KR20200126588A - Aerosol generating device and operation method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol generating device may include a heater that heats an aerosol generating material, a battery that supplies power to the heater, and a control unit. The control unit according to the present embodiment sets the mode of the aerosol generating device to a preheating mode in response to an input signal for initiating the operation of the heater, and controls the power supplied to the heater so that an aerosol is not generated from the aerosol generating material in the preheating mode.

Description

Aerosol generating device and its operation method TECHNICAL FIELD [AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF}

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device and a method of operation thereof.

In recent years, there is an increasing demand for alternative methods to overcome the shortcomings of general cigarettes. For example, as an aerosol-generating material is heated, not a method of generating an aerosol by burning a cigarette, the demand for a method of generating an aerosol is increasing.

Accordingly, in order to effectively heat the aerosol-generating material, there is a need for a technology for controlling the power supplied to the heater.

One or more embodiments provide an aerosol generating device and a method of operation thereof. The technical problem to be achieved by this embodiment is not limited to the technical problems as described above, and other technical problems may be inferred from the following embodiments.

As a technical means for achieving the above technical problem, a first aspect of the present disclosure, a heater for heating an aerosol-generating material; A battery supplying power to the heater; And a control unit; In the aerosol generating device comprising a, the control unit, in response to an input signal for starting the operation of the heater, set the mode of the aerosol generating device to a preheating mode, and in the preheating mode, an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material It is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that controls the power supplied to the heater so that it is not.

In addition, the aerosol generating device may include a main body; A slider coupled to be movable with respect to the main body; And a position change detection sensor for detecting a position change of the slider, wherein the controller receives the input signal from the position change detection sensor when the slider moves from a first position to a second position, In response to the input signal, a mode of the aerosol generating apparatus is set to the preheating mode, and an aerosol generating apparatus may be provided.

In addition, the aerosol generating device further includes a cartridge that receives the aerosol-generating material and is detachably mounted on the main body, wherein the control unit, after the cartridge is mounted on the main body, in response to the input signal It is possible to provide an aerosol generating device by setting the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode.

In addition, in the first position, the slider covers the end of the cartridge, and in the second position, the slider exposes the end of the cartridge, and an aerosol generating device may be provided.

In addition, the control unit may provide an aerosol generating device that sets a mode of the aerosol generating device to a sleep mode when the slider moves from the second position to the first position.

In addition, the aerosol generating device further includes a puff detection sensor for detecting a puff, wherein the control unit receives a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor, and in response to the puff detection signal, the mode of the aerosol generating device To convert from the preheating mode to the heating mode, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating device.

In addition, the control unit may provide an aerosol generating apparatus that controls power supplied to the heater based on a heating mode power profile so that the aerosol-generating material is heated to a target temperature in the heating mode.

In addition, the heating mode power profile is divided into a plurality of sections, and the controller controls the power supplied to the heater based on a preset power level corresponding to each of the plurality of sections. Device can be provided.

In addition, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating apparatus in which the power level according to the heating mode power profile gradually decreases over time.

In addition, the control unit switches the mode of the aerosol generating device from the heating mode to the idle mode when the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode exceeds a preset time, and based on the idle mode power profile, the It is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that controls the power supplied to the heater.

In addition, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating apparatus in which the power level according to the idle mode power profile is maintained at a preset value.

In addition, the control unit receives the puff detection signal in the idle mode, and switches the mode of the aerosol generating device from the idle mode to the heating mode in response to the puff detection signal, providing an aerosol generating device can do.

In addition, the aerosol generating device may include a puff detection sensor for detecting a puff; And a user interface; wherein the control unit counts the number of puffs when receiving a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor to calculate a current number of puffs, and the user interface includes: the number of puffs in which the current number of puffs is preset When it reaches, it is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that provides feedback indicating that the heater will be terminated.

In addition, the control unit may provide an aerosol generating device that terminates the operation of the heater when the current number of puffs reaches a maximum number of puffs.

In addition, the predetermined number of puffs may be subtracted by a predetermined number from the maximum number of puffs at which the heater is terminated, and an aerosol generating apparatus may be provided.

In addition, the control unit, the aerosol generating device is to switch the mode of the aerosol generating device to a sleep mode from the idle mode when the time when the operating time in the idle mode exceeds a first preset time, Can provide.

In addition, the control unit turns off the aerosol generating device when a time when the aerosol generating device operates in the idle mode exceeds a second preset time, and the second preset time is the first preset time. It is possible to provide an aerosol generating device that is longer than that.

A second aspect of the present disclosure includes receiving an input signal for initiating an operation of a heater; And setting a mode to a preheating mode in response to the input signal, and controlling power supplied to the heater so that aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode. It can provide a way to control.

A third aspect of the present disclosure may provide a computer-readable recording medium in which a program for executing the method according to the second aspect on a computer is recorded.

According to the present invention, the aerosol-generating material can be effectively heated by controlling the overall operation of the heater such as the start of the heater operation, the control during the heater operation, and the end of the heater operation.

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a coupling relationship between a replaceable cartridge holding an aerosol-generating material and an aerosol-generating device having the same according to an embodiment.
2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary operating state of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
3 is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary operating state of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.
5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power profile and a temperature profile in a preheating mode according to an exemplary embodiment.
6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power profile and a temperature profile in a plurality of modes according to an exemplary embodiment.
7 is a diagram for describing an example of counting the number of puffs according to an exemplary embodiment.
8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment.

