WO2024054001A1

WO2024054001A1 - Aerosol generating system and operating method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2024054001A1
Application number: PCT/KR2023/013266
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim; Young Bum Kwon; Dong Sung Kim; Hun Il Lim; Seok Su Jang
Original assignee: Kt&G Corporation
Priority date: 2022-09-05
Filing date: 2023-09-05
Publication date: 2024-03-14
Also published as: EP4355154A1

Abstract

An aerosol generating system according to one embodiment includes a cigarette having a first color band of which color changes in response to humidity, and an aerosol generating device including a main body including an accommodation passage for accommodating the cigarette, a heater for heating the cigarette, a color sensor arranged on one side of the accommodation passage and detecting a color of the first color band, and a controller for determining a humidity state of the cigarette, based on a detected color of the first color band.

Description

AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating system and an operating method of the operation aerosol generating system. Specifically, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating system that may provide an operating mode corresponding to the type and/or humidity of a cigarette detected by using a color sensor, and an operating method of the aerosol generating system.

Recently, the demand for smoking methods to replace general cigarettes has been increasing. For example, there is an increasing demand for a method in which an aerosol is generated by heating an aerosol generating material in a cigarette without combustion. Accordingly, research on heating-type cigarettes and heating-type aerosol generating devices is actively being conducted.

A cigarette may include an aerosol generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a filter unit. The tobacco filling unit may be made in various ways. For example, the tobacco filling unit may be made of any one of cut tobacco, granules, and liquid. If a uniform heating profile is applied to various types of tobacco filling units, the optimal amount of atomization and flavor may not be provided.

In addition, moisture has a higher specific heat than air and has a higher heat capacity than air at the same temperature. Due to this, there may be a problem in that, when a user inhales an aerosol with a high moisture content, the user feels more heat than when inhaling air of the same temperature.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system that may distinguish the type of a cigarette (that is, the type of a cigarette filling portion) and an operating method thereof.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating system that may distinguish between a normal cigarette and an excessively moist cigarette and an operating method thereof.

Objects to be achieved by embodiments are not limited to the objects described above, and objects not described may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong from the present specification and accompanying drawings.

An aerosol generating system according to an embodiment includes a cigarette having a first color band of which color changes in response to humidity, and an aerosol generating device including a main body including an accommodation passage for accommodating the cigarette, a heater for heating the cigarette, a color sensor arranged on one side of the accommodation passage and configured to detect a color of the first color band, and a controller configured to determine a humidity state of the cigarette based on the detected color of the first color band.

The first color band may include litmus that changes from a first color to a second color when exposed to moisture.

The controller may determine the cigarette as a normal cigarette when the color of the first color band is the first color, and determine the cigarette as an excessively moist cigarette when the color of the first color band is the second color.

The controller may operate the heater with a first temperature profile when the cigarette is determined as the normal cigarette, and operate the heater with a second temperature profile when the cigarette is determined as the excessively moist cigarette.

A preheating period of the second temperature profile may be longer than a preheating period of the first temperature profile.

The cigarette may include an aerosol generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a mouthpiece, the aerosol generating unit, the tobacco filling unit, the cooling unit, and the mouthpiece may be wrapped by a packaging material, and the first color band may be formed on a region of the packaging material corresponding to the tobacco filling unit.

The cigarette may further include a second color band having different colors according to types of the cigarette.

Types of the cigarette may include a first cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with cut tobacco, a second cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with tobacco granules, and a third cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with nicotine liquid.

The second color band of the first cigarette may have a third color, the second color band of the second cigarette may have a fourth color, and the second color band of the third cigarette may have a fifth color.

The controller may operate the heater with a temperature profile corresponding to the colors of the first color band and the second color band.

The second color band may be formed on another region of the packaging material corresponding to the tobacco filling unit and may be arrange between the first color band and a boundary line between the tobacco filling unit and the cooling unit.

The first color band may be formed to overlap the second color band in a thickness direction and have a mesh shape.

The color sensor may detect a mixed color in which the color of the first color band and a color of the second color band are mixed.

An operating method of an aerosol generating system according to an embodiment includes detecting insertion of a cigarette on which a color band is formed into an accommodation passage of a main body, detecting a color of the color band by using a color sensor, and determining a humidity state of the cigarette based on the detected color of the color band.

The color band may include litmus that changes from a first color to a second color when exposed to moisture.

In the determining of the humidity state of the cigarette, the cigarette may be determined as a normal cigarette when the color of the color band is the first color, and the cigarette may be determined as an excessively moist cigarette when the color of the color band is the second color.

An aerosol generating system and an operating method thereof according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may distinguish the type of cigarettes (that is, the type of tobacco filling units) by using a color band marked on a cigarette and a color sensor.

In addition, an aerosol generating system and an operating method thereof according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may distinguish between a normal cigarette and an excessively moist cigarette by using a color band marked on a cigarette and a color sensor.

Effects of the embodiments are not limited to the effects described above, and effects not described will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong from the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 3 are views illustrating examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are views illustrating examples of a cigarette.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views of part of an aerosol generating system.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating a cigarette according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a temperature profile.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating cigarettes according to another embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an aerosol generating system to illustrate a position of a color sensor.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are views illustrating cigarettes according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of an aerosol generating system, according to an embodiment.

Regarding the terms in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, terms which can be arbitrarily selected by the applicant in particular cases. In such a case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms "-er", "-or", and "module" described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings such that those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure may easily implement the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 through 3 are diagrams showing examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating system 100 may include aerosol generating devices and the cigarette.

