# US 12,178,249 B2 · Aerosol generation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,178,249 B2 - Document ID: US12178249B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/250,499 - Filed: 2019-07-31 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-07-31 - Assignees: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Applicants: Nicoventures Trading Limited - Inventors: Kav Ghanouni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12178249B2 ## CPC - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24B 15/14: made of tobacco and a binding agent not derived from tobacco - A24B 15/167: in liquid or vaporisable form, e.g. liquid compositions for electronic cigarettes - A24D 1/002: {with additives, e.g. for flavouring} - A24D 1/20: Cigarettes specially adapted for simulated smoking devices - A24F 40/20: Devices using solid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/465: specially adapted for induction heating - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) - A24B: MANUFACTURE OR PREPARATION OF TOBACCO FOR SMOKING OR CHEWING; TOBACCO; SNUFF - A24D: CIGARS; CIGARETTES; TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS; MOUTHPIECES OF CIGARS OR CIGARETTES; MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO SMOKE FILTERS OR MOUTHPIECES ## Abstract Described herein is a method of generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate using an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising at least three heating zones disposed so as to each heat a different section of the substrate to generate an aerosol without burning. The method comprises sequentially generating aerosol from each different section of substrate, wherein during heating; (i) a section of substrate is heated to an aerosol-generation temperature; (ii) another section of substrate which is heated to an intermediate temperature which is below the aerosol-generation temperature but and approximately equal to or above the minimum operating temperature; (iii) at least one of the remaining sections of substrate are heated to a minimum operating temperature which is at least sufficient to prevent condensation of volatilized components on or in the vicinity of those sections; and wherein once aerosol has been generated from a section, (a) the temperature in that section is reduced from the aerosol-generation temperature to the minimum operating temperature, (b) the section previously heated to the intermediate temperature is heated to the aerosol-generation temperature, and (c) a further section is heated to the intermediate temperature. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate using an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising at least three heating zones disposed so as to each heat a different section of the substrate to generate an aerosol without burning; the method comprising sequentially generating aerosol from each different section of substrate, wherein during heating: a first section of substrate is heated to an aerosol-generation temperature; another section of substrate is heated to an intermediate temperature which is below the aerosol-generation temperature and above the minimum operating temperature; at least one of the remaining sections of substrate are heated to a minimum operating temperature which is at least sufficient to prevent condensation of volatilized components on or in the vicinity of those sections; and wherein once aerosol has been generated from the first section, (a) the temperature in that section is reduced from the aerosol-generation temperature to the minimum operating temperature, (b) the section previously heated to the intermediate temperature is heated to the aerosol-generation temperature, and (c) a further section is heated to the intermediate temperature. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein each section of the different sections of the substrate provides aerosol for one puff. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein each section of the different sections of the substrate provides aerosol for two or more puffs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises an amorphous solid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method according to claim 4, wherein the amorphous solid comprises: 1-60 wt % of a gelling agent; 5-80 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and 0.1-60 wt % of at least one active substance and/or flavorant; wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis. ### Claim 6 An aerosol-generating device for generating aerosol from an aerosol-generating substrate by heating the substrate without burning, wherein the device comprises at least three heating zones, each disposed to heat a different section of the aerosol-generating substrate, wherein the device is configured such that in use: a first section of substrate is heated to an aerosol-generation temperature; another section of substrate is heated to an intermediate temperature which is below the aerosol-generation temperature and above the minimum operating temperature; at least one of the remaining sections of substrate are heated to a minimum operating temperature which is at least sufficient to prevent condensation of volatilized components on or in the vicinity of those sections; and wherein once aerosol has been generated from the first section, (a) the temperature in that section is reduced from the aerosol-generation temperature to the minimum operating temperature, (b) the section previously heated to the intermediate temperature is heated to the aerosol-generation temperature, and (c) a further section is heated to the intermediate temperature. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, comprising 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 heating zones, each disposed to heat a different section of the aerosol-generating substrate in use. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the device comprises one heater corresponding to each heating zone, which is configured to heat but not burn the substrate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) An aerosol-generating device according to claim 6, wherein the device is configured to heat a solid aerosol-generating substrate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) An aerosol-generating assembly comprising an aerosol-generating device according to claim 6 and an aerosol-generating substrate. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An aerosol-generating assembly according to claim 10, wherein each different section of the substrate provides aerosol for one puff. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An aerosol-generating assembly according to claim 10, wherein each different section of the substrate provides aerosol for two or more puffs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An aerosol-generating assembly according to claim 10, wherein the substrate comprises an amorphous solid. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An aerosol-generating assembly according to claim 13, wherein the amorphous solid comprises: 1-60 wt % of a gelling agent; and/or 5-80 wt % of an aerosol generating agent; and/or 0.1-60 wt % of at least one active substance and/or flavorant; wherein these weights are calculated on a dry weight basis. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) An aerosol generating assembly according to claim 10, wherein the assembly is a heat not burn product.