EP4322780A1

EP4322780A1 - Heater assembly comprising fastening elements and aerosol generating device comprising the same

Info

Publication number: EP4322780A1
Application number: EP23801663.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tae Hun Kim; Ju Eon Park; Sung Wook Yoon; Hyung Jin Jung; Jung Ho Han
Original assignee: KT&G Corp
Current assignee: KT&G Corp
Priority date: 2022-06-17
Filing date: 2023-06-13
Publication date: 2024-02-21
Also published as: WO2023243990A1

Abstract

A heater assembly for an aerosol generating device includes a thermally conductive heat transfer body configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article, and a flexible heater surrounding an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body and configured to heat the thermally conductive heat transfer body according to power supplied from an external power supply.

Description

HEATER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING FASTENING ELEMENTS AND AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE COMPRISING THE SAME

One or more embodiments relates to a heater assembly and an aerosol generating device including the same, and more particularly, to a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device which includes a fastening structure, the heater assembly capable of improving heat transfer efficiency by firmly attaching a heater to a thermally conductive heat transfer body.

Recently, the demand for alternative methods for overcoming the shortcomings of general cigarettes has increased. For example, there is an increasing demand for a method for generating aerosols by heating an aerosol generating material by using an aerosol generating device, rather than by burning cigarettes. Accordingly, researches on a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

An existing heating-type aerosol generating device may include a heater inserted into a cigarette to heat an aerosol generating material in the cigarette or use an external heater configured to heat the outside of a cigarette without being inserted into the cigarette.

When a heater is inserted into a cigarette, at least a portion of an outer surface of the cigarette is penetrated, and thus, materials in the cigarette may leak out of the cigarette. Therefore, to overcome such a problem, research has been conducted into an external heater for heating the outside of a cigarette without being inserted into the cigarette.

However, when the external heater is used, a heat transfer rate may be reduced compared to a heater inserted into a cigarette and directly heating an aerosol generating material in the cigarette, and thus, studies on structures of external heaters have been actively conducted to prevent a heat transfer rate from being reduced or to decrease heat loss.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure relate to a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device that has improved heat transfer efficiency, and an aerosol generating device including the heater assembly. The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described description, and other technical problems may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the embodiments to be described hereinafter.

According to one or more embodiments, a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device includes a thermally conductive heat transfer body configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article, and a flexible heater surrounding an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body and configured to heat the thermally conductive heat transfer body according to power supplied from an external power supply, wherein the flexible heater includes a first flexible film, a second flexible film attached to the first flexible film, an electrically conductive track arranged between the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and having both ends connected to the external power supply, at least one first fastening element arranged on one side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and at least one second fastening element arranged on another side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and the flexible heater surrounds the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body as the first fastening element is coupled to the second fastening element.

According to one or more embodiments, a method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device, includes providing a flexible heater comprising at least one first fastening element on one side and at least one second fastening element on the other side, coupling the one side of the flexible heater to the other side of the flexible heater in a circumferential direction by coupling the first fastening element to the second fastening element, and assembling a thermally conductive heat transfer body and the flexible heater such that the flexible heater surrounds an outer side of the thermally conductive heat transfer body, wherein the thermally conductive heat transfer body is configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article.

According to one or more embodiments, an aerosol generating device includes the above heater assembly and a power supply configured to supply power to the heater assembly.

A heater assembly and an aerosol generating device including the heater assembly according to one or more embodiments may have improved heat transfer efficiency. In particular, a heater may be closely attached to a thermally conductive heat transfer body and easily assembled, and thus, heat may be uniformly and effectively transferred.

Effects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above effects, and effects that are not mentioned could be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the attached drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device, in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a cigarette.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show examples in which a heater assembly is used, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a flexible heater of a heater assembly, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 6A shows a coupling structure of the flexible heater of FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the example in which the flexible heater of FIG. 5A is coupled.

FIGS. 7A to 7C show a flexible heater of a heater assembly, according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling structure of the flexible heater of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9A schematically shows a heater assembly according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the heater assembly of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of operations of a method of manufacturing a heater assembly of an aerosol generating device according to the one or more embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

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

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

As used herein, hen an expression such as "at least any one" precedes arranged elements, it modifies all elements rather than each arranged element.

For example, the expression "at least any one of a, b, and c" should be construed to include a, b, c, or a and b, a and c, b and c, or a, b, and c.

In an embodiment, an aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols by electrically heating a cigarette accommodated in an interior space thereof.

The aerosol generating device may include a heater. In an embodiment, the heater may be an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track.

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

A cigarette may include a tobacco rod and a filter rod. The tobacco rod may be formed of sheets, strands, and tiny bits cut from a tobacco sheet. Also, the tobacco rod may be surrounded by a heat conductive material. For example, the heat conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil. The filter rod may include a cellulose acetate filter. The filter rod may include at least one segment. For example, the filter rod may include a first segment configured to cool aerosols, and a second segment configured to filter a certain component in aerosols.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols by using a cartridge containing an aerosol generating material.

The aerosol generating device may include a cartridge that contains an aerosol generating material, and a main body that supports the cartridge. The cartridge may be detachably coupled to the main body, but is not limited thereto. The cartridge may be integrally formed or assembled with the main body, and may also be fixed to the main body so as not to be detached from the main body by a user. The cartridge may be mounted on the main body while accommodating an aerosol generating material therein. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. An aerosol generating material may also be injected into the cartridge while the cartridge is coupled to the main body.

