CN117813024A

CN117813024A - Aerosol generating device and method of operating the same

Info

Publication number: CN117813024A
Application number: CN202380012857.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金龙焕; 朱城扈; 权宁范; 金东星; 林宪一
Original assignee: KT&G Corp
Current assignee: KT&G Corp
Priority date: 2022-08-01
Filing date: 2023-07-31
Publication date: 2024-04-02

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an aerosol-generating device comprises: a display including a display panel and a touch panel, the touch panel configured to receive a touch input; a battery; and a processor electrically connected to the display and the battery, wherein the processor is configured to: detecting that the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a first state; and changing the power state of the aerosol-generating device to a second state based on whether a touch input is received through the touch panel of the display within a threshold time after the power state is changed to the first state, the second state being different from the first state. Various embodiments may be made.

Description

Aerosol generating device and method of operating the same

Technical Field

One or more embodiments relate to an aerosol-generating device and a method of operating the aerosol-generating device that controls a state of the device based on user input.

Background

Recently, there has been an increase in the need for alternative methods to overcome the disadvantages of conventional cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing need for systems that generate aerosols by heating cigarettes or aerosol-generating substances using aerosol-generating devices, rather than by burning cigarettes.

Recently, technologies have been developed to improve user convenience by controlling the state of an aerosol-generating device based on user input. In particular, there are increasing technologies for improving user convenience by adding a display module for receiving touch input to an aerosol-generating device.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

There is a need for an aerosol generating device capable of outputting a User Interface (UI) screen through a display based on receiving a touch input within a threshold time after the display is turned off.

The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the foregoing description, and the technical problems not stated may be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art from the embodiments and drawings described hereinafter.

Solution to the problem

According to one or more embodiments, an aerosol-generating device comprises: a display including a display panel and a touch panel configured to receive touch input; a battery; and a processor electrically connected to the display and the battery, wherein the processor is configured to: detecting that the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a first state; and changing the power state of the aerosol-generating device to a second state based on whether a touch input is received through the touch panel of the display within a threshold time after the power state is changed to the first state, the second state being different from the first state.

According to one or more embodiments, a method of operating an aerosol-generating device comprises: detecting that the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a first state; and changing the power state of the aerosol-generating device to a second state based on whether a touch input is received through the touch panel of the display within a threshold time after the power state is changed to the first state, the second state being different from the first state.

Advantageous effects of the invention

According to one or more embodiments, when a touch input from a user is inputted within a threshold time, a screen outputted immediately before the display is turned off due to no input from the user is identically reproduced. Thus, the user can easily return to the previous use state.

Effects of the embodiments are not limited to the above-described effects, and effects not described herein may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the present specification and drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the power state of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 shows an example of a method of controlling an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the power state and display of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows an example of a display state of the aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows an example of a display state of the aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an aerosol-generating device according to another embodiment.

Detailed Description

With respect to terms in the various embodiments, general terms currently in wide use are selected in consideration of the functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, the meaning of these terms may vary depending on the intent, judicial cases, the advent of new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain instances, the applicant may choose terms arbitrarily in a particular instance. In this case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail at corresponding portions in the description of the present disclosure. Thus, terms used in various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on meanings of the terms and descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the term "comprising" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to mean inclusion of the stated element but not the exclusion of any other element. In addition, the terms "-member", "-member" and "module" described in the application document refer to a unit for processing at least one function and operation, and may be implemented by hardware components or software components, and combinations thereof.

As used herein, when an expression such as "at least any one of" is located after an element of an arrangement, that expression modifies all of the elements rather than every element of the arrangement. For example, the expressions "at least any one of a, b and c" and "at least any one of a, b or c" should be interpreted as: including a, including b, including c, or including a and b, including a and c, including b and c, or including a, b and c.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol by electrically heating a cigarette housed in an interior space of the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heater. In an embodiment, the heater may be a resistive heater. For example, the heater may include a conductive trace, and the heater may be heated when current flows through the conductive trace.

The heater may include a tubular heating element, a plate-like heating element, a needle-like heating element, or a rod-like heating element, and may heat the inside or outside of the cigarette according to the shape of the heating element.

Cigarettes may include tobacco rods and filter rods. The tobacco rod may be formed from pieces, filaments and micro-fragments cut from tobacco sheets. Furthermore, the tobacco rod may be surrounded by a thermally conductive material. For example, the thermally conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil, such as aluminum foil.