The aerosol generating device 1 may include a battery 11, a controller 12, and a heater 13. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a vaporizer 14. Also, the cigarette 2 may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 1.

FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate components of the aerosol generating device 1, which are related to the present embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device 1, in addition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3.

Also, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that the aerosol generating device 1 includes the heater 13. However, as necessary, the heater 13 may be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates that the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1, the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14 may be differently arranged.

When the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may operate the heater 13 and/or the vaporizer 14 to generate aerosol from the cigarette 2 and/or the vaporizer 14. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and/or the vaporizer 14 is delivered to a user by passing through the cigarette 2.

As necessary, even when the cigarette 2 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may heat the heater 13.

The battery 11 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device 1 to operate. For example, the battery 11 may supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and may supply power for operating the controller 12. Also, the battery 11 may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device 1.

The controller 12 may generally control operations of the aerosol generating device 1. In detail, the controller 12 may control not only operations of the battery 11, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. Also, the controller 12 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 1 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 1 is able to operate.

The controller 12 may include at least one processor. A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11. For example, when the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the heater 13 may be located outside the cigarette. Thus, the heated heater 13 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the cigarette.

The heater 13 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13 is not limited to the example described above and may include all heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 1 or may be set as a temperature desired by a user.

As another example, the heater 13 may include an induction heater. In detail, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating a cigarette in an induction heating method, and the cigarette may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater 13 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the cigarette 2, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a plurality of heaters 13. Here, the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the cigarette 2 or may be arranged outside the cigarette 2. Also, some of the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the cigarette 2 and the others may be arranged outside the cigarette 2. In addition, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14 may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette 2 to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device 1 and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 passes through the cigarette to be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may include a liquid storage, a liquid delivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 1 as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to be detachable from the vaporizer 14 or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer 14.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of the liquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid delivery element may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 1 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one sensor (a puff detecting sensor, a temperature detecting sensor, a cigarette insertion detecting sensor, etc.).

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may be formed as a structure that, even when the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the aerosol generating device 1 and an additional cradle may form together a system. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generating device 1. Alternatively, the heater 13 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 1 are coupled to each other.

An aerosol generating article according to one embodiment includes at least one of an aerosol generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a filter unit (e.g., a mouthpiece or a mouthpiece unit). For example, the filter unit may be generally an acetate filter, and the cooling unit and the filter unit may include capsules and flavorings.

Materials, orders, and lengths of the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit are not limited to particular examples, and materials and lengths of the cooling unit and the filter unit are also not limited to particular examples.

The aerosol generating device generates an aerosol accompanied by nicotine by heating the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit, and the aerosol is discharged to the outside through the cooling unit and the filter unit.

For example, the aerosol generating device may generate an aerosol by heating at least one of the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit of the aerosol generating article. In one or more embodiments, the aerosol generating device may selectively or collectively heat the inside or outside of the aerosol generating article.

Hereinafter, examples of a cigarette 2 is described with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C.

FIGS. 4A to 4C are views illustrating examples of a cigarette.

Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4C, the cigarette 2 includes an aerosol generating unit 210, a tobacco filling unit 220, a cooling unit 230, and a mouthpiece 240. For example, the mouthpiece 240 may be a filter made of cellulose acetate, and the cooling unit 230 and/or the mouthpiece 240 may include capsules and flavoring agents. Materials, arrangements, and lengths of the aerosol generating unit 210 and the cigarette filling unit 220 are not limited to preset examples. Also, materials and lengths of the cooling unit 230 and the mouthpiece 240 are not limited to preset examples. In addition, depending on methods of heating the cigarette 2, the cigarette 2 may or may not include a heat conductor.

The outside of the cigarette 2 may be wrapped by a packaging material (wrapper). In addition, a heat conductor may be in a partial space or the entire space between the packaging material (wrapper) and the aerosol generating unit 210 and the tobacco filling unit 220.

The aerosol generating unit 210 may not include nicotine. That is, the aerosol generating unit 210 may include an aerosol generating material that does not contain nicotine. For example, the aerosol generating unit 210 may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but is not limited thereto. For example, the aerosol generating unit 210 may include a mixture of glycerin and propylene glycol at a ratio of about 8:2. However, the ratio is not limited to the above-described mixing ratio. In addition, the aerosol generating unit 210 may include other additives, such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. In addition, the aerosol generating unit 210 may include a flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer.

The aerosol generating unit 210 may include a crimped sheet, and an aerosol generating material may be included in the aerosol generating unit 210 in a state of being impregnated in the crimped sheet. In addition, other additives, such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or an organic acid, and flavoring liquid may be included in the aerosol generating unit 210 in a state of being absorbed in the crimped sheet.

The crimped sheet may be a sheet made of a polymer material. For example, the polymer material may include at least one of paper, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the crimped sheet may be a paper sheet that does not generate off-flavor due to heat even when heated to a high temperature. However, the crimped sheet is not limited thereto.

A length of the aerosol generating unit 210 may be appropriately selected in the range of 4 mm to 12 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the aerosol generating unit 210 may be about 10 mm, but is not limited thereto.

The tobacco filling unit 220 may include nicotine. In addition, the cigarette filling unit 220 may include an aerosol generating material, such as glycerin, propylene glycol, or so on. In addition, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include other additive materials, such as a flavoring agents, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. In addition, flavoring liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer, may be added to the tobacco filling unit 220 by being sprayed into the tobacco filling unit 220.

