EP4678035A1

EP4678035A1 - Aerosol generating device and heater for aerosol generating device

Info

Publication number: EP4678035A1
Application number: EP24787906.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Zhiming LU; Ruilong HU; Zhongli XU; Yonghai LI
Original assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shenzhen FirstUnion Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2023-04-11
Filing date: 2024-03-26
Publication date: 2026-01-14
Also published as: WO2024212800A1; CN118787144A

Abstract

Provided in the application are an aerosol generating device and a heater for an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device comprises: a heating element, comprising a first portion and a second portion which are arranged in a longitudinal direction; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the plurality of electrodes are configured to be capable of simultaneously directing current in a circumferential direction of the first portion and of the second portion; a cell configured to supply electric power; and a circuit configured to selectively connect the plurality of electrodes to the cell in different electrical connection modes, such that the first portion and the second portion simultaneously heat an aerosol generating product in different power ratios. In the aerosol generating device, the electrodes and the cell can be electrically connected in different modes, such that the first portion and the second portion can be selectively heated simultaneously in different power ratios.

Description

This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310420339.6, filed with China National Intellectual Property Administration on April 11, 2023 and entitled "AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND HEATER FOR AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE", which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of this application relate to the field of aerosol generating technologies, and in particular, to an aerosol generating device and a heater for an aerosol generating device.

BACKGROUND

During use of tobacco products (for example, cigarettes and cigars), tobaccos are burnt to generate tobacco vapor. Attempts are made to replace these tobacco-burning products by manufacturing products that release compounds without burning tobacco.
An example of this type of products is a heating device that releases compounds by heating rather than burning materials. For example, the materials may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, where the non-tobacco products may or may not include nicotine. In a conventional heating device, to heat an aerosol generating article to a temperature at which a volatile component that can form an aerosol can be released, a tubular resistive heater is generally configured to heat the aerosol generating article to generate the aerosol. The tubular resistive heater is provided with two electrodes that face away from each other along a radial direction and are respectively used as a positive electrode and a negative electrode, so as to direct a current in the resistive heater. Through the two electrodes facing away from each other, power distribution cannot be changed in a longitudinal direction of the resistive heater.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device including:

a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, where the heating element includes a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, where the plurality of electrodes are arranged to simultaneously direct a current in a circumferential direction of the first portion and the second portion;
a battery core, configured to provide electric power; and
a circuit, configured to selectively connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in different electrical connection modes, so that the first portion and the second portion are allowed to heat the aerosol generating article simultaneously at different power ratios.

In some embodiments, the device further includes:

a chamber, configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article; and
an opening, where in use, the aerosol generating article is at least partially accommodated in the chamber or removed from the chamber through the opening, where
the heating element is arranged to surround at least a portion of the chamber; and the first portion is closer to the opening than the second portion.

In some embodiments, the heating element is arranged to surround or define a tubular shape of the chamber.
In some embodiments, the device further includes:

a base, at least partially surrounding or defining the chamber, where
the heating element includes a coating or a thin film or a heating mesh coupled to the base.

In some embodiments, the heating element includes at least one of a resistive heating element or an infrared heating element.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a third electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode during a first time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1; and the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode during a second time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is further configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a third electrical connection mode during a third time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to cause a temperature of the first portion to be higher than a temperature of the second portion during the first time period and maintain a first temperature difference, and cause the temperature of the first portion to be higher than the temperature of the second portion during the second time period and maintain a second temperature difference; and
the first temperature difference is greater than the second temperature difference.
In some embodiments, the plurality of electrodes include at least a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode; and
the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction.
Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the aerosol generating device includes only four electrodes. In other words, the aerosol generating device includes only the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the fourth electrode described above.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the other to the third electrode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the second electrode and the other to the fourth electrode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
In some embodiments, the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the second electrode simultaneously and the other to the third electrode and the fourth electrode simultaneously, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
In some embodiments, the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the heating element;
and/or the third electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
In some embodiments, the first electrode and the third electrode are arranged opposite to each other along a radial direction of the heating element;
and/or the second electrode and the fourth electrode are arranged opposite to each other along the radial direction of the heating element.
In some embodiments, the first electrode and the third electrode avoid the second portion;
and/or the second electrode and the fourth electrode avoid the first portion.
In some embodiments, the heating element includes a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; the first portion is close to or defines the first end; the second portion is close to or defines the second end;

a first spacing is defined between the first electrode and/or the third electrode and the first end;
and/or a second spacing is defined between the second electrode and/or the fourth electrode and the second end.

In some embodiments, a length of the first portion is different from a length of the second portion.
In some embodiments, a length of the first electrode extending along the longitudinal direction of the heating element is different from a length of the second electrode extending along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
In some embodiments, the plurality of electrodes are arranged to extend along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
In some embodiments, a width of each of the plurality of electrodes is in a range of 0.5-5 mm.
In some embodiments, each of the electrodes includes a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and
no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.
In some embodiments, the first edge and/or the second edge does not extend straight.
In some embodiments, the first edge and/or the second edge is in a curved arc shape.
In some embodiments, the first portion and the second portion are arranged continuously and electrically connected to each other.
In some embodiments, no separation or interval exists between the first portion and the second portion.
Another embodiment of this application further provides an aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device including:

a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, where the heating element includes a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;
a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, where the plurality of electrodes are arranged to simultaneously direct a current in a circumferential direction of the first portion and the second portion;
a battery core, configured to provide electric power; and
a circuit, configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode, so that simultaneous heating is performed with a heating power of the first portion being greater than a heating power of the second portion; and the circuit is further configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode, so that simultaneous heating is performed with the heating power of the first portion being less than the heating power of the second portion.

