An Aerosol-Generating Device Comprising a Filter

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device includes a vapor generation unit, at least one reservoir configured to store an aerosol forming material, and a filter disposed so as to remove particles from the aerosol forming material passing from the at least one reservoir to the vapor generation unit, the vapor generation unit including a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The aerosol-generating device is configured to heat the filter so as to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it.

1 . An aerosol-generating device comprising a vapor generation unit, at least one reservoir configured to store an aerosol forming material, and a filter disposed so as to remove particles from said aerosol forming material passing from said at least one reservoir to the vapor generation unit, the vapor generation unit comprising a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS), wherein the filter is configured to heat the aerosol forming material passing through the filter. 
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1  wherein the micro electro-mechanical system of the vapor generation unit comprises at least one MEMS die. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is located adjacent to the vapor generation unit. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is located below the vapor generation unit in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is in a use position. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is in contact with the vapor generation unit. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter comprises a mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein said filter comprises at least one wire configured to heat all or part of the rest of the filter by conduction when power is applied to the at least one wire. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire of the filter extends through the mesh. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire is embedded in the mesh. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire is in contact with at least 30% of a lateral surface of the mesh. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire is a resistance wire adapted to convert electrical energy into heat when power is applied to the at least one wire. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire is configured to be heated by an external heating source, such as a resistive heater. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein it further comprising an induction coil configured to inductively heat said at least one wire. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mesh has a porosity lower than 50%. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein it further comprising a battery configured to directly heat the filter. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to be heated so as to bring the aerosol forming material to a temperature ranging between 50° C. to 100° C. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mesh is made of stainless-steel material. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one wire is in contact with at least 60% of a lateral surface of the mesh. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device according to  claim 6 , wherein the mesh has a porosity equal to 34%.