EP4696165A1

EP4696165A1 - Aerosol generation device

Info

Publication number: EP4696165A1
Application number: EP23942465.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kazutoshi SERITA; Takahiro Sakamoto; Hirofumi Matsumoto; Takafumi Izumiya
Original assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Current assignee: Japan Tobacco Inc
Priority date: 2023-06-23
Filing date: 2023-06-23
Publication date: 2026-02-18
Also published as: JPWO2024262034A1; WO2024262034A1

Abstract

This aerosol generation device comprises: a heat insulation member arranged outside a housing space for housing at least a portion of an aerosol generation article that includes an aerosol source; an oscillation part for oscillating electromagnetic waves; and an antenna for supplying the electromagnetic waves oscillated by the oscillation part to the housing space. The heat insulation member is formed of a first member and a second member that are arranged across a gap, and the gap between the first member and the second member is sealed in a vacuum state or sealed with a gas therein.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device.

BACKGROUND ART

Recent years have seen a focus on heating systems for aerosol generation devices such as heated tobacco, in which an aerosol-generating article (for instance a capsule or stick) containing an aerosol source is heated by microwave irradiation (see PTL 1).

CITATION LIST

PATENT LITERATURE

PTL 1: WO 2021/013477 A1

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Here, the heating efficiency of the aerosol-generating article can be increased by improving the heat retaining properties of an accommodating portion in which the aerosol-generating article is accommodated.
The objective of the present invention therefore lies in providing an aerosol generation device that heats an aerosol-generating article efficiently.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

In order to achieve the objective above, an aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention is characterized by comprising

a first insulating member that is disposed on the outside of an accommodating space that accommodates at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol source,
an oscillation unit that causes electromagnetic waves to oscillate, and
an antenna that supplies the electromagnetic waves caused to oscillate by the oscillation unit into the accommodating portion, wherein
the first insulating member is configured by a first member and a second member that are arranged with a gap therebetween, and the gap between the first member and the second member is vacuum sealed or gas sealed.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The present invention makes it possible to provide an aerosol generation device that heats an aerosol-generating article efficiently.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be become clearer through the following description given with reference to the appended drawings. It should be noted that identical or similar components are assigned the same reference numbers in the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The appended drawings are included in and constitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention, and are used together with the descriptions to explain the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a drawing showing a hardware configuration example of an aerosol generation device
Fig. 2A is a cross-sectional view of an insulating member according to the present embodiment
Fig. 2B is an upper oblique view of the insulating member according to the present embodiment
Fig. 3A is a cross-sectional view of modified example 1 of the aerosol generation device
Fig. 3B an upper oblique view of the modified example 1 of the aerosol generation device
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of modified example 2 of the aerosol generation device
Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of modified example 3 of the aerosol generation device
Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of modified example 4 of the aerosol generation device

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Furthermore, two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be combined in any way. Furthermore, identical or similar components are assigned the same reference numbers and descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

