KR102579422B1 - Aerosol generating device including gas purification function and gas purification device - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol generating device including a gas purification function includes an aerosol generating unit including a supply passage that generates and supplies aerosol and an exhaust passage through which gas discharged from the human oral cavity passes, and an inlet that receives gas from the exhaust passage and the gas. A main body formed with a discharge part that discharges to the outside, a light irradiation part disposed inside the main body and irradiating light, and a metal plate disposed in the gas flow path inside the main body and generating negative ions by absorbing at least a portion of the light irradiated from the light irradiation part. It includes a gas purification unit comprising:

Description

Aerosol generating device and gas purifying device including a gas purifying function {AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE INCLUDING GAS PURIFICATION FUNCTION AND GAS PURIFICATION DEVICE}

Embodiments relate to an aerosol generating device, and more particularly to an aerosol generating device and a gas purifying device including a gas purifying function.

In recent years, there has been a growing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of common cigarettes and smoking articles. For example, there is an increasing demand for a method of generating an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating material in a cigarette, rather than a method of generating an aerosol by burning a cigarette. Accordingly, research on smoking articles or devices that operate in various ways is actively underway.

Public Patent Publication No. 10-2017-0130689

The user of the aerosol generating device performs an action of inhaling an aerosol while holding the aerosol outlet of the aerosol generating device with his or her mouth, and performs an action of exhaling while removing his or her mouth from the aerosol discharge port.

The surface of the outlet may be contaminated as the user repeats the process of putting the aerosol outlet in and out of the mouth, and the moment the user takes the mouth off the aerosol outlet, the temperature of the atomizer may decrease and the amount of atomization may change. Additionally, after a user inhales an aerosol, the gas discharged to the outside may contain pollutants or odors.

Accordingly, the problem to be solved by the embodiments is to provide an aerosol generating device and a gas purifying device that can be used cleanly and include a gas purifying function.

The problems to be solved through the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from this specification and the attached drawings. will be.

An aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to an embodiment includes an aerosol generating unit including a supply passage that generates and supplies aerosol, an exhaust passage through which gas discharged from the oral cavity of the human body passes, and an aerosol generating unit that receives gas from the exhaust passage. A main body formed with an inlet part and an outlet part for discharging gas to the outside, a light irradiation part disposed inside the main body and irradiating light, and a light irradiation part disposed in the flow path of the gas inside the main body and absorbing at least a portion of the light irradiated from the light irradiation part to generate negative ions. It includes a gas purification unit including a metal plate that generates.

A gas purification device according to another embodiment includes a main body formed on one side and the other side with an inlet part through which gas discharged from the human oral cavity flows in and an outlet part through which the gas is discharged to the outside, a light irradiation part disposed inside the main body and irradiating light, It includes a metal plate disposed in a gas flow path inside the main body and generating negative ions by absorbing at least a portion of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit.

The solution to the problem is not limited to the above, and may include all matters that can be inferred by a person skilled in the art throughout this specification.

According to the aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to the embodiments, the user can perform the action of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol with the mouth open, enabling convenient and clean use of the aerosol generating device, The gas purification function allows users to purify contaminants contained in the gas exhaled after inhaling aerosol and emit clean gas.

The effects of the embodiments are not limited to those described above, and may include all effects that can be inferred from the configuration described later.

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an operating state of an aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing another operating state of an aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the gas purification function of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is another conceptual diagram illustrating the gas purification function of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an isolated state of the aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating state of a gas purification device according to another embodiment.

The terms used in the embodiments are general terms that are currently widely used as much as possible while considering the functions in the present disclosure, but this may vary depending on the intention or precedent of a person working in the art, the emergence of new technology, etc. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning will be described in detail in the description of the relevant invention. Therefore, the terms used in this disclosure should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall content of this disclosure, rather than simply the name of the term.

Throughout the specification, 'examples' is an arbitrary division for easily explaining the invention in the present disclosure, and each embodiment does not need to be mutually exclusive. For example, configurations disclosed in one embodiment may be applied and/or implemented in another embodiment, and may be applied and/or implemented with changes without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Additionally, the terms used in this specification are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the embodiments. In this disclosure, the singular form also includes the plural form unless otherwise specified.

When it is said that a part "includes" a certain element throughout the specification, this means that, unless specifically stated to the contrary, it does not exclude other elements but may further include other elements. In addition, terms such as "...unit" and "...module" used in the specification refer to a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which is implemented as hardware or software, or as a combination of hardware and software. It can be.

Additionally, the aerosol generating device herein may be a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol generating material to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

Additionally, in this specification, “puff” refers to the user's inhalation, and inhalation may refer to a situation where the puff is pulled into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” or “second” used in this specification may be used to describe various components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

Throughout the specification, “aerosol-generating article” means an article used for smoking. For example, the aerosol-generating article may be a regular combustion cigarette that is used by igniting and burning, or it may be a heated cigarette that is used by being heated by an aerosol-generating device. As another example, an aerosol-generating article may be an article used in a manner in which a liquid contained in a cartridge is heated.

