阅读说明：本技术 包括印刷电路板的加热器组件 (Heater assembly including printed circuit board ) 是由 J·K·沃提斯 J·奥斯布特尔 于 2019-01-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明提供了一种用于气溶胶生成装置(50)的加热器组件(30)。加热器组件(30)包括具有第一端(22)和第二端(24)的细长电加热器(12),以及包括主要部分(34)和从主要部分(34)延伸的连接部(36)的印刷电路板(32)。连接部(36)与细长电加热器(12)的第一端(22)重叠,并且连接部(36)直接焊接到细长电加热器(12)的第一端(22)。连接部(36)的至少一部分是柔性的,并且主要部分(34)是刚性的。(A heater assembly (30) for an aerosol-generating device (50) is provided. The heater assembly (30) includes an elongated electric heater (12) having a first end (22) and a second end (24), and a printed circuit board (32) including a main portion (34) and a connection portion (36) extending from the main portion (34). The connection portion (36) overlaps the first end (22) of the elongated electric heater (12), and the connection portion (36) is directly welded to the first end (22) of the elongated electric heater (12). At least a portion of the connecting portion (36) is flexible and the main portion (34) is rigid.)

1. A heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device, the heater assembly comprising:

an elongate electric heater having a first end and a second end; and

a printed circuit board comprising a main portion and a connection portion extending from the main portion, wherein the connection portion overlaps the first end of the elongated electric heater, wherein the connection portion is directly welded to the first end of the elongated electric heater, wherein at least a portion of the connection portion is flexible, and wherein the main portion is rigid.

2. The heater assembly according to claim 1, wherein the printed circuit board is flat and extends parallel to the elongated electric heater.

3. The heater assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion is integrally formed with the main portion.

4. The heater assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the connection comprises a flexible portion depending from the main portion and a rigid portion depending from the flexible portion, and wherein the first end of the elongate electric heater is welded directly to the rigid portion of the connection.

5. The heater assembly according to claim 4, wherein the rigid portion of the connection portion is integrally formed with the flexible portion of the connection portion.

6. The heater assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate electric heater is blade-shaped, pin-shaped or tapered.

7. The heater assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate electric heater comprises a resistive heating element.

8. The heater assembly according to claim 7, wherein the elongated electric heater comprises the first and second electrical contacts positioned at the first end of the elongated electric heater, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to the resistive heating element, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are soldered directly to the connecting portion of the printed circuit board.

9. The heater assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a bushing, wherein the elongated electric heater extends through the bushing.

10. The heater assembly according to claim 9, wherein the first end of the elongated electric heater extends from a first side of the liner, and wherein the second end of the elongated electric heater extends from a second side of the liner.

11. An aerosol-generating device comprising:

a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article;

the heater assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heater assembly is disposed within the housing such that the second end of the elongate electric heater extends into the cavity; and

a power source disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the printed circuit board of the heater assembly, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to supply power from the power source to the elongate electric heater.

12. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 11, wherein the printed circuit board of the heater assembly is received within the housing by an interference fit.

13. An aerosol-generating system comprising:

an aerosol-generating device according to claim 11 or 12; and

an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device. The invention also relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising the heater assembly.

Background

One type of aerosol-generating system is an electrically operated smoking system. Known hand-held electrically operated smoking systems typically comprise an aerosol-generating device comprising a battery, an electronic controller, and an electric heater for heating a smoking article specifically designed for use with the aerosol-generating device. In some examples, the smoking article comprises a rod of aerosol-forming substrate, such as a tobacco rod, and when the smoking article is inserted into the aerosol-generating device, a heater contained within the aerosol-generating device is inserted into the aerosol-forming substrate.

The electronic controller is typically provided on a printed circuit board which is electrically connected to the heater by electrical wires extending between the printed circuit board and the heater. However, positioning the wires between the printed circuit board and the heater and soldering the components together increases the complexity of the manufacturing process. Furthermore, due to the relatively small dimensions of the handheld aerosol-generating device, the wires typically have a small diameter. Thus, if the wires are subjected to mechanical stress during at least one of manufacture and use of the aerosol-generating device, one or more of the wires may break and prevent power from being supplied to the electric heater.

