JP2022540456A - PORTABLE AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE WITH SENSING FUNCTION OF AEROSOL FORMING SUBSTRATE AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to portable aerosol generating devices that generate aerosols by vaporization of inhaled substances, and more particularly to techniques that allow accurate sensing of aerosol-forming substrates through multiple electromagnetic properties. A portable aerosol generator with sensing capability for an aerosol-forming substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heater that generates heat when an electric current is applied, a battery that powers the heater, and an aerosol-forming substrate that is heated by the heater. , sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of the substance housed in the cavity, and a signal input from the sensing means when the power is turned on or during the heating operation, and a microcontroller for determining whether or not the cavity can accommodate an aerosol-forming substrate, or the type of aerosol-forming substrate, and for controlling subsequent heating operations.

Description

The present invention relates to a portable aerosol generating device that generates an aerosol by vaporization of an inhalant, and more particularly to a technology that can accurately sense an aerosol-forming substrate by means of multiple electromagnetic properties.

Aerosols are liquid or solid microparticles that exist in suspension in the atmosphere and usually have a size of 0.001 to 1.0 μm. In particular, aerosols derived from various types of liquids may be inhaled by humans for a variety of purposes, for example nebulizers are known for treating diseases.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a portable aerosol generator 10 controls a heater 14 that generates heat by resistance when a current is applied, a battery 16 capable of instantaneously supplying high power to the heater 14, and the heater 14. and a microcontroller 15 for The heater 14 generates an aerosol by heating a vaporizing material contained in the cavity 13 and containing a substance that vaporizes when heated above a certain temperature (vaporizing substance). For example, an aerosol-forming substrate 11 filled with paper impregnated with an inhalant or attached to its surface is inserted into said cavity 13 through an opening 12 and a button provided on a portable aerosol generator 10 is pressed. Then, when the heater 14 heats and vaporizes the inhalant in the aerosol-forming substrate 11 , the user can inhale the vaporized inhalant through the filter portion of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 . However, the above-described portable aerosol generator 10 does not operate when the user inadvertently presses the button when the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is not inserted, or when a foreign substance other than the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is activated. If the portable aerosol generator 10 is operated while the is inserted, the heater 14 may overheat or the portable aerosol generator 10 may malfunction.

Also, as prior art, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0007243 discloses that a tobacco-containing solid aerosol-forming substrate including a susceptor is housed in a cavity at the proximal end of the device housing, through a filter portion. A configuration is disclosed that allows aerosols to be inhaled. However, even such a configuration does not disclose a structure for sensing an aerosol-forming substrate.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0007243

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portable aerosol generator capable of controlling a heating operation by accurately sensing an aerosol-forming substrate.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a portable aerosol-forming substrate that can sense multiple electromagnetic properties of a substance contained in a cavity to accurately determine whether it is an aerosol-forming substrate. aim.

In addition, the present invention provides a portable aerosol generator capable of sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of a substance contained in a cavity, determining the type of the aerosol-forming substrate, and controlling the heating operation. for the purpose.

According to the present invention, a sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of a substance contained in the cavity, and a signal input from the sensing means at the time of power-on or during heating operation, to the cavity. and a microcontroller that determines whether the aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated or the type of aerosol-forming substrate and controls subsequent heating operations.

Also according to the present invention, the sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties is an antenna, and the antenna includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna.

Also, according to the present invention, the sensing means senses at least two or more of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern as the plurality of electromagnetic characteristics.

Also, according to the present invention, the heater is an induction coil type heater, and the sensing means comprises an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor connected to the heater.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable aerosol generator capable of accurately sensing an aerosol-forming substrate and controlling a heating operation by sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties associated with a substance contained in a cavity. can provide.

Further, according to the present invention, overheating or equipment failure can be prevented by sensing whether the aerosol-forming substrate is accommodated and controlling the operation of the heater.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generator capable of sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics by an antenna and determining whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generator capable of sensing changes in inductance and capacitance to determine whether an aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generator capable of determining the type of aerosol-forming substrate and controlling the heating operation.