Below, with reference to the attached drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail so that those skilled in the art can easily practice them. However, the present disclosure may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an operating state of an aerosol generating device including a gas purifying function according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an aerosol generating device including a gas purifying function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. This is a cross-sectional view schematically showing different operating states.

Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device including a gas purifying function according to one embodiment includes an aerosol generating unit 100 and a gas purifying unit 200. The aerosol generating unit 100 and the gas purification unit 200 may be separated and connected by a connection portion 202.

The aerosol generating unit 100 can supply aerosol to the user and the gas discharged by the user to the gas purification unit 200, and includes a heater 132 or an atomizer that operates by using electricity, an induced magnetic field, or ultrasonic waves. (130) may be a device that generates an aerosol by heating and vaporizing or atomizing the aerosol generating material.

Referring to FIG. 1, a storage tank 133 and an atomizer 130 for accommodating aerosol generating materials are installed inside the aerosol generating unit 100. The aerosol-generating material may be, for example, a material in a liquid state or a gel state. The aerosol-generating material may be maintained in an impregnated state inside the storage tank 133 by an absorbent material such as a liquid sponge or cotton, or a porous material such as ceramic.

The storage tank 133 may hold the aerosol-generating material therein and simultaneously supply the aerosol-generating material to the atomizer 130.

The aerosol-generating material may be a liquid material and may include, for example, tobacco-containing materials, including volatile tobacco flavor components, or non-tobacco materials.

The aerosol-generating substance may be at least one of nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), and glycerin, or a mixture thereof. Nicotine may be nicotine contained in tobacco material obtained by molding or reconstitution of tobacco leaves. Nicotine may also include one of free base nicotine, nicotine salt, or a combination thereof.

Aerosol-generating substances may include nicotine or nicotine salts. Nicotine salts can be formed by adding a suitable acid, including an organic or inorganic acid, to nicotine. Nicotine is either naturally occurring nicotine or synthetic nicotine and can have a concentration of any suitable weight relative to the total solution weight of the liquid aerosol-generating material.

The acid for forming nicotine salt may be appropriately selected considering the absorption rate of nicotine in the blood, the operating temperature of the atomizer 130, flavor or flavor, solubility, etc. For example, acids for the formation of nicotine salts include benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sobric acid, levulinic acid, pyruvic acid, formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid. , citric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, phenylacetic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, saccharic acid, malonic acid and malic acid, or a single acid selected from the group consisting of the above. It may be, but is not limited to, a mixture of acids selected from the group.

Propylene glycol and glycerin contained in the liquid aerosol generating material are aerosol forming agents, and when propylene glycol and glycerin are atomized, an aerosol may be generated. For example, the liquid aerosol generating material may include a solution of glycerin and propylene glycol in any weight ratio with added nicotine.

The liquid aerosol-generating material may also include any one or a mixture of these components, for example, water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, fragrances, flavoring agents and vitamin mixtures. Fragrances may include, but are not limited to, menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavor ingredients.

Flavoring agents may include ingredients that can provide various flavors or flavors to the user. The vitamin mixture may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 1, an atomizer 130 that generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol-generating material is installed on the lower side of the storage tank 133 inside the aerosol generating unit 100.

The aerosol generating unit 100 is installed with a power source 190 that supplies power to the atomizer 130 and a controller 180 implemented by a control chip or control circuit board that controls the operation of the atomizer 130. .

The power source 190 supplies the power necessary for the operation of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function. The power source 190 may be electrically connected to the atomizer 130 and supply power to the atomizer 130. Power source 190 may also supply power necessary for the operation of other hardware components of the aerosol generating device.

As will be described later, the power source 190 may supply power necessary for the operation of the aerosol generating unit 100 as well as the gas purification unit 200. In addition, a separate power source 290 is installed in the gas purification unit 200, so that the power source 190 of the aerosol generating unit 100 supplies the power necessary for the operation of the aerosol generating unit 100, and the gas purification unit ( The power source 290 of 200 may supply power necessary for operation of the gas purification unit 200.

Power sources 190 and 290 may be rechargeable batteries or disposable batteries. For example, the power sources 190 and 290 may be, but are not limited to, lithium polymer batteries.

The controller 180 is hardware that controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating device, including the gas purification function. The controller 180 is electrically connected to the atomizer 130 and the power source 190 and can control the power supplied to the atomizer 130. As will be described later, the controller 180 is installed only in the aerosol generating unit 100 to control the operation of the gas purification unit 200, or a separate controller 280 is installed in the gas purifying unit 200 to control the operation of the aerosol generating unit 200. The controller 180 of 100 may control the operation of the aerosol generating unit 100 and the controller 280 of the gas purification unit 200 may control the operation of the gas purification unit 200.

Controllers 180 and 280 may include a plurality of controllers. Controllers 180, 280 may be implemented as an array of multiple logic gates. The controllers 180 and 280 may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microcontroller and a memory storing a program that can be executed on the microcontroller. Additionally, the controllers 180 and 280 may be implemented with other types of hardware.

