HEATING SMOKEABLE MATERIAL
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.