KR20240020244A - Smart aerosol-generating device to manage usage - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a smart aerosol generating device that manages usage, and more specifically, to a smart aerosol generating device that can check and manage usage information by linking usage measurement information with a smart device.
The aerosol generating device of the embodiment includes a heating unit for heating the aerosol-forming article inserted or mounted in the substrate supply unit, a usage detection unit for detecting the usage amount of the aerosol-forming article, pairing with a smart device, and communication with the paired smart device. It includes a communication module for and at least a control unit for controlling the heating unit, and the control unit generates usage information based on the content detected by the usage detection unit and transmits it to the paired smart device, and also uses the usage information received by the paired smart device. It is characterized by restricting the user's use according to the use restriction decision made based on.

Description

SMART AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE TO MANAGE USAGE}

Embodiments relate to a smart aerosol generating device that manages usage, and more specifically, to a smart aerosol generating device that can check and manage usage information by linking usage measurement information with a smart device.

Aerosols are small particles of liquid or solid that exist in suspension in the atmosphere and usually have a size of 0.001 to 1.0 ㎛. There are aerosol generating devices that allow people to inhale aerosols derived from liquid for various purposes, for example. There are liquid e-cigarettes and nebulizers.

Typically, an aerosol generating device includes a battery and control electronics, and is equipped with a liquid cartridge that stores liquid for forming an aerosol. It may also include a core portion that absorbs the liquid in the liquid cartridge and a liquid heater for heating the core portion. Alternatively, it may include a cigarette receiving portion that can accommodate a cigarette-type aerosol-forming substrate and a cigarette heater that heats the cigarette-type substrate.

In Korean Patent Publication Nos. 10-2012-0082641 and 10-2022-0074974, an attempt is made to detect the user's puff (inhalation) behavior and ultimately measure the remaining amount of the aerosol-forming substrate. Through detection of puff behavior or detection of the remaining amount of liquid, the number of remaining puffs can be calculated, and based on this, beneficial effects such as heater control, remaining number notification, nicotine intake warning, etc. can be provided and user experience can be improved.

Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2240404 discloses an aerosol generating device that provides adaptive feedback through puff recognition. This prior art performs heater control to improve user experience through puff recognition, and also provides user convenience information such as notification of the number of remaining puffs. However, the aerosol generating device is a small, portable device, and there are limitations in providing detailed information other than simple information such as the number of remaining puffs, and the prior art also limits itself to providing feedback upon use.

By accumulating information on the use of aerosol-generating devices over a period of time, it is possible to obtain information advantageous to the user, such as frequency of use and usage habits, and through this, advantageous effects such as provision of health information, risk warnings, and use restrictions can be achieved. Therefore, it is necessary to process usage data to provide advantageous information or control.

Embodiments of the present invention, inspired by the problems of the prior art, aim to provide an aerosol generating device that can check usage information and set usage restrictions by linking with a smart device through wireless communication.

The aerosol generating device of an embodiment of the present invention generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming article containing an aerosol-forming substrate when inserted or mounted, and is capable of exchanging data with a paired smart device. In the aerosol-generating device, A substrate supply unit where the aerosol-forming article is inserted or mounted, a heating unit for heating the aerosol-forming article inserted or mounted on the substrate supply unit, a usage detection unit for detecting the usage amount of the aerosol-forming article, pairing with a smart device, and paired It includes a communication module for communication with a smart device and at least a control unit for controlling the heating unit, wherein the control unit generates usage information based on what the usage detection unit detects and transmits it to the paired smart device, and also sends it to the paired smart device. It is characterized by restricting the user's use according to a usage restriction decision made based on the usage information transmitted.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the communication module communicates with a smart device through Bluetooth or low-power Bluetooth.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the usage information includes at least one of the user's puff behavior or the amount of consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate as an element.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the usage detection unit is a pressure sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the pressure sensor.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the usage detection unit is a humidity sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the humidity sensor.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the usage detection unit is a smoke sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the smoke sensor.

