Airflow Path Arrangement to Pressure Sensor for an Aerosol Generating Device

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes an outside casing containing a battery and having a receiving cavity for receiving an exchangeable cartomizer in a removable manner, a power and control interface connected to the battery and positioned in the receiving cavity for contacting with an electrical contact and air inlet interface of the cartomizer, wherein the power and control interface includes an airflow sensor and electrical contacts, wherein the power and control interface includes a deformable seal configured to delimit a flow path to the airflow sensor and wherein the power and control interface includes a non-deformable holder at least partially bordering a perimeter of the deformable seal in the receiving cavity.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

Any features essential to the European patent applications titled “CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH FINS”, “CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH LEAKAGE PREVENTION” and “CARTOMIZER FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH COMBINED ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC CONTACTS” all filed Sep. 4, 2020 having application numbers 20 194 596.1, 20 194 597.9 and 20 194 595.3, as well as the corresponding PCT applications all filed on Sep. 1, 2021 and “AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH LIP SEAL FOR BATTERY DEGASSING MITIGATION”, “AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE”, “SHOCK ABSORPTION IN A HANDHELD AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE”, “AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE” and “AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE WITH A SEALED CHAMBER FOR ACCOMODATING A BATTERY” all filed Aug. 10, 2020 having application numbers 20 190 247.5, 20 190 249.1, 20 190 300.2 , 20 190 248.3 and 20 190 246.7, as well as the corresponding PCT applications all filed Aug. 9, 2021, such as the claims thereof, and/or contained therein and corresponding to and/or relating to features of the present application are incorporated herein by this reference and can be combined with feature combinations disclosed herein in order to provide an improved aerosol generating device, and protection may be sought for the resulting feature combinations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, with an airflow path arrangement to a pressure sensor.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Aerosol generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes or “e-cigarettes” as they are also known, have gained in popularity over the past ten years as an alternative to traditional smoking articles, like cigarettes, cigars, and cigarillos. Developments in the design and configuration of such aerosol generating devices or vaporizer devices are on- going to improve their performance and their reliability, as well as their ease of production and their production costs.

Conventional aerosol generating devices usually include a heater powered by an electrical power source and a liquid reservoir containing flavoured liquid (vaporizable material) that can be volatized using the heater and transferred to a user of the aerosol generating device in an airflow, which is preferably guided through a mouthpiece of the device.

In order to provide a convenient way for a user to load the vaporizable material into the aerosol generating device and to avoid the need for the user to handle the vaporizable material (liquid) directly, thereby reducing the likelihood of spillage and waste, conventionally capsules are provided. In this way, the integrity, safety and quality of the vaporizable material can also be assured, because it is loaded into the shell or container during manufacture to form a pre-manufactured capsule. Correct dosing of the vaporizable material is also assured.

Moreover, in order to avoid that the heating element is worn out over time, the heating element is often provided within the capsule, thereby forming a so called “cartomizer”. As the heating element (heater) is provided with the cartomizer, it is each time the cartomizer (capsule) is replaced, hence, there is no reduction in performance over time.

Additionally, aerosol generating devices, in particular e- cigarettes, use a sensor to detect airflow through the device, in particular into the cartomizer, i.e. a user puff, which can then trigger operation of the heater to vaporize the vaporizable material or the e-liquid. The device has to discriminate between the airflow caused by a user puff, and other forms of airflow or pressure changes that arise due to other actions or circumstances, for example a movement of the device through air, air pressure changes because of variation in weather conditions or change in altitude, etc.

Moreover, some e-cigarettes use sensor measurements of the airflow through the device not only to initiate activation of the heater, but also to provide dynamic control of the heater (or other components of the e-cigarette). For example, as the measured airflow increases, the heater may be provided with more power, firstly to compensate for the cooling effect of the increased airflow, and/or secondly to vaporize more vaporizable material or e-liquid into the increased airflow.

