CN117999005A

CN117999005A - Aerosol generating system and method of operating the same

Info

Publication number: CN117999005A
Application number: CN202380012711.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 金龙焕; 权宁范; 金东星; 林宪一; 张锡水
Original assignee: KT&G Corp
Current assignee: KT&G Corp
Priority date: 2022-09-05
Filing date: 2023-09-05
Publication date: 2024-05-07

Abstract

An aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment, comprising: a cigarette having a first color band, the color of the first color band changing in response to humidity; and an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a body including a receiving channel for receiving a cigarette; a heater for heating the cigarettes; a color sensor disposed on one side of the accommodation channel and detecting a color of the first color band; and a controller for determining a humidity state of the cigarette based on the detected color of the first color band.

Description

Aerosol generating system and method of operating the same

Technical Field

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

Background

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for smoking methods that replace normal cigarettes. For example, there is an increasing need for methods of generating aerosols by heating rather than burning the aerosol-generating substances in cigarettes. Accordingly, studies on heating cigarettes and heating aerosol-generating devices are actively underway.

The cigarette may include an aerosol-generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a filtering unit. The tobacco filler unit may be manufactured in various ways. For example, the tobacco filler 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 filler units, it may not be possible to provide optimal amounts of atomization and flavor.

In addition, moisture has a higher specific heat than air and a higher heat capacity than air at the same temperature. Thus, there may be a problem that: when a user inhales an aerosol having a high moisture content, the user feels hotter than when inhaling air of the same temperature.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating system that can distinguish between cigarette types (i.e., cigarette filler types) and a method of operation thereof.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol-generating system and method of operation thereof that can distinguish between normal cigarettes and over-wet cigarettes.

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

Solution to the problem

An aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment comprises: a cigarette having a first color band, the color of the first color band changing in response to humidity; and an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising: a body including a receiving channel for receiving a cigarette; a heater for heating the cigarettes; a color sensor disposed on one side of the receiving channel and configured to detect a color of the first color ribbon; and a controller configured to: based on the detected color of the first color band, a humidity state of the cigarette is determined.

The first color band may include a litmus that changes from a first color to a second color upon exposure to moisture.

The controller may determine that the cigarette is a normal cigarette when the color of the first color band is a first color, and the controller may determine that the cigarette is an over-wet cigarette when the color of the first color band is a second color.

The controller may operate the heater with a first temperature profile when the cigarette is determined to be a normal cigarette and with a second temperature profile when the cigarette is determined to be an over-wet cigarette.

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

The cigarette may include an aerosol-generating unit, a tobacco filler unit, a cooling unit, and a mouthpiece, the aerosol-generating unit, the tobacco filler unit, the cooling unit, and the mouthpiece may be wrapped with a wrapper, and the first color band may be formed on an area of the wrapper corresponding to the tobacco filler unit.

The cigarette may also include a second color band having a different color depending on the type of cigarette.

Types of cigarettes may include: a first cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with cut filler; a second cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with tobacco particles; and a third cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with a 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 according to a temperature profile corresponding to the colors of the first and second color bands.

The second color ribbon may be formed on another region of the wrapping material corresponding to the tobacco filling unit, and the second color ribbon may be disposed between a boundary line between the tobacco filling unit and the cooling unit and the first color ribbon.

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

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

The method of operation of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment comprises: detecting the insertion of the cigarette into the accommodating channel of the main body, and forming a color band on the cigarette; detecting the color of the color ribbon by using a color sensor; and determining a humidity state of the cigarette based on the detected color of the color band.

The ink ribbon may include a litmus that changes from a first color to a second color upon exposure to moisture.

In determining the humidity state of the cigarette, the cigarette is determined to be a normal cigarette when the color of the color band is a first color and the cigarette is determined to be an over-wet cigarette when the color of the color band is a second color.

Advantageous effects

Aerosol-generating systems and methods of operation thereof according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may distinguish the type of cigarette (i.e., the type of tobacco filler unit) by using color bands and color sensors marked on the cigarette.

Furthermore, aerosol-generating systems and methods of operation thereof according to various embodiments of the present disclosure may distinguish between normal cigarettes and over-wet cigarettes by using color bands and color sensors marked on the cigarettes.

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

Drawings

Fig. 1 to 3 are views showing examples of cigarettes inserted into an aerosol-generating device.

Fig. 4A to 4C are views showing examples of cigarettes.

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

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

Fig. 7A and 7B are views showing cigarettes according to embodiments.

Fig. 8 is a graph showing a temperature profile.

Fig. 9A and 9B are views showing cigarettes according to another embodiment.

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

Fig. 11A and 11B are views showing cigarettes according to another embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

With respect to terms in the various embodiments, general terms currently in wide use are selected considering 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 term will be described in detail in the corresponding part of the description of the present disclosure. Accordingly, 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 "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms "-means", "-means" and "module" described in the specification mean a unit for processing at least one function and operation, and may be implemented by hardware components or software components, and combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the present disclosure. However, the present disclosure may be embodied in many 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.