In addition, in the aerosol generating device of one embodiment, the aerosol-forming article is a liquid cartridge containing a liquid-type aerosol-forming substrate, a liquid tank in which the aerosol-forming substrate is stored, and a floating plate that floats in the liquid tank by the buoyancy of the stored aerosol-forming substrate. and a permanent magnet formed on one side of the floating plate, wherein the floating plate is lowered by gravity as the remaining amount of the aerosol-forming substrate decreases, and the usage detection unit of the aerosol generating device is configured to operate when a liquid cartridge is mounted on the substrate supply unit. It is coupled to the permanent magnet of the liquid cartridge, and includes a ferromagnetic material that descends together with the permanent magnet when the floating plate of the liquid cartridge descends, and a distance sensor for measuring the falling distance of the ferromagnetic material due to the lowering of the floating plate, and the distance sensor measures It is characterized in that the consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate is calculated based on the descent distance of one ferromagnetic material.

Additionally, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the heating portion is formed of a material whose resistance value changes depending on temperature.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment is characterized in that the heating portion is formed of any one of nickel, titanium, SUS304, and SUS316.

In addition, the smart system of the aerosol generating device of an embodiment includes a communication module for pairing the aerosol generating device with the aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and communicating with the paired aerosol generating device, Includes a storage device for storing usage information transmitted from a paired aerosol-generating device, a display device for displaying information to the user, and a processor running an app that displays usage information of the paired aerosol-generating device on the display device. It is characterized by including a smart device that

In addition, the smart system of the aerosol-generating device in one embodiment is characterized in that the processor generates and displays statistics on the use of the paired aerosol-generating device by period of use through an app that is executed.

In addition, in the smart system of the aerosol generating device in one embodiment, the processor receives input from the user of the limited usage amount of the aerosol generating device through an executing app, and determines the usage amount of the aerosol generating device based on usage information transmitted from the paired aerosol generating device. When it is determined that the limit usage amount has been reached, a decision to limit usage is made and the decision is transmitted to the paired aerosol generating device.

In addition, the aerosol generating device of one embodiment further includes a notification unit capable of generating at least one of a haptic effect, a visual effect, or a sound effect for user notification, and the control unit sends the notification unit when receiving a use restriction decision from a paired smart device. It is characterized by informing the user of usage restrictions.

The aerosol generating device of the embodiments measures the user's number of puffs or the amount of consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate, generates usage information through this, and transmits it to the paired smart device, so the user can view the usage information on the smart device and use it to You can get information about your smoking habits.

In addition, the smart system of the aerosol generating device of the embodiments can view the usage information of the aerosol generating device through a smart device, and the user can input the limited usage amount through the smart device to prevent the aerosol generating device from exceeding the limited usage amount. The amount of usage can be limited.

1 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of the aerosol generating device 100 of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is an internal configuration diagram conceptually expressed to explain the configuration of the aerosol generating device 100, which can accommodate a cigarette, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is an internal configuration diagram conceptually expressed to explain the configuration of the aerosol generating device 100, which can accommodate a liquid cartridge, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the usage detection unit 140 that measures the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge 1000;
5 is a conceptual diagram of a smart system of an aerosol generating device of an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a smart device 200 that can be included in a smart system of an aerosol generating device by way of example.

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

Figure 1 is a block diagram for explaining the functional configuration of an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the aerosol generating device 100 includes a heating unit 130 for heating the aerosol-forming article inserted or mounted into the aerosol-generating device 100, and a usage detection unit for detecting the amount of use of the aerosol-forming article ( 140), and at least a control unit 150 that controls the heating unit 130 and a communication module 160 for pairing with a smart device and communicating with a paired smart device, and a haptic effect or visual effect or It may include a notification unit 170 that can generate at least one of the sound effects, and a battery 180 that supplies power to the components.

