Heat-not-burn (hnb) aerosol-generating devices and capsules having electrical contact pads with surface discontinuities

Abstract

A heat-not-burn (HNB) aerosol-generating device may include a capsule and a device body. The capsule may include an aerosol-forming substrate and a conductive component. The conductive component may include a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section. The intermediate section may be configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. The first end section and the second end section may each have at least one surface discontinuity. The device body may include connector pins configured to engage with the at least one surface discontinuity of each of the first end section and the second end section of the conductive component so as to establish an electrical connection with the capsule.

1 . An aerosol-generating device, comprising:
 a capsule including an aerosol-forming substrate and a conductive component including a first end section, an intermediate section, and a second end section, the intermediate section configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, the first end section and the second end section each having at least one surface discontinuity; and   a device body including connector pins configured to engage with the at least one surface discontinuity of each of the first end section and the second end section of the conductive component so as to establish an electrical connection with the capsule.   
     
     
         2 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity includes one or more structurally-vulnerable portions configured to serve as focused points of contact with the connector pins during an establishment of the electrical connection. 
     
     
         3 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more structurally-vulnerable portions are configured to physically yield from an engagement with the connector pins during the establishment of the electrical connection. 
     
     
         4 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity includes one or more edges. 
     
     
         5 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity includes a rim. 
     
     
         6 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity is a machined portion of the first end section and the second end section that is configured to receive an electric current. 
     
     
         7 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity is an opening in a surface of each of the first end section and the second end section. 
     
     
         8 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is a recess. 
     
     
         9 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 8 , wherein the recess is a dimple. 
     
     
         10 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 7 , wherein the opening is a through hole in each of the first end section and the second end section. 
     
     
         11 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 7 , wherein the opening has a shape of a circle. 
     
     
         12 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 11 , wherein the circle has a diameter between 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface discontinuity is a chamfer on a surface of each of the first end section and the second end section. 
     
     
         14 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes a plant material. 
     
     
         15 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 14 , wherein the plant material includes tobacco. 
     
     
         16 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector pins are configured to be seated within the at least one surface discontinuity of each of the first end section and the second end section. 
     
     
         17 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector pins are configured to engage with the at least one surface discontinuity such that an engagement force therebetween is focused at a plurality of distinct contact points for each surface discontinuity. 
     
     
         18 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the connector pins has a quadrilateral cross-section. 
     
     
         19 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector pins include voltage pins configured to engage with the at least one surface discontinuity of each of the first end section and the second end section of the conductive component. 
     
     
         20 . The aerosol-generating device of  claim 1 , wherein the connector pins are gold plated.