Hence, due to the desire to maintain a consistent draw resistance, accurate and reliable measurement of a pressure drop across a pressure sensor in an aerosol generating system having a removable or exchangeable cartomizer that needs to maintain production tolerances and repeated replacement of the cartomizer is desirable in order to accurately control a draw resistance primarily within the cartomizer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, there is the desire to provide an aerosol generating device, in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, having an airflow path arrangement to a pressure sensor that allows an accurate and constant control of a pressure drop across a pressure sensor in a removable cartomizer system, thereby eliminating uncertainties in pressure readings.

This aim may be achieved by an aerosol generating device as defined in claim 1. Embodiments may be found in the dependent claims, the following description and the accompanying drawings.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, provided there is an aerosol generating device, in particular an electronic cigarette or vaporizer, including: an outside casing containing a battery and including a receiving cavity for receiving an exchangeable cartomizer in a removable manner, a power and control interface connected to the battery and positioned in the receiving cavity for contacting with an electrical contact and air inlet interface of the cartomizer, wherein the power and control interface includes an airflow sensor and electrical contacts, wherein the power and control interface comprises a deformable seal, e.g. silicone, configured to delimit or define a flow path to the airflow sensor and wherein the power and control interface includes a non-deformable holder at least partially bordering a perimeter of the deformable seal in the receiving cavity.

Providing the aerosol generating device with the above defined sealing arrangement allows that the sealing will be maintained during all foreseen manufacturing tolerances and usage scenarios. Moreover, an optimised localised pressure drop in the region of the pressure sensor can be achieved such that an accurate pressure signal can be maintained without creating a significant additional draw resistance which should be controlled by the intake to the cartomizer. Additionally, it becomes possible to accurately control the airflow prior to the cartomizer, hence, making it less likely that production tolerances and general use can result in significant uncertainty with regard to pressure readings.

The term “power and control interface” is to be understood here in the context of the present invention as a unit of the aerosol generating device that includes elements to provide electric energy to the cartomizer, in particular the heater of the cartomizer, and thereby controls a heating operation of the cartomizer.

Moreover, in the context of the present invention the term “electrical and air inlet interface of the cartomizer” is to be understood as a unit of the cartomizer that includes elements for electrically connecting the heater of the cartomizer with the power and control interface of the aerosol generating device. Moreover, the “electrical and air inlet interface of the cartomizer” includes elements for forming an air inlet and/or air path into and/or through the cartomizer.

Additionally, in the context of the present invention the expressions “deformable seal” and “non-deformable holder” are to be understood such that the seal is made of an elastic material that can deform in certain ranges and return to its original shape when an applied load is removed. Such an elastic material may have a maximum Young's modulus of 0.1 GPa and/or a maximum hardness of 100 Shore A at ambient temperature. Hence, the “deformable seal” is preferably made of an elastomeric or silicone material.

On the other hand, the “non-deformable holder” is made of a material which is rigid or hard and therefore not deformable at ambient temperature when submitted to a compressive constraint of a few Kilograms per square centimeter. The material has generally a Young's modulus above 0.1 GPa or a hardness above 100 Shore A at ambient temperature. The “non-deformable holder” may be made of a rigid or hard thermoplastic or thermosetting material, glass composite, carbon composite or metal.

Moreover, in some embodiments of the present invention, the cartomizer may including: a container for holding at least one reservoir configured to contain a vaporizable material or a liquid, a vaporizing chamber fluidly connected to a mouth end by a vapor passage, a liquid transport element, in particular a porous capillary member, extending from inside the at least one reservoir to inside the vaporizing chamber in order to convey the vaporizable material from the reservoir to the inside of the vaporizing chamber and an air inlet arranged to supply the vaporizing chamber with (ambient) air in use.

An “axial direction of the cartomizer” defines in the present application in general a longitudinal direction of the cartomizer. However, as the shape of the cartomizer may vary, the “axial direction of the cartomizer” also refers to a direction in which the air flows in general through the cartomizer, namely from the air inlet of the cartomizer to the mouth end of the cartomizer, which is configured to come into contact with the lips of a user during use of the aerosol generating device.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the non-deformable holder, preferably made of rigid thermoplastic material or hard plastic, may define an air throttling channel arranged for restricting air supplied to the flow path of the airflow sensor and to the cartomizer.