An aerosol generation device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of the aerosol generation device 10 according to this embodiment. Fig. 1 shows the aerosol generation device 10 after an aerosol-generating article 40 and a mouthpiece 50 have been attached thereto. The mouthpiece 50 is detachable from the aerosol generation device 10. Fig. 1 shows directions in an XYZ coordinate system in which the direction of insertion of a tobacco stick 40 into the aerosol generation device 10 is the -Z direction.
The aerosol generation device 10 is configured to heat the aerosol-generating article 40 in response to an operation requesting atomization of an aerosol source (also referred to as an atomization request), such as a user inhalation action, and to provide the user with a vapor containing an aerosol or a vapor containing an aerosol and a flavor substance. The aerosol generation device 10 may be referred to as an inhaler (atomizer), and the aerosol generation device 10 may be designated as the "inhaler 10" in the following description.
The aerosol-generating article 40 is an article containing an aerosol source which generates an aerosol when heated, and at least a portion of the aerosol-generating article is detachably attached to (capable of being attached to and removed from) the inhaler 10. In addition to the aerosol source, the aerosol-generating article 40 may also include a flavor source that generates a flavor substance when heated. In this embodiment, the aerosol-generating article 40 is configured as a tobacco stick in the form of a substantially cylindrical rod. The aerosol-generating article 40 may be referred to as a "tobacco stick 40" below. It should be noted that the shape of the aerosol-generating article is not limited to a substantially cylindrical shape, and a flat or square shape may be adopted.
The tobacco stick 40 may comprise, for example: a tobacco filling portion 41, a mouthpiece portion 42, and a tipping paper 43 that integrally links the components together. The tobacco filling portion 41 comprises a tobacco filling material comprising the aerosol source and the flavor source. The mouthpiece portion 42 is linked coaxially to the tobacco filling portion 41 by being wrapped together with the tobacco filling portion 41 by the tipping paper 43. Note that a filter for stopping the tobacco filling material from falling out may also be provided at an end portion of the aerosol-generating article 40 upstream of the tobacco filling portion 41.
The tobacco filling material comprises, as the flavor source, tobacco leaves or tobacco leaf extract, or processed articles thereof, for example. In this embodiment, the tobacco filling material is configured to contain shredded tobacco. There is no particular limitation as to the material of the shredded tobacco contained in the tobacco filling material, and well-known materials such as lamina and midrib can be used. Furthermore, ground tobacco may be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of 20 µm-200 µm, then homogenized and processed into a sheet (also referred to below simply as a "homogenized sheet") which is shredded. In another example, the tobacco filling material may comprise extruded or tableted tobacco leaves. In addition, a tobacco rod may be filled with a material obtained by shredding, in the longitudinal direction of the tobacco rod and substantially horizontally, a homogenized sheet having a length similar to that of the tobacco rod in the longitudinal direction, forming what is known as a "strand-type" filling material. Furthermore, the width of the shredded tobacco is preferably 0.5 mm-2.0 mm in order to fill the tobacco filling portion 41. Furthermore, there is no particular restriction on the content of dried tobacco leaves in the tobacco filling portion 41, but between 200 mg/rod portion and 800 mg rod portion may be cited, and between 250 mg/rod portion and 600 mg/rod portion is preferred. This range is particularly suitable if the tobacco filling portion 41 has a circumference of 22 mm and a length of 20 mm.
Various types of tobacco used can be used for the tobacco leaves used in the production of the shredded tobacco and the homogenized sheet. Examples that may be cited include yellow, Burley, orient, or native type, and other Nicotiana tabacum and Nicotiana rustica varieties, and mixtures thereof. A suitable blend of the abovementioned varieties may be used in the form of a mixture to achieve the intended taste. Details on tobacco varieties are disclosed in "Dictionary of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009". There are multiple conventional methods for producing the homogenized sheet, that is, methods for grinding tobacco leaves and processing them into a homogenized sheet. According to a first method, a paper sheet is produced by using a papermaking process. According to a second method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, after which the homogenized material is thinly cast on a metal plate or a metal plate belt and dried, to produce a cast sheet. According to a third method, a suitable solvent such as water is mixed with ground tobacco leaves and homogenized, and the homogenized material is extruded into the form of a sheet and shaped to produce a calendered sheet. Details on types of homogenized sheets are disclosed in "Encyclopedia of Tobacco, Tobacco Academic Studies Center, March 31, 2009".
The amount of moisture contained in the tobacco filling material may be cited as 10 wt%-15 wt%, and preferably 11 wt%-13 wt% with respect to the total weight of the tobacco filling material. A moisture content such as this suppresses formation of wrapping stains and improves rolling suitability when the tobacco filling portion 41 is produced. There is no particular restriction on the size or method of preparation of the shredded tobacco contained in the tobacco filling material. For example, a material obtained by shredding dried tobacco leaves to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less may be used. Furthermore, when ground material is used in the homogenized sheet, a sheet may be formed by grinding dried tobacco leaves to an average particle size of approximately 20 µm to 200 µm and then homogenizing the ground tobacco, and the homogenized sheet may be shredded to a width of 0.5 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less for use.
The tobacco filling material comprises an aerosol base material for generating aerosol smoke. There is no particular restriction to the type of aerosol base material, and extracts from various types of natural products and/or components thereof may be selected in accordance with the application. Aerosol base materials which may be cited include water, glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, 1,3-butanediol, and mixtures thereof. There is no particular limitation on the amount of the aerosol base material contained in the tobacco filling portion 41, and the amount is normally at least 5 wt% and preferably at least 10 wt%, and normally at most 50 wt%, and preferably at least 15 wt% and at most 25 wt%, with respect to the total amount of tobacco filling material, from the viewpoint of generating sufficient aerosol and imparting a good flavor. In one example, the tobacco stick 40 is a liquid cartridge including a tobacco filling material comprising a liquid. The liquid may also be held in the cartridge by being carried on a non-tobacco material such as a non-woven fabric.
