WO2024053998A1

WO2024053998A1 - Aerosol generating device and operating method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2024053998A1
Application number: PCT/KR2023/013260
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yong Hwan Kim; Young Bum Kwon; Hun Il Lim; Dong Sung Kim
Original assignee: Kt&G Corporation
Priority date: 2022-09-05
Filing date: 2023-09-05
Publication date: 2024-03-14

Abstract

An aerosol generating device includes a heater configured to heat a cigarette, a sensor unit configured to sense a parameter related to an operation of the heater, and a microcontroller unit configured to initialize the sensor unit when a heating event of the heater is initiated, attempt to communicate with the initialized sensor unit and determine whether communication with the sensor unit is normal, and when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal, reattempt communication with the sensor unit.

Description

AEROSOL GENERATING DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating device and an operating method thereof. In particular, the present disclosure relates to an initialization function of the aerosol generating device.

Recently, the demand for a smoking method to replace general cigarettes has increased. For example, there is an increasing demand for a method of generating an aerosol by heating an aerosol generating material in cigarettes, rather than by burning cigarettes. Accordingly, studies on a heating-type cigarette or a heating-type aerosol generating device have been actively conducted.

The aerosol generating device includes a plurality of hardware components, such as a controller and a sensor unit. The hardware components perform two-way data communication according to a certain communication method. When communication is abnormally performed between the hardware components, the aerosol generating device may malfunction. For example, when a temperature sensor of a heater malfunctions, a cigarette fails to be heated to a target temperature, and thus, the optimum amount of smoke and flavors may not be provided to a user.

The present disclosure provides an aerosol generating device capable of preventing the malfunction thereof, and an operating method of the aerosol generating device.

The technical problems of the disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned description, and other technical problems that are not stated herein may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the disclosure pertain, from the present specification and the attached drawings.

According to an embodiment, an aerosol generating device includes a heater heating a cigarette, a sensor unit related to an operation of the heater, and a microcontroller unit configured to initialize the sensor unit when a heating event of the heater is initiated, attempt to communicate with the initialized sensor unit and determine whether communication with the sensor unit is normal, and when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal, reattempt communication with the sensor unit.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to communicate with the sensor unit through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) communication method and supply power to the sensor unit through a power line.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to initialize the sensor unit by changing the power from a high level to a low level and changing signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line from a low level to a high level.

The sensor unit may include at least one of a temperature sensor and a puff detection sensor.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to maintain a heating operation of the heater when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be normal.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to determine whether a number of retries is greater than or equal to a preset number, and, when the number of retries is less than the preset number, determine that the communication with the sensor unit is normal and maintain a heating operation of the heater.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to determine whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, and, when the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, determine that the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal and stop the heating operation of the heater.

The aerosol generating device may further include a heating IC configured to provide an electrical signal enabling a heating operation of the heater to be performed under control of the microcontroller unit, wherein the microcontroller unit may be further configured to initialize the heating IC when heating of the heater is initiated, attempt to communicate with the heating IC and determine whether communication with the heating IC is normal, and, when the communication with the heating IC is determined to be abnormal, reattempt communication with the heating IC.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to communicate with the heating IC through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an I2C communication method, and supply power to the heating IC through a power line.

The microcontroller unit may be further configured to initialize the heating IC by changing the power from a high level to a low level and changing signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line from a low level to a high level.

According to an embodiment, an operating method of an aerosol generating device including a heater heating a cigarette and a sensor unit configured to sense a parameter related to an operation of the heater, includes initializing the sensor unit when a heating event of the heater is initiated, determining whether communication with the initialized sensor unit is normal by attempting to communicate with the sensor unit, maintaining a heating operation of the heater when the communication with the sensor unit is normal, reattempting communication with the sensor unit when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal, and determining whether a number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit is greater than or equal to a preset number.

The sensor unit may be further configured to receive a control signal through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an I2C communication method, and receive power through a power line.

In the initializing of the sensor unit, the power may be changed from a high level to a low level, and signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line may be changed from a low level to a high level.

In the determining of whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a preset number, when the number of retries is less than the preset number, the communication with the sensor unit may be determined to be normal, and the heating operation of the heater may be maintained.

In the determining of whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, when the number of retries is greater than or equal to than the preset number, the communication with the sensor unit may be determined to be abnormal, and the heating operation of the heater may stop.

According to an aerosol generating device and an operating method thereof, communication lines between hardware components are initialized when a heating event is initiated, thus preventing the malfunction of the aerosol generating device.

Effects of the embodiments are not limited to those stated above, and effects that are not described herein may be clearly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art from the present specification and the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining components of an aerosol generating device including a heater, according to some embodiments.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams illustrating examples in which a cigarette is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of the cigarette.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of communication between a microcontroller unit and a sensor unit.

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of a serial data line and a serial clock line which are applied to an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method of communication between a microcontroller unit and a heating integrated circuit (IC).

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operating method of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment.

Regarding the terms in the various embodiments, the general terms which are currently and widely used are selected in consideration of functions of structural elements in the various embodiments of the present disclosure. However, meanings of the terms can be changed according to intention, a judicial precedence, the appearance of a new technology, and the like. In addition, in certain cases, terms which can be arbitrarily selected by the applicant in particular cases. In such a case, the meaning of the terms will be described in detail at the corresponding portion in the description of the present disclosure. Therefore, the terms used in the various embodiments of the present disclosure should be defined based on the meanings of the terms and the descriptions provided herein.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms "-er", "-or", and "module" described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are shown such that one of ordinary skill in the art may easily work the present disclosure. The disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure is described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, an aerosol generating device 100 may include a heater 110, a coil 120, a battery 130, and a controller 140. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and other general-purpose components than the components illustrated in FIG. 1 may be further included in the aerosol generating device 100.

The aerosol generating device 100 may generate aerosols by heating a cigarette accommodated in the aerosol generating device 100, according to an induction heating method. The induction heating method may indicate a method by which a magnetic substance is heated by applying an alternating magnetic field, of which a direction periodically changes, to the magnetic substance heated by an external magnetic field.

When the alternating magnetic field is applied to the magnetic substance, energy may be lost in the magnetic substance because of eddy current loss and hysteresis loss, and the lost energy may be emitted from the magnetic substance as heat energy. The greater an amplitude or a frequency of an alternating magnetic field applied to a magnetic substance is, the more heat energy may be emitted from the magnetic substance. The heat energy may be emitted from the magnetic substance as the aerosol generating device 100 applies the alternating magnetic field to the magnetic substance, and the heat energy emitted from the magnetic substance may be transferred to the cigarette.

The magnetic substance heated by the external magnetic field may be a susceptor. The susceptor may be included in the aerosol generating device 100 instead of being included in the cigarette in the form of pieces, flakes, or strips. For example, at least some portions of the heater 110 inside the aerosol generating device100 may include a susceptor material.

At least part of the susceptor material may include a ferromagnetic substance. For example, the susceptor material may include metal or carbon. The susceptor material may include at least one of ferrite, ferromagnetic alloy, stainless steel, and aluminum (Al). Also, the susceptor material may include at least one of ceramic, such as graphite, molybdenum (Mo), silicon carbide, niobium (Nb), nickel (Ni) alloy, a metal film, or zirconia, transition metal, such as Ni or cobalt (Co), and metalloid, such as boron (B) or phosphorus (P).

