JP7355212B2 - Sidestream smoke removal device and its control method - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a sidestream smoke removal device and a method of controlling the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability for smoking articles, and a control method performed with the device.

A sidestream smoke removal device is a type of smoking aid designed for the purpose of reducing hand odor and removing (purifying) sidestream smoke. A sidestream smoke removal device typically includes an internally sealed smoking space and a sidestream smoke removal means, and a user can smoke a cigarette by inserting a cigarette into the smoking space inside the sidestream smoke removal device.

However, since cigarettes are usually elongated, the upstream portion of the cigarette often shakes within the smoking space, and such shaking may cause problems in the smoking article not being properly ignited. .

In addition, many sidestream smoke removal devices that have been proposed to date have been designed and manufactured to fit cigarettes of specific lengths, so they cannot be universally applied to cigarettes of various lengths, and as a result, users However, there was a burden of having to purchase multiple sidestream smoke removal devices.

A technical problem to be solved through some embodiments of the present disclosure is to provide a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability for a smoking article, and a control method performed with the device. .

The technical problems of the present disclosure are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field of the present disclosure from the description below. .

In order to solve the above technical problem, a sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure includes a housing having a smoking space formed therein, and a housing located at one end of the housing, and a sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. an article insert defining an opening for a smoking article to be inserted into the article insert and arranged to resiliently support an upstream end of the smoking article as the article is inserted through the article insert; The smoking article includes an elastic support part, an ignition part that ignites a smoking article inserted into the smoking space, and a sidestream smoke treatment part that treats sidestream smoke generated from the smoking article inserted into the smoking space. But that's fine.

In some embodiments, the elastic support may be arranged to contract in the insertion direction of the smoking article by supporting the upstream end in a stretched state.

In some embodiments, the ignition part is coupled to the elastic support part and may be positioned to closely contact the upstream end of the smoking article as the smoking article is inserted.

In some embodiments, the smoking article may further include a support portion arranged to support a side surface of the inserted smoking article within the smoking space.

In some embodiments, the sidestream smoke treatment unit may include a filter structure that filters the sidestream smoke, and an exhaust fan that exhausts the filtered sidestream smoke.

In some embodiments, the housing may be formed with a vent hole through which outside air flows.

In some embodiments, a temperature sensor arranged to measure a temperature near a downstream end of a portion of smoking material comprising the inserted smoking article; and terminating smoking based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The device may further include a controller for sensing.

In some embodiments, the housing is formed with a vent hole through which outside air flows, and the sidestream smoke processing unit includes an exhaust fan that exhausts the sidestream smoke, and the sidestream smoke treatment unit includes an exhaust fan that exhausts the sidestream smoke, and the sidestream smoke treatment unit includes an exhaust fan that exhausts the sidestream smoke. The exhaust fan may further include a controller that closes the vent hole and stops operation of the exhaust fan in response to the sensing of the exhaust fan.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure described above, an elastic support may be arranged that can elastically support a smoking article inserted into the smoking space. As a result, the support stability for the smoking article is improved, and the shaking phenomenon of the smoking article at the time of ignition is prevented, and the ignition stability can also be improved.

Further, by forming the elastic support portion with an elastic body that can be stretched and contracted in the length direction, smoking articles of various lengths can be accommodated. As a result, the user does not need to purchase a large number of sidestream smoke removal devices, thereby reducing the user's purchasing costs.

Further, the ignition part may be combined with the elastic support part, and the ignition part may have a protruding shape. Accordingly, as the smoking article is inserted, the ignition part can pass through and come into close contact with the upstream end of the smoking article, and ignition stability and ignition performance can be greatly improved.

Further, by disposing the support portion that supports the side surface of the smoking article in the smoking space, the support stability for the smoking article can be further improved.

In addition, the vent hole and exhaust fan can be appropriately controlled depending on the progress of smoking, thereby improving the user's smoking satisfaction.

Also, an automatic extinguishing function may occur as the end of smoking is sensed. This minimizes the risk of fire and burns due to user carelessness.

The effects of the technical idea of the present disclosure are not limited to the effects mentioned above, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art from the following description.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device and various modifications according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device and various modifications according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device and various modifications according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a sidestream smoke removal device with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. 3 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a sidestream smoke removal device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. 7 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a sidestream smoke removal device according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an exemplary diagram for explaining a current smoking position determination method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present disclosure, and the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer with reference to the embodiments described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be embodied in various forms that are different from each other, and the following embodiments are merely intended to make the technical idea of the present disclosure complete. is provided to fully inform those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains to the scope of the present disclosure, and the technical idea of the present disclosure is defined only by the scope of the claims. be.

When adding reference numerals to components in each drawing, it should be noted that the same components have the same numerals as much as possible even if they appear on other drawings. Further, when describing the present disclosure, if it is determined that a detailed explanation of related known configurations or functions may obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed explanation will be omitted.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the meanings that can be commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. can be used. Also, terms defined in commonly used dictionaries are not ideally or overly parsed unless explicitly specifically defined. The terms used in the following embodiments are for describing the embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. In the following embodiments, the singular term also includes the plural term unless otherwise specified in the text.

