JP7458473B2 - Portable aerosol generator with sensing function for aerosol-forming substrate and method of operating the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a portable aerosol generation device that generates an aerosol by vaporizing an inhalation substance, and more particularly to a technique that can accurately sense an aerosol-forming substrate using a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics.

Aerosols are tiny liquid or solid particles suspended in the air, usually with a size of 0.001 to 1.0 μm. In particular, people may inhale aerosols derived from various types of liquids for a variety of purposes, for example, nebulizers are known for use in the treatment of illnesses.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portable aerosol generator according to an embodiment of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, a portable aerosol generator 10 includes a heater 14 that generates heat due to resistance when a current is applied, a battery 16 that can instantaneously supply high power to the heater 14, and a battery 16 that controls the heater 14. and a microcontroller 15 for controlling the microcontroller. The heater 14 generates an aerosol by heating a vaporization material that is housed in the cavity 13 and includes a substance that vaporizes when heated above a certain temperature (vaporization substance). For example, an aerosol-forming substrate 11 filled with paper impregnated with an inhalant or adhered to the surface thereof is inserted into the cavity 13 through the opening 12, and a button provided on the portable aerosol generator 10 is pressed. Then, when the heater 14 heats and vaporizes the inhalable substance in the aerosol forming base 11, the user can inhale the vaporized inhalable substance through the filter section of the aerosol forming base 11. However, the aforementioned portable aerosol generating device 10 may be activated by the user inadvertently pressing the button without the aerosol forming substrate 11 inserted, or if other foreign substances other than the aerosol forming substrate 11 are generated. If the portable aerosol generating device 10 operates in a state where the portable aerosol generating device 10 is inserted, there is a risk that the heater 14 may overheat or the portable aerosol generating device 10 may malfunction.

As prior art, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0007243 discloses a configuration in which a tobacco-containing solid aerosol-forming substrate including a susceptor is housed in a cavity at the proximal end of the device housing, and aerosol can be inhaled through a filter section. However, even with this configuration, no structure for sensing the aerosol-forming substrate is disclosed.

Republic of Korea published patent 10-2017-0007243

The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a portable aerosol generating device that can accurately sense an aerosol-forming substrate and control a heating operation.

The present invention also aims to provide a portable aerosol-forming substrate that can detect multiple electromagnetic characteristics of a substance contained in a cavity and accurately determine whether or not the substance is an aerosol-forming substrate.

Further, the present invention provides a portable aerosol generating device that can detect a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics of a substance contained in a cavity, determine the type of aerosol-forming substrate, and control a heating operation. The purpose is to

According to the present invention, there is provided a sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics related to a substance housed in the cavity, and a signal input from the sensing means when power is input or during a heating operation, and a signal is input to the cavity. and a microcontroller that determines whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated or the type of aerosol-forming substrate and controls subsequent heating operations.

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

Further, 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 a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics.

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

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable aerosol generating device that can accurately sense an aerosol forming substrate and control a heating operation using a sensing means that senses a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics related to a substance contained in a cavity. Can be provided.

Further, according to the present invention, overheating or equipment failure can be prevented by sensing whether or not the aerosol forming substrate can be accommodated and controlling the operation of the heater.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generating device that can detect a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics using an antenna and determine whether or not an aerosol forming substrate can be accommodated.

The present invention also provides a portable aerosol generating device that can sense changes in inductance and capacitance values to determine whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generating device that can control the heating operation by determining the type of aerosol forming substrate.

Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a portable aerosol generating device that has an aerosol forming substrate sensing function and a wireless communication function using an antenna equipped with a Bluetooth function.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portable aerosol generator according to an embodiment of the prior art. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of an aerosol-forming substrate capable of generating an aerosol and housed in a portable aerosol-generating device having an aerosol-forming substrate sensing function according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol forming substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an example of a flowchart for explaining a method of operating a portable aerosol generating device having a function of sensing an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention. It is another example of a flowchart for explaining the operating method of the portable aerosol generation device having the sensing function of the aerosol forming base material according to the present invention.

A portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heater that generates heat by applying an electric current, a battery that supplies power to the heater, and an aerosol-forming substrate that is heated by the heater. A cavity for accommodating the substance, a sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics related to the substance contained in the cavity, and a signal input from the sensing means when power is input or during heating operation, It includes a microcontroller that determines whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated in the cavity or the type of aerosol-forming substrate and controls subsequent heating operations.

