US 11,730,900 B2
Aerosol generating device with multiple heaters
Rui Nuno Batista, Morges (CH); and Laurent Manca, Sullens (CH)
Assigned to Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed by Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/110,880.
Application 17/110,880 is a continuation of application No. 15/805,382, filed on Nov. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,881,144.
Application 15/805,382 is a continuation of application No. PCT/EP2017/062722, filed on May 25, 2017.
Claims priority of application No. 16172192 (EP), filed on May 31, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0084977 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A61M 15/06 (2006.01); A61M 11/04 (2006.01); A61M 15/00 (2006.01); A61M 16/00 (2006.01); A24F 40/46 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/30 (2020.01); A24F 40/50 (2020.01); A24F 40/10 (2020.01)
CPC A61M 15/06 (2013.01) [A24F 40/30 (2020.01); A24F 40/42 (2020.01); A24F 40/46 (2020.01); A24F 40/50 (2020.01); A61M 11/042 (2014.02); A61M 15/0036 (2014.02); A24F 40/10 (2020.01); A61M 2016/0018 (2013.01); A61M 2205/215 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3317 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3368 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3389 (2013.01); A61M 2205/3653 (2013.01); A61M 2205/8212 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrically heated aerosol-generating device for use with a cartridge comprising a storage portion containing an aerosol-forming substrate, the storage portion having a fluid permeable internal surface surrounding an open-ended passage extending through the cartridge, the device comprising:
a housing having a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of a cartridge;
a heater assembly in the cavity, the heater assembly including,
an elongate support member connected to the housing and configured to extend into the open-ended passage of a cartridge inserted in the cavity, and
a plurality of electric heaters fixed to and spaced along a length of the elongate support member, the plurality of electric heaters each having at least one heating element configured to heat the aerosol forming substrate of a cartridge received into the cavity;
a power supply electrically connected to the heater assembly by a plurality of electrically isolated sections, each of the plurality of electrically isolated sections defining a region of the elongate support member extending along the length of the elongate support member; and
electric circuitry connectable to the power supply and to the heater assembly, the electric circuitry configured to measure one or more electrical parameters of the plurality of electric heaters and configured to determine at least one of an estimated remaining amount of aerosol forming substrate in a cartridge and an estimated distribution of aerosol forming substrate in the cartridge, based on the measured electrical parameters.