Reduced ceramic heating element
AssigneePhilip Morris Products S.A.
InventorsJulien Plojoux, Olivier Greim
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical heating element is provided, including a main body, the main body including a ceramic material and an electrically conductive path on a surface of the main body. The electrically conductive path includes a reduced form of the ceramic material, and has first and second contact portions for connection to a voltage source, and at least one electrically conductive pathway between the first and second contact portions. To form the electrically conductive path, the heating element main body is placed in a reducing environment at sufficient temperature to form the conductive path on the surface of the main body.
Claims19
An electrical heating element, comprising:
- a main body comprising a ceramic material and an electrically conductive path formed on or in the main body, the electrically conductive path comprising
- a reduced form of the ceramic material, and
- first and second contact portions configured to connect to a voltage source,
- wherein the main body is configured to removably pierce an aerosol-forming substrate, and
- wherein the electrically conductive path forms a pattern on a surface of the main body.
A method of manufacturing an electrical heating element, comprising:
- forming a heating element main body comprising a ceramic material and being configured to removably pierce an aerosol-forming substrate;
- forming an electrically conductive path on the heating element main body by placing the heating element main body in a reducing environment at an elevated temperature, the electrically conductive path comprising a reduced form of the ceramic material and being formed in a pattern on a surface of the heating element main body;
- and
- providing electrical contact portions electrically connected to said conductive path and being configured to connect to a voltage source.
A method of manufacturing an electrical heating element, comprising:
- forming a heating element main body comprising a ceramic material and being configured to removably pierce an aerosol-forming substrate;
- forming an electrically conductive path on the heating element main body by placing the heating element main body in a reducing electrolyte and performing an electro-chemical reduction of the heating element main body, the electrically conductive path comprising a reduced form of the ceramic material and being formed in a pattern on a surface of the heating element main body;
- and
- providing electrical contact portions electrically connected to said conductive path and being configured to connect to a voltage source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.