The terms used in the embodiments have selected general terms that are currently widely used as possible while considering functions in the present invention, but this may vary depending on the intention or precedent of a technician working in the field, the emergence of new technologies, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, there are terms arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail in the description of the corresponding invention. Therefore, the terms used in the present invention should be defined based on the meaning of the term and the overall contents of the present invention, not a simple name of the term.

When a part of the specification is said to "include" a certain component, it means that other components may be further included rather than excluding other components unless otherwise stated. In addition, terms such as "... unit" and "... module" described in the specification mean a unit that processes at least one function or operation, which may be implemented as hardware or software or a combination of hardware and software.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those of ordinary skill in the art may easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be implemented in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein.

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

1 is an exploded perspective view schematically showing a coupling relationship between a replaceable cartridge holding an aerosol-generating material and an aerosol-generating device having the same according to an embodiment.

The aerosol-generating device 5 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 includes a cartridge 20 for holding an aerosol-generating material and a body 10 for supporting the cartridge 20.

The cartridge 20 may be coupled to the body 10 in a state in which the aerosol-generating material is contained therein. A portion of the cartridge 20 is inserted into the receiving space 19 of the main body 10 so that the cartridge 20 may be mounted on the main body 10.

The cartridge 20 may hold an aerosol-generating material having any one state, such as a liquid state, a solid state, a gas state, or a gel state. The aerosol generating material may comprise a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material including a volatile tobacco flavor component, or may be a liquid including a non-tobacco material.

The liquid composition may include, for example, water, solvent, ethanol, plant extract, flavor, flavor, and any one component of a vitamin mixture, or a mixture of these components. The fragrance may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit flavoring ingredients, but is not limited thereto. Flavoring agents may include ingredients that can provide a variety of 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. In addition, the liquid composition may include an aerosol former such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

For example, the liquid composition may include a glycerin and propylene glycol solution in any weight ratio to which a nicotine salt is added. The liquid composition may contain two or more nicotine salts. Nicotine salts can be formed by adding to nicotine a suitable acid, including an organic or inorganic acid. Nicotine is naturally occurring nicotine or synthetic nicotine, and can have any suitable concentration of weight relative to the total solution weight of the liquid composition.

The acid for the formation of the nicotine salt may be appropriately selected in consideration of the rate of absorption of nicotine in the blood, the operating temperature of the aerosol generating device 5, flavor or flavor, solubility, and the like. For example, acids for the formation of nicotine salts are benzoic acid, lactic acid, salicylic acid, lauric acid, sorbic 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 or malic acid alone or the above It may be a mixture of two or more acids selected from the group, but is not limited thereto.

The cartridge 20 is operated by an electric signal or a wireless signal transmitted from the main body 10, thereby converting a phase of an aerosol-generating material inside the cartridge 20 into a gaseous phase to generate an aerosol. Functions. The aerosol may mean a gas in a state in which vaporized particles generated from an aerosol-generating material and air are mixed.

For example, the cartridge 20 may receive an electric signal from the main body 10 to heat the aerosol-generating material, use an ultrasonic vibration method, or an induction heating method to convert the phase of the aerosol-generating material. As another example, when the cartridge 20 includes its own power source, the cartridge 20 is operated by an electrical control signal or a radio signal transmitted from the main body 10 to the cartridge 20 to generate an aerosol. I can.

The cartridge 20 may include a liquid storage unit 21 for accommodating an aerosol-generating material therein, and an atomizer that performs a function of converting the aerosol-generating material of the liquid storage unit 21 into an aerosol. .

The liquid storage unit 21'accommodating an aerosol-generating material' therein means that the liquid storage unit 21 simply performs a function of containing an aerosol-generating material, such as the use of a container, and the liquid storage unit ( 21) means including an element that impregnates (contains) an aerosol-generating material such as sponge, cotton or cloth, or a porous ceramic structure.

The atomizer may include, for example, a liquid delivery means (wick) that absorbs an aerosol-generating material and maintains it in an optimal state for conversion into an aerosol, and a heater that generates an aerosol by heating the liquid delivery means.

The liquid delivery means may comprise, for example, at least one of cotton fibers, ceramic fibers, glass fibers and porous ceramics.

The heater may include a metal material such as copper, nickel, or tungsten in order to heat the aerosol-generating material transferred to the liquid transfer means by generating heat by electric resistance. The heater may be implemented as, for example, a metal wire, a metal plate, or a ceramic heating element, and may be implemented as a conductive filament using a material such as nichrome wire, or wound around a liquid transfer means or adjacent to a liquid transfer means. Can be arranged.

The atomizer also absorbs an aerosol-generating material without using a separate liquid delivery means and maintains it in an optimal state for conversion into an aerosol, and a mesh shape that performs both the function of heating the aerosol-generating material to generate an aerosol. shape) or plate shape.

The liquid storage unit 21 of the cartridge 20 may at least partially include a transparent material so that the aerosol-generating material accommodated in the cartridge 20 can be visually confirmed from the outside. The liquid storage unit 21 includes a protruding window 21a protruding from the liquid storage unit 21 so that it can be inserted into the groove 11 of the main body 10 when it is coupled to the main body 10. The entire mouthpiece 22 and the liquid storage unit 21 may be made of a material such as transparent plastic or glass, and only the protruding window 21a corresponding to a portion of the liquid storage unit 21 may be made of a transparent material. have.

The main body 10 includes a connection terminal 10t disposed inside the accommodation space 19. When the liquid storage unit 21 of the cartridge 20 is inserted into the accommodation space 19 of the main body 10, the main body 10 provides power to the cartridge 20 through the connection terminal 10t, or the cartridge 20 A signal related to the operation of) can be supplied to the cartridge 20.