The present invention also provides a portable aerosol generator with sensing and wireless communication capabilities for an aerosol-forming substrate through an antenna with Bluetooth® functionality.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portable aerosol generator according to one embodiment of the prior art; FIG. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of an aerosol-forming substrate that is housed in a portable aerosol-generating device with sensing capabilities of an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention and capable of generating an aerosol; 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generating device with sensing capabilities of an aerosol forming substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator with sensing capabilities of an aerosol-forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator with an aerosol-forming substrate sensing function according to yet another embodiment of the present invention; 1 is an exemplary flow chart illustrating a method of operating a portable aerosol generating device with sensing capability for an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is another example of a flow chart for explaining a method of operating a portable aerosol generator with a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention; FIG.

A portable aerosol generator with sensing capability for an aerosol-forming substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heater that generates heat when an electric current is applied, a battery that powers the heater, and an aerosol-forming substrate that is heated by the heater. a cavity for containing a; sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of the substance contained in the cavity; and a microcontroller for determining whether or not the cavity can accommodate an aerosol-forming substrate, or the type of aerosol-forming substrate, and for controlling subsequent heating operations.

Also, according to an embodiment, the sensing means is an antenna, the antenna comprising a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna.

Also, according to an embodiment, the sensing means senses at least two or more of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient and a radiation pattern as a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics.

Also, according to an embodiment, the heater is an induction coil type heater, and the sensing means comprises an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor connected to the heater.

Also, embodiments include an electrical conductor into which the aerosol-forming substrate is inserted into the cavity, and the heater is positioned to surround the electrical conductor.

Also, according to an embodiment, the conductor is a susceptor made of a material capable of generating an eddy current by a magnetic field and releasing thermal energy, and the heater is installed at a predetermined distance from the conductor.

The embodiment further comprises a Bluetooth antenna for wireless communication.

Also, according to an embodiment, the antenna is a 3-port antenna with a transmit antenna port, a receive antenna port and a Bluetooth antenna port.

A method of operating a portable aerosol generator with sensing capabilities for an aerosol-forming substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the steps of a drive initiation operation, the steps of measuring a plurality of electromagnetic properties, and the steps of measuring a plurality of measured electromagnetic properties. It includes a step of comparing an electromagnetic property and an allowable range of a plurality of stored electromagnetic properties, and a step of heating control.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the tolerance range of the plurality of already stored electromagnetic characteristics is each tolerance range set and stored by measuring the average value of the plurality of antenna characteristics. The steps include measuring a plurality of antenna characteristics.

Also, according to the embodiment, the step of comparing tolerance ranges of the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the stored electromagnetic characteristics includes determining whether each of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics is within tolerance. including the step of

Also, according to an embodiment, the plurality of antenna characteristics are at least two or more of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern.

Also, according to the embodiment, the heating control step turns on the heater when all the measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range, and even one of the measured antenna characteristics is allowed. If not, include controlling the heater to OFF.

Further, according to the embodiment, the heating control step turns on the heater when at least two of the measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range, and controls the heater to turn on the measured antenna characteristics. If two or more are not within the acceptable range, the heater is controlled to be OFF.

Further, according to the embodiment, the allowable range of the plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics is the allowable range of variation of the stored inductance value and capacitance value, and the step of measuring the plurality of electromagnetic characteristics includes the inductance value and the step of measuring a variation in the capacitance value, and the step of comparing tolerances of the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics, wherein the variation in the measured inductance value is determining whether the amount of change in the measured capacitance value is acceptable; and determining whether the variation in the measured capacitance value is acceptable.

Further, according to an embodiment, the heating control step controls to perform a heating operation when the inductance value is within the allowable range and the capacitance value is within the allowable range, and the inductance value and/or the capacitance value are within the allowable range. If not, control to stop heating.

