The invention relates to an aerosol-generating device. The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device and an aerosolgenerating article comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The invention relates to a method for controlling usage of an induction coil in an aerosol-generating device.

It is known to provide an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor. Such devices may heat aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature at which one or more components of the aerosol-forming substrate are volatilised without burning the aerosolforming substrate. Aerosol-forming substrate may be provided as part of an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may have a rod shape for insertion of the aerosolgenerating article into a cavity, such as a heating chamber, of the aerosol-generating device. A heating element may be arranged in or around the heating chamber for heating the aerosolforming substrate once the aerosol-generating article is inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device. It has been found that using induction heating has benefits such as preventing unwanted debris sticking to the heating element. An induction heating element can be arranged at least partly surrounding the heating chamber. Also, it has been found that inductive charging of the aerosol-generating device has advantages such as preventing contamination of a charging port and user convenience. However, having two coils in a single device with two different functions may lead to inductive coupling.

It would be desirable to have improved heating in an aerosol-generating device. It would be desirable to have improved charging in an aerosol-generating device. It would be desirable to have improved heating and charging in an aerosol-generating device.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device that may comprise an induction heating assembly. The heating assembly may comprise an induction coil. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise an induction charging assembly. The induction charging assembly may comprise the induction coil.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device that may comprise an induction heating assembly. The heating assembly may comprise an induction coil system. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise an induction charging assembly. The induction charging assembly may comprise the induction coil system. The induction charging assembly may further comprise a field sensor. The field sensor may be configured to detect if the aerosol-generating device is subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging.

The field sensor may be configured to detect whether the magnetic field the aerosolgenerating device is subjected to has a magnetic field strength sufficient for wireless charging. The field sensor may be configured to detect whether the magnetic field lines the aerosol-generating device are subjected to have an orientation sufficient for wireless charging.

The induction coil system may comprise at least one induction coil. The induction coil system may be at least one induction coil. The induction coil system may herein be referred to as induction coil. The induction coil system may have an electric connection to the device. The induction coil system may comprise a first and a second induction coil. At least one of the induction coils may be configured for wireless charging. Both the first and the second induction coil may be configured for induction heating. The induction coil system may comprise at least one helical induction coil. All induction coils may be helical. The induction coil system may comprise at least one radial induction coil. All induction coils may be radial. The induction coil system may comprise at least one planar induction coil. All induction coils may be planar.

According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device comprising an induction heating assembly. The heating assembly comprises an induction coil. The aerosol-generating device further comprises an induction charging assembly. The induction charging assembly comprises the induction coil.

In other words, the induction coil is preferably used in a dual-purpose manner. The first use of the induction coil is as part of the induction heating assembly for a heating purpose. The second use of the induction coil is as part of the induction charging assembly for a charging purpose.

Using a single induction coil in a dual-purpose manner prevents inductive coupling between two coils provided for each of these purposes separately.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a controller and a battery. The controller may be configured to operate the aerosol-generating device in an aerosol generating mode using the induction coil. The controller may be configured to perform a charging mode of the aerosol-generating device using the induction coil for charging the battery.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise at least two induction coils. The two induction coils may be part of the induction heating assembly and may be used by the controller in the aerosol generating mode. At least one of the two induction coils may be part of the induction charging assembly and may be used by the controller in the charging mode.

In other words, preferably both of the induction coils are utilized in the aerosolgenerating device for a heating purpose, while at least a single one of the induction coils has a dual-purpose of also being used for charging.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise an induction coil system including a first and a second induction coil, and that one of the first or the second induction coil is configured for wireless charging, and both the first and second induction coil are configured for induction heating. The at least two induction coils may be arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate such that, when the flexible dielectric substrate is wrapped around the cavity of the aerosolgenerating device, the at least two induction coils are arranged on opposite sides of the cavity. One induction coil may essentially cover the outer perimeter of half of the cavity, while the other induction coil may essentially cover the outer perimeter of the other half of the cavity. Due to the elongate cylindrical shape of the cavity, the at least two induction coils may have a rectangular shape before being wrapped.