It is desirable to provide a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device that alleviates or overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of known heater assemblies for aerosol-generating devices.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heater assembly for an aerosol-generating device. The heater assembly includes an elongated electric heater having a first end and a second end, and a printed circuit board including a connection portion. The connection portion overlaps the first end of the elongated electric heater, and the connection portion is directly welded to the first end of the elongated electric heater.

Advantageously, soldering the elongate electric heater directly to the printed circuit board eliminates the need to provide any intermediate electrical connections, such as one or more wires. Thus, the heater assembly according to the invention provides a more robust electrical connection between the electric heater and the printed circuit board than the heater and printed circuit board arrangement in known aerosol-generating systems.

Advantageously, overlapping the connection portion of the printed circuit board with the first end of the elongate electric heater may facilitate a desired orientation of the heater relative to the printed circuit board. For example, overlapping the connection portion of the printed circuit board with the first end of the elongated electric heater may facilitate a parallel orientation of the heater with respect to the connection portion.

Advantageously, overlapping the connection portion of the printed circuit board with the first end of the elongated electric heater may increase the surface area of the soldered electrical connection between the heater and the connection portion. Advantageously, the increased surface area of the soldered electrical connection provides a more robust electrical connection between the electric heater and the printed circuit board. Advantageously, the increased surface area of the soldered electrical connection may reduce the resistance of the electrical connection between the electric heater and the printed circuit board. Advantageously, reducing the resistance of the soldered electrical connection may reduce the electrical power required to operate the electrical heater. Advantageously, reducing the resistance of the soldered electrical connection may reduce undesirable resistive heating of the soldered electrical connection.

Preferably, the connection portion of the printed circuit board may be substantially flat. Preferably, the connection portion extends substantially parallel to the first end of the elongate electric heater. Advantageously, the parallel arrangement between the connection portion and the first end of the elongated electric heater may facilitate welding the connection portion directly to the first end of the elongated electric heater.

The printed circuit board may be substantially flat. Preferably, the printed circuit board extends substantially parallel to the elongate electric heater. Advantageously, the parallel arrangement between the printed circuit board and the elongate electric heater may provide an elongate heater assembly. Advantageously, the elongate heater assembly may facilitate insertion of the heater assembly into a housing of an aerosol-generating device. For example, in embodiments where the aerosol-generating device comprises a tubular housing, the elongate heater assembly may facilitate insertion of the heater assembly into the housing.

Preferably, the printed circuit board comprises a main portion, wherein the connection portion extends from the main portion. Advantageously, the main portion may form part of a printed circuit board on which one or more electrical components may be mounted. The heater assembly may include one or more electrical components mounted on a main portion of the printed circuit board. Suitable electrical components include, but are not limited to, resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, transformers, integrated circuits, and combinations thereof. One or more electrical components may be surface mounted on a main portion of the printed circuit board. One or more electrical components may be soldered to a main portion of the printed circuit board.

Preferably, at least a portion of the connecting portion is flexible. Advantageously, the flexible portion of the connection portion may accommodate relative movement between the elongate electric heater and the main portion of the printed circuit board. Advantageously, accommodating relative movement between the elongate electric heater and the main portion of the printed circuit board provides a more robust electrical connection between the electric heater and the printed circuit board. Advantageously, accommodating relative movement between the elongate electric heater and a major portion of the printed circuit board may facilitate correct positioning of the printed circuit board and the elongate electric heater within the housing of the aerosol-generating device.

Preferably, the connection portion of the printed circuit board is integrally formed with the main portion of the printed circuit board. Advantageously, forming the connection portion integrally with the main portion eliminates the need for an electrical connection, such as a soldered connection, between the connection portion and the main portion. Advantageously, this eliminates the risk of a faulty electrical connection between the connection and the main part.