In some embodiments, the sensing means is an antenna, and the antenna includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna.

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

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

Further, according to the embodiment, a conductor is provided in which the aerosol forming substrate is inserted into the cavity, and the heater is installed to surround the conductor.

In addition, in some embodiments, the conductor acts as a susceptor and is made of a material capable of generating eddy currents and releasing thermal energy by a magnetic field, and the heater is installed at a predetermined distance from the conductor.

Further, according to the embodiment, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) antenna for wireless communication is further provided.

Further, according to the embodiment, the antenna is a three-port antenna including a transmitting antenna port, a receiving antenna port, and a Bluetooth antenna port.

A method of operating a portable aerosol generator having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of starting a drive operation, a step of measuring a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics, and a step of measuring a plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics. The method includes a step of comparing an electromagnetic characteristic and an allowable range of a plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics, and a step of heating control.

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

Further, according to the embodiment, the step of comparing the permissible 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 the permissible range. including steps to

Further, depending on the embodiment, the plurality of antenna characteristics are at least two of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the heating control step is to turn on the heater when all of the measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range, and to control the heater to turn on (ON) if all of the measured antenna characteristics are within the allowable range. If not within the range, the method includes a step of controlling the heater to turn off (OFF).

Further, according to the embodiment, the heating control step includes controlling the heater to turn on (ON) when at least two or more of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics are within an allowable range. If two or more are not within the allowable range, the heater is turned off.

Further, according to the embodiment, the tolerance range of the plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics is the tolerance range of the amount of change in the stored inductance value and capacitance value, and the step of measuring the plurality of electromagnetic characteristics is the inductance value. and the step of measuring the amount of change in the measured inductance value, and the step of comparing the allowable ranges of the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics, the step of measuring the amount of change in the measured inductance value. The method includes a step of determining whether the measured capacitance value is within the permissible range, and a step of determining whether the amount of change in the measured capacitance value is within the permissible range.