The tobacco filling material may contain a flavoring material. There is no particular limitation as to the type of flavoring material, and, from the point of view of imparting a pleasant flavor, there may be cited: acetanisole, acetophenone, acetylpyrazine, 2-acetylthiazole, alfalfa extract, amyl alcohol, amyl butyrate, trans-anethole, star anise oil, apple juice, Peru Balsam oil, beeswax absolute, benzaldehyde, benzoin resinoid, benzyl alcohol, benzyl benzoate, benzyl phenylacetate, benzyl propionate, 2,3-butanedione, 2-butanol, butyl butyrate, butyric acid, caramel, cardamom oil, carob absolute, β-carotene, carrot juice, L-carvone, β-caryophyllene, cassia bark oil, cedar wood oil, celery seed oil, chamomile oil, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, cinnamyl cinnamate, citronella oil, DL-citronellol, clary sage extract, cocoa, coffee, cognac oil, coriander oil, cuminaldehyde, davana oil, δ-decalactone, γ-decalactone, decanoic acid, dill herb oil, 3,4-dimethyl-1,2-cyclopentanedione, 4,5-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2,5-dihydrofuran-2-one, 3,7-dimethyl-6-octenoic acid, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, 2,5-dimethylpyrazine, 2,6-dimethylpyrazine, 2-ethyl methylbutyrate, ethyl acetate, ethyl butyrate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl lactate, ethyl laurate, ethyl levulinate, ethyl maltol, ethyl octanoate, ethyl oleate, ethyl palmitate, ethyl phenylacetate, ethyl propionate, ethyl stearate, ethyl valerate, ethyl vanillin, ethyl vanillin glucoside, 2-ethyl-3,(5 or 6)-dimethylpyrazine, 5-ethyl-3-hydroxy-4-methyl-2(5H)-furanone, 2-ethyl-3-methylpyrazine, eucalyptol, fenugreek absolute, genet absolute, gentian root infusion, geraniol, geranyl acetate, grape juice, guaiacol, guava extract, γ-heptalactone, γ-hexalactone, hexanoic acid, cis-3-hexen-1-ol, hexyl acetate, hexyl alcohol, hexyl phenylacetate, honey, 4-hydroxy-3-pentenoic acid lactone, 4-hydroxy-4-(3-hydroxy-1-butenyl)-3,5,5-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one, 4-(para-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, 4-hydroxyundecanoic acid sodium, immortelle absolute, β-ionone, isoamyl acetate, isoamyl butyrate, isoamyl phenylacetate, isobutyl acetate, isobutyl phenylacetate, jasmine absolute, kola nut tincture, labdanum oil, lemon terpeneless oil, glycyrrhiza extract, linalool, linalyl acetate, lovage root oil, maltol, maple syrup, menthol, menthone, acetic acid L-menthyl, paramethoxybenzaldehyde, methyl-2-pyrrolyl ketone, methyl anthranilate, methyl phenylacetate, methyl salicylate, 4'-methylacetophenone, methylcyclopentenolone, 3-methylvaleric acid, mimosa absolute, molasses, myristic acid, nerol, nerolidol, γ-nonalactone, nutmeg oil, δ-octalactone, octanal, octanoic acid, orange flower oil, orange oil, orris root oil, palmitic acid, ω-pentadecalactone, peppermint oil, petitgrain Paraguay oil, phenethyl alcohol, phenethyl phenylacetate, phenylacetic acid, piperonal, plum extract, propenyl guaethol, propyl acetate, 3-propylidene phthalide, prune juice, pyruvic acid, raisin extract, rose oil, rum, sage oil, sandalwood oil, spearmint oil, styrax absolute, marigold oil, tea distillate, α-terpineol, terpinyl acetate, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinoxaline, 1,5,5,9-tetramethyl-13-oxacyclo(8.3.0.0(4.9))tridecane, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, thyme oil, tomato extract, 2-tridecanone, triethyl citrate, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)-2-buten-4-one, 2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1,4-dione, 4-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1,3-cyclohexadienyl)-2-buten-4-one, 2,3,5-trimethylpyrazine, γ-undecalactone, γ-valerolactone, vanilla extract, vanillin, veratraldehyde, violet leaf absolute, N-ethyl-p-menthane-3-carboamide (WS-3), and ethyl-2-(p-menthane-3-carboxamide) acetate (WS-5), with menthol being especially preferred. These flavoring materials may be used alone, or in combinations of two or more.
There is no particular limitation as to the amount of flavoring contained in the tobacco filling material, and, from the point of view of imparting a good flavor, the content is normally 10,000 ppm or greater, preferably 20,000 ppm or greater, and more preferably 25,000 ppm or greater, and is normally 70,000 ppm or less, preferably 50,000 ppm or less, more preferably 40,000 ppm or less, and even more preferably 33,000 ppm or less.
The inhaler 10 includes a case 11 in which various components, described below, are installed. The case 11 is provided with: an accommodating portion 12 capable of accommodating at least a portion of the tobacco stick 40 which has been inserted from an opening portion 12a of the accommodating portion (accommodating space) 12; a guide portion 13 for guiding insertion of the tobacco stick 40 from the opening portion 12a of the accommodating portion 12; an air flow path 14 which communicates with the accommodating portion 12 and allows air to be introduced into the accommodating portion 12; and a microwave shield 15 for preventing external leakage of microwaves supplied to the accommodating portion 12. The microwave shield 15 may be configured by a metal plate or a metal mesh, etc. in order to confine microwaves to the inside of the accommodating portion 12. The detailed configuration of the microwave shield 15 will be described later. The air flow path 14 has an air intake port 14a provided on the exterior of the case 11, and is provided so as to introduce air into the accommodating portion 12 from the air intake port 14a. The air flow path 14 may be provided with a microwave shield 14b which allows the air to pass while blocking microwaves. The air flow path 14 is not limited to being provided on the side face of the accommodating portion 12 as shown in fig. 1, and it may equally be provided on a bottom face or an upper face of the accommodating portion 12. It should be noted that the microwave shield 14b is electrically connected to the ground (GND) of a wireless transmitter 20 or a transmission antenna 21. This makes it possible to prevent the microwave shield acting as a radiation source for microwaves, resulting in a decrease in the heating efficiency of the heated object.
Furthermore, the aerosol generation device 10 also comprises a wireless transmitter 20, a transmission antenna 21, a transmission waveguide 22, a control unit 30, a power source unit 31, a notification unit 32, a communication unit 33, an object detector 34, and a mouthpiece detector 35. These components 20-22 and 30-34 are mounted inside the case 11.
The wireless transmitter 20 is an example of an electromagnetic wave oscillation device which comprises a semiconductor (solid-state) oscillator and generates high-frequency electromagnetic waves having a predetermined frequency. The semiconductor oscillator is configured by a semiconductor element such as, for example, an LDMOS transistor, a GaAs FET, an SiC MESFET, or a GaN HFET. High-frequency electromagnetic waves mean high-frequency electromagnetic waves of between 3 Hz and 3 THz. Microwaves mean high-frequency electromagnetic waves of between 300 MHz and 300 GHz. The wireless transmitter 20 is described below as an element for generating microwaves, but this is not limiting provided that it is configured to generate desired electromagnetic waves. The wireless transmitter 20 is capable of generating microwaves having a frequency (e.g., 2.40-2.50 GHz) suitable for heating the tobacco stick 40 (aerosol source). In this embodiment, the wireless transmitter 20 generates microwaves with a frequency of 2.45 GHz. Furthermore, the wireless transmitter 20 may comprise an amplifier for amplifying a high-frequency electromagnetic field. In the wireless transmitter 20, the semiconductor oscillator itself may have the function of an amplifier, or else an amplifier configured as an electronic component separate to the semiconductor oscillator may be provided. In one example, the wireless transmitter 20 outputs ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) band microwaves. In one example, the wireless transmitter 20 may output microwaves at 902 MHz-926 MHz (900 MHz band), 2.4 GHz-2.5 GHz (2.45 GHz band), 5.725 GHz-5.875 GHz (5.8 GHz band), and 24 GHz-24.25 GHz (24.125 GHz band). The frequency and bandwidth of the microwaves output by the wireless transmitter 20 are controlled by the control unit 30, and signals including multiple frequency bands, such as the 2.45 GHz band and the 5.8 GHz band, may be generated, for example. Furthermore, the strength of signals output by the wireless transmitter 20 is also controlled by the control unit 30.