The filter rod may comprise a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may comprise at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may comprise: a first section configured to cool the aerosol; and a second section configured to filter specific components in the aerosol.

In another embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may be a device for generating an aerosol by using a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substance.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise: a cartridge containing an aerosol-generating substance; and a body supporting the cartridge. The cartridge may be detachably coupled to the body, but is not limited thereto. The cartridge may be integrally formed with the body or assembled with the body, and the cartridge may also be secured to the body without being detached from the body by the user. The cartridge may be mounted on the body at the same time as the aerosol-generating substance is contained. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Aerosol-generating substances may also be injected into the cartridge when the cartridge is coupled to the body.

The cartridge may contain the aerosol-generating substance in any of a variety of states such as liquid, solid, gaseous, gel. The aerosol-generating substance may comprise a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be: a tobacco material-containing liquid comprising volatile tobacco flavor components; or a liquid comprising a non-tobacco material.

The cartridge may be operated by an electrical or wireless signal transmitted from the body to perform the function of generating an aerosol by converting the phase of the aerosol-generating substance within the cartridge into a gas phase. An aerosol may refer to a gas in which vaporized particles generated from an aerosol-generating substance are mixed with air.

In another embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may generate an aerosol by heating the liquid composition, and the generated aerosol may be delivered to a user by a cigarette. That is, the aerosol generated from the liquid composition may move along the airflow path of the aerosol-generating device, and the airflow path may be configured to allow the aerosol to be delivered to a user by passing through the cigarette.

In another embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may be a device that generates an aerosol from an aerosol-generating substance by using an ultrasonic vibration method. At this time, the ultrasonic vibration method may refer to a method of generating an aerosol by converting an aerosol-generating substance into an aerosol using ultrasonic vibration generated by a vibrator.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a vibrator and the short-period vibration is generated by the vibrator to convert the aerosol-generating substance into an aerosol. The vibration generated by the vibrator may be ultrasonic vibration, and the frequency band of the ultrasonic vibration may be in a frequency band of about 100kHz to about 3.5MHz, but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a core for absorbing the aerosol-generating substance. For example, the core may be arranged to surround at least one region of the vibrator, or may be arranged to be in contact with at least one region of the vibrator.

When a voltage (e.g., an alternating voltage) is applied to the vibrator, heat and/or ultrasonic vibration may be generated by the vibrator, and the heat and/or ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator may be transferred to the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the core. The aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the core may be converted into a gas phase by heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations transferred from the vibrator, and thus an aerosol may be generated.

For example, the viscosity of the aerosol-generating substance absorbed in the core may be reduced by heat generated by the vibrator, and when the aerosol-generating substance having the reduced viscosity is granulated by ultrasonic vibration generated by the vibrator, aerosol may be generated, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the aerosol-generating device is a device for generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating article housed in the aerosol-generating device by an induction heating method.

The aerosol-generating device may comprise a base and a coil. In an embodiment, the coil may apply a magnetic field to the base. When power is supplied to the coil from the aerosol-generating device, a magnetic field may be formed within the coil. In an embodiment, the susceptor may be a magnetic body that generates heat by an external magnetic field. When the base is positioned within the coil and a magnetic field is applied to the base, the base generates heat to heat the aerosol-generating article. Additionally, optionally, the base may be positioned within the aerosol-generating article.

In another embodiment, the aerosol-generating device may further comprise a carrier.

The aerosol-generating device may form a system with a separate carrier. For example, the cradle may charge a battery of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the heater may be heated when the carrier and the aerosol-generating device are coupled to each other.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown so that those having ordinary skill in the art may readily implement the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be embodied in a form capable of being embodied in the aerosol-generating device of the various embodiments described above, or the present disclosure may be embodied in a variety of different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to fig. 1, an aerosol-generating device 10 according to an embodiment may comprise a housing 100 into which an aerosol-generating article 15 may be inserted.

In an embodiment, the housing 120 may form an integral exterior of the aerosol-generating device 10 and the housing 100 may comprise an interior space (or "arrangement space") in which components of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be arranged. The drawings only show that the cross-sectional shape of the housing 100 is semicircular, but the shape of the housing 100 is not limited thereto. Depending on the embodiment (not shown), the shape of the housing 100 may be generally cylindrical or polygonal (e.g., triangular prism or quadrangular prism).

In an embodiment, a component for generating an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating article 15 inserted into the housing 100 and a component for outputting a screen regarding the state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be arranged in the inner space of the housing 100, and a detailed description of these components is provided below.