By defining said air throttling channel essentially by the non-deformable holder and providing an annular flow path around a base or bottom part of the cartomizer, draw resistance can be accurately defined or tuned, hence, pressure readings by the airflow sensor can be optimised and output data of the sensor can be used with high certainty. In other words, with a channel like sealed connection between the cartomizer and the aerosol generating device feeding a pressure sensor and a restricted intake which is in turn connected to an annular atmospheric or ambient air source, accuracy of pressure readings of the pressure sensor can be improved. Additionally, by providing an annular flow path and defining the draw resistance, a reduction in draw noise can also be realised. Accordingly, the airflow sensor is preferably a pressure sensor.

Moreover, in some embodiments of the present invention, the air throttling channel may extend transversally along the power and control interface, in particular towards the flow path of the flow sensor.

In some embodiments, the air throttling channel may be delimited or defined by a pair of support edges of the outer surface of the non-deformable holder configured for defining the width of the air throttling channel. Therefore, as the edges are non-deformable, the size of the channel can be accurately controlled irrespective of the compressive force applied by the cartomizer in the receiving cavity.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the air throttling channel communicates to the flow path of the airflow sensor by or via an enlarged outer cavity.

By providing the above described flow path and enlarged outer cavity arrangement, a localised pressure drop in the region of the airflow sensor, in particular pressure sensor, can be optimized, thereby allowing that an accurate pressure signal can be maintained without creating a significant additional draw resistance. The (air) flow path is connected via the air throttling channel to a circumferential airflow path running in a void around the perimeter of the cartomizer and is sealed by the deformable seal to the aerosol generating device internals. Said void may be opened to atmospheric pressure or ambient air through either holes in the side of the device, in particular inside the outside casing, or a controlled flow around the cartomizer or through the device.

Moreover, the enlarged outer cavity may be formed at the surface of the deformable seal.

In some embodiments, the non-deformable holder may include an outer surface for supporting an outer surface of the electrical contact and air inlet interface of the cartomizer.

Furthermore, the airflow sensor may be positioned in an inner cavity of the deformable seal. As a result, the control circuitry and power source connected to the sensor can be protected against possible fluid leakage in case fluid sits at the surface or enters in the cavity.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the deformable seal may include passages for the electrical contacts.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the non-deformable holder may include passages for a pair of holding magnets.

Additionally, the non-deformable holder may include a transversal support wall for supporting an electronic circuit board for the electrical contacts and the airflow sensor.

Moreover, the deformable seal may be positioned between the electronic circuit board and the receiving cavity.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, a ring portion of the deformable seal may extend around a circumferential wall of the non-deformable holder.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the ring portion of the deformable seal may engage against the outside casing. The ring portion may be arranged to expand upon a pressure building up in a compartment or volume containing the power source, e.g., battery. The ring portion may form a lip seal.

The present invention further provides an aerosol generating system including the above described aerosol generating device and an atomizer including a vaporizing chamber and an air inlet positioned between the vaporizing chamber and the flow path of the airflow sensor.

Additionally, the cartomizer may include a throttling air suction arrangement downstream of the air inlet.

In some embodiments, an air inlet interface of the atomizer may form with the deformable seal of the aerosol generating device an expansion chamber between the throttling air suction arrangement of the cartomizer and the air throttling channel of the aerosol generating device.

Additionally, the throttling air suction arrangement of the cartomizer may include at least one restriction hole between the air throttling channel and the vaporizing chamber.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the throttling air suction arrangement of the cartomizer may include at least two parallel restriction holes.

Moreover, in some embodiments, the throttling air suction arrangement of the cartomizer may provide a pressure drop higher than the pressure drop created by the air throttling channel of the aerosol generating device.