Another embodiment of this application further provides an aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device including:

a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, where the heating element includes a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;
a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, where the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction; and
a circuit, configured to: connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the other to the third electrode during a first time period, so as to direct a current on the heating element; and connect one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode of the battery core to the second electrode and the other to the fourth electrode during a second time period, so as to direct a current on the heating element.

a chamber, configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article; and
a heating element, surrounding at least part of the chamber, and configured to heat the aerosol generating article; and
an electrode, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, where the electrode is arranged to extend along a longitudinal direction of the heating element, so as to direct a current along a circumferential direction of the heating element; the electrode includes a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.

Another embodiment of this application further provides a heater for an aerosol generating device, including:

a heating element, configured in a tubular shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater, where the heating element includes a first portion and a second portion arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the first portion and the second portion are arranged continuously and electrically connected to each other; and
a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, where the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction.

a heating element, configured in a tubular shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater; and
an electrode, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, where the electrode is arranged to extend along a longitudinal direction of the heating element, so as to direct a current along a circumferential direction of the heating element; the electrode includes a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.

In some embodiments, the heating element includes a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and the electrode is arranged to extend between the first end and the second end; and a first spacing is defined between the electrode and the first end, and a second spacing is defined between the electrode and the second end.
In the foregoing aerosol generating device, the electrodes and the battery core can be electrically connected in different manners, so as to selectively cause the first portion and the second portion to heat simultaneously at different power ratios.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments are exemplarily described with reference to pictures in accompanying drawings corresponding to the embodiments, and the exemplary descriptions do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements in the accompanying drawings that have same reference numerals are represented as similar elements, and unless otherwise particularly stated, the figures in the accompanying drawings are not drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of a heater in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of directing a current on a heater in FIG. 2 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of directing a current on a heater in FIG. 2 according to another embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of directing a current on a heater in FIG. 2 according to another embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a heater according to another embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a heater according to another embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view of a heater in FIG. 7 from a perspective.
FIG. 9 is a heating curve of a first portion and a second portion of a heating element for an aerosol generating article according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For ease of understanding of this application, this application is described below in more detail with reference to accompanying drawings and specific implementations.
An embodiment of this application provides an aerosol generating device 100 for heating instead of burning an aerosol generating article 1000, such as cigarettes, to evaporate or release at least one component of the aerosol generating article 1000 to form an aerosol for inhalation, as shown in FIG. 1.
Further, in an optional implementation, the aerosol generating article 1000 is preferably made of a tobacco-containing material that releases a volatile compound from a substrate when being heated, or may be a non-tobacco material adapted for electric heating and generating smoke after being heated. The aerosol generating article 1000 is preferably made of a solid substrate, which may include one or more of powders, particles, fragment strips, stripes, or flakes of one or more of vanilla leaves, dried flowers, herbaceous crops with volatile fragrance, tobacco leaves, homogeneous tobacco, and expanded tobacco. Alternatively, the solid substrate may include additional tobacco or non-tobacco volatile aroma compounds to be released when the substrate is heated.
As shown in FIG. 1, after the aerosol generating article 1000 is accommodated by the aerosol generating device 100, part of the aerosol generating article, such as a filter tip, is exposed outside the aerosol generating device 100, which is beneficial for smoking by a user.
A structure of an aerosol generating device in an embodiment of this application may be shown in FIG. 1. An overall appearance of the device is generally configured in a shape of a flat cylinder. An external component of the aerosol generating device 100 includes:

a housing 10, substantially defining an outer surface of the aerosol generating device, and having an interior that is of a hollow structure, thereby forming an assembly space for necessary functional components such as an electronic device and a heating device. The housing 10 has a proximal end 110 and a distal end 120 that are opposite to each other along a length direction. In use, the proximal end 110 is an end close to the user to facilitate operation, heating, and inhalation of the aerosol generating article 1000. The distal end 120 is an end away from the user. Specifically,
the proximal end 110 is provided with an opening 111. The aerosol generating article 1000 may be accommodated in the housing 10 through the opening 111 to be heated or may be removed from the housing 10.