Fig. 1 to 3 are diagrams showing examples of inserting cigarettes into an aerosol-generating device.

Referring to fig. 1, an aerosol-generating system 100 may comprise an aerosol-generating device and a cigarette.

The aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise a battery 11, a controller 12 and a heater 13. Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the aerosol-generating device 1 may further comprise a vaporiser 14. Furthermore, the cigarette 2 may be inserted into the interior space of the aerosol-generating device 1.

Fig. 1 to 3 show components of an aerosol-generating device 1 relating to the present embodiment. Accordingly, one of ordinary skill in the art relating to this embodiment will appreciate that other general components may be included in the aerosol-generating device 1 in addition to those shown in fig. 1-3.

In addition, fig. 2 and 3 show that the aerosol-generating device 1 comprises a heater 13. However, the heater 13 may be omitted as needed.

Fig. 1 shows a series arrangement of a battery 11, a controller 12 and a heater 13. In addition, fig. 2 shows that the battery 11, the controller 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. In addition, fig. 3 shows that the carburetor 14 and the heater 13 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol-generating device 1 is not limited to the structure shown in fig. 1 to 3. In other words, the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13 and the vaporizer 14 may be arranged differently depending on the design of the aerosol-generating device 1.

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 an aerosol from the cigarette 2 and/or the vaporizer 14. The aerosol generated by the heater 13 and/or the vaporiser 14 is delivered to the user by passing through the cigarette 2.

The aerosol-generating device 1 may heat the heater 13 as required even when the cigarette 2 is not inserted into the aerosol-generating device 1.

The battery 11 may supply power for operating the aerosol-generating device 1. For example, the battery 11 may supply electric power to heat the heater 13 or the carburetor 14, and may supply electric power for operating the controller 12. Further, the battery 11 may supply electric power for the operation of a display, a sensor, a motor, and the like mounted in the aerosol-generating device 1.

The controller 12 may generally control the operation of the aerosol-generating device 1. In detail, the controller 12 may control not only the operation of the battery 11, the heater 13 and the vaporizer 14, but also the operation of other components included in the aerosol-generating device 1. Furthermore, the controller 12 may check the status of each component of the aerosol-generating device 1 to determine if the aerosol-generating device 1 is operational.

The controller 12 may include at least one processor. A processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory having stored therein a program capable of being executed in the microprocessor. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13 may be heated by electric power supplied from the battery 11. For example, the heater 13 may be located outside the cigarette 2 when the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol-generating device 1. Thus, the heated heater 13 may increase the temperature of the aerosol-generating substance in the cigarette.

The heater 13 may comprise a resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include conductive traces, and the heater 13 may be heated when current flows through the conductive traces. However, the heater 13 is not limited to the above example and may include all heaters that can be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be preset in the aerosol-generating device 1 or may be set by the user.

As another example, the heater 13 may include an induction heater. In detail, the heater 13 may include a conductive coil for heating the cigarette in an induction heating method, and the cigarette may include a base that can 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 outside of the cigarette 2 according to the shape of the heating element.

In addition, the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise 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. In addition, some of the plurality of heaters 130 may be inserted into the cigarette 2, and other portions may be disposed outside of the cigarette 2. Further, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to the shape shown in fig. 1 to 3, and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14 may generate an aerosol by heating the 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 vaporiser 14 may move along the air flow path of the aerosol-generating device 1, and the air flow path may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporiser 14 passes through the cigarette 2 to be delivered to the user.

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

The liquid storage portion may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid comprising tobacco-containing materials having volatile tobacco aroma components, or a liquid comprising non-tobacco materials. The liquid storage portion may be formed to be detachable from the carburetor 14, or may be integrally formed with the carburetor 14.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, spices, flavors, or vitamin mixtures. The flavor may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavor components, but is not limited thereto. Flavoring agents may include ingredients capable of providing a variety of fragrances or tastes to a user. The vitamin mixture may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin a, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the liquid composition may include aerosol-forming materials such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of the liquid reservoir to the heating element. For example, the liquid transfer element may be a core, 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 transferred by the liquid transfer element. For example, the heating element may be a metal hot wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. Further, the heating element may comprise a conductive heating wire, such as a nichrome wire, and may be positioned to wrap around the liquid transport element. The heating element may be heated by the supplied electric current and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, an aerosol can be generated.

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

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

In addition, the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise at least one sensor (puff detection sensor, temperature detection sensor, cigarette insertion detection sensor, etc.).

In addition, the aerosol-generating device 1 may be formed in such a structure: even when the cigarette 2 is inserted into the aerosol-generating device 1, external air may be introduced or internal air may be exhausted.

Although not shown in fig. 1 to 3, the aerosol-generating device 1 may form a system with an additional carrier. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol-generating device 1. Alternatively, the heater 13 may also be heated when the carrier and the aerosol-generating device 1 are coupled to each other.

An aerosol-generating article according to an embodiment comprises at least one of an aerosol-generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit and a filtering unit (e.g. a mouthpiece or a mouthpiece unit). For example, the filter unit may typically be an acetate filter, and the cooling unit and filter unit may include a bladder and a flavoring.