The aerosol generating device 100 may accommodate the cigarette. In the aerosol generating device 100, a space for accommodating the cigarette may be formed. The heater 110 may be arranged in the space for accommodating the cigarette. The heater 110 may have a cylindrical shape having therein the accommodation space for accommodating a cigarette. Therefore, when the cigarette is accommodated in the aerosol generating device 100, the cigarette may be accommodated in the accommodation space of the heater 110, and the heater 110 may be arranged at a location surrounding at least a portion of an outer side surface of the cigarette.

The heater 110 may surround at least a portion of the outer side surface of the cigarette accommodated in the aerosol generating device 100. For example, the heater 110 may surround at least a portion of the outer side surface of the cigarette at a location corresponding to a location of a tobacco medium included in the cigarette. Accordingly, heat may be effectively transferred from the heater 110 to the tobacco medium included in the cigarette.

The heater 110 may heat the cigarette accommodated in the aerosol generating device 100. As described above, the heater 110 may heat the cigarette in the induction heating method. The heater 110 may include the susceptor material heated by the external magnetic field, and the aerosol generating device 100 may apply the alternating magnetic field to the heater 110.

The coil 120 may be included in the aerosol generating device 100. The coil 120 may apply the alternating magnetic field to the heater 110. When power is supplied from the aerosol generating device 100 to the coil 120, a magnetic field may be generated in the coil 120. When an alternating current is applied to the coil 120, a direction of the magnetic field formed in the coil 120 may gradually change. When the heater 110 is exposed to the alternating magnetic field having a periodically changing direction as the heater 110 is in the coil 120, the heater 110 may emit heat, and the cigarette accommodated in the heater 110 may be heated.

The coil 120 may be wound along the external side surface of the heater 110. The coil 120 may be wound along an inner surface of an external housing of the aerosol generating device 100. The heater 110 may be located in the inner space formed as the coil 120 is wound, and when power is supplied to the coil 120, the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil 120 may be applied to the heater 110.

The coil 120 may extend in a lengthwise direction of the aerosol generating device 100. The coil 120 may extend to an appropriate length in the lengthwise direction. For example, the coil 120 may extend to a length corresponding to the length of the heater 110 or a length that is greater than the length of the heater 110.

The coil 120 may be arranged at a location appropriate to apply the alternating magnetic field to the heater 110. For example, the coil 120 may be arranged at a location corresponding to the heater 110. Because of the size and arrangement of the coil 120, the efficiency of applying the alternating magnetic field of the coil 120 to the heater 110 may be improved.

When the amplitude or frequency of the alternating magnetic field generated by the coil 120 changes, the degree to which the heater 110 heats the cigarette may also change. Because the amplitude or the frequency of the magnetic field generated by the coil 120 may change according to the power supplied to the coil 120, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the heating of the cigarette by adjusting the power supplied to the coil 120. For example, the aerosol generating device 100 may control the amplitude and frequency of the alternating current applied to the coil 120.

As an example, the coil 120 may be realized as a solenoid. The coil 120 may be a solenoid wound along the inner surface of the external housing of the aerosol generating device 100, and the heater 110 and the cigarette may be arranged in an internal space of the solenoid. Materials of a conducting wire forming the solenoid may include copper (Cu). However, the materials are not limited thereto. The materials of the conducting wire forming the solenoid may include any one of silver (Ag), gold (Au), Al, tungsten (W), zinc (Zn), and Ni, or an alloy including at least one of the above-listed materials.

The battery 130 may supply power to the aerosol generating device 100. The battery 130 may supply power to the coil 120. The battery 130 may include a battery for supplying a direct current to the aerosol generating device 100 and a converter for converting the direct current supplied from the battery into an alternating current supplied to the coil 120.

The battery 130 may supply the direct current to the aerosol generating device 100. The battery may be a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, but is not limited thereto. For example, the battery may be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery, a lithium titanate battery, or the like.

The converter (not shown) may include a low-pass filter that filters the direct current supplied from the battery and outputs the alternating current supplied to the coil 120. The converter may further include an amplifier for amplifying the direct current supplied from the battery. For example, the converter may be realized using a low-pass filter forming a load network of a class-D amplifier.

The controller 140 may control the power supplied to the coil 120. The controller 140 may control the battery 130 to adjust the power supplied to the coil 120. For example, the controller 140 may control the temperature, at which the heater 110 heats the cigarette, to remain constant according to the temperature of the heater 110.

The controller 140 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. Also, the controller 140 may include a plurality of processing elements.

In the aerosol generating device 10, the temperature of the heater 110 may be measured to constantly maintain the temperature at which the heater 110 heats the cigarette or to change the temperature, at which the cigarette is heated, according to a specific heating profile.

FIGS. 2 through 4 are diagrams showing examples in which an aerosol generating article is inserted into an aerosol generating device.

Referring to FIG. 2, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a battery 11, a controller 12, and a heater 13. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the aerosol generating device 1 may further include a vaporizer 14. Also, the aerosol generating article 2 may be inserted into an inner space of the aerosol generating device 1.

FIGS. 2 through 4 illustrate components of the aerosol generating device 1, which are related to the present embodiment. Therefore, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiment that other general-purpose components may be further included in the aerosol generating device 1, in addition to the components illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4.

Also, FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate that the aerosol generating device 1 includes the heater 13. However, as necessary, the heater 13 may be omitted.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 3 illustrates that the battery 11, the controller 12, the vaporizer 14, and the heater 13 are arranged in series. Also, FIG. 4 illustrates that the vaporizer 14 and the heater 13 are arranged in parallel. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1 is not limited to the structures illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4. In other words, according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1, the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14 may be differently arranged.

When the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may operate the heater 13 and/or the vaporizer 14 to generate aerosol from the aerosol generating article 2 and/or the vaporizer 14. The aerosol generated by the aerosol generating article 2 and/or the vaporizer 14 is delivered to a user by passing through the aerosol generating article 2.

As necessary, even when the aerosol generating article 2 is not inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the aerosol generating device 1 may heat the heater 13.

The battery 11 may supply power to be used for the aerosol generating device 1 to operate. For example, the battery 11 may supply power to heat the heater 13 or the vaporizer 14, and may supply power for operating the controller 12. Also, the battery 11 may supply power for operations of a display, a sensor, a motor, etc. mounted in the aerosol generating device 1.

The controller 12 may generally control operations of the aerosol generating device 1. In detail, the controller 12 may control not only operations of the battery 11, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14, but also operations of other components included in the aerosol generating device 1. Also, the controller 12 may check a state of each of the components of the aerosol generating device 1 to determine whether or not the aerosol generating device 1 is able to operate.

The controller 12 may include at least one processor. A processor can be implemented as an array of a plurality of logic gates or can be implemented as a combination of a general-purpose microprocessor and a memory in which a program executable in the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor can be implemented in other forms of hardware.

The heater 13 may be heated by the power supplied from the battery 11. For example, when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, the heater 13 may be located outside the aerosol generating article 2. Thus, the heated heater 13 may increase a temperature of an aerosol generating material in the aerosol generating article 2.

The heater 13 may include an electro-resistive heater. For example, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive track, and the heater 13 may be heated when currents flow through the electrically conductive track. However, the heater 13 is not limited to the example described above and may include all heaters which may be heated to a desired temperature. Here, the desired temperature may be pre-set in the aerosol generating device 1 or may be set by a user.

As another example, the heater 13 may include an induction heater. In detail, the heater 13 may include an electrically conductive coil for heating an aerosol generating article in an induction heating method, and the aerosol generating article may include a susceptor which may be heated by the induction heater.