It should be noted that the device for generating the high-frequency electromagnetic field may also be a magnetron oscillator, but using a semiconductor oscillator as the wireless transmitter 20 allows for a more compact body as compared to when a magnetron oscillator is used. Furthermore, a semiconductor oscillator can operate at a lower voltage than a magnetron oscillator, therefore enabling better frequency stability and output stability. However, the wireless transmitter 20 of this embodiment only needs to be capable of generating a high-frequency electromagnetic field of a predetermined frequency, and may therefore also be a magnetron oscillator.
The microwaves generated by the wireless transmitter 20 are guided to the transmission antenna 21 through the transmission waveguide 22. The transmission waveguide 22 connects the wireless transmitter 20 and the transmission antenna 21, and guides the microwaves generated by the wireless transmitter 20 to the transmission antenna 21 in order to heat the tobacco stick 40 (aerosol source). A waveguide tube or a coaxial cable, etc. may be used as the transmission waveguide 22, for example. The transmission waveguide 22 may be omitted when the wireless transmitter 20 and the transmission antenna 21 are directly connected. The transmission antenna 21 functions as a supply unit for delivering (emitting), into the accommodating portion 12, the microwaves guided through the transmission waveguide 22. In the example of fig. 1, the transmission antenna 21 is illustrated as being disposed on the side face of the accommodating portion 12, but this is not limiting, and it may be disposed on the bottom surface or in an upper portion, may be disposed inside the stick 40, or may be arranged to sandwich the stick.
Moreover, in order to protect the wireless transmitter 20, the transmission waveguide 22 may be provided with an isolator for absorbing reflected waves returned toward the wireless transmitter 20 via the transmission antenna 21, and an impedance matching unit. Furthermore, the transmission waveguide 22 may be provided with a power monitor for detecting the power of incident waves from the wireless transmitter 20 and the power of reflected waves from the tobacco stick 40 and/or an impedance matching unit for matching impedances of the transmission antenna 21 and the tobacco stick 40 to reduce the power of reflected waves. Furthermore, in one example, a reception antenna disposed within the accommodating portion 12 and a wireless receiver that is connected to the reception antenna and that is capable of demodulating microwaves may additionally be provided.
The control unit 30 comprises a processor and a memory, functions as an arithmetic processing device and a control device, and controls overall operation of the inhaler 10 in accordance with various programs. Specifically, the control unit 30 may control the wireless transmitter 20 to deliver microwaves from the transmission antenna 21 in accordance with a user atomization request, and thereby heat the tobacco stick 40. Furthermore, the control unit 30 may control the wireless transmitter 20 so that the tobacco stick 40 is heated in accordance with a desired preset heating profile. The control unit 30 controls overall operation of the aerosol generation device 10 by means of the processor which executes programs stored in a memory, the processor being realized, for example, by a CPU (central processing unit) or an electronic circuit such as a microprocessor. It should be noted that the inhaler 10 may additionally be provided with a temperature sensor in order to grasp the temperature of the tobacco stick 40 and perform heating control in accordance with the heating profile.
The power source unit 31 supplies power to the wireless transmitter 20 on the basis of control afforded by the control unit 30. The power source unit 31 is configured by a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery, for example. Providing a power source unit 31 such as this enables the inhaler 10 to be portable.
The notification unit 32 notifies the user of information on the basis of control afforded by the control unit 30. Information notified to the user which may be cited includes, for example: information indicating detection of insertion of the tobacco stick 40 into the accommodating portion 12; information indicating the start of microwave heating of the tobacco stick 40; information indicating a transition to an aerosol inhalation-possible state; error information; and remaining capacity information of the power source unit 31 (battery remaining capacity information), etc. The notification unit 32 may be configured by a light-emitting element such as an LED (light-emitting diode), a vibrating element such as a vibration motor, or a sound output element. The notification unit 32 may be configured by display element (display) such as an LCD (liquid crystal display). The notification unit 32 may be a combination of two or more elements among a light-emitting element, a vibrating element, a sound output element, and a display element.
The communication unit 33 is an interface for acquiring information relating to a state of use of the inhaler 10 and sending this information to an external data server or a user mobile terminal device, etc. (referred to below as a data server, etc.), and for receiving data from the data server, etc. The communication unit 33 can communicate with the data server, etc., via short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or long-range wireless communication such as LPWA (Low Power Wide Area). Note that communication between the communication unit 33 and the data server, etc., is not limited to the wireless communication mentioned above and may equally be another form of wireless communication or else wired communication.
The object detector 34 detects whether or not the tobacco stick 40 is inside the accommodating portion 12. By this means, the control unit 30 is able to determine whether or not there is a state in which the tobacco stick 40 is accommodated (inserted) inside the accommodating portion 12, based on a detection result from the object detector 34, and can control microwave delivery from the transmission antenna 21 in accordance with the result of this determination. For example, when the control unit 30 has determined a state in which the tobacco stick 40 is not accommodated inside the accommodating portion 12, based on the detection result from the object detector 34, the control unit 30 prohibits microwave delivery from the transmission antenna 21. Meanwhile, when the control unit 30 has determined a state in which the tobacco stick 40 is accommodated (inserted) inside the accommodating portion 12, based on the detection result from the object detector 34, the control unit 30 enables microwave delivery from the transmission antenna 21. The object detector 34 may be configured by a capacitive proximity sensor, but this is not limiting, and it may equally be configured by a contact sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor) or a photoelectric sensor, etc. It should be noted that in the example of fig. 1, the object detector 34 is depicted as being provided on the bottom face (the inner face on the -Z direction side) of the accommodating portion 12, but may equally be provided on the side face or upper face of the accommodating portion 12, or on the guide portion 13.
Moreover, fig. 1 shows only one object detector 34 being provided, but two or more object detectors may equally be provided. Furthermore, the object detector 34 may detect the type of tobacco stick 40, in addition to the presence or absence of the tobacco stick 40. For example, if the object detector 34 comprises two electrodes, then it may detect the type of tobacco stick 40 or conditions such as electrical characteristics of the tobacco stick 40 by applying a voltage while in a state of contact with the tobacco stick 40 and detecting a state of conduction such as the amount of current flowing between the electrodes. For example, in order for the tobacco stick 40 to be detected by the object detector 34, a circuit element such as a predetermined resistance element may be provided, and the type of tobacco stick 40 may then be identified based on the electrical resistance value detected by the object detector 34.