A mouthpiece 22 is coupled to one end of the liquid storage portion 21 of the cartridge 20. The mouthpiece 22 is a part of the aerosol generating device 5 inserted into the mouth of the user. The mouthpiece 22 includes a discharge hole 22a for discharging the aerosol generated from the aerosol-generating material inside the liquid storage unit 21 to the outside.

A slider 7 is coupled to the main body 10 so as to be movable with respect to the main body 10. The slider 7 has a function of covering at least a part of the mouthpiece 22 of the cartridge 20 coupled to the body 10 by moving relative to the body 10 or exposing at least a part of the mouthpiece 22 to the outside. Perform. The slider 7 includes a long hole 7a for exposing at least a portion of the protruding window 21a of the cartridge 20 to the outside.

The slider 7 has a cylindrical shape with an empty inside and open both ends. The structure of the slider 7 is not limited to a cylindrical shape as shown in the drawing, and it is bent having a clip-shaped cross-sectional shape that is movable with respect to the main body 10 while maintaining the state coupled to the edge of the main body 10 It may have a structure such as a curved plate structure or a curved semi-cylindrical shape having a cross-sectional shape of a curved arc shape.

The slider 7 includes a body 10 and a magnetic body for maintaining the position of the slider 7 relative to the cartridge 20. The magnetic material may include a material such as a permanent magnet, iron, nickel, cobalt, or an alloy thereof.

The magnetic body includes two first magnetic bodies 8a facing each other with an inner space of the slider 7 therebetween, and two second magnetic bodies 8b facing each other with an inner space of the slider 7 interposed therebetween. do. The first magnetic body 8a and the second magnetic body 8b are disposed to be spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal direction of the main body 10, which is the moving direction of the slider 7, that is, the direction in which the main body 10 extends.

The body 10 is a fixed magnetic body 9 disposed on a path in which the first magnetic body 8a and the second magnetic body 8b of the slider 7 move while the slider 7 moves relative to the body 10 Includes. Two fixed magnetic bodies 9 of the main body 10 may also be installed so as to face each other with the accommodation space 19 interposed therebetween.

Depending on the position of the slider 7, the slider 7 is formed by the magnetic force acting between the fixed magnetic body 9 and the first magnetic body 8a or between the fixed magnetic body 9 and the second magnetic body 8b. ) It can be stably maintained in a position to cover or expose the end of.

The body 10 is a position change detection sensor disposed on the moving path of the first magnetic body 8a and the second magnetic body 8b of the slider 7 while the slider 7 moves with respect to the body 10. Includes 3). The position change detection sensor 3 may include, for example, a Hall IC using a Hall effect that generates a signal by detecting a change in a magnetic field.

In the aerosol generating device 5 according to the above-described embodiment, the main body 10, the cartridge 20, and the slider 7 have a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape in a direction transverse to the length direction, but the embodiment is such an aerosol generating device. (5) is not limited by the shape. The aerosol generating device 5 may have, for example, a circular, elliptical, square, or polygonal cross-sectional shape. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 5 extends in the longitudinal direction, it is not necessarily limited to a structure that extends linearly, for example, it is curved in a streamlined shape or bent at a predetermined angle in a specific area so that the user can easily grasp it with a long extension. can do.

2 is a perspective view showing an exemplary operating state of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 2, the slider 7 is shown in an operating state in which the slider 7 is moved to a position covering the end of the mouthpiece 22 of the cartridge 20 coupled to the main body 10. In a state in which the slider 7 is moved to a position covering the end of the mouthpiece 22, the mouthpiece 22 is safely protected from external foreign matter and can be maintained in a clean state.

The user can visually check the protruding window 21a of the cartridge 20 through the long hole 7a of the slider 7 to check the remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material held by the cartridge 20. The user can move the slider 7 in the longitudinal direction of the body 10 in order to use the aerosol generating device 5.

3 is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary operating state of the aerosol generating device according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, the slider 7 is shown in an operating state in which the slider 7 is moved to a position exposing the end of the mouthpiece 22 of the cartridge 20 coupled to the body 10 to the outside. While the slider 7 is moved to a position exposing the end of the mouthpiece 22 to the outside, the user inserts the mouthpiece 22 into his or her mouth and passes through the discharge hole 22a of the mouthpiece 22. Exhaled aerosols can be inhaled.

Even in a state in which the slider 7 is moved to a position exposing the end of the mouthpiece 22 to the outside, the protruding window 21a of the cartridge 20 is exposed to the outside through the long hole 7a of the slider 7 The remaining amount of the aerosol-generating material held by the cartridge 20 can be visually confirmed.

Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device 5 may include a position change detection sensor 3. The position change detection sensor 3 may detect a position change of the slider 7.

In an embodiment, the position change detection sensor 3 may detect a change in magnetization of a magnetic material or a direction or intensity of a magnetic field. The slider 7 may include a magnet, and the position change detection sensor 3 may detect movement of the magnet included in the slider 7.

For example, the position change detection sensor 3 may be a hall effect sensor, a rotating coil, a magnetoresistor, or a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID), but is limited thereto. It is not. Preferably, the position change detection sensor 3 may be a Hall effect sensor.