The materials, order, and length of the aerosol-generating unit and the tobacco filler unit are not limited to a particular example, and the materials and length of the cooling unit and the filter unit are also not limited to a particular example.

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 filtering unit.

For example, the aerosol-generating device may generate an aerosol by heating at least one of an aerosol-generating unit and a tobacco-filling unit of the aerosol-generating article. In one or more embodiments, the aerosol-generating device may selectively or jointly heat the interior or exterior of the aerosol-generating article.

Hereinafter, an example of the cigarette 2 is described with reference to fig. 4A to 4C.

Fig. 4A to 4C are views showing examples of cigarettes.

Referring to fig. 4A-4C, 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 a capsule and a flavoring. The materials, arrangement and length of the aerosol-generating unit 210 and the cigarette filling unit 220 are not limited to the preset examples. In addition, the materials and lengths of the cooling unit 230 and the mouthpiece 240 are not limited to a preset example. Furthermore, depending on the method of heating the cigarette 2, the cigarette 2 may or may not include a thermal conductor.

The exterior of the cigarettes 2 may be wrapped with a wrapper (pack). Furthermore, the thermal conductor may be located in a part of or the whole space between the packaging material (package) and the aerosol-generating unit 210 and the tobacco filling unit 220.

The aerosol-generating unit 210 may not comprise nicotine. That is, the aerosol-generating unit 210 may comprise a nicotine-free aerosol-generating substance. 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 comprise a mixture of glycerin and propylene glycol in 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 flavourings, humectants and/or organic acids. In addition, the aerosol-generating unit 210 may include a flavouring liquid, such as menthol or a humectant.

The aerosol-generating unit 210 may comprise a rolled sheet, and the aerosol-generating substance may be included in the aerosol-generating unit 210 in a state of being impregnated in the rolled sheet. Further, other additives such as a flavoring agent, a wetting agent, and/or an organic acid, and a flavoring liquid may be contained in the aerosol-generating unit 210 in a state of being absorbed in the curled sheet.

The curled sheet may be a sheet made of a polymeric material. For example, the polymeric material may include at least one of paper, cellulose acetate, lyocell, and polylactic acid. For example, the curled sheet may be a paper sheet which does not generate an odor by heat even when heated to a high temperature. However, the curled sheet is not limited thereto.

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

The tobacco filling unit 220 may include nicotine. Further, the cigarette filling unit 220 may include aerosol-generating substances such as glycerin, propylene glycol, and the like. In addition, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include other additive materials, such as flavoring agents, humectants, and/or organic acids. In addition, a flavoring liquid such as menthol or a humectant may be added to the tobacco filling unit 220 by spraying into the tobacco filling unit 220.

In one example, the aerosol-generating substance may comprise cut filler or reconstituted tobacco material. In particular, the aerosol-generating substance may comprise nicotine, and the nicotine may be obtained by shaping or reconstructing tobacco leaves. In another example, the aerosol-generating substance may comprise one of free base nicotine, nicotine salts and mixtures thereof. In particular, the 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 treated through various processes, but is not limited thereto.

Nicotine salts can be prepared by adding a suitable acid (including organic or inorganic) to nicotine. The acid used to prepare the nicotine salt may be appropriately selected by considering the nicotine absorption rate in blood, the heating temperature of the heater, the flavoring or flavor, the solubility, etc. For example, the acid used to prepare the nicotine salt may be a single acid selected from the following or a mixture of two or more acids selected from the following: 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 are 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 cut tobacco obtained by cutting a tobacco sheet into small pieces. Further, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include crimped sheets and may also be made in particulate form, wherein a plurality of tobacco particles are distributed between the crimped sheets. Further, the tobacco filling unit 220 may include a curled sheet and may also be made in the form of a vapor liquid impregnated in the nicotine liquid curled sheet.

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

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

For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made of cellulose acetate, and may have a tubular structure including a hollow therein. For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made by adding a plasticizer (e.g., glyceryl triacetate) to the cellulose acetate tow. For example, the cooling unit 230 may have a single denier of 5.0 and a total denier of 28,000, but is not limited thereto.

For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made of paper and may have a tubular structure including a hollow therein. Further, 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 of laminated paper composed of a plurality of paper sheets. For example, the cooling unit 230 may be made of laminated paper consisting of outer paper, middle paper, and inner paper, but is not limited thereto. Further, the inner surface of the inner paper constituting the laminated paper may be coated with a predetermined material (e.g., polylactic acid).

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

Further, when the cooling unit 230 is made of paper, the total basis weight of the cooling unit 230 may be in the range of 230g/m2 to 250g/m 2. Preferably, the total basis weight of the cooling unit 230 may be about 240g/m2, but is not limited thereto.

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

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

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

The mouthpiece 240 may be manufactured to produce a flavoring. In one example, the flavoring may be sprayed onto the mouthpiece 240, or individual fibers coated with the flavoring may be inserted into the mouthpiece 240.