Furthermore, the mouthpiece 50, which the user holds in their mouth in order to draw in vapor (aerosol-containing vapor) from the accommodating portion 12, may be attached to the inhaler 10 of this embodiment, as shown in fig. 1. The mouthpiece 50 may be attached to the guide portion 13 of the inhaler 10 so as to cover a part (mouthpiece portion 42) of the tobacco stick 40 protruding from the inhaler 10 (accommodating portion 12). The mouthpiece 50 is then provided with a microwave shield 51 for blocking leakage of microwaves to the outside from the accommodating portion 12 through the opening portion 12a and the guide portion 13. The microwave shield 51 may be configured by a metal mesh or a metal plate, etc. having an opening, so that vapor is allowed to pass while microwaves are blocked. The sizes of holes and openings in metal meshes of the microwave shields 15, 51, 14b are set at no greater than 1/2 of the wavelength of the microwaves output by the wireless transmitter 20 in one example, and are set at no greater than 1/4 of the wavelength, no greater than 1/10 of the wavelength, or no greater than 1/20 of the wavelength, for example.
When the mouthpiece 50 comprising the microwave shield 51 is used, the inhaler 10 may be provided with the mouthpiece detector 35 for detecting whether or not the mouthpiece 50 is attached. This allows the control unit 30 to control delivery of microwaves from the transmission antenna 21 on the basis of a detection result from the mouthpiece detector 35. For example, when the control unit 30 has determined that the mouthpiece 50 is not attached, based on the detection result from the mouthpiece detector 35, the control unit 30 prohibits microwave delivery from the transmission antenna 21. Meanwhile, when the control unit 30 has determined that the mouthpiece 50 is attached, based on the detection result from the mouthpiece detector 35, the control unit 30 enables microwave delivery from the transmission antenna 21. It should be noted that the determination of whether or not transmission of microwaves can be executed may be made together with the result of the determination made by the object detector 34. For example, it may be determined that microwaves can be transmitted when the mouthpiece detector 35 detects that the mouthpiece 50 is attached and the object detector 34 detects the tobacco stick 40. Furthermore, the inhaler 10 may be configured so that the user holds the mouthpiece portion 42 of the tobacco stick 40 directly in their mouth, without the use of the mouthpiece 50. In this case, a microwave shield which is configured by a metal mesh or a metal plate, etc. having an opening in order to block microwaves may be provided on the mouthpiece portion 42 of the tobacco stick 40.
Here, an insulating member is disposed on at least a part of the outside of the accommodating portion 12 according to this embodiment. This can increase the heat retention of the accommodating portion 12 and increase the energy efficiency required to heat the tobacco stick 40. Furthermore, disposing temperature-dependent elements outside the accommodating portion 12 can prevent the temperature of the elements increasing, and the performance thereof changing, as a result of the tobacco stick being heated. In the following embodiments, details of the insulating member are described.
Fig. 2A shows a cross-sectional view of an insulating member 200 included in the microwave shield 15. The insulating member 200 comprises a first member 201 and a second member 202 that are arranged with a gap 203 therebetween. The first member 201 is an inner member disposed on the accommodating space side, and the second member 202 is an outer member disposed further to the outside of the accommodating space, defined by the accommodating portion 12, than the first member 201. The first member 201 and the second member 202 are connected to the case 11 at an edge of the upper opening.
By joining the ends of the first member 201 and the second member 202 together, the gap 203 between the first member 201 and the second member 202 can be maintained in a vacuum state, that is, vacuum sealed. As a result, an insulating effect resulting from the vacuum can be obtained. Here, the vacuum state is, for example, 1000 Pa or less, preferably 500 Pa or less, and more preferably 100 Pa or less. Furthermore, the air pressure in the gap 203 is, for example, 1 Pa or more, and preferably 3 Pa or more. It should be noted that in another example, a gas may be enclosed in the gap between the first member and the second member. For example, low thermal conductivity gases may be enclosed, including air, nitrogen gas, argon gas, and krypton gas. It should be noted that a bonding member may be used to join the ends of the first member 201 and the second member 202. In one example, the bonding member is an electrically non-conductive material such as an alumina adhesive. This makes it possible to suppress heat conduction between the first member 201 and the second member 202.
The first member 201 and the second member 202 may be thin metal films such as aluminum foil. In one example, the first member 201 and the second member 202 are made of stainless steel, titanium, or the like. In another example, at least one of the first member and the second member 202 is made of a material other than a microwave-transparent electrical conductor, such as glass. If the first member and the second member 202 are made of a material that transmits microwaves, an additional electrical conductor having a microwave shielding effect may be disposed on the tobacco stick 40 side or the case 11 side of the first member and the second member 202. Furthermore, in one example, at least one of the first member 201 and the second member 202 may be coated with a laminate film or the like and have a multi-layer structure made up of different materials. In this embodiment, the description assumes that at least one of the first member 201 and the second member 202 is made of an electrical conductor. This allows the insulating member 200 to function as the microwave shield 15 for confining the microwaves transmitted from the transmission antenna 21 within the accommodating space. For example, the first member 201 disposed on the accommodating space 12 side is an electrical conductor. This makes it possible to better confine heat within the accommodating space 12 while suppressing heat conduction to other parts outside the accommodating space.
A vacuum state may be set in the gap 203, and in one example, a core material may be disposed in the gap 203. The core material includes inorganic particles such as fumed silica, inorganic fibers such as hard urethane and glass wool, or a microporous material having a microporous structure. The insulating member 200 can be formed by vacuum sealing or gas sealing these core materials using the first member 201 and the second member 202.
Furthermore, at least a portion of the insulating member 200 may be provided with a conduction path through which the air flow path 14, or wiring for the transmission antenna 21, the object detector 34, and the like, passes. For example, by connecting an opening (first opening) provided in the first member and an opening (second opening) provided in the second member with a tubular member, a conduction path such as the air flow path 14 can be formed while maintaining the gap 203 in the insulating member 200 in a vacuum state.
Fig. 2B shows an upper oblique view of the insulating member 200 shown in fig. 2A. The insulating member 200 has a bottomed cylindrical shape so as to surround the cylindrical accommodating portion 12. In this way, by disposing the insulating member 200 so as to surround the accommodating portion 12, the heat insulating properties of the accommodating portion section 12 can be improved, the tobacco stick 40 heating efficiency can be improved, and a drop in the temperature of the tobacco stick 40 during heating can be prevented. It should be noted that, in the example of fig. 2B, the insulating member 200 is depicted as having a cylindrical shape, but it may also be in the shape of a rectangular tube, provided that it is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape.