Additionally, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. may be used when describing the components of the present disclosure. These terms are used only to distinguish the component from other components, and do not limit the essence, procedure, or order of the component. When any component is described as being "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" to another component, that component is not directly coupled to or connected to that other component. However, it should be understood that further components may be "coupled," "coupled," or "connected" between each component.

As used in this disclosure, "comprises" and/or "comprising" mean that the referenced component, step, act, and/or element is one or more other components, steps, acts, etc. and/or does not exclude the presence or addition of elements.

First, some terms used in the various embodiments of this disclosure will be clarified.

In the following embodiments, a "smoking article" refers to a smokable article, whether based on tobacco, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes. means any product or any product that can provide a smoking experience. For example, smoking articles may include smokable products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and the like.

In the following embodiments, "smoking material" refers to a material that generates smoke and/or aerosol or is used for smoking. For example, smoking material may include tobacco material. The tobacco material may include, for example, tobacco leaf chips, tobacco stems, or materials processed therefrom. As more specific examples, the tobacco material may include crushed tobacco leaves, crushed reconstituted tobacco, puffed shreds, puffed main veins, leaflets, and the like. However, it is not limited to these.

In the following embodiments, "upstream" or "upstream direction" refers to a direction away from the user's mouth, and "downstream" or "downstream direction" refers to a direction approaching from the user's mouth. means. The terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of the elements that make up the smoking article. For example, in the smoking article 30 illustrated in FIG. 1 and the like, the filter portion is located downstream or in the downstream direction of the smoking material portion, and the smoking material portion is located upstream or in the upstream direction of the filter portion.

In the following embodiments, "longitudinal direction" means a direction that corresponds to the longitudinal axis of the smoking article.

In the following embodiments, "puff" refers to inhalation by the user, and inhalation refers to the situation of drawing something into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

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

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the structure of a sidestream smoke removal device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, figures such as FIG. 1 illustrate the state in which the smoking article 30 is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 includes a housing 11, an article insertion section 12, a back cover 13, a heat insulating section 14, a temperature sensor 20, an ignition section 15, a sidestream smoke processing section 16, and a mesh net. 17, a display section 19, and a control section 18. However, FIG. 1 shows only the components related to the embodiments of the present disclosure. Therefore, those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will understand that other general-purpose components may be further included in addition to the components shown in FIG. For example, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a battery (not shown) for supplying power to electrical components (eg, the control unit 18, the display unit 19, etc.). Further, some of the components shown in FIG. 1 may not be essential components of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. That is, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may be implemented in a form in which some of the illustrated components are omitted. For example, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may be implemented without components such as the temperature sensor 20 and the display unit 19. Each component of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 will be explained below.

The housing 11 can form a smoking space inside the sidestream smoke removal device 1 and can form at least a part of the external appearance of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. Although FIG. 1 shows the housing 11 pointing to the side wall of the sidestream smoke removal device 1, the housing 11 covers all of the appearance-forming structures including the article insertion section 12, the back cover 13, and the insulation section 14. It may be something that you point to. In order to ensure the durability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 and to minimize the risk of breakage, the housing 11 is preferably made of a rigid material.

In some embodiments, a vent hole 111 may be formed in the housing 11 so that outside air can smoothly flow into the smoking space. The vent hole 111 can promote combustion of the smoking article 30 by allowing outside air to flow in during smoking, thereby greatly improving the smoking function of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. Although FIG. 1 illustrates that one vent hole 111 is formed in the housing 11, the number of vent holes 111 may be plural. Further, the formation position, size, interval, etc. of the vent holes 111 can be designed in various ways. Whether or not the vent hole 111 can be opened/closed and/or the degree of opening/closing can be controlled by the control unit 18, and this will be described later with reference to FIG. 8.

Next, the article insertion portion 12 may be located at one end (eg, the upper end) of the housing 11 and form an opening into which the smoking article 30 is inserted. A user can insert the smoking article 30 into the smoking space in the sidestream smoke removal device 1 through the article insertion part 12. In order to prevent the heat inside the smoking space from being released to the outside, the article insertion portion 12 is preferably made of a heat insulating material. Further, in order to prevent the inserted smoking article 30 from shaking, the article insertion section 12 preferably has a holder structure capable of holding the smoking article 30.

In some embodiments, the article insertion portion 12 may have a structure in which the size of the opening can be adjusted. For example, the article insertion part 12 may have a structure that allows the opening to be tightened or expanded slowly through manual operation. As another example, the article insert 12 may be configured to automatically tighten the opening to fit the smoking article 30. As a more specific example, the article insertion section 12 is controlled by the control section 18, and the control section 18 senses insertion of the smoking article 30 through a sensor, or receives user input (e.g., button pussy). At this time, the opening of the article insertion section 12 can also be controlled to be tightened. According to the present embodiment, the size of the opening is adjusted to fit the smoking article 30, thereby preventing the smoking article 30 from shaking and improving support stability. Furthermore, smoking articles of various sizes can be inserted, and the usability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can also be improved.

The smoking article 30 may be comprised of a downstream filter section and a smokable material section abutting the upstream end of the filter section. However, the detailed structure of the smoking article 30 can be changed as desired. The filter portion may include a filter material capable of filtering smoke, and the smoking material portion may include a smoking material. Examples of smoking articles 30 include, but are not limited to, combustible cigarettes, and smoking articles 30 may include any article that generates sidestream smoke when smoked.