The atomizer 130 includes a wick 131 that absorbs and retains aerosol-generating substances from the storage tank 133, and is wound around the wick 131, in contact with the wick 131, or disposed adjacent to the wick 131 to generate aerosol. It includes a heater 132 that heats the material to generate an aerosol. An aerosol generation chamber 130c is formed around the heater 132 to create an atmosphere for aerosol generation.

The aerosol generating unit 100 may include an air hole 130a for introducing air outside the aerosol generating device into the aerosol generating chamber 130c when the user performs an inhalation operation. Air introduced into the aerosol generation chamber 130c through the air hole 130a is mixed with vaporized particles generated in the atomizer 130 to generate an aerosol.

The atomizer 130 functions to generate an aerosol by converting the phase of the aerosol-generating material into a gas phase. An aerosol may refer to a gas that is a mixture of vaporized particles generated from an aerosol-generating material and air.

The heater 132 includes a connection terminal 132t that is electrically connected to the power supply terminal of the power source 190.

The heater 132 may be an electrical resistive heating element that generates heat by electricity supplied from the power source 190. Although the atomizer 130 includes an electrically resistive heating element, embodiments are not limited by the configuration of the atomizer 130. For example, the atomizer 130 may generate an aerosol using an ultrasonic method that atomizes a liquid aerosol-generating material using an ultrasonic vibrator, or it may generate an aerosol by heating and vaporizing a liquid aerosol-generating material using an induction heating method. .

The storage tank 133 includes a supply passage 110 that extends through the storage tank 133 and delivers the aerosol. The supply passage 110 extends along the longitudinal direction of the aerosol generating device and is formed by a supply pipe 110p penetrating the reservoir 133. A mouthpiece (110m) may be installed at the top of the aerosol generating unit 100 to discharge the aerosol that has passed through the supply passage 110 to the outside.

Embodiments are not limited by the method of forming the supply passage 110 by installing the supply pipe 110p, and the supply passage may be formed in various ways. For example, when manufacturing the outer case of the aerosol generating unit 100 by injection molding, the supply passage 110 may be formed by forming a flow path in a portion of the outer case.

1 and 2, the supply passage 110 is formed to pass through the storage tank 133, but the embodiments are not limited by the location of the supply passage 110. For example, the supply passage 110 may be formed outside the storage tank 133.

The supply passage 110 may maintain a constant width and extend along the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol generating unit 100. As another example, the supply passage 110 may have a width that changes along the longitudinal central axis of the aerosol generating unit 100, and the size and shape of the supply passage 110 may change as needed.

The supply passage 110 provides a flow passage through which the aerosol generated by atomizing the aerosol-generating material passes. The supply passage 110 may form part of an airflow path through which the aerosol generated in the atomizer 130 passes. The airflow path may be a path including the aerosol generating chamber 130c of the atomizer 130, which generates aerosol, the supply passage 110, and the mouthpiece 110m. The aerosol generated by atomizing the aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating chamber 130c may flow to the mouthpiece 110m of the aerosol generating unit 100 along the supply passage 110.

The heater 132 may be heated by power supplied from the power source 190. For example, when the user starts a suction operation to inhale air through the supply passage 110, the heater 132 may perform a heating operation.

A separate suction detection sensor (puff sensor) can be installed in the supply passage 110 to detect the user's suction motion. The puff sensor may perform a function of detecting an aerosol flow phenomenon that occurs in connection with the user's aerosol inhalation motion. For example, the puff sensor is connected to the supply passage 110 and generates a signal by detecting changes in fluid pressure or flow rate due to the flow of fluid, that is, air, including aerosol flowing through the supply passage 110.

The aerosol generation chamber 130c delivers the aerosol generated by the heater 132 to the supply passage 110. Therefore, the aerosol supplied from the aerosol generation chamber 130c may pass through the supply passage 110 and then be discharged into the user's oral cavity.

The exhaust passage 120 is directly connected to the supply passage 110. The exhaust passage 120 is formed by an exhaust pipe 120p whose one end is connected to the supply end and the other end of which is open to the outside of the aerosol generating unit 100. A supply valve 111 that operates to open or close the supply passage 110 may be installed in the supply passage 110. Additionally, an exhaust valve 121 that operates to open or close the exhaust passage 120 may be installed in the exhaust passage 120.

Embodiments are not limited by the method of forming the exhaust passage 120 by installing the exhaust pipe 120p, and the exhaust passage 120 may be formed in various ways. For example, when manufacturing the external case of the aerosol generating unit 100 by injection molding, the exhaust passage 120 can be formed by forming a flow path in a portion of the case.

In Figure 1, the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 are respectively installed to rotate on the inner walls of the supply passage 110 and the exhaust passage 120. Therefore, when the user inhales air through the mouthpiece (110m), the supply valve 111 rotates upward due to the pressure of the air flow formed in the supply passage 110, forming a solid line as shown in FIG. The supply passage 110 can be opened by moving to the position shown. At this time, the exhaust valve 121 installed in the exhaust passage 120 may rotate to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 to maintain the exhaust passage 120 in a closed state.

Therefore, while aerosol is supplied to the human body through the supply passage 110, the exhaust valve 121 maintains the supply passage 110 open and the exhaust valve 121 closes the exhaust passage 120.