According to an embodiment, the housing 100 may comprise an opening 100h through which the aerosol-generating article 15 may be inserted into the housing 100. At least a portion of the aerosol-generating article 15 may be inserted into the housing 100 or housed in the housing 100 through the opening 100 h.

When the aerosol-generating article 15 inserted into the housing 100 or housed in the housing 100 is heated within the housing 100, an aerosol may be generated. The generated aerosol may be discharged to the outside of the aerosol-generating device 10 through the inserted aerosol-generating article 15 and/or the space between the aerosol-generating article 15 and the opening 100h, and the user may inhale the discharged aerosol.

The aerosol-generating device 10 according to an embodiment may further comprise a display 110, visual information being displayed on the display 110.

In an embodiment, the display 110 may be arranged such that at least some areas of the display 110 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 100. For example, at least some areas of the display 110 may be exposed through a cover glass mounted on the housing 100.

In an embodiment, the display 110 may include a display panel and a touch panel for receiving touch input. For example, the display 110 may display a User Interface (UI) screen, which is changed according to a touch input received through the touch panel, through the display panel. In this case, the display 110 may have a stacked structure of a display panel and a touch panel.

The aerosol-generating device 10 may provide various visual information to a user via the display 110. For example, the aerosol-generating device 10 may display information related to preheating and heating of the aerosol-generating article 15, remaining battery level information, time and date information, usage pattern information, weather information, bluetooth connection information, etc. via the display 110. The information displayed by the display 110 is an example and is not limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 2, the aerosol-generating device 10 may comprise a display 110, a processor 120, and a battery 130. The components of the aerosol-generating device 10 are not limited thereto, and according to one or more embodiments, other components may be added to the aerosol-generating device 10, or at least one component may be omitted.

In an embodiment, the display 110 may include a touch panel and a display panel. For example, the display panel may include: a scanning line; a data line; an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) emitting light based on signals supplied through the scan lines and the data lines; light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The touch panel may detect a change in an electrical characteristic (e.g., capacitance, radio wave, etc.) according to a touch input from a user and transmit position information including the detected change to the processor 120.

In an embodiment, at least one of the displays 110 may operate or may be blocked depending on the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10.

In an embodiment, when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is the first state, the processor 120 may prevent the supply of power from the battery 130 to the display panel comprised in the display 110, and thus the operation of the display panel may be prevented.

In this case, the term "first state" may indicate that the aerosol-generating device 10 is in a low power state (i.e. a power saving state). For example, when no input is received within a certain period of time while the aerosol-generating device 10 is waiting for user input, the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be changed to a "first state", i.e. a low power state. The certain period of time may be set by a user and may range from 1 minute to 30 minutes, for example, but one or more embodiments are not limited thereto.

As another example, the processor 120 may supply power from the battery 130 to the display panel included in the display 110, and thus, the display panel may operate.

In this case, the term "second state" may indicate that the aerosol-generating device 10 is in a standby state. For example, when a user input is received while the aerosol-generating device 10 is in the low power state, the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be changed to a "second state", i.e. a standby state.

In an embodiment, the display 110 may display a UI screen comprising visual information related to the status of the aerosol-generating device 10.

In an embodiment, the processor 120 may output a UI screen through the display 110, thereby guiding the user to set the usage mode of the aerosol-generating device 10. In this case, the term "usage pattern" may refer to a heating profile corresponding to the type of aerosol-generating article inserted into the aerosol-generating device 10.

For example, the "first usage pattern" may be a heating profile for a case where the aerosol-generating article inserted into the aerosol-generating device 10 comprises tobacco material of the cut filler type, the "second usage pattern" may be a heating profile for a case where the inserted aerosol-generating article comprises tobacco material of the particle type, and the "third usage pattern" may be a heating profile for a case where the inserted aerosol-generating article comprises tobacco material of the liquid type. However, the type of usage pattern is not limited thereto.

The aerosol-generating device 10 may heat an aerosol-generating article (not shown) based on the set usage pattern. For example, when the usage mode of the aerosol-generating device 10 is set to the "first usage mode", the processor 120 may supply power to the heater based on a heating profile preset for an aerosol-generating article comprising tobacco material of the cut filler type. As another example, when the usage mode of the aerosol-generating device 10 is set to the "second usage mode", the processor 120 may supply power to the heater based on a heating profile preset for an aerosol-generating article comprising a particulate type of tobacco material. As another example, when the usage mode of the aerosol-generating device 10 is set to the "third usage mode", the processor 120 may supply power to the heater based on a heating profile preset for an aerosol-generating article comprising a liquid type of tobacco material.