Next, the back cover 13 is located at the other end (for example, the lower end) of the housing 11 and can function as a cover of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 . A gas discharge passage may be formed in the back cover 13 so that the sidestream smoke treated (purified) through the sidestream smoke processing section 16 can be discharged to the outside. For example, the back cover 13 may be formed with a gas exhaust passage such as a fine hole.

Next, the heat insulating part 14 is made of a material with low thermal conductivity, and can block the heat inside the smoking space from being released to the outside. The heat insulating part 14 is arranged on the outer surface of the housing 11 to prevent burns caused by internal heat when the user's body comes into contact with the sidestream smoke removal device 1 (for example, when holding the device 1 for smoking). It can play a role in preventing dangers in advance.

The temperature sensor 20 is then placed within the smoking space and is capable of measuring the temperature of the smoking article 30 inserted into the smoking space. The number, shape, arrangement position, arrangement interval, etc. of the temperature sensors 20 can be designed in various ways, and may vary depending on the embodiment.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1, a temperature sensor 20 may be positioned to measure the temperature near the downstream end of the smokable material portion. In such cases, the temperature sensor 20 alone can be used to accurately determine whether or not to terminate smoking without providing an additional monitoring module, since smoking typically terminates when the smoking material part is completely combusted. It can be understood that this point is taken advantage of. For example, the control unit 18 determines whether the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is equal to or higher than the reference value (for example, when the current smoking position has reached the downstream end of the smoking substance part), or if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 increases. Smoking can be determined to have ended when the combustion force decreases below the reference value (for example, when the combustion force becomes weak at the downstream end of the smoking substance).

In some other embodiments, multiple temperature sensors 20 may be placed at different locations within the smoking space. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of temperature sensors 20-1, 20-2 may be arranged along the length of smoking article 30. Alternatively, a plurality of temperature sensors 20 may be arranged at positions facing each other. Although FIG. 2 illustrates that two temperature sensors 20-1 and 20-2 are arranged, the number of temperature sensors 20 may be three or more. At this time, the arrangement intervals of the temperature sensors 20 may be the same or different. By using a plurality of temperature sensors 20, it is possible to more accurately monitor the progress of smoking (for example, the degree of progress of smoking) and obtain various monitoring information as described below.

In some examples, the initiation of smoking can be sensed through a temperature sensor (eg, 20-2) located near the upstream end of the smoking material portion. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that smoking has started when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor (for example, 20-2) is equal to or higher than a reference value.

In some examples, the degree of smoking progress of the smoking article 30 (e.g., current smoking (combustion) position) can be determined. This example will be described in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

In some examples, the plurality of temperature sensors 20 may be arranged at opposing positions relative to the inserted smoking article 30, or may be arranged circumferentially around the smoking article 30 within the smoking space (e.g., at 90 degree intervals). (four temperature sensors 20 may be arranged). In such a case, the degree of inclination (swing) of the smoking article 30 can be determined by comparing the temperatures measured by the plurality of temperature sensors 20. For example, if the measured temperature of a specific temperature sensor is higher than other temperature sensors, the control unit 18 can determine that the smoking article 30 inserted in the direction of the specific temperature sensor is tilted. Alternatively, if the temperatures measured by the plurality of temperature sensors 20 fluctuate above the reference value, the control unit 18 can determine that the inserted smoking article 30 is shaking.

In still other embodiments, a temperature sensor 20 having an elongated body may be placed within the smoking space. For example, an elongated temperature sensor 20 may be placed along the length of the smoking article 30. The temperature sensor 20 according to the present embodiment has a first portion of the elongated body capable of measuring the temperature of a first corresponding portion of the smoking material portion constituting the smoking article 30, and a second portion of the elongated body capable of measuring the temperature of a second corresponding portion of the smoking material portion. It may be implemented to be able to measure the temperature of The specific implementation method is irrelevant. In such cases, smoking progress can be monitored based on the measured temperature of specific portions of the elongated body. For example, the control unit 18 can determine the degree of smoking progress of the smoking article 30 by comparing the measured temperatures of each part of the elongated body.

In some further embodiments, the temperature sensor 20 may be arranged based on a combination of the embodiments described above.

The igniter 15 is then placed within the smoking space and can ignite the smoking article 30 inserted into the smoking space. The ignition unit 15 can be controlled by the control unit 18, and can also perform the ignition function by manual operation by the user. The number, shape, arrangement, etc. of the ignition parts 15 can be designed in various ways, and may vary depending on the embodiment.

In some embodiments, the igniter 15 may be placed in a fixed position. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the igniter 15 may be arranged to ignite the vicinity of the upstream end of the inserted smoking article 30. In such a case, the structure of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be simplified and the defective rate during manufacturing can be minimized.

In some other embodiments, the ignition part 15 may be designed and implemented to be movable. The specific implementation method is irrelevant. For example, the igniter 15 may be moved in the length direction by a user's manual operation or by control of the controller 18 . In some examples, the igniter 15 may be moved to the upstream end of the smoking article 30 in response to the control 18 sensing insertion of the smoking article 30. According to this embodiment, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be universally applied to smoking articles of various lengths, and the usability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be greatly improved.