The use of the aerosol generating system for generating an inhalable aerosol is using the aerosol generating device of the present invention. Therefore, the further features disclosed in connection with the above description of the aerosol generating device may also be applied to the aerosol generating system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a conventional aerosol generating device having a housing consisting of a control body and a tank;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic spatial sectional view of the interior of an aerosol generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 1 without the cartomizer;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the device shown in FIG. 2, when a cartomizer is inserted into the aerosol generating device;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic spatial view of the top of the aerosol generating device shown in FIG. 2 without outer casing and without the cartomizer;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic spatial view of the top of an aerosol generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a schematic spatial view of a whole aerosol generating device including the cartomizer according to the present invention without the outside casing; and

FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the device shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the air flow path towards the air flow sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the field of aerosol generating devices from this disclosure that the following description of the embodiments is provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Features of the embodiments described below can also be used to further characterize the device defined in the claims.

Modifications of features can be combined to form further embodiments. Features described in individual embodiments can be provided in a single embodiment if they are not incompatible. Likewise, features described in a single embodiment can be provided in several embodiments individually or in any suitable sub-combination. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, “the” and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The same reference numerals listed in different figures refer to identical, corresponding or functionally similar elements.

As described hereinafter, example implementations of the present disclosure relate to aerosol generating devices. Aerosol generating devices according to the present invention use electrical energy to heat a material (preferably without combusting the material to any significant degree and/or without significant chemical alteration of the material) to form an inhalable substance or vapor; and components of such device have the form of articles that most preferably are sufficiently compact to be considered hand-held devices. That is, use of components of preferred aerosol generating devices does not result in the production of smoke in the sense that aerosol results principally from by-products of combustion or pyrolysis of tobacco, but rather, use of those devices preferably results in the production of vapors resulting from volatilization or vaporization of certain components incorporated therein.

In some example implementations, components of aerosol generating devices may be characterized as electronic cigarettes, and those electronic cigarettes preferably incorporate aerosolisable liquid (e.g. propylene glycol, polyhydric alcohol), tobacco and/or tobacco materials derived at least partially from tobacco, and hence deliver tobacco derived components in aerosol or vapor form to a user. In more detail, aerosol generating devices within the meaning of the present invention may transport the volatilized particles in an airflow through the aerosol generating device, in particular through the cartomizer, to a user of the device, the user of the device being able to activate or deactivate the generation of aerosol and possibly to control the duration, velocity and volume of the airflow by means of puffing or inhaling action. However, these parameters may also be automatically adjusted by the device.

FIG. 1 illustrates a known aerosol generating or delivery device 200 including a control body 202 and a tank 204. As shown in FIG. 1, the control body 202 can be formed of a control body shell 206 that can include a control component 208 (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB), an integrated circuit, a memory component, a microprocessor, individually or as part of a micro-controller, and the like), a flow sensor 210, a battery 212, and one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 214, and such components can be variably aligned. Moreover, the tank 204 can be formed of a tank shell 216 enclosing a reservoir 218 that is in fluid communication with a liquid transport element 220 adapted to wick or otherwise transport an aerosol precursor composition stored in the reservoir housing to a heater 222 (sometimes referred to as a heating element). A valve may be positioned between the reservoir and heater and configured to control an amount of aerosol precursor composition passed or delivered from the reservoir to the heater. The known device is provided with a mouthpiece 224 having an opening defined therein and which may be coupled to the tank shell 216 to allow for egress of formed aerosol from the tank 204. The shown device 200, in particular the control body 202 and the tank 204, include a coupler 230 having a cavity 232 therein. A base 228 of the tank is adapted to engage the coupler and includes a projection 234 to fit within the cavity.

Aerosol generating devices of the present invention generally include a number of components provided within an outer body or shell, which may be referred to as an outside casing or housing. The overall design of the outside casing can vary, and the format or configuration of the outside casing that can define the overall size and shape of the aerosol generating device can vary. For some aerosol generating devices, an elongated body resembling the shape of a cigarette or cigar can be formed from a single, unitary housing, or the elongated housing can be formed of two or more separable bodies. For example, an aerosol generating device can include an elongated shell or body (outside casing) that can be substantially tubular in shape and, as such, resemble the shape of conventional cigarettes or cigars. In one implementation, all of the components of the aerosol generating device are contained within a single housing. Alternatively, an aerosol delivery device can comprise two or more housings that are joined and are separable.