The cartridge may contain an aerosol generating material in any one of various states, such as a liquid state, a solid state, a gaseous state, a gel state, or the like. The aerosol generating material may include a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

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

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

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may be a device that generates aerosols from an aerosol generating material by using an ultrasonic vibration method. At this time, the ultrasonic vibration method may mean a method of generating aerosols by converting an aerosol generating material into aerosols with ultrasonic vibration generated by a vibrator.

The aerosol generating device may include a vibrator, and generate a short-period vibration through the vibrator to convert an aerosol generating material into aerosols. 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 100 kHz to about 3.5 MHz, but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device may further include a wick that absorbs an aerosol generating material. For example, the wick may be arranged to surround at least one area of the vibrator, or may be arranged to contact at least one area of the vibrator.

As a voltage (for example, an alternating voltage) is applied to the vibrator, heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations may be generated from the vibrator, and the heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations generated from the vibrator may be transmitted to the aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick. The aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick may be converted into a gaseous phase by heat and/or ultrasonic vibrations transmitted from the vibrator, and as a result, aerosols may be generated.

For example, the viscosity of the aerosol generating material absorbed in the wick may be lowered by the heat generated by the vibrator, and as the aerosol generating material having a lowered viscosity is granulated by the ultrasonic vibrations generated from the vibrator, aerosols may be generated, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device is a device that generates aerosols by heating an aerosol generating article accommodated in the aerosol generating device in an induction heating method.

The aerosol generating device may include a susceptor and a coil. In an embodiment, the coil may apply a magnetic field to the susceptor. As power is supplied to the coil from the aerosol generating device, a magnetic field may be formed inside the coil. In an embodiment, the suspector may be a magnetic body that generates heat by an external magnetic field. As the suspector is positioned inside the coil and a magnetic field is applied to the suspector, the suspector generates heat to heat an aerosol generating article. In addition, optionally, the suspector may be positioned within the aerosol generating article.

In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device may further include a cradle.

The aerosol generating device may configure a system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may charge a battery of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, the heater may be heated when the cradle 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 such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be implemented in a form that can be implemented in the aerosol generating devices of the various embodiments described above or may be implemented in various 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 drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a battery 11000, a controller 12000, a heater 13000, and vaporizer 14000. Also, the cigarette 20000 may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 10000.

The aerosol generating device 10000 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may include a vaporizer, but one or more embodiments are not limited to such an implementation method of the aerosol generating device, and the aerosol generating device 10000 may not include a vaporizer. When the aerosol generating device 10000 does not include a vaporizer, the cigarette 20000 may include an aerosol generating material, and thus, the cigarette 20000 may generate an aerosol when heated by the heater 13000.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrates components of the aerosol generating device 10000, which are related to the present embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device 10000, in addition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Also, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate that the aerosol generating device 10000 includes the heater 13000. However, as necessary, the heater 13000 may be omitted.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the battery 11000, the controller 12000, and the heater 13000 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 2 illustrates that the vaporizer 14000 and the heater 13000 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 10000 is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 1 or 2. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 10000, the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000 may be differently arranged.

When the cigarette 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the aerosol generating device 100 may operate the vaporizer 14000 to generate aerosol from the vaporizer 14000. The aerosol generated by the vaporizer 14000 is delivered to a user by passing through the cigarette 20000. A description of the vaporizer 14000 will be described in more detail below.

The battery 11000 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device 10000 to operate. For example, the battery 11000 may supply power to heat the heater 13000 or the vaporizer 14000, and may supply power for operating the controller 12000. Also, the battery 11000 may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device 10000.

The controller 12000 may generally control operations of the aerosol generating device 10000. In detail, the controller 12000 may control not only operations of the battery 11000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 10000. Also, the controller 12000 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 10000 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 10000 is able to operate.

The controller 12000 may include at least one processor. A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13000 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11000. For example, when the cigarette is inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, the heater 13000 may be located outside the aerosol generating article 200. Thus, the heated heater 13000 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the cigarette.

The heater 13000 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13000 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13000 is not limited to the example described above and may include all heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 10000 or may be set by a user.

As another example, the heater 13000 may include an induction heater. In detail, the heater 13000 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating a cigarette in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater 13000 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the cigarette 20000, according to the shape of the heating element. Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a plurality of heaters 13000.

Here, the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted into the cigarette 20000 or may be arranged outside the cigarette 20000. Also, some of the plurality of heaters 13000 may be inserted into the cigarette 20000 and the others may be arranged outside the cigarette 20000. In addition, the shape of the heater 13000 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 and may include various shapes. The vaporizer 14000 may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the cigarette 20000 to be delivered to a user.

In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000 may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device 10000 and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14000 passes through the cigarette 20000 to be delivered to the user. For example, the vaporizer 14000 may include a liquid storage, a liquid delivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto.

For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 10000 as independent modules. The liquid storage may store a liquid composition.

For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to be detachable from the vaporizer 14000 or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer 14000. For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture.

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

For example, the liquid delivery element may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto. The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery element.

For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may be generated. For example, the vaporizer 14000 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 10000 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11000, the controller 12000, the heater 13000, and the vaporizer 14000.

For example, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information. Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may include at least one sensor (a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol generating article insertion detecting sensor, etc.). Also, the aerosol generating device 10000 may be formed as a structure that, even when the cigarette 20000 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, may introduce external air or discharge internal air. Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol generating device 10000 and an additional cradle may form together a system.

For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11000 of the aerosol generating device 10000. Alternatively, the heater 13000 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 10000 are coupled to each other. The cigarette 20000 may be similar to a general combustive cigarette.