In the following description, the position where the slider 7 covers the end of the mouthpiece 22 as shown in FIG. 2 is referred to as the first position, and as shown in FIG. 3, the slider 7 is the mouthpiece ( The position where the end of 22) is exposed to the outside will be referred to as the second position. In a state in which the slider 7 is coupled to the body 10, the user can move the slider 7 along the section between the first position and the second position. The position change detection sensor 3 may detect a position change of the slider 7 moving along a section between the first position and the second position.

In one embodiment, when the slider 7 moves from the first position to the second position, the controller of the aerosol generating device 5 may receive an input signal from the position change detection sensor 3. The control unit may set the mode of the aerosol generating device 5 to the preheating mode in response to the input signal.

Also, the control unit may determine whether the cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 10. A separate sensor for detecting whether the cartridge 20 and the body 10 are coupled to the aerosol generating device 5 may be provided. Alternatively, the controller may determine whether the cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 10 by periodically applying a current to the circuit inside the main body 10 that is electrically connected to the heater of the cartridge 20 and receiving an output value. have.

In one embodiment, after the cartridge 20 is mounted on the main body 10, the control unit may set the mode of the aerosol generating device 5 as a preheating mode in response to an input signal received from the position change detection sensor 3. have. When it is determined that the cartridge 20 is not mounted on the main body 10, even if the control unit receives an input signal from the position change detection sensor 3, the mode of the aerosol generating device 5 may not be set to the preheating mode.

In addition, the control unit may switch the mode of the aerosol generating device 5 to the sleep mode based on the change in the position of the slider 7. In one embodiment, when the slider 7 is moved from the second position to the first position, the controller sets the mode of the aerosol generating device 5 to the sleep mode after receiving an input signal from the position change detection sensor 3. Can be set.

4 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an aerosol generating apparatus according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the aerosol generating device 400 may include a battery 410, a heater 420, a sensor 430, a user interface 440, a memory 450, and a control unit 460. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 400 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4. Depending on the design of the aerosol generating device 400, it may be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that some of the hardware configurations shown in FIG. 4 may be omitted or a new configuration may be added. .

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 400 may be composed of only a main body, and in this case, the hardware components included in the aerosol generating apparatus 400 are located in the main body. In another embodiment, the aerosol generating device 400 may be composed of a main body and a cartridge, and hardware components included in the aerosol generating apparatus 400 may be divided into the main body and the cartridge. Alternatively, at least some of the hardware components included in the aerosol generating device 400 may be located in each of the main body and the cartridge.

Hereinafter, a space in which each component included in the aerosol generating device 400 is located is not limited, and an operation of each component will be described.

The battery 410 supplies power used to operate the aerosol generating device 400. That is, the battery 410 may supply power so that the heater 420 can be heated. In addition, the battery 410 may supply power required for the operation of other hardware components included in the aerosol generating device 400, that is, the sensor 430, the user interface 440, the memory 450, and the controller 460. I can. The battery 410 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 410 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The heater 420 receives power from the battery 410 under the control of the controller 460. The heater 420 may receive power from the battery 410 to heat the cigarette inserted in the aerosol generating device 400 or may heat a cartridge mounted in the aerosol generating device 400.

The heater 420 may be located in the body of the aerosol generating device 400. Alternatively, when the aerosol generating device 400 is composed of a body and a cartridge, the heater 420 may be located on the cartridge. When the heater 420 is located in the cartridge, the heater 420 may receive power from the battery 410 located in at least one of the body and the cartridge.

Heater 420 can be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material. For example, suitable electrically resistive materials are titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, etc. It may be a metal or a metal alloy including, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 420 may be implemented as a metal wire, a metal plate on which an electrically conductive track is disposed, a ceramic heating element, etc., but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the heater 420 may be included in the cartridge. The cartridge may include a heater 420, a liquid delivery means and a liquid storage. The aerosol-generating material accommodated in the liquid storage unit moves to the liquid delivery means, and the heater 420 may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating material absorbed by the liquid delivery means. For example, the heater 420 may include a material such as nickel chromium, and may be wound around the liquid delivery means or disposed adjacent to the liquid delivery means.

In another embodiment, the heater 420 may heat a cigarette inserted in the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device 400. As the cigarette is accommodated in the accommodation space of the aerosol generating device 400, the heater 420 may be located inside and/or outside the cigarette. Accordingly, the heater 420 may generate an aerosol by heating the aerosol-generating material in the cigarette.

Meanwhile, the heater 420 may be an induction heating type heater. The heater 420 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating the cigarette or cartridge by an induction heating method, and the cigarette or cartridge may include a susceptor that can be heated by an induction heating type heater.

The aerosol generating device 400 may include at least one sensor 430. The result sensed by at least one sensor 430 is transmitted to the controller 460, and according to the sensing result, the controller 460 controls the operation of the heater, restricts smoking, determines whether a cigarette (or cartridge) is inserted, or not The aerosol generating device 400 may be controlled to perform various functions such as display.

For example, at least one sensor 430 may include a puff detection sensor. The puff detection sensor may detect a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

In addition, at least one sensor 430 may include a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor may detect a temperature at which the heater 420 (or an aerosol-generating material) is heated. The aerosol generating device 400 may include a separate temperature sensor that senses the temperature of the heater 420 or, instead of including a separate temperature sensor, the heater 420 itself may serve as a temperature sensor. . Alternatively, while the heater 420 functions as a temperature sensor, a separate temperature sensor may be further included in the aerosol generating device 400.

In addition, at least one sensor 430 may include a position change detection sensor. The position change detection sensor may detect a position change of a slider coupled to be movable with respect to the body.