In addition, according to the embodiment, the heating control step controls to perform a heating operation if the inductance value is within an acceptable range and the capacitance value is within an acceptable range, and controls to stop heating if the inductance value and/or capacitance value are not within an acceptable range.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on examples and drawings.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an example of an aerosol-forming substrate that can generate an aerosol and is housed in a portable aerosol-generating device having an aerosol-forming substrate sensing function according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the aerosol-forming substrate 11 includes a tobacco body 11-4 containing shredded tobacco leaves as an aerosol-generating substrate at the upstream end, and a liquid composition immediately downstream thereof as another aerosol-generating substrate. It has a structure in which a liquid cartridge 11-3, a paper tube 11-2 that provides an aerosol movement path immediately downstream thereof, and a filter 11-1 that functions as a mouthpiece are stacked, and these are separated by a wrapping paper 11-5. It will be wrapped. The relative positions of the liquid cartridge 11-3 with the liquid composition and the tobacco body 11-4 with shredded 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. Depending on the embodiment, the liquid cartridge 11-3 may include a liquid composition containing glycerin PG and water, and a hygroscopic body in which the liquid composition has absorbed moisture. Further, according to the embodiment, a gel aerosol generating substrate cartridge can be applied instead of the liquid cartridge 11-3, for example, a gel aerosol generating substrate containing glycerin and gelatin, and a gel containing the gel aerosol generating substrate. It may also include a container. Further, the types of aerosol forming substrates 11 may vary depending on the manufacturer of the aerosol forming substrates 11.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining a portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol forming substrate according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, a portable aerosol generating device 10 having a sensing function for an aerosol forming base material according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 14 that generates heat by applying an electric current, and a battery that supplies power to the heater 14. 16, a cavity 13 for accommodating the aerosol forming substrate 11 heated by the heater 14, and a sensing means 17 for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics related to the substance accommodated in the cavity 13; During the heating operation, it is determined whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13, or the type of aerosol-forming substrate 11, based on the signal input from the sensing means 17, and the subsequent heating operation is performed. and a microcontroller 15 for controlling the . According to an embodiment, the sensing means 17 is an antenna, and includes 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 emitted 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 emits the reflected signal from the receiving antenna 17-2. Based on the signal received from the aerosol forming base material 11, it is determined whether the base material is the aerosol forming base material 11 or not. Generally, antenna characteristics include a reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, radiation pattern, etc. as electromagnetic characteristics related to a substance, and antenna characteristics appear differently depending on the presence or absence of a substance and the properties of the substance. In the case of a reflected signal, the intensity of the reflected signal varies depending on the properties of the material. For example, in the case of water and oil, the signals before being reflected by the substance are the same, but the signals reflected after being reflected by the substance are different. The reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient are characteristics obtained using an antenna, and the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient differ depending on the material, and the radiation pattern is an expression of the radiated power from the antenna as a function of direction, and the radiation pattern differs depending on the material. It becomes like this. The microcontroller 15 determines whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 based on the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, radiation pattern, etc. Among the various aerosol-forming substrates 11 referred to above, if necessary, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics set by the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, such as reflected signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients, etc. A tolerance range is already saved for the radiation pattern. For example, whether the composition contains a liquid composition, a gel aerosol-generating substrate, or only tobacco bodies, the location of the tobacco bodies and the liquid aerosol composition, the tobacco bodies and the gel-form Depending on the position of the aerosol-generating substrate, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, and radiation pattern will appear differently; for example, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission The values of the coefficients and the radiation pattern, or their respective average values, can be stored as tolerance ranges and compared with the values measured by the sensing means 17, thereby controlling subsequent heating operations. For example, by default, a heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or a gelled aerosol-generating substrate is included, a heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or a gelled aerosol-generating substrate is included, or aerosol formation is performed. According to the request of the base material manufacturer, the heating can be controlled by preserving the tolerance range such that the heating operation is performed only in the case of a dedicated aerosol-forming base material. Further, it is also possible to save the permissible range set by the manufacturer according to the type of the aerosol forming substrate 11 and control the heating. Depending on the embodiment, a Bluetooth antenna 18 may be further provided in addition to the antenna to perform wireless communication with an external device 20 such as a smartphone.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a portable aerosol generator having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, a portable aerosol generating device 10 having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention is constructed by applying an electric current, as in the embodiment described with reference to FIG. a heater 14 that generates heat, a battery 16 that supplies power to the heater 14, a cavity 13 for accommodating the aerosol forming substrate 11 heated by the heater 14, and a plurality of electromagnetic A sensing means 17 that senses the characteristics, and a signal input from the sensing means 17 when the power is turned on or during a heating operation, determines whether or not the aerosol forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13, or whether or not the aerosol is formed. 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 that includes a transmitting antenna port 17-1, a receiving antenna port 17-2, and a Bluetooth antenna port 17-3. Therefore, one antenna can perform the sensing function of the aerosol forming substrate 11 and the wireless communication function with the external device 20 such as the smartphone 20. When an electromagnetic wave is emitted 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 emits the reflected signal from the receiving antenna port 17-1. Based on the signal received from port 17-2, it is determined whether it is the aerosol forming substrate 11 or not. Generally, antenna characteristics include a reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, radiation pattern, etc. as electromagnetic characteristics related to a substance, and antenna characteristics appear differently depending on the presence or absence of a substance and the properties of the substance. In the case of a reflected signal, the intensity of the reflected signal varies depending on the properties of the material. For example, in the case of water and oil, the signals before being reflected by the substance are the same, but the signals reflected after being reflected by the substance are different. The reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient are characteristics obtained using an antenna, and the reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient differ depending on the material, and the radiation pattern is an expression of the radiated power from the antenna as a function of direction, and the radiation pattern differs depending on the material. It becomes like this. The microcontroller 15 determines whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 based on the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, radiation pattern, etc. Among the various aerosol-forming substrates 11 referred to above, if necessary, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics set by the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11, such as reflected signals, reflection coefficients, transmission coefficients, etc. A tolerance range is already saved for the radiation pattern. For example, whether the composition contains a liquid composition, a gel aerosol-generating substrate, or only tobacco bodies, the location of the tobacco bodies and the liquid aerosol composition, the tobacco bodies and the gel-form Depending on the position of the aerosol generating material, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission coefficient, and radiation pattern will appear differently. For example, the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, transmission The values of the coefficients and the radiation pattern, or their respective average values, can be stored as tolerance ranges and compared with the values measured by the sensing means 17, thereby controlling subsequent heating operations. For example, by default, a heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or a gelled aerosol-generating substrate is included, a heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or a gelled aerosol-generating substrate is included, or aerosol formation is performed. According to the request of the base material manufacturer, the heating can be controlled by preserving the tolerance range such that the heating operation is performed only in the case of a dedicated aerosol-forming base material. Further, 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 generating device having a sensing function for an aerosol forming substrate according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, a portable aerosol generating device 10 having a sensing function for an aerosol forming substrate according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a heater 14 that generates heat by applying an electric current, and a heater 14 that supplies power to the heater 14. a cavity 13 for accommodating the aerosol-forming substrate 11 heated by the heater 14; a sensing means 17 for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics of a substance contained in the cavity 13; Alternatively, during the heating operation, it is possible to determine whether or not the aerosol-forming substrate 11 can be accommodated in the cavity 13 or the type of aerosol-forming substrate 11 based on the signal input from the sensing means 17, and to control the subsequent heating. and a microcontroller 15 for controlling the timing operations. Here, the heater 14 is an induction coil type heater, and the sensing means 17 includes an inductance and capacitance sensing sensor connected to the heater 14. It also includes a conductor 19 into which the aerosol-forming base material 11 is inserted, and the heater 14 is installed so as to surround the conductor 19. For example, when the aerosol-forming base material 11 is drawn into the cavity 13, When the conductor 19 is inserted into the conductor 19 with a hollow formed therein and a heating operation is started, 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 serving as a sensing means 17, and the inductance value and/or capacitance value measured from the inductance and capacitance sensing sensor is input to the microcontroller 15. When the aerosol forming base material 11 is inserted into the conductor 19 having a hollow cylindrical shape and comes into contact with the conductor 19, an inductance value and/or Or the capacitance value starts to change. According to some embodiments, the conductor 19 may be made of a material capable of generating an eddy current and emitting thermal energy by a magnetic field as a susceptor. 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, which is a susceptor, using a magnetic field.