Next, the sidestream smoke processing unit 16 is disposed within the smoking space and can perform various processes on sidestream smoke generated from the inserted smoking article 30. For example, the sidestream smoke processing section 16 is located between the inserted smoking article 30 and the back cover 13, and can perform a purifying function for sidestream smoke. Further, the sidestream smoke processing unit 16 may further perform an exhaust function to properly exhaust purified sidestream smoke to the outside. However, the detailed structure and operation method of the sidestream smoke processing unit 16 can be designed in various ways, and may vary depending on the embodiment.

In some embodiments, the sidestream smoke treatment section 16 may be configured to include a filter structure 161 and an exhaust fan 162, as shown. The filter structure 161 may perform a purification function against sidestream smoke, and the exhaust fan 162 may perform an exhaust function against sidestream smoke. For example, the exhaust fan 162 may suck sidestream smoke toward the filter structure 161 through rotation, and may smoothly exhaust the sidestream smoke that has passed through the filter structure 161 to the outside. The operation of the exhaust fan 162 can be controlled by the control unit 18, and this will be described later with reference to drawings such as FIG. 8.

Next, the mesh net 17 is disposed between the sidestream smoke processing section 16 and the back cover 13, and can function as a safety net. For example, the mesh net 17 can prevent certain objects (eg, some pieces of the filter part 161) inside the smoking space from coming off toward the back cover 13.

Next, the display section 19 is located on the outer surface of the housing 11, and can display various information under the control of the control section 18. For example, the display unit 19 can display information regarding smoking progress, device information, smoking history information, user information, and the like. Here, information related to smoking progress includes, for example, smoking progress information (for example, all information related to smoking progress such as degree of smoking progress, current smoking position, remaining number of puffs, smoking time, remaining smoking time, etc.), puff Information may include, but is not limited to, the number of puffs, the length of the puff, the interval between puffs, the intensity of the puffs, and all information related to the puff event, such as whether or not the puff is in progress. do not have. The device information may include, for example, information such as power supply status, presence or absence of a failure, battery status (for example, remaining battery power, whether charging is required, etc.), but is not limited thereto. The smoking history information may include, but is not limited to, the cumulative number of times of smoking.

The display unit 19 can visually display the various information by being equipped with a visual display means such as an LED display. However, the specific display means can be changed as desired.

Next, the control unit 18 can control the operation of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 in general. For example, the control unit 18 can control the operation of the exhaust fan 162, can also control the operation of the display unit 19, and can control the operation of other components included in the sidestream smoke removal device 1. You can also do that. Further, the control unit 18 can determine the progress of smoking with respect to the smoking article 30, check the status of each component of the sidestream smoke removal device 1, and check whether the sidestream smoke removal device 1 is in an operable state. You can also judge whether or not. A specific operating method of the control unit 18 will be described in detail later with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

The control unit 18 may be implemented by at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a large number 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. Further, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains will readily understand that the control unit 18 may be implemented with other forms of hardware.

Although FIG. 1 shows the control unit 18 as being located outside the housing 11 of the sidestream smoke removal device 1, this is only for convenience of understanding, and the arrangement position of the control unit 18 is can be changed as desired. For example, the control unit 18 may be placed at a specific position within the housing 11 to prevent failure due to external impact.

Meanwhile, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a module that provides audio and/or tactile output. For example, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 may further include a speaker, a vibration module, and the like. In such a case, the control unit 18 may further utilize the exemplified modules to provide various information to the user.

Also, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, a cutting portion 23 may be further disposed within the smoking space, as shown in FIG. 3. The cutting part 23 can provide a safe extinguishing function at the user's desired point by cutting the burning smoking article 30 to prevent further combustion, and prevents the risk of burns that may occur due to the user's carelessness (e.g. The risk of inadvertent burns when extinguishing a fire directly) and the risk of fire can be minimized. However, the implementation method of the cutting part 23 can be designed in various ways.

In some examples, the cutting portion 23 may be positioned at a fixed location and configured to cut a specific portion of the inserted smoking article 30. For example, the cutting part 23 may be fixedly arranged at a position where it can cut between the filter part and the smokable substance part. In such a case, a safe fire extinguishing function can be guaranteed regardless of the current smoking (combustion) position of the smoking article 30, and the structure of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be simplified.

In some other examples, cutting portion 23 may be configured to be movable. For example, the cutting section 23 may be configured to be moved by an external force (manual operation) by a user, or may be configured to be moved under control of the control section 18. As a more specific example, the cutting section 23 can be automatically moved to the vicinity of the current smoking (combustion) position of the smoking article 30 by the control section 18 . For the method by which the control unit 18 determines the current smoking (combustion) position of the smoking article 30, refer to the explanation of FIG. 10.

In some examples, the cutting section 23 may be caused by the user pushing a pussy button (not shown) provided on the outer surface of the housing 11, by twisting the housing 11, by extending or contracting the housing 11 in the length direction. It can be activated by the action of The cutting part 23 may have a structure that mechanically interlocks with the housing 11 so as to be operated by the illustrated operation, and the control part 18 may be embodied so that the cutting part 23 is actuated by the illustrated operation. It's okay.

The structure and various modifications of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. According to the above, information regarding the progress of smoking can be provided through the plurality of temperature sensors 20 and the display section 19, and a safe fire extinguishing function can be provided through the cutting section 23. Thereby, the usability and safety of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be improved.

