KR20240003609A - Aerosol generating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment includes a main body having an accommodating space, communicating the accommodating space with an external space, and having an insertion port through which an aerosol-forming article is inserted, a heating pipe mounted in the accommodating space to form a heating space, and a heating pipe. An upper fixing part that fixes the upper side to the main body and has an internal space that communicates the heating space and the insertion hole, a proximity sensor mounted in the internal space to generate a proximity detection value and apply it to the processor, and an irradiation part that radiates white light into the internal space. , an illuminance sensor mounted in the internal space that generates an illuminance value corresponding to the brightness and supplies it to the processor, a power supply unit, a heating unit that applies heat energy to the heating pipe or causes the heating pipe to induction heat, and a power supply to the heating unit. The aerosol emission function is performed by controlling the supply and supply cutoff, but before performing the aerosol emission function, with power supplied from the power source, the proximity sensor is activated, the irradiation unit and the illuminance sensor are deactivated, and the proximity sensor is activated. It includes a processor that determines whether an aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating space and the interior space using the sensing value.

Description

Aerosol generating device {AEROSOL GENERATING APPARATUS}

The embodiment relates to an aerosol-generating device, and in particular to an aerosol-generating device that continuously performs a heating operation corresponding to the type of aerosol-forming article inserted in conjunction with the insertion action of the aerosol-forming article into the heating space by the user. .

Aerosols are small liquid or solid particles that exist in suspension in the atmosphere and usually have a size of 0.001 to 1.0 ㎛. In particular, there are cases where a person inhales an aerosol so that inhalation of the inhalable substance can be achieved, for example, by vaporizing an aerosol-forming substrate in the form of a cigarette filled with paper impregnated with the inhaled substance or buried on the surface.

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a portable aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the prior art to which the present invention can be applied. Referring to FIG. 1, the portable aerosol generator 10 includes a heater 14 that generates heat by resistance when current is applied, a battery 16 that can instantly supply high power to the heater 14, and the heater ( It includes a microcontroller 15 to control 14). The heater 14 generates an aerosol by heating a vaporizing material inserted into the cavity 13 containing a material (vaporizing material) that vaporizes when heated above a certain temperature. For example, when a cigarette-type aerosol-forming material (11) impregnated with an inhalation substance or filled with paper buried on the surface is inserted into the cavity (13) through the opening (12), the heater (14) is heated to form a cigarette-type aerosol. When the inhaled substance inside the base 11 is vaporized, the user can inhale the vaporized inhaled substance through the filter part of the cigarette-type aerosol-forming base 11.

Referring to Figure 2 (A), recently, manufacturers of cigarette-shaped aerosol-forming substrates have been commercializing cigarette-shaped aerosol-forming substrates of various flavors, and manufacturers have applied different colors to the surface of each type of cigarette-shaped aerosol-forming substrate according to the unique flavor. Information is displayed and released. However, referring to (B) of FIG. 2, a typical portable aerosol generator operates according to a preset heating temperature and heating time regardless of the type of cigarette-type aerosol-forming material, so that it is unique to the user for each type of cigarette-type aerosol-forming material. There is a problem that it is difficult to provide the flavor of.

In addition, as a prior art, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2135786 discloses a fine particle generating device including a control device that determines the color information of the cigarette by analyzing the RGB value output from the color sensor and the HSL value calculated using the RGB value. It is disclosed that the fine particle generating device detects the color information of the cigarette using a color sensor, determines whether the cigarette is inserted, and visually displays the information on the cigarette. However, in the above-described prior art, there is no disclosure regarding controlling heating under optimal conditions according to the type of cigarette detected.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication 10-2135786

The purpose of the embodiment is to provide an aerosol-generating device that continuously performs a heating operation corresponding to the type of the inserted aerosol-forming article in conjunction with the insertion operation of the aerosol-forming article into the heating space by the user.

An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment includes a main body having an accommodating space, communicating the accommodating space with an external space and having an insertion port through which an aerosol-forming article is inserted, a heating pipe mounted in the accommodating space to form a heating space, and a heating pipe. An upper fixing part that fixes the upper side to the main body and has an internal space that communicates the heating space and the insertion hole, a proximity sensor mounted in the internal space to generate a proximity detection value and apply it to the processor, and an irradiation part that radiates white light into the internal space. , an illuminance sensor mounted in the internal space that generates an illuminance value corresponding to the brightness and supplies it to the processor, a power supply unit, a heating unit that applies heat energy to the heating pipe or causes the heating pipe to induction heat, and a power supply to the heating unit. The aerosol emission function is performed by controlling the supply and supply cutoff, but before performing the aerosol emission function, with power supplied from the power source, the proximity sensor is activated, the irradiation unit and the illuminance sensor are deactivated, and the proximity sensor is activated. It includes a processor that determines whether an aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating space and the interior space using the sensing value.