Further, at least one bladder may be included in the mouthpiece 240. In one example, the bladder may include a flavoring liquid, and the leakage of flavoring liquid when the bladder is crushed may create flavoring. In another example, the capsule may include an aerosol-generating substance, and the aerosol may be generated from a material that leaks when the capsule is crushed. The capsule may have a structure in which a flavouring liquid or an aerosol-generating substance is enclosed by a film. The bladder 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 the aerosol may be achieved by perforating the tobacco filling unit 220, and secondary cooling may be achieved as the primary cooled aerosol passes through the cooling unit 230. Thus, the cooling effect of the aerosol can be maximized. In addition, the cooling holes 250 may not be provided according to the material of the cooling unit 230.

Referring to fig. 4C, the aerosol-generating unit 210 may be disposed downstream of the tobacco filling unit 220. That is, the cigarettes 2 of fig. 4A and the cigarettes 2 of fig. 4C differ from each other in the 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 comprise 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 shown in fig. 5. That is, depending on the design of the aerosol-generating device 500, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate 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 communicate the 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 operation of the heater 550, restricting smoking, determining whether to insert an aerosol-generating article (e.g., cigarette, cartridge, etc.), displaying a notification, and the like.

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

The temperature sensor 522 may sense the temperature at which the heater 550 (or aerosol-generating substance) is heated. The aerosol-generating device 500 may comprise a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 550, or the heater 550 may be used as the temperature sensor. Alternatively, temperature sensor 522 may also be disposed around battery 540 to monitor the temperature of battery 540.

The insertion detection sensor 524 may sense insertion and/or removal of the 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 signal changes according to insertion and/or removal of the aerosol-generating article.

The puff sensor 526 may sense the user's puff based on the air flow channel or various physical changes in the air flow path. For example, the puff sensor 526 may sense a puff of the user based on any of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

Color sensor 528 may detect light reflected by cigarette 2 (in fig. 4A). The color sensor 528 may obtain color information based on the 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 to 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), or the like.

The 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 responsive 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 528 b. In this case, the second light collecting unit may include a lens that receives the reflected light incident in the preset direction.

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

In addition to the above-described temperature sensor 522, insertion detection sensor 524, and suction sensor 526, the sensing unit 520 may further include at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, an air pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a position sensor (e.g., a Global Positioning System (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red, green, and blue (RGB) sensor (illuminance sensor). Since the function of each sensor can be intuitively inferred from the name of the sensor by those of ordinary skill in the art, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

The output unit 530 may output information about the 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 the touch panel form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 532 may also function 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 a user. For example, the information about the aerosol-generating device 500 may refer to various information such as a charge/discharge state of the battery 540 of the aerosol-generating device 500, a warm-up state of the heater 550, an insertion/removal state of the aerosol-generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol-generating device 500 is restricted (e.g., an abnormal object is sensed), 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. Further, 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 a user by converting an electrical signal into mechanical or electrical stimulation. For example, haptic unit 534 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electro-stimulation device.

The sound output unit 536 may audibly provide information to the user regarding the aerosol-generating device 500. For example, the sound output unit 536 may convert the electric signal into a sound signal and output it to the outside.

The battery 540 may supply electrical power for operating the aerosol-generating device 500. The battery 540 may supply power so that the heater 550 may be heated. Further, the battery 540 may supply power required for operation of other components in the aerosol-generating device 500 (e.g., the sensing unit 520, the output unit 530, the user input unit 560, the memory 570, and the communication unit 580). 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 the aerosol-generating substance. Although not shown 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 the power of the battery 540 and supplies it to the heater 550. Furthermore, when the aerosol-generating device 500 generates an aerosol in an induction heating method, the aerosol-generating device 500 may further comprise 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 all receive power from the battery 540 to perform functions. Although not shown in fig. 5, the aerosol-generating device 500 may further comprise a power conversion circuit that converts power of the battery 540 to supply power to various components, such as a Low Dropout (LDO) circuit or a voltage regulator circuit.

In embodiments, the heater 550 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. Further, the heater 550 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which conductive traces are arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the heater 550 may be an induction heating type heater. For example, the heater 550 may include a base that generates heat to heat the aerosol-generating substance by 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 cigarettes and a second heater for heating liquids.

The user input unit 560 may receive information input from a user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 560 may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (contact capacitance method, piezoresistive film method, infrared sensing method, surface ultrasonic conduction method, integral tension measurement method, piezoelectric effect method, etc.), a wheel switch, etc., but is not limited thereto. Further, although not shown in fig. 5, the aerosol-generating device 500 may further include a connection interface, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and may be connected 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 by the controller 510 and data to be processed. The memory 570 may include at least one type of storage medium selected from the group consisting of: flash memory, hard disk, multimedia card micro memory, card memory (e.g., 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), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, and optical disk. The memory 570 may store an operating time of the aerosol-generating device 500, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data regarding a user's smoking pattern, etc.