For example, the heater 13 may include a tube-type heating element, a plate-type heating element, a needle-type heating element, or a rod-type heating element, and may heat the inside or the outside of the aerosol generating article 2, according to the shape of the heating element.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a plurality of heaters 13. Here, the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2 or may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 2. Also, some of the plurality of heaters 13 may be inserted into the aerosol generating article 2 and the others may be arranged outside the aerosol generating article 2. In addition, the shape of the heater 13 is not limited to the shapes illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4 and may include various shapes.

The vaporizer 14 may generate aerosol by heating a liquid composition and the generated aerosol may pass through the aerosol generating article 2 to be delivered to a user. In other words, the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 may move along an air flow passage of the aerosol generating device 1 and the air flow passage may be configured such that the aerosol generated via the vaporizer 14 passes through the aerosol generating article 2 to be delivered to the user.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may include a liquid storage, a liquid delivery element, and a heating element, but it is not limited thereto. For example, the liquid storage, the liquid delivery element, and the heating element may be included in the aerosol generating device 1 as independent modules.

The liquid storage may store a liquid composition. For example, the liquid composition may be a liquid including a tobacco-containing material having a volatile tobacco flavor component, or a liquid including a non-tobacco material. The liquid storage may be formed to be detachable from the vaporizer 14 or may be formed integrally with the vaporizer 14.

For example, the liquid composition may include water, a solvent, ethanol, plant extract, spices, flavorings, or a vitamin mixture. The spices may include menthol, peppermint, spearmint oil, and various fruit-flavored ingredients, but are not limited thereto. The flavorings may include ingredients capable of providing various flavors or tastes to a user. Vitamin mixtures may be a mixture of at least one of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, and vitamin E, but are not limited thereto. Also, the liquid composition may include an aerosol forming substance, such as glycerin and propylene glycol.

The liquid delivery element may deliver the liquid composition of the liquid storage to the heating element. For example, the liquid delivery element may be a wick such as cotton fiber, ceramic fiber, glass fiber, or porous ceramic, but is not limited thereto.

The heating element is an element for heating the liquid composition delivered by the liquid delivery element. For example, the heating element may be a metal heating wire, a metal hot plate, a ceramic heater, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heating element may include a conductive filament such as nichrome wire and may be positioned as being wound around the liquid delivery element. The heating element may be heated by a current supply and may transfer heat to the liquid composition in contact with the heating element, thereby heating the liquid composition. As a result, aerosol may be generated.

For example, the vaporizer 14 may be referred to as a cartomizer or an atomizer, but it is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating device 1 may further include general-purpose components in addition to the battery 11, the controller 12, the heater 13, and the vaporizer 14. For example, the aerosol generating device 1 may include a display capable of outputting visual information and/or a motor for outputting haptic information.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may include at least one sensor (a puff sensor, a temperature sensor, an aerosol generating article insertion detecting sensor, etc.). The aerosol generating device 1 according to an embodiment may identify the type of cigarette 2 and/or the humidity state of the cigarette 2 using a color sensor, and each cigarette 2 according to the identification result The heater 13 can be operated by selecting an optimal heating profile suitable for the temperature.

Also, the aerosol generating device 1 may be formed as a structure that, even when the aerosol generating article 2 is inserted into the aerosol generating device 1, may introduce external air or discharge internal air.

Although not illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 4, the aerosol generating device 1 and an additional cradle may form together a system. For example, the cradle may be used to charge the battery 11 of the aerosol generating device 1. Alternatively, the heater 13 may be heated when the cradle and the aerosol generating device 1 are coupled to each other.

An aerosol generating article according to one embodiment includes at least one of an aerosol generating unit, a tobacco filling unit, a cooling unit, and a filter unit (e.g., a mouthpiece or a mouthpiece unit). For example, the filter unit may be generally an acetate filter, and the cooling unit and the filter unit may include capsules and flavorings.

Materials, orders, and lengths of the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit are not limited to particular examples, and materials and lengths of the cooling unit and the filter unit are also not limited to particular examples.

The aerosol generating device generates an aerosol accompanied by nicotine by heating the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit, and the aerosol is discharged to the outside through the cooling unit and the filter unit.

For example, the aerosol generating device may generate an aerosol by heating at least one of the aerosol generating unit and the tobacco filling unit of the aerosol generating article. In one or more embodiments, the aerosol generating device may selectively or collectively heat the inside or outside of the aerosol generating article.

Hereinafter, the examples of the aerosol generating article 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate examples of the aerosol generating article.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the aerosol generating article 2 may include a tobacco rod 21 and a filter rod 22.

FIG. 5A illustrates that the filter rod 22 includes a single segment. However, the filter rod 22 is not limited thereto. In other words, the filter rod 22 may include a plurality of segments. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a first segment configured to cool an aerosol and a second segment configured to filter a certain component included in the aerosol. Also, as necessary, the filter rod 22 may further include at least one segment configured to perform other functions.

The diameter of the cigarette 2 is within the range of 5 mm to 9 mm, and the length may be about 48 mm, but is not limited thereto. For example, the length of the tobacco rod 21 is about 12 mm, the length of the first segment of the filter rod 22 is about 10 mm, the length of the second segment of the filter rod 22 is about 14 mm, the length of the third segment of the filter rod 22 may be about 12 mm, but is not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article 2 may be packaged using at least one wrapper 24. The wrapper 24 may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the aerosol generating article 2 may be packaged by one wrapper 24. As another example, the aerosol generating article 2 may be doubly packaged by two or more wrappers 24. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be packaged by a first wrapper 241, and the filter rod 22 may be packaged by

wrappers

242, 243, 244. Also, the entire aerosol generating article 2 may be re-packaged by another single wrapper 245. When the filter rod 22 includes a plurality of segments, each segment may be packaged by

wrappers

242, 243, 244.

The first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may be formed of general filter wrapping paper. For example, the first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may be porous wrapping paper or non-porous wrapping paper. Also, the first wrapper 241 and the second wrapper 242 may be made of an oil-resistant paper sheet and an aluminum laminate packaging material.

The third wrapper 243 may be made of a hard wrapping paper. For example, a basis weight of the third wrapper 243 may be within a range of 88 g/m2to 96 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the third wrapper 243 may be within a range of 90 g/m2 to 94 g/m2. Also, a total thickness of the third wrapper 243 may be within a range of 120 μm to 130 μm. For example, the total thickness of the third wrapper 243 may be 125 μm.

The fourth wrapper 244 may be made of an oil-resistant hard wrapping paper. For example, a basis weight of the fourth wrapper 244 may be within a range of about 88 g/m2 to about 96 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the fourth wrapper 244 may be within a range of 90 g/m2 to 94 g/m2. Also, a total thickness of the fourth wrapper 244 may be within a range of 120 μm to 130 μm. For example, the total thickness of the fourth wrapper 244 may be 125 μm.

The fifth wrapper 245 may be made of a sterilized paper (MFW). Here, the MFW refers to a paper specially manufactured to have enhanced tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, and the like, compared to ordinary paper. For example, a basis weight of the fifth wrapper 245 may be within a range of 57 g/m2 to 63 g/m2. For example, a basis weight of the fifth wrapper 245 may be about 60 g/m2. Also, the total thickness of the fifth wrapper 245 may be within a range of 64 μm to 70 μm. For example, the total thickness of the fifth wrapper 245 may be 67 μm.