In one example, the aerosol generating material may include a cut tobacco or a reconstituted tobacco material. Specifically, the aerosol generating material may include nicotine, and the nicotine may be acquired by shaping or reconstituting tobacco leaves. In another example, the aerosol generating material may include one of free base nicotine, nicotine salt, and a mixture thereof. Specifically, nicotine may be natural nicotine or synthetic nicotine.

For example, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include a mixture of different types of tobacco leaves. In addition, the mixture may be processed through various processes but is not limited thereto.

Nicotine salt may be made by adding a suitable acid including organic or inorganic acid to nicotine. The acid for making the nicotine salt may be appropriately selected by considering a nicotine absorption rate in blood, heating temperature of a heater, flavor or savor, solubility, and so on. For example, acid for making the nicotine salt may be a single acid selected from a group, or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group consisting of benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid, and malic acid, but is not limited thereto.

The tobacco filling unit 220 may be made in various ways. For example, the tobacco filling unit 220 may be made of a cut tobacco obtained by cutting a tobacco sheet into small pieces. In addition, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include a crimped sheet and may also be made in a granule form in which a plurality of tobacco granules are distributed between crimped sheets. In addition, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include a crimped sheet and may also be made in a form of vapor liquid impregnated in a sheet in which nicotine liquid is crimped.

A length of the tobacco filling unit 220 may be appropriately selected in the range of 6 mm to 18 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the tobacco filling unit 220 may be about 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

The cooling unit 230 may generate a cooling effect of an aerosol. Accordingly, a user may inhale an aerosol cooled to an appropriate temperature.

For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made of cellulose acetate and may have a tube-shaped structure including a hollow therein. For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made by adding a plasticizer (for example, triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow. For example, mono denier of the cooling unit 230 may be 5.0, and the total denier may be 28,000, but is not limited thereto.

For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made of paper and may have a tube-shaped structure including a hollow therein. In addition, at least one hole through which external air may flow may be formed in the cooling unit 230.

The cooling unit 230 may be made by laminated paper composed of several sheets of paper. For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made by laminated paper composed of outer paper, intermediate paper, and inner paper, but is not limited thereto. In addition, an inner surface of the inner paper constituting the laminated paper may be coated with a preset material (for example, polylactic acid).

In addition, when the cooling unit 230 is made of paper, the total thickness of the cooling unit 230 may be in the range of 330 um to 340 um. Preferably, the total thickness of the cooling unit 230 may be about 333um, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, when the cooling unit 230 is made of paper, the total basis weight of the cooling unit 230 may be in the range of 230 g/m2 to 250 g/m2. Preferably, the total basis weight of the cooling unit 230 may be about 240 g/m2, but is not limited thereto.

A diameter of a hollow included in the cooling unit 230 may be appropriately selected in the range of 4 mm to 8 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the diameter of the hollow of the cooling unit 230 may be appropriately selected in the range of 7.0 mm to 7.5 mm, but is not limited thereto. A length of the cooling unit 230 may be appropriately selected in the range of 4 mm to 30 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the cooling unit 230 may be about 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

The cooling unit 230 is not limited to the example described above and is not limited in particular as long as a function of cooling an aerosol is performed.

The mouthpiece 240 may be made by adding a plasticizer (for example, triacetin) to cellulose acetate tow. A length of the mouthpiece 240 may be appropriately selected in the range of 4 mm to 30 mm, but is not limited thereto. Preferably, the length of the mouthpiece 240 may be about 14 mm, but is not limited thereto.

The mouthpiece 240 may be made to generate flavor. In one example, flavoring liquid may be sprayed onto the mouthpiece 240, or a separate fiber coated with flavoring liquid may be inserted into the mouthpiece 240.

In addition, at least one capsule may be included in the mouthpiece 240. In one example, the capsule may include flavoring liquid, and flavor may be generated by the flavoring liquid leaked as the capsule is crushed. In another example, the capsule may include an aerosol generating material, and an aerosol may be generated by a material leaked as the capsule is crushed. The capsule may have a structure in which flavoring liquid or an aerosol generating material is wrapped by a film. The capsule may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 4B, a cooling hole 250 may be included in the tobacco filling unit 220. For example, primary cooling of an aerosol may be achieved by perforating the tobacco filling unit 220, and secondary cooling may be achieved as the primarily cooled aerosol passes through the cooling unit 230. Thus, a cooling effect of an aerosol may be maximized. In addition, depending on materials of the cooling unit 230, the cooling hole 250 may not be provided.

Referring to FIG. 4C, the aerosol generating unit 210 may be disposed downstream of the tobacco filling unit 220. That is, the cigarette 2 of FIG. 4A and the cigarette 2 of FIG. 4C are different from each other in terms of an arrangement order of the aerosol generating unit 210 and the tobacco filling unit 220.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 500 according to another embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 500 may include a controller 510, a sensing unit 520, an output unit 530, a battery 540, a heater 550, a user input unit 560, a memory 570, and a communication unit 580. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 500 is not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 5. That is, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 500, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 5 may be omitted or new components may be added.

The sensing unit 520 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 500 and a state around the aerosol generating device 500, and transmit sensed information to the controller 510. Based on the sensed information, the controller 510 may control the aerosol generating device 500 to perform various functions, such as controlling an operation of the heater 550, limiting smoking, determining whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., a cigarette, a cartridge, or the like) is inserted, displaying a notification, or the like.

The sensing unit 520 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 522, an insertion detection sensor 524, a puff sensor 526, and a color sensor 528, but is not limited thereto.

The temperature sensor 522 may sense a temperature at which the heater 550 (or an aerosol generating material) is heated. The aerosol generating device 500 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 550, or the heater 550 may serve as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 522 may also be arranged around the battery 540 to monitor the temperature of the battery 540.