The user interface 440 may provide information on the state of the aerosol generating device 400 to the user. The user interface 440 includes a display or lamp that outputs visual information, a motor that outputs tactile information, a speaker that outputs sound information, and input/output (I/O) that receives information input from a user or outputs information to a user. ) Interfacing means (e.g., buttons or touch screens) and terminals for data communication or charging power supply, wireless communication with external devices (e.g., WI-FI, WI-FI Direct, Bluetooth, NFC (Near-Field Communication), etc.) may include various interfacing means such as a communication interfacing module.

However, in the aerosol generating device 400, only some of the examples of the various user interfaces 440 illustrated above may be selected and implemented.

The memory 450 is hardware that stores various types of data processed in the aerosol generating apparatus 400, and the memory 450 may store data processed by the controller 460 and data to be processed. The memory 450 includes a variety of random access memory (RAM) such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), and electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Can be implemented in types.

The memory 450 may store an operation time of the aerosol generating device 400, a maximum number of puffs, a current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, at least one power profile, and data on a user's smoking pattern.

The controller 460 is hardware that controls the overall operation of the aerosol generating apparatus 400. The control unit 460 includes at least one processor. The processor may be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. In addition, it can be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present embodiment pertains that it may be implemented with other types of hardware.

The controller 460 analyzes the result sensed by the at least one sensor 430 and controls subsequent processes to be performed.

The controller 460 may control power supplied to the heater 420 to start or end the operation of the heater 420 based on a result sensed by at least one sensor 430. In addition, the controller 460 is based on the result sensed by at least one sensor 430, the amount of power supplied to the heater 420 so that the heater 420 is heated to a predetermined temperature or maintains an appropriate temperature. And it is possible to control the time the power is supplied.

In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 400 may have a plurality of modes. For example, the modes of the aerosol generating device 400 may include a preheating mode, an operation mode, a rest mode, and a sleep mode. However, the mode of the aerosol generating device 400 is not limited thereto.

In a state in which the aerosol generating device 400 is not used, the aerosol generating device 400 can maintain the sleep mode, and the controller 406 outputs the battery 410 so that power is not supplied to the heater 420 in the sleep mode. Power can be controlled. For example, before use of the aerosol generating device 400 or after the use of the aerosol generating device 400 is terminated, the aerosol generating device 400 may operate in a sleep mode.

The controller 460 sets the mode of the aerosol generating device 400 to a preheating mode in order to start the operation of the heater 420 after receiving a user input to the aerosol generating device 400 (or a preheating mode from the sleep mode. Can be converted to).

In addition, the control unit 460 may change the mode of the aerosol generating device 400 from the preheating mode to the heating mode after detecting the user's puff using the puff detection sensor.

In addition, when the time in which the aerosol generating device 400 operates in the heating mode exceeds a preset time, the controller 460 may switch the mode of the aerosol generating device 400 from the heating mode to the idle mode.

In addition, the controller 460 may stop supplying power to the heater 420 when the number of puffs reaches the maximum number of puffs after counting the number of puffs using the puff detection sensor.

A temperature profile corresponding to each of the preheating mode, the operation mode, and the idle mode may be set. The controller 406 may control the power supplied to the heater 420 based on the power profile for each mode so that the aerosol-generating material is heated according to the temperature profile for each mode.

The controller 460 may control the user interface 440 based on a result sensed by at least one sensor 430. For example, after counting the number of puffs using a puff detection sensor, when the current puff number reaches a preset number, the control unit 460 gives the user an aerosol generating device using at least one of a lamp, a motor, and a speaker ( 400) will be ended soon.

In an embodiment, the preset number of puffs may be a number of times that is subtracted by a predetermined number from the maximum number of puffs at which the heater 420 is terminated. For example, when the maximum number of puffs is set to 10, the controller 460 counts the number of puffs using a puff detection sensor, and when the current number of puffs reaches 9, the controller 460 is At least one of them may be used to notify the user that the aerosol generating device 400 will soon be terminated.

In addition, the controller 460 may count the number of puffs using a puff detection sensor, and then terminate the operation of the heater 420 when the current number of puffs reaches the maximum number of puffs. For example, when the current number of puffs reaches the maximum number of puffs, the controller 460 may set the mode of the aerosol generating device 400 to a sleep mode.

Meanwhile, although not shown in FIG. 4, the aerosol generating device 400 may constitute an aerosol generating system together with a separate cradle. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 410 of the aerosol generating device 400. For example, the aerosol generating device 400 may charge the battery 410 of the aerosol generating device 400 by receiving power from a battery of the cradle while being accommodated in an accommodation space inside the cradle.

5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power profile and a temperature profile in a preheating mode according to an exemplary embodiment.

The aerosol-generating device includes a heater that heats an aerosol-generating material, a battery that supplies power to the heater, and a controller that controls the overall operation of the aerosol-generating device.

Referring to FIG. 5, a first graph 51 represents a preheat mode temperature profile, and a second graph 52 represents a preheat mode power profile. Specifically, the first graph 51 represents the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material over time, and the second graph 52 represents the power supplied to the heater over time. Alternatively, the first graph 51 may represent the heating temperature of the heater over time, and the second graph 52 may represent the power output from the battery over time.

Hereinafter, it is assumed that the first graph 51 represents the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material over time, and the second graph 52 represents the power supplied to the heater over time.

The controller may set the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode 510 in response to an input signal for starting the operation of the heater.