A predetermined material may be included in the fifth wrapper 245. Here, an example of the predetermined material may be, but is not limited to, silicon. For example, silicon exhibits characteristics like heat resistance with little change due to the temperature, oxidation resistance, resistances to various chemicals, water repellency, electrical insulation, etc. However, any material other than silicon may be applied to (or coated on) the fifth wrapper 245 without limitation as long as the material has the above-mentioned characteristics.

The fifth wrapper 245 may prevent the aerosol generating article 2 from being burned. For example, when the tobacco rod 21 is heated by the heater 13, there is a possibility that the aerosol generating article 2 is burned. In detail, when the temperature is raised to a temperature above the ignition point of any one of materials included in the tobacco rod 21, the aerosol generating article 2 may be burned. Even in this case, since the fifth wrapper 245 include a non-combustible material, the burning of the aerosol generating article 2 may be prevented.

The tobacco rod 21 may include an aerosol generating material. For example, the aerosol generating material may include at least one of glycerin, propylene glycol, ethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and oleyl alcohol, but it is not limited thereto. Also, the tobacco rod 21 may include other additives, such as flavors, a wetting agent, and/or organic acid. Also, the tobacco rod 21 may include a flavored liquid, such as menthol or a moisturizer, which is injected to the tobacco rod 21.

The tobacco rod 21 may be manufactured in various forms. For example, the tobacco rod 21 may be formed as a sheet or a strand. Also, the tobacco rod 21 may be formed as a pipe tobacco, which is formed of tiny bits cut from a tobacco sheet. Also, the tobacco rod 21 may be surrounded by a heat conductive material. For example, the heat-conducting material may be, but is not limited to, a metal foil such as aluminum foil. For example, the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may uniformly distribute heat transmitted to the tobacco rod 21, and thus, the heat conductivity applied to the tobacco rod may be increased and taste of the tobacco may be improved. Also, the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21 may function as a susceptor heated by the induction heater. Here, although not illustrated in the drawings, the tobacco rod 21 may further include an additional susceptor, in addition to the heat conductive material surrounding the tobacco rod 21.

The filter rod 22 may include a cellulose acetate filter. Shapes of the filter rod 22 are not limited. For example, the filter rod 22 may include a cylinder-type rod or a tube-type rod having a hollow inside. Also, the filter rod 22 may include a recess-type rod. When the filter rod 22 includes a plurality of segments, at least one of the plurality of segments may have a different shape.

The first segment of the filter rod 22 may be a cellulous acetate filter. For example, the first segment may be a tube-type structure having a hollow inside. The first segment may prevent an internal material of the tobacco rod 21 from being pushed back when the heater 110 is inserted into the tobacco rod 21 and may also provide a cooling effect to aerosol. A diameter of the hollow included in the first segment may be an appropriate diameter within a range of 2 mm to 4.5 mm but is not limited thereto.

The length of the first segment may be an appropriate length within a range of 4 mm to 30 mm but is not limited thereto. For example, the length of the first segment may be 10 mm but is not limited thereto.

The hardness of the first segment may be adjusted by adjusting the content of the plasticizer during manufacture of the first segment. In addition, the first segment may be manufactured by inserting a structure such as a film or a tube made of the same or different material into the inside (eg, hollow).

The second segment of the filter rod 22 cools the aerosol which is generated when the heater 13 heats the tobacco rod 21. Therefore, the user may puff the aerosol which is cooled at an appropriate temperature.

The length or diameter of the second segment may be variously determined according to the shape of the aerosol generating article 2. For example, the length of the second segment may be an appropriate length within a range of 7 mm to 20 mm. Preferably, the length of the second segment may be about 14 mm but is not limited thereto.

The second segment may be manufactured by weaving a polymer fiber. In this case, a flavoring liquid may also be applied to the fiber formed of the polymer. Alternatively, the second segment may be manufactured by weaving together an additional fiber coated with a flavoring liquid and a fiber formed of a polymer. Alternatively, the second segment may be formed by a crimped polymer sheet.

For example, a polymer may be formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (ΡΡ), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), cellulous acetate (CA), and aluminum coil.

As the second segment is formed by the woven polymer fiber or the crimped polymer sheet, the second segment may include a single channel or a plurality of channels extending in a longitudinal direction. Here, a channel refers to a passage through which a gas (e.g., air or aerosol) passes.

For example, the second segment formed of the crimped polymer sheet may be formed from a material having a thickness between about 5 μm and about 300 μm, for example, between about 10 μm and about 250 μm. Also, a total surface area of the second segment may be between about 300 mm2/mm and about 1000 mm2/mm. In addition, an aerosol cooling element may be formed from a material having a specific surface area between about 10 mm2/mg and about 100 mm2/mg.

The second segment may include a thread including a volatile flavor component. Here, the volatile flavor component may be menthol but is not limited thereto. For example, the thread may be filled with a sufficient amount of menthol to provide the second segment with menthol of 1.5 mg or more.

The third segment of the filter rod 22 may be a cellulous acetate filter. The length of the third segment may be an appropriate length within a range of 4 mm to 20 mm. For example, the length of the third segment may be about 12 mm but is not limited thereto.

The filter rod 22 may be manufactured to generate flavors. Alternatively, a separate fiber coated with flavoring liquid may be inserted into the third segment. The aerosol generated in the tobacco rod 21 is cooled as it passes through the second segment of the filter rod 22, and the cooled aerosol is delivered to the user through the third segment. Therefore, when the flavoring element is added to the third segment, the effect of enhancing the persistence of the flavor delivered to the user may occur.

Also, the filter rod 22 may include at least one capsule 23. Here, the capsule 23 may generate a flavor. The capsule 23 may generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 23 may have a configuration in which a liquid including a flavoring material is wrapped with a film. The capsule 23 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape but is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5B, an aerosol generating article 3 may further include a front-end plug 33. The front-end plug 33 may be located on a side of a tobacco rod 31, the side not facing a filter rod 32. The front-end plug 33 may prevent the tobacco rod 31 from being detached and prevent liquefied aerosol from flowing into the aerosol generating device 1 from the tobacco rod 31, during smoking.

The filter rod 32 may include a first segment 321 and a second segment 322. The first segment 321 may correspond to the first segment of the filter rod 22 of FIG. 5A. The segment 322 may correspond to the third segment of the filter rod 22 of FIG. 5A.

A diameter and a total length of the aerosol generating article 3 may correspond to the diameter and a total length of the aerosol generating article 2 of FIG. 5A. For example, a length of the front-end plug 33 may be about 7 mm, a length of the tobacco rod 31 may be about 15 mm, a length of the first segment 321 may be about 12 mm, and a length of the second segment 322 may be about 14 mm, but embodiments are not limited thereto.

The aerosol generating article 3 may be wrapped using at least one wrapper 35. The wrapper 35 may have at least one hole through which external air may be introduced or internal air may be discharged. For example, the front-end plug 33 may be wrapped using a first wrapper 351, the tobacco rod 31 may be wrapped using a second wrapper 352, the first segment 321 may be wrapped using a third wrapper 353, and the second segment 322 may be wrapped using a fourth wrapper 354. Also, the entire aerosol generating article 3 may be re-wrapped using a fifth wrapper 355.

In addition, the fifth wrapper 355 may have at least one perforation 36 formed therein. For example, the perforation 36 may be formed in an area of the fifth wrapper 355 surrounding the tobacco rod 31 but is not limited thereto. For example, the perforation 36 may transfer heat formed by the heater 13 illustrated in FIG. 4 into the tobacco rod 31.