Preferably, the main portion of the printed circuit board is substantially rigid. Advantageously, the rigid main portion of the printed circuit board may facilitate mounting of one or more electrical components on the main portion of the printed circuit board. Advantageously, the rigid main portion of the printed circuit board may facilitate mounting of the heater assembly within the housing of the aerosol-generating device. For example, the rigid main portion of the printed circuit board may be fixed to the housing of the aerosol-generating device. The rigid main portion of the printed circuit board may be secured to the housing of the aerosol-generating device by an interference fit.

In embodiments where at least a portion of the connection is flexible, the connection may comprise a flexible portion depending from the main portion and a rigid portion depending from the flexible portion, wherein the first end of the elongate electric heater is welded directly to the rigid portion of the connection. Advantageously, the rigid portion of the connection may facilitate welding the first end of the elongated electric heater to the connection.

Preferably, the flexible portion of the connection portion comprises a first end and a second end, wherein the flexible portion extends from the main portion of the printed circuit board at its first end, and wherein the rigid portion of the connection portion extends from the second end of the flexible portion.

Preferably, the rigid portion of the connection is integrally formed with the flexible portion of the connection. Advantageously, forming the rigid portion integrally with the flexible portion eliminates the need for an electrical connection, such as a soldered connection, between the rigid portion and the flexible portion. Advantageously, this eliminates the risk of a faulty electrical connection between the rigid and flexible parts.

The elongate electric heater may be formed by an electrical resistance heating wire. The elongate electric heater may be coil shaped. The elongate electric heater may be configured to heat the fluid delivery structure. The heater assembly may comprise a fluid delivery structure, wherein the elongate electric heater is arranged to heat the fluid delivery structure. The fluid transport structure may comprise a wick. The elongate electric heater may be coil-shaped, wherein the elongate electric heater is coiled around the fluid transport structure.

The elongate electric heater may be blade-shaped. The elongate electric heater may be pin-shaped. The elongate electric heater may be tapered. Preferably, the elongate electric heater is blade-shaped. Advantageously, the blade-shaped elongate electric heater may facilitate soldering of the first end of the elongate electric heater directly to the connection portion of the printed circuit board. For this reason, in embodiments where the connection portion of the printed circuit board is substantially flat, a blade-shaped elongated electric heater may be particularly preferable.

The second end of the elongate electric heater may form a tapered portion of the elongate electric heater. Advantageously, the tapered portion may facilitate insertion of the second end of the elongate electric heater into the aerosol-generating article during a user of the heater assembly in the aerosol-generating device.

The elongate electric heater may be a resistive heater.

The elongate electric heater may comprise a resistive heating element. The elongate electric heater may comprise an electrically insulating substrate, wherein the resistive heating element is disposed on the electrically insulating substrate.

Preferably, the electrically insulating substrate is stable at the operating temperature of the elongate electric heater. Preferably, the electrically insulating substrate is stable at temperatures up to about 400 degrees celsius, more preferably at a temperature of about 500 degrees celsius, more preferably at a temperature of about 600 degrees celsius, more preferably at a temperature of about 700 degrees celsius, more preferably at a temperature of about 800 degrees celsius. The operating temperature of the resistive heating element during use may be at least about 200 degrees celsius. The operating temperature of the resistive heating element during use may be less than about 700 degrees celsius. The operating temperature of the resistive heating element during use may be less than about 600 degrees celsius. The operating temperature of the resistive heating element during use may be less than about 500 degrees celsius. The operating temperature of the resistive heating element during use may be less than about 400 degrees celsius.

The electrically insulating substrate may be a ceramic material, such as zirconia or alumina. Preferably, the electrically insulating substrate has a thermal conductivity of less than or equal to about 2 watts per meter kelvin.