In another embodiment the planar induction coils may be arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged adjacent of the cavity. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged abutting of the cavity. The cavity may have a rectangular cross section. The cavity may have a cubic shape. The cavity may have a cuboid shape. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a nonwrapped manner. In other words, the flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a non-folded manner. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a planar manner. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged adjacent a planar sidewall of the cavity. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged abutting a planar sidewall of the cavity.

Alternatively, more than two induction coils may be provided. Three induction coils, preferably four induction coils, preferably five induction coils, preferably at least six induction coils may be provided. All induction coils may be printed or arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate before the flexible dielectric substrate is wrapped around the cavity of the aerosolgenerating device. The arrangement of the induction coils may correspond to heating zones within the cavity. The cavity may be arranged within an downstream airflow compartment of the aerosol-generating device. It may be desired to heat specific portions of the aerosolforming substrate of the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity. To heat specific portions of the aerosol-forming substrate, multiple induction coils may be arranged surrounding the cavity. Each individual induction coil may correspond to a heating zone. The individual induction coils may be arranged next to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cavity. The individual induction coils may be arranged laterally next to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cavity. The first individual induction coil may be arranged proximal or downstream of the second induction coil. The individual induction coils may be activated independently. The individual induction coils may be activated by the controller. If a specific portion of the aerosol-forming substrate is to be heated, an individual induction coil may be activated by the controller. This individual induction coil may lead to the heating of the susceptor next to the individual induction coil. A distinct susceptor may be arranged adjacent each individual induction coil. Alternatively, the individual induction coils may have a common single susceptor. In each of these cases, activating an individual induction coil may lead to heating of the adjacent susceptor or susceptor area. This may correspond to the desired heating of the portion of the aerosol-forming substrate.

The controller may be configured to control the induction coils separately. The controller may be configured to join induction coils so as to create a single large induction coil. Alternatively, the controller may be configured to switch between controlling the induction coils separately and to joining induction coils so as to create a single large induction coil.

The at least two induction coils may be planar or helical. One or more of the induction coils may be a spiral coil. One or more of the induction coils may be a radial coil.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise an article sensor. The article sensor may be configured to detect if an aerosol-generating article has been received in the aerosol-generating device.

The article sensor may comprise a light source. The article sensor may comprise a detector. The light source may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. The light source may be configured to emit electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum. The detector may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation. The light source may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum. The light source may be configured to detect electromagnetic radiation in the spectrum that is emitted by the light source.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a field sensor. The field sensor may be configured to detect if the aerosol-generating device may be subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging.

The field sensor may be configured as a Hall sensor.

The field sensor may be configured to detect which of the at least two induction coils is subjected to a magnetic field most able to provide wireless charging.

For each of the induction coil, a separate field sensor may be provided. Each field sensor may be arranged to measure the magnetic field the associated induction coil is subjected to. The controller may be configured to receive the output of the individual field sensors. The controller may thus determine which induction coil is most able to provide wireless charging. In other words, the controller may thus determine which induction coil is subjected to a magnetic field that is most suitable for wireless charging. The controller may electrically connect the induction coil that is most suitable for wireless charging with the wireless charging circuit and with the battery.

The controller may be configured to use the induction coil in the charging mode which is subjected to a magnetic field most able to provide wireless charging.

The controller may be configured to electrically connect the induction coil in the charging mode which is subjected to the magnetic field most able to provide wells charging with the battery. The controller may be configured to electrically disconnect the other induction coils from the battery in the charging mode.

The induction coil may be printed on a flexible dielectric substrate. The controller may be printed on the flexible dielectric substrate. The battery may be printed or arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate. Electrically conductive tracks may be printed on the flexible dielectric substrate. A wireless charging circuit may be printed on the flexible dielectric substrate. A susceptor may be printed on the flexible dielectric substrate. The electrically conductive tracks may electrically connect one or more of the herein discussed electrical components such as the induction coil, the controller, the susceptor and the battery.

The induction coil may be arranged at least partly surrounding a cavity of the aerosolgenerating device. The cavity may be configured to receive an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosol-forming substate.

The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged at least partly surrounding the cavity. The flexible dielectric substrate may be arranged fully surrounding the cavity. The flexible dielectric substrate may be wrapped around the cavity such that the components printed onto the flexible dielectric substrate are at least partly arranged around the cavity.