For example, the cigarette 20000 may be divided into a first portion including an aerosol generating material and a second portion including a filter, etc. Alternatively, the second portion of the cigarette 20000 may also include an aerosol generating material. For example, an aerosol generating material made in the form of granules or capsules may be inserted into the second portion. The entire first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000, and the second portion may be exposed to the outside.

Alternatively, only a portion of the first portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 100, or the entire first portion and a portion of the second portion may be inserted into the aerosol generating device 10000. The user may puff aerosol while holding the second portion by the mouth of the user. In this case, the aerosol is generated by the external air passing through the first portion, and the generated aerosol passes through the second portion and is delivered to the user's mouth. For example, the external air may flow into at least one air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10000.

For example, opening and closing of the air passage and/or a size of the air passage formed in the aerosol generating device 10000 may be adjusted by the user. Accordingly, the amount and the quality of smoking may be adjusted by the user. As another example, the external air may flow into the cigarette 20000 through at least one hole formed in a surface of the cigarette 20000.

An example of the cigarette 20000 is described below with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a cigarette.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cigarette 20000 may include a tobacco rod 21000 and a filter rod 22000.

The first portion described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 may include the tobacco rod 21000, and the second portion may include the filter rod 22000. FIG. 3 illustrates that the filter rod 22000 includes a single segment. However, the filter rod 22000 is not limited thereto.

In other words, the filter rod 22000 may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod 22000 may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod 22000 may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions. The cigarette 20000 may be packaged using at least one wrapper 24000.

The wrapper 24000 may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the cigarette 20000 may be packaged by one wrapper 24000. As another example, the cigarette 20000 may be doubly packaged by two or more wrappers 24000. For example, the tobacco rod 21000 may be packaged by a first wrapper, and the filter rod 22000 may be packaged by a second wrapper. Also, the tobacco rod 21000 and the filter rod 22000 wrapped by individual wrappers are combined, and the entire cigarette 20000 may be re-packaged by a third wrapper. When the filter rod 22000 includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged by an individual wrapper. In addition, the entire cigarette 20000 in which segments wrapped by individual wrappers are combined may be re-packaged by another wrapper. The tobacco rod 21000 may include an aerosol generating material.

For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but it is not limited thereto. Also, the tobacco rod 21000 may include other additives, such as flavors, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. Also, the tobacco rod 21000 may include a flavored liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer, which is injected to the tobacco rod 21000. The tobacco rod 21000 may be manufactured in various forms.

For example, the tobacco rod 21000 may be formed as a sheet or a strand. Also, the tobacco rod 21000 may be formed as a pipe tobacco, which is formed of tiny bits cut from a tobacco sheet. Also, the tobacco rod 21000 may be surrounded by a heat conductive material. For example, the heat conductive material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil. For example, the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21000 may uniformly distribute heat transmitted to the tobacco rod 21000, and thus, the heat conductivity applied to the tobacco rod may be increased and taste of the tobacco may be improved. Also, the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21000 may function as a susceptor heated by the induction heater. Here, although not illustrated in the drawings, the tobacco rod 21000 may further include an additional susceptor, in addition to the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21000. The filter rod 22000 may include a cellulose acetate filter.

Shapes of the filter rod 22000 are not limited. For example, the filter rod 22000 may include a cylinder-type rod or a tube-type rod having a hollow inside. Also, the filter rod 22000 may include a recess-type rod. The filter rod 22000 may be formed to generate flavors. For example, a flavoring liquid may be injected onto the filter rod 22000, or an additional fiber coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter rod 22000.

For example, a flavoring liquid may be injected onto the filter rod 22000, or an additional fiber coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter rod 22000. Also, the filter rod 22000 may include at least one capsule 230.

Here, the capsule 230 may generate a flavor or an aerosol. For example, the capsule 230 may have a configuration in which a liquid containing a flavoring material is wrapped with a film. For example, the capsule 230 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape, but is not limited thereto. When the filter rod 22000 includes a segment configured to cool the aerosol, the cooling segment may include a polymer material or a biodegradable polymer material.

For example, the cooling segment may include pure polylactic acid alone, but the material for forming the cooling segment is not limited thereto. In some embodiments, the cooling segment may include a cellulose acetate filter having a plurality of holes. However, the cooling segment is not limited to the above-described example and is not limited as long as the cooling segment cools the aerosol.

Although not shown in FIG. 3, the cigarette 20000 according to an embodiment may further include a front-end filter. The front-end filter may be located on the opposite side of the tobacco rod 21000 from the filter rod 22000. The front-end filter may prevent the tobacco rod 21000 from falling off and prevent a liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device (10000 of FIGS. 1 and 2) from the tobacco rod 21000, during smoking.

The heater assembly 10 for an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment may include a thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 surrounding at least a portion of the aerosol generating article 50 when the aerosol generating article 50 is inserted, and a flexible heater 30 surrounding an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and heating the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 according to power supplied from an external power supply. The flexible heater 30 may include a first flexible film, an electrically conductive track 32 arranged on the first flexible film and having both ends connected to the external power supply, a second flexible film arranged on the electrically conductive track 32 and attached to the first flexible film, at least one first fastening element 31s formed on one side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and at least one second fastening element 31t formed on the other side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film. The flexible heater 30 may surround an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 as the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t are coupled to each other.

The heater assembly 10 of the aerosol generating device of FIG. 4A may include a thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 (see FIG. 4B) in which the aerosol generating article 50 is accommodated, and the flexible heater 30 surrounding an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the flexible heater 30 may have a configuration in which a flexible plate-type material is rolled to surround the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The flexible heater 30 may include the flexible film 31 and the electrically conductive track 32. In detail, the flexible heater 30 may include the first flexible film, the electrically conductive track 32 arranged on the first flexible film, and the second flexible film arranged on the electrically conductive track 32.