Suitable materials for forming the resistive heating element include, but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically "conducting" ceramics (e.g., molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys, and composites made of ceramic and metallic materials. Such composite materials may include doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbide. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum, and platinum group metals. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, alloys containing nickel, cobalt, chromium, aluminum-titanium-zirconium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tantalum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, and iron, and alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, cobalt, nickel, cobalt, and iron,And iron-manganese-aluminum based alloys.

In some embodiments, the resistive heating element comprises one or more stamped portions of resistive material (e.g., stainless steel). Alternatively, the resistive heating element may comprise heating wires or filaments, such as Ni-Cr (nickel-chromium), platinum, tungsten or alloy wires.

Preferably, the elongate electric heater comprises first and second electrical contacts positioned at a first end of the elongate electric heater, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to the resistive heating element, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts are soldered directly to a connection portion of the printed circuit board. Preferably, the first and second electrical contacts may have at least one of a larger surface area and a smaller electrical resistance than the resistive heating element.

The first and second electrical contacts may be integrally formed with the resistive heating element. The first and second electrical contacts may be formed from the same material as the resistive heating element. The first and second electrical contacts may be formed of a different material than the resistive heating element.

The heater assembly may include a bushing with the elongate electric heater extending through the bushing. Advantageously, providing a heater assembly comprising a liner may facilitate mounting of the heater assembly within a housing of an aerosol-generating device. That is, the liner may be sized and shaped to fit within the housing of the aerosol-generating device. Preferably, a first end of the elongate electric heater extends from a first side of the liner and a second end of the elongate electric heater extends from a second side of the liner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an aerosol-generating device according to any of the embodiments described herein, comprising a housing defining a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article, and a heater assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention. The heater assembly is disposed within the housing such that the second end of the elongated electric heater extends into the cavity. The aerosol-generating device further comprises a power supply disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the printed circuit board of the heater assembly, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to supply power from the power supply to the elongate electric heater.

The heater assembly may be secured to the housing with at least one of an adhesive and an interference fit. The printed circuit board of the heater assembly may be received within the housing by an interference fit. In embodiments where the printed circuit board is secured to the housing, preferably the printed circuit board comprises a rigid main portion, as described herein.

The heater assembly may include a liner, as described herein. The bushing may be fixed to the housing. The liner may be adhered to the housing. The bushing may be received within the housing by an interference fit.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device comprises control circuitry configured to control the supply of power from the power source to the elongate electric heater. Preferably, the control circuit is provided on a printed circuit board. In embodiments where the printed circuit board comprises a main portion, the control circuitry is preferably provided on the main portion.

The power supply may be a DC voltage source. In a preferred embodiment, the power source is a battery. For example, the power source may be a nickel metal hydride battery, a nickel cadmium battery, or a lithium based battery, such as a lithium cobalt, lithium iron phosphate, or lithium polymer battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device, such as a capacitor. The power source may require recharging and may have a capacity that allows storage of sufficient energy for use by the aerosol-generating device in conjunction with one or more aerosol-generating articles.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device comprises at least one air inlet. Preferably, the at least one air inlet is in fluid communication with the upstream end of the cavity. Preferably, the elongate heater element extends into the device cavity from an upstream end of the device cavity.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a sensor to detect an air flow indicative of a consumer sucking a puff. The sensor may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The air flow sensor may be an electromechanical device. The air flow sensor may be any one of the following: mechanical devices, optical devices, opto-mechanical devices, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) type sensors. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a manually operated switch for the consumer to initiate smoking.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may be mounted on a printed circuit board. The temperature sensor may detect the temperature of the elongate electric heater or the temperature of the aerosol-generating article received within the device cavity. The temperature sensor may be a thermistor. The temperature sensor may comprise circuitry configured to measure the resistivity of the elongate electric heater and derive the temperature of the elongate electric heater by comparing the measured resistivity to a calibration curve of resistivity versus temperature.

Advantageously, obtaining the temperature of the elongate electric heater may facilitate controlling the temperature to which the elongate electric heater is heated during use. The aerosol-generating device may be configured to adjust the supply of power to the elongate electric heater in response to a change in the measured resistivity of the elongate electric heater.