Additionally, when the processor determines that an aerosol-forming article has been inserted, it is desirable to additionally activate the irradiation unit and the illuminance sensor.

Additionally, the aerosol-forming article preferably has a color band portion, and when the aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating space, the color band portion is preferably located in the internal space.

In addition, the processor preferably performs an aerosol discharge function by controlling the supply and cutoff of power to the heating unit according to the temperature profile corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor.

In addition, the processor determines the color of the color band corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor and performs an aerosol discharge function by controlling the power supply and supply cutoff to the heating unit according to the temperature profile corresponding to the determined color. desirable.

Additionally, it is preferable that the diameter of the internal space is larger than the diameter of the heating space.

In addition, it is preferable that the proximity sensor, lighting unit, and illuminance sensor are mounted on the upper fixing part so that they face the central axis of the internal space.

Additionally, it is desirable for the processor to deactivate the illuminance sensor and the lighting unit while performing the aerosol emission function.

In the embodiment, a heating operation corresponding to the type of the aerosol-forming article inserted is continuously performed in conjunction with the insertion operation of the aerosol-forming article into the heating space by the user, so that the heating operation according to the type of the aerosol-forming article is the insertion operation. It has the effect of allowing it to be performed in conjunction with .

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the prior art.
Figure 2 is a diagram for explaining the background technology of this embodiment according to the prior art. Figure 2 (A) is a diagram showing a cigarette-type aerosol forming substrate with different color information, and Figure 2 (B) is a diagram showing a cigarette-type aerosol forming substrate. is a graph showing an example of the heating operation of an aerosol generating device according to the prior art.
Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the use of an aerosol generating device and an aerosol forming article according to an embodiment.
Figure 4 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a control configuration diagram of the aerosol generating device of Figure 3.

Hereinafter, embodiments are described in detail through the drawings. However, this is not intended to be limiting to specific embodiments, and the described embodiments should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, and/or alternatives of the embodiments. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numbers may be used for similar components.

In this document, expressions such as “have,” “may have,” “includes,” or “may include” refer to the existence of the corresponding feature (e.g., a numerical value, function, operation, or component such as a part). , and does not rule out the existence of additional features.

In this document, expressions such as “A or B,” “at least one of A or/and B,” or “one or more of A or/and B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. . For example, “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” (1) includes at least one A, (2) includes at least one B, or (3) it may refer to all cases including both at least one A and at least one B.

As used herein, expressions such as "first", "second", "first", or "second" may describe various elements in any order and/or importance, and may refer to one element as another. It is only used to distinguish from components and does not limit the components. For example, a first user device and a second user device may represent different user devices regardless of order or importance. For example, a first component may be renamed a second component without departing from the scope of rights described in this document, and similarly, the second component may also be renamed to the first component.

A component (e.g., a first component) is “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to” another component (e.g., a second component). When referred to as being “connected to,” it should be understood that any component may be directly connected to the other component or may be connected through another component (e.g., a third component). On the other hand, when a component (e.g., a first component) is said to be “directly connected” or “directly connected” to another component (e.g., a second component), It may be understood that no other component (e.g., a third component) exists between other components.

The expression “configured to” used in this document may mean, for example, “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” or “having the capacity to.” It can be used interchangeably with ", "designed to," "adapted to," "made to," or "capable of." The term “configured (or set) to” may not necessarily mean “specifically designed to” in hardware. Instead, in some contexts, the expression “a device configured to” may mean that the device is “capable of” working with other devices or components.

Terms used in this document are merely used to describe specific embodiments and may not be intended to limit the scope of other embodiments. Singular expressions may include plural expressions, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, may have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the technical field described in this document. Among the terms used in this document, terms defined in general dictionaries may be interpreted to have the same or similar meaning as the meaning they have in the context of related technology, and unless clearly defined in this document, they may be interpreted in an ideal or excessively formal sense. It is not interpreted. In some cases, even terms defined in this document cannot be interpreted to exclude embodiments of this document.