The insertion detection sensor 524 may sense insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article. For example, the insertion detection sensor 524 may include at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and may sense a signal change according to the insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article.

The puff sensor 526 may sense a user's puff on the basis of various physical changes in an airflow passage or an airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 526 may sense a user's puff on the basis of any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

The color sensor 528 may detect light reflected by the cigarette 2 (in FIG. 4A. The color sensor 528 may acquire color information from detected light.

The color sensor 528 may include a light emitting unit 528a and a light receiving unit 622. The light emitting unit 528a may emit light toward the cigarette 2. For example, the light emitting unit 528a may include a first light collecting unit that collects light emitted from a light source toward an object. Here, the first light collecting unit may be composed of an imaging lens, a diffractive optical element (DOE), and so on.

Light emitted from the light emitting unit 528a may be reflected from the cigarette 2. The reflected light may reach the light receiving unit 622. For example, the light receiving unit 528b may include a photodiode that responds to light. The light receiving unit 528b may output an electrical signal corresponding to light incident on the photodiode.

The light receiving unit 528b may include a second light collecting unit that collects light reflected from an object (hereinafter, referred to as reflected light). For example, the reflected light may be collected by the second light collecting unit and transferred to a photodiode included in the light receiving unit 528b. In this case, the second light collecting unit may include a lens that receives reflected light incident in a preset direction.

The controller 510 may receive a signal related to color information from the color sensor 528. The controller 51 may determine information based on color information acquired by the color sensor 528. The controller 51 may determine information on the cigarette 2 by analyzing a value output according to the color information acquired by the color sensor 528. For example, the information on the cigarette 2 may include the type of the cigarette 2 and/or a humidity state of the cigarette 2.

The sensing unit 520 may include, in addition to the temperature sensor 522, the insertion detection sensor 524, and the puff sensor 526 described above, at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a location sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor (illuminance sensor). Because a function of each of sensors may be intuitively inferred by one of ordinary skill in the art from the name of the sensor, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

The output unit 530 may output information on a state of the aerosol generating device 500 and provide the information to a user. The output unit 530 may include at least one of a display unit 532, a haptic unit 534, and a sound output unit 536, but is not limited thereto. When the display unit 532 and a touch pad form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 532 may also be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display unit 532 may visually provide information about the aerosol generating device 500 to the user. For example, information about the aerosol generating device 500 may mean various pieces of information, such as a charging/discharging state of the battery 540 of the aerosol generating device 500, a preheating state of the heater 550, an insertion/removal state of an aerosol generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generating device 500 is restricted (e.g., sensing of an abnormal object), or the like, and the display unit 532 may output the information to the outside. The display unit 532 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, or the like. In addition, the display unit 532 may be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) light-emitting device.

The haptic unit 534 may tactilely provide information about the aerosol generating device 500 to the user by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. For example, the haptic unit 534 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The sound output unit 536 may audibly provide information about the aerosol generating device 500 to the user. For example, the sound output unit 536 may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output the same to the outside.

The battery 540 may supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 500. The battery 540 may supply power such that the heater 550 may be heated. In addition, the battery 540 may supply power required for operations of other components (e.g., the sensing unit 520, the output unit 530, the user input unit 560, the memory 570, and the communication unit 580) in the aerosol generating device 500. The battery 540 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 540 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The heater 550 may receive power from the battery 540 to heat an aerosol generating material. Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 500 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)/DC converter) that converts power of the battery 540 and supplies the same to the heater 550. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 500 generates aerosols in an induction heating method, the aerosol generating device 500 may further include a DC/alternating current (AC) that converts DC power of the battery 540 into AC power.

The controller 510, the sensing unit 520, the output unit 530, the user input unit 560, the memory 570, and the communication unit 580 may each receive power from the battery 540 to perform a function. Although not illustrated in FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 500 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts power of the battery 540 to supply the power to respective components, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit, or a voltage regulator circuit.

In an embodiment, the heater 550 may be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material. For example, the suitable electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 550 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the heater 550 may be a heater of an induction heating type. For example, the heater 550 may include a suspector that heats an aerosol generating material by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil.

In one embodiment, the heater 550 may include a plurality of heaters. For example, the heater 550 may include a first heater for heating the cigarette and a second heater for heating the liquid.

The user input unit 560 may receive information input from the user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 560 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (a contact capacitive method, a pressure resistance film method, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integral tension measurement method, a piezo effect method, or the like), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 5, the aerosol generating device 500 may further include a connection interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may connect to other external devices through the connection interface, such as the USB interface, to transmit and receive information, or to charge the battery 540.

The memory 570 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating device 500, and may store data processed and data to be processed by the controller 510. The memory 570 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card-type memory (for example, secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 570 may store an operation time of the aerosol generating device 500, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data on a user's smoking pattern, etc.

The communication unit 580 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 580 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 582 and a wireless communication unit 584.

The short-range wireless communication unit 582 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit 584 may include a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)) communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 584 may also identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 500 within a communication network by using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)).

The controller 510 may control general operations of the aerosol generating device 500. In an embodiment, the controller 510 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The controller 510 may control the temperature of the heater 550 by controlling supply of power of the battery 540 to the heater 550. For example, the controller 510 may control power supply by controlling switching of a switching element between the battery 540 and the heater 550. In another example, a direct heating circuit may also control power supply to the heater 550 according to a control command of the controller 510.

