Aerosol-generating system and method using dielectric heating
An aerosol-generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol is provided, the aerosol-generating device including: a substrate cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate; and an electromagnetic field generator including a solid state radio frequency (RF) transistor and being configured to generate a RF electromagnetic field in the substrate cavity. A method for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate is also provided. An aerosol-generating article is also provided.
1. An aerosol-generating device for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol, the aerosol-generating device comprising:
a substrate cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming substrate; and
an electromagnetic field generator comprising a solid state radio frequency (RF) transistor and being configured to generate a RF electromagnetic field in the substrate cavity.
2. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the solid state RF transistor is configured to generate and to amplify the RF electromagnetic field.
3. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the substrate cavity comprises one or more external walls formed from a material opaque to the RF electromagnetic field, and
wherein one or more slots are formed in the one or more external walls.
4. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate cavity comprises a blind cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming article containing the aerosol-forming substrate.
5. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a resonating cavity between the substrate cavity and the electromagnetic field generator.
6. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising an antenna connected to the electromagnetic field generator configured to direct the RF electromagnetic field.
7. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 6 , wherein the antenna is positioned at least partially in the substrate cavity.
8. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a sensor in or adjacent to the substrate cavity, the sensor providing a signal indicative of a temperature in the substrate cavity, and a controller connected to receive the signal from the sensor and connected to control the electromagnetic field generator in dependence on the signal from the sensor.
9. The aerosol-generating device according to claim 1 , further comprising a liquid reservoir and a liquid pump configured to deliver liquid from the liquid reservoir to the substrate cavity.
10. An aerosol-generating system, comprising:
an aerosol-generating device in accordance with claim 1 ; and
an aerosol-forming substrate received in the substrate cavity.
11. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 10 , wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco.
12. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 10 , wherein the aerosol-forming substrate comprises a liquid-filled capsule or a gel-filled capsule.
13. The aerosol-generating system according to claim 12 , wherein the liquid-filled capsule or gel-filled capsule is configured to rupture when the liquid or gel is heated by the RF electromagnetic field in the substrate cavity.
14. A method for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate, the method comprising:
placing the aerosol-forming substrate within a substrate cavity of an aerosol-generating device; and
generating a radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic field in the substrate cavity using a solid state RF transistor.
15. An aerosol-generating article, comprising:
an aerosol-forming substrate;
a mouthpiece through which a user can draw generated aerosol or vapour; and
a fluid permeable, radio frequency electromagnetic radiation shield positioned between the aerosol-forming substrate and the mouthpiece.