The present invention will be explained in detail below on the basis of examples and drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of an aerosol-forming substrate that can be housed in a portable aerosol-generating device with sensing capabilities of an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention and capable of generating an aerosol. As shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol-forming substrate 11 comprises a tobacco body 11-4 containing cut tobacco as an aerosol-generating substrate at its upstream end and a liquid composition as another aerosol-generating substrate immediately downstream thereof. It has a structure in which a liquid cartridge 11-3, a paper tube 11-2 that provides an aerosol transfer passage immediately downstream thereof, and a filter 11-1 that works as a mouthpiece are laminated, and these are wrapped by wrapping paper 11-5. Wrapped. The relative positions of the liquid cartridge 11-3 with the liquid composition and the tobacco body 11-4 with cut tobacco leaves can be reversed. Further, the aerosol-forming substrate 11 may include only the tobacco body 11-4 and not the liquid cartridge 11-3, or may include only the liquid cartridge 11-3 and not the tobacco body 11-4. could be. According to embodiments, the liquid cartridge 11-3 may include a liquid composition containing glycerin PG and water, and a moisture absorber in which the liquid composition is absorbed. Also, according to an embodiment, instead of the liquid cartridge 11-3, a gel aerosol-generating substrate cartridge can be applied, for example, a gel aerosol-generating substrate comprising glycerin and gelatin, and a gel in which the gel aerosol-generating substrate is contained. It can also include a container. Also, the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 may vary depending on the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 .