As another example, the display 110 may display an initial UI screen of the aerosol-generating device 10.

For example, when a display panel included in the display 110 is operated based on input through physical buttons of the aerosol-generating device 10, the processor 120 may output an initial UI screen through the display 110. In this case, the "initial UI screen" may be referred to as a "home screen" and includes an object (or icon) related to at least one kind of information (e.g., time information, information related to a currently set usage mode, remaining battery amount information, weather information, bluetooth connection information, etc.).

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the power state of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment. In the description of fig. 3, descriptions corresponding to, identical to, or similar to those provided above may be omitted.

Referring to fig. 3, in operation 301, a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of fig. 2) of an aerosol-generating device (e.g., the aerosol-generating device 10 of fig. 1) may detect that a power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to a first state.

In an embodiment, the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be switched to the first state under certain conditions. In this case, the "first state" may indicate that the aerosol-generating device 10 is in a low power state. In more detail, the "first state" may refer to a state in which power supply to a display panel of a display (e.g., display 110 of fig. 2) is blocked.

The above-mentioned "certain condition" may be met when no input is made to the interface of the aerosol-generating device 10 (e.g. touch panel of the display, physical buttons, charging terminals, etc.) for a certain period of time. For example, when no input such as a touch input from a user, an input through a physical button, and an insertion of a charging terminal is received within a certain period of time after the aerosol-generating device 10 is powered on, the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be switched to the first state, i.e. the low power state.

In an embodiment, the processor 120 may detect whether the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 meets the certain condition and is changed to the first state by a separate component (e.g. a timer).

For example, in the case where a "certain condition" is satisfied when no input is made to the interface (e.g., touch panel, physical button, charging terminal, etc.) of the aerosol-generating device 10 for a certain period of time (e.g., 15 minutes), the processor 120 may detect whether an input to the interface is received within 15 minutes from the point in time when the power of the aerosol-generating device 10 is turned on by a timer. In this case, the certain period of time may be set by the user, and may be in the range of, for example, 1 minute to 30 minutes, but one or more embodiments are not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, in operation 303, the processor 120 may detect whether a touch input through the touch panel of the display 110 is received within a threshold time.

For example, in the case where the threshold time is set to 5 seconds, the processor 120 may detect whether or not a touch input through the touch panel of the display 110 is received within 5 seconds from a point of time when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to the first state (i.e., a point of time when the operation of the display panel is blocked) through the timer.

According to an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel of the display 110 is received within a threshold time, the processor 120 may switch the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to a second state, which is different from the first state, in operation 305. In this case, the "second state" may refer to a state in which power is supplied to the display panel of the display 110.

In an embodiment, the processor 120 may switch the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to the second state and also output the UI screen through the display panel of the display 110. For example, upon switching the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to the second state, the processor 120 may output a UI screen that was output immediately before the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 was changed to the first state in operation 301. A detailed description about a UI screen output through the display panel will be described below with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may maintain the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 in the first state when no touch input through the touch panel of the display 110 is received within a threshold time.

Referring to fig. 4, an aerosol-generating device (e.g., the aerosol-generating device 10 of fig. 1) may include a display 110, a processor 120, and a battery 130, and the display 110 may include a display panel 410 and a touch panel 400 for receiving touch input from a user.

In an embodiment, the battery 130 may be directly connected to the touch panel 400, and the battery 130 may be connected to the display panel 410 through the switching device 420.

In an embodiment, when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is changed to the first state, the processor 120 may prevent the power supply to the display panel 410 while maintaining the power supply to the touch panel 400 through the battery 130. In this case, the disconnection of the power supply to the display panel 410 may indicate: the switching device 420 between the display panel 410 and the battery 130 is changed from the on (close) state to the off (open) state.

In an embodiment, the processor 120 may detect whether a touch input through the touch panel 400 is received within a threshold time. For example, in the case where the threshold time is set to 5 seconds, the processor 120 may detect whether or not a touch input through the touch panel 400 is received within 5 seconds from a time point when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to the first state, through the timer.

In an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 is received within a threshold time, the processor 120 may start power supply to the display panel 410 while maintaining power supply to the touch panel 400. In this case, the start of the power supply to the display panel 410 may indicate: the switching device 420 disposed between the display panel 410 and the battery 130 is switched from the off state to the on state.