The distal end 120 is provided with an air inlet hole 121. The air inlet hole 121 is configured to provide external air into the housing 10 during inhalation.
In some examples, the shell may be formed of a metal or an alloy such as stainless steel and aluminum. Another suitable material includes various plastics (for example, polycarbonate), metal-plating over plastic, ceramic, and the like.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes:
a chamber, configured to accommodate or receive the aerosol generating article 1000, where in use, the aerosol generating article 1000 may be removably accommodated in the chamber through the opening 111.
As shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes:
an air channel 150, located between the chamber and the air inlet hole 121, where the air channel 150 provides a channel path from the air inlet hole 121 into the chamber/aerosol generating article 1000 in use, as shown by an arrow R11 in FIG. 1.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes:

a battery core 130, configured to provide power, where in a typical embodiment, the battery core 130 is a rechargeable direct-current battery core 130 and may be connected to an external power supply for charging; and
a circuit board 140, where a circuit is arranged or integrated, and is configured to control heating or operation of the aerosol generating device 100.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 100 further includes:
a heater 30, at least partially surrounding and defining the chamber, where when the aerosol generating article 1000 is accommodated in the housing 10, the heater 30 at least partially surrounds or encloses the aerosol generating article 1000 and performs heating from a periphery of the aerosol generating article 1000. When accommodated in the housing 10, the aerosol generating article 1000 is at least partially accommodated and held in the heater 30.
In some embodiments, a length of the heater 30 is in a range of 20-50 mm; and/or the heater 30 has an inner diameter that is in a range of 5.0-10.0 mm.
Further, referring to FIG. 2, the heater 30 is configured substantially in a lengthwise tubular shape, and includes:

a first end 310 and a second end 320 arranged in opposite directions along a longitudinal direction;
a heating element 31, arranged in a tubular shape extending between the first end 310 and the second end 320, where at least a part of the chamber is surrounded and defined by an inner hollow 330 of the heating element 31; and
an electrode, coupled to the heating element 31 and configured to be in electrical conduction with the heating element 31, so as to direct a current on the heating element 31.