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator with aerosol-forming substrate sensing capability according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a portable aerosol generator 10 with a sensing capability for an aerosol-forming substrate according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 14 that generates heat when an electric current is applied, and a battery that powers the heater 14. 16, a cavity 13 for containing an aerosol-forming substrate 11 that is heated by a heater 14, sensing means 17 for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties associated with the substance contained in the cavity 13, upon power-up, or During the heating operation, whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13 or the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is determined based on the signal input from the sensing means 17, and the subsequent heating operation is performed. and a microcontroller 15 that controls the . According to an embodiment, the sensing means 17 are antennas, comprising a transmitting antenna 17-1 and a receiving antenna 17-2. The transmitting antenna 17-1 and the receiving antenna 17-2 may be provided in one antenna to apply a two-port antenna. When an electromagnetic wave is radiated from the transmitting antenna 17-1 under the control of the microcontroller 15, the receiving antenna 17-2 receives the reflected signal and sends it to the microcontroller 15, and the microcontroller 15 receives the receiving antenna 17-2. It is determined whether it is the aerosol-forming substrate 11 based on the signal received from. In general, the electromagnetic characteristics of materials include antenna characteristics such as reflected signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients, and radiation patterns. In the case of a reflected signal, the intensity of the reflected signal varies depending on the properties of the material. For example, water and oil have the same signal before being reflected by the material, but different signals after being reflected by the material. Reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient are characteristics obtained by using an antenna. The reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient differ depending on the material, and the radiation pattern expresses the radiated power from the antenna as a function of direction, and the radiation pattern differs depending on the material. become. The microcontroller 15 determines whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 based on such reflection signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients and radiation patterns. Of the various aerosol-forming substrates 11 described above with reference, a plurality of electromagnetic properties, such as reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, and Tolerances are already stored for radiation patterns. For example, whether or not a liquid composition is included, or whether or not a gel aerosol-generating substrate is included, or whether or not only tobacco bodies are included, the position of the tobacco body and liquid aerosol composition, the tobacco body and gel form Depending on the position of the aerosol-generating substrate, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient and radiation pattern will appear differently, e.g. The coefficient and radiation pattern values, or respective average values, are stored as tolerances and compared with the values measured by the sensing means 17 so that subsequent heating operations can be controlled accordingly. For example, by default, the heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, the heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, or the aerosol-forming Tolerances can be preserved and the heating can be controlled such that the heating operation is performed only in the case of a dedicated aerosol forming substrate at the request of the substrate manufacturer. Also, the permissible range set by the manufacturer according to the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be stored and the heating can be controlled. Depending on the embodiment, a Bluetooth antenna 18 may be further provided in addition to the antenna for wireless communication with an external device 20 such as a smart phone.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator with aerosol-forming substrate sensing capability according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a portable aerosol generating device 10 with aerosol-forming substrate sensing capability in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention is similar to the embodiment described with reference to FIG. a battery 16 for supplying power to the heater 14; a cavity 13 for accommodating the aerosol-forming substrate 11 heated by the heater 14; Whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13 or whether the aerosol-forming base material 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13 or whether the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated or not is determined by the sensing means 17 for sensing the characteristics and the signal input from the sensing means 17 at the time of power supply or during the heating operation. and a microcontroller 15 that determines the type of substrate 11 and controls subsequent heating operations. The sensing means 17 is a three-port antenna with a transmit antenna port 17-1, a receive antenna port 17-2 and a Bluetooth antenna port 17-3. Therefore, a single antenna can perform the function of sensing the aerosol-forming substrate 11 and the function of wireless communication with an external device 20 such as a smart phone 20 . When electromagnetic waves are radiated from the transmitting antenna port 17-1 under the control of the microcontroller 15, the receiving antenna port 17-2 receives the reflected signal and sends it to the microcontroller 15, and the microcontroller 15 radiates the receiving antenna. Whether it is the aerosol-forming substrate 11 or not is determined by the signal received from the port 17-2. In general, the electromagnetic characteristics of materials include antenna characteristics such as reflected signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients, and radiation patterns. In the case of a reflected signal, the intensity of the reflected signal varies depending on the properties of the material. For example, water and oil have the same signal before being reflected by the material, but different signals after being reflected by the material. Reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient are characteristics obtained by using an antenna. The reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient differ depending on the material, and the radiation pattern expresses the radiated power from the antenna as a function of direction, and the radiation pattern differs depending on the material. become. The microcontroller 15 determines whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 based on such reflection signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients and radiation patterns. Of the various aerosol-forming substrates 11 described above with reference, a plurality of electromagnetic properties, such as reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, and Tolerances are already stored for radiation patterns. For example, whether or not a liquid composition is included, or whether or not a gel aerosol-generating substrate is included, or whether or not only tobacco bodies are included, the position of the tobacco body and liquid aerosol composition, the tobacco body and gel form Depending on the location of the aerosol-generating material, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient and radiation pattern will appear differently, e.g. The values of the coefficients and the radiation pattern, or their respective mean values, are already stored as tolerances and compared with the values measured by the sensing means 17, so that subsequent heating operations can be controlled accordingly. For example, by default, the heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, the heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, or the aerosol-forming Tolerances can be preserved and the heating can be controlled such that the heating operation is performed only in the case of a dedicated aerosol forming substrate at the request of the substrate manufacturer. Also, depending on the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, the permissible range set by the manufacturer can be stored and the heating can be controlled.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator with aerosol-forming substrate sensing capability according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a portable aerosol generator 10 with a sensing capability of an aerosol-forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 14 that generates heat when an electric current is applied, and a heater 14 that is powered. a cavity 13 for containing the aerosol-forming substrate 11 heated by the heater 14; sensing means 17 for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of the substance contained in the cavity 13; Alternatively, during the heating operation, whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13 or the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is determined based on a signal input from the sensing means 17, and subsequent heating is performed. and a microcontroller 15 that controls the steering operation. Here, the heater 14 is an induction coil type heater, and the sensing means 17 is composed of an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor connected to the heater 14 . In addition, a conductor 19 into which the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is inserted is provided in the cavity 13, and the heater 14 is installed so as to surround the conductor 19. For example, the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is drawn into the cavity 13 to form a cylindrical shape. When the conductor 19 is inserted into the hollow conductor 19 and starts heating, the conductor 19 receives thermal energy from the heater 14 and heats the aerosol-forming substrate 11 to generate an aerosol. The heater 14 is electrically connected to an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor, which is the sensing means 17 , and the inductance and/or capacitance values measured from the inductance and capacitance sensing sensor are input to the microcontroller 15 . When the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is inserted into the conductor 19 having a cylindrical hollow and contacts the conductor 19, the inductance value and/or the inductance value measured by the inductance and capacitance sensing means 17 from the heater 14 are detected. Or the capacitance value will change. Depending on the embodiment, the conductor 19 can also be made of a material, as a susceptor, that can generate an eddy current with a magnetic field and release thermal energy. Therefore, it is also possible to heat the aerosol-forming substrate 11 by placing the induction coil heater 14 at a predetermined distance from the conductor 19 and generating an eddy current in the conductor 19 as a susceptor by a magnetic field.