Advantageously, deriving the temperature of the elongate electric heater may facilitate puff detection. For example, a measured drop in temperature of the elongate electric heater may correspond to a user drawing or sucking on the aerosol-generating device.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating device comprises an indicator for indicating when to activate the elongate electric heater. The indicator may comprise a light which is activated when the elongate electric heater is activated. The indicator may be mounted on a printed circuit board.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise at least one of an external plug or socket and at least one external electrical contact allowing the aerosol-generating device to be connected to another electrical device. For example, the aerosol-generating device may comprise a USB plug or USB socket to allow the aerosol-generating device to be connected to another USB-enabled device. For example, a USB plug or socket may enable the aerosol-generating device to be connected to a USB charging device to charge a rechargeable power supply within the aerosol-generating device. Additionally or alternatively, the USB plug or socket may support data transfer to or from the aerosol-generating device or to and from the aerosol-generating device. Additionally or alternatively, the aerosol-generating device may be connected to a computer to transmit data to the device, such as a new heating profile for a new aerosol-generating article.

In those embodiments in which the aerosol-generating device comprises a USB plug or socket, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a removable cap that covers the USB plug or socket when not in use. In embodiments where the USB plug or receptacle is a USB plug, the USB plug may additionally or alternatively be selectively retractable within the device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating device according to any of the embodiments described herein according to the second aspect of the invention, and an aerosol-generating article of an aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating article" refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate which, when heated, releases volatile compounds which can form an aerosol.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco rod. The tobacco rod may comprise one or more of the following: a powder, granule, pellet, crumb, strip, tape, or sheet comprising one or more of tobacco leaf, tobacco stem segment, reconstituted tobacco, homogenized tobacco, extruded tobacco, and expanded tobacco. Optionally, the tobacco rod may contain other tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds that are released upon heating of the tobacco rod. Optionally, the rod may also contain capsules, for example, containing other tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds. Such capsules may melt during heating of the tobacco rod. Alternatively or additionally, such capsules may be crushed before, during or after heating the tobacco rod.

Where the rod comprises homogenized tobacco material, the homogenized tobacco material may be formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. The homogenized tobacco material may be in the form of a sheet. The homogenized tobacco material may have an aerosol former content of greater than 5% on a dry weight basis. The homogenized tobacco material may alternatively have an aerosol former content of from 5 to 30 wt% on a dry weight basis. The sheet of homogenized tobacco material may be formed from coalescing particulate tobacco obtained by grinding or otherwise comminuting one or both of a tobacco scraper and a tobacco leaf stem; alternatively or additionally, the sheet of homogenized tobacco material may comprise one or more of tobacco dust, tobacco fines and other particulate tobacco by-products formed during, for example, processing, handling and transporting of tobacco. The sheet of homogenized tobacco material may comprise one or more intrinsic binders (i.e., tobacco endogenous binders), one or more extrinsic binders (i.e., tobacco exogenous binders), or a combination thereof, to aid in agglomerating the particulate tobacco. Alternatively or additionally, the sheet of homogenized tobacco material may contain other additives including, but not limited to, tobacco and non-tobacco fibers, aerosol formers, humectants, plasticizers, flavorants, fillers, aqueous and non-aqueous solvents, and combinations thereof. The sheet of homogenized tobacco material is preferably formed by a casting process of the type generally comprising: casting a slurry comprising particulate tobacco and one or more binders onto a conveyor belt or other support surface; drying the cast slurry to form a sheet of homogenised tobacco material; and removing the sheet of homogenized tobacco material from the support surface.

The aerosol-generating article may have an overall length of between about 30 mm to about 100 mm. The aerosol-generating article may have an outer diameter of between about 5 mm and about 13 mm.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise a mouthpiece positioned downstream of the tobacco rod. The mouthpiece may be located at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article. The mouthpiece may be a cellulose acetate filter rod. Preferably, the mouthpiece has a length of about 7 millimetres, but may have a length of between about 5 millimetres and about 10 millimetres.