In order to implement this operation, each of the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 can be automatically operated by the air pressure caused by the air flow formed inside the supply passage 110 and the exhaust passage 120. there is.

The supply valve 111 allows only the flow of aerosol generated in the atomizer 130 and supplied to the human oral cavity by flowing through the supply passage 110, and the exhaust valve 121 exhausts the gas discharged from the human oral cavity. Only the flow discharged through passage 120 can be permitted.

Embodiments are not limited by the configuration of the supply valve 111 and exhaust valve 121 shown in FIG. 1, and the automatically operating supply valve 111 and exhaust valve 121 can be modified into various forms. there is. That is, each of the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 may be modified to allow only the flow of air in one direction and block the flow of air in the opposite direction. For example, the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 may be implemented as a single valve structure or a structure in which a plurality of valves overlap.

Additionally, the embodiments are not limited to the example in which the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 are mechanically and automatically operated by air pressure, and the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 are operated by an electrical signal. It operates automatically to open or close the supply passage 110 and the exhaust passage 120 or to adjust the open area.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing another operating state of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 shows the user exhaling while holding the mouthpiece 110m with his or her mouth. It shows the operating state in which gas discharged from the oral cavity of the human body flows when the operation is performed.

When the user performs the action of exhaling, the supply valve 111 rotates to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 while gas is discharged from the human mouth, automatically closing the supply passage 110 and exhaust valve 121. ) rotates to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 to automatically open the exhaust passage 120.

Since the supply passage 110 in communication with the atomizer 130 is closed by the supply valve 111, the atomizer 130 may not be exposed to external air while gas is discharged from the human oral cavity. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the cooling phenomenon in which the temperature of the air in the heater 132 of the atomizer 130 and the aerosol generation chamber 130c decreases rapidly when the user exhales.

After the user finishes exhaling, when the user breathes in again with the mouthpiece (110m) in his mouth, the exhaust valve 121 and the supply valve 111 return to the state shown in FIG. 1. changes.

Even while the user is exhaling, the supply valve 111 closes the supply passage 110 to block contact between the atomizer 130 and external air, so the high temperature atmosphere of the atomizer 130 is maintained. It can be. Therefore, when the user breathes again and performs the action of drinking, the heater 132 immediately reacts and performs a heating operation, thereby generating a large amount of high-quality aerosol and supplying it to the user.

In addition, since the user can maintain the mouthpiece (110m) in the mouth in all situations when performing the action of inhaling an aerosol and performing the action of exhaling, an aerosol generating device including a gas purification function is used. It can be used more conveniently and more cleanly.

In addition, the aerosol generating unit 100 is disposed in the exhaust passage 120 and includes a detector 122 for detecting gas passing through the exhaust passage 120 and health related to human health based on the signal generated from the detector 122. It may include an information generator capable of generating information. The information generator may be implemented by controller 180 or may be some component of controller 180. Although not shown in the drawing, a sensor may be placed in the intake passage 11, or a sensor may be placed only in the intake passage 11.

Health information related to the user's human health generated by the information generator of the controller 180 can be transmitted to the outside through the information transmitter of the aerosol generating device that includes a gas purification function. Additionally, an aerosol generating device that includes a gas purification function can transmit health information to an external device that can communicate through wireless or wired communication.

The health information generated by the information generator may include, for example, information about the lung function of the user's body, or information about the composition of chemical components or biomaterials contained in the gas exhaled by the user. Information about the composition of the biomaterial may include, for example, information about viruses or bacteria contained in the gas, for example, concentration or population. Information about the chemical composition may include, for example, information about the amount of carbon dioxide contained in the gas exhaled by the user.

Embodiments are not limited by the type of external device, and the external device may be, for example, a portable phone, a portable terminal, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a wearable device such as a smart watch or Bluetooth earphone.

The detector 122 may include a flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of gas discharged through the exhaust passage 120. When the detector 122 includes a flow sensor, the information generator of the controller 180 may generate the user's lung capacity information based on the detection signal of the flow sensor. Since the detection signal of the flow sensor indicates the flow rate of gas discharged by the user through the exhaust passage 120, the information generator of the controller 180 can generate vital capacity information based on the flow rate of gas discharged by the user.

Embodiments are not limited by the installation location or number of the detector 122, and for example, the detector 122 discharges gas flowing toward the user through the supply passage 110 or to the outside through the exhaust passage 120. It may include a flow sensor or a pressure sensor that detects the flow rate of the gas being used.

Embodiments are also not limited by the example of the detector 122, for example, the detector 122 is an air pollution detection sensor that detects the pollution state of the gas passing through the supply passage 110 or the exhaust passage 120. It can be. For example, the air pollution detection sensor can detect at least one of the turbidity (degree of turbidity) of the gas and the composition ratio of the components contained in the gas.

The air pollution detection sensor may include an optical sensor assembly including a light-emitting element that emits infrared or infrared laser light to detect gas turbidity and a light-receiving element that receives light.

An air pollution detection sensor may be a sensor that detects the concentration of a specific gas such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or fine dust contained in a gas.