Also, the second segment 322 may include at least one capsule 34. Here, the capsule 34 may generate a flavor. The capsule 34 may generate an aerosol. For example, the capsule 34 may have a configuration in which a liquid including a flavoring material is wrapped with a film. The capsule 34 may have a spherical or cylindrical shape but is not limited thereto.

The first wrapper 351 may be formed by combining general filter wrapping paper with a metal foil such as an aluminum coil. For example, a total thickness of the first wrapper 351 may be within a range of 45 μm to 55 μm. For example, the total thickness of the first wrapper 351 may be 50.3 μm. Also, a thickness of the metal coil of the first wrapper 351 may be within a range of 6 μm to 7 μm. For example, the thickness of the metal coil of the first wrapper 351 may be 6.3 μm. In addition, a basis weight of the first wrapper 351 may be within a range of 50 g/m2 to 55 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the first wrapper 351 may be 53 g/m2.

The second wrapper 352 and the third wrapper 353 may be formed of general filter wrapping paper. For example, the second wrapper 352 and the third wrapper 353 may be porous wrapping paper or non-porous wrapping paper.

For example, porosity of the second wrapper 352 may be 35000 CU but is not limited thereto. Also, a thickness of the second wrapper 352 may be within a range of 70 μm to 80 μm. For example, the thickness of the second wrapper 352 may be 78 μm. A basis weight of the second wrapper 352 may be within a range of 20 g/m2 to 25 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the second wrapper 352 may be 23.5 g/m2.

For example, porosity of the third wrapper 353 may be 24000 CU but is not limited thereto. Also, a thickness of the third wrapper 353 may be in a range of about 60 μm to about 70 μm. For example, the thickness of the third wrapper 353 may be 68 μm. A basis weight of the third wrapper 353 may be in a range of about 20 g/m2 to about 25 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the third wrapper 353 may be 21 g/m2.

The fourth wrapper 354 may be formed of PLA laminated paper. Here, the PLA laminated paper refers to three-layer paper including a paper layer, a PLA layer, and a paper layer. For example, a thickness of the fourth wrapper 353 may be in a range of 100 μm to 1200 μm. For example, the thickness of the fourth wrapper 353 may be 110 μm. Also, a basis weight of the fourth wrapper 354 may be in a range of 80 g/m2 to 100 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the fourth wrapper 354 may be 88 g/m2.

The fifth wrapper 355 may be formed of sterilized paper (MFW). Here, the sterilized paper (MFW) refers to paper which is particularly manufactured to improve tensile strength, water resistance, smoothness, and the like more than ordinary paper. For example, a basis weight of the fifth wrapper 355 may be in a range of 57 g/m2to 63 g/m2. For example, the basis weight of the fifth wrapper 355 may be 60 g/m2. Also, a thickness of the fifth wrapper 355 may be in a range of 64 μm to 70 μm. For example, the thickness of the fifth wrapper 355 may be 67 μm.

The fifth wrapper 355 may include a preset material added thereto. An example of the material may include silicon, but it is not limited thereto. Silicon has characteristics such as heat resistance robust to temperature conditions, oxidation resistance, resistance to various chemicals, water repellency to water, and electrical insulation, etc. Besides silicon, any other materials having characteristics as described above may be applied to (or coated on) the fifth wrapper 355 without limitation.

The front-end plug 33 may be formed of cellulous acetate. For example, the front-end plug 33 may be formed by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulous acetate tow. Mono-denier of filaments constituting the cellulous acetate tow may be in a range of 1.0 to 10.0. For example, the mono-denier of filaments constituting the cellulous acetate tow may be within a range of 4.0 to 6.0. For example, the mono-denier of the filaments of the front-end plug 33 may be 5.0. Also, a cross-section of the filaments constituting the front-end plug 33 may be a Υ shape. Total denier of the front-end plug 33 may be in a range of 20000 to 30000. For example, the total denier of the front-end plug 33 may be within a range of 25000 to 30000. For example, the total denier of the front-end plug 33 may be 28000.

Also, as needed, the front-end plug 33 may include at least one channel. A cross-sectional shape of the channel may be manufactured in various shapes.

The tobacco rod 31 may correspond to the tobacco rod 21 described above with reference to FIG. 5A. Therefore, hereinafter, the detailed description of the tobacco rod 31 will be omitted.

The first segment 321 may be formed of cellulous acetate. For example, the first segment 321 may be a tube-type structure having a hollow inside. The first segment 321 may be manufactured by adding a plasticizer (e.g., triacetin) to cellulous acetate tow. For example, mono-denier and total denier of the first segment 321 may be the same as the mono-denier and total denier of the front-end plug 33.

The second segment 322 may be formed of cellulous acetate. Mono denier of filaments constituting the second segment 322 may be in a range of 1.0 to 10.0. For example, the mono denier of the filaments of the second segment 322 may be within a range of about 8.0 to about 10.0. For example, the mono denier of the filaments of the second segment 322 may be 9.0. Also, a cross-section of the filaments of the second segment 322 may be a Υ shape. Total denier of the second segment 322 may be in a range of 20000 to 30000. For example, the total denier of the second segment 322 may be 25000.

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of communication between a microcontroller unit and a sensor unit. FIG. 8 is a timing diagram of a serial data line and a serial clock line which are applied to an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, an aerosol generating device 600 includes a microcontroller unit 610, a sensor unit 620, a heater 630, and a battery 640. In this case, the microcontroller unit 610 may correspond to the controller 140 of FIG. 1 and a controller 12 of FIGS. 2 to 4. Components of the aerosol generating device 600 are not limited thereto, and according to the present disclosure, other components may be added thereto or at least one component may be omitted.

The microcontroller unit 610 according to an embodiment may perform data communication with the sensor unit 620, according to a certain communication method. For example, the microcontroller unit 610 may perform data communication with the sensor unit 620, based on an Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) communication method. The I2C communication method is described below with reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 10.

The sensor unit 620 may sense a parameter related to an operation of the hater 630. The sensor unit 620 according to an embodiment may include a temperature sensor (1222 of FIG. 12) and a puff sensor (1226 of FIG. 12).

The temperature sensor may measure the temperature of the heater 630. For example, the temperature sensor may be a contact temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heater 630 in contact therewith or a non-contact temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the heater 630 without contacting the same. The contact temperature sensor may be a thermocouple, a resistance temperature detector (RTD), a thermistor, or a temperature label, and the non-contact temperature sensor may be an infrared temperature sensor. In an embodiment, it is described that the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the heater 630, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The temperature sensor may measure the temperature of the heater 630 around the heater 630 or at a location close thereto.

The puff sensor may sense a user's puff on the basis of various physical changes in an airflow passage or an airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor may sense a user's puff on the basis of any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change. According to an embodiment, when a user's puff is sensed, the mode of the heater 630 may be changed from a preheating mode to an operation mode.

The heater 630 may heat at least a portion of the aerosol generating article. The heater 630 may be of various types described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The heater 630 may receive power according to the control of the microcontroller unit 610 and thus may heat at least a portion of the cigarette. At least a portion of the cigarette may be a tobacco rod including at least one of an aerosol generating material and a tobacco material. In an embodiment, the heater 630 may receive power through the microcontroller unit 610, according to temperature profiles corresponding to a preheating section and a heating section.

