Heating Apparatus for an Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heating chamber having an opening to receive an aerosol generating medium; and a base plate that is moveable along a length of the heating chamber to adjust a distance between the opening and the base plate, wherein the base plate is biased toward the opening and configured to move under contact with the aerosol generating medium as it is received in the heating chamber. The device further includes a heating element arranged to heat the aerosol generating medium when it is received in the heating chamber.

1 . An aerosol generating device comprising:
 a heating chamber comprising:
 an opening arranged at a first end of the heating chamber to receive an aerosol generating medium; and 
 a base plate that is moveable along a length of the heating chamber to adjust a distance between the opening and the base plate, wherein the base plate is biased toward the opening and configured to move under contact with the aerosol generating medium as the aerosol generating medium is received in the heating chamber; 
   a heating element arranged to heat the aerosol generating medium when the aerosol generating medium is received in the heating chamber; and   a control circuit configured to detect a distance of the base plate from the opening and control the heating element in response to the detected distance.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a plurality of individual heating zones for heating a received aerosol generating medium. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 2 , wherein the distance between the opening and the base plate determines a heating profile of the heating element, the heating profile being defined by the plurality of individual heating zones used for heating the received aerosol generating medium. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is configured to select the heating profile in response to the detected distance. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber is configured to provide feedback information to the control circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 5 , wherein the heating chamber comprises a feedback component in communication with the control circuit. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein the feedback component is arranged along a wall of the heating chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein the base plate is configured to engage along a length of the feedback component. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein the feedback component comprises at least one of a resistor and a Hall effect sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 6 , wherein the feedback component comprises a guide. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 10 , wherein the base plate comprises a projection configured to engage with the guide. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating chamber further comprises a biasing member arranged to provide a resisting force to the base plate toward the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 12 , wherein the biasing member is a spring. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 12 , wherein an internal surface of the heating chamber is configured to provide a frictional force which acts against the resisting force of the biasing member. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 14 , wherein, when the aerosol generating medium is received in the heating chamber, the frictional force acting on the aerosol generating medium is greater than the resisting force. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element extends through a plate opening in the base plate. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a heating blade, the heating blade configured to pierce the aerosol generating medium when received in the heating chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol generating device of  claim 17 , wherein the heating blade comprises a piercing end directed towards the opening of the heating chamber.