In another embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 is not received for a threshold time, the processor 120 may prevent power supply to the touch panel 400 while maintaining power cut off to the display panel 410. In this case, the disconnection of the power supply to the touch panel 400 may indicate: the supply of power from the battery 130 to the display 110 is prevented.

Fig. 5 is a flow chart of a method of controlling the power state and display of an aerosol-generating device according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a detailed flowchart of the operations following operation 301 of fig. 3.

Referring to fig. 5, in operation 503, a processor (e.g., the processor 120 of fig. 2) of an aerosol-generating device (e.g., the aerosol-generating device 10 of fig. 1) may detect whether a touch input through a touch panel of a display (e.g., the display 110 of fig. 2) is received within a threshold time.

For example, in the case where the threshold time is set to 5 seconds, the processor 120 may detect whether a touch input through the touch panel (e.g., the touch panel 400 of fig. 4) of the display 110 is received within 5 seconds from a point of time when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to the first state (i.e., a point of time when the operation of the display panel is blocked) through the timer.

According to an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is received within a threshold time, the processor 120 may change the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to the second state and output the first UI screen through a display panel (e.g., the display panel 410 of fig. 4) in operation 505. In this case, the "first UI screen" may refer to a UI screen that is output through the display panel 410 immediately before the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is changed to the first state.

For example, assume that when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 changes to the first state, the processor 120 is outputting a "set" screen through the display panel 410. Then, when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to the first state, the operation of the display panel 410 may be prevented. In this case, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 is received within a threshold time, the processor 120 may output a "set" screen as the first UI screen through the display panel 410 because the "set" screen is being output just before the operation of the display panel 410 is stopped.

According to an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is not received for a threshold time, the processor 120 may detect whether an input through a physical button is received in operation 507. For example, the physical button may be formed to protrude from a housing (e.g., housing 100 of fig. 1) of the aerosol-generating device 10.

According to an embodiment, when an input through a physical button is received, the processor 120 may change the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 to the second state and output the second UI screen through the display panel 410 in operation 509. In this case, the "second UI screen" may indicate an initial UI screen of the aerosol-generating device 10 including an object related to at least one of time information, usage pattern, remaining battery amount information, and weather information.

For example, assume that when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 changes to the first state, the processor 120 is outputting a "set" screen through the display panel 410. Then, when the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is switched to the first state, the operation of the display panel 410 may be prevented. In this case, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 is not received for a threshold time and then an input through a physical button is received, the processor 120 may output a "home screen" (i.e., an initial screen) including an object related to at least one of time information, a usage pattern, remaining battery amount information, and weather information as the second UI screen.

According to an embodiment, the processor 120 may maintain the first state of the aerosol-generating device 10 when no input through the physical button is received.

Referring to fig. 6, the display 110 may output the first UI screen 600 through a display panel (e.g., the display panel 410 of fig. 4) as shown in state (a). In this case, the display panel 410 and the touch panel (e.g., the touch panel 400 of fig. 4) of the display 110 may receive power from a battery (e.g., the battery 130 of fig. 2).

In an embodiment, the first UI screen 600 may be a "usage mode setting" screen including objects corresponding to respective usage modes. Objects respectively corresponding to the usage patterns may allow a user to make touch inputs to select the usage patterns. In this case, the "usage pattern" may refer to a heating profile corresponding to the type of aerosol-generating article inserted into an aerosol-generating device (e.g., the aerosol-generating device 10 of fig. 1).

However, the "usage mode setting" screen is merely an example of the first UI screen 600, and the first UI screen 600 may be any one of various execution screens of the aerosol-generating device 10.

In fig. 6, the phrase "first article" and the icon next to the phrase may indicate a mode of use in which the aerosol-generating article comprising tobacco material of the cut filler type is heated, and may direct touch input from a user.

The phrase "second article" and icons alongside the phrase may indicate a mode of use in which the aerosol-generating article comprising the particulate type of tobacco material is heated, and may direct touch input from a user.

The phrase "third article" and icons alongside the phrase may indicate a mode of use in which the aerosol-generating article comprising liquid type tobacco material is heated, and may direct touch input from a user.

In an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is not received for a certain period of time from a point of time when the output of the first UI screen 600 is started, the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 may be changed to the first state. In this case, the screen output through the display panel 410 may be stopped as shown in state (b). Further, the supply of power to the display panel 410 of the display 110 may be prevented while maintaining the supply of power to the touch panel 400 during the threshold time.