The controller 510 may analyze a result sensed by the sensing unit 520 and control subsequent processes to be performed. For example, the controller 510 may control power supplied to the heater 550 to start or end an operation of the heater 550 on the basis of a result sensed by the sensing unit 520. As another example, the controller 510 may control, based on a result sensed by the sensing unit 520, an amount of power supplied to the heater 550 and the time the power is supplied, such that the heater 550 may be heated to a certain temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

The controller 510 may control the output unit 530 on the basis of a result sensed by the sensing unit 520. For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 526 reaches a preset number, the controller 510 may notify the user that the aerosol generating device 500 will soon be terminated through at least one of the display unit 532, the haptic unit 534, and the sound output unit 536.

The controller 510 may determine the type and/or humidity of the cigarette 2 based on the color information detected by the color sensor 528. The controller 510 may operate the heater 550 with a temperature profile corresponding to the determined type and/or humidity of the cigarette 2.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views of a part of an aerosol generating system.

FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating system 600, and FIG. 6B is a top cross-sectional view of the aerosol generating system 600.

Referring to FIGS. 6A to 6B, the aerosol generating system 600 may include

aerosol generating devices

601 and 602 and the cigarette 2. The aerosol generating system 600 may include a main body 601 and a cover 602. In addition, the cigarette 2 and the cover 602 may be detachably coupled to the main body 601.

The cigarette 2 according to an embodiment may include a color band CB in a part of a packaging material (a wrapper). The color band CB may indicate the type of the cigarette 2 and/or humidity state information.

An accommodation passage 603 that may accommodate the cigarette 2 may be formed in the main body 601. The cigarette 2 may be accommodated in the accommodation passage 603 through a hole formed in the cover 602. After the cigarette 2 is accommodated in the accommodation passage 603, the cigarette 2 may be heated by a heater (not illustrated) in the accommodation passage 603 to generate an aerosol.

The main body 601 according to an embodiment may include a color sensor 528 formed on a side surface of the accommodation passage 603. The color sensor 528 may include a light emitting unit 528a and a light receiving unit 528b. The color sensor 528 may be separated from the heater by 6 mm or more so as not to be affected by the heater. The color sensor 528 may be on the same line as the color band CB when the cigarette 2 is accommodated in the accommodation passage 603.

According to one embodiment, when it is detected that the cigarette 2 is inserted into the accommodation passage 603 by the insertion detection sensor 524 (in FIG. 5), the light emitting unit 528a may emit light to the cigarette 2. In addition, the light receiving unit 528b may receive light reflected from the cigarette 2.

In the present disclosure, the color sensor 528 detects the light reflected from the color band CB of the cigarette 2, and thus the type and/or humidity state of the cigarette 2 may be determined. Details on this are described below with reference to FIGS. 7A to 10B.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are views illustrating the cigarette 2 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the cigarette 2 may include the aerosol generating unit 210, the tobacco filling unit 220, the cooling unit 230, and the mouthpiece 240. The cigarette 2 may include the color band CB formed in a part of a packaging material (a wrapper). For example, the cigarette 2 may include the color band CB on the packaging material (the wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220. In this case, the color band CB may indicate a humidity state of the cigarette 2.

The color band CB may include a material of which color changes in response to a change in humidity in the surrounding environment. For example, the color band CB may include litmus. The litmus is pigment extracted from lichens. A litmus indicator displays purple in neutral, blue in alkalinity, and red in acid. Commonly known litmus paper is obtained by coating paper with a solution in which hydrochloric acid or ammonia water is added to a litmus alcohol solution and drying the paper. The litmus paper includes blue litmus paper and red litmus paper. When the blue litmus paper turns red, the litmus paper indicates that a corresponding solution is acidic, and when the red litmus paper turns blue, the litmus paper indicates that a corresponding solution is alkaline.

By forming the color band CB according to the embodiment according to the same principle as blue litmus paper, so that the color band CB displays blue when humidity is normal, and displays red when the humidity is high. This is because moisture in the air is weakly acidic in general. Therefore, when a cigarette is a normal cigarette 2, the color band CB displays blue as illustrated in FIG. 7A, and when a cigarette is an excessively moist cigarette 2', the color band CB' displays red as illustrated in FIG. 7B.

In this way, by arranging the color band CB on a packaging material (a wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220 and detecting a color of the color band CB by using the color sensor 528, a humidity state of the cigarette 2 may be easily detected.

If a uniform heating profile is applied without considering a humidity state of the tobacco filling unit 220, a user may not get the best use satisfaction. Water has a higher specific heat than air and has a higher heat capacity than air at the same temperature. For this reason, when a user inhales an aerosol with a high moisture content, a problem may occur because a user feels more heat than when the user inhales air of the same temperature. Hereinafter, example temperature profiles corresponding to the normal cigarette 2 and the excessively moist cigarette 2' are described with reference to FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is a graph illustrating a temperature profile. In this case, a solid line indicates a first temperature profile for a normal cigarette, and an alternated long and short dash line indicates a second temperature profile for an excessively moist cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 8, a first temperature profile TP1 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for the normal cigarette 2 (in FIG. 7A). The first temperature profile TP1 may be divided into a first period P1 that is a preheating period and a second period P2 that is a smoking period.

The first period P1 may include a period in which temperature rises from a first temperature T1 that is an outdoor temperature to a second temperature T2 at which an aerosol generating material is volatilized, and a period in which temperature falls to a third temperature T3 that is a smoking start temperature. The second period P2 may include a period in which temperature falls from the third temperature T3 to a fourth temperature T4, and a period in which the fourth temperature T4 is maintained. In this case, the second temperature T2, the third temperature T3, and the fourth temperature T4 are higher than temperature at which an aerosol generating material is volatilized, and may change depending on the type of the aerosol generating material.