However, in the case of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, only the downstream portion of the smoking article 30 can be supported by the article insertion portion 12, so there may be a problem that the smoking article 30 shakes during smoking. If the smoking article 30 shakes during ignition, the stability of ignition may decrease. Below, a sidestream smoke removal device 1 devised to solve such a problem will be described with reference to the drawings from FIG. 4 onwards. For the sake of clarity of the present disclosure, descriptions of contents that overlap with those of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be omitted, and the description will continue focusing on the differences.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are exemplary diagrams for explaining the sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 according to the first embodiment includes an elastic support portion 21 arranged to elastically support the upstream end of the inserted smoking article 30. May include. The elastic support portion 21 may include an elastic body that can be expanded and contracted, such as a spring, and may be arranged to contract in the insertion direction as the smoking article 30 is inserted. For example, the elastic support portion 21 is disposed longitudinally within the smoking space and can support the smoking article 30 by contracting due to the insertion force of the smoking article 30. Thereby, the support stability and ignition stability of the smoking article 30 can be improved.

The combination and/or arrangement of the ignition part 15 and the elastic support part 21 can be designed in various ways.

In some examples, as shown, the igniter 15 is coupled to the resilient support 21 and positioned such that the igniter 15 contacts the upstream end of the smoking article 30 as the smoking article 30 is inserted. It's okay. In this case, since the ignition part 15 performs the ignition function while supporting the upstream end of the smoking article 30 together with the elastic support part 21, the ignition stability can be further improved. Furthermore, since ignition is performed with the ignition part 15 in close contact with the upstream end of the smoking article 30, ignition performance can also be improved.

In the above example, the portion of the igniter 15 that contacts the upstream end of the smoking article 30 may have a sharp protruding shape (eg, needle shape). In such a case, the ignition portion 15 passes through the upstream end of the smoking article 30 as the smoking article 30 is inserted, thereby providing stronger support for the smoking article 30 during ignition. Of course, this allows the support stability and ignition stability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 to be further improved.

In some other examples, the ignition part 15 may be disposed at a different position from the elastic support part 21, and the ignition part 15 may be movably implemented. In such a case, the smoking article 30 can be supported through the elastic support part 21, and the ignition part 15 can be manually or automatically moved to the vicinity of the upstream end of the smoking article 30 to perform the ignition function.

On the other hand, although not shown in FIG. 4, the sidestream smoke removal device 1 has a structure for preventing the elastic support portion 21 from further expanding due to elastic force after the elastic support portion 21 contracts due to insertion of the smoking article 30. It does not matter how such a structure is implemented.

As described above, the support stability and ignition stability for the smoking article 30 can be improved through the elastic support part 21. In addition, since the elastic support portion 21 is arranged to be expandable and contractible in the length direction, smoking articles 30 of various lengths can be stably accommodated in the smoking space. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the entire smoking article 30 having the first length L1 and the second length L2 (L1>L2) can be stably placed in the smoking space through the elastic support 21. Can be accommodated. Accordingly, there is no need to manufacture a large number of sidestream smoke removal devices for smoking articles 30 of different lengths, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and reducing device purchasing costs for the user.

Below, with reference to FIG. 6, a sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the elastic support 21 may be arranged perpendicularly to the length direction (insertion direction) of the smoking article 30. That is, when the smoking article 30 is inserted in the vertical direction of the sidestream smoke removal device 1, the elastic support part 21 may be arranged in the horizontal direction. The ignition part 15 may be combined with the elastic support part 21 and may be brought into close contact with the upstream end of the smoking article 30 as the smoking article 30 is inserted. Even in such a case, since the elastic support portion 21 can support the smoking article 30, support stability and ignition stability can be improved.

Similar to the previous embodiment, the close contact part of the ignition part 15 may have a protruding shape, and in such a case, the support stability and ignition stability can be further improved.

Below, with reference to FIG. 7, a sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram for explaining the sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, a support part 22 that supports the side surface of the smoking article 30 may be further disposed within the smoking space of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. For example, as illustrated, a plurality of supports 22 may be arranged to support the side surface of the smoking article 30 at the first point and the side surface at the second point. In order to support specific points of the smoking article 30, a plurality of supports 22 may be arranged in the circumferential direction of the smoking article 30 (for example, four supports 22 are arranged at 90 degree intervals), and a ring One support portion 22 having a shape may be arranged. As described above, the number, arrangement, shape, etc. of the support parts 22 can be designed and implemented in various ways.

When the support part 22 supports the side surface of the smoking article 30, the support stability for the smoking article 30 can be ensured continuously even during smoking. Specifically, the elastic support part 21 can support the smoking article 30 until the early stage of smoking, but the supporting ability becomes weaker as smoking progresses. This is because the length of the smoking article 30 gradually becomes shorter due to smoking. In such a case, if the support portion 22 is placed at an appropriate position, the smoking article 30 can be stably supported until the end of smoking. Of course, when the support portion 22 is disposed, the support stability at the initial stage of smoking can be further improved.

On the other hand, although FIG. 7 illustrates a case where the elastic support parts 21 are arranged in the length direction, the elastic support parts 21 may be omitted depending on the case, or may be arranged perpendicularly to the length direction. good.