Aerosol generating devices of the present invention can be formed of an outside casing or shell that is not substantially tubular in shape but may be formed to substantially greater transversal dimensions. The outside casing or shell can be configured to include a mouthpiece and/or may be configured to receive a separate shell (e.g. a cartridge, a tank) that can include consumable elements, such as a liquid aerosol former, and can include a vaporizer.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic spatial sectional view of the interior of an aerosol generating device 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 2 shows an upper part of the aerosol generating device 100 and a lower part of a cartomizer 10 brought into contact with the device 100. As can be taken from FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device includes a non- deformable holder 109 which is preferably part of a holding frame 116 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7). The non-deformable holder includes passages or sockets for receiving a pair of holding magnets 114. The holding frame 116 is configured to hold a battery 102 and on top of the holding frame 116, in particular on a transversal support wall 115 of the non- deformable holder 109, an electronic circuit board (PCB) is arranged. The electronic circuit board is provided with electrical contacts 106, in particular two of them, and an airflow sensor 105. The airflow sensor 105 and the electrical contacts 106 form part of a power and control interface 104 that is configured to provide the attached cartomizer 10 with electric power from the battery 102 for a heater of the cartomizer 10 and thereby control a heating operation of the heater. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 100 includes an outer casing 101 having a receiving cavity 103 for receiving the exchangeable cartomizer 10 which is secured to the aerosol generating device 100 by the pair of magnets 114. In the holding position the cartomizer 10 in the receiving cavity, the power and control interface 104 comes into contact with an electrical contact and air inlet interface 11 of the cartomizer 10.

Additionally, as can be taken from FIGS. 2 and FIG. 3, which shows a schematic top view of the aerosol generating device 100 shown in FIG. 1 without the cartomizer 10 and the outside casing 101, the power and control interface 104 includes further a deformable seal 107 that forms a flow path 108 to the airflow sensor 105 and the non-deformable holder 109 partially borders a perimeter of the deformable seal 107. Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the non-deformable holder 109 defines an air throttling channel 110 arranged for restricting air supplied to the flow path 108 of the airflow sensor and to the cartomizer 10. In other words, ambient air that is sucked into the cartomizer 10 when a user puffs needs to flow through the throttling channel 110 whereby air supply is restricted. As can also be taken from FIGS. 3 and 5, the throttling channel 110 extends transversally along the power and control interface 104 towards the flow path 108 of the flow sensor 105. The ambient air may travel from the exterior of the device to the inside of the outside casing 101 and to the channel 110 via at least one hole, preferably two holes provided in the casing 101 or provided at the junction between the outside casing 110 and the mouth piece 205 of the cartomizer.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the aerosol generating device 100 shown in FIG. 2, when a cartomizer 10 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100. As can be taken from FIG. 4, the electrical contacts 106 of the device 100 are formed by pogo pins which may be retractable and extendable positioned in passages of the deformable seal 107. However, the pogo pins may also be provided stationary relative to the PCB. Accordingly, when the cartomizer 10 is inserted in the aerosol generating device 100, electrodes of the cartomizer 10, which are exposed at the bottom of the cartomizer 10, come into contact with the pogo pins and push them into a retracted position. Additionally, the non-deformable 109 includes an outer surface for safely supporting an outer surface of the electrical contact and air inlet interface 11 of the cartomizer. FIG. 4 further shows that the airflow sensor 105 is positioned in an inner cavity 113 of the deformable seal 107, also shown in FIG. 2. As can also be taken from FIG. 4, the deformable seal 107 is positioned between the electronic circuit board and the receiving cavity 103.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic spatial view of the top of the aerosol generating device 100 shown in FIG. 2 without the cartomizer 10. As can be taken from FIG. 5, the air throttling channel 110 is formed by a pair of support edges 111 of the outer surface of the non-deformable holder 109, which define the width of the air throttling channel 110. Moreover, the deformable seal 107 includes on the top surface an enlarged outer cavity 112 that allows the air throttling channel 110 to communicate with the flow path 108 of the airflow sensor 105. As FIG. 5 also shows, the flow path 108 extends along an up-and-down direction of the aerosol generating device 100 in FIG. 5, corresponding to an axial direction of the cartomizer 10. FIG. 5 shows also that a ring portion 107A of the deformable seal 107 extends around a circumferential wall of the non-deformable holder 109. In this regard it can be taken from FIGS. 2 and 4 that the ring portion 107A of the deformable seal 107 engages against the outside casing 101, thereby seal a lower part of the outside casing 101 containing the battery 102 airtight. The ring portion 107A preferably forms a lip which is arranged in such a manner that the sealing force exerted on the casing when the internal pressure in the portion of the outside casing holding the battery increases such as in the event of battery degassing incident.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic spatial view of the top of an aerosol generating device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment the deformable seal 107 is not provided with the enlarged outer cavity 112, instead a groove is provided for connecting the flow path 108 with the outside.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic spatial view of a whole aerosol generating device 100, in other words of an aerosol generating system 200, including the cartomizer 10 and the aerosol generating device 100 according to the present invention, where only the outside casing 101 of the aerosol generating device 100 is not shown for illustrating purposes. The shown aerosol generating device 100 includes a mouthpiece 205 which is part of the cartomizer 10 for guiding the generated vapor to a user, the cartomizer 10, the battery 102, the power and control interface 104 including the deformable seal 107 and an inner frame or holding frame 116 for holding the battery 102 inside the device 100. It should also be noted that the aerosol generating device 100 has an elongated shape, in which a receiving cavity 103 for the cartomizer 10, a power supply device, in particular the battery 102, and a main electronic circuit board are arranged in this order from a first, proximal end (mouth end) to a second, distal end. Consequently, the power supply device, in particular battery 102, is located at approximately the center of the device 100, so that it is particularly well balanced.