The battery 640 supplies power used for the aerosol generating device 600 to operate. That is, the battery 640 may supply power such that the heater 630 may be heated. Also, the battery 640 may supply the power required for operations of other hardware components, that is, the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620, which are included in the aerosol generating device 600. The battery 640 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 640 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The microcontroller unit 610 may control the general operations of the aerosol generating device 600.

According to an embodiment, the microcontroller unit 610 may initialize the sensor unit 620 when a heating event of the heater 630 is initiated. For example, in any one of the cases where a heating command is input from the user through a user input unit (1260 of FIG. 12), where the insertion of a cigarette is sensed by an insertion detecting sensor (1224 of FIG. 12), and where a user's puff is sensed by the puff sensor (1226 of FIG. 12), the microcontroller unit 630 may initiate the heating event of the heater 630.

In the aerosol generating device 600, the heating operation of the heater 630 works as a direct factor for determining the amount of smoke and flavors of a cigarette, and thus, a normal operation of the heater 630 is crucial.

The microcontroller unit 610 may use a temperature sensor to detect whether the heater 630 is heated to a specific temperature or maintained at an appropriate temperature. Also, the microcontroller unit 610 may sense the user's puff by using the puff sensor and change the mode of the heater 630 from the preheating mode to the operation mode, or when the number of puffs reaches a preset number after the number of puffs is counted by the puff sensor, the microcontroller unit 610 may stop supplying the power to the heater 630. As described, for the normal operation of the heater 630, the normal operation of the sensor unit 620 needs to be ensured first. Hereinafter, an initialization method for ensuring the normal operation of the sensor unit 620 is described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 may be connected to each other through a serial data line SDAL and a serial clock line SCLL to allow data to be read and accessed. In addition, the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 may be connected to each other through a power line VDDL configured to supply power from the microcontroller unit 610 to the sensor unit 620. In this case, the microcontroller unit 610 may receive power from the battery (640 of FIG. 6).

The microcontroller unit 610 may perform data communication with the sensor unit 620, based on the I2C communication method. The I2C communication method is a bidirectional two wire communication method and includes the serial data line SDAL for data communication and the serial clock line SCLL for synchronization of the data communication. Hardware components (that is, the sensor unit 620) connected to a data bus may be identified by a distinct address and receive/transmit data.

The microcontroller unit 610 may transmit a reset indicator RST to initialize the sensor unit 620. A signal level on a power line VDDL may be changed from high to low and then return to high. That is, while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, power may be shut off (or rebooted).

Also, signal levels on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be transited from low to high and then return to low. That is, while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, signals on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be deactivated.

As described, to initialize the sensor unit 620, signals on communication lines are deactivated in addition to simply cutting off (or rebooting) the power such that an improvement in the stability of initialization may be expected.

Then, a clock signal may be applied from the microcontroller unit 610 to the serial clock line SCLL, a start signal S and data D may be applied from the microcontroller unit 610 to the serial data line SDAL, and the sensor unit 620 may transmit an acknowledge signal ACK and effective data to the serial data line SDAL. Then, the microcontroller unit 610 may transmit the acknowledge signal ACK and a stop signal P to the sensor unit 620 through the serial data line SDAL.

In response to the start signal S, the signal on the serial data line SDAL may be transited from the high level to the low level when the signal on the serial clock line SCLL is a high-level signal. After the initiation by the start signal S, the microcontroller unit 610 may transmit an address ADR and then a read/write indicator R/W indicating a direction of data transmission.

After transmitting the address ADR and the read/write indicator R/W, the microcontroller unit 610 may change the level of the serial data line SDAL to the high level. When identifying its address ADR, the sensor unit 620 may pull down a signal on the I2C interface and transmit the acknowledge signal ACK to the microcontroller unit 610. The sensor unit 620 that does not identify the address ADR is not at a low level and thus may transmit a negative acknowledge signal NCK to the microcontroller 610.

When the acknowledge signal ACK is transmitted to the microcontroller unit 610, the microcontroller unit 610 or the sensor unit 620 may transmit the data D. When the data transmission is in the direction of data reading R, the sensor unit 620 may transmit the data D to the microcontroller unit 610, and when the data transmission is in the direction of data writing W, the microcontroller unit 610 may transmit the data D to the sensor unit 620. When the acknowledge signal ACK is transmitted to a transmission device (the microcontroller unit 610 or the sensor unit 620) that transmits the data D, the transmission device may transmit additional data to a reception device (the sensor unit 620 or the microcontroller unit 610) that receives the data D.

Such processes may continue until a negative acknowledge signal NCK is transmitted to the transmission device. Next, the microcontroller unit 610 may resume S or terminate P the data communication. Here, under the termination P condition, the signal on the serial data line SDAL may transition from a low level to a high level when the signal on the serial clock line SCLL is at a high level.

Referring back to FIG. 6, the microcontroller unit 610 may attempt to communicate with the initialized sensor unit 620 and determine whether the communication is normal. Although not illustrated in FIG. 6, the I2C communication method may include a state indicator representing the operation state of the sensor unit 620. The microcontroller unit 610 may use the state indicator to determine whether the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal.

When it is determined that the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal, the microcontroller unit 610 may maintain the heating operation of the heater 630. In other words, the heating operation of the heater 630 temporarily stops while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, and when the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is determined to be normal, the heating operation of the heater 630 may resume.

When it is determined that the communication with the sensor unit 620 is abnormal, the microcontroller unit 610 may retry to communicate with the sensor unit 620. In this case, the microcontroller unit 610 may reconfirm whether the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal.

The microcontroller unit 610 may determine whether the number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit 620 is greater than or equal to a preset number (e.g., three times), and when the number of retries is less than the preset number, the microcontroller unit 610 may determine that the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is normal and maintain the heating operation of the heater 630.

The microcontroller unit 610 may determine whether the number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit 620 is greater than or equal to the preset number, and when the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, the microcontroller unit 610 may determine that the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is abnormal and stop the heating operation of the heater 630.

FIG. 9 is a schematic block diagram of an aerosol generating device according to another embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a communication method between a microcontroller unit and a heating integrated circuit (IC).

An aerosol generating device 600_1 of FIGS. 9 and 10 is different from the aerosol generating device 600 of FIG. 6 in that a heating IC 650 is arranged between the microcontroller unit 610 and the heater 630, but other components are substantially the same as those of the aerosol generating device 600. Hereinafter, repeated descriptions are omitted, and the heating IC 650 is mainly described.

The heating IC 650 may include a circuit following the induction heating method. For example, the heating IC 650 may provide an electrical signal to perform the heating operation of the heater 630 under the control of the microcontroller unit 610. Therefore, for the normal operation of the heater 630, the normal operation of the heating IC 650 needs to be ensured first. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 10, an initialization method for ensuring the normal operation of the heating IC 650 is described.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the microcontroller unit 610 and the heating IC 650 may be connected to each other through the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL to allow data to be read and accessed. In addition, the microcontroller unit 610 and the heating IC 650 may be connected to each other through the power line VDDL configured to supply power from the microcontroller unit 610 to the heating IC 650. In this case, the microcontroller unit 610 may receive the power from the battery (640 of FIG. 6).

The microcontroller unit 610 may transmit a reset indicator RST to initialize the heating IC 650. A signal level on a power line VDDL may be changed from a high level to a low level and then return to the high level. That is, while the heating IC 650 is initialized, power may be shut off (or rebooted).

