.3 ohm (or at most 3 ohm or at most 2.5 ohm), for example, 2.2 ohm. For example, the distance between the first electrode and the second electrode may be selected so that the part of the ceramic tube, which is located between the first electrode and the second electrode, has the desired electrical resistance.
For example, the ceramic tube may comprise a length of at least 1 cm (or at least 1.5 cm or at least 2 cm) and/or at most 6 cm (or at most 3 cm or at most 6 cm). The ceramic tube may comprise a central opening with a diameter of at least 3 mm (or at least 4 mm or at least 5 mm) and/or at most 8 mm (or at most 7 mm or at most 6 mm). The ceramic tube may comprise an outer diameter of at least 1.1 mm (or at least 2.5 mm or at least 4 mm) and/or at most 8.2 mm (or at most 7 mm or at least 6 mm).
The ceramic tube of the heating structure 15 may be a hollow ceramic structure with an opening at both ends. A cross section of the ceramic tube of the heating structure 15 may comprise a circular or a rectangular geometry or any other tube-like geometry. Fig. 2a and 2b show an example of a of a ceramic tube with a circular geometry. The first electrode 21 of the heating structure 15 may be in contact with an inner surface of the ceramic tube 20 and may extend over the complete inner surface or only a part of the inner surface of the ceramic tube 20. The second electrode 22 of the heating structure 15 may be in contact with an outer surface of the ceramic tube 20 and may extend over the complete outer surface or only a part of the outer surface of the ceramic tube 20. In this example, the electrical resistance between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 may be set by the thickness of the ceramic tube. Alternatively, the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 may both be located at the inner surface or at the outer surface of the ceramic tube 20. In this example, the electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode may be set by the distance between the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 on the inner surface or the outer surface of the ceramic tube 20.
Instead of a ceramic tube, the heating structure 15 may comprise a ceramic structure with another geometry (e.g. a ceramic rod, a ceramic ring or a ceramic cube) with at least a part of the ceramic structure being located between a first electrode and a second electrode. For example, the first electrode and the second electrode may be located at opposite ends of a ceramic rod, at different areas of a ceramic ring or on opposite sides of a ceramic cube. The ceramic structure may be made of or may be essentially composed of one of the materials and/or may have dimensions mentioned in connection with the ceramic tube. The heating structure 15 may comprise an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode as mentioned above.
The heating structure 15 may be configured to heat the ceramic tube to a temperature of at least 100 °C (or at least 90°C, at least 110°C or at least 120°C) and/or at most 190 °C (or at most 170°C, at most 150°C or at most 210°C). For example, the ceramic tube and the positions of the electrodes may be selected so that the heating structure 15 enables temperatures in the mentioned range. For example, the heating structure 15 may be configured to provide a power of at least 4 Wat (or at least 6 Watt or at least 8 Watt) and/or at most 18 Watt (or at most 15 Watt or at most 12 Watt).
The first electrically conductive structure 16 and the second electrically conductive structure 17 may be or may comprise wires (e.g. copper wires) or electrically conductive traces (e.g. formed on a surface).
The first electrically conductive structure 16 may electrically connect the first electrode to a battery or an activation apparatus of the handheld device 10. The second electrically conductive structure 17 may electrically connect the second electrode to a battery or an activation apparatus of the handheld device 10.
The first electrode and/or the second electrode may be attached to the ceramic tube or may be deposited on the ceramic tube. The first electrode and/or the second electrode may comprise or may be made of copper or any other electrically conductive material.
The handheld device 10 may comprise an activation apparatus 9 configured to activate a current flow from the first electrically conductive structure 16 to the second electrically conductive structure 17 through at least a part of the ceramic tube, when a user sucks (e.g. takes a drag) at the mouthpiece 11. For example, the activation apparatus 9 may comprise a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor may be configured to detect a pressure and/or a change of pressure within the handheld device 10. The activation apparatus 9 may be configured to activate the current flow, if the pressure sensor detects a pressure equal to or below a pressure threshold and/or a change of pressure exceeding a pressure change threshold. The activation apparatus 9 may be configured to deactivate the current flow, if the pressure sensor detects a pressure equal to or above a pressure threshold and/or a change of pressure decreases below a pressure change threshold. Alternatively, the activation apparatus 9 configured to activate a current flow from the first electrically conductive structure 16 to the second electrically conductive structure 17 through at least a part of the ceramic tube, when a user activates the handheld device 10 (e.g. by pushing a button). The activation apparatus 9 may comprise hardware (e.g. processor circuitry, for example, a microcontroller or ASIC or FGPA) and/or software to provide the described functionality.
The handheld device 10 may further comprise a non-removable or removeable battery (e.g. primary or secondary battery). The battery 19 may be coupled to the first electrically conductive structure 16 and the second electrically conductive structure 17. The battery 19 may be directly connected the first electrically conductive structure 16 or coupled through the activation apparatus 9. The battery 19 may be directly connected the second electrically conductive structure 17 or coupled through the activation apparatus 9. The battery 19 may be connected to the activation apparatus 9. The battery 19 may provide a supply voltage for the activation apparatus 9 and/or the heating structure 15. The battery may provide a supply voltage of at least 1V (or at least 2V or at least 3V) and/or at most 8V (or at most 6V or at most 5V). The battery 19 may provide at least 200 mAh and/or at most 4000 mAh, for example 450 mAh. The battery 19 (e.g. sensor-controlled battery) may be air-draw activatable to power the handheld device 10. The battery 19 may be located in a battery compartment within the housing 18, which is sealed from a cavity extending to the mouthpiece 11. The battery compartment may be located at a bottom end of the handheld device 10. The battery compartment may comprise one or more venting holes.
The mouthpiece 11 may be located at a top end of the handheld device 10. The mouthpiece 11 may comprise or may be made of polyoxymethylene with an antibacterial coating (e.g. which keeps bacteria low) or any other suitable material and/or coating.