As electromagnetic properties of the material, the inductance value and the capacitance value appear differently. The microcontroller 15 determines whether the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13 based on the changes in the inductance value and the capacitance value, and the microcontroller 15 has pre-stored a tolerance range for the amount of change in a plurality of electromagnetic properties, for example, the inductance value and the capacitance value, set by the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 among the various aerosol-forming substrates 11 described above with reference to FIG. 2, as necessary. For example, the amount of change in the inductance value and the capacitance value appears differently depending on whether the substrate 11 contains a liquid composition or not, whether the substrate 11 contains a gel-type aerosol-generating substrate or not, whether the substrate 11 contains only a tobacco body, the positions of the tobacco body and the liquid aerosol composition, and the positions of the tobacco body and the gel-type aerosol-generating substrate. For example, the amount of change in the inductance value and the capacitance value set by the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate 11 for the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is pre-stored as a tolerance range, and compared with the amount of change in the inductance value and the capacitance value measured by the sensing means 17, and the subsequent heating operation can be controlled accordingly. For example, the heating can be controlled by storing the tolerance range so that the heating operation is performed only when a liquid composition or a gel aerosol-generating substrate is included by default, the heating operation is not performed when a liquid composition or a gel aerosol-generating substrate is included, or the heating operation is performed only when a dedicated aerosol-forming substrate is used at the request of the manufacturer of the aerosol-forming substrate. Also, the heating can be controlled by storing the tolerance range set by the manufacturer depending on the type of aerosol-forming substrate 11.

FIG. 6 is an example of a flowchart for explaining the operating method of the portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for the aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention. 1 is a flowchart for explaining an example of a method of operating a portable aerosol generator 10 having a sensing function.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operating method of the portable aerosol generator 10 having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention includes a drive start operation step, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristic measurement steps, and a measurement step. The method includes the step of comparing the tolerance range of the plurality of electromagnetic characteristics that have been stored and the plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics, and the step of heating control.

In (A), for example, if the drive is started by operating a button (not shown), in (B), the sensing means 17 detects the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, and transmission as the electromagnetic characteristics of the substance accommodated in the cavity 13. In (C), the microcontroller 15 measures the antenna characteristics such as each reflected signal, reflection coefficient and transmission coefficient by the signal inputted from the sensing means 17, respectively. However, the multiple previously saved tolerance ranges are each tolerance range set and saved by measuring the average value of multiple antenna characteristics, and if each antenna characteristic is If all are within the allowable range, 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 controls the heater 20 to turn on (ON). , the heating operation is controlled as defined, and if in (E) at least one of the respective antenna characteristics is not within the acceptable range, the microcontroller 15 determines that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is not accommodated in the cavity 13. Based on the judgment, the heater 14 is controlled to be turned off. According to the embodiment, the radiation pattern can be further applied to the reflected signal, reflection coefficient, and transmission coefficient as the antenna characteristics described above, and the plurality of measured electromagnetic characteristics and the plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics can be further applied. In the step of comparing the allowable ranges of the antenna characteristics, it was determined that the aerosol forming base material 11 was accommodated in the cavity 13 when all of the antenna characteristics were within the allowable range. If the above is within the permissible range, it can also be determined that the aerosol-forming substrate 11 is accommodated in the cavity 13.