Inductance values and capacitance values appear differently as electromagnetic properties of materials. The microcontroller 15 determines whether the aerosol-forming substrate 11 has been accommodated in the cavity 13 by changes in inductance and capacitance values. Among the forming substrates 11, if necessary, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics set by the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, for example, tolerances for variations in inductance and capacitance are already stored. be. For example, whether or not a liquid composition is included, or whether or not a gel aerosol-generating substrate is included, or whether or not only tobacco bodies are included, the position of the tobacco body and liquid aerosol composition, the tobacco body and gel form Depending on the position of the aerosol-generating substrate, the amount of change in the inductance value and the capacitance value appears to be different. is stored as an allowable range and compared with the changes in the inductance and capacitance values measured by the sensing means 17 so that subsequent heating operations can be controlled. For example, by default, the heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, the heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate is involved, or the aerosol-forming Tolerances can be preserved and the heating can be controlled such that the heating operation is performed only in the case of a dedicated aerosol forming substrate at the request of the substrate manufacturer. Also, depending on the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, the permissible range set by the manufacturer can be saved and the heating can be controlled.

FIG. 6 is an example of a flow chart for explaining a method of operating a portable aerosol generator having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention, and showing the aerosol-forming substrate according to the embodiment of FIG. 3 or FIG. 2 is a flow chart for explaining an example of an operating method of the portable aerosol generator 10 having a sensing function of .

As shown in FIG. 6, the operating method of the portable aerosol generator 10 with the function of sensing an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention includes a step of starting operation, a step of measuring a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics, and a step of measuring comparing tolerances of the obtained plurality of electromagnetic properties and the stored plurality of electromagnetic properties; and heating control.

In (A), for example, a button (not shown) is operated to start driving. At (C), the microcontroller 15 uses the signal input from the sensing means 17 to generate a plurality of pre-stored antenna characteristics, such as each reflected signal, reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient. However, the stored multiple tolerances are each tolerances set and saved by measuring the average value of multiple antenna characteristics, and if each antenna characteristic is If all are acceptable, it is determined that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 of the portable aerosol generator 10, and in (D) the microcontroller 15 turns on the heater 20. , as predetermined, controls the heating operation, and if at (E) any one of the respective antenna characteristics is not acceptable, the microcontroller 15 determines that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is not contained in the cavity 13. It judges and controls the heater 14 to be off (OFF). According to the embodiment, the above-described antenna characteristics can be further applied to the reflected signal, the reflection coefficient, the transmission coefficient, and the radiation pattern as the antenna characteristics, and the above-described measured electromagnetic characteristics and stored electromagnetic characteristics. In the step of comparing the allowable ranges of the antenna characteristics, it is determined that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 when all the antenna characteristics are within the allowable range. If the above is acceptable, it can be determined that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 has been accommodated in the cavity 13 .

Depending on the embodiment, tolerances for the plurality of pre-stored electromagnetic properties may be set, for example, to be sensitive as an aerosol-forming substrate 11 only if it contains a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate, or a liquid composition. When it contains a substance or a gel-like aerosol-generating substrate, it is set so as not to be detected as the aerosol-forming substrate 11, or only in the case of a dedicated aerosol-forming substrate 11 at the request of the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. It can be set to sense as 11.

