Heating smokeable material

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a heater configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the heater is elongate and comprises a plurality of independently controllable heating regions arranged sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the heater.

1 . An apparatus comprising a heater configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the heater is elongate and comprises a plurality of independently controllable heating regions arranged sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the heater. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a length of each heating region is less than a length of the heater. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each heating region comprises a longitudinal heating element having a length which is less than a length of the heater. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating regions are arranged in end-to-end relationship along the longitudinal axis of the heater. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater comprises a longitudinal surface which extends over the plurality of heating regions. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the heater is configured to heat smokeable material located around an outside of the longitudinal surface of the heater. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each heating region comprises a disk-shaped section of heater. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and smokeable material is located co-axially outwardly of a longitudinal surface of the heater. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the smokeable material comprises a substantially tubular body of smokeable material. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to any of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the heater is configured to heat smokeable material located inside a longitudinal surface of the heater. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1  to  5 , or  10 , wherein each heating region comprises a ring-shaped section of heater. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to any of  claim 1  to  5 ,  10  or  11 , wherein the heater is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the apparatus and smokeable material is located co-axially inwardly of a longitudinal surface of the heater. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater comprises an embossed exterior surface configured to heat smokeable material. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater is substantially cylindrical in shape. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each heating region comprises a substantially cylindrical section of the heater. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater is configured to heat the smokeable material to a temperature in a range of approximately 100° C. to 250° C. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein each heating region is arranged to heat a different section of the smokeable material. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a controller configured to activate the heating regions sequentially over a period of time. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to activate each heating region in response to a puff. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heater is a substantially ceramics heater responsive to electrical energy to emit thermal energy. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the apparatus is configured to heat the smokeable material without combusting the smokeable material. 
     
     
         22 . A heater configured to heat smokeable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokeable material, wherein the heater is elongate and comprises a plurality of independently controllable heating regions arranged sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the heater.