Depending on the embodiment, the permissible range of the plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics may be set such that it is detected as the aerosol forming substrate 11 only when it contains a liquid composition or a gel-like aerosol generating substrate, or it may be set such that it is detected as the aerosol forming substrate 11 only when it contains a liquid composition or a gel-like aerosol generating substrate. If the aerosol forming substrate 11 contains a substance or gel-like aerosol generating substrate, the aerosol forming substrate 11 may be set so as not to be detected, or the aerosol forming substrate 11 may be used 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 be detected as 11.

Further, according to the embodiment, if the permissible range is set and saved depending on the type of 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 the aerosol forming substrate 11 is determined by checking whether the antenna characteristics such as the reflection coefficient and the transmission coefficient fall within any of the allowable ranges. If each antenna characteristic is within the permissible range for any specific set aerosol forming base material 11, the aerosol forming base material 11 that falls within the permissible range is placed in the cavity 13 of the portable aerosol generator 10. After determining that the aerosol is accommodated, the microcontroller 15 turns on the heater 14 in (D), and then controls the heating operation in a predetermined manner depending on the type of the aerosol forming substrate 11. If at least one of the antenna characteristics is outside the allowable range in (E), 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 flowchart for explaining the operating method of the portable aerosol generating device having the sensing function of the aerosol forming base material according to the present invention, and shows the aerosol forming according to the embodiment of FIG. 5 of the present invention. It is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operating method of the portable aerosol generator 10 having a base material sensing function. As shown in FIG. 7, the operating method of the portable aerosol generator with the sensing function of the aerosol-forming substrate according to the present invention includes a drive start operation step, a plurality of electromagnetic characteristic measurement steps, and a plurality of electromagnetic characteristic measurement steps. The method includes a step of comparing a plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics and an allowable range of a plurality of stored electromagnetic characteristics, and a step of heating control.

In (A), for example, if a button (not shown) is operated to start the drive, in (B), the sensing means 17 measures the inductance value as the electromagnetic property of the substance accommodated in the cavity 13, and ( In C), the microcontroller 15 determines based on the signal input from the sensing means 17 whether or not the amount of change in the inductance value is within the permissible range of the permissible range of the stored electromagnetic characteristics. to judge. If in (C) the amount of change in the inductance value is within the permissible range, in (D) the sensing means 17 measures the capacitance value as an electromagnetic property of the substance accommodated in the cavity 13; In (C), if the amount of change in the inductance value is not within the permissible range, the microcontroller 15 controls the heating to be stopped in (F). In (E), the microcontroller 15 determines whether the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the permissible range of the stored electromagnetic characteristics based on the signal input from the sensing means 17. to judge. If, in (E), the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the allowable range, in (G), the microcontroller 15 controls to perform the heating operation as specified; If the amount of change in is not within the permissible range, the microcontroller 15 controls the heating to be stopped in (F).

Depending on the embodiment, the permissible range of the plurality of previously stored electromagnetic characteristics may be set such that it is detected as the aerosol forming substrate 11 only when it contains a liquid composition or a gel-like aerosol generating substrate, or it may be set such that it is detected as the aerosol forming substrate 11 only when it contains a liquid composition or a gel-like aerosol generating substrate. If the aerosol forming substrate 11 contains a substance or gel-like aerosol generating substrate, the aerosol forming substrate 11 may be set so as not to be detected, or the aerosol forming substrate 11 may be used 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 be detected as 11.