The aerosol generating device 100 may generate an aerosol by receiving an aerosol-forming article and heating an aerosol-forming substrate included therein. The aerosol-forming article that the aerosol-generating device 100 can accommodate may be a cigarette or a liquid cartridge, depending on the embodiment.

Figure 2 is an internal configuration diagram conceptually expressed to explain the configuration of the aerosol generating device 100, which can accommodate a cigarette, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Components described in FIG. 1 may be accommodated within case 110 . Case 110 is generally made of a rigid material and can accommodate and protect other components therein. A substrate supply unit 120 is formed on the upper side of the case 110 in the form of a hollow opening toward the top. The substrate supply unit 120 may accommodate at least a portion of the cigarette 1000.

In the aerosol generating device 100 that accommodates the cigarette 1000 as in the present embodiment, the heating unit 130 is a heating element for heating at least one side of the inserted cigarette 1000, and can adopt various known materials and structures. there is. The heating unit 130 is formed near the substrate supply unit 120 and can generate aerosol by applying heat to the cigarette 1000 inserted into the substrate supply unit 120. For example, the heating unit 130 may be a surface heating element with a heating pattern formed thereon. In this case, the heating part 130 is preferably made of a material whose resistance value changes depending on the temperature. For example, the heating part 130 may be made of any one of nickel, titanium, SUS304, and SUS316. Alternatively, the heating unit 130 may be an electromagnetic induction coil for inductively heating a susceptor that may be included within the cigarette 1000. Heat generation from the heating unit 130 is controlled by the control unit 150. For example, the control unit 150 can control the heat generation by controlling the power supplied to the heating unit 130.

The control unit 150 is, for example, a microcontroller unit (MCU) that can perform command processing, various operations, and device control, and additionally includes RAM memory, cache memory, and non-volatile memory (storage). can do. The control unit 150 can control the operation of the heating unit 130 by controlling the power supplied to the heating unit 130. In addition, device control functions over the entire operating cycle of the aerosol generating device 100, such as processing user input, may be performed. In particular, the control unit 150 can generate usage information based on the content detected by the usage detection unit 140 and transmit it to the paired smart device. Additionally, when the paired smart device transmits a decision to limit use, control can be performed to limit the user's use of the aerosol generating device 100 accordingly.

The usage detection unit 140 may be a variety of means capable of detecting the usage or consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate in the currently inserted aerosol-forming article 1000. It is desirable that the usage detection unit 140 be able to detect at least whether the user's puff (inhale) action occurs. For example, the usage detection unit 140 may be a puff sensor that detects whether a user's puff action has occurred.

For example, the usage detection unit 140 is a pressure sensor and may be placed on one side of the airflow path P, which is a passage through which the suction flow generated by the user's puff moves. In this case, it is possible to detect whether the user's puffing action has occurred by temporarily lowering the internal pressure of the airflow path (P) due to the user's puffing action. Alternatively, the usage detection unit 140 may be a humidity sensor disposed within the airflow path (P). In this case, it can be detected whether the user's puffing action has occurred by temporarily increasing the internal humidity of the airflow path (P) due to the user's puffing action. Alternatively, the usage detection unit 140 may be a smoke sensor disposed within the airflow path (P). In this case, when mist, that is, aerosol, flows into the airflow path P due to the user's puffing action, it can be detected to determine whether the user's puffing action has occurred.

In this way, the usage detection unit 140 can detect the user's puff behavior, and the control unit 150 can generate the user's puff count and related information including this as usage information based on the detection contents of the usage detection unit 140. You can. For example, the usage information generated by the control unit 150 may include the number of puffs required after the cigarette 1000 is mounted until all of the aerosol-forming substrate included therein is exhausted. Also, for example, it may include time intervals between user puff actions, the total number of puffs measured during a day, or use time or time of use of the aerosol generating device 100. In this way, based on the puff behavior detected by the usage detection unit 140, various information that can be generated by the computational behavior of the processor may be included in the usage information.