The communication unit 580 may include at least one component for communicating 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, 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 association (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 584 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 a Wide Area Network (WAN)) communication unit, and the like. The wireless communication unit 584 may also identify and authenticate the aerosol-generating device 500 within the communication network by using subscriber information, such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI).

The controller 510 may control the general operation of the aerosol-generating device 500. In an embodiment, the controller 510 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 510 may control the temperature of the heater 550 by controlling the power supply of the battery 540 to the heater 550. For example, the controller 510 may control the power supply by controlling the switching of the switching element between the battery 540 and the heater 550. In another example, the direct heating circuit may also control the supply of power to the heater 550 according to a control command of the controller 510.

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

The controller 510 may control the output unit 530 based on the result sensed by the sensing unit 520. For example, when the number of suctions counted by the suction sensor 526 reaches a preset number, the controller 510 may inform the user: the aerosol-generating device 500 will soon terminate with 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 cause the heater 550 to operate with a temperature profile corresponding to the determined type and/or humidity of the cigarette 2.

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

Referring to fig. 6A-6B, an aerosol-generating system 600 may include aerosol-generating devices 601 and 602 and a cigarette 2. The aerosol-generating system 600 may comprise a body 601 and a cap 602. Further, cigarette 2 and lid 602 may be detachably coupled to body 601.

The cigarette 2 according to the embodiment may include the color band CB in a portion of the wrapper (package). The color bar CB may indicate the type and/or humidity status information of the cigarette 2.

The body 601 may have a receiving channel 603 formed therein, and the receiving channel 603 may receive cigarettes 2. The cigarettes 2 may be accommodated in the accommodating channels 603 through holes formed in the cover 602. After the cigarettes 2 are received in the receiving channel 603, the cigarettes 2 may be heated by a heater (not shown) within the receiving channel 603 to generate an aerosol.

The body 601 according to the embodiment may include a color sensor 528, and the color sensor 528 is formed on a side surface of the receiving channel 603. The color sensor 528 may include a light emitting unit 528a and a light receiving unit 528b. The color sensor 528 may be spaced apart from the heater by 6mm or more so as not to be affected by the heater. When the cigarette 2 is received in the receiving channel 603, the color sensor 528 may be in-line with the color bar CB.

According to one embodiment, when insertion detection sensor 524 (fig. 5) detects insertion of cigarette 2 into accommodation channel 603, light emitting unit 528a may emit light to cigarette 2. Further, the light receiving unit 528b may receive light reflected from the cigarette 2.

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

Fig. 7A and 7B are views showing the cigarette 2 according to the embodiment.

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

The color bar CB may comprise a material that changes color in response to changes in humidity in the surrounding environment. For example, the color bar CB may comprise a litmus. The litmus is pigment extracted from lichen. The litmus indicator appears purple when neutral, blue when alkaline, and red when acidic. Conventionally known litmus paper is obtained by coating paper with a solution obtained by adding hydrochloric acid or ammonia water to a litmus alcohol solution and drying the paper. Litmus test paper comprises blue litmus test paper and red litmus test paper. The litmus paper indicates that the corresponding solution is acidic when the blue litmus paper turns red, and indicates that the corresponding solution is alkaline when the red litmus paper turns blue.

The color bar CB according to the present embodiment is formed by following the same principle as the blue litmus paper such that the color bar CB displays blue when humidity is normal and red when humidity is high. This is because the moisture in the air is generally weakly acidic. Thus, when the cigarette is a normal cigarette 2, the color bar CB shows blue as shown in fig. 7A, and when the cigarette is an excessively wet cigarette 2', the color bar CB' shows red as shown in fig. 7B.

In this way, by disposing the color band CB on the wrapping material (package) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220, and by detecting the color of the color band CB using the color sensor 528, the humidity state of the cigarette 2 can be easily detected.

If a uniform heating profile is applied regardless of the humidity state of the tobacco filling unit 220, the user may not obtain optimal usage 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 having a high moisture content, a problem may occur because the user feels more heat than when the user inhales air of the same temperature. Hereinafter, an example temperature profile corresponding to the normal cigarette 2 and the over-wet cigarette 2' is described with reference to fig. 8.

Fig. 8 is a graph showing a temperature profile. In this case, the solid line indicates a first temperature curve for a normal cigarette, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates a second temperature curve for an excessively wet cigarette.

Referring to fig. 8, a first temperature curve TP1 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for a normal cigarette 2 (in fig. 7A). The first temperature profile TP1 may be divided into a first period P1 as a warm-up period and a second period P2 as a smoking period.

The first period P1 may include: a period in which the temperature rises from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2, the first temperature T1 being an outdoor temperature, at which second temperature T2 the aerosol-generating substance volatilizes; and a period in which the temperature falls to a third temperature T3, the third temperature T3 being a smoking start temperature. The second period P2 may include: a period in which the temperature falls from the third temperature T3 to the 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 the temperature at which the aerosol-generating substance volatilizes, and may vary according to the type of aerosol-generating substance.