In fig. 2A, the accommodating portion 12 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the insulating member 200. For this reason, the insulating member 200 shown in fig. 2A is processed to provide openings for the air flow path 14 and wiring.
In the modified example shown in fig. 3A, the microwave shield 15 is formed by a plurality of insulating members 200a, 200b. Furthermore, the microwave shield 15 is formed by the insulating members 200a, 200b and a connecting member 300 that connects the insulating members 200a, 200b. The insulating member 200a is formed by a first member 201a and a second member 202a, and a gap 203a is disposed between the first member 201a and the second member 202a. Similarly, the insulating member 200b is formed by a third member 201b and a fourth member 202b, and a gap 203b is disposed between the third member 201b and the fourth member 202b. The first insulating member 200a and the second insulating member 200b are disposed at different positions in the axial direction of the tobacco stick 40. The first member 201a, the second member 202a, the third member 201b, and the fourth member 202b may each be made of the materials described with reference to the first member 201 and the second member 202, and the gaps 203a and 203b may have a configuration similar to that of the gap 203.
Fig. 3B shows an upper oblique view of the insulating member 200b and the connecting member 300 enclosed by the dashed line 301 in fig. 3A. The connecting member 300 has a cylindrical shape, and the insulating member 200b has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the insulating member 200b and the connecting member 300 are connected at the upper end of the insulating member 200b in the Z direction. It should be noted that the arrangement of the multiple insulating members 200 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 3A and fig. 3B, and, for example, the multiple insulating members 200 may be connected along the peripheral surface of the tobacco stick 40 to form a cylindrical shape. In such a case, the insulating member 200 may be in the shape of a plate.
In the example of fig. 3A and fig. 3B, by forming the air flow path 14 using an opening formed in the connecting member 300, there is no need to form openings in the insulating members 200a and 200b, making it easier to process the insulating members 200a and 200b. It should be noted that the microwave shield 15 may be formed of three or more insulating members 200. Furthermore, multiple openings may be formed in the connecting member 300. The sizes of the openings formed the connecting member 300 are set at no greater than 1/2 of the wavelength of the microwaves output by the wireless transmitter 20 in one example, and are set at no greater than 1/4 of the wavelength, no greater than 1/10 of the wavelength, or no greater than 1/20 of the wavelength, for example.