The flexible dielectric substrate may be wrapped to a tubular shape. The flexible dielectric substrate may have a tubular shape. The inner diameter of the flexible dielectric substrate may correspond to or be slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

The susceptor may be printed on a first area of the flexible dielectric substrate. The induction coil may be a printed on a second area of the flexible dielectric substrate. The first area of the flexible dielectric substrate may be different from the second area of the flexible dielectric substrate.

When the flexible dielectric substrate is wrapped around the cavity, preferably the first area of the flexible dielectric substrate is wrapped first around the cavity. Subsequently, the second area of the flexible dielectric substrate may be wrapped around the first area of the flexible dielectric substrate. Hence, the flexible dielectric substrate may be wrapped around the cavity at least twice. After wrapping the flexible dielectric substrate around the cavity, the induction coil may at least partly surround the susceptor. Preferably, the induction coil fully surrounds the susceptor after wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate around the cavity. The susceptor preferably is arranged as the innermost layer around the cavity so that the heat created in the susceptor travels inwards to heat the inner of the cavity. The induction coil is preferably arranged so that an alternating current supplied to the induction coil leads to an alternating magnetic field being created by the induction coil leading to heating of the susceptor. The battery may be arranged on a third area of the flexible dielectric substrate. The third area of the flexible dielectric substrate may be different from the first area of the flexible dielectric substrate and from the second area of the flexible dielectric substrate. When the flexible dielectric substrate is wrapped around the cavity, the third area of the flexible dielectric substrate may form the outermost layer of the flexible dielectric substrate. In other words, the second area of the flexible dielectric substrate may be sandwiched between the innermost first area of the flexible dielectric substrate and the outermost third area of the flexible dielectric substrate. After wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate around the cavity, the battery may be arranged surrounding the induction coil. After wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate, the battery may have a tubular shape.

Alternatively, the battery may be arranged not on the flexible dielectric substrate but as a separate component. In this case, the battery is preferably arranged close to the induction coil such that the induction coil can be used during the induction charging mode for charging the battery. A second separate flexible dielectric substrate may be provided for connecting the wireless charging circuit arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate with the battery.

In the induction charging mode, a current may be generated in the wireless charging circuit, when the wireless charging circuit is subjected to a varying external magnetic field. This current may be used to recharge the battery.

For the induction heating mode and the induction charging mode, the controller may use different sets of parameters. The parameters may include one or more of current, frequency of modulation of current and duty cycle.

In the induction heating mode, the controller may control that no current flows through the wireless charging circuit. During the induction charging mode, the controller may control that no current flows through the induction heating assembly.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a user interface. The user interface may enable a user to select whether the aerosol-generating device is to be operated in the induction charging more or in the induction heating mode.

Alternatively, whether the aerosol-generating device is to be operated in the induction charging more or in the induction heating mode may be determined based on the sensor output. The sensor used for this purpose may be the fields sensor. The sensor used for this purpose may be article sensor. If the article sensor detects that the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity, the controller may enable the induction heating mode and disable the induction charging more. If the fields sensor detects that the induction coil is subjected to a magnetic field suitable to charge the battery, the controller may enable the induction charging mode and disable the induction heating mode. The controller may be configured to prevent the aerosol-generating device to be charged in the induction charging mode, when the aerosolgenerating device is operated in the induction heating mode. The controller may be configured to prevent the aerosol-generating device to be operated in the induction heating mode, when the aerosol-generating device is charged in the induction charging mode.

The induction coil may be a planar induction coil or a helical induction coil.

The induction coil may be a radial induction coil. The aerosol-generating device may comprise additional components for attaching each end of each turn of the radial coil to the beginning of the next turn. These additional components may be, exemplarily, pins and solder.

The induction coil may be provided as a planar induction coil on the flexible dielectric substrate and then wrapped around the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the induction coil may be provided as a helical induction coil wound around the cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

The invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosolgenerating device as described herein and an aerosol-generating article comprising aerosolforming substrate.

As used herein, the terms ‘proximal’, ‘distal’, ‘downstream’ and ‘upstream’ are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the aerosolgenerating device in relation to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating device during use thereof.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a mouth end through which in use an aerosol exits the aerosol-generating device and is delivered to a user. The mouth end may also be referred to as the proximal end. In use, a user draws on the proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosolgenerating device. Alternatively, a user may directly draw on an aerosol-generating article inserted into an opening at the proximal end of the aerosol-generating device. The opening at the proximal end may be an opening of the cavity. The cavity may be configured to receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprises a distal end opposed to the proximal or mouth end. The proximal or mouth end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the downstream end and the distal end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol-generating device may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions between the proximal, downstream or mouth end and the distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating device.