Also, according to an embodiment, if the permissible range is set and stored according to the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, in (C), the microcontroller detects each reflected signal according to the signal input from the sensing means 17. The type of aerosol-forming substrate 11 is determined by checking whether the antenna characteristics such as the reflection coefficient and the transmission coefficient fall within any allowable range. If each antenna characteristic is within an allowable range for any specific aerosol-forming substrate 11 that has been set, then the aerosol-forming substrate 11 that falls within that allowable range is placed in the cavity 13 of the portable aerosol generating device 10. After determining that the aerosol-forming base material 11 is accommodated, the microcontroller 15 turns on the heater 14 in (D), and then controls the heating operation as prescribed according to the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 . If, in (E), even one of the antenna characteristics is not within the allowable range, the microcontroller 15 determines that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is not accommodated in the cavity 13 and turns off the heater 14 ( OFF).

FIG. 7 is another example of a flow chart for explaining the operating method of the portable aerosol generator having a sensing function of the aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention, showing the aerosol formation according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 of the present invention. 4 is a flow chart for explaining an example of an operation method of the portable aerosol generator 10 having a substrate sensing function. As shown in FIG. 7, a method for operating a portable aerosol generator with a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention includes a drive initiation step, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristic measurement steps, and a measured a step of comparing allowable ranges of the plurality of electromagnetic properties obtained and a plurality of stored electromagnetic properties; and a step of heating control.

In (A), for example, a button (not shown) is operated to start driving. In C), the microcontroller 15 determines whether the amount of change in the inductance value is within the permissible range of the permissible range of the stored electromagnetic characteristics according to the signal input from the sensing means 17. to judge. If in (C) the amount of change in the inductance value is within the allowable range, then in (D) the sensing means 17 measures the capacitance value as an electromagnetic property of the material housed in the cavity 13, and if In (C), if the amount of change in the inductance value is not within the allowable range, in (F), the microcontroller 15 controls to stop heating. At (E), the microcontroller 15 determines whether the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the allowable range of the change amount of the capacitance value among the allowable range of the stored electromagnetic characteristics according to the signal input from the sensing means 17. to judge whether If at (E) the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the allowable range, then at (G) the microcontroller 15 controls the heating operation as prescribed; if at (E) the capacitance value is out of the allowable range, the microcontroller 15 stops heating at (F).

Depending on the embodiment, tolerances for the plurality of pre-stored electromagnetic properties may be set, for example, to be sensitive as an aerosol-forming substrate 11 only if it contains a liquid composition or gel aerosol-generating substrate, or a liquid composition. When it contains a substance or a gel-like aerosol-generating substrate, it is set so as not to be detected as the aerosol-forming substrate 11, or only in the case of a dedicated aerosol-forming substrate 11 at the request of the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11. It can be set to sense as 11.

Also, according to an embodiment, if the permissible range is set and stored according to the type of aerosol-forming substrate 11, in (C), the microcontroller 15 determines the inductance value according to the signal input from the sensing means 17. Checking if the amount of change is acceptable for any particular aerosol-forming substrate 11, at (E) the microcontroller 15 determines by the signal input from the sensing means 17 what the amount of change in the capacitance value is. The type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is determined by confirming whether it is within the permissible range for the specific aerosol-forming substrate 11 . If the amount of change in the inductance value and the amount of change in the capacitance value are within the allowable range for any specific aerosol-forming substrate 11, the aerosol-forming substrate 11 corresponding to the allowable range is portable. After judging that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 of the aerosol-generating device 10 for the purpose, at (G), the microcontroller 15 controls the heating operation according to the type of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 as prescribed. If the amount of change in the inductance value does not fall within any allowable range in (C), or if the amount of change in the capacitance value does not fall within any allowable range in (E), At (F), the microcontroller 15 controls to stop heating.