In one example, as shown in fig. 4, the microwave shield 15 may be formed by combining the insulating member 200 with a plate-shaped member such as a metal plate. That is, the insulating member 200 is disposed in a portion of the microwave shield 15. The insulating member 200 has a cylindrical shape, and a plate-shaped member 400 is disposed at the bottom of the cylinder. In addition, a cylindrical member 401 is also disposed, connected to the insulating member 200 at the top in the Z direction to form the guide portion 13.
In the microwave shield 15 shown in fig. 4, the face thereof that faces the peripheral surface of the tobacco stick 40 is formed by the insulating member 200. The case 11 is disposed outward of the insulating member 200 as viewed from the tobacco stick 40. It should be noted that components such as the air flow path 14 and the transmission antenna 21 are omitted from the drawing.
While the tobacco stick 40 is being heated, the case 11 of the inhaler 10 that faces the peripheral surface of the tobacco stick 40 may be held by the user. Therefore, by disposing the insulating member 200 so as to improve the heat insulating properties of the face that faces the peripheral surface of the tobacco stick 40, heat is prevented from being transferred via the case 11 to the hand of the user holding the inhaler 10, thereby making it possible to improve the convenience for the user when heating the tobacco stick 40.

The insulating member 200 shown in fig. 5 has a disk shape disposed on a plane parallel to the XY plane, and is disposed below the tobacco stick 40 in the Z direction (-Z direction). In the inhaler 10 shown in fig. 5, the wireless transmitter 20 is disposed in the -Z direction of the insulating member 200. The wireless transmitter 20 may comprise a temperature-dependent high-frequency element such as an oscillator or amplifier. For this reason, by arranging the insulating member 200 having good heat insulation properties as the microwave shield 15 located in the -Z direction relative to the tobacco stick 40, heat is prevented from being transferred to the highly temperature-dependent high-frequency element when the tobacco stick 40 is heated, allowing the operation of the wireless transmitter 20 to be stabilized.
It should be noted that the operating characteristics of the battery included in the power supply unit 31 and the processor included in the control unit 30 may also change depending on the temperature. Therefore, by preventing heat from being transferred to these circuit elements as a result of the heating of the tobacco stick 40, it is possible to stabilize the operation of the battery and the processor.
<Modified example 4>
The microwave shield 15 shown in fig. 6 includes a positioning member 600 for determining the position of the tobacco stick 40 in the direction of insertion of the tobacco stick 40. The positioning member 600 may be formed from an electrical conductor such as a metal, or may be formed from a dielectric such as glass or an insulator such as ceramic. The position in which the positioning member 600 is disposed may be the bottom face or the side face of the accommodating portion 12. Furthermore, the positioning member 600 and the first member 201 may be formed integrally.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be modified or altered in various ways within the scope of the essential point of the invention.