Above, a sidestream smoke removal device 1 with improved support stability and ignition stability according to some embodiments of the present disclosure has been described with reference to FIGS. 4-7. As described above, by disposing the elastic support portion 21 that can elastically support the smoking article 30 inserted into the smoking space, the support stability for the smoking article 30 can be improved. Furthermore, since the smoking article 30 is prevented from shaking during ignition, ignition stability can also be improved. Furthermore, by further disposing the support portion 22 that supports the side surface of the smoking article 30 within the smoking space, the support stability for the smoking article 30 can be further improved.

Below, control methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings from FIG. 8 onwards.

Each step of the control method described below may be performed by a control unit (eg, 18) of the sidestream smoke removal device (eg, 1). Further, each step of the control method may be implemented by one or more instructions executed by the control unit. The control method can be applied to various types of sidestream smoke removal devices, but for the sake of understanding, it is assumed that the control method is performed in the sidestream smoke removal device 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. Continue explanation. Therefore, in the following explanation, when the subject of a specific operation is omitted, it can be understood that the specific operation is performed by the control unit 18 of the illustrated device 1.

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a control method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. However, this is only a preferred embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that some steps may be added or deleted as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 8, the control method may start at step S10 of sensing the start of smoking. The method of detecting the start of smoking at this stage can be varied.

In some embodiments, the controller 18 can sense the initiation of smoking through a user input (eg, a button input, etc.) that activates the igniter 15. Alternatively, the control unit 18 may recognize the start of smoking through a user input requesting to start smoking (eg, button input, etc.) and operate the ignition unit 15.

In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 can sense the start of smoking in response to a determination that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is equal to or higher than a reference value. At this time, the temperature sensor 20 may be arranged, for example, to measure the temperature near the upstream end of the smoking article 30 within the smoking space.

In step S20, the control unit 18 may open the vent hole 111 (for example, partially open or fully open) in response to the detection of the start of smoking. This is because the outside air flowing in through the vent hole 111 can promote combustion of the smoking article 30. Further, the control unit 18 can operate the exhaust fan 162. This is because sidestream smoke generated during smoking can be smoothly exhausted as the exhaust fan 162 operates.

Meanwhile, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the control unit 18 can control the vent hole 111 and the exhaust fan 162 based on the user's puff event during smoking. However, the specific control methods are diversified.

In some examples, the control unit 18 can adjust the degree of opening and closing of the vent hole 111 based on the puff event. Specifically, the control unit 18 can further open the vent hole 111 when puffing, and open the vent hole 111 less when not puffing. In such a case, outside air can flow in more smoothly during puffing, and the combustion of the smoking article 30 can be further promoted. In addition, the problem of unpurified sidestream smoke leaking through the vent hole 111 during non-puffing can be alleviated. For reference, during puffing, not much sidestream smoke is generated and an airflow path is formed through which gas flows in through the vent hole 111, so even if the vent hole 111 is opened, the problem of sidestream smoke leaking does not occur. .

In some other examples, the control unit 18 can operate (rotate) the exhaust fan 162 in the opposite direction during puffing, and operate (rotate) the exhaust fan 162 in the forward direction during non-puffing. Here, the forward direction means a rotation direction that allows sidestream smoke to be sucked into the filter structure 161 side, and the reverse direction means the opposite rotation direction. In such a case, when puffing, airflow can concentrate on the upstream end side of the smoking article 30 to promote combustion, and when not puffing, sidestream smoke is sucked toward the filter structure 161, allowing the sidestream smoke to be smoothly exhausted. .

In some other examples, the control unit 18 controls the degree of opening/closing of the vent hole 111 and/or the rotational speed of the exhaust fan 162 based on information regarding the puff event (e.g., puff intensity, puff interval, puff length, etc.). can be adjusted. For example, when the puff strength increases, the puff length increases, or the puff interval decreases, the control unit 18 can further open the vent hole 111. In the opposite case, the control unit 18 can open the vent hole 111 less. This is because if the smoking article 30 does not burn smoothly, there is a high possibility that the puff strength will increase. Alternatively, if the puff intensity increases, the puff length increases, or the puff interval decreases, the control unit 18 may increase the rotational speed of the exhaust fan 162 (i.e., the rotational speed in the opposite direction) during puffing. I can do it. In the opposite case, the controller 18 may reduce the rotational speed of the exhaust fan 162.

In some other examples, the control unit 18 can also perform control based on the example combinations described above.

In the previous embodiments, the manner in which the controller 18 senses puffs can be varied. For example, the control unit 18 can sense a puff based on a change in temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20. Specifically, the control unit 18 can recognize that puffing has occurred when the degree of temperature change is equal to or higher than the reference value (for example, when the combustion temperature of the smoking article 30 increases instantaneously). This can be understood to be based on the phenomenon that combustion accelerates at the upstream end of the smoking article 30 during puffing. Further, the control unit 18 can also determine the puff strength based on the degree of temperature change. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that the larger the degree of temperature change is, the stronger the puff strength is, and the smaller the degree of temperature change is, the weaker the puff strength is.

In step S30, the control unit 18 can detect the end of smoking. At this stage, the method by which the control unit 18 detects the end of smoking may be varied, and may vary depending on the embodiment.