In one embodiment, the position change detection sensor of the aerosol generating device may detect a position change of a slider that is movably coupled to the body of the aerosol generating device. When the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the controller may receive an input signal from a position change detection sensor and set a mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode 510. The first position may be a position where the slider covers the end of the mouthpiece as shown in FIG. 2, and the second position may be a position in which the slider exposes the end of the mouthpiece to the outside, as shown in FIG. The first position and the second position are not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5, an input signal for starting the operation of the heater is generated at a first time 501, and the controller may set the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode 510 in response to the input signal.

In the first graph 51, T1 may be a room temperature, T2 may be a heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material at the second time 511 when the preheating mode 510 ends, and T3 may be a temperature at which an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material. . From the point when the temperature of the liquid composition contained in the cartridge of the aerosol generating device exceeds T3, the liquid composition may be vaporized to generate an aerosol. Meanwhile, T3 may vary depending on the type of liquid composition. For example, T3 may be 100°C and T2 may be 80°C, but is not limited thereto.

In the second graph 52, W1 may be a small amount of power. For example, the control unit may apply a small amount of power to the heater to measure the temperature using the heater before starting the operation of the heater or to check whether the cartridge is coupled. Alternatively, W1 may be a power level, that is, 0W when the power supplied to the heater is cut off.

The control unit may control power supplied to the heater so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode 510.

In an embodiment, the control unit may set the preheat mode power profile in consideration of the holding time of the preheat mode 510. For example, as shown in the second graph 52, the controller may control the power output from the battery so that a constant power level W2 is supplied to the heater in the preheating mode 510. That is, even if a constant power level W2 is supplied to the heater from the first time 501 to the second time 511 during which the preheating mode 510 is maintained, an aerosol is generated at the second time 511 when the preheating mode 510 ends. The heating temperature of the material is below T3. For example, W2 may be 0.8W, but is not limited thereto.

Meanwhile, the power value of the preheat mode power profile may be kept constant as shown in FIG. 5 or may change over time.

The controller may receive a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor and terminate the preheating mode 510 in response to the puff detection signal. Referring to FIG. 5, a puff detection signal is generated at a second time 511, and the control unit may terminate the preheating mode 510 in response to the puff detection signal. In an embodiment, the controller may switch the preheating mode 510 to the heating mode in response to the puff detection signal. The heating mode will be described later in FIG. 6.

As the power supplied to the heater is controlled so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode 510, the battery life can be extended by reducing the power consumption, and the aerosol condensation before the user puff prevents leakage of liquid. can do.

6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a power profile and a temperature profile in a plurality of modes according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, a first graph 61 represents a temperature profile, and a second graph 62 represents a power profile. Specifically, the first graph 61 represents the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material over time, and the second graph 52 represents the power supplied to the heater over time. Alternatively, the first graph 61 may represent the heating temperature of the heater over time, and the second graph 62 may represent the power output from the battery over time.

Hereinafter, it is assumed that the first graph 61 represents the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material over time, and the second graph 62 represents the power supplied to the heater over time.

The controller may set the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode 610 in response to an input signal for starting the operation of the heater. The controller may control power supplied to the heater according to the preheat mode power profile so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheat mode 610.

In the first graph 61, T1 may be a room temperature, T2 may be a heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material at the second time 611 when the preheating mode 610 ends, and T3 may be a temperature at which an aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material. . In T4 and T5, an aerosol is generated from an aerosol-generating material, and the amount of aerosol generated may increase as the temperature increases.

In the preheating mode 610, a preheating mode temperature profile may be set so that the temperature of the aerosol-generating material is T3 or less. For example, in the preheating mode 610, the controller may control the power output from the battery so that a constant power level W2 is supplied to the heater.

The control unit may receive a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor, and in response to the puff detection signal, change the mode of the aerosol generating device from the preheating mode 610 to the heating mode 620.

In the heating mode 620, the controller may control power supplied to the heater according to the heating mode power profile so that the aerosol-generating material is heated to the target temperature. In the heating mode 620, the heating temperature is kept constant, thereby providing a constant amount of aerosol to the user.

In one embodiment, the heating mode 620 may be divided into a plurality of categories, and in the heating mode 620, a power level for each of the plurality of sections may be set so that the aerosol-generating material is heated to a target temperature.

For example, as shown in the second graph 62, the heating mode 620 can be divided into four sections, and in the four sections, the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material can be maintained at the target temperature T4. have. However, since the first section is immediately after the transition from the preheating mode 610 to the heating mode 620, the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material may increase until the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material reaches the target temperature T4. .

In addition, as shown in the first graph 61, the heating mode 620 may be divided into four sections, and a power level for each of the four sections may be set. The power level supplied to the heater in the heating mode 620 may be higher than the power level in the preheating mode 610.

The controller may supply W31 to the heater in the first section, W32 to the heater in the second section, W33 to the heater in the third section, and W34 to the heater in the fourth section. The power levels W31, W32, W33, and W34 corresponding to each of the four sections may gradually decrease over time. For example, the power levels W31, W32, W33, and W34 supplied to the heater in each section of the heating mode 620 may be 5W, 4W, 3W and 2W, respectively.

Meanwhile, the number of sections included in the heating mode 620 is not limited thereto. In addition, the power level corresponding to each section included in the heating mode 620 may be kept constant for each section as shown in FIG. 6, or may change over time even within each section.

The control unit may measure the time the aerosol generating device has been operated in the heating mode 620. When the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode 620 exceeds a preset time, the controller may switch the mode of the aerosol generating device from the heating mode 620 to the idle mode 630. In addition, the controller may measure the progress time for each section of the heating mode 620.