In an embodiment, the heating element 31 is a resistive heating element. Moreover, the heating element 31 is made of a resistive conductive ceramic material, and performs heating through resistive Joule heat in use. Alternatively, the material of the heating element 31 includes conductive ceramics.
In some embodiments, resistivity of the heating element 31 including the conductive ceramics is in a range of 1×10^-4 Ω cm to 1.3×10^-1 Ω cm. In addition, in some embodiments, an initial resistance value of the heating element 31 made of the conductive ceramics is in a range of 0.5-5 Ω at room temperature. The initial resistance value at room temperature is a resistance value of the heating element 31 having a resistance value before generating heat.
In addition, in some embodiments, a material of the conductive ceramics includes a main component and a doping component. In addition, in some embodiments, a mass percentage of the main component to the conductive ceramics is greater than 80% and less than or equal to 98%. In addition, in some embodiments, a mass percentage of the doping component to the conductive ceramics is greater than 1% and less than or equal to 19%.
In some optional embodiments, the main component includes zinc oxide; and the doping component includes at least one of aluminum trioxide, zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide, or niobium pentoxide. Further, in some optional embodiments, a mass percentage of zinc oxide to the conductive ceramics is in a range of 94%-97%. The doping component includes aluminum trioxide, and a mass percentage of aluminum trioxide to the conductive ceramics is in a range of 0.5%-5%.
In some other optional embodiments, the main component includes titanium dioxide; and the doping component includes at least niobium pentoxide. Further, in some optional embodiments, a mass percentage of titanium dioxide to the conductive ceramics is in a range of 85%-95%; and a mass percentage of niobium pentoxide to the conductive ceramics is in a range of 5%-20%.
In some other optional embodiments, the main component includes tantalum pentoxide; and the doping component includes at least one of titanium dioxide or zirconium dioxide.
For example, in a specific embodiment, the conductive ceramic material includes zinc oxide with a mass percentage of 94%-98%, aluminum trioxide with a mass percentage of 0.8%-5%, titanium dioxide with a mass percentage of 0%-1%, and zirconium dioxide with a mass percentage of 0%-0.5%. In this embodiment, the heating element 31 that includes the conductive ceramic material of which the main material is zinc oxide has relatively good toughness, tensile strength, and bending strength. Therefore, a tube wall thickness of the heating element 31 may be processed to be less than 0.5 mm.
For another example, in a specific embodiment, the conductive ceramic material includes titanium dioxide with a mass percentage of 85%-95% and niobium pentoxide with a mass percentage of 5%-20%.
For another example, in a specific embodiment, the conductive ceramic material includes titanium boride with a mass percentage of 5%-10%, zinc oxide with a mass percentage of 80%-90%, and aluminum oxide with a mass percentage of 1%-15%.
In some embodiments, the conductive ceramics further include a conductive resistivity adjusting component for controlling the resistivity of the conductive ceramics in a required range. For example, in some optional embodiments, the conductive resistivity adjusting component includes at least one of conductive metal carbide, metal boride, carbon powder, or conductive metal powder. The metal carbide includes silicon carbide; and/or the metal boride includes titanium boride. The conductive metal powder includes at least one of gold powder, silver powder, or copper powder. The conductive metal powder is added to the kind of conductive ceramics to adjust the conductivity. A theoretical explanation of the materials science includes: an average particle size of metal particles dispersed in conductive ceramics is 100 µm, and the conductivity thereof is low when the metal concentration is small. However, when the concentration thereof is slightly increased in a range of about 10 vol%, the concentration thereof enables the conductivity of conductive ceramics to increase by several orders of magnitude. Reasons for the result include that continuous contact is gradually formed between the particles forming an electrode under a precisely controlled concentration. The electron microscope shows that the conductive particles dispersed in the conductive ceramics form particle bonds which are close to each other. According to the model, even in a dispersed case, a conductive particle bond connected to the electrode exists, thereby changing the conductivity.
Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the heating element 31 includes conductive ceramics whose main material is semiconductor, such as silicon carbide ceramics. For example, in a specific embodiment, the conductive ceramic material of the heating element 31 includes 80-96 wt% of silicon carbide, 2-10 wt% of metal phase, and 2-10 wt% of silicon. The metal phase includes at least one of copper, nickel, iron, aluminum, titanium, and the like.
In embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the heating element 31 includes at least:
a first portion 3110 and a second portion 3120 that are arranged along a longitudinal direction, where the first portion 3110 is close to and defines the first end 310, and the second portion 3120 is close to and defines the second end 320. In addition, no separation or interval exists between the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120. Alternatively, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 are continuously arranged, so that the first portion and the second portion are electrically connected with each other.
In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the electrode includes:
a first electrode 321, a second electrode 322, a third electrode 323, and a fourth electrode 324, where each of the electrodes is in a longitudinal shape extending along the longitudinal direction of the heating element 31.
The first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323 are coupled to the first portion 3110 of the heating element 31, and the first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323 are spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the heating element 31. Alternatively, the first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323 are opposite to each other along a radial direction of the heating element 31.
The second electrode 322 and the fourth electrode 324 are coupled to the second portion 3120 of the heating element 31, and the second electrode 322 and the fourth electrode 324 are spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the heating element 31. Alternatively, the second electrode 322 and the fourth electrode 324 are opposite to each other along the radial direction of the heating element 31.
In some embodiments, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 substantially have a same length. Therefore, lengths of the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 are substantially the same. Alternatively, in some other variant embodiments, the length of the first portion 3110 is greater than the length of the second portion 3120. Therefore, the length of the first electrode 321 is greater than the length of the second electrode 322, and the length of the third electrode 323 is greater than the length of the fourth electrode 324.
During implementation, the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 usually adopt a low-resistivity metal or alloy, such as silver, gold, palladium, platinum, copper, nickel, molybdenum, tungsten, niobium, or an alloy thereof. In addition, the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 may be coatings formed on the heating element 31 by spraying, deposition, or printing. Alternatively, the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 may be sheets that are welded or attached to the heating element 31.
During implementation, widths of the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 are in a range of about 0.5-5 mm. Thicknesses of the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 are in a range of 0.01-10 µm.
In the embodiments shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the heating element 31. Moreover, the third electrode 323 and the fourth electrode 324 are aligned along the longitudinal direction of the heating element 31.
During implementation, the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 are respectively connected to the circuit board 140 by soldering a conductive lead. Further, in use, the circuit board 140 can selectively adjust access manners of the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324, so as to change a heating state of the heating element 31. Specifically, in an embodiment, on the circuit board 140, the access manners of the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, and the fourth electrode 324 are selectively adjusted through electrically connecting or terminal switching of a switch tube such as a metal-oxide semiconductor (MOS) tube or a triode.