As used herein, an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article, for example part of a smoking article. An aerosol-generating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosolgenerating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs thorough the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating device may be a holder. The device may be an electrically heated smoking device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, electric circuitry, a power supply, a heating chamber and a heating element. The electric circuitry may be printed onto the flexible dielectric substrate. Parts of the electric circuitry such as the induction coil, the susceptor, the controller, the battery or power supply and the electrically conductive tracks may be printed onto or arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate.

As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of the controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff- by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply, typically the battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium- Iron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element.

The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular crosssection. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

An airflow channel may run through the cavity. The airflow channel may run centrally through the cavity. The airflow channel may be centrally arranged with respect to the aerosolgenerating device. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.

In any of the aspects of the disclosure, the heating element may comprise an electrically resistive material. Preferably, however, the heating element is configured as an induction heating element.

As described, in any of the aspects of the disclosure, the heating element may be part of an aerosol-generating device. The heating element may be configured as an external heating element, where "external" refer to the aerosol-forming substrate.

The flexible dielectric substrate may be made from polyimide. The flexible dielectric substrate may be shaped to conform to the perimeter of the substrate receiving cavity.

The induction heating element may comprise the induction coil and the susceptor. In general, a susceptor is a material that is capable of generating heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. When located in an alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is conductive, then typically eddy currents are induced by the alternating magnetic field. If the susceptor is magnetic, then typically another effect that contributes to the heating is commonly referred to hysteresis losses. Hysteresis losses occur mainly due to the movement of the magnetic domain blocks within the susceptor, because the magnetic orientation of these will align with the magnetic induction field, which alternates. Another effect contributing to the hysteresis loss is when the magnetic domains will grow or shrink within the susceptor. Commonly all these changes in the susceptor that happen on a nano-scale or below are referred to as “hysteresis losses”, because they produce heat in the susceptor. Hence, if the susceptor is both magnetic and electrically conductive, both hysteresis losses and the generation of eddy currents will contribute to the heating of the susceptor. If the susceptor is magnetic, but not conductive, then hysteresis losses will be the only means by which the susceptor will heat, when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field. According to the invention, the susceptor may be electrically conductive or magnetic or both electrically conductive and magnetic. An alternating magnetic field generated by one or several induction coils heat the susceptor, which then transfers the heat to the aerosol-forming substrate, such that an aerosol is formed. The heat transfer may be mainly by conduction of heat. Such a transfer of heat is best, if the susceptor is in close thermal contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-generating article’ refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosolgenerating article may be disposable.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosolforming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerine and propylene glycol.

The aerosol-generating substrate preferably comprises homogenised tobacco material, an aerosol-former and water. Providing homogenised tobacco material may improve aerosol generation, the nicotine content and the flavour profile of the aerosol generated during heating of the aerosol-generating article. Specifically, the process of making homogenised tobacco involves grinding tobacco leaf, which more effectively enables the release of nicotine and flavours upon heating.

The invention further relates to a method for controlling usage of an induction coil in an aerosol-generating device as described herein, the method may comprise any one of: detecting, via the article sensor, if an aerosol-generating article is received in the aerosol-generating device, detecting, via the field sensor, if the aerosol-generating device is subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging, operating the aerosol-generating device, via the controller, in an aerosol generating mode using the induction coil, when an aerosol-generating article is received in the aerosolgenerating device, or performing, via the controller, a charging mode of the aerosol-generating device using the induction coil for charging the battery, when the aerosol-generating device is subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging.