Also, signal levels on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be changed from a low level to a high level and then return to the low level. That is, while the heating IC 650 is initialized, the signals on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be deactivated.

As described, to initialize the heating IC 650, signals on communication lines are deactivated in addition to simply cutting off (or rebooting) the power such that an improvement in the stability of initialization may be expected.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operating method of an aerosol generating device, according to an embodiment. In this case, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 10 in addition to the embodiment of FIG. 11 may be applied to the operating method of an aerosol generating device.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 11, the operating method of the aerosol generating device may include operations S10 and S20 of initializing the sensor unit 620 when the heating event of the heater 630 is initiated, operation S30 of attempting to communicate with the initialized sensor unit 620 and determining whether the communication is normal, operation S40 of maintaining the heating operation of the heater 630 when the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal, operation S50 of reattempting the communication with the sensor unit 620 when the communication with the sensor unit 620 is determined to be abnormal, and operation S60 of determining whether the number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit 620 is greater than or equal to a preset number.

In detail, in operations S10 and S20 of initializing the sensor unit 620 when the heating event of the heater 630 is initiated, in any one of the cases where a heating command is input from the user through a user input unit (1260 of FIG. 12), where the insertion of a cigarette is sensed by an insertion detection sensor (1224 of FIG. 12), and where a user's puff is detected by a puff sensor (1226 of FIG. 12), the microcontroller unit 610 may initiate the heating event of the heater 630.

The microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 may be connected to each other through the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL to allow the data to be read and accessed. In addition, the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 may be connected to each other through a power line VDDL configured to supply power from the microcontroller unit 610 to the sensor unit 620. In this case, the microcontroller unit 610 may receive power from the battery (640 of FIG. 6).

The sensor unit 620 may receive a control signal from the microcontroller unit 610 through the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL according to the I2C communication method and power through the power line VDDL.

The microcontroller unit 610 may transmit a reset indicator RST to initialize the sensor unit 620. A signal level on the power line VDDL may be changed from a high level to a low level and then return to a high level. That is, while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, power may be shut off (or rebooted). Also, signal levels on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be changed from a low level to a high level and then return to a low level. That is, while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, the signals on the serial data line SDAL and the serial clock line SCLL may be deactivated. As described, to initialize the sensor unit 620, signals on communication lines are deactivated in addition to simply cutting off (or rebooting) the power such that an improvement in the stability of initialization may be expected.

In operation S30 of attempting to communicate with the initialized sensor unit 620 and determining whether the communication is normal, the I2C communication method may include a state indicator indicating the operation state of the sensor unit 620. The microcontroller unit 610 may use the state indicator to determine whether the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal.

When it is determined that the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal, in operation S40 of maintaining the heating operation of the heater 630, the heating operation of the heater 630 temporarily stops while the sensor unit 620 is initialized, and when it is determined that the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is normal, the heating operation of the heater 630 may resume.

When it is determined that the communication with the sensor unit 620 is abnormal, in operation S50 of reattempting the communication with the sensor unit 620, the microcontroller unit 610 may reconfirm whether the communication with the sensor unit 620 is normal.

In operation S60 of determining whether the number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit 620 is greater than or equal to the preset number, when the number of retries is less than the preset number, it is determined that the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is normal, and the heating operation of the heater 630 may be maintained. The microcontroller unit 610 may determine whether the number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit 620 is greater than or equal to the preset number, and when the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, the microcontroller unit 610 may determine that the communication between the microcontroller unit 610 and the sensor unit 620 is abnormal and may stop the heating operation of the heater 630 (operation S70).

Referring to FIG. 12, the aerosol generating device 1200 may include a controller 1210, a sensing unit 1220, an output unit 1230, a battery 1240, a heater 1250, a user input unit 1260, a memory 1270, a communication unit 1280. However, the internal structure of the aerosol generating device 1200 is not limited to that shown in FIG. 12. That is, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that some of the components shown in FIG. 12 may be omitted or new components may be added according to the design of the aerosol generating device 1200.

The sensing unit 1220 may sense a state of the aerosol generating device 1200 or a state around the aerosol generating device 1200, and transmit sensed information to the controller 1210. Based on the sensed information, the controller 1210 may control the aerosol generating device 1200 to perform various functions, such as controlling an operation of the heater 1250, limiting smoking, determining whether an aerosol generating article (e.g., a cigarette, a cartridge, or the like) is inserted, displaying a notification, or the like.

The sensing unit 1220 may include at least one of the temperature sensor 1222, the insertion detection sensor 1224, and the puff sensor 1226, but is not limited thereto.

The temperature sensor 1222 may sense a temperature at which the heater 1250 (or an aerosol generating material) is heated. The aerosol generating device 1200 may include a separate temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the heater 1250, or the heater 1250 may serve as a temperature sensor. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 1222 may also be arranged around the battery 1240 to monitor the temperature of the battery 1240. In an embodiment, the temperature sensor 1222 may measure the temperature of the heater 1250 before being heated.

The insertion detection sensor 1224 may sense insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article. For example, the insertion detection sensor 1224 may include at least one of a film sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, a resistive sensor, a capacitive sensor, an inductive sensor, and an infrared sensor, and may sense a signal change according to the insertion and/or removal of an aerosol generating article. In an embodiment, the insertion detection sensor 1224 may determine continuous use when, after detecting insertion of an aerosol generating article, it detects insertion of an aerosol generating article again within a predetermined period of time after the one-smoke series ends.

The puff sensor 1226 may sense a user's puff based on various physical changes in an airflow passage or an airflow channel. For example, the puff sensor 1226 may sense a user's puff based on any one of a temperature change, a flow change, a voltage change, and a pressure change.

The sensing unit 1220 may include, in addition to the temperature sensor 1222, the insertion detection sensor 1224, and the puff sensor 1226 described above, at least one of a temperature/humidity sensor, a barometric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a location sensor (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS)), a proximity sensor, and a red-green-blue (RGB) sensor (an illuminance sensor). Because a function of each of sensors may be intuitively inferred by one of ordinary skill in the art from the name of the sensor, a detailed description thereof may be omitted.

The output unit 1230 may output information on the state of the aerosol generating device 1200 and provide the information to a user. The output unit 1230 may include at least one of a display unit 1232, a haptic unit 1234, and a sound output unit 1236, but is not limited thereto. When the display unit 1232 and a touch pad form a layered structure to form a touch screen, the display unit 1232 may also be used as an input device in addition to an output device.

The display unit 1232 may visually provide information about the aerosol generating device 1200 to the user. For example, information about the aerosol generating device 1200 may mean various pieces of information, such as a charging/discharging state of the battery 1240 of the aerosol generating device 1200, a preheating state of the heater 1250, an insertion/removal state of an aerosol generating article, or a state in which the use of the aerosol generating device 1200 is restricted (e.g., sensing of an abnormal object), or the like, and the display unit 1232 may output the information to the outside. The display unit 1232 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display panel, or the like. In addition, the display unit 1232 may be in the form of a light-emitting diode (LED) device.

The haptic unit 1234 may tactilely provide information about the aerosol generating device 1200 to the user by converting an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus or an electrical stimulus. For example, the haptic unit 1234 may include a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The audio output unit 1236 may audibly provide information about the aerosol generating device 1200 to the user. For example, the audio output unit 1236 may convert an electrical signal into a sound signal and output the same to the outside.