Alternatively, in more embodiments, the heating element 31 may further include more heating portions in the longitudinal direction. For example, in addition to the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120, the heating element 31 further includes a third portion, a fourth portion, or more. Specifically, the third portion and the fourth portion are arranged between the second portion 3120 and the second end 320 along the longitudinal direction; and the first portion 3110, the second portion 3120, the third portion, and the fourth portion are arranged in sequence along the longitudinal direction. Correspondingly, more electrodes may further be arranged on the heating element 31 to be coupled to the third portion and the fourth portion, such as a fifth electrode and a sixth electrode spaced apart and arranged on the third portion along a circumferential direction and a seventh electrode and an eighth electrode spaced apart and arranged on the fourth portion along the circumferential direction.
For example, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of connecting a first electrode 321 and a third electrode 323 to a circuit to direct a current according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, the first electrode 321 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery core 130. The second electrode 322 and the first electrode 321 are electrically connected through an exposed area of the heating element 31 between the second electrode and the first electrode. The third electrode 323 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery core 130. The fourth electrode 324 and the third electrode 323 are electrically connected through an exposed area of the heating element 31 between the fourth electrode and the third electrode. In this case, in the access manner of FIG. 3, a voltage on the second electrode 322 is slightly less than that on the first electrode 321, and a voltage on the fourth electrode 324 is slightly greater than that on the third electrode 323. The formed current at least includes a current i11 flowing from the first electrode 321 to the third electrode 323 through the first portion 3110 and a current i21 flowing from the second electrode 322 to the fourth electrode 324 through the second portion 3120. Certainly, the current i21 finally flows to the third electrode 323 through the fourth electrode 324, and forms a closed circuit with the negative electrode of the battery core 130 through grounding.
In the access manner of FIG. 3, the current i11 on the first portion 3110 is greater than the current i21 on the second portion 3120. During operation, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 simultaneously generate resistive Joule heat. In addition, a power and/or a heating rate of the first portion 3110 is greater than a power and/or a heating rate of the second portion 3120. A ratio of the power of the first portion 3110 to the power of the second portion 3120 is greater than 1.
For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of connecting a second electrode 322 and a fourth electrode 324 to a circuit to direct a current according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the second electrode 322 is connected to the positive electrode of the battery core 130, and the fourth electrode 324 is connected to the negative electrode of the battery core 130. A current i12 flowing through the first portion 3110 and a current i22 flowing through the second portion 3120 are formed on the heating element 31. In addition, the current i12 on the first portion 3110 is less than the current i22 on the second portion 3120. During operation, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 simultaneously generate the resistive Joule heat. Moreover, the power and/or the heating rate of the first portion 3110 is less than the power and/or the heating rate of the second portion 3120. The ratio of the power of the first portion 3110 to the power of the second portion 3120 is less than 1.
For example, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of connecting a first electrode 321, a second electrode 322, a third electrode 323, and a fourth electrode 324 to a circuit to direct a current according to another embodiment. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 are simultaneously connected to the positive electrode of the battery core 130, and the third electrode 323 and the fourth electrode 324 are simultaneously connected to the negative electrode of the battery core 130. During implementation, a current i13 flowing through the first portion 3110 and a current i23 flowing through the second portion 3120 are formed on the heating element 31. In this case, during operation, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 simultaneously generate the resistive Joule heat. Moreover, the power and/or the heating rate of the first portion 3110 is substantially the same as the power and/or the heating rate of the second portion 3120. The ratio of the power of the first portion 3110 to the power of the second portion 3120 is substantially equal to or close to 1.
As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, a spacing between the first electrode 321 and/or the third electrode 323 and the first end 310 is maintained, and the spacing is in a range of about 2-5 mm. Moreover, a spacing between the second electrode 322 and/or the fourth electrode 324 and the second end 320 is maintained, and the spacing is in a range of about 2-5 mm. Moreover, the spacing between the first electrode 321 and the second electrode 322 is in a range of about 4-10 mm. The spacing between the third electrode 323 and the fourth electrode 324 is in a range of about 4-10 mm.
As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 5, the first electrode 321 includes an edge 3211 and an edge 3212 that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction. The edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212 extends in a non-straight line. The edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212 is in a curved arc shape. The edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212 is in a circular arc shape. No sharp corner exists on the edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212. In this way, when the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212 direct the current, the current does not generate current convergence similar to that at the sharp corner on the edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212, which helps prevent the formation of high temperature on the edges of the edge 3211 and/or the edge 3212 due to the current convergence. Similarly, the third electrode 323 includes an edge 3231 and an edge 3232 that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction. The edges of the edge 3231 and the edge 3232 is in a curved arc shape. The edges of the edge 3231 and the edge 3232 are straight lines extending straight. No sharp corner exists on the edges of the edge 3231 and the edge 3232. Similarly, the second electrode 322 and the fourth electrode 324 also have an edge arrangement the same as that of the first electrode 321 and/or the third electrode 323.
Alternatively, in some other conventional variant embodiments, the first electrode 321, the second electrode 322, the third electrode 323, or the fourth electrode 324 may be of a conventional longitudinal rectangular shape.
Alternatively, in some other variant embodiments, for the heating element 31 made of the conductive ceramic material, the resistance of the heating element 31 may be adjusted or reduced by adding more metals or alloys with a low resistivity. In some embodiments, a metal pattern may be arranged on a surface of the heating element 31 to reduce resistance.
For another example, in some embodiments, a surface of the first portion 3110 of the heating element 31 is provided with several blank electrodes that are spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction. In use, the blank electrode is not welded or connected to a lead, and the blank electrode does not enter a circuit or is not used for providing power. Moreover, the blank electrode is only used for covering a part of the surface of the first portion 3110, so that when a current is directed on the first portion 3110 along the circumferential direction through the first electrode 321 and/or the third electrode 323, the blank electrode carries more current than the inside of the first portion 3110, thereby reducing the resistance of the first portion 3110. Moreover, in some specific embodiments, a plurality of blank electrodes may be arranged on the surface of the first portion 3110, which are spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction. The blank electrode avoids the first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323.
Similarly, the surface of the second portion 3120 of the heating element 31 may also be provided with a plurality of blank electrodes spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction.
In some embodiments, the foregoing blank electrodes may be made of a same electrode material as a current electrode, for example, the first electrode 321, for accessing a circuit, such as gold, silver, copper, or their alloys.
In some embodiments, a temperature sensor, which may include, for example, a sensor of a thermistor type or a sensor of a thermocouple type such as PT1000, is arranged on the heating element 31, to sense a temperature of the heating element 31. The circuit on the circuit board 140 adjusts, based on a sensing result of the foregoing temperature sensor, the power, the voltage, or the current outputted to the heating element 31, so as to keep the heating element 31 at a target temperature. In a specific implementation, the temperature sensor may include:

a first temperature sensor, coupled to the first portion 3110 for sensing a temperature of the first portion 3110; and
a second temperature sensor, coupled to the second portion 3120 for sensing a temperature of the second portion 3120.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a heater 30a according to another variant embodiment. In this embodiment, the heater 30a includes:

a first end 310a and a second end 320a that are opposite to each other along a longitudinal direction;
a heating element 31a, including a first portion 3110a close to and defining the first end 310a, and a second portion 3120a close to and defining the second end 320a;
a first electrode 321a and a third electrode 323a, arranged on the first portion 3110a of the heating element 31a and spaced apart from each other along a circumferential direction of the heating element 31a, where the first electrode 321a and the third electrode 323a are opposite to each other along a radial direction of the heating element 31a; and
a second electrode 322a and a fourth electrode 324a, arranged on the second portion 3120a of the heating element 31a and spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the heating element 31a, where the second electrode 322a and the fourth electrode 324a are opposite to each other along a radial direction of the heating element 31a.

In this embodiment, along a longitudinal direction of the heating element 31a, the second electrode 322a and the first electrode 321a/the third electrode 323a are relatively staggered. Similarly, along the longitudinal direction of the heating element 31a, the fourth electrode 324a and the first electrode 321a/the third electrode 323a are relatively staggered.
During implementation, when only the first electrode 321a and the third electrode 323a are respectively connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery core 130 to form a circuit, a larger current or power can be generated on the first portion 3110a. Besides, when only the second electrode 322a and the fourth electrode 324a are respectively connected to the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the battery core 130 to form a circuit, a larger current or power can be generated on the second portion 3120a.
FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are schematic diagrams of a heater 30b according to another variant embodiment. In this embodiment, the heater 30b includes:

a tubular base 311b, where in use, an inner hollow 330b of the base 311b is at least partially defined for accommodating and holding the aerosol generating article 1000; and
a heating element 312b, arranged on the base 311b.

In this embodiment, the heating element 312b may be formed on an outer surface of the base 311b by deposition, spraying, or wrapping. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the heating element 312b is formed on an inner surface of the base 311b.
In some embodiments, the heating element 312b is an infrared-emitting layer, for example, an electroactive infrared-emitting layer. By directly providing a direct current voltage to the heating element 312b, the heating element 312b may radiate infrared rays under voltage driving, so as to heat the aerosol generating article 1000.
In some implementations, the heating element 312b for radiating the infrared rays may be a coating made of ceramic materials such as zirconium, or Fe-Mn-Cu, tungsten, or transition metals and oxides thereof. For another example, in some implementations, the first heating element 312b and/or the second heating element 33 for radiating the infrared rays are composed of oxides of at least one metal element such as Mg, Al, Ti, Zr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, and the like. These metal oxides can radiate far infrared rays with a heating effect when heated to an appropriate temperature.
Therefore, when the base is applied to the foregoing heating element 312b used for heating by radiating the infrared rays, the base 311b is made of an infrared-permeable material, such as quartz, glass, and ceramics.
In some other embodiments, the heating element 312b is a resistive heating layer. By directing a current on the heating element 312b, the heating element 312b can perform heating through the resistive Joule heat, thereby heating the aerosol generating article 1000. Moreover, in some embodiments, the heating element 312b used for heating by generating the resistive Joule heat may include nichrome, ferronickel, platinum, tungsten, silver, conductive ceramics, and the like. Alternatively, in some other optional embodiments, the resistive heating element 312b may also be a resistive heating mesh, a resistive heating tube, or the like wound or coupled on the base 311b. In some embodiments, a thickness of the heating element 312b may preferably be controlled in a range of 10 µm-300 µm. The heating element 312b may be formed on a surface of the tubular base 311b by spraying on the outer surface of the tubular base 311b through atmospheric plasma spraying and then curing.
Therefore, when the base is applied to the foregoing heating element 312b used for heating by resistance heating, the base 311b is made of a material with a good thermal conductivity, such as ceramics, glass, and metal or alloy with surface insulation, such as anodized aluminum, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, stainless steel, or the like. In addition, in some embodiments, a thermal conductivity of the base 311b is at least 10 W/m.k, or at least 100 W/m.k. Alternatively, in some implementations, the thermal conductivity of the base 311b is greater than 200 W/m.k or higher. In some implementations, the base 311b includes a metal suitable for the foregoing high thermal conductivity, such as aluminum, copper, titanium, or an alloy containing at least one of aluminum, copper, and titanium.
In some specific implementations, the base 311b has a wall thickness that is in a range of about 0.05-1 mm. The base 311b has an inner diameter that is in a range of about 5.0-8.0 mm. The base 311b has a length that is in a range of about 30-60 mm.
As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the base 311b includes a first end 310b and a second end 320b that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction. The heating element 312b includes a first portion 3121b and a second portion 3122b that are arranged along the longitudinal direction. The first portion 3121b is close to the first end 310b, and the second portion 3122b is close to the second end 320b.
The heater 30b further includes:

a first electrode 321b and a third electrode 323b, arranged on the first portion 3121b of the heating element 312b and spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the heating element 312b, where the first electrode 321b and the third electrode 323b are opposite to each other along the radial direction of the heating element 312b; and
a second electrode 322b and a fourth electrode 324b, arranged on the second portion 3122b of the heating element 312b and spaced apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the heating element 312b, where the second electrode 322b and the fourth electrode 324b are opposite to each other along the radial direction of the heating element 312b. In addition, the first electrode 321b and the second electrode 322b are aligned along the longitudinal direction. The third electrode 323b and the fourth electrode 324b are aligned along the longitudinal direction.