Furthermore, the second temperature profile TP2 indicates time-dependent temperature values optimized for an excessively moist cigarette 2' (in fig. 7B). The second temperature profile TP2 may be divided into a third period P3, which is a warm-up period, and a fourth period P4, which is a smoking period.

The third period P3 includes: a period in which the temperature rises from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2, the first temperature T1 being an outdoor temperature, at which second temperature T2 the aerosol-generating substance volatilizes; a period in which the second temperature T2 is maintained; and a period in which the temperature falls to a fourth temperature T4, the fourth temperature T4 being 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 reach the second temperature T2 according to the first temperature profile TP1 due to the moisture contained in the cigarette 2.

Furthermore, after the second temperature profile TP2 reaches the second temperature T2, at least a portion of the moisture contained in the over-wet cigarette 2' may evaporate during the second temperature T2 remains constant. Thus, the initial thermal sensation may be reduced. On the other hand, in the case of the normal cigarette 2, the user cannot feel the heat caused by the moisture contained in the normal cigarette 2. Therefore, the time for evaporating the moisture contained in the cigarette 2 can be omitted in the first temperature profile TP 1. That is, the warm-up period P3 of the second temperature profile TP2 is longer than the warm-up period P1 of the first temperature profile TP1, and the third temperature T3 (in fig. 7A) that is the smoking start temperature of the normal cigarette 2 may be higher than the fourth temperature T4 (in fig. 7B) that is the smoking start temperature of the over-wet cigarette 2'.

However, the first temperature curve TP1 and the second temperature curve TP2 shown in fig. 8 are exemplary, and the temperature curve for the normal cigarette 2 (in fig. 7A) and the temperature curve for the over-wet cigarette 2' (in fig. 7B) are not limited thereto.

Fig. 9A and 9B are views showing cigarettes according to another embodiment.

Cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c shown in fig. 9A and 9B are different from cigarettes 2 shown in fig. 7A and 7B in that cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c include second color bands CB2a, CB2B, and CB2c in addition to first color band CB 1. The other constructions of the cigarettes are substantially identical. Hereinafter, duplicate explanation is omitted, and differences between the two are mainly described.

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. Cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c may include a first color band CB1 and second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in a partial region of the wrapper (package). For example, cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c may include second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c, respectively, on the wrapper (package) corresponding to tobacco filling unit 220, in addition to first color band CB 1.

In this case, the first color bar CB1 has substantially the same configuration as the color bar CB of fig. 7A, and may indicate the humidity state of the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c. The first color bar CB1 may be formed by the same principle as the blue litmus paper. That is, the first color band CB1 may display blue when humidity is normal and red when humidity is high. This is because the moisture in the air is generally weakly acidic. Therefore, when the first cigarette 2_1a, the second cigarette 2_1b, and the third cigarette 2_1c are normal cigarettes, the first color band CB1 shows blue as shown in fig. 9A. When the first cigarette 2_1a, the second cigarette 2_1b, and the third cigarette 2_1c are excessively wet cigarettes, the first color band CB1' may display red as shown in fig. 9B.

Further, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b and CB2c may indicate the types of cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b and 2_1c. In fig. 9A and 9B, a first cigarette 2_1a may include a tobacco filler unit 220 filled with cut tobacco, a second cigarette 2_1b may include a tobacco filler unit 220 filled with tobacco particles, and a third cigarette 2_1c may include a tobacco filler unit 220 filled with a 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, the colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b and CB2c and the contents of the tobacco filling unit matching 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 packing material (package) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220 and may be adjacent to the first color band CB1 in the longitudinal direction. For example, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may be located between the boundary line between the tobacco filling unit 220 and the cooling unit 230 and the first color band CB 1.

Fig. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an aerosol-generating system, showing the position of a color sensor.

Referring to fig. 9A, 9B, 10A and 10B, color sensors 528a and 528B may be located on side surfaces of the receiving channel 603 of the main body 601.

According to one embodiment, a plurality of color sensors 528a and 528b may be located on a side surface of the receiving channel 603, as shown 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 housed in the housing channel 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 housed in the housing channel 603. In this case, the first color sensor 528a may determine the color of the first color band CB1 and the second color sensor 528b may determine the color of the second color band CB2 a.

According to another embodiment, as shown in fig. 10B, only one color sensor 528 may be located on a side surface of the receiving channel 603. For example, when a cigarette is fully received in the receiving channel 603, the color sensor 528 may be co-linear with the second color band CB2a of the first cigarette 2_1a. When a user loads cigarettes into the accommodating channel 603, the first color band CB1 and the second color band CB2a pass through the color sensor 528 in sequence. In this case, the color sensor 528 may determine the color of the first color band CB1 and the color of the second color band CB2a based on the sensed value varying with time.

In this way, by disposing the first color band CB1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c on the packaging material (package) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220, the humidity state of the cigarettes can be easily detected by detecting the color of the first color band CB1 using the color sensors 528a and 528b, and the type of cigarettes can be easily detected by detecting the color of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c using the color sensors 528a and 528 b.