The battery 1240 may supply power used to operate the aerosol generating device 1200. The battery 1240 may supply power such that the heater 1250 may be heated. In addition, the battery 1240 may supply power required for operations of other components (e.g., the sensing unit 1220, the output unit 1230, the user input unit 1260, the memory 1270, and the communication unit 1280) in the aerosol generating device 1200. The battery 1240 may be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. For example, the battery 1240 may be a lithium polymer (LiPoly) battery, but is not limited thereto.

The heater 1250 may receive power from the battery 1240 to heat an aerosol generating material. Although not illustrated in FIG. 12, the aerosol generating device 1200 may further include a power conversion circuit (e.g., a direct current (DC)/DC converter) that converts the power of the battery 1240 and supplies the same to the heater 1250. In addition, when the aerosol generating device 1200 generates aerosols in an induction heating method, the aerosol generating device 1200 may further include a DC/AC converter that converts DC power of the battery 1240 into AC power.

The controller 1210, the sensing unit 1220, the output unit 1230, the user input unit 1260, the memory 1270, and the communication unit 1280 may each receive power from the battery 1240 to perform functions. Although not illustrated in FIG. 12, the aerosol generating device 1200 may further include a power conversion circuit that converts the power of the battery 1240 to supply the power to respective components, for example, a low dropout (LDO) circuit, or a voltage regulator circuit.

In an embodiment, the heater 1250 may be formed of any suitable electrically resistive material. For example, the suitable electrically resistive material may be a metal or a metal alloy including titanium, zirconium, tantalum, platinum, nickel, cobalt, chromium, hafnium, niobium, molybdenum, tungsten, tin, gallium, manganese, iron, copper, stainless steel, nichrome, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, the heater 1250 may be implemented by a metal wire, a metal plate on which an electrically conductive track is arranged, a ceramic heating element, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

In another embodiment, the heater 1250 may be a heater of an induction heating type. For example, the heater 1250 may include a susceptor that heats an aerosol generating material by generating heat through a magnetic field applied by a coil.

In an embodiment, the heater 1250 may include a plurality of heaters. For example, the heater 1250 may include a first heater for heating a cigarette and a second heater for heating a liquid composition.

The user input unit 1260 may receive information input from the user or may output information to the user. For example, the user input unit 1260 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (a contact capacitive method, a pressure resistance film method, an infrared sensing method, a surface ultrasonic conduction method, an integral tension measurement method, a piezoelectric effect method, or the like), a jog wheel, a jog switch, or the like, but is not limited thereto. In addition, although not illustrated in FIG. 12, the aerosol generating device 1200 may further include a connection interface, such as a universal serial bus (USB) interface, and may connect to other external devices through the connection interface, such as the USB interface, to transmit and receive information, or to charge the battery 1240.

The memory 1270 is a hardware component that stores various types of data processed by the aerosol generating device 1200, and may store data processed and data to be processed by the controller 1210. The memory 1270 may include at least one type of storage medium from among a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type memory, a card-type memory (for example, secure digital (SD) or extreme digital (XD) memory, etc.), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), a magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. The memory 1270 may store an operation time of the aerosol generating device 1200, the maximum number of puffs, the current number of puffs, at least one temperature profile, data about a user's smoking pattern, etc. In an embodiment, the memory 1270 may store a plurality of temperature profiles. In addition, the memory 1270 may store a plurality of preheating profiles defining preheating sections among temperature profiles. The memory 1270 may store a plurality of preheating profiles described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

The communication unit 1280 may include at least one component for communication with another electronic device. For example, the communication unit 1280 may include a near field communication unit 1282 and a wireless communication unit 1284.

The near field communication unit 1282 may include a Bluetooth communication unit, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication unit, a wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi) communication unit, a Zigbee communication unit, an infrared data association (IrDA) communication unit, a Wi-Fi Direct (WFD) communication unit, an ultra-wideband (UWB) communication unit, an Ant+ communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto.

The wireless communication unit 1284 may include a cellular network communication unit, an Internet communication unit, a computer network (e.g., local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN)) communication unit, or the like, but is not limited thereto. The wireless communication unit 1284 may also identify and authenticate the aerosol generating device 1200 within a communication network by using subscriber information (e.g., International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)).

The controller 1210 may control general operations of the aerosol generating device 1200. In an embodiment, the controller 1210 may include 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 by the microprocessor is stored. It will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the processor may be implemented in other forms of hardware.

Those of ordinary skill in the art related to the present embodiments may understand that various changes in form and details can be made therein without departing from the scope of the characteristics described above. Therefore, the disclosed methods should be considered in a descriptive point of view, not a restrictive point of view. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all differences within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the present disclosure.

Claims

An aerosol generating device comprising:

a heater configured to heat a cigarette;

a sensor unit configured to sense a parameter related to an operation of the heater; and

a microcontroller unit configured to initialize the sensor unit when a heating event of the heater is initiated, attempt to communicate with the initialized sensor unit and determine whether communication with the sensor unit is normal, and when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal, reattempt communication with the sensor unit.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to:

communicate with the sensor unit through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) communication method; and

supply power to the sensor unit through a power line.
The aerosol generating device of claim 2, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to initialize the sensor unit by changing the power from a high level to a low level and changing signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line from a low level to a high level.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit comprises at least one of a temperature sensor and a puff detection sensor.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to maintain a heating operation of the heater when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be normal.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine whether a number of retries is greater than or equal to a preset number; and, when the number of retries is less than the preset number, determine that the communication with the sensor unit is normal and maintain a heating operation of the heater.
The aerosol generating device of claim 6, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to:

determine whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number; and, when the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, determine that the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal and stop the heating operation of the heater.
The aerosol generating device of claim 1, further comprising a heating integrated circuit (IC) configured to provide an electrical signal enabling a heating operation of the heater to be performed under control of the microcontroller unit,

wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to initialize the heating IC when heating of the heater is initiated, attempt to communicate with the heating IC and determine whether communication with the heating IC is normal, and, when the communication with the heating IC is determined to be abnormal, reattempt communication with the heating IC.
The aerosol generating device of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to:

communicate with the heating IC through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an Inter Integrated Circuit (I2C) communication method; and

supply power to the heating IC through a power line.
The aerosol generating device of claim 9, wherein the microcontroller unit is further configured to:

initialize the heating IC by changing the power from a high level to a low level and changing signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line from a low level to a high level.
An operating method of an aerosol generating device comprising a heater configured to heat a cigarette and a sensor unit configured to sense a parameter related to an operation of the heater, the operating method comprising:

initializing the sensor unit when a heating event of the heater is initiated;

determining whether communication with the initialized sensor unit is normal by attempting to communicate with the sensor unit;

maintaining a heating operation of the heater when the communication with the sensor unit is normal;

reattempting communication with the sensor unit when the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal; and

determining whether a number of retries for the communication with the sensor unit is greater than or equal to a preset number.
The operating method of claim 11, wherein the sensor unit is further configured to:

receive a control signal through a serial data line and a serial clock line, according to an Inter Integrated circuit (I2C) communication method; and
The operating method of claim 12, wherein, in the initializing of the sensor unit, the power is changed from a high level to a low level, and signals of the serial data line and the serial clock line are changed from a low level to a high level.
The operating method of claim 11, wherein, in the determining of whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to a preset number, when the number of retries is less than the preset number, the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be normal, and the heating operation of the heater is maintained.
The operating method of claim 14, wherein, in the determining of whether the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, when the number of retries is greater than or equal to the preset number, the communication with the sensor unit is determined to be abnormal, and the heating operation of the heater stops.