In addition, the second temperature profile TP2 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for the excessively moist cigarette 2' (in FIG. 7B). The second temperature profile TP2 may be divided into a third period P3 that is a preheating period and a fourth period P4 that is a smoking period.

The third period P3 includes a period in which temperature rises from the first temperature T1 that is an outdoor temperature to the second temperature T2 in which an aerosol generating material is volatilized, a period in which the second temperature T2 is maintained, and a period in which temperature falls to the fourth temperature T4 that is a smoking start temperature. The fourth period P4 may include a period in which the fourth temperature T4 is maintained.

In this case, the time required to reach the second temperature T2 according to the second temperature profile TP2 may be longer than the time required to the second temperature T2 according to the first temperature profile TP1 due to moisture included in the cigarette 2.

In addition, after the second temperature profile TP2 reaches the second temperature T2, at least a part of the moisture included in the excessively moist cigarette 2' may evaporate during the second temperature T2 is maintained constant. Due to this, initial feeling of heat may be reduced. On the other hand, in the case of the normal cigarette 2, a user is unlikely to feel heat by the moisture included in the normal cigarette 2. Accordingly, a period for evaporating the moisture included in the cigarette 2 may be omitted in the first temperature profile TP1. That is, the preheating period P3 of the second temperature profile TP2 is longer than the preheating period P1 of the first temperature profile TP1, and the third temperature T3 that is a smoking start temperature of the normal cigarette 2 (in FIG. 7A) may be higher than the fourth temperature T4 that is a smoking start temperature of the excessively moist cigarette 2' (in FIG. 7B).

However, the first temperature profile TP1 and the second temperature profile TP2 illustrated in FIG. 8 are examples, and temperature profiles for the normal cigarette 2 (in FIG. 7A) and the excessively moist cigarette 2' (in FIG. 7B) are not limited thereto.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are views illustrating a cigarette according to another embodiment.

Cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B are different from the cigarette 2 illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B in that the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c include, in addition to a first color band CB1, second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c. Other configurations of the cigarettes are substantially the same. Hereinafter, redundant descriptions are omitted, and differences therebetween are mainly described.

The cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c may each include an aerosol generating unit 210, a tobacco filling unit 220, a cooling unit 230, and a mouthpiece 240. The cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c may include the first color bands CB1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in partial regions of packaging materials (wrappers). For example, the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c may include, in addition to the first color band CB1, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c, respectively, on a packaging material (wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220.

In this case, the first color band CB1 has substantially the same configuration as the color band CB of FIG. 7A and may indicate humidity states of the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c. The first color band CB1 may be formed by the same principle as blue litmus paper. That is, the first color band CB1 may display blue when humidity is normal, and display red when humidity is high. This is because moisture in the air is weakly acidic in general. Accordingly, when the first cigarette 2_1a, the second cigarette 2_1b, and the third cigarette 2_1c are normal cigarettes, the first color bands CB1 display blue as illustrated in FIG. 9A. When the first cigarette 2_1a, the second cigarette 2_1b, and the third cigarette 2_1c are excessively moist cigarettes, a first color band CB1' may display red as illustrated in FIG. 9B.

In addition, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may indicate types of the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c. In Figs. 9A and 9B, the first cigarette 2_1a may include the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with cut tobacco, the second cigarette 2_1b may include the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with tobacco granules, and the third cigarette 2_1c may include the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with nicotine liquid. In this case, the second color band CB2a of the first cigarette 2_1a may be red, the second color band CB2b of the second cigarette 2_1b may be yellow, and the second color band CB2c of the third cigarette 2_1c may be black. However, colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c and contents of the tobacco filling unit matched to each color are examples and may be modified in various ways.

According to an embodiment, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may be formed on a packaging material (wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220, and may be adjacent to the first color band CB1 in a longitudinal direction. For example, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may be between the first color band CB1 and a boundary line between the tobacco filling unit 220 and the cooling unit 230.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an aerosol generating system which illustrate a position of a color sensor.

Referring to FIGS. 9A, 9B, 10A, and 10B,

color sensors

528a and 528b may be on a side surface of the accommodation passage 603 of the main body 601.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of

color sensors

528a and 528b may be on the side surface of the accommodation passage 603 as illustrated in FIG. 10A. For example, the first color sensor 528a may be on the same line as the first color band CB1 of the first cigarette 2_1a accommodated in the accommodation passage 603, and the second color sensor 528b may be on the same line as the second color band CB2a of the first cigarette 2_1a accommodated in the accommodation passage 603. In this case, the first color sensor 528a may determine a color of the first color band CB1, and the second color sensor 528b may determine a color of the second color band CB2a.

According to another embodiment, only one color sensor 528 may be on a side surface of the accommodation passage 603 as illustrated in FIG. 10B. For example, the color sensor 528 may be on the same line as the second color band CB2a of the first cigarette 2_1a when the cigarette is fully accommodated in the accommodation passage 603. When a user loads a cigarette in the accommodation passage 603, the first color band CB1 and the second color band CB2a sequentially pass the color sensor 528. In this case, the color sensor 528 may determine a color of the first color band CB1 and a color of the second color band CB2a based on the sensed value that varies over time.

In this way, by arranging the first color band CB1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c on a packaging material (wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling units 220, a humidity state of a cigarette may be easily detected by detecting a color of the first color band CB1 by using the

color sensors

528a and 528b, and the type of a cigarette may be easily detected by detecting color of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c by using the

color sensors

528a and 528b.