The first flexible film and the second flexible film may be attached to each other with the electrically conductive track 32 in between. The first flexible film may have the same size and shape as the second flexible film, but the sizes and shapes of the first and second flexible films are not limited thereto as along as the first flexible film and the second flexible film fully cover the electrically conductive track 32. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the flexible film 31 is illustrated as if it is a single film, but it is because the drawings schematically show the electrically conductive track 32. The flexible film 31 may include both the first flexible film and the second flexible film.

The flexible film 31 may include a heat-resistant material. For example, the flexible film 31 may include one or more of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate, and polyimide.

Both ends of the electrically conductive track 32 may be connected to an external power supply. The external power supply may supply electric power, and thus the flexible heater 30 may be heated. The external power supply may be a power supply for supplying power to the heater assembly. For example, the power supply may be the battery 11000. The electrically conductive track 32 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11000. The electrically conductive track 32 may be a structure laminated on the flexible film 31.

In FIG. 4A, the flexible heater 30 may further include fastening elements 31s and 31t for fastening one side of the flexible heater 30 in a circumferential direction to the other side thereof. The fastening elements 31s and 31t may integrally extend on the flexible film 31 of the flexible heater 30.

The outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may be surrounded by coupling the fastening elements 31s and 31t, and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may accommodate therein the aerosol generating article 50 such that heat may be delivered from the flexible heater 30 to the aerosol generating article 50. In FIG. 4A, the aerosol generating article 50 is indicated by a dashed line to schematically illustrate an assembly of the flexible heater 30, and the assembly of the flexible heater 30 is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4B.

FIG. 4B schematically shows that the flexible heater 30 surrounds the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 accommodating therein the aerosol generating article 50 is surrounded by the flexible heater 30. The flexible heater 30 may be bent or folded to surround the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The flexible heater 30 may include fastening elements on both sides thereof in the circumferential direction in which the flexible heater 30 surrounds the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20. FIG. 4B shows an example of the fastening elements, that is, the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t. The first fastening element 31s may be formed on a side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and the second fastening element 31t may be formed on the other side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film.

One side and the other side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film refer to end portions of the first flexible film and the second flexible film that are attached to each other. Here, the term "one side" may indicate a portion of the flexible film 31 which is closer to an edge from the center of the flexible film 31, and does not necessarily refer to the edge. The term "other side" may refer to a portion contacting the "one side" stated above when the flexible film 31 is rolled in a cylindrical shape. The one side and the other side may be opposite to or face each other.

As the first fastening element 31s of the flexible heater 30 is coupled to the second fastening element 31t thereof, one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be coupled to each other, and then, the flexible heater 30 may be assembled on the outer side of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20. Alternatively, the first fastening element 31s may be coupled to the second fastening element 31t after the flexible heater 30 is arranged to surround the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, such that one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be coupled to each other.

According to an embodiment, because the flexible heater 30 includes the fastening elements 31s and 31t, fastening of one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be eased when the flexible heater 30 is rolled in a cylindrical shape, and the process time may be reduced. Also, during a process of firmly attaching the flexible heater 30 to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, the opening of the flexible heater 30 or the generation of an adhesion deviation may be minimized. Accordingly, a lifting problem that a gap between the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 is formed because of the adhesion deviation may be prevented.

The thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may refer to a metal structure with high heat conductivity, the metal structure including an accommodation space in which the aerosol generating article 50 is accommodated. Also, the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may include a rigid material to accommodate the aerosol generating article 50 therein. The thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may include a metal material, for example, copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), or an alloy thereof, which may transfer heat generated by the flexible heater 30 to the aerosol generating article and have high rigidity.

FIG. 4B shows that the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 has a cylindrical shape, but the shape thereof is not limited thereto. The thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may be modified in various forms to include a space, in which the aerosol generating article 50 is accommodated, and to correspond to an exterior shape and a size of the aerosol generating article 50. For example, the shape of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may be a cylinder with a polygonal cross-section, such as a triangular cross-section or a rectangular cross-section, or with an oval cross-section. For example, the flexible heater 30 may be arranged in a circumferential direction of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 to surround the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and fastened by the fastening elements 31s and 31t formed on both sides of the flexible heater 30.

FIG. 4B shows that the flexible heater 30 has the same length as the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, but one or more embodiments are not limited thereto. That is, any one of the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may have a greater length.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may include a location setting member 21 configured to determine a location of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 with respect to the flexible heater 30, when the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and the flexible heater 30 are assembled. That is, because the flexible heater 30 includes various components, such as, the electrically conductive track 32, electrodes, and connectors, the location of the flexible heater 30 with respect to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 needs to be appropriately set to make the aforementioned components work properly. The location setting member 21 serves to accurately set the location of the flexible heater 30 with respect to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20. The location setting member 21 may be a member for visually indicating a location at which the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 is assembled with the flexible heater 30 and may be a recess or a protrusion to physically correspond to the shapes of the components of the flexible heater 30 during the assembly.

The heater assembly 10 for an aerosol generating device which is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B only include the configurations related to the present embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other general-purpose components may be further included in the heater assembly 10 for an aerosol generating device, in addition to the components shown in FIG. 4A. For example, the heater assembly 10 may include at least one electrical connector (not shown) for electrical connection between the flexible heater 30 and the battery 11000.

The fastening elements 31s and 31t of the flexible heater 30 are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. The fastening elements 31s and 31t are elements for coupling one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction to the other side thereof, and the number, shapes, and locations of the fastening elements are not limited as long as the fastening elements are configured to couple one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction to the other side thereof.