Depending on the embodiment, the usage detection unit 140 may also be a sensor that measures or estimates the consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate included in the aerosol-forming article 1000. For example, the usage detection unit 140 may be a flow sensor disposed within the airflow path (P). Alternatively, the usage detection unit 140 may be a weight sensor that measures the weight of the aerosol-forming article 1000. The usage detection unit 140 measures the consumption of the aerosol-forming base material, and the control unit 150 can detect the user's puffing behavior as well as the amount of aerosol-forming base consumed per puff, so the control unit 150 can detect the amount of aerosol-forming base consumed per puff. (150) can generate more quantitative usage information. In this way, the consumption detection unit 140 may use various means to detect the occurrence of the user's puffing action or to measure or estimate the amount of aerosol generated or the amount of consumption of the aerosol-forming material.

The communication module 160 allows data to be exchanged after pairing with a smart device (not shown) to be paired. The communication module 160 may be a communication module that uses a method of wireless communication with a smart device located nearby. The communication module 160 preferably pairs and communicates with a smart device using Bluetooth or low-energy Bluetooth.

Depending on the embodiment, the control unit 150 may receive control commands from a paired smart device. For example, a paired smart device may receive a usage restriction decision based on usage information transmitted from the aerosol generating device 100. Accordingly, the control unit 150 may perform control to limit the user's use of the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the control unit 150 may control the heating unit 130 not to operate despite the user's indication of intention to use it until it receives a decision to lift the usage restriction at a later date or decides to lift the usage restriction at its own discretion. there is.

Additionally, when the control unit 150 receives such a usage restriction decision, it can notify the user of the usage restriction status through the notification unit 170. The notification unit 170 may be, for example, a display, a haptic actuator, or a microspeaker. The notification unit 170 generates at least one of a haptic effect, a visual effect, or a sound effect under the control of the control unit 150 to notify the user that use is currently restricted.

Figure 3 is an internal configuration diagram conceptually expressed to explain the configuration of an aerosol generating device 100 capable of accommodating a liquid cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment may include a similar configuration to the embodiment of FIG. 2 to accommodate a cigarette, except that the aerosol-forming article 1000 accommodates a liquid cartridge.

A liquid cartridge 1000 may be mounted on the substrate supply unit 120. The liquid cartridge 1000 may include a heater, and in this embodiment, the heating unit 130 may be a driving circuit for driving the heater of the liquid cartridge 1000. In an embodiment in which the liquid cartridge 1000 does not include a heater, the heating unit 130 may be a heater installed near the substrate supply unit 120 to heat the liquid of the liquid cartridge 1000.

The aerosol generated through the heating unit 130 passes through the airflow pass (P) and can be inhaled by the user through the mouthpiece 900. As the usage detection unit 140, various sensors that detect the user's puff behavior or the consumption of the aerosol-forming base material can be used, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2. Additionally, in a different embodiment, the usage detection unit 140 may be a device installed near the substrate supply unit 120 to measure the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge 1000.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the usage detection unit 140 installed near the substrate supply unit 120 and measuring the remaining amount of liquid in the liquid cartridge 1000. The aerosol-forming article 1000 is a liquid cartridge and includes a liquid tank 1100 in which an aerosol-forming substrate is stored and a floating plate 1200 that floats within the liquid tank 1100 by the buoyancy of the stored liquid, that is, the aerosol-forming substrate. can do. It may also include a permanent magnet 1300 formed on one side of the floating plate 1200. The permanent magnet 1300 is coupled to the floating plate 1200, but may be formed in contact with the outer surface of the liquid tank 1100 so as not to directly contact the liquid.