The present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the invention pertains can Of course, anyone can make various modifications, and such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

According to the present invention, an antenna is provided as sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties of a substance contained in a cavity, and a portable aerosol that can determine whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be contained and control heating. A generator can be provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generator that is equipped with sensing means comprising inductance and capacitance sensing sensors connected to a heater, and that can determine whether an aerosol-forming substrate is accommodated and control heating.

Claims (16)

a heater that generates heat by applying an electric current;
a battery for powering the heater;
a cavity for containing an aerosol-forming substrate that is heated by a heater;
sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic properties associated with the material contained in the cavity;
Whether the aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated in the cavity or the type of the aerosol-forming substrate is determined based on a signal input from the sensing means at the time of power supply or during the heating operation, and subsequent heating is performed. A portable aerosol generating device with sensing of an aerosol-forming substrate, comprising: a microcontroller for controlling the actuation of the aerosol-forming substrate. 2. The portable aerosol generator with sensing capability of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 1, wherein the sensing means is an antenna, and the antenna includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. Sensing function of aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensing means senses at least two or more of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient and a radiation pattern as a plurality of electromagnetic properties. A portable aerosol generator with 2. The portable aerosol generator having a function of sensing an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 1, wherein the heater is an induction coil type heater, and the sensing means comprises an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor connected to the heater. . 5. The portable device with sensing function of aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a conductor into which the aerosol-forming substrate is inserted into the cavity, and the heater is installed so as to surround the conductor. Aerosol generator. 6. The aerosol formation according to claim 5, wherein the conductor is made of a material capable of generating an eddy current by a magnetic field and releasing thermal energy as a susceptor, and the heater is placed at a predetermined distance from the conductor. A portable aerosol generator with substrate sensing capabilities. 4. A portable aerosol generator with sensing capability for an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 2 or 3, further comprising a Bluetooth antenna. Portable with aerosol-forming substrate sensing function according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the antenna is a three-port antenna comprising a transmitting antenna port, a receiving antenna port and a Bluetooth antenna port. aerosol generator for. a drive start operation step;
a plurality of electromagnetic characterization steps;
comparing tolerances of the measured plurality of electromagnetic properties and the previously stored plurality of electromagnetic properties;
A method of operating a portable aerosol generating device with sensing of an aerosol-forming substrate, comprising the step of heating control. The permissible range of a plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics is each permissible range set and stored by measuring the average value of a plurality of antenna characteristics, and the step of measuring a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics includes a plurality of antennas 10. A method of operating a portable aerosol generating device with sensing capabilities of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 9, comprising the step of measuring properties. The step of comparing the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the tolerance of the stored electromagnetic characteristics includes determining whether each of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics is within the tolerance. 11. A method of operating a portable aerosol generating device with a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 10, characterized in that. Portable aerosol with sensing function of aerosol forming substrate according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the plurality of antenna characteristics are at least two or more of reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient and radiation pattern. How to operate the generator. The heating control step turns on the heater when all of the measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range, and turns the heater on when even one of the measured antenna characteristics is not within the allowable range. 13. The method of operating a portable aerosol generator with a sensing function of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 12, comprising the step of turning OFF. In the heating control step, when at least two or more of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range, the heater is turned on, and two or more of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range. Otherwise, the operating method of the portable aerosol generator with sensing function of the aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 12, characterized in that the heater is controlled to be OFF. The tolerance range of the plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics is the tolerance range of the variation of the stored inductance value and the tolerance range of the variation of the capacitance value. and the step of measuring a variation in the capacitance value, and the step of comparing tolerances of the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics, wherein the variation in the measured inductance value is 10. The aerosol formation of claim 9, comprising the steps of: determining if acceptable; and determining if the amount of change in the measured capacitance value is acceptable. A method of operating a portable aerosol generator with substrate sensing. In the heating control step, when the amount of change in the inductance value is within the allowable range and the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the allowable range, the heating operation is controlled to control the amount of change in the inductance value or the change in the capacitance value. 16. The method of operating a portable aerosol generator with a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 15, characterized by controlling to stop heating if the amount is not within the acceptable range.

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