The shown aerosol generating system 200 includes an atomizer 201 comprising a vaporizing chamber 202 and an air inlet 203 positioned between the vaporizing chamber 202 and the flow path 108 of the airflow sensor 105, both shown in FIG. 2. Downstream of the air inlet 203, the cartomizer 10 is provided with a throttling air suction arrangement 12 including at least one restriction hole 13 arranged between the air throttling channel 110 and the vaporizing chamber 202. As can be taken in more detail from FIG. 2, an air inlet interface of the atomizer 201, corresponding to the electrical contact and air inlet interface 11 of the cartomizer, forms with the deformable seal 107 of the aerosol generating device 100 an expansion chamber 204 between the throttling air suction arrangement 12 of the cartomizer 10 and the air throttling channel 110 of the aerosol generating device 100.

The throttling air suction arrangement 12 of the cartomizer may be dimensioned to provide a pressure drop higher than the pressure drop created by the air throttling channel 110 of the aerosol generating device 100. As a result, the resistance to draw of the system can be essentially controlled by the throttling air suction arrangement 12. For example, the restriction holes 13 may have a diameter equal to or lower than 1.2 mm each or an opening surface area equal to or lower than 0.785 mm² . Preferably, the diameter is above mm but equal to or lower than 1 mm.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic sectional view of a detail of the aerosol generating device 100 shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the airflow path towards the airflow sensor 105, in particular the pressure sensor. As can be taken from FIG. 8, in case a user takes a puff, air is sucked into a void 16 formed between the cartomizer 10, in particular an outside housing of the cartomizer, and the outside casing 101 of the aerosol generating device 100. The air enters the void 16 through holes (not shown) which are provided in the side wall of the outside casing 101. Accordingly, the air is sucked towards the cartomizer 10, in particular towards a cartomizer air inlet 15, through a circumferential airflow path running through the void 16 around the perimeter of the cartomizer From the void 16, the air flows through the air throttling channel 110 into the enlarged outer cavity 112. In the enlarged outer cavity 112 the airflow is divided, a main portion of the airflow flows through the cartomizer air inlet 15 towards the expansion chamber 204, the heating coil 14 and the vaporizing chamber 202. A small portion of the airflow flows or is transmitted through the flow path 108 (pressure transmission path) end enters the inner cavity 113 (sensor chamber) in which the airflow sensor 105 is arranged.