In some embodiments, the controller 18 can sense the end of smoking based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20. In this case, the temperature sensor 20 may be placed, for example, near the downstream end of the smoking material portion of the smoking article 30. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that smoking has ended if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 20 is equal to or higher than the reference value, or if the measured temperature increases and then decreases.

In some other embodiments, the controller 18 may also sense the end of smoking based on elapsed time since smoking began, puff events, and the like. For example, the control unit 18 can determine that smoking has ended if a certain period of time has elapsed after the start of smoking, if the number of puffs is equal to or greater than a reference value, or if no puff is detected for a certain period of time or more after a recent puff.

In some other embodiments, smoking termination conditions may be set. For example, the smoking termination condition may be set based on the number of puffs, the elapsed smoking time, and the like. In such a case, the control unit 18 can decide to end smoking in response to satisfaction of a preset smoking end condition.

In step S40, in response to sensing the end of smoking, the control unit 18 may perform an automatic extinguishing function. At this stage, the control unit 18 can perform the automatic extinguishing function in various ways.

In some embodiments, the controller 18 can close the vent hole 111 and stop the operation of the exhaust fan 162. In such a case, the inflow of outside air is interrupted by closing the vent hole 111, so that the smoking article 30 is naturally extinguished due to lack of oxygen.

In some other embodiments, the controller 18 may close the vent hole 111 and cause the exhaust fan 162 to operate for a certain period of time and then stop, or to operate continuously. In such a case, the inflow of outside air is interrupted by closing the vent hole 111, and the internal air is exhausted to the outside through the exhaust fan 162, thereby naturally extinguishing the smoking article 30.

In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 can also perform an automatic fire extinguishing function by operating the cutting unit 23.

In some further embodiments, the control unit 18 can perform an automatic fire extinguishing function based on a combination of the embodiments described above. For example, the control unit 18 may perform an automatic extinguishing function through a first extinguishing process of closing the vent hole 111 and stopping the operation of the exhaust fan 162, and a second extinguishing process of cutting the inserted smoking article 30 through the cutting unit 23. You can also do At this time, the first extinguishing process and the second extinguishing process may be performed regardless of order.

On the other hand, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the controller 18 operates the exhaust fan 162 in the forward direction (i.e., in the suction direction) for a certain period of time in response to the end of smoking being sensed. I can do it. In this case, the exhaust fan 162 collects smoking byproducts such as cigarette ash near the filter structure 161, making it easier to clean the inside of the sidestream smoke removal device 1. In some examples, controller 18 may also adjust the rotational speed of exhaust fan 162 based on the degree of exhaustion of smoking article 30. For example, if the smoking article 30 is completely exhausted, since there is more by-product, the controller 18 may cause the exhaust fan 162 to rotate faster, and vice versa. I can do it. The degree of exhaustion of the smoking article 30 can be determined based on the number of puffs, elapsed smoking time, current smoking position (see FIG. 10), and the like.

The control methods according to some embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to FIG. 8 . According to the above-described method, the vent hole 111 and the exhaust fan 162 can be appropriately controlled depending on the progress of smoking, so that the user's satisfaction with the device can be improved. In addition, an automatic extinguishing function is performed when smoking is finished, thereby minimizing the risk of fire and burns due to user carelessness.

Below, control methods according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 9. However, for the sake of clarity of the present disclosure, a description of content that overlaps with the control method illustrated in FIG. 8 will be omitted.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating a control method according to some other embodiments of the present disclosure. However, this is only a preferred embodiment for achieving the purpose of the present disclosure, and it goes without saying that some steps may be added or deleted as necessary.

As shown in FIG. 9, the control method may begin with step S110 of sensing the start of smoking. At this stage, the control unit 18 may also display a message on the display unit 19 to notify the user of the start of smoking. For further explanation regarding this step, please refer to step S10 illustrated in FIG.

In step S120, the controller 18 may monitor the progress of smoking. Here, the smoking progress status may include all situations related to smoking, such as the degree of smoking progress and puff events.

In some embodiments, the control unit 18 compares the measured temperatures of the plurality of temperature sensors 20 disposed at different positions to accurately determine the degree of smoking progress (or current smoking (combustion) position) of the smoking article 30. can be judged. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, it is assumed that a plurality of temperature sensors 20-1, 20-2, and 20-3 are arranged longitudinally in the smoking space inside the sidestream smoke removal device 1. let's. Then, the control unit 18 compares the temperatures measured by the first temperature sensor 20-1, the second temperature sensor 20-2, and the third temperature sensor 20-3, and determines the current smoking position of the smoking article 30 and the degree of smoking progress. I can judge. For example, the temperature measured by the first temperature sensor 20-1 is the lowest, the temperature measured by the second temperature sensor 20-2 is lower than the third temperature sensor 20-3, and the temperature measured by the third temperature sensor 20-3 is the highest. In this case, the control unit 18 can determine that the current smoking position of the smoking article 30 is between the second temperature sensor 20-2 and the third temperature sensor 20-3, and is closer to the third temperature sensor 20-3. . At this time, the control unit 18 can determine that the larger the temperature difference between the second temperature sensor 20-2 and the third temperature sensor 20-3, the closer the temperature sensor is to the third temperature sensor 20-3.

In step S130, the control unit 18 may display monitoring information through the display unit 19. However, the types of monitoring information and the specific display methods thereof can be designed in various ways.