In detail, the fastening elements 31s and 31t may include at least one first fastening element 31s and at least one second fastening element 31t. The first fastening element 31s may be formed on one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, and the second fastening element 31t may be formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction.

Each of the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t may be formed integrally with the flexible film 31. As described above, the flexible film 31 may include the first flexible film and the second flexible film which are attached thereto. Therefore, the first fastening element 31s may be formed on one side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and the second fastening element 31t may be formed on the other side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film.

According to an embodiment, the fastening of one side of the flexible heater 30 to the other side thereof in the circumferential direction by the fastening elements may indicate that one side of the flexible heater 30 physically contacts the other side thereof by bending or folding the flexible heater 30. Here, the fastened structure may require additional processing. For example, after the fastening of one side of the flexible heater 30 to the other side thereof by the fastening elements, the flexible heater may be attached to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 by an adhesive, etc. and an additional process of firmly attaching the flexible heater 30 to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may be required.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show a flexible heater of a heater assembly, according to an embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the fastening element 31s may be formed on one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, and the second fastening element 31t may be formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction.

The first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t may be integrally formed with the flexible heater 30, specifically with the flexible film of the flexible heater 30. As described above, the flexible heater 30 may include the first flexible film, the electrically conductive track, and the second flexible film.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the fastening elements may include the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t, each of which includes a folded portion. As the folded portion of the first fastening element 31s contacts the folded portion of the second fastening element 31t, the side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction thereof may be coupled to the other side thereof. As such, the flexible heater 30 may surround the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

FIG. 6A shows a coupling structure of the flexible heater 30 of FIG. 5A. In FIG. 6A, when one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction contacts the other side thereof as the flexible heater 30 is rolled in a cylindrical shape, the first fastening element 31s formed on the side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be folded and thus engage with the folded portion of the second fastening element 31t formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction. As such, one side of the flexible heater 30 may be coupled to the other side thereof, and the flexible heater 30 may surround the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of an example in which the flexible heater of FIG. 5A is coupled. That is, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing that the flexible heater 30 of FIG. 6A is fastened, when taken along line A-A'. The cross-section taken along the line A-A' includes the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when the side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction contacts the other side thereof as the flexible heater 30 is rolled in a cylindrical shape, the folded portion of the first fastening element 31s, which is formed on the side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, is caught by the folded portion of the second fastening element 31t formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30, and thus, the side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be coupled to each other.

The area or the shape of the folded portion of the first fastening element 31s are not limited thereto as long as the side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 can be at least temporarily coupled to each other by the folded portion of the first fastening element 31s and the folded portion of the second fastening element 31t. For example, the folded portion of the first fastening element 31s may refer to the cut portion shown in FIG. 5A or the protruding portion shown in FIG. 5B. The folded portion may refer to only part of the cut portion or the protruding portion. The shape of the first fastening element 31s is not limited to the example shapes shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B and may have a different shape, for example, a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrangle, a circle, a semicircle, an oval, and the like, as long as the first fastening element 31s is capable of attaching both sides of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction to each other. In addition, FIGS. 5A and 5B shows only one first fastening element 31s but there may be one or more first fastening elements 31s according to embodiments.

FIGS. 7A to 7C schematically show fastening elements of the flexible heater 30, according to another embodiment. The fastening elements according to an embodiment may include at least one first fastening element 31s on one side of the flexible heater 30 and at least one second fastening element 31t formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 such that the two sides of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be coupled to each other. FIGS. 7A to 7C show that the first fastening element 31s may include at least one hooking portion, and the second fastening element 31t may include at least one receiving portion coupled to the at least one hooking portion.

As described above, the coupling of the side of the flexible heater 30 to the other side thereof may indicate that the side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may physically come in contact and engage with each other as the flexible heater 30 is bent or folded. The coupling may provide a temporary configuration, and thus may require an additional process of attaching the flexible heater 30 to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 by an adhesive, etc. and/or bringing the flexible heater 30 closer to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The receiving portion of the second fastening element 31t may be a portion to which the hooking portion of the first fastening element 31s fitted. For example, FIG. 7A shows the fastening elements 31s and 31t including the first fastening element 31s, which protrudes from one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction thereof, and the second fastening element 31t, which is formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the form of a cutting line into which the first fastening element 31s is fitted.

As another example, FIG. 7B shows the fastening elements 31s and 31t including the first fastening element 31s, which protrudes from the flexible heater 30 in the hook shape, and the second fastening element 31t which is a hole into which the first fastening element 31s is fitted.

The shape of the first fastening element 31s shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B is only an example, and it may have a different shape such as a polygon (e.g., a triangle or a quadrangle), a circle, a semi-circle, an oval, or the like. The second fastening element 31t may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the first fastening element 31s. The shapes of the first and second fastening elements 31s and 31t are not limited as long as one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction are coupled to each other by fitting the first fastening element 31s into the second fastening element 31t.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, as the side and the other side of the flexible heater in the circumferential direction meet, the first fastening element 31s may be coupled to the second fastening element 31t such that the side and the other side of the flexible heater may be coupled to each other. In this case, although the first fastening element 31s is not folded, the first fastening element 31s may be easily coupled to the second fastening element 31t. Also, as the first fastening element 31s is fitted into the second fastening element 31t, the side of the flexible heater may be firmly coupled to the other side thereof.

In another embodiment, FIG. 7C shows the first fastening elements 31s, which protrude from one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction thereof, and the second fastening elements 31t, which are concavely formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 and to which the first fastening elements 31s are fitted.