The handheld device 10 may further comprise a liquid reservoir 14 configured to provide a liquid to the heating structure 15. The liquid may be a liquid comprising water, flavorings, nicotine (e.g. nicotine salt), glycerin (e.g. vegetable glycerin), propylene glycol and/or other ingredients. The liquid may be any liquid which can be vaporized in the temperature range mentioned above and which may provide the user with desired flavors, nicotine and/or medical substances. The user may be a smoker or a patient.
The handheld device 10 may further comprise a sealing structure 13 located between the mouthpiece 11 and the ceramic tube. The sealing structure 13 may be configured to partially seal a first cavity located between the mouthpiece 11 and the sealing structure 13 from a second cavity that houses the ceramic tube within a housing 18 of the handheld device 10. For example, the sealing structure 13 may seal the first cavity from the second cavity except for a central opening or except for a central opening and one or more circumferential openings located between the sealing structure 13 and the housing 18 of the handheld device 10. For example, the central opening of the sealing structure 13 may be aligned with the central opening of the ceramic tube. The central opening of the sealing structure 13 and/or the circumferential openings located between the sealing structure 13 and the housing of the handheld device 10 may enable vapor to move from the second cavity to the first cavity. The sealing structure 13 may comprise or may be made of silicone (e.g. NSF-51) or any other heat resistant material and/or food grade material.
The handheld device 10 may further comprise an absorbent structure 12 located between the mouthpiece 11 and the sealing structure 12. The absorbent structure 12 may be configured to absorb liquid which may exit the second cavity through the central opening of the sealing structure 13 and/or the circumferential openings between the sealing structure 13 and the housing of the handheld device 10 or which condenses in the first cavity. In this way, it can be avoided or reduced that liquid reaches the user through the mouthpiece 11. The absorbent structure 12 may comprise or may be made of cotton or another absorbing material. The cotton may absorb liquid (e.g. water) to avoid getting liquid into the mouth.
The handheld device 10 may also be called inhalation device, inhaler, electronic inhalation device, clean inhaler, clean inhalation device or electronic cigarette. For example, the handheld device 10 has a size and weight so that it can easily be carried by a user in one hand. For example, the handheld device 10 may comprise a maximal length of at most 12 cm (or at most 15 cm or at most 10 cm). The handheld device 10 may comprise a weight of at most 150 g (or at most 120 g or at most 100 g). The housing 18 of the handheld device 10 may comprise or may be made of aluminum or any other lightweight, but stable material. For example, the housing 18 may comprise a leak-proof tube-shaped main part (e.g. coated aluminum tube), an open top for attaching the mouthpiece 11 and a bottom with one or more air openings and/or one or more venting holes (e.g. shown in Fig. 3). The bottom (e.g. a cap) of the housing 18 may be removable for exchange of the battery 9. Alternatively, the bottom may be non-removable for a single-use handheld device 10.
The handheld device 10 may enable a non-toxic and/or low-emission inhalation of flavorings with or without nicotine or a nicotine replacement therapy.
Fig. 3 shows an example of an air flow 33 within a handheld device 10. The handheld device 30 may be implemented similar to the handheld device described in connection with Fig. 1.
The handheld device 30 may comprise one or more openings 31 at a bottom of the handheld device 30. In addition, one or more venting holes 32 for a battery compartment may be located at the bottom of the handheld device 30.
If the user sucks at the mouthpiece 11, air flows from the one or more air openings 31 through a cavity containing the ceramic tube to the mouthpiece 11. In this way, vapor generated by heating the ceramic tube can be carried to the mouthpiece and can be inhaled by the user.
More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the examples described above or below. The handheld device 30 may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (e.g. Fig. 1-2b) or below.
Some examples relate to a method for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user. The method comprises heating a ceramic structure (e.g. a ceramic tube) of a heating structure of a handheld device so that liquid is vaporized by activating a current flow from a first electrically conductive structure connected to a first electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube to a second electrically conductive structure connected to a second electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube. At least a part of the ceramic tube is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
More details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the examples described above or below. The method may comprise one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or one or more examples described above (e.g. Fig. 1-3) or below.
The aspects and features described in relation to a particular one of the previous examples may also be combined with one or more of the further examples to replace an identical or similar feature of that further example or to additionally introduce the features into the further example.
It is further understood that the disclosure of several steps, processes, operations or functions disclosed in the description or claims shall not be construed to imply that these operations are necessarily dependent on the order described, unless explicitly stated in the individual case or necessary for technical reasons. Therefore, the previous description does not limit the execution of several steps or functions to a certain order. Furthermore, in further examples, a single step, function, process or operation may include and/or be broken up into several sub-steps, -functions, -processes or -operations.
If some aspects have been described in relation to a device or system, these aspects should also be understood as a description of the corresponding method. For example, a block, device or functional aspect of the device or system may correspond to a feature, such as a method step, of the corresponding method. Accordingly, aspects described in relation to a method shall also be understood as a description of a corresponding block, a corresponding element, a property or a functional feature of a corresponding device or a corresponding system.
The following claims are hereby incorporated in the detailed description, wherein each claim may stand on its own as a separate example. It should also be noted that although in the claims a dependent claim refers to a particular combination with one or more other claims, other examples may also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of any other dependent or independent claim. Such combinations are hereby explicitly proposed, unless it is stated in the individual case that a particular combination is not intended. Furthermore, features of a claim should also be included for any other independent claim, even if that claim is not directly defined as dependent on that other independent claim.