For example, the aerosol generating device may be set to operate in the heating mode 620 for 2 seconds. In addition, each of the four sections shown in FIG. 6 may be set to proceed by 0.5 seconds.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control unit may change the mode of the aerosol generating device from the heating mode 620 to the idle mode 630 at a third time 621. That is, when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode 620 from the second time 611 to the third time 621, the control unit sets a preset time when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode 620. It is determined that it has passed, and the mode of the aerosol generating device may be changed from the heating mode 620 to the idle mode 630 at the third time 621.

The control unit may control power supplied to the heater based on the idle mode power profile. In one embodiment, the control unit may control power supplied to the heater based on the idle mode power profile so that the temperature at which the aerosol-generating material is heated in the idle mode 630 is below the target temperature of the heating mode 620 . In addition, the controller may control power supplied to the heater based on the idle mode power profile so that the temperature at which the aerosol-generating material is heated in the idle mode 630 is equal to or higher than the temperature at which the aerosol is generated from the aerosol-generating material.

Referring to FIG. 6, the temperature at which the aerosol-generating material is heated in the idle mode 630 is included in a range equal to or higher than the target temperature T4 of the heating mode 620 and the temperature T3 at which an aerosol is generated from the aerosol material. The power supplied can be controlled.

As the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material increases, the amount of aerosol generated increases. The idle mode 630 is a non-puff state in which the user does not puff. If the aerosol-generating material is heated to the same temperature as the heating mode 620 even in the idle mode 630, when the user resumes the puff (i.e. The aerosol may be oversupplied to the user for 4 hours (631). To prevent this, the temperature at which the aerosol-generating material is heated in the idle mode 630 may be set to be less than the target temperature of the heating mode 620.

In addition, when the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the idle mode 630, when the user resumes the puff again (ie, the fourth time 631), the aerosol supplied to the user may be insufficient. To prevent this, the temperature at which the aerosol-generating material is heated in the idle mode 630 may be set to be higher than the temperature at which the aerosol is generated from the aerosol material.

The power level supplied to the heater in the idle mode 630 may be constant. Alternatively, the power supplied to the heater in the idle mode 630 may change over time. For example, in the preheating mode 610, the controller may supply the same power level W2 as the power level supplied to the heater to the heater.

The controller may receive a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor and terminate the idle mode 630 in response to the puff detection signal. Referring to FIG. 6, a puff detection signal is generated at a fourth time 631, and the controller may terminate the idle mode 630 in response to the puff detection signal. In an embodiment, the controller may switch the idle mode 630 to a heating mode in response to the puff detection signal.

On the other hand, as the heating temperature of the aerosol-generating material increases, the amount of aerosol generated increases. The idle mode 630 is a non-puff state in which the user does not puff. If power is supplied to the heater at the same power level as the heating mode 620 even in the idle mode 630, when the user resumes the puff again (that is, The aerosol may be oversupplied to the user in the fourth time (631). To prevent this, the power level supplied to the heater in the idle mode 630 may be set lower than the power level in the heating mode 620.

In addition, when the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the idle mode 630, when the user resumes the puff again (ie, the fourth time 631), the aerosol supplied to the user may be insufficient. To prevent this, the power level supplied to the heater in the idle mode 630 may be set to be higher than the power level of the preheating mode 610.

The controller may measure a time when the aerosol generating device has been operated in the idle mode 630. When the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the idle mode 630 exceeds a preset time, the control unit may switch the mode of the aerosol generating device from the idle mode 630 to the sleep mode. In the sleep mode, a small amount of power may be supplied to the heater or the power supply may be cut off.

In addition, when the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the sleep mode exceeds a preset time, the aerosol generating device may be turned off. For example, when the aerosol generating device is turned off, power supplied to hardware components other than the position change detection sensor may be cut off.

For example, if the aerosol generating device operates in the idle mode 630 for more than 1 minute, the controller may switch the aerosol generating device mode from the idle mode 630 to the sleep mode. In addition, when the aerosol generating device operates in the idle mode 630 for more than 2 minutes, the aerosol generating device may be turned off.

7 is a diagram for describing an example of counting the number of puffs according to an exemplary embodiment.

The aerosol generating device includes a puff detection sensor, and the puff detection sensor may detect a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change. The controller may count the number of puffs using a puff detection sensor.

The control unit may measure the time the aerosol generating device has been operated in the heating mode. When the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode exceeds a preset time, the controller may switch the mode of the aerosol generating device from the heating mode to the idle mode.

In addition, the controller may receive a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor, and in response to the puff detection signal, change the mode of the aerosol generating device from the idle mode to the heating mode.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the mode of the aerosol generating device is changed from the idle mode to the heating mode based on the puff detection signal, the controller may count the number of puffs. The controller may cut off the power supplied to the heater when the number of puffs reaches the maximum number.

When the number of puffs reaches a preset number after counting the number of puffs based on the puff detection signal, the control unit may notify the user that the aerosol generating device is about to end using at least one of a lamp, a motor, and a speaker. . In one embodiment, the preset number of puffs may be a number of times that is subtracted by a predetermined number from the maximum number of puffs at which the heater is terminated.

For example, the maximum number of puffs of the aerosol generating device may be set to n. In this case, after counting the number of puffs based on the puff detection signal, the controller may cut off the power supplied to the heater when the number of puffs reaches n times.

In addition, the control unit may count the number of puffs based on the puff detection signal, and when the number of puffs reaches n-1, it may notify the user that the aerosol generating apparatus is about to be terminated.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an aerosol generating device according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 810, the aerosol generating apparatus may receive an input signal for initiating an operation of a heater.

