IP Library Granted Patent US 12,127,591
Granted Patent B2
US 12,127,591 · App. 17/431,956 · Granted Oct 29, 2024

Evaporator device for an inhaler, consumption unit, inhaler, and production method

Inventors: Lasse Cornils (Hamburg, DE); Niklas Romming (Hamburg, DE); Jan Jaklin (Fellbach, DE); Gunnar Niebuhr (Hamburg, DE); Tim Ullner (Hamburg, DE); Thomas Mueller (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: KÖRBER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
A24F40/46A24F40/10A24F40/42A24F40/44A24F40/70B22F7/062B23K20/023B23K20/10H05B3/12H05B3/18B23K2101/36H05B2203/016H05B2203/017H05B2203/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,127,591
App. No.
17/431,956
Granted
Oct 29, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vaporizer device for an inhaler comprises at least one electric vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fed to the vaporizer, wherein the liquid is transported by capillary forces from an inlet side through at least one liquid channel to an outlet side, where vaporized liquid can be added to an air stream, a carrier retaining the vaporizer, and at least one electrical line electrically contacting the vaporizer. The electrical line comprises a planar contact area, and the vaporizer and the planar contact area of the electrical line are materially and electrically conductively bonded to each other.

Claims (73)

1. A vaporizer device for an inhaler, comprising:

an electric vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fed to the electric vaporizer, wherein the liquid is transported by capillary forces from an inlet side through at least one liquid channel to an outlet side, where vaporized liquid can be added to an air flow,

a carrier retaining the vaporizer, and

at least one electrical line electrically contacting the electric vaporizer,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises a planar contact area,

wherein the electric vaporizer and the planar contact area of the at least one electrical line are bonded materially and electrically conductively to each other,

wherein the vaporizer comprises a metallization layer, and

wherein a primer is arranged between the electric vaporizer and the metallization layer.

2. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an outer shape of the vaporizer is block-shaped, and

wherein one side of the electric vaporizer is bonded in a planar manner to the at least one electrical line.

3. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the electric vaporizer comprises a base surface, with two opposing edge sections, and each of the opposing edge sections is bonded to an electrical line of the at least one electrical line.

4. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the carrier retains the at least one electrical line and/or is materially bonded to the at least one electrical line.

5. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises at least two electrical lines, and wherein the carrier comprises a passage opening between the at least two electrical lines.

6. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the carrier comprises a ceramic substrate.

7. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the contact area is made of gold.

8. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the metallization layer comprises nickel, gold and/or palladium.

9. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein an electrical bond between the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line comprises an electrical resistance of 5 mΩ to 20 mΩ.

10. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a material bond between the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line is at least partially formed by a first sintered material.

11. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one electrical line is at least partially formed by a second sintered material.

12. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein a material bond between the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line comprises an electrically non-conductive adhesive.

13. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the electric vaporizer and/or the planar contact area comprises solder bumps.

14. The vaporizer device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises a coefficient of a first thermal expansion that differs by less than 10% from a second coefficient of thermal expansion of the electric vaporizer.

15. A consumption unit for an inhaler, comprising:

a vaporizer device according to claim 1 , and

a liquid reservoir, wherein

the electric vaporizer device is connected to the liquid reservoir in a liquid-conducting manner.

16. An inhaler, comprising:

a consumption unit according to claim 15 , and

a base unit.

17. A method for manufacturing a vaporizer device according to claim 1 , comprising the following steps:

providing the electric vaporizer, the carrier, and the at least one electrical line, and materially and electrically conductively bonding the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line in a planar contact area of the at least one electrical line.

18. The method according to claim 17 ,

wherein the materially and electrically conductively bonding comprises a thermocompression process, an application of ultrasound, sintering without pressure, and/or an adhesive bonding with a non-conductive adhesive.

19. The method according to claim 17 ,

wherein a plurality of simultaneously processed electric vaporizers are separated prior to materially and electrically conductively bonding.

20. The method according to claim 17 ,

wherein a plurality of solder bumps are applied prior to materially and electrically conductively bonding.

21. The method according to claim 17 ,

wherein the materially and electrically conductively bonding comprises an adhesive bonding with a non-conductive adhesive.

22. A vaporizer device for an inhaler, comprising:

an electric vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fed to the electric vaporizer, wherein the liquid is transported by capillary forces from an inlet side through at least one liquid channel to an outlet side, where vaporized liquid can be added to an air flow,

a carrier retaining the vaporizer, and

at least one electrical line electrically contacting the electric vaporizer,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises a planar contact area,

wherein the electric vaporizer and the planar contact area of the at least one electrical line are bonded materially and electrically conductively to each other, and

wherein a material bond between the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line is at least partially formed by a first sintered material.

23. A vaporizer device for an inhaler, comprising:

an electric vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fed to the electric vaporizer, wherein the liquid is transported by capillary forces from an inlet side through at least one liquid channel to an outlet side, where vaporized liquid can be added to an air flow,

a carrier retaining the vaporizer, and

at least one electrical line electrically contacting the electric vaporizer,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises a planar contact area,

wherein the electric vaporizer and the planar contact area of the at least one electrical line are bonded materially and electrically conductively to each other, and

wherein the at least one electrical line is at least partially formed by a second sintered material.

24. A vaporizer device for an inhaler, comprising:

an electric vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fed to the electric vaporizer, wherein the liquid is transported by capillary forces from an inlet side through at least one liquid channel to an outlet side, where vaporized liquid can be added to an air flow,

a carrier retaining the vaporizer, and

at least one electrical line electrically contacting the electric vaporizer,

wherein the at least one electrical line comprises a planar contact area,

wherein the electric vaporizer and the planar contact area of the at least one electrical line are bonded materially and electrically conductively to each other, and

wherein a material bond between the electric vaporizer and the at least one electrical line comprises an electrically non-conductive adhesive.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 19, 2022
From: HAUNI MASCHINENBAU GMBH
To: KÖRBER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
Reel/Frame 061706/0167 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2021
From: CORNILS, LASSE; ROMMING, NIKLAS; JAKLIN, JAN; NIEBUHR, GUNNAR; ULLNER, TIM; MÜLLER, THOMAS
To: HAUNI MASCHINENBAU GMBH
Reel/Frame 057842/0077 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 103 987 · Feb 18, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220151295A1 · May 19, 2022