Claims

A handheld device for vaporizing liquid to be inhaled by a user, comprising:
a mouthpiece;

a heating structure comprising a ceramic tube;

a first electrically conductive structure connected to a first electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube; and

a second electrically conductive structure connected to a second electrode of the heating structure being in contact with the ceramic tube, wherein at least a part of the ceramic tube is located between the first electrode and the second electrode.
The handheld device of claim 1, wherein an electrical resistance between the first electrode and the second electrode through at least a part of the ceramic tube is at least 0.20 ohm and at most 3.3 ohm.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, comprising an activation apparatus configured to activate a current flow from the first electrically conductive structure to the second electrically conductive structure through at least a part of the ceramic tube, when a user sucks at the mouthpiece.
The handheld device of claim 3, wherein the activation apparatus comprises a pressure sensor, wherein the apparatus is configured to activate the current flow, if the pressure sensor detects a pressure below a pressure threshold.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the heating structure is configured to heat the ceramic tube to a temperature of at least 100 °C and at most 190 °C.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the ceramic tube comprises a length of at least 0.5 cm and at most 3 cm.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the ceramic tube comprises a central opening with a diameter of at least 3 mm and at most 8 mm.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the ceramic tube comprises an outer diameter of at least 3.1 mm and at most 8.2 mm.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the ceramic tube comprises a porous ceramic material.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, wherein the ceramic tube comprises an aluminum oxide.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, comprising a liquid reservoir configured to provide a liquid to the heating structure.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, comprising a battery coupled to the first electrically conductive structure and the second electrically conductive structure.
The handheld device of claim 12, wherein the battery provides a supply voltage and the heating structure comprises an electrical resistance so that the ceramic tube is heated to a temperature of at least 100 °C and at most 190 °C, when a current flow through the ceramic tube is activated for at least 0.5s and at most 4s.
The handheld device of one of the previous claims, comprising a sealing structure located between the mouthpiece and the ceramic tube.
The handheld device of claim 14, comprising an absorbent structure located between the mouthpiece and the sealing structure.