Additionally, the detector 122 may be a biosensor that detects components of biomaterials contained in gas. The biosensor may be any one of enzyme-based sensors, immunosensors, DNA/nucleic acid sensors, and cell-based sensors, or a combination thereof.

If the detector 122 is an air pollution detection sensor or biosensor, it monitors changes in the concentration of exhaled gas components such as moisture, acetone, toluene, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen monoxide contained in the user's exhaled breath, or detects microorganisms and viruses. It is possible to generate various health information related to diseases such as asthma, lung cancer, type 1 diabetes, bad breath, and infectious diseases by monitoring the presence or population of such diseases.

Hereinafter, the gas purification unit 200 of the aerosol generating device including a gas purification function will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The gas purification unit 200 is a device that receives the gas discharged from the aerosol generating unit 100, purifies the gas, and discharges it to the outside.

Referring to FIG. 2, the gas purification unit 200 is a main body formed with an inlet 210 that receives gas from the exhaust passage 120 of the aerosol generating unit 100 and an outlet 220 that discharges the gas to the outside. Includes (201). In addition, the gas purification unit 200 is disposed inside the main body 201 and includes a light irradiation unit 230 that irradiates light and is disposed in a gas flow path inside the main body and at least part of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit 230. It includes a metal plate 240 that absorbs and generates negative ions.

As described above, the gas discharged again after the user inhales the aerosol passes through the exhaust passage 120 of the aerosol generating unit and flows into the inlet 210 of the gas purification unit 200.

The gas purification unit 200 includes a first blocking valve 211 and a second blocking valve 221 that are rotatably installed on the inner walls of each of the inlet 210 and outlet 220 formed in the main body 201. It can be included.

The first blocking valve 211 opens the inlet 210 to allow gas to flow into the inlet 210, or closes the inlet 210 to block the inflow of gas through the inlet 210. The second blocking valve 221 opens the discharge part 220 so that the discharge part 220 discharges gas, or closes the discharge part 220 to block the discharge of gas through the discharge part 220. Therefore, when the user discharges gas through the mouthpiece 110m, the first blocking valve 211 and the second blocking valve 221 rotate to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and enter the inlet of the gas purification unit 200. (210) and the discharge portion 220 can be kept open.

Like the supply valve 111 and the exhaust valve 121 of the aerosol generating unit described above, the first blocking valve 211 and the second blocking valve 221 allow the gas delivered from the aerosol generating unit to enter the gas purification unit 200. It can operate automatically by the air pressure generated by the air flow forming as it passes through.

Additionally, the embodiments are not limited to examples in which the first blocking valve 211 and the second blocking valve 221 are mechanically and automatically operated by air pressure, and the first blocking valve 211 and the second blocking valve ( 221) is automatically operated by an electric signal to open or close the inlet 210 and the outlet 220 or to adjust the open area.

When the user performs the action of inhaling an aerosol through the mouthpiece 110m, the first blocking valve 211 and the second blocking valve 221 rotate to the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 and the gas purification unit 200 ) can be closed.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the gas purification function of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 3, the light irradiation unit 230 irradiates light (P) toward the metal plate 240, and the metal plate 240 that absorbs the light (P) emits electrons (e) by the photoelectric effect, The discharged electrons (e) combine with nitrogen or oxygen molecules in the air to generate negatively charged anions (a).

In particular, many of the fine particles contained in the gas discharged by the user may have a positive charge, and the positively charged fine particles are electrically combined with the anion (a) generated by the metal plate 240. can be effectively removed.

The light P emitted from the light irradiation unit 230 may include ultraviolet rays. In order to emit electrons (e) by the photoelectric effect, light (P) with a frequency higher than the threshold frequency must be irradiated to the metal, so by irradiating ultraviolet rays with a shorter wavelength than visible light, it effectively induces the emission of electrons (e), producing negative ions. (a) can be generated. For example, the light irradiation unit 230 may include a UV lamp. A UV lamp is a lamp that emits ultraviolet rays by placing mercury and argon gas inside a transparent vacuum quartz tube and applying power to a tungsten electrode. Embodiments are not limited by the implementation method of the light irradiation unit 230, and the light irradiation unit 230 may be modified in various ways to irradiate ultraviolet rays with a wavelength range shorter than visible light.

In addition, since ultraviolet rays have a sterilizing effect, they can also perform the function of sterilizing bacteria, viruses, etc. contained in the discharged gas. At this time, the light irradiation unit 230 is disposed at a position adjacent to the inlet 210 inside the main body 201 of the gas purification unit 200, so that the gas flowing into the main body 201 through the inlet 210 Ultraviolet rays can be irradiated.

Considering the smooth electron (e) emission of the metal plate 240 and the maximization of the sterilization function against bacteria, viruses, etc., the ultraviolet rays irradiated from the light irradiation unit 230 include ultraviolet C (UVC) with a wavelength of 100 to 280 nm. can do.

The light irradiation unit 230 may irradiate light P using power supplied from a power source, and the power source may be the power source 190 installed in the aerosol generating unit 100 described above. Additionally, the light irradiation unit 230 may receive power from a separate power source 290 included in the gas purification unit 200 itself.