Claims

An aerosol generation device characterized by comprising
a first insulating member that is disposed on the outside of an accommodating space that accommodates at least a portion of an aerosol-generating article containing an aerosol source,

an oscillation unit that causes electromagnetic waves to oscillate, and

an antenna that supplies the electromagnetic waves caused to oscillate by the oscillation unit into the accommodating portion,

wherein

the first insulating member is configured by a first member and a second member that are arranged with a gap therebetween, and the gap between the first member and the second member is vacuum sealed or gas sealed.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a core material is disposed in the gap between the first member and the second member.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one of the first member and the second member is an electrical conductor.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, among the first member and the second member, the member that is disposed on the accommodating space side is an electrical conductor.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first member and the second member are electrical conductors, and the respective ends of the first member and the second member are joined together.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the first member and the second member are joined by means of a bonding member that is an electrically non-conductive material.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first member is disposed between the second member and the aerosol-generating article, and
at least a portion of the first member has a bottomed, cylindrical structure.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a positioning member that determines the position of the aerosol-generating article inserted into the accommodating space is disposed in a bottom portion of the cylindrical structure of the first member.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that: the aerosol-generating article has a columnar part in which the aerosol source is accommodated;
a second insulating member is provided, disposed in a position different from that of the first insulating member in the axial direction of the columnar part;

the second insulating member is configured by a third member and a fourth member that are arranged with a gap therebetween, and

the gap between the third member and the fourth member is a vacuum.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the first insulating member and the second insulating member are connected by a connecting member, and at least one opening is formed in the connecting member.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the aerosol-generating article has a columnar part in which the aerosol source is accommodated, and
the first insulating member is disposed in a position facing a peripheral surface of the columnar part.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first member is disposed between the second member and the aerosol-generating article, and
a case surrounding the second member is additionally provided, and the oscillation unit is provided between the second member and the case.
The aerosol generation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least any one of air, nitrogen gas, argon gas and krypton gas is sealed in the gap between the first member and the second member.