The controller 510 (in fig. 5) may operate the heater 550 (in fig. 5) according to a temperature profile corresponding to the color of the first color band CB1 and the colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2 c. For example, when there are three types of cigarettes 2 (e.g., types of materials filled in the tobacco filling unit 220), such as cut filler, particles, and liquid, the aerosol-generating device 500 (in fig. 5) may store a total of six temperature profiles for each material in the memory 570 (in fig. 5), including three temperature profiles for a normal cigarette and three temperature profiles for an over-wet cigarette.

Fig. 11A and 11B are views showing cigarettes according to another embodiment.

The cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, 2_2c shown in fig. 11A and 11B are different from the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c shown in fig. 9A and 9B in that the first color band CB1 of the cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c overlaps the second color bands CB2a, CB2B, and CB2c in the thickness direction, and the first color band CB1 of the cigarettes 2_1a, 2_1b, and 2_1c is spaced from the second color bands CB2a, CB2B, and CB2c in the longitudinal direction. The other constructions of the cigarettes are substantially identical. Hereinafter, duplicate explanation is omitted, and differences between the two are mainly described.

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. Cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c may include first color bands CB1_1 and second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in a partial region of the wrapper (package). For example, cigarette 2 may include first color band cb1_1 and second color band CB2a, CB2b, or CB2c on a wrapper (package) corresponding to tobacco filling unit 220.

The first color band cb1_1 may include a litmus and indicates the humidity status of cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c.

The first color bar cb1_1 may be made according to the same principle as the blue litmus paper, and thus may display blue when humidity is normal, and red when humidity is high. This is because the moisture in the air is generally weakly acidic. Therefore, when the cigarettes are normal cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c as shown in fig. 11A, the first color band cb1_1 shows blue. In contrast, when the cigarettes are over-wet cigarettes 2_2a ', 2_2b', and 2_2c 'as shown in fig. 11B, the first color band CB1_1' may display red.

Further, the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c may indicate the types of cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, and 2_2c, respectively. The type of cigarettes 2_2a, 2_2b, 2_2c may indicate that the first cigarette 2_2a comprises a tobacco filler unit 220 filled with cut tobacco, the second cigarette 2_2b comprises a tobacco filler unit 220 filled with tobacco particles, and the third cigarette 2_2c comprises a tobacco filler 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, the colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b and CB2c and the contents of the tobacco filling unit matching each color are examples and may be modified in various ways.

According to one embodiment, the first color bar cb1_1 may overlap the second color bars CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c in the thickness direction. In this case, the first color bar cb1_1 may have a net shape. Accordingly, the first color band cb1_1 may include a plurality of mesh holes in 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 bar cb1_1 is not limited thereto. In addition, the first color band cb1_1 may be translucent so that the color of the first color band cb1_1 is mixed with the colors of the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c under the first color band cb1_1 when viewed from the outside.

As described above, the first color bands 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 over-wet 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 as purple. On the other hand, when the first cigarette 2_2a' having the red second color band CB2a is an excessively wet cigarette, the red second color band CB2a is displayed as 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 as green. On the other hand, when the second cigarette 2_2b' having the yellow second color band CB2b is an over-wet cigarette, the yellow second color band CB2b appears orange. When the third cigarette 2_2c having the black second color band CB2c is a normal cigarette, the black second color band CB2c appears as indigo. On the other hand, when the second cigarette 2_2b' having the yellow second color band CB2b is an over-wet cigarette, the yellow second color band CB2b appears brown.

Referring to fig. 6A, the color sensor 528 may be located on a side surface of the receiving channel 603 of the main body 601. For example, the color sensor 528 may be co-located with the color bands CB (i.e., the first and second color bands CB1_1, CB2a, CB2b, and CB2 c) of the cigarette 2 received in the receiving channel 603, and the color sensor 528 may determine the mixed color of the first and second color bands CB1_1, CB2b, and CB2 c.

In this way, by superposing the first color band cb1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c on the wrapping material (wrapping member) corresponding to the tobacco filling unit 220 in the thickness direction, and by detecting the mixed color of the first color band cb1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c using the color sensor 528, the type and humidity of cigarettes can be easily detected. For example, when the mixed color of the first color band cb1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2c is determined to be purple, green, and indigo, the cigarettes thereof may correspond to the normal first cigarette 2_2a, the normal second cigarette 2_2b, and the normal third cigarette 2_2c, respectively. Furthermore, when the mixed color of the first color band cb1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, CB2c is determined to be red, orange, brown, cigarettes thereof may correspond to the excessively wet first cigarette 2_2a ', the excessively wet second cigarette 2_2b ', and the excessively wet third cigarette 2_2c ', respectively.

The controller 510 (in fig. 5) may operate the heater 550 (in fig. 5) according to a temperature profile corresponding to the mixed color of the first color band cb1_1 and the second color bands CB2a, CB2b, and CB2 c. For example, when there are various types of cigarettes 2 (i.e., three types of materials such as cut filler, particles, and liquid are filled in the tobacco filling unit 220), the aerosol-generating device 500 (in fig. 5) may store a total of six temperature profiles for each material in the memory 570 (in fig. 5), including three temperature profiles for a normal cigarette and three temperature profiles for an over-wet cigarette.