Further, according to the embodiment, if the permissible range is set and saved depending on the type of aerosol forming substrate 11, in (C), the microcontroller 15 adjusts the inductance value according to the signal input from the sensing means 17. It is confirmed whether the amount of change is within the allowable range for any specific aerosol forming substrate 11, and in (E), the microcontroller 15 determines which amount of change in capacitance value is within the allowable range for any particular aerosol forming substrate 11. The type of the aerosol forming base material 11 is determined by checking whether it is within the permissible range for the specific aerosol forming base material 11 . If the amount of change in each inductance value and the amount of change in capacitance value are within the permissible range for any particular set aerosol forming base material 11, the aerosol forming base material 11 that falls within the permissible range is The microcontroller 15 determines that the aerosol is accommodated in the cavity 13 of the aerosol generating device 10, and in (G) controls the microcontroller 15 to perform a heating operation in a predetermined manner depending on the type of the aerosol forming substrate 11. If in (C) the amount of change in the inductance value does not fall within any of the allowable ranges, or in (E) the amount of change in the capacitance value does not fall within any of the allowable ranges, In (F), the microcontroller 15 controls the heating to be stopped.

The present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field to which the invention pertains can understand the invention without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed in the claims. Of course, anyone can implement various modifications, and such modifications are within the scope of the claims.

The present invention provides a portable aerosol generating device that is equipped with an antenna as a sensing means for sensing multiple electromagnetic characteristics associated with a substance contained in a cavity, and that can determine whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be contained and control heating.

The present invention provides a portable aerosol generating device that is equipped with a sensing means consisting of an inductance and capacitance sensor connected to a heater, and that can determine whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate is present and control the heating.

Claims (9)

In a portable aerosol generator that generates an aerosol so that the aerosol can be inhaled by a user's inhalation action,
A heater that generates heat by applying current;
a battery that supplies power to the heater;
a cavity for accommodating an aerosol-forming substrate heated by a heater;
A plurality of electromagnetic properties, which are at least two of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern, or an inductance and a capacitance, related to the substance of the aerosol-generating substrate of the aerosol-forming substrate housed in the cavity. a sensing means for sensing;
When the power is turned on or during heating operation, the measured electromagnetic characteristics input from the sensing means are compared with the permissible ranges of the stored electromagnetic characteristics, and the and a microcontroller that determines whether or not an aerosol-forming substrate can be accommodated or the type of aerosol-forming substrate and controls subsequent heating operations, and has an aerosol-forming substrate sensing function. Portable aerosol generator. The sensing means for sensing a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics, which are at least two of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern, is an antenna, and the antenna includes a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. , A portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function of the aerosol forming substrate according to claim 1. 2. The portable aerosol generating device with a sensing function for 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. . 4. The portable device having a sensing function for an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 3, comprising a conductor into which the aerosol-forming substrate is inserted into a cavity, and the heater is installed so as to surround the conductor. Aerosol generator. 5. The aerosol forming method according to claim 4, wherein the conductor serves as a susceptor and is made of a material capable of generating an eddy current by a magnetic field to release thermal energy, and the heater is installed at a predetermined distance from the conductor. Portable aerosol generator with base material sensing function. When sensing at least two or more antenna characteristics of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern as a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics,
In the subsequent heating operation, if all of the measured antenna characteristics are within the acceptable range, the heater is turned on, and if any of the measured antenna characteristics are not within the acceptable range, the heater is turned on. The portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 2 , characterized in that the aerosol-forming substrate is controlled to be turned off. When sensing at least two or more antenna characteristics of a reflected signal, a reflection coefficient, a transmission coefficient, and a radiation pattern as a plurality of electromagnetic characteristics,
In the subsequent heating operation, if at least two or more of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics are within the permissible range, the heater is turned on (ON), and if two or more of the plurality of measured antenna characteristics are within the permissible range, the heater is turned on (ON). 3. The portable aerosol generating device with a sensing function of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 2 , characterized in that the heater is controlled to be turned off (OFF) if not. When sensing inductance and capacitance as multiple electromagnetic characteristics, the permissible range of the stored multiple electromagnetic characteristics is the permissible range of change in the stored inductance value and the permissible range of change in the capacitance value. The sensing means measures the amount of change in the inductance value and the capacitance value, and compares the measured electromagnetic characteristics and the permissible range of the stored electromagnetic characteristics. Claims 1, 3 to 5, characterized in that it is determined whether the amount of change in the inductance value is within a permissible range, and the method is characterized in that it is determined whether the amount of change in the measured capacitance value is within a permissible range. A portable aerosol generating device having a sensing function for the aerosol forming substrate according to any one of the items. The subsequent heating operation is controlled to perform the heating operation when the amount of change in the inductance value is within the permissible range and the amount of change in the capacitance value is within the permissible range. The portable aerosol generating device with a sensing function of an aerosol-forming substrate according to claim 8, characterized in that the heating is controlled to be stopped if the amount is not within an acceptable range.

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