Additionally, the light irradiation unit 230 may be controlled to operate only when gas is supplied from the aerosol generating unit 100, that is, when gas is discharged from the oral cavity of the human body and supplied to the gas purification unit 200. Control of this operation may be performed by the controller 180 installed in the aerosol generating unit 100, or may be performed by a separate controller 280 included in the gas purification unit 200.

The metal plate 240 is located inside the main body 201 to absorb at least a portion of the light P emitted from the light irradiation unit 230. The metal plate 240 may include a metal that can absorb light P and emit electrons e bound to the metal plate 240 . The metal may have a relatively low threshold energy required for emission of electrons (e) in order to increase the amount of negative ions (a) generated. The metal may be, for example, a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, platinum, silver, copper, stainless steel, and titanium, or an alloy of two or more types.

Since the metal plate 240 continuously loses electrons (e) due to the photoelectric effect caused by the light (P) irradiated from the light irradiation unit 230, negative ions of the metal plate 240 increase as the number or period of use of the metal plate 240 increases. (a) Generation performance may deteriorate. Therefore, when using the gas purification unit 200, the metal plate 240 can be periodically replaced.

Additionally, multiple metal plates 240 may be included inside the main body 201. For example, two metal plates 240 may be included and each metal plate 240 may be installed facing each other, and the two metal plates 240 facing each other secure an area where light P can be irradiated. At the same time, for smooth discharge of gas, they can be arranged to face each other with the gas flow path in between.

In addition, a voltage regulator (not shown) for applying a variable voltage between the two metal plates 240 facing each other may be further included. The voltage regulator can apply a variable voltage to the metal plate 240 by closing the circuit that applies voltage to the metal plate 240 or freely adjusting the size or polarity of the voltage applied to the metal plate 240, and by adjusting the variable voltage. A potential difference can be applied to the two metal plates 240. Electrons (e) emitted by the discharge effect from the two metal plates 240 in which a potential difference is formed may move to the opposite metal plate 240 to form a current, resulting in continuous emission of electrons (e) and negative ions (a). Creation is possible.

Positively charged fine particles combined with anions (a) generated inside the main body 201 are separated from the gas flow path leading from the inlet 210 to the outlet 220 by electrical attraction or repulsion. As a result, the gas purification function can be performed by preventing fine particles from being discharged to the outside through the discharge unit 220. At this time, fine particles that are not discharged to the outside accumulate inside the main body 201, so the inside of the main body 201 may need to be cleaned periodically.

The gas purification unit 200 according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may further include a filter 260 disposed in the gas flow path and filtering fine particles contained in the gas.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter 260 may be located downstream of the gas flow path inside the main body 201, and may ultimately filter other foreign substances, including fine particles captured by negative ions. The filter 260 may be a metal mesh filter, a HEPA filter may be used to remove fine particles, or activated carbon may be used for deodorization and purification. Since the filter 260 is installed to be removable in the gas purification unit 200, the filter 260 is separated from the gas purification unit 200 to clean foreign substances accumulated inside the gas purification unit 200 and then purify the gas. The filter 260 can be reassembled into the unit 200 and used or replaced with a new filter.

The surface of the filter 260 is treated with an antibacterial material, so that the filter 260 can remove bacteria contained in the gas discharged from the user's mouth. Antibacterial materials for surface treatment of the filter 260 include, for example, various types of artificial synthetic materials such as penicillin-based, polymyxin-based, and tetracycline-based materials, or natural antibacterial materials. For example, the natural antibacterial substance may be one or more of phytoncide, natural palm oil, and natural fatty acid.

FIG. 4 is another conceptual diagram illustrating the gas purification function of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 4, since the filter 260 has electrical conductivity, an electric field E is formed between the metal plate 240 and the filter 260. Accordingly, the negative ions (a) generated inside the gas purification unit 200 can move toward the filter 260 by the action of the electric field (E). The electric field (E) formed to move the negative ions (a) to the filter 260 may be formed by, for example, charging the filter to the (+) pole and the metal plate to the (-) pole, and the negative ions (a) and ( Negative ions (a) can move toward the filter 260 due to the electrical attraction between the filter and the +) pole. Anions (a) reach the filter 260 more easily due to the electric field (E), thereby minimizing the phenomenon of anions (a) or fine particles combined with anions (a) being adsorbed on other parts of the filter 260. can do.

The electric field E formed between the filter 260 and the metal plate 240 allows fine particles combined with anions (a) accumulated in the filter 260 to accumulate uniformly throughout the filter 260.

As described above, the filter 260 may be located downstream of the gas flow path and may be installed adjacent to the gas outlet 220. Therefore, as the flow of gas is concentrated in the part of the filter 260 that is relatively close to the discharge part 220, fine particles are aggregated, and fine particles do not accumulate in the part that is relatively distant from the discharge part 220.

If fine particles aggregate in various areas inside the gas purification unit 200, the aggregated fine particles may interfere with gas discharge through the discharge unit 220. However, the electric field (E) formed between the filter 260 and the metal plate 240 can electrically attract the negative ions (a) and cause fine particles to accumulate uniformly throughout the filter 260.