The aerosol generating device may include a heater that heats an aerosol-generating material, a battery that supplies power to the heater, and a control unit. In addition, the aerosol generating apparatus may include a main body, a slider coupled to the main body to be movable, and a position change detection sensor that detects a position change of the slider.

In an embodiment, the position change detection sensor may detect a position change of a slider that is movably coupled to the main body. When the slider moves from the first position to the second position, the controller may receive an input signal from the position change detection sensor.

For example, the first position is a position in which the slider covers the end of the mouthpiece as shown in FIG. 2, and the second position is a position in which the slider exposes the end of the mouthpiece to the outside as shown in FIG. I can.

In addition, the aerosol generating device may include a cartridge that receives the aerosol generating material and is detachably mounted to the body. After the cartridge is mounted on the main body, the control unit may receive an input signal from a position change detection sensor.

In step 820, the aerosol generating device may set the mode to the preheating mode in response to the input signal.

In an embodiment, the controller may set the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode in response to an input signal received from the position change detection sensor.

Alternatively, after the cartridge is mounted on the main body, the controller may set the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode in response to an input signal received from the position change detection sensor. That is, when it is determined that the cartridge is not mounted on the main body, the mode of the aerosol generating device may not be set to the preheating mode even if the control unit receives an input signal from the position change detection sensor.

The controller may control power supplied to the heater according to the preheat mode power profile so that aerosol is not generated from the aerosol generating material in the preheat mode. As the power supplied to the heater is controlled so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode, the battery life can be extended by reducing the power consumption, and the aerosol condensation before the user puff can prevent leakage of liquid. .

The description of the above-described embodiments is merely exemplary, and those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. Therefore, the true scope of protection of the invention should be determined by the appended claims, and all differences in the scope equivalent to the content described in the claims should be construed as being included in the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims (19)

A heater for heating the aerosol-generating material;
A battery supplying power to the heater; And
Control unit;
In the aerosol generating device comprising a,
The control unit,
In response to an input signal for initiating an operation of the heater, a mode of the aerosol generating device is set to a preheating mode,
To control the power supplied to the heater so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode. The method of claim 1,
The aerosol generating device
main body;
A slider coupled to be movable with respect to the main body; And
A position change detection sensor for detecting a position change of the slider;
Including more,
The control unit,
When the slider moves from the first position to the second position, receiving the input signal from the position change detection sensor,
In response to the input signal, setting the mode of the aerosol generating device to the preheating mode. The method of claim 2,
The aerosol generating device
A cartridge containing the aerosol-generating material and detachably mounted to the body;
Including more,
The control unit,
After the cartridge is mounted on the main body, in response to the input signal, the mode of the aerosol generating device is set to the preheating mode. The method of claim 3,
In the first position, the slider covers the end of the cartridge, and in the second position the slider exposes the end of the cartridge. The method of claim 2,
The control unit,
When the slider moves from the second position to the first position, setting the mode of the aerosol generating device to a sleep mode. The method of claim 1,
The aerosol generating device
A puff detection sensor for detecting puff;
Including more,
The control unit,
Receiving a puff detection signal from the puff detection sensor,
In response to the puff detection signal, the mode of the aerosol generating device is switched from the preheating mode to a heating mode. The method of claim 6,
The control unit,
To control the power supplied to the heater based on the heating mode power profile so that the aerosol-generating material is heated to a target temperature in the heating mode. The method of claim 7,
The heating mode power profile is divided into a plurality of sections,
The control unit,
To control power supplied to the heater based on a preset power level corresponding to each of the plurality of sections. The method of claim 8,
The power level according to the heating mode power profile gradually decreases over time. The method of claim 7,
The control unit,
When the time when the aerosol generating device operates in the heating mode exceeds a preset time, the mode of the aerosol generating device is switched from the heating mode to a rest mode,
To control the power supplied to the heater based on the idle mode power profile. The method of claim 10,
The power level according to the idle mode power profile is maintained at a preset value. The method of claim 10,
The control unit,
Receiving the puff detection signal in the idle mode,
In response to the puff detection signal, the mode of the aerosol generating device is switched from the idle mode to the heating mode. The method of claim 1,
The aerosol generating device
A puff detection sensor that detects a puff; And
User interface;
Including more,
The control unit,
When a puff detection signal is received from the puff detection sensor, the number of puffs is counted to calculate the current number of puffs,
The user interface,
If the current number of puffs reaches a preset number of puffs, a feedback is provided indicating that the heater will be terminated. The method of claim 13,
The control unit,
When the current number of puffs reaches the maximum number of puffs, the operation of the heater is terminated. The method of claim 13,
The predetermined number of puffs is subtracted by a predetermined number of puffs from the maximum number of puffs at which the heater is terminated. The method of claim 10,
The control unit,
When the time when the aerosol generating apparatus operates in the idle mode exceeds a first preset time, the aerosol generating apparatus switches the mode of the aerosol generating apparatus from the idle mode to a sleep mode. The method of claim 16,
The control unit,
When a time when the aerosol generating device operates in the idle mode exceeds a second preset time, the aerosol generating device is turned off,
The second preset time is longer than the first preset time. In the method of controlling an aerosol generating device,
Receiving an input signal for starting the operation of the heater; And
Setting a mode to a preheating mode in response to the input signal;
Including,
The method of controlling the power supplied to the heater so that the aerosol is not generated from the aerosol-generating material in the preheating mode. A computer-readable recording medium recording a program for executing the method of claim 18 on a computer.

Images