In an embodiment, the aerosol-forming article has at least one of a filter portion and a cooling portion that are a series of laminated structures, and includes an aerosol-forming base layer (e.g., cutting paste, flavoring, nicotine, VG (vegetable glycerin), PG (propylene) glycol), optionally including cloves. The aerosol-forming article has a filter portion, a cooling portion, and a wrapping portion surrounding a laminated structure of an aerosol-forming substrate layer. Aerosol-forming articles include conventional electronic cigarette cigarettes, filters, and the like.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the use of an aerosol generating device and an aerosol forming article according to an embodiment.

The aerosol-forming article 50 has a color band portion 52 formed on the outer surface of the wrapping portion and exposed to the outside.

The aerosol generating device 100 includes a main body 110 having a receiving space including at least a heating space therein, communicating the heating space with an external space, and having an insertion port 112 into which the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted. It is composed including.

Figure 4 is a vertical partial cross-sectional view of the aerosol-generating device of Figure 3;

The aerosol generating device 100 is mounted in a receiving space within the main body (110 in FIG. 2), includes a heating pipe 120 forming a heating space, and is in communication with the heating space in an upward and downward direction (direction of insertion of the aerosol-forming article 50). A hollow internal space (IS) is formed, and an upper fixing part 130 fixes the upper side of the heating pipe 120 to the main body and the lower side of the heating pipe 120 to the main body (110 in FIG. 2). It includes a lower fixing part (not shown) and an insertion hole forming part 140 in which a hollow in the vertical direction is formed on the upper side of the upper fixing part 130 to form the insertion hole 112.

In the heating pipe 120, a heating unit (270 in FIG. 5) for one of resistance heating, induction heating, or other heating methods is mounted on the main body. For example, the heating unit may perform resistance heating to transfer or diffuse thermal energy to the heating pipe 120, and the heating unit may include an induction heating coil for induction heating in the heating pipe 120, and include a heating pipe 120. (120) may be composed of a ferromagnetic material.

The upper fixing part 130 has a groove portion formed with a groove 132 surrounding the upper edge of the heating pipe 120, and an internal space (IS) having a larger diameter than the diameter (HD) of the heating space on the upper side of the groove portion. It is provided with an extension portion 134 that forms a . The internal space IS communicates with the heating space and the insertion port 112.

The insertion direction of the aerosol-forming article 50 is formed to be equal to or parallel to the central axis O of the heating space.

The internal space IS is located above the top of the heating space and is minimally affected by the heating operation by the heating unit.

The central axis (O) of the heating space and the central axis of the internal space are the same, and inside the extension part 134, an illuminance sensor 252 and a proximity sensor 256 are installed toward the central axis (O) of the heating space (internal space). Wow, the lighting unit 258 is mounted. In this embodiment, the space where the illuminance sensor 252, the proximity sensor 256, and the lighting unit 258 are mounted, irradiated with white light, and the illuminance value and proximity detection value are obtained is the sensing space (D), and this sensing space (D) is smaller than or equal to the internal space (IS), and the height of the color band portion 52 of the aerosol-forming article 50 is taken into consideration so that the color band portion 52 is located in the sensing space D. Depth is determined.

Figure 5 is a control configuration diagram of the aerosol generating device of Figure 3.

The aerosol generating device 100 includes an input unit 210 that obtains input from the user (e.g., power on/off input, etc.) and applies it to the processor 290, and information from the processor 220 (e.g. a display unit 220 that receives and displays (power status, current operating status, etc.), and a power unit 230 that supplies power from an external power source or a built-in rechargeable battery to the power supply unit 240 and the processor 290, etc. , a power supply unit 240 (e.g., FET switch, etc.) that receives power from the power unit 230 and supplies it to and cuts off the supply to the heating unit 270 under the control of the processor 290, and an internal space (IS) Or, an ambient light sensor 252 that measures the brightness of the aerosol-forming article 50 and applies the measured illuminance value to the processor 290, and transmits light (e.g., infrared light, etc.) into the internal space (IS). ), a proximity sensor 256 that irradiates and applies a reflected proximity detection value to the processor 290, a lighting unit 258 that irradiates white light into the internal space (IS), and a heating space, heating pipe 120, or heating A temperature sensor 260 detects the temperature of the unit 270 and applies the detected temperature to the processor 290, and receives power from the power supply unit 240 to apply heat energy to the heating pipe 120 or inductively heat it. A heating unit 270 that performs a heating operation, an insertion confirmation function that controls the above-mentioned components to check whether the aerosol-generating article 50 is inserted into the heating space according to the proximity detection value from the proximity sensor 256; In conjunction with the insertion confirmation function, the color of the color band portion 52 of the aerosol-generating article 50 is read according to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor 252 during the white light irradiation of the lighting portion 258, and the read color or the approved color is It is configured to include a processor 290 that performs an aerosol generating function by controlling the power supply unit 240 according to a temperature profile corresponding to the illuminance value. The control components in FIG. 4 are mounted in the receiving space or on the side of the main body. However, the input unit 210, the display unit 220, the power unit 230, the power supply unit 240, the temperature sensor 260, the heating unit 270, etc. are conventional in the technical field to which this embodiment belongs. Since this is a technology that is naturally recognized by technicians, its detailed description is omitted.