The controller 510 (in FIG. 5) may operate the heater 550 (in FIG. 5) according to a temperature profile corresponding to colors of the first color band CB1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c. For example, when there are three types of the cigarette 2 (e.g., types of material filled in the tobacco filling unit 220), such as cut tobacco, granules, and liquid, the aerosol generating device 500 (in FIG. 5) may store a total of six temperature profiles including three temperature profiles for normal cigarettes and three temperature profiles for excessively moist cigarettes for each material in the memory 570 (in FIG. 5).

Cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B are different from the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B in that first color band CB1_1 of the cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c overlaps second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in a thickness direction, whereas the first color band CB1 of the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c is apart from the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in a longitudinal direction. Other configurations of the cigarettes are substantially the same. Hereinafter, redundant descriptions are omitted, and differences therebetween are mainly described.

The cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c may each include an aerosol generating unit 210, a tobacco filling unit 220, a cooling unit 230, and a mouthpiece 240. The cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c may include the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in partial regions of packaging materials (wrappers). For example, the cigarette 2 may include the first color band CB1_1 and the second color band CB2a, CB2b, or CB2c on a packaging material (a wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220.

The first color band CB1_1 may include litmus and indicate humidity states of the cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c.

The first color band CB1_1 may be made according to the same principle as blue litmus paper, and thus it may display blue when humidity is normal and display red when the humidity is high. This is because moisture in the air is weakly acidic in general. Therefore, when cigarettes are normal cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c as illustrated in FIG. 11A, the first color band CB1_1 displays blue. In contrast, when the cigarettes are excessively moist cigarettes 2_2a', 2_2b', and 2_2c' as illustrated in FIG. 11B, first color bands CB1_1' may display red.

In addition, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may respectively indicate types of the cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c. The types of the cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c may indicate that the first cigarette 2_2a includes the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with cut tobacco, the second cigarette 2_2b includes the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with tobacco granules, and the third cigarette 2_2c includes the tobacco filling unit 220 filled with nicotine liquid. In this case, for example, the second color band CB2a of the first cigarette 2_2a may be red, the second color band CB2b of the second cigarette 2_2b may be yellow, and the second color band CB2c of the third cigarette 2_2c may be black. However, colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c and contents of the tobacco filling unit matched to each color are examples and may be modified in various ways.

According to one embodiment, the first color band CB1_1 may overlap the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in a thickness direction. In this case, the first color band CB1_1 may have a mesh shape. Accordingly, the first color band CB1_1 may include a plurality of mesh holes of a square shape, and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may be exposed to the outside through the plurality of mesh holes. However, the shape of the first color band CB1_1 is not limited thereto. Also, the first color bands CB1_1 may be translucent, so that the color of the first color bands CB1_1 is mixed with colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c under the first color bands CB1_1 when viewed from outside.

As described above, the first color band CB1_1 of the normal cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c may display blue, and the first color bands CB1_1' of the excessively moist cigarettes 2_2a', 2_2b', and 2_2c' may display red. In this case, when the first cigarette 2_2a having the red second color band CB2a is a normal cigarette, the red second color band CB2a is displayed in purple. On the other hand, when the first cigarette 2_2a' having the red second color band CB2a is an excessively moist cigarette, the red second color band CB2a is displayed in red. When the second cigarette 2_2b having the yellow second color band CB2b is a normal cigarette, the yellow second color band CB2b is displayed in green. On the other hand, when the second cigarette 2_2b' having the yellow second color band CB2b is an excessively moist cigarette, the yellow second color band CB2b is displayed in orange. When the third cigarette 2_2c having the black second color band CB2c is a normal cigarette, the black second color band CB2c is displayed in indigo. On the other hand, when the second cigarette 2_2b' having the yellow second color band CB2b is an excessively moist cigarette, the yellow second color band CB2b is displayed in brown.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the color sensor 528 may be on a side surface of the accommodation passage 603 of the main body 601. For example, the color sensor 528 may be on the same line as the color band CB (that is, the first color bands CB1_1 and the second color band CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c) of the cigarette 2 accommodated in the accommodation passage 603, and the color sensor 528 may determine the mixed colors of the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c.

In this way, by overlapping the first color bands CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c on a packaging material (wrapper) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220 in a thickness direction and by detecting the mixed colors of the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c by using the color sensor 528, the type and humidity of a cigarette may be easily detected. For example, when the mixed colors of the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c are determined to be purple, green, and indigo, the cigarettes thereof may respectively correspond to the normal first cigarette 2_2a, the normal second cigarette 2_2b, and the normal third cigarette 2_2c. In addition, when the mixed colors of the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c are determined to be red, orange, and brown, cigarettes thereof may respectively correspond to the excessively moist first cigarette 2_2a', the excessively moist second cigarette 2_2b', and the excessively moist third cigarette 2_2c'.

The controller 510 (in FIG. 5 ) may operate the heater 550 (in FIG. 5) with a temperature profile corresponding to the mixed colors of the first color band CB1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c. For example, when there are type of the cigarette 2 (that is, there are three types of materials filled in the tobacco filling unit 220, such as cut tobacco, granules, and liquid), the aerosol generating device 500 (in FIG. 5) may store a total of six temperature profiles including three temperature profiles for normal cigarettes and three temperature profiles for excessively moist cigarettes for each material in the memory 570 (in FIG. 5).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an operating method of an aerosol generating system, according to an embodiment. The above description given with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11B may be applied to the embodiment of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIG. 12, an operating method of the aerosol generating system 100 may include a step (S100) of detecting insertion of a cigarette having a color band into an accommodation passage of a main body, a step (S200) of detecting a color of the color band by using a color sensor, and a step (S300) of determining a humidity state of the cigarette based on a detected color of the color band. The operating method of the aerosol generating system 100 may further include a step (S400) operating a heater with a temperature profile corresponding to the determined humidity state of the cigarette.