The gas purification unit 200 includes an electric field forming unit (not shown) electrically connected to the filter 260 and the metal plate 240 to form an electric field E between the filter 260 and the metal plate 240. can do. For example, a voltage regulator for applying a variable voltage may be used in the electric field forming unit, but embodiments are not limited by this configuration.

Additionally, the gas purification unit 200 may further include a metal mesh film 250 disposed on the upstream side of the gas flow path inside the main body 201. In this case, the filter 260 has electrical conductivity and is disposed on the downstream side of the gas flow path inside the main body 201, and the metal plate 240 may be disposed between the metal mesh film 250 and the filter 260. , An electric field (E) is formed between the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250 to move the negative ions (a) generated inside the gas purification unit 200 to the filter 260. The electrically conductive filter 260 may use the same type of metal mesh filter as the metal mesh film 250 spaced apart with the metal plate 240 therebetween. The metal mesh film 250 may be specifically located in the gas flow path between the light irradiation unit 230 and the metal plate 240. At this time, in order to improve the ratio of light P reaching the metal plate 240 from the light irradiation unit 230, a metal mesh film 250 with relatively large holes compared to the size of the holes of the metal mesh filter 260 is used. You can.

Negative ions (a) can be moved to the filter 260 by forming an electric field (E) between the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250. For example, the filter 260 is charged to the (+) pole and the metal mesh film 250 is charged to the (-) pole, thereby forming an electric field (E) between the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250. , the negative ion (a) may move toward the filter 260 due to the electrical attraction acting between the negative ion (a) and the filter 260 having a positive pole.

The distance between the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250 is set to be longer than the distance between the filter 260 and the metal plate 240. This arrangement of the filter 260, the metal mesh membrane 250, and the metal plate 240 is easy to accelerate the negative ions (a) generated inside the gas purification unit 200, and the accelerated negative ions (a) collides with the filter 260 and sterilizes the filter 260.

Here, in order to form an electric field (E) between the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250, the gas purification unit 200 includes an electric field forming part electrically connected to the filter 260 and the metal mesh film 250 ( (not shown), and the electric field forming unit may include, for example, a voltage regulator for applying a variable voltage, but embodiments are not limited by the configuration of the electric field forming unit.

In addition, as a modified example from the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the filter 260 has electrical conductivity and can be electrically grounded, a metal mesh film is disposed between the filter 260 and the metal plate 240, and the metal mesh film A negative (-) high voltage may be applied to. At this time, a discharge occurs between the metal mesh film and the filter 260, and some of the fine particles contained in the gas are charged by a negative electric field and have a negative charge. The negatively charged fine particles, along with the negative ions (a) generated in the metal plate 240, can further increase the removal efficiency of the positively charged fine particles. The gas purification unit 200 may further include a high voltage generator (not shown) that generates high voltage to apply the high voltage to the metal mesh film.

The metal mesh membrane may perform the function of primarily filtering relatively large-sized foreign substances contained in the gas discharged from the user's mouth. In addition, the metal mesh film may serve to improve the gas purification function by reducing the flow rate of the gas flowing through the inlet 210 and uniformly distributing the gas into the interior of the main body 201 of the gas purification unit 200. .

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an isolated state of the aerosol generating device including a gas purification function according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, the aerosol generating unit 100 and the gas purifying unit 200 may be separated and connected by the connection portion 202, and the aerosol generating unit 100 and the gas purifying unit 200 may be connected as described above. , may operate including separate controllers 180 and 280 and power sources 190 and 290, respectively.

The connection portion 202 may be installed in the aerosol generating unit 100 and/or the gas purification unit 200, and may be provided with a flange fastening structure or spline that allows for interference fit to achieve one-touch connection. ) A fastening structure or a bayonet mount structure may be applied to the connection portion 202. Additionally, a screw coupling structure using screw threads may be applied to the connection portion 202.

Here, the inlet 210 of the gas purification unit 200 may be connected to the inside of the exhaust passage 120 of the aerosol generating unit 100. At this time, the inlet 210 of the gas purification unit 200 may have a cylindrical shape extending out of the main body 201 of the gas purification unit 200, and may be formed in the exhaust passage 120 of the aerosol generating unit 100. It can be inserted inside.

When the user uses the aerosol generating unit 100 and the gas purification unit 200 separately, the user holds the aerosol generating unit 100 in his mouth and inhales the aerosol from the aerosol generating unit 100, and then uses the gas purifying unit ( 200) can be held in the mouth and discharged into the gas purification unit 200.

When the user uses the aerosol generating unit 100 and the gas purification unit 200 in combination, the user inhales the aerosol from the aerosol generating unit 100 and then places the inlet 210 of the gas purifying unit 200 into the mouth. When gas is discharged in the door state, the gas discharged by the user may be purified by the gas purification unit 200 and discharged from the gas purification unit 200 through the discharge unit 220.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an operating state of a gas purification device according to an embodiment.