In some embodiments, the control unit 18 may display information regarding the degree of smoking progress through the display unit 19. For example, the control unit 18 displays a display (e.g., a cigarette-shaped object) indicating the smoking article 30 (or the degree of smoking progress), and controls the display unit 19 so that the length of the display decreases as smoking progresses. can be controlled. As another example, the control unit 18 displays a display area (e.g., LED lighting area/section) indicating the degree of smoking progress through the display unit 19, and as smoking progresses, the control unit 18 displays the size of the display area (e.g., LED lighting area/section). The display unit 19 can be controlled so that the number of regions/sections is changed. At this time, the size of the display area may increase or decrease as smoking progresses.

In some other embodiments, the control unit 18 may display information regarding puff events through the display unit 19. For example, the control unit 18 can display the number of puffs. As another example, the controller 18 may display an indication that a puff is in progress in response to sensing a puff.

In step S140, the controller 18 can detect the end of smoking. At this stage, the control unit 18 may also display an indication indicating the end of smoking through the display unit 19. For further explanation regarding this step, please refer to step S40 illustrated in FIG.

On the other hand, when the end of smoking is sensed, the control unit 18 can perform an automatic extinguishing function and display an indication indicating automatic extinguishing through the display unit 19, and when automatic extinguishing is completed, a display indicating automatic extinguishing has been completed. can also be displayed.

Control methods according to several other embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. According to the above-described method, information regarding the progress of smoking can be displayed through the display unit 19. Thereby, the user can check the progress of smoking in real time through the display unit 19, and the usability of the sidestream smoke removal device 1 can be greatly improved.

At least some of the technical ideas of the present disclosure described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 may be embodied in computer-readable code on a computer-readable medium. The computer readable recording medium is, for example, a mobile recording medium (CD, DVD, Blu-ray disc, USB storage device, mobile hard disk) or a fixed recording medium (ROM, RAM, computer equipped type hard disk). There may be. The computer program recorded on the computer-readable recording medium may be transferred to another computing device via a network such as the Internet and installed in the other computing device, thereby causing the Can be used in other computing devices.

Even though all the components constituting the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above as being combined or operated as being combined, the technical idea of the present disclosure does not necessarily apply to such embodiments. It is not limited. That is, within the scope of the present disclosure, one or more of all the components may be selectively combined for operation.

Although acts are illustrated in a particular order in the drawings, it is not necessarily the case that the acts must be performed in the particular order illustrated or in a sequential order, or that it is only desirable if all illustrated acts are performed. It should not be understood as something that can produce the same result. Multitasking and parallel processing can be advantageous in certain situations. Moreover, the separation of various configurations in the embodiments described above is not to be understood as requiring such separation, and that the program components and systems described are generally integrated together into a single software product. It must be understood that software can be used as a software product or packaged into a number of software products.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains will be able to understand the present disclosure without changing the technical idea or essential features. It will be understood that it can be implemented in other specific forms. Therefore, it must be understood that the embodiments described above are illustrative in all respects, and are not restrictive. The protection scope of this disclosure should be interpreted according to the following claims, and all technical ideas within the scope equivalent thereto shall be construed as falling within the scope of rights to technical ideas defined by this disclosure. It should be.

Claims (9)

A housing in which a smoking space is formed;
an article insertion part located at one end of the housing and forming an opening for inserting a smoking article into the smoking space;
a resilient support disposed to resiliently support an upstream end of the smoking article as the smoking article is inserted through the article insert;
an ignition unit that ignites a smoking article inserted into the smoking space;
a sidestream smoke treatment unit including an exhaust fan that processes sidestream smoke generated from a smoking article inserted into the smoking space and exhausts the sidestream smoke;
a vent formed in the housing through which outside air flows;
a control unit that adjusts the opening/closing degree of the vent and the operation of the exhaust fan ;
The control unit includes:
in response to sensing the absence of a puff during smoking, opening the vent less and rotating the exhaust fan in a forward direction;
further opening the vent and rotating the exhaust fan in a reverse direction in response to sensing a puff during smoking;
closing the vent in response to sensing termination of smoking;
The sidestream smoke removal device, wherein the forward direction is a rotational direction that causes the sidestream smoke to be drawn into the filter structure, and the reverse direction is an opposite rotational direction. 2. The sidestream smoke removal device of claim 1, wherein the elastic support is arranged to contract in the direction of insertion of the smoking article by supporting the upstream end in a stretched state. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the igniter is coupled to the elastic support and is arranged to closely contact the upstream end of the smoking article as the smoking article is inserted. Device. 4. The sidestream smoke removal device according to claim 3, wherein the portion of the ignition part that is in close contact with the upstream end has a shape that protrudes so as to penetrate through the upstream end. The sidestream smoke removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a support portion arranged to support a side surface of the inserted smoking article within the smoking space. The sidestream smoke removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the sidestream smoke processing section further includes a filter structure that filters the sidestream smoke. The sidestream smoke removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a cutting section that cuts the smoking article disposed within the smoking space. further comprising a temperature sensor arranged to measure the temperature near the downstream end of the smoking material portion comprising the inserted smoking article;
The sidestream smoke removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit detects the end of smoking based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor. The sidestream smoke removal device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the control unit stops operation of the exhaust fan in response to sensing the end of smoking.

Images