At this time, the usage detection unit 140 may include a ferromagnetic material 141 that is magnetically coupled to the permanent magnet 1300 of the liquid cartridge 1000 when the liquid cartridge 1000 is mounted on the substrate supply unit 120. You can. Additionally, the usage detection unit 140 may include a distance sensor 142, for example, an infrared distance sensor, for measuring the descending distance of the ferromagnetic material 141 due to the descent of the floating plate 1200.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4 , when a user installs the liquid cartridge 1000 and uses the aerosol generating device 100, the remaining amount of aerosol-forming substrate decreases, and the floating plate 1200 is lowered by gravity. Accordingly, the ferromagnetic material 141 magnetically coupled to the permanent magnet 1300 also descends, and the amount of consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate can be calculated by measuring the descending distance of the ferromagnetic material 141 using the distance sensor 142.

When the usage detection unit 140 calculates the consumption amount of the aerosol-forming substrate of the liquid cartridge 1000, the control unit 150 can also generate quantitative usage information based on this and transmit it to the paired smart device.

Figure 5 shows a conceptual diagram of a smart system of an aerosol generating device of an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 6 shows a configuration to exemplarily illustrate a smart device 200 that may be included in the smart system of an aerosol generating device. It is a block diagram. Depending on the embodiment, the smart system of the aerosol generating device may include the aerosol generating device 100 of any of the above-described embodiments. It may also include a smart device 200 that is paired with it. The smart device 200 is a device that includes a processor capable of executing an app and a user interface, and may be, for example, a PC, a tablet device, or a smartphone. The smart device 200 includes at least a communication module 210 for pairing and communicating with the aerosol generating device 100, a storage device 220 for storing usage information transmitted from the aerosol generating device 100, and information to the user. It may include a display device 230 such as liquid crystal for displaying. Additionally, the smart device 200 may include a processor 240 capable of executing a predetermined app (application). The processor 240 is particularly characterized by executing an app that can display the usage information received from the paired aerosol generating device 100 as is or by further processing it to the user through the display device 230.

The communication module 210 is an element for pairing and communicating with the aerosol generating device 100, and is capable of pairing and communicating with the communication module 160 of the aerosol generating device 100, for example, Bluetooth method or low-power Bluetooth method. It may be a communication module of The app executed by the processor 240 can process the usage information transmitted by the paired aerosol generating device 100 in various statistical ways so that the user can easily recognize it and display it to the user. For example, an app executed by processor 240 may display statistics on the user's number of puffs or consumption of aerosol-forming substrate by hour, day, week, month, or year.

The processor 240 also receives the limited usage amount of the aerosol generating device 100 from the user through an executing app and stores it in the storage device 220. At this time, it can be determined whether the usage amount of the aerosol generating device 100 has reached the above limit based on the usage information transmitted from the paired aerosol generating device 100. For example, the limited usage amount input by the processor 240 may be the consumption amount of the aerosol-forming material per day. In this case, the processor 240 determines whether the usage amount within a predetermined 24-hour usage cycle has reached the aerosol-forming base consumption amount based on the usage information transmitted from the paired aerosol generating device 100, and if the limited usage amount is reached. If it is determined that it has been reached, the processor 240 may make a use restriction decision and transmit it to the paired aerosol generating device 100.

The control unit 150 of the aerosol generating device 100, which has received a use restriction decision from the paired smart device 200, disables the use of the heating unit 130 according to the decision so that it does not operate until the next 24-hour use cycle begins. It can be limited. Alternatively, the limited usage amount may be the number of puffs within one use cycle of the aerosol generating device 100. In this case as well, the processor 240 determines whether the number of puffs within one predetermined use cycle has reached the limit usage amount based on the usage information transmitted from the paired aerosol generating device 100, and if it is determined that it has reached the limit. In this case, the processor 240 transmits the use restriction decision to the paired aerosol generating device 100, and the control unit 150 of the aerosol generating device 100 that receives this stops operating the currently operating heating unit 130. can do. As described above, the notification unit 170 of the aerosol generating device 100 may notify the user of the usage restrictions. Depending on the embodiment, the user may be notified of usage restrictions through an app executed by the processor 240 and the display device 230.

As explained above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described specific preferred embodiments, and anyone skilled in the art can use various Of course, modifications are possible, and such modifications fall within the scope of the claims.