Fig. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a method of operation of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment. The description given above with reference to fig. 1 to 11B may be applied to the embodiment of fig. 12.

Referring to fig. 12, a method of operation of the aerosol-generating system 100 may comprise: a step (S100) of detecting insertion of a cigarette with a color band into a receiving channel of a main body; a step (S200) of detecting the color of the color band by using a color sensor; and a step (S300) of determining the humidity state of the cigarette based on the detected color of the color band. The method of operation of the aerosol-generating system 100 may further comprise: a step (S400) of operating the heater in a temperature profile corresponding to the determined humidity state of the cigarette.

Specifically, referring to fig. 6A and 6B, in step (S100), a cigarette 2 according to an embodiment may include a color band CB in a portion of the wrapper (package). The color bar CB may indicate the type and/or humidity status information of the cigarette 2.

The color bar CB may comprise a material whose color changes in response to a change in humidity of the surrounding environment. For example, the color bar CB may comprise a litmus. The color bar CB according to the present embodiment may be formed according to the same principle as the blue litmus paper, so that the color bar CB displays blue when humidity is normal and red when humidity is high. This is because the moisture in the air is generally weakly acidic.

A receiving channel 603 may be formed in the main body 601, and cigarettes 2 may be received in the receiving channel 603. The cigarettes 2 may be accommodated in the accommodating channels 603 through holes formed in the cover 602. After the cigarettes 2 are accommodated in the accommodating passage 603, the cigarettes 2 may be heated by a heater (not shown) accommodated in the accommodating passage 603 to generate aerosol.

The body 601 according to an embodiment may include a color sensor 528, the color sensor 528 being on a side surface of the receiving channel 603. The color sensor 528 may include a light emitting unit 528a and a light receiving unit 528b. The color sensor 528 may be spaced apart from the heater by 6mm or more so as not to be affected by the heater. When the cigarette 2 is received in the receiving channel 603, the color sensor 528 may be in-line with the color bar CB.

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

In step (S300), the controller 510 (fig. 5) determines that the cigarette is a normal cigarette when the color of the color bar CB is a first color (e.g., blue) and determines that the cigarette is an over-wet cigarette when the color of the color bar CB is a second color (e.g., red).

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

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the above-described features. The disclosed methods should be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The scope of the disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating system comprising:

a cigarette having a first color band, the color of the first color band changing in response to humidity; and

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

a body including a receiving channel for receiving the cigarette;

a heater configured to heat the cigarette;

a color sensor disposed on one side of the receiving channel and configured to detect a color of the first color band; and

A controller configured to: a humidity state of the cigarette is determined based on the detected color of the first color band.

2. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein the first colour band comprises a litmus which changes from a first colour to a second colour on exposure to moisture.

3. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 2, wherein the controller determines that the cigarette is a normal cigarette when the color of the first colour band is the first colour, and the controller determines that the cigarette is an over-wet cigarette when the color of the first colour band is the second colour.

4. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 3, wherein the controller operates the heater with a first temperature profile when the cigarette is determined to be the normal cigarette, and with a second temperature profile when the cigarette is determined to be the over-wet cigarette.

5. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 4, wherein the warm-up period of the second temperature profile is longer than the warm-up period of the first temperature profile.

6. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 1, wherein,

The cigarette comprises 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 being wrapped by a wrapper, and

The first color band is formed on an area of the wrapper corresponding to the tobacco filling unit.

7. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 6, wherein the cigarette further comprises a second colour band, the second colour band being of a different colour depending on the type of cigarette.

8. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the type of cigarette comprises: a first cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with cut filler; a second cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with tobacco particles; and a third cigarette comprising a tobacco filler unit filled with a nicotine liquid.

9. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 8, wherein the second colour band of the first cigarette has a third colour, the second colour band of the second cigarette has a fourth colour, and the second colour band of the third cigarette has a fifth colour.

10. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the controller operates the heater in a temperature profile corresponding to the colors of the first and second color bands.

11. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the second colour band is formed on another region of the wrapper corresponding to the tobacco filling unit, and the second colour band is arranged between a borderline between the tobacco filling unit and the cooling unit and the first colour band.

12. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 7, wherein the first ribbon is formed to overlap the second ribbon in a thickness direction and has a mesh shape.

13. An aerosol-generating system according to claim 12, wherein the color sensor detects a mixed color in which the colors of the first and second color bands are mixed.

14. A method of operation of an aerosol-generating system, the method of operation comprising:

Detecting insertion of a cigarette into a receiving channel of a body, the cigarette having a color band formed thereon;

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

A humidity state of the cigarette is determined based on the detected color of the color band.

15. The method of operation of claim 14, wherein,

The ink ribbon includes a litmus that changes from a first color to a second color upon exposure to moisture, an

In determining the humidity state of the cigarette, the cigarette is determined to be a normal cigarette when the color of the color band is the first color, and the cigarette is determined to be an over-wet cigarette when the color of the color band is the second color.