In an embodiment, the display 110 may receive touch input 610 through the touch panel 400 during a threshold time (i.e., while maintaining the power supply to the touch panel 400). In this case, the touch input 610 may include at least one touch input. For example, the touch input 610 may be a single touch input or a double touch input, but the type of the touch input 610 is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, when a touch input 610 through the touch panel 400 is received during a threshold time, the display 110 may output the first UI screen 600 through the display panel 410, as shown in state (c). That is, in case that the touch input 610 through the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is received within the threshold time, the display 110 may equally output the UI screen that is output immediately before the operation of the display panel 410 is blocked. Thus, the user can easily return to the previous use state.

Referring to fig. 7, the display 110 may output the first UI screen 700 through a display panel (e.g., the display panel 410 of fig. 4) as shown in state (a). In this case, the display panel 410 and the touch panel (e.g., the touch panel 400 of fig. 4) of the display 110 may receive power from a battery (e.g., the battery 130 of fig. 2).

In an embodiment, the first UI screen 700 may be a "usage mode setting" screen including objects corresponding to respective usage modes, and the objects corresponding to the usage modes, respectively, may be objects for guiding touch input from a user. In this case, the "usage pattern" may refer to a heating profile corresponding to the type of aerosol-generating article inserted into an aerosol-generating device (e.g., the aerosol-generating device 10 of fig. 1). Since the first UI screen 700 of fig. 7 may correspond to the first UI screen 600 of fig. 6, a detailed description about the first UI screen 700 may be omitted.

In an embodiment, in the case where a touch input through the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is not received within a certain period of time from the point of time when the output of the first UI screen 700 is started, since the power state of the aerosol-generating device 10 is changed to the first state, the display 110 may stop outputting the screen through the display panel 410, as shown in state (b). In this case, the supply of power to the display panel 410 of the display 110 may be blocked, and the supply of power to the touch panel 400 may be maintained for a threshold time.

In an embodiment, when a touch input through the touch panel 400 is not received for a threshold time when power supply to the touch panel 400 of the display 110 is maintained, power supply to the touch panel 400 may be prevented.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-generating device 10 may receive an input 710 via a physical button 705, as shown in state (c). In this case, the input 710 through the physical button 705 may include at least one of a touch input and a mechanical input. For example, the input 710 via the physical button 705 may be a mechanical input (push) to a push button. As another example, the input 710 through the physical button 705 may be: a touch input to a touch sensor embedded in the push button; and mechanical input to push buttons.

In an embodiment, when an input 710 through the physical button 705 is received, the display 110 may output the second UI screen 720 through the display panel 410, as shown in state (d). In this case, the power supply to the display panel 410 and the touch panel 400 of the display 110 may be started.

In an embodiment, the second UI screen 720 may be an "initial UI screen" of the aerosol-generating device 10, and may include an object corresponding to at least one kind of information (e.g., time information, information about a currently set usage mode, remaining battery amount information, weather information, bluetooth connection information, etc.). However, the type of information included in the second UI screen 720 is merely an example, and the second UI screen 720 may include an object corresponding to at least one of various information of the aerosol-generating device 10.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram of an aerosol-generating device 800 according to another embodiment.

The aerosol-generating device 800 may comprise a controller 810, a sensing unit 820, an output unit 830, a battery 840, a heater 850, a user input unit 860, a memory 870, and a communication unit 880. However, the internal structure of the aerosol-generating device 800 is not limited to that shown in fig. 8. That is, depending on the design of the aerosol-generating device 800, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that some of the components shown in fig. 8 may be omitted or new components may be added.

The sensing unit 820 may sense a state of the aerosol-generating device 800 and a state around the aerosol-generating device 800 and transmit the sensed information to the controller 810. Based on the sensed information, the controller 810 may control the aerosol-generating device 800 to perform various functions, such as controlling operation of the heater 850, restricting smoking, determining whether an aerosol-generating article (e.g., cigarette, cartridge, etc.) is inserted, displaying a notification, etc.

The sensing unit 820 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 822, an insertion detection sensor 824, and a suction sensor 826, but is not limited thereto.

The temperature sensor 822 may sense the temperature at which the heater 850 (or aerosol-generating substance) is heated. The aerosol-generating device 800 may comprise a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 850, or the heater 850 may be used as the temperature sensor. Alternatively, a temperature sensor 822 may also be disposed around the battery 840 to monitor the temperature of the battery 840.