REFERENCE LIST

• • 10 Cartomizer
  • 11 Electrical contact and air inlet interface
  • 12 Throttling air suction arrangement
  • 13 Restriction hole
  • 14 Heating Coil
  • 100 Aerosol generating device
  • 101 Outside casing
  • 102 Battery
  • 103 Receiving cavity
  • 104 Power and control interface
  • 105 Airflow sensor
  • 106 Electrical contacts
  • 107 Deformable seal
  • 107A Ring portion of the deformable seal
  • 108 Flow path
  • 109 Non-deformable holder
  • 110 Air throttling channel
  • 111 Support edges
  • 112 Enlarged outer cavity
  • 113 Inner cavity
  • 114 Pair of holing magnets
  • 115 Transversal support wall
  • 116 Holing Frame
  • 200 Aerosol generating system
  • 201 Atomizer
  • 202 Vaporizing chamber
  • 203 Air Inlet
  • 204 Expansion chamber
  • 205 Mouthpiece

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device comprising:

an outside casing containing a battery and comprising a receiving cavity for receiving an exchangeable cartomizer in a removable manner,

a power and control interface connected to the battery and positioned in the receiving for contacting with an electrical contact and air inlet interface of the cartomizer,

wherein the power and control interface comprises an airflow sensor and electrical contacts,

wherein the power and control interface comprises a deformable seal configured to delimit a flow path to the airflow sensor and wherein the power and control interface comprises a non-deformable holder configured for supporting the cartomizer in the receiving cavity; the holder at least partially bordering a perimeter of the deformable seal in the receiving cavity.

2. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the non-deformable holder defines an air throttling channel arranged for restricting air supplied to the flow path of the airflow sensor and to the cartomizer.

3. The aerosol Aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the air throttling channel extends transversally along the power and control interface, towards the flow path of the flow sensor.

4. The aerosol generating device according to claim 3, wherein the air throttling channel is delimited by a pair of support edges of an outer surface of the non-deformable holder configured for defining a width of the air throttling channel.

5. The aerosol generating device according to claim 4, wherein the air throttling channel communicates with the flow path of the airflow sensor by an enlarged outer cavity.

6. The aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein the enlarged outer cavity is formed at the surface of the deformable seal.

7. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the non-deformable holder comprises an outer surface for supporting an outer surface of the electrical contact and air inlet interface of the cartomizer.

8. The aerosol generating device according to claim 2, wherein the airflow sensor is positioned in an inner cavity of the deformable seal.

9. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the deformable seal comprises passages for the electrical contacts.

10. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the non-deformable holder comprises passages for a pair of holding magnets.

11. The aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the non-deformable holder comprises a transversal support wall for supporting an electronic circuit board for the electrical contacts and the airflow sensor.

12. The aerosol generating device according to claim 11, wherein the deformable seal is positioned between the electronic circuit board and the receiving cavity.

13. An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating device according to claim 1 and an atomizer comprising a vaporizing chamber and an air inlet positioned between the vaporizing chamber and the flow path of the airflow sensor.

14. The aerosol generating system according to claim 13, wherein the cartomizer comprises a throttling air suction arrangement downstream of the air inlet.

15. The aerosol generating system according to claim 14, wherein the non-deformable holder defines an air throttling channel arranged for restricting air supplied to the flow path of the airflow sensor and to the cartomizer, and wherein an air inlet interface of the atomizer forms with the deformable seal of the aerosol generating device an expansion chamber between the throttling air suction arrangement of the cartomizer and the air throttling channel of the aerosol generating device-4004.