The gas purification device according to one embodiment shown in FIG. 6 may include a similar configuration to the separate gas purification unit 200 of the aerosol generating device including the gas purification device previously shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the gas purification device 200 according to one embodiment includes a main body 201, a first blocking valve 211, a second blocking valve 221, a light irradiation unit 230, a metal plate 240, It includes a metal mesh membrane 250, a filter 260, a controller 280, and a power source 290. The above-described details in the gas purification unit 200 of FIG. 5 can be applied in the same way and are not duplicated below. Any necessary explanations should be omitted.

The gas purification device 200 can purify gas discharged from the user's oral cavity. For example, the gas emitted from the human oral cavity may be the gas emitted after a user inhales an aerosol using a separate aerosol generating device.

The aerosol generating device through which the user inhales the aerosol may be an aerosol generating unit separate from the gas purification unit 200 in the aerosol generating devices according to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 as described above. , the embodiments are not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device may be an aerosol generating device using a heated cigarette known in the art related to the embodiments. That is, the aerosol generating device can generate aerosol by heating the cigarette in a non-combustible manner.

As another example, when a user inhales an aerosol generated from a general combustible cigarette and then exhausts the gas, the user places the gas purifying device according to the above-described embodiments in the mouth and discharges the gas, which is purified by the gas purifying device. Gas may be discharged to the outside.

Those skilled in the art related to the present embodiment will understand that the above-described substrate can be implemented in a modified form without departing from the essential characteristics. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered from an explanatory rather than a restrictive perspective. The scope of the invention is indicated in the claims, not the foregoing description, and all differences within the equivalent scope should be construed as being included in the invention.

100: aerosol generating unit 110: supply passage
110p: supply pipe 110m: mouthpiece
111: supply valve
120: exhaust passage 120p: exhaust pipe
121: exhaust valve 122: detector
130: Atomizer 130a: Air hole
130c: aerosol generation chamber 131: wick
132: heater 132t: connection terminal
133: reservoir 180: controller
190: power source
200: gas purification unit 201: main body
202: connection 210: inlet
211: first blocking valve 220: discharge portion
221: second blocking valve 230: light irradiation unit
240: metal plate 250: metal mesh film
260: filter
280: controller 290: power source
e: electron a: anion
P: light E: electric field

Claims (14)

An aerosol generating unit including a supply passage for generating and supplying an aerosol and an exhaust passage for gas discharged from the human oral cavity to pass through; and
A main body formed with an inlet part that receives the gas from the exhaust passage and an outlet part that discharges the gas to the outside, a light irradiation part disposed inside the main body and irradiating light, and a light irradiation part disposed in the flow path of the gas inside the main body and the light It includes a gas purification unit including a metal plate that absorbs at least a portion of the light irradiated from the irradiation unit and generates negative ions,
The aerosol generating unit includes a supply valve that opens or closes the supply passage and an exhaust valve that opens or closes the exhaust passage. delete According to paragraph 1,
An aerosol generating device comprising a gas purification function, wherein the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit includes ultraviolet rays. According to paragraph 1,
The gas purification unit is disposed in a gas flow path inside the main body and further includes a filter that filters fine particles contained in the gas. According to paragraph 4,
The filter has electrical conductivity,
An aerosol generating device comprising a gas purification function, wherein an electric field is formed between the metal plate and the filter to move negative ions to the filter. According to paragraph 4,
The filter is electrically conductive and is disposed on the downstream side of the gas flow path inside the body,
Further comprising a metal mesh film disposed on the upstream side of the gas flow path inside the main body,
The metal plate is disposed between the metal mesh film and the filter,
An aerosol generating device comprising a gas purification function that forms an electric field between the filter and the metal mesh membrane to allow negative ions to move to the filter. According to paragraph 1,
An aerosol generating device comprising a gas purifying function, wherein the gas purifying unit is separably connected to the aerosol generating unit. A main body formed on one side and the other side with an inlet through which gas discharged from the human oral cavity flows in and an outlet through which gas is discharged to the outside;
a light irradiation unit disposed inside the main body and emitting light;
a metal plate disposed in a gas flow path inside the main body and generating negative ions by absorbing at least a portion of the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit; and
A first blocking valve that opens the inlet to automatically allow gas to flow into the inlet by air pressure, or closes the inlet to automatically block the inflow of gas through the inlet by air pressure. , gas purification device. delete According to clause 8,
The gas purification device further comprises a second blocking valve that opens the discharge portion to discharge gas or closes the discharge portion to block discharge of gas through the discharge portion. According to clause 8,
A gas purification device, wherein the light irradiated from the light irradiation unit includes ultraviolet rays. According to clause 8,
A gas purification device further comprising a filter disposed in a gas flow path inside the main body and filtering fine particles contained in the gas. According to clause 12,
The filter has electrical conductivity,
A gas purification device in which an electric field is formed between the metal plate and the filter to move negative ions to the filter. According to clause 12,
The filter is electrically conductive and is disposed on the downstream side of the gas flow path inside the body,
Further comprising a metal mesh film disposed on the upstream side of the gas flow path inside the main body,
The metal plate is disposed between the metal mesh film and the filter,
A gas purification device that forms an electric field between the filter and the metal mesh membrane to allow negative ions to move to the filter.

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