# US 2017/0280771 A1 · Smoking device and method for aerosol-generation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280771 A1 - Document ID: US20170280771A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/473,846 - Filed: 2017-03-30 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30 - Assignees: Altria Client Services LLC - Applicants: Altria Client Services LLC - Inventors: Jerome Christian COURBAT; Oleg MIRONOV - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280771A1 ## CPC - B05B 17/0684: {Wicks or the like} - A24F 40/42: Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors - B05B 17/0607: {generated by electrical means, e.g. piezoelectric transducers} - B05B 17/0661: {Transducer materials} - B05B 17/0669: {Excitation frequencies} - A24F 40/05: Devices without heating means - A24F 40/10: Devices using liquid inhalable precursors - A24F 40/40: Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts - A24F 40/44: Wicks - A24F 40/46: Shape or structure of electric heating means - A24F 40/50: Control or monitoring - B05B: SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES (spray-mixers with nozzles B01F25/72; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces by spraying B05D) - A24F: SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES (inhaling appliances for medical purposes, shaped like cigars, cigarettes or pipes A61M15/06) ## Abstract A smoking device for aerosol-generation may comprise a device housing, a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer), a supply element, and a control system. The device housing may include a storage portion for an aerosol-forming substrate. The SAW-atomizer may include an atomization region, a first transducer, and/or a second transducer. The first transducer is configured to generate first surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer. The supply element is arranged to supply the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer. The control system is configured to operate the SAW-atomizer to atomize the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to generate an aerosol. A cartridge for such a smoking device and a method for generating an aerosol in a smoking system are also provided. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A smoking device for aerosol-generation, comprising: a device housing including a storage portion, the storage portion including a storage housing configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate; a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer) including an atomization region and a first transducer, the first transducer configured to generate first surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer including the atomization region; a supply element configured to supply the aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer; and a control system configured to operate the SAW-atomizer to atomize the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to generate an aerosol. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, wherein the first transducer is an interdigital transducer including electrodes arranged on a piezoelectric substrate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The smoking device according to claim 3, wherein the control system is configured to operate the heater to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a target temperature. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The smoking device according to claim 3, wherein the heater is arranged on a same surface of the SAW-atomizer as the atomization region or on an opposite surface of the SAW-atomizer from the atomization region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the supply element is arranged adjacent the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer and another portion of the supply element is fluidly connected to the storage portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, wherein the supply element is a capillary element and the aerosol-forming substrate is a liquid, the capillary element configured to supply the aerosol-forming substrate to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer via capillary action. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, wherein the SAW-atomizer further includes a second transducer configured to generate an electrical signal that is representative of physical information of the atomization region or to generate second surface acoustic waves. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The smoking device according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion, the SAW-atomizer, and the supply element are included in a cartridge, and the device housing defines a cavity configured to receive the cartridge. ### Claim 10 A method for generating an aerosol in a smoking system, the method comprising: providing a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer) including an atomization region and a first transducer; providing an aerosol-forming substrate to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer; and operating the SAW-atomizer to generate, with the first transducer, surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer into the atomization region and into the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to atomize the aerosol-forming substrate and generate the aerosol. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: heating the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region to a temperature above room temperature. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising: providing the SAW-atomizer with a second transducer; and performing a first action or a second action with the second transducer, the first action including outputting, with the second transducer, an output signal that is representative of a physical process in the atomization region and using the output signal to control an operation of the SAW-atomizer, the second action including generating, with the second transducer, second surface acoustic waves that propagate along the surface of the SAW-atomizer into the atomization region and into the aerosol-forming substrate in the atomization region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An aerosol-generating smoking system comprising: the smoking device according to claim 1; and the aerosol-forming substrate in liquid form, the supply element of the smoking device being in fluidic connection with the aerosol-forming substrate in the storage housing of the storage portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The aerosol-generating system according to claim 13, wherein the aerosol-forming substrate includes at least one aerosol former and a liquid additive. ### Claim 15 A cartridge of a smoking device for aerosol-generation, the cartridge comprising: a storage portion including a housing configured to hold an aerosol-forming substrate; a surface acoustic wave-atomizer (SAW-atomizer) including an atomization region and a first transducer, the first transducer configured to generate surface acoustic waves that propagate along a surface of the SAW-atomizer including the atomization region; and a supply element configured to supply the aerosol-forming substrate from the housing of the storage portion to the atomization region of the SAW-atomizer.