Referring to FIG. 7C, three first fastening elements 31s, which extend and protrude from one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, may be fitted into three second fastening elements 31t, which are recessed on the other side of the flexible heater 30. Thus, the one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be coupled to each other.

In FIGS. 7A and 7B, the fastening elements may include one first fastening element 31s and one second fastening element 31t, wherein the first fastening element 31s protrudes from one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, and the second fastening element 31t is formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the form of a groove to receive the first fastening element 31s. In FIG. 7C, the fastening elements 31s and 31t may include three first fastening elements 31s and three second fastening elements 31t, wherein the first fastening elements 31s protrude from one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, and the second fastening elements 31t are formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the form of a recess into which the first fastening elements 31s are fitted.

However, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments of FIGS. 7A to 7C, and each of the first fastening element 31s and the second fastening element 31t may vary in number. Also, the first fastening elements 31s may include both hooking portions and receiving portions, and the second fastening elements 31t may include receiving portions and hooking portions, such that the receiving portions and the hooking portions of the second fastening elements 31t respectively corresponding to the hooking portions and the receiving portions of the first fastening elements 31s. The shapes of the fastening elements are not limited to the examples shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C and the fastening elements may have other shapes as long as both sides of the flexible heater 30 can be engaged.

FIG. 8 shows a coupling structure of the flexible heater of FIG. 7A is fastened. In FIG. 8, when one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction contacts the other side thereof as the flexible heater 30 is rolled in a cylindrical shape, the hooking portion of the first fastening element 31s formed on one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be fitted into the receiving portion of the second fastening element 31t formed on the other side of the flexible heater 30.

As the first fastening element 31s is coupled to the second fastening element 31t, one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be coupled to each other such that the one side of the flexible heater 30 is disposed outer than the other side of the flexible heater 30. In detail, when both sides of the flexible heater 30 are coupled to each other, one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction is on the outside, and the other side thereof is on the inside, and the hooking portion of the first fastening element 31s is fitted into the receiving portion of the second fastening element 31t from the outside to the inside. Thus, the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be covered by the one side.

Alternatively, the hooking portion of the first fastening element 31s may be fitted into the second fastening element 31t in a manner that the other side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction covers the one side of the flexible heater 30. That is, when both sides of the flexible heater 30 are coupled, the one side of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction may be on the inside, and the other side thereof may be on the outside so that the hooking portion of the first fastening element 31s may be fitted into the receiving portion of the second fastening element 31t from the inside to the outside. In this case, the other side may cover the one side.

FIG. 9A schematically shows a heater assembly according to another embodiment. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the heater assembly of FIG. 9A.

The heater assembly 10 according to an embodiment may further include a tightening member 40 surrounding the outer surface of the flexible heater 30 to make the flexible heater 30 tightly attached to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20. The aerosol generating article 50 may be inserted into the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The adhesion of the flexible heater 30 to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may indicate that a gap between the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 is reduced. As the flexible heater 30 adheres to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 by the tightening member 40, heat loss may be minimized while heat generated by the flexible heater 30 is transferred to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The tightening member 40 may have elasticity or a thermal shrinkage property of shrinking with a temperature increase such that the tightening member 40 is pressed towards the flexible heater 30, that is, shrinks inwards. As such, the flexible heater 30 surrounded by the tightening member 40 may adhere to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20.

The tightening member 40 may include any material configured to press the flexible heater 30 toward the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, and specifically, any material having elasticity or a thermal shrinkage property of shrinking with a temperature increase to make the tightening member 40 is pressed towards the flexible heater 30. For example, the material may include at least one of heat-resistant synthetic resin, polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), and silicon, but is not limited thereto.

In addition, the tightening member 40 may include a heat-resistant material to withstand the heat generated by the flexible heater 30 and/or an insulating material to prevent the heat generated by the flexible heater 30 from being discharged to the outside.

According to an embodiment, as the flexible heater 30 includes the fastening elements, the opening of the flexible heater 30 or the generation of an adhesion deviation may be minimized during a process of firmly attaching the flexible heater 30 to the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, and the lifting, which may occur between the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 because of the adhesion deviation, may be prevented. For example, after the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and the flexible heater 30 are assembled, the tightening member 40 may be used to firmly attach the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and the flexible heater 30 to each other, and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 and the flexible heater 30 may be stably attached to each other by the tightening member 40 when the tightening member 40 shrinks, thus resulting in more effective heat conduction.

Although FIG. 9A shows that lengths of the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, the flexible heater 30, and the tightening member 40 may decrease in the stated order, this is only intended for easy understanding of the structure of the heater assembly 10 for an aerosol generating device. The thermally conductive heat transfer body 20, the flexible heater 30, and the tightening member 40 may each have any suitable length.

Also, although not shown in the drawing, a support pipe may be separately included, the support pipe including a material for blocking heat generated by the flexible heater 30 to prevent the heat from being discharged to the outside. The support pipe may be arranged outside the flexible heater 30. When the heater assembly 10 also includes the tightening member 40, the support pipe may be arranged outside the tightening member 40. A shielding layer for blocking heat transfer may be further arranged on at least one of an inner side surface and an outer side surface of the support pipe.

Furthermore, although not shown in the drawing, a protective film for protecting the flexible heater 30 may be further arranged on at least one of an inner side surface and an outer side surface of the flexible heater 30.

The method of manufacturing the heater assembly 10 of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment of FIG. 10 includes operation S100 of preparing the flexible heater 30, operation S110 of coupling both sides of the flexible heater 30 in a circumferential direction to each other, and operation S120 of assembling the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20. Also, operation S130 of processing the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 to adhere to each other may be further included after the above operations.