100: Aerosol generating device 110: Case
120: base material supply unit 130: heating unit
140: usage detection unit 141: ferromagnetic material
142: Distance sensor 150: Control unit
160: Communication module 170: Notification unit
200: Smart device

Claims (13)

When an aerosol-forming article containing an aerosol-forming substrate is inserted or mounted, it is heated to generate an aerosol, and an aerosol-generating device capable of exchanging data with a paired smart device,
a substrate supply section into which the aerosol-forming article is inserted or mounted;
a heating unit for heating the aerosol-forming article inserted or mounted in the substrate supply unit;
A usage detection unit for detecting the usage amount of an aerosol-forming article;
A communication module for pairing with a smart device and communicating with the paired smart device; and
It includes at least a control unit for controlling the heating unit, wherein the control unit generates usage information based on the content detected by the usage detection unit and transmits it to the paired smart device, and also determines usage based on the usage information received by the paired smart device. An aerosol-generating device characterized in that the user's use is restricted according to a restriction decision. According to paragraph 1,
The communication module is an aerosol generating device characterized in that it communicates with a smart device using Bluetooth or low-power Bluetooth. According to paragraph 1,
An aerosol-generating device, wherein the usage information includes at least one of the user's puff behavior or the consumption amount of the aerosol-forming substrate. According to paragraph 3,
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the usage detection unit is a pressure sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the pressure sensor. According to paragraph 3,
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the usage detection unit is a humidity sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the humidity sensor. According to paragraph 3,
An aerosol generating device wherein the usage detection unit is a smoke sensor, and the usage information is information generated based on the user's puff behavior detected through the smoke sensor. According to paragraph 3,
The aerosol-forming article is a liquid cartridge containing an aerosol-forming substrate in a liquid form,
A liquid tank in which the aerosol-forming substrate is stored, and
A floating plate that floats in the liquid tank due to the buoyancy of the stored aerosol-forming substrate and
It includes a permanent magnet formed on one side of the floating plate, and the floating plate is characterized in that it descends by gravity as the remaining amount of the aerosol-forming substrate decreases,
The usage detection unit of the aerosol generating device,
When the liquid cartridge is mounted on the substrate supply unit, it engages with the permanent magnet of the liquid cartridge, and when the floating plate of the liquid cartridge descends, the ferromagnetic material descends together with the permanent magnet.
It includes a distance sensor for measuring the descent distance of the ferromagnetic material due to the descent of the floating plate,
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the consumption of the aerosol-forming substrate is calculated based on the descent distance of the ferromagnetic material measured by a distance sensor. According to paragraph 1,
An aerosol generating device characterized in that the heating part is formed of a material whose resistance value changes depending on temperature. According to clause 8,
An aerosol generating device, wherein the heating portion is made of any one of nickel, titanium, SUS304, and SUS316. An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 9; and
A communication module for pairing with an aerosol-generating device and communicating with a paired aerosol-generating device,
A storage device that stores usage information transmitted from a paired aerosol-generating device,
A display device for displaying information to the user and
A smart system for an aerosol-generating device comprising: a smart device including a processor running an app that displays usage information of the paired aerosol-generating device on a display device. According to clause 10,
A smart system for an aerosol-generating device, wherein the processor generates and displays statistics on the use of the paired aerosol-generating device by period of use through an executing app. According to clause 10,
The processor receives input from the user about the usage limit of the aerosol-generating device through the running app, and when it determines that the usage of the aerosol-generating device has reached the limit based on the usage information received from the paired aerosol-generating device, it makes a decision to limit usage. A smart system of an aerosol generating device, characterized in that it is lowered and transmitted to a paired aerosol generating device. According to paragraph 1,
It further includes a notification unit capable of generating at least one of a haptic effect, a visual effect, or a sound effect to notify the user;
An aerosol generating device, wherein the control unit notifies the user of the usage restriction through a notification unit when the control unit receives a decision to limit use from the paired smart device.