The tobacco rod may have a length of about 12 millimeters. The tobacco rod may have a length of about 12 millimeters.

The rod diameter may be between about 5 millimeters and about 12 millimeters.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-generating article has a total length of between about 40 mm and about 50 mm. The aerosol-generating article preferably has a total length of about 45 mm. Preferably, the aerosol-generating article has an outer diameter of about 7.2 millimetres.

Drawings

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

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a heater subassembly;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a heater assembly including the heater subassembly of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the heater assembly of FIG. 2;

figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device comprising the heater assembly of figures 2 and 3; and

figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating system comprising the aerosol-generating device of figure 4.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a heater subassembly 10 including an elongated electric heater 12. The elongated electric heater 12 includes an electrically insulating substrate 14 and a resistive heating element 16 disposed on the substrate 14. First and second electrical contacts 18 and 20 are also disposed on the substrate 14, wherein the first and second electrical contacts 18 and 20 are electrically connected to the resistive heating element 16. The elongate electric heater 12 includes a first end 22 at which the first and second electrical contacts 18, 20 are disposed. The elongate electric heater 12 also includes a second end 24 at which the resistive heating element 16 is disposed. The second end 24 of the elongate electric heater 12 is tapered to facilitate insertion of the elongate electric heater 12 into the aerosol-generating article.

The heater subassembly 10 also includes a bushing 26 through which the elongated electric heater 12 extends.

Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a heater assembly 30 according to an embodiment of the invention. The heater assembly 30 includes the heater subassembly 10 of fig. 1. The heater assembly 30 also includes a printed circuit board 32 including a main portion 34 and a connection portion 36 extending from an end of the main portion 34. The connecting portion 36 is integrally formed with the main portion 34. The heater assembly 30 also includes a plurality of electrical components 38 mounted on a surface of the main portion 34 of the printed circuit board 32.

Fig. 3 shows a side view of the heater assembly 30. The main portion 34 of the printed circuit board 32 is rigid and supports electrical components 38 mounted thereon. The connection portion 36 of the printed circuit board 32 includes a flexible portion 40 and a rigid portion 42. The rigid portion 42 of the connection portion 36 is welded directly to the first and second electrical contacts 18, 20 at the first end 22 of the elongate heater element 12 at a weld joint 44. The flexible portion 40 and the rigid portion 42 are integrally formed with each other. Advantageously, the flexible portion 40 accommodates relative movement between the elongate electric heater 12 and the main portion 34 of the printed circuit board 32, for example during insertion of the heater assembly 30 into the housing of an aerosol-generating device.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device 50 comprising a heater assembly 30. The aerosol-generating device 50 comprises a housing 52 defining a cavity 54 for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The heater assembly 30 is positioned within the housing 52 and is retained within the housing by an interference fit. Specifically, the bushing 26 is received within the housing 52 by an interference fit, and the main portion 34 of the printed circuit board 32 is received within a slot 56 formed within the housing 52 by an interference fit.

The aerosol-generating device 50 further comprises a power source 58 in the form of a rechargeable battery positioned within the housing 52. The power supply 58 is electrically connected to the printed circuit board 32 by an electrical connector 60. During use, the control circuitry, including at least some of the electrical components 38 on the printed circuit board 32, controls the supply of electrical power from the power supply 58 to the resistive heating portion 16 of the elongate electric heater 12.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating system 70 comprising the aerosol-generating device 50 of fig. 4 and an aerosol-generating article 72 removably received within the cavity 54. The aerosol-generating article 72 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 74 in the form of a tobacco rod, a hollow acetate tube 76, a polymer filter 78, a mouthpiece 80 and an outer wrapper 82. When the aerosol-generating article 72 is received within the cavity 54 of the aerosol-generating device 50, the elongate electric heater 12 of the heater assembly 30 is received within the tobacco rod. During use, the elongate electric heater 12 heats the rod to generate an aerosol.