In the method of manufacturing the heater assembly 10, operation S110 of coupling both sides of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction and operation S120 of assembling the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may be performed simultaneously or in an order different from the order shown in FIG. 10.

Also, operation S130 of processing the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 to adhere to each other may be omitted according to embodiments. When operation S130 is performed, the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 may closely adhere to each other, and thus, the efficiency of heat transfer to the aerosol generating article increases.

According to an embodiment, operation S100 of preparing the flexible heater 30 may be an operation of providing a flexible heater that includes at least one first fastening element on one side and at least one second fastening element on the other side.

In operation S110 of coupling both sides of the flexible heater 30 in the circumferential direction, as the flexible heater 30 includes at least one first fastening element on one side and at least one second fastening element on the other side, fastening of one side and the other side of the flexible heater 30 may be eased when the flexible heater 30 is rolled in a cylindrical shape, and the process time may be reduced.

Also, in operation S130 of processing the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 to adhere to each other, the opening of the flexible heater 30 or the generation of the adhesion deviation may be minimized due to the fastening elements, and the lifting, which may occur between the flexible heater 30 and the thermally conductive heat transfer body 20 because of the above deviation, may be prevented.

The heater assembly 10 for an aerosol generating device may include the components described above. In an embodiment, the flexible heater may include the first flexible film, the electrically conductive track arranged on the first flexible film and having both ends connected to an external power supply, the second flexible film arranged on the electrically conductive track and attached to the first flexible film, the first fastening element, and the second fastening element. Also, in an embodiment, the first fastening element may be formed on one side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and the second fastening element may be formed on the other side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film. The electrically conductive track may not be arranged on the first fastening element and the second fastening element.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device 1100 according to another embodiment.

The aerosol generating device 1100 may include a controller 1110, a sensing unit 1120, an output unit 1130, a battery 1140, a heater 1150, a user input unit 1160, a memory 1170, and a communication unit 1180.

However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1100 is not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 11. That is, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1100, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 11 may be omitted or new components may be added. The sensing unit 1120 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 1100 and a state around the aerosol generating device 1100, and transmit sensed information to the controller 1110.

Based on the sensed information, the controller 1110 may control the aerosol generating device 1100 to perform various functions, such as controlling an operation of the heater 1150, limiting smoking, determining whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., a cigarette, a cartridge, or the like) is inserted, displaying a notification, or the like. The sensing unit 1120 may include at least one of a temperature sensor 1122, an insertion detection sensor, and a puff sensor 1126, but is not limited thereto.

The temperature sensor 1122 may sense a temperature at which the heater 1150 (or an aerosol generating material) is heated.

The aerosol generating device 1100 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 1150, or the heater 1150 may serve as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 1122 may also be arranged around the battery 1140 to monitor the temperature of the battery 1140. The insertion detection sensor 1124 may sense insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article.

For example, the insertion detection sensor 1124 may include at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and may sense a signal change according to the insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article. The puff sensor 1126 may sense a user's puff on the basis of various physical changes in an airflow passage or an airflow channel.

For example, the puff sensor 1126 may sense a user's puff on the basis of any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change. The sensing unit 1120 may include, in addition to the temperature sensor 1122, the insertion detection sensor 1124, and the puff sensor 1126 described above, at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a location sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor (illuminance sensor).

Because a function of each of sensors may be intuitively inferred by one of ordinary skill in the art from the name of the sensor, a detailed description thereof may be omitted. The output unit 1130 may output information on a state of the aerosol generating device 1100 and provide the information to a user.

The output unit 1130 may include at least one of a display unit 1132, a haptic unit 1134, and a sound output unit 1136, but is not limited thereto. When the display unit 1132 and a touch pad form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 1132 may also be used as an input device in addition to an output device. The display unit 1132 may visually provide information about the aerosol generating device 1100 to the user.

For example, information about the aerosol generating device 1100 may mean various pieces of information, such as a charging/discharging state of the battery 1140 of the aerosol generating device 1100, a preheating state of the heater 1150, an insertion/removal state of an aerosol generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generating device 1100 is restricted (e.g., sensing of an abnormal object), or the like, and the display unit 1132 may output the information to the outside. The display unit 1132 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 1132 may be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) light-emitting device. The haptic unit 1134 may tactilely provide information about the aerosol generating device 1100 to the user by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus.

For example, the haptic unit 1134 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device. The sound output unit 1136 may audibly provide information about the aerosol generating device 1100 to the user.

For example, the sound output unit 1136 may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output the same to the outside. The battery 1140 may supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 1100.

The battery 1140 may supply power such that the heater 1150 may be heated. In addition, the battery 1140 may supply power required for operations of other components (e.g., the sensing unit 1120, the output unit 1130, the user input unit 1160, the memory 1170, and the communication unit 1180) in the aerosol generating device 1100. The battery 1140 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 1140 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto. The heater 1150 may receive power from the battery 1140 to heat an aerosol generating material.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 11, the aerosol generating device 1100 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)/DC converter) that converts power of the battery 1140 and supplies the same to the heater 1150. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 1100 generates aerosols in an induction heating method, the aerosol generating device 1100 may further include a DC/alternating current (AC) that converts DC power of the battery 1140 into AC power. The controller 1110, the sensing unit 1120, the output unit 1130, the user input unit 1160, the memory 1170, and the communication unit 1180 may each receive power from the battery 1140 to perform a function.