In use, the circuit board 140 can selectively direct a current on the heating element 31 in any one of the access manners in FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, thereby enabling the heating element 31 to perform heating.
For another example, in a specific embodiment, a heating process of the aerosol generating article 1000 includes the following.
First stage S10: The first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery core 130 in a manner shown in FIG. 3. In this stage, the current is simultaneously directed on the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 of the heating element 31, so that the first portion and the second portion are caused to perform heating, and the heating rate of the first portion 3110 is greater than that of the second portion 3120.
Second stage S20: The second electrode 322 and a fourth electrode 324 are respectively connected to positive and negative electrodes of the battery core 130 in a manner shown in FIG. 4, so that the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 simultaneously perform heating. In this stage, the heating rate of the first portion 3110 is less than that of the second portion 3120.
In this way, a first section of the aerosol generating article 1000 surrounded by the first portion 3110 and a second section surrounded by the second portion 3120 can be simultaneously heated in a preheating stage, such as the first stage S10, and the first portion 3110 can be heated to a relatively high first target temperature in the preheating stage, such as the first stage S10, so as to quickly heat the first section of the aerosol generating article 1000, while the second portion 3120 can heat the aerosol generating article 1000 relatively slowly below the first target temperature. In addition, in an inhalation stage, for example, the second stage S20, the first section and the second section of the aerosol generating article 1000 are still simultaneously heated, and the temperature of the second portion 3120 increases more rapidly to reduce the temperature difference with the first portion 3110.
For example, in some embodiments, in the first stage S10, a temperature of the first portion 3110 is higher than a temperature of the second portion 3120, and a first temperature difference exists between the first portion and the second portion. In a second stage S20, a temperature of the first portion 3110 is still higher than a temperature of the second portion 3120, and a second temperature difference exists between the first portion and the second portion. The second temperature difference is less than the first temperature difference.
Alternatively, in an embodiment, the heating process of the aerosol generating article 1000 further includes the following.
Third stage S30: Respectively connect the positive and negative electrodes of the battery core 130 in a manner shown in FIG. 5, so that the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 substantially operate at a same power. In this case, in the third stage S30, the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 perform heating at a same heating rate.
For example, FIG. 9 is a diagram of temperature changes when a first portion 3110 and a second portion 3120 of a heating element 31 respectively heat a first section and a second section of an aerosol generating article 1000 according to a specific embodiment. In FIG. 9, a curve S1 is a temperature curve of a first portion 3110, and a curve S2 is a temperature curve of a second portion S3120. As shown in FIG. 9, a temperature change in a heating process includes the following.
In a first stage S10a (time 0-t1), the first portion 3110 is rapidly increased to a first target temperature T1 based on the electrical connection mode in FIG. 3, and a temperature of the second portion 3120 is less than the first target temperature T1.
In a second stage S20a (time t1-t2), the second portion 3120 is relatively quickly increased based on the electrical connection mode in FIG. 4, so as to gradually reduce a temperature difference with the first portion 3110. Until time T2, the temperatures substantially reach the same or close second target temperature T2.
In a third stage S30a (time t2-t3), the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 are caused to simultaneously operate at a same power in the electrical connection mode shown in FIG. 5, and substantially remain a same temperature or temperature difference until a third target temperature T3 is reached.
In a fourth stage S40a (time t3-t4), for example, a constant temperature stage, the electric connection manner shown in FIG. 5 is maintained to adjust the power outputted by the battery core 130, so that the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 are substantially maintained at the third target temperature T3 to perform heating until the inhalation ends.
In some specific implementations, a rapid heating and preheating time during a time period of 0-t1 may be set to about 5-20 s; the inhalation time during a time period of t1-t2 is about 40-80 s; a time period of t2-t3 is about 5-20 s; and the inhalation time during a time period of t3-t4 is about 40-100 s.
In the foregoing embodiments, a higher temperature during the time period of 0-t1 and the time period of t1-t2 rapidly causes the first portion 3110 to heat the surrounded first section of the aerosol generating article 1000 to rapidly generate the aerosol. Overall heat is further performed during the time period of t2-t3 and the time period of t3-t4.
For another example, in a specific embodiment, a heating process of the aerosol generating article 1000 includes the following.
First stage S10b: The first electrode 321 and the third electrode 323 are respectively connected to the positive and negative electrodes of the battery core 130 in a manner shown in FIG. 3. In this stage, the current is simultaneously directed on the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 of the heating element 31, so that the first portion and the second portion are caused to perform heating, and the heating rate of the first portion 3110 is greater than that of the second portion 3120.
Second stage S20b: The second electrode 322 and a fourth electrode 324 are respectively connected to positive and negative electrodes of the battery core 130 in a manner shown in FIG. 5, so that the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 simultaneously perform heating. In this stage, the power of the first portion 3110 is substantially equal to the power of the second portion 3120, so that the first portion 3110 performs heating with a temperature difference between the first portion and the second portion 3120 without reducing the temperature difference.
During the implementation, heating temperatures of the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 do not decrease. For example, the temperatures of the first portion 3110 and the second portion 3120 always increase before the inhalation ends.
It should be noted that the preferred embodiments of this application are provided in the specification and the accompanying drawings of this application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in this specification. Further, a person of ordinary skill in the art may make improvements or modifications according to the foregoing descriptions, and all of the improvements and modifications shall fall within the protection scope of the appended claims of this application.