The invention further relates to a method for controlling usage of an induction coil in an aerosol-generating device as described herein, the method comprising: detecting, via the article sensor, if an aerosol-generating article is received in the aerosol-generating device, detecting, via the field sensor, if the aerosol-generating device is subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging, operating the aerosol-generating device, via the controller, in an aerosol generating mode using the induction coil, when an aerosol-generating article is received in the aerosolgenerating device, or performing, via the controller, a charging mode of the aerosol-generating device using the induction coil for charging the battery, when the aerosol-generating device is subjected to a magnetic field able to provide wireless charging.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a flexible dielectric substrate with electronic components of an aerosolgenerating device;

Figs. 2A and 2B show a further embodiment of the flexible dielectric substrate in an initial state and after wrapping;

Fig. 3 shows the wrapped flexible dielectric substrate in the aerosol-generating device;

Figs. 4A and 4B show a further embodiment of the flexible dielectric substrate in an initial state having a helical induction coil and after wrapping;

Figs. 5A and 5B show a further embodiment of the flexible dielectric substrate in an initial state having two rectangular induction coils and after wrapping; Figs. 6A and 6B show a further embodiment of the flexible dielectric substrate in an initial state having four helical induction coils and after wrapping; and

Figs. 7A and 7B show a further embodiment of the flexible dielectric substrate in an initial state having eight rectangular induction coils and after wrapping;

Figure 1 shows a flexible dielectric substrate 10. Onto the flexible dielectric substrate 10, multiple electronic components are printed or arranged. The electronic components shown in Figure 1 are an induction coil 12, a susceptor 14, a wireless charging circuit 16, a controller 18, a battery 20, a user interface 22 and a sensor 24. These electronic components are exemplary and it may also be possible to omit some of the electronic components from the flexible dielectric substrate 10 such as the battery 20, the user interface 22 and the sensor 24. Some of the electronic components such as one or both of the user interface 22 and the sensor 24 may be omitted altogether. Some of the electronic components such as the battery 20 may be placed at a distance from the flexible dielectric substrate 10.

The flexible dielectric substrate 10 is a polyimide substrate. The induction coil 12 may be a helical coil as shown in more detail in below Figures 4 and 6 or may be a spiral coil as shown in more detail in below Figures 5 and 7.

The susceptor 14 is provided as a sheet. The dimensions of the susceptor 14 are such that the susceptor 14 surface area is as large or slightly larger than the induction coil 12 surface area. After wrapping the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in, for example, Figure 2B, the induction coil 12 overlies the susceptor 14 such that the induction coil 12 can heat the susceptor 14 by induction heating.

The wireless charging circuit 16 is configured to inductively charge the battery 20. When the induction coil 12 is subjected to a magnetic field suitable for charging the battery 20, the controller 18 is configured to electrically connect the wireless charging circuit 16 with the induction coil 12 and with the battery 20 such that the current generated in the wireless charging circuit 16 is used to charge the battery 20.

The induction coil 12 has a double functionality of being part of an induction heating assembly. The induction heating assembly comprises the induction coil 12 and the susceptor 14. The induction coil 12 can thus create an alternating magnetic field for heating the susceptor 14. At the same time, the induction coil 12 is part of an induction charging assembly. When the induction coil 12 is subjected to an external magnetic field suitable for induction charging, the induction coil 12 is used for charging the battery 20. The induction coil 12, the wireless charging circuit 16 and the battery 20 a part of the induction charging assembly.

To determine whether the aerosol-generating device 30 should be operated in an induction heating mode using the induction coil 12 for inductive heating or whether the aerosolgenerating device 30 should be charged in an induction charging mode using the induction coil 12 for inductive charging, the aerosol-generating device 30 may use the user interface 22 or the sensor 24.

The user interface 22 may enable a user to manually select whether the aerosolgenerating device 30 should be operated in the induction heating mode or whether the aerosolgenerating device 30 should be charged in the induction charging mode.

Alternatively or additionally, the sensor 24 may be used to determine one or both of whether an aerosol-generating article 34 comprising aerosol-forming substrate is received in the cavity 32 of the aerosol-generating device 30 or whether the induction coil 12 is subjected to a magnetic field suitable for induction charging. In the first case, the sensor 24 may be configured as an article sensor 24. In the later case, the sensor 24 may be configured as a field sensor 24. The article sensor 24 is configured to detect when an aerosol-generating article 34 is received in the cavity 32. The field sensor 24 is configured to detect whether the induction coil 12 is subjected to a magnetic field suitable for induction charging. One of the two sensor 24 types may be employed or both of the two sensor 24 types may be employed. A further option is to employ one or both of the sensor 24 types as well as a user interface 22.