First, the lighting unit 258 is an optical element that irradiates white light into the internal space (IS) and includes, for example, a white LED.

The illuminance sensor 252 is a sensor that measures the surrounding brightness within the internal space (IS). In this embodiment, the white light irradiated by the lighting unit 258 is reflected from the internal space (IS) or the aerosol-forming article 50. It contains a variable resistor whose internal resistance value changes depending on the amount of reflected light. The illuminance sensor 252 generates an illuminance value including a resistance value corresponding to brightness, which is the amount of reflected light, and applies it to the processor 290.

The processor 290 uses the illuminance value to store relationship data between the illuminance value and color to determine the color of the color band portion 52. This relationship data includes the color corresponding to the brightness of light, which is the illuminance value, that is, it stores the illuminance value or range of illuminance values for each color. That is, the processor 290 reads the relationship data between the illuminance value and the color, and determines the color corresponding to the illuminance value applied from the illuminance sensor 252 using the relationship data.

The proximity sensor 256 irradiates infrared rays into the internal space (IS), generates a proximity detection value corresponding to the amount of reflected infrared rays, and applies it to the processor 290. This proximity detection value is different when the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted into the internal space IS and when the aerosol-forming article 50 is not inserted. For example, the proximity detection value when the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted into the internal space IS is greater than the proximity detection value when the aerosol-forming article 50 is not inserted. To take advantage of this, processor 290 stores a reference proximity detection value. The standard proximity detection value may be set as the minimum proximity detection value when the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted into the internal space (IS).

The processor 290 compares the proximity detection value applied from the proximity sensor 256 with the reference proximity detection value, and if the applied proximity detection value is greater than or equal to the reference proximity detection value, the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted into the heating space. Otherwise, it is determined that the aerosol-forming article 50 has not been inserted into the heating space. In this embodiment, the processor 290 may use the proximity detection value from the proximity sensor 256 to determine whether the aerosol-forming article 50 is inserted.

Additionally, the processor 290 stores first temperature profile information including a temperature profile corresponding to a color or second temperature profile information including a temperature profile corresponding to an illuminance value. Each of the first and second temperature profile information includes temperature profiles optimized according to the characteristics of the aerosol-forming article 50 (eg, type of aerosol-forming substrate, component ratio, etc.). The temperature profile corresponds to data including target temperature, heating time, etc. The processor 290 selects a temperature profile corresponding to a color or illuminance value from the first or second temperature profile information and performs a heating operation according to the selected temperature profile. During this heating operation, the processor 290 performs power supply and supply interruption in consideration of the temperature value detected from the temperature sensor 260, and this corresponds to technology widely known to those skilled in the art to which this embodiment belongs. Therefore, the explanation is omitted.

While receiving power from the power supply unit 230, the processor 290 activates the proximity sensor 256, deactivates the illuminance sensor 252 and the lighting unit 258, and performs a function to confirm insertion of the aerosol-forming article 50. Let's begin.

The processor 290 starts the insertion confirmation function, and the proximity sensor 256 periodically generates a proximity detection value and applies it to the processor 290. The processor 290 compares the approved proximity detection value with a pre-stored reference proximity detection value. If the approved proximity detection value is higher than the pre-stored standard proximity detection value, the processor 290 determines that the aerosol-forming article 50 has been inserted into the heating space and the internal space (IS), terminates the insertion confirmation function, and generates an aerosol. performs its function. If the applied proximity detection value is less than the previously stored reference proximity detection value, the processor 290 repeatedly performs the insertion confirmation function, that is, a process of comparing the subsequently applied proximity detection value with the previously stored reference proximity detection value. Perform repeatedly. The processor 290 may display through the display unit 220 that the aerosol-forming article 50 has been inserted.

Next, the processor 290 starts the aerosol generation function in conjunction with the insertion confirmation judgment in the insertion confirmation function, activates the proximity sensor 256, and additionally activates the illuminance sensor 252 and the lighting unit 258 to generate aerosol Starts the generation function.