The insertion detection sensor 824 may sense insertion and/or removal of the aerosol-generating article. For example, the insertion detection sensor 824 may include at least one of a membrane sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and the insertion detection sensor 824 may sense a signal change according to insertion and/or removal of the aerosol-generating article.

The puff sensor 826 may sense a user's puff based on various physical changes in the airflow channel or path. For example, the puff sensor 826 may sense a user's puff based on any of temperature changes, flow changes, voltage changes, and pressure changes.

The sensing unit 820 may include at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a position sensor (e.g., global Positioning System (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red, green, and blue (RGB) sensor (illuminance sensor), in addition to the above-described temperature sensor 822, insertion detection sensor 824, and suction sensor 826. Since the function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred from the names of the sensors by those of ordinary skill in the art, detailed descriptions of the sensors may be omitted.

The output unit 830 may output information about the state of the aerosol-generating device 800 and provide the information to a user. The output unit 830 may include at least one of a display unit 832, a haptic unit 834, and a sound output unit 836, but is not limited thereto. When the display unit 832 and the touch panel are layered to form a touch screen, the display unit 832 may be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display unit 832 may visually provide information to the user about the aerosol-generating device 800. For example, the information about the aerosol-generating device 800 may refer to various information such as a charge/discharge state of the battery 840 of the aerosol-generating device 800, a warm-up state of the heater 850, an insertion/removal state of the aerosol-generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol-generating device 800 is restricted (e.g., an abnormal object is sensed), etc., and the display unit 832 may output the information to the outside. The display unit 832 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 832 may be in the form of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) light emitting device.

The haptic unit 834 may provide information about the aerosol-generating device 800 to the user in a haptic manner by converting an electrical signal into mechanical or electrical stimulus. For example, the haptic unit 834 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electro-stimulation device.

The sound output unit 836 may audibly provide information to the user regarding the aerosol-generating device 800. For example, the sound output unit 836 may convert an electric signal into a sound signal and output the sound signal to the outside.

The battery 840 may supply electrical power for operation of the aerosol-generating device 800. The battery 840 may supply power so that the heater 850 may be heated. In addition, the battery 840 may supply power required for operation of other components in the aerosol-generating device 800 (e.g., the sensing unit 820, the output unit 830, the user input unit 860, the memory 870, and the communication unit 880). Battery 840 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 840 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The heater 850 may receive power from the battery 840 to heat the aerosol-generating substance. Although not shown in fig. 8, the aerosol-generating device 800 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a Direct Current (DC)/DC converter) that converts power of the battery 840 and supplies the converted power to the heater 850. Furthermore, when the aerosol-generating device 800 generates an aerosol in an induction heating method, the aerosol-generating device 800 may further comprise a DC/Alternating Current (AC) that converts DC power of the battery 840 into AC power.

The controller 810, the sensing unit 820, the output unit 830, the user input unit 860, the memory 870, and the communication unit 880 may all receive power from the battery 840 to perform functions. Although not shown in fig. 8, the aerosol-generating device 800 may further include a power conversion circuit, such as a Low Dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulation circuit, that converts power of the battery 840 to supply power to the various components.

In embodiments, heater 850 may be formed of any suitable resistive material. For example, suitable resistive materials may be metals or metal alloys including, but not limited to, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, and the like. In addition, the heater 850 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which conductive traces are disposed, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the heater 850 may be an induction heating type heater. For example, the heater 850 may include a base that heats the aerosol-generating substance by generating heat by means of a magnetic field applied by a coil.

The user input unit 860 may receive information input from a user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 860 may include a keypad, a dome switching device, a touch pad (e.g., a contact capacitive method, a piezoresistive film method, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integral tension measuring method, a piezoelectric effect method, etc.), a scroll wheel switching device, etc., but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not shown in fig. 8, the aerosol-generating device 800 may further include a connection interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and the aerosol-generating device 800 may be connected to other external devices through the connection interface, such as a USB interface, to transmit and receive information or charge the battery 840.

The memory 870 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol-generating device 800, and may store data processed by the controller 810 and data to be processed. The memory 870 may include at least one storage medium of a flash memory type memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro memory, a card type memory (e.g., a Secure Digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), a Random Access Memory (RAM), a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), a Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, or an optical disk. The memory 870 may store operating time, maximum number of puffs, current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data regarding a user's smoking pattern, etc. of the aerosol-generating device 800.