Figure 2A shows a different option of electronic components arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate 10. In this embodiment, the battery 20 is not arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate 10. Further, the user interface 22 and the sensor 24 are not arranged on the flexible dielectric substrate 10. These electronic components may be arranged somewhere else in the aerosol-generating device 30 or omitted entirely. This Figure further shows to arrange the susceptor 14 at a first area 26 of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 and to arrange the induction coil 12 at a second area 28 of the flexible dielectric substrate 10. After wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in Figure 2B, the first area 26 of the flexible dielectric substrate 10, onto which the susceptor 14 is arranged, is arranged as the innermost layer. The second area 28 of the flexible dielectric substrate 10, onto which the induction coil 12 is arranged, is arranged at the outermost layer overlying the innermost layer. The induction coil 12 is in this way arranged surrounding the susceptor 14.

Figure 2B shows the flexible dielectric substrate 10 after wrapping. The induction coil 12 surrounds the susceptor 14. The flexible dielectric substrate 10 is wrapped two times. The flexible dielectric substrate 10 has a tubular shape after wrapping.

Figure 3 shows the usage of the wrapped flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in Figure 2B in the aerosol-generating device 30. The wrapped flexible dielectric substrate 10 is arranged surrounding a cavity 32 configured to receive an aerosol-generating article 34 comprising aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the wrapped flexible dielectric substrate 10 may form the cavity 32. The cavity 32 is arranged at a proximal end 36 of the aerosolgenerating device 30. The wrapped flexible dielectric substrate 10 is arranged to heat the inner of the cavity 32. The induction coil 12 can generate a varying magnetic field that will lead to heating of the susceptor 14. The cavity 32 is thus a heating chamber.

Figure 3 further shows the embodiment that the battery 20 is arranged distanced from the flexible dielectric substrate 10. An electrical connection 38 is provided between the battery 20 and the flexible dielectric substrate 10 such that the wireless charging circuit 16 can be electrically connected with the battery 20. Further, the electrical connection 38 is utilized to supply energy from a battery 20 to the induction coil 12 in the induction heating mode.

Figure 4 shows an option of the printing pattern of the induction coil 12 on the flexible dielectric substrate 10. The induction coil 12 is printed on the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in Figure 4A such that, after wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in Figure 4B, a helical induction coil 12 is formed surrounding the cavity 32 of the aerosolgenerating device 30.

Figure 5 shows an option of providing two induction coils 12 on the flexible dielectric substrate 10 in Figure 5A. The induction coils 12 are printed as rectangular induction coils 12 such that after wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in Figure 5B, the two induction coils 12 are arranged on opposite sides of the tubular flexible dielectric substrate 10. When this tubular flexible dielectric substrate 10 is arranged surrounding the cavity 32, the two induction coils 12 are arranged on opposite side of the cavity 32. The induction coils 12 are in the embodiment shown in Figure 5 not provided as helical induction coils 12 but as spiral induction coils 12. In another embodiment, the pattern shown in Fig. 5A may be arranged adjacent, preferably abutting, of the cavity in a non-wrapped manner. In other words, the pattern may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a non-folded manner. The pattern may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a planar manner.

Figure 6 shows an embodiment in which four individual helical induction coils 12 are provided. Figure 6A shows the printing pattern of the helical induction coils 12 before wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10. These helical induction coils 12 are, after wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 as shown in figure 6B, axially aligned around the cavity 32 of the aerosol-generating device 30.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which eight individual spiral induction coils 12 are provided. Figure 7A shows the printing pattern of the spiral induction coils 12 before wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10. The spiral induction coils 12 are, after wrapping of the flexible dielectric substrate 10 is shown in Figure 7B, axially aligned around the cavity 32 of the aerosol-generating device 30 and arranged opposite each other so that four individual induction coils 12 are arranged on each side of the cavity 32. In another embodiment, the pattern shown in Fig. 7A may be arranged adjacent, preferably abutting, of the cavity in a non- wrapped manner. In other words, the pattern may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a nonfolded manner. The pattern may be arranged adjacent of the cavity in a planar manner.

Any desired number of induction coils 12 may be utilized. Further, any combination of geometries of induction coils 12 are conceivable such as a combination of helical induction coils 12 and spiral induction coils 12.