Claims

An aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device comprising:
a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, wherein the heating element comprises a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged to simultaneously direct a current in a circumferential direction of the first portion and the second portion;

a battery core, configured to provide electric power; and

a circuit, configured to selectively connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in different electrical connection modes, so that the first portion and the second portion are allowed to heat the aerosol generating article simultaneously at different power ratios.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a chamber, configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article; and

an opening, wherein in use, the aerosol generating article is at least partially accommodated in the chamber or removed from the chamber through the opening, wherein

the heating element is arranged to surround at least a portion of the chamber; and the first portion is closer to the opening than the second portion.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element is arranged to surround or define a tubular shape of the chamber.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:
a base, at least partially surrounding or defining the chamber, wherein

the heating element comprises a coating or a thin film or a heating mesh coupled to the base.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating element comprises at least one of a resistive heating element or an infrared heating element.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a third electrical connection mode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode during a first time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1; and the circuit is configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode during a second time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein the circuit is further configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a third electrical connection mode during a third time period, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 9, wherein the circuit is configured to cause a temperature of the first portion to be higher than a temperature of the second portion during the first time period and maintain a first temperature difference, and cause the temperature of the first portion to be higher than the temperature of the second portion during the second time period and maintain a second temperature difference; and
the first temperature difference is greater than the second temperature difference.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise at least a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode; and
the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the other to the third electrode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio greater than 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the second electrode and the other to the fourth electrode, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio less than 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the circuit is configured to selectively connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the second electrode simultaneously and the other to the third electrode and the fourth electrode simultaneously, so that the first portion and the second portion heat at a power ratio equal to 1.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the heating element;
and/or the third electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are arranged opposite to each other along a radial direction of the heating element;
and/or the second electrode and the fourth electrode are arranged opposite to each other along the radial direction of the heating element.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode avoid the second portion;
and/or the second electrode and the fourth electrode avoid the first portion.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein the heating element comprises a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; the first portion is close to or defines the first end; the second portion is close to or defines the second end,
a first spacing is defined between the first electrode and/or the third electrode and the first end;

and/or a second spacing is defined between the second electrode and/or the fourth electrode and the second end.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein a length of the first portion is different from a length of the second portion.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein a length of the first electrode extending along the longitudinal direction of the heating element is different from a length of the second electrode extending along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged to extend along the longitudinal direction of the heating element.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 22, wherein a width of each of the plurality of electrodes is in a range of 0.5-5 mm.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 22, wherein each of the electrodes comprises a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and
no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 24, wherein the first edge and/or the second edge does not extend straight.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 24, wherein the first edge and/or the second edge is in a curved arc shape.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged continuously and electrically connected to each other.
The aerosol generating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein no separation or interval exists between the first portion and the second portion.
An aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device comprising:
a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, wherein the heating element comprises a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;

a plurality of electrodes, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the plurality of electrodes are arranged to simultaneously direct a current in a circumferential direction of the first portion and the second portion;

a battery core, configured to provide electric power; and

a circuit, configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a first electrical connection mode, so that simultaneous heating is performed with a heating power of the first portion being greater than a heating power of the second portion; and the circuit is further configured to connect the plurality of electrodes to the battery core in a second electrical connection mode, so that simultaneous heating is performed with the heating power of the first portion being less than the heating power of the second portion.
An aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device comprising:
a heating element, configured to heat the aerosol generating article, wherein the heating element comprises a first portion and a second portion arranged along a longitudinal direction;

a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction; and

a circuit, configured to: connect one of a positive electrode or a negative electrode of the battery core to the first electrode and the other to the third electrode during a first time period, so as to direct a current on the heating element; and connect one of the positive electrode or the negative electrode of the battery core to the second electrode and the other to the fourth electrode during a second time period, so as to direct a current on the heating element.
An aerosol generating device, configured to heat an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol, the device comprising:
a chamber, configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article; and

a heating element, surrounding at least part of the chamber, and configured to heat the aerosol generating article; and

an electrode, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the electrode is arranged to extend along a longitudinal direction of the heating element, so as to direct a current along a circumferential direction of the heating element; the electrode comprises a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.
A heater for an aerosol generating device, comprising:
a heating element, configured in a tubular shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater, wherein the heating element comprises a first portion and a second portion arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the first portion and the second portion are arranged continuously and electrically connected to each other; and

a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, wherein the first electrode and the third electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the first portion along the circumferential direction, and the second electrode and the fourth electrode are spaced apart and arranged on the second portion along the circumferential direction.
A heater for an aerosol generating device, comprising:
a heating element, configured in a tubular shape extending along a longitudinal direction of the heater; and

an electrode, coupled to the heating element and electrically connected to the heating element, wherein the electrode is arranged to extend along a longitudinal direction of the heating element, so as to direct a current along a circumferential direction of the heating element; the electrode comprises a first edge and a second edge that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and no sharp corner exists on the first edge and/or the second edge.
The heater for an aerosol generating device according to claim 33, wherein the heating element comprises a first end and a second end that are opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction; and
the electrode is arranged to extend between the first end and the second end; and a first spacing is defined between the electrode and the first end, and a second spacing is defined between the electrode and the second end.