Specifically, referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, in the step (S100), the cigarette 2 according to an embodiment may include the color band CB in a part of a packaging material (a wrapper). The color band CB may indicate the type and/or humidity state information of the cigarette 2.

The color band CB may include a material of which color changes in response to a change in humidity of a surrounding environment. For example, the color band CB may include litmus. The color band CB according to the embodiment may be formed according to the same principle as blue litmus paper, and thus the color band CB displays blue when humidity is normal, and displays red when the humidity is high. This is because moisture in the air is weakly acidic in general.

The accommodation passage 603 in which the cigarette 2 may be accommodated may be formed in the main body 601. The cigarette 2 may be accommodated in the accommodation passage 603 through a hole formed in the cover 602. After the cigarette 2 is accommodated in the accommodation passage 603, the cigarette 2 may be heated by a heater (not illustrated) in the accommodation passage 603 to generate an aerosol.

The main body 601 according to the embodiment may include the color sensor 528 on a side surface of the accommodation passage 603. The color sensor 528 may include the light emitting unit 528a and the light receiving unit 528b. The color sensor 528 may be separated from the heater by 6 mm or more so as not to be affected by the heater. The color sensor 528 may be on the same line as the color band CB when the cigarette 2 is accommodated in the accommodation passage 603.

In the step (S200), when the insertion detection sensor 524 (in FIG. 5) detects that the cigarette 2 is inserted into the accommodation passage 603, the light emitting unit 528a may emit light to the cigarette 2. In addition, the light receiving unit 528b may receive light reflected from the cigarette 2.

In the step (S300), the controller 510 (in FIG. 5) determines that the cigarette is a normal cigarette when the color of the color band CB is a first color (for example, blue), and determines that the cigarette is an excessively moist cigarette when the color of the color band CB is a second color (for example, red).

In the step (S400), referring to FIG. 8, the first temperature profile TP1 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for the normal cigarette 2 (in FIG. 7A). The first temperature profile TP1 may be divided into the first period P1 that is a preheating period and the second period P2 that is a smoking period. In addition, the second temperature profile TP2 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for the excessively moist cigarette 2' (in FIG. 7B). The second temperature profile TP2 may be divided into the third period P3 that is a preheating period and the fourth period P4 that is a smoking period.

Those of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiments may understand that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the scope of the characteristics described above. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered in a descriptive point of view, not a restrictive point of view. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

An aerosol generating system comprising:

a cigarette having a first color band of which color changes in response to humidity; and

an aerosol generating device including:

a main body including an accommodation passage for accommodating the cigarette;

a heater configured to heat the cigarette;

a color sensor arranged on one side of the accommodation passage and configured to detect a color of the first color band; and

a controller configured to determine a humidity state of the cigarette, based on the detected color of the first color band.
The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein the first color band includes litmus that changes from a first color to a second color when exposed to moisture.
The aerosol generating system of claim 2, wherein the controller determines the cigarette as a normal cigarette when the color of the first color band is the first color, and determines the cigarette as an excessively moist cigarette when the color of the first color band is the second color.
The aerosol generating system of claim 3, wherein the controller operates the heater with a first temperature profile when the cigarette is determined as the normal cigarette, and operates the heater with a second temperature profile when the cigarette is determined as the excessively moist cigarette.
The aerosol generating system of claim 4, wherein a preheating period of the second temperature profile is longer than a preheating period of the first temperature profile.
The aerosol generating system of claim 1, wherein

the cigarette includes an aerosol generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a mouthpiece,

the aerosol generating unit, the tobacco filling unit, the cooling unit, and the mouthpiece are wrapped by a packaging material, and

the first color band is formed on a region of the packaging material corresponding to the tobacco filling unit.
The aerosol generating system of claim 6, wherein the cigarette further includes a second color band having different colors according to types of the cigarette.
The aerosol generating system of claim 7, wherein types of the cigarette include a first cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with cut tobacco, a second cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with tobacco granules, and a third cigarette including the tobacco filling unit filled with nicotine liquid.
The aerosol generating system of claim 8, wherein the second color band of the first cigarette has a third color, the second color band of the second cigarette has a fourth color, and the second color band of the third cigarette has a fifth color.
The aerosol generating system of claim 7, wherein the controller operates the heater with a temperature profile corresponding to the colors of the first color band and the second color band.
The aerosol generating system of claim 7, wherein the second color band is formed on another region of the packaging material corresponding to the tobacco filling unit and is arranged between the first color band and a boundary line between the tobacco filling unit and the cooling unit.
The aerosol generating system of claim 7, wherein the first color band is formed to overlap the second color band in a thickness direction and has a mesh shape.
The aerosol generating system of claim 12, wherein the color sensor detects a mixed color in which the color of the first color band and a color of the second color band are mixed.
An operating method of an aerosol generating system, the operating method comprising:

detecting insertion of a cigarette on which a color band is formed, into an accommodation passage of a main body;

detecting a color of the color band by using a color sensor; and

determining a humidity state of the cigarette, based on the detected color of the color band.
The operating method of claim 14, wherein

the color band includes litmus that changes from a first color to a second color when exposed to moisture, and

in the determining of the humidity state of the cigarette, the cigarette is determined as a normal cigarette when the color of the color band is the first color, and the cigarette is determined as an excessively moist cigarette when the color of the color band is the second color.