The communication unit 880 may include at least one component for communicating with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 880 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 882 and a wireless communication unit 884.

The short-range wireless communication unit 882 may include, but is not limited to, 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 protocol (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication unit, an Ultra Wideband (UWB) communication unit, an ant+ communication unit, and the like.

The wireless communication unit 884 may include, but is not limited to, a cellular network communication unit, an internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., a Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network (WAN)) communication unit, and the like. The wireless communication unit 884 may also identify and authenticate the aerosol-generating device 800 within the communication network by using subscription user information, such as an international mobile subscription user identifier (IMSI).

The controller 810 may control the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device 800. In an embodiment, the controller 810 may include at least one processor. A processor may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates, or as a combination of a general purpose microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The controller 810 may control the temperature of the heater 850 by controlling the supply of power from the battery 840 to the heater 850. For example, the controller 810 may control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching element between the battery 840 and the heater 850. In another example, the direct heating circuit may also control the supply of power to the heater 850 according to a control command of the controller 810.

The controller 810 may analyze the result sensed by the sensing unit 820 and control a subsequent process to be performed. For example, the controller 810 may control power supplied to the heater 850 to start or end operation of the heater 850 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 820. In another example, the controller 810 may control the amount of power supplied to the heater 850 and the time of power supply based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 820 so that the heater 850 may be heated to a specific temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature.

The controller 810 may control the output unit 830 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 820. For example, when the number of puffs counted by the puff sensor 826 reaches a preset number, the controller 810 may inform the user that the aerosol-generating device 800 is about to terminate through at least one of the display unit 832, the haptic unit 834, and the sound output unit 836.

One embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a computer-readable recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as program modules, being able to be executed by the computer. Computer readable recording media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer and includes volatile media, nonvolatile media, removable media, and non-removable media. Further, the computer-readable recording medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium. Computer storage media includes all of the volatile, nonvolatile, removable, and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, other data in a modulated data signal such as a program module or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media.

The above description of the embodiments is merely an example, and it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications and equivalents of the above embodiments may be made. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to the scope described in the claims will be construed as being included in the protection scope defined by the claims.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising:

a display including a display panel and a touch panel configured to receive touch input;

a battery; and

a processor electrically connected to the display and the battery,

wherein the processor is configured to:

detecting that the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a first state; and

the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a second state, which is different from the first state, based on whether a touch input through the touch panel of the display is received within a threshold time after the power state is changed to the first state.

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: in the first state, preventing supply of electric power from the battery to the display panel; and in the second state, supplying power from the battery to the display panel.

3. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: when the touch input through the touch panel is received within the threshold time, a power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state, and a first User Interface (UI) screen is output through the display panel.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 3, wherein the first UI screen comprises a UI screen output through the display panel immediately before a power state of the aerosol-generating device is switched to the first state.

5. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state based on whether an input through a physical button is received in the first state.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to: when an input through the physical button is received, a power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state, and a second UI screen is output through the display panel.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the second UI screen comprises an initial UI screen of the aerosol-generating device, the initial UI screen comprising objects related to at least one of time information, usage pattern, remaining battery amount information, and weather information.

8. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, further comprising a heater,

Wherein the usage mode is a state set by a user among a plurality of usage modes, and

the processor is further configured to: controlling the power supply to the heater based on a heating profile corresponding to the usage pattern among a plurality of heating profiles.

9. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the touch input through the touch panel comprises at least one touch input.

10. A method of operation of an aerosol-generating device, the method of operation comprising:

the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to a second state, which is different from the first state, based on whether a touch input through a touch panel of a display is received within a threshold time after the power state is changed to the first state.

11. The method of operation of claim 10, the method of operation further comprising: in the first state, preventing power supply from a battery to a display panel of the display; and in the second state, supplying power from the battery to the display panel.

12. The method of operation of claim 10, the method of operation further comprising: when the touch input through the touch panel is received within the threshold time, a power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state, and a first User Interface (UI) screen is output through a display panel.

13. The method of operation of claim 10, the method of operation further comprising: the power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state based on whether an input through a physical button is received in the first state.

14. The method of operation of claim 13, the method of operation further comprising: when an input through the physical button is received, a power state of the aerosol-generating device is changed to the second state, and a second UI screen is output through the display panel.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for executing the operation method according to claim 10.