Although not illustrated in FIG. 11, the aerosol generating device 1100 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts power of the battery 1140 to supply the power to respective components, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit, or a voltage regulator circuit. In an embodiment, the heater 1150 may be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material.

For example, the suitable electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 1150 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the heater 1150 may be a heater of an induction heating type.

For example, the heater 1150 may include a suspector that heats an aerosol generating material by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil. The user input unit 1160 may receive information input from the user or may output information to the user.

For example, the user input unit 1160 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (a contact capacitive method, a pressure resistance film method, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integral tension measurement method, a piezo effect method, or the like), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 11, the aerosol generating device 1100 may further include a connection interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may connect to other external devices through the connection interface, such as the USB interface, to transmit and receive information, or to charge the battery 1140. The memory 1170 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating device 1100, and may store data processed and data to be processed by the controller 1110.

The memory 1170 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card-type memory (for example, secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 1170 may store an operation time of the aerosol generating device 1100, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data on a user's smoking pattern, etc. The communication unit 1180 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device.

For example, the communication unit 1180 may include a short-range wireless communication unit 1182 and a wireless communication unit 1184. The short-range wireless communication unit 1182 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a near field communication unit, a wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit 1184 may include a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)) communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit 1184 may also identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 1100 within a communication network by using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)). The controller 1110 may control general operations of the aerosol generating device 1100.

In an embodiment, the controller 1110 may include at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable by the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware. The controller 1110 may control the temperature of the heater 1150 by controlling supply of power of the battery 1140 to the heater 1150.

For example, the controller 1110 may control power supply by controlling switching of a switching element between the battery 1140 and the heater 1150. In another example, a direct heating circuit may also control power supply to the heater 1150 according to a control command of the controller 1110. The controller 1110 may analyze a result sensed by the sensing unit 1120 and control subsequent processes to be performed.

For example, the controller 1110 may control power supplied to the heater 1150 to start or end an operation of the heater 1150 on the basis of a result sensed by the sensing unit 1120. As another example, the controller 1110 may control, based on a result sensed by the sensing unit 1120, an amount of power supplied to the heater 1150 and the time the power is supplied, such that the heater 1150 may be heated to a certain temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature. The controller 1110 may control the output unit 1130 on the basis of a result sensed by the sensing unit 1120.

For example, when the number of puffs counted through the puff sensor 1126 reaches a preset number, the controller 1110 may notify the user that the aerosol generating device 1100 will soon be terminated through at least one of the display unit 1132, the haptic unit 1134, and the sound output unit 1136. One embodiment may also be implemented in the form of a computer-readable recording medium including instructions executable by a computer, such as a program module executable by the computer.

The computer-readable recording medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. In addition, the computer-readable recording medium may include both a computer storage medium and a communication medium. The computer storage medium includes all of volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media implemented by any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. The communication medium typically includes computer-readable instructions, data structures, other data in modulated data signals such as program modules, or other transmission mechanisms, and includes any information transfer media. The descriptions of the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and equivalents thereof may be made.

Therefore, the scope of the disclosure should be defined by the appended claims, and all differences within the scope equivalent to those described in the claims will be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

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

a thermally conductive heat transfer body configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article; and

a flexible heater surrounding an outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body and configured to heat the thermally conductive heat transfer body according to power supplied from an external power supply,

wherein the flexible heater comprises:

a first flexible film;

a second flexible film attached to the first flexible film;

an electrically conductive track arranged between the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and having both ends connected to the external power supply;

at least one first fastening element arranged on one side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film; and

at least one second fastening element arranged on another side of the first flexible film and the second flexible film, and

wherein the flexible heater surrounds the outer surface of the thermally conductive heat transfer body as the first fastening element is coupled to the second fastening element.
The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the first fastening element and the second fastening element comprises a folded portion, and

as the folded portion of the first fastening element is coupled to the folded portion of the second fastening element, the one side and the other side of the flexible heater are coupled to each other in a circumferential direction of the flexible heater.
The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fastening element comprises at least one hooking portion, and the second fastening element comprises at least one receiving portion coupled to the at least one hooking portion.
The heater assembly of claim 3, wherein the hooking portion is inserted into the receiving portion.
The heater assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tightening member which surrounds the outer surface of the flexible heater such that the flexible heater is pressed towards the thermally conductive heat transfer body.
The heater assembly of claim 5, wherein the tightening member has elasticity or a thermal shrinkage property of shrinking with a temperature increase so that the tightening member shrinks in a direction towards the flexible heater.
The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the first fastening element and the second fastening element do not comprise the electrically conductive track.
The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive heat transfer body comprises a location setting member for setting a location of the flexible heater.
The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive heat transfer body comprises copper, nickel, iron, chromium, or an alloy thereof.
The heater assembly of claim 1, further comprising a support pipe arranged on an outer side of the flexible heater and comprising a material for blocking heat.
A method of manufacturing a heater assembly for an aerosol generating device, the method comprising:

providing a flexible heater comprising at least one first fastening element on one side and at least one second fastening element on another side;

coupling the one side of the flexible heater to the other side of the flexible heater in a circumferential direction by coupling the first fastening element to the second fastening element; and

assembling a thermally conductive heat transfer body and the flexible heater such that the flexible heater surrounds an outer side of the thermally conductive heat transfer body,

wherein the thermally conductive heat transfer body is configured to accommodate an aerosol generating article.
The method of claim 11, further comprising arranging a tightening member around the flexible heater such that the flexible heater is pressed towards the thermally conductive heat transfer body.
An aerosol generating device comprising: the heater assembly of claim 1; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the heater assembly.