As described above, the processor 290 determines the color corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor 252, selects a temperature profile corresponding to the determined color from the first temperature profile information, and operates the power supply unit 240. By controlling the operation, the heating unit 270 may perform an aerosol generating function to perform a heating operation. Alternatively, as described above, the processor 290 selects a temperature profile corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor 252 from the second temperature profile information and controls the operation of the power supply unit 240 so that the heating unit 270 operates. It may perform an aerosol generating function to perform a heating operation. However, if there is no temperature profile corresponding to the illuminance value or color, the processor 290 performs the aerosol generation function according to the basic temperature profile.

While performing the above-described aerosol generating function, the processor 290 activates the proximity sensor 256, the illuminance sensor 252, and the lighting unit 258, and controls the operation of the power supply unit 240 to operate the heating unit 270. When the heating operation begins, the illuminance sensor 252 and the lighting unit 258 may be deactivated.

Additionally, when the processor 290 terminates the aerosol generating function according to the selected temperature profile, the processor 290 may activate the proximity sensor 256 to determine whether the aerosol-forming article 50 has been removed. This removal judgment is the same as determining whether the aerosol-forming article 50 has not been inserted into the heating space and the internal space, as described above.

At least a portion of the device (e.g., processor or functions thereof) or method (e.g., operations) according to various embodiments is stored in a computer-readable storage media, for example, in the form of a program module. Can be implemented as stored instructions. When the instruction is executed by a processor, the one or more processors may perform the function corresponding to the instruction. A computer-readable storage medium may be, for example, memory.

Computer-readable recording media include hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic media (e.g. magnetic tape), optical media (e.g. CD-ROM, DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), magnetic media) It may include magnetic media (e.g., a floptical disk), hardware devices (e.g., ROM, RAM, or flash memory, etc.), etc. Additionally, program instructions may include strings such as those generated by the compiler. It may include not only machine language code but also high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The above-described hardware device may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of various embodiments, The same goes for the station.

The processor or functions provided by the processor according to various embodiments may include at least one of the above-described components, some of them may be omitted, or other additional components may be included. Operations performed by modules, program modules, or other components according to various embodiments may be executed sequentially, in parallel, iteratively, or in a heuristic manner. Additionally, some operations may be executed in a different order, omitted, or other operations may be added.

As explained above, it is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made by anyone skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the claims. Of course, such changes are within the scope of the claims.

50: Aerosol-forming article 52: Color band
100: Aerosol generating device

Claims (8)

a main body having an accommodating space, communicating the accommodating space with an external space, and having an insertion port into which an aerosol-forming article is inserted;
a heating pipe mounted in the receiving space to form a heating space;
an upper fixing part that fixes the upper side of the heating pipe to the main body and has an internal space that communicates the heating space and the insertion hole;
A proximity sensor installed in the internal space to generate a proximity detection value and apply it to the processor;
an irradiation unit that irradiates white light into the internal space;
an illuminance sensor mounted in the internal space to generate an illuminance value corresponding to brightness and apply it to the processor;
Power supply unit;
a heating unit that applies heat energy to the heating pipe or causes the heating pipe to be inductively heated;
The aerosol emission function is performed by controlling the power supply and supply cutoff to the heating unit, but before performing the aerosol emission function, with power supplied from the power source, the proximity sensor is activated, the irradiation unit and the illuminance sensor are deactivated, and the proximity sensor is activated. An aerosol generating device comprising a processor that determines whether an aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating space and the internal space using proximity detection values from a sensor. According to claim 1,
An aerosol generating device, wherein the processor additionally activates the irradiation unit and the illuminance sensor when it is determined that an aerosol-forming article has been inserted. According to claim 2,
The aerosol-forming article has a color band,
An aerosol-generating device, wherein when the aerosol-forming article is inserted into the heating space, the color band portion is located in the internal space. According to claim 3,
An aerosol generating device, wherein the processor performs an aerosol discharge function by controlling power supply and supply cutoff to the heating unit according to a temperature profile corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor. According to claim 3,
The processor determines the color of the color band corresponding to the illuminance value from the illuminance sensor, and performs an aerosol emission function by controlling power supply and supply cutoff to the heating unit according to the temperature profile corresponding to the determined color. An aerosol generating device. According to claim 1,
An aerosol generating device, characterized in that the diameter of the internal space is larger than the diameter of the heating space. According to claim 6,
An aerosol generating device, wherein the proximity sensor, lighting unit, and illuminance sensor are mounted on the upper fixing unit to face the central axis of the internal space. The method of claim 4 or 5,
An aerosol generating device, wherein the processor deactivates the illuminance sensor and the lighting unit while performing the aerosol emission function.

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