Aerosol generator with cigarette recognition function

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more specifically, to a technology that improves the accuracy of cigarette recognition. An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing; a battery that supplies power; a power supply unit connected to the battery; a microcontroller connected to the power supply unit; a heater driver connected to the power supply unit and the microcontroller, respectively; a heater connected to the heater driver and into which a cigarette is inserted; a cigarette recognition means disposed in a sensing area located above the heater and connected to the microcontroller; and a temperature sensor connected to the microcontroller and detecting the temperature of the heater; wherein the cigarette recognition means is composed of a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit connected to the microcontroller, respectively, and the microcontroller recognizes the cigarette according to signals input from the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, respectively, and controls the heater driver.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, and more specifically, to a technology that improves the accuracy of cigarette recognition. Background Technology

[0002] Aerosols are small liquid or solid particles that exist suspended in the atmosphere and typically have a size of 0.001 to 1.0 µm. In particular, people sometimes inhale aerosols originating from various types of cigarettes.

[0003] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the prior art. Referring to FIG. 1, the aerosol generating device (10) includes a heater (13) that generates heat by resistance when current is applied, a battery (14) capable of supplying high power to the heater (13) instantaneously, and a microcontroller (15) for controlling the heater (13). The heater (13) generates an aerosol by heating a vaporizing material containing a substance (vaporizing material) that vaporizes when heated above a certain temperature, which is contained in a cavity (12). For example, when a cigarette (11) filled with paper impregnated with or covered with an aerosol medium is inserted into the cavity (12), the heater (13) is heated to vaporize the aerosol medium inside the cigarette (11), and the user can inhale the aerosol vaporized from the aerosol medium through the filter part of the cigarette (11).

[0004] In addition, to provide a better user experience, some aerosol generators offer a solution that automatically heats the device when a cigarette is inserted. This technology requires advanced recognition technology that must automatically stop heating when the cigarette is removed and prevent heating when a cleaning brush or other foreign substances are inserted. There is a demand for technological advancement, as some products on the market frequently receive after-sales service requests due to recognition errors preventing heating. For example, conventional technology utilizes a single sensing technique, such as inductive sensing, to recognize only cigarettes containing aluminum foil. While this technology detects changes in inductance caused by metal and is applied in some products on the market, issues regarding malfunctions persist. The technology according to the embodiment of the present invention is an advanced technology that improves the recognition rate for cigarettes containing aluminum foil, cigarettes without aluminum foil, and other foreign substances such as cleaning brushes. The problem to be solved

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an aerosol generator capable of improving the accuracy of cigarette recognition.

[0006] In addition, the present invention aims to provide an aerosol generator capable of selectively recognizing only cigarettes with aluminum foil, or recognizing cigarettes regardless of the presence or absence of aluminum foil. means of solving the problem

[0007] An aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a housing; a battery that supplies power; a power supply unit connected to the battery; a microcontroller connected to the power supply unit; a heater driver connected to the power supply unit and the microcontroller, respectively; a heater connected to the heater driver and into which a cigarette is inserted; a cigarette recognition means disposed in a sensing area located above the heater and connected to the microcontroller; and a temperature sensor connected to the microcontroller and detecting the temperature of the heater; wherein the cigarette recognition means is composed of a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit connected to the microcontroller, respectively, and the microcontroller recognizes the cigarette according to signals input from the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, respectively, and controls the heater driver.

[0008] Additionally, according to an embodiment, the first sensor unit includes a sensor capable of detecting changes in the surrounding environment, such as an electric field, a magnetic field, or temperature and humidity, such as an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a Hall sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor, and has at least one channel.

[0009] Additionally, according to an embodiment, the second sensor unit includes a sensor capable of detecting physical changes, such as an ultrasonic sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, or a touch sensor, and has at least one channel.

[0010] In addition, according to an embodiment, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit are placed on an FPCB, and the FPCB is installed by being wound in the shape of a pipe.

[0011] In addition, according to an embodiment, a reference sensor is placed in the sensing area and connected to the microcontroller, and detects the temperature of the sensing area, and the microcontroller calculates a correction value according to the temperature change based on a signal input from the reference sensor and applies it to the signal input from the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit to recognize the cigarette.

[0012] In addition, according to the embodiment, the microcontroller selectively recognizes only cigarettes with aluminum foil, or recognizes cigarettes regardless of the presence or absence of aluminum foil. Effects of the invention

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the accuracy of cigarette recognition can be improved by including a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit disposed in a sensing area located at the top of a heater into which a cigarette is inserted.

[0014] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit each have a plurality of channels to improve the accuracy of cigarette recognition.

[0015] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the second sensor unit may include a sensor capable of detecting physical changes, thereby improving the accuracy of cigarette recognition.

[0016] In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, a cigarette can be recognized by selecting a specification that recognizes only a cigarette with aluminum foil or a specification that recognizes a cigarette regardless of the presence or absence of aluminum foil. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0017] FIG. 1 is a drawing for explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the prior art, FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating another example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating another example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which a cigarette is not recognized when a cleaning brush is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0018] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing for explaining a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 3, an aerosol generating device (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing (110); a battery (120) that supplies power; a power supply unit (130) connected to the battery (120); a microcontroller (140) connected to the power supply unit (130); a heater driver (150) connected to the power supply unit (130) and the microcontroller (140), respectively; a heater (160) connected to the heater driver (150) into which a cigarette (20) is inserted; a cigarette recognition means (170) disposed in a sensing area (A) located above the heater (160) and connected to the microcontroller (140); and a temperature sensor (180) connected to the microcontroller (140) and detecting the temperature of the heater (160).

[0021] Additionally, the cigarette recognition means (170) is composed of a first sensor unit (171) and a second sensor unit (172) each connected to a microcontroller (140), and the microcontroller (140) recognizes the cigarette (20) according to the signals input from the first sensor unit (171) and the second sensor unit (172) respectively, and controls the heater driver (150).

[0022] The power supply unit (130) connected to the battery (120) supplies power suitable for the microcontroller (140) and the heater driver (150), respectively. The heater (160) is provided in the form of a pipe, for example, into which a cigarette (20) can be inserted, and when the cigarette (20) is inserted, power is supplied through the heater driver (150) under the control of the microcontroller (140) to heat the cigarette (20). For example, the heater driver (150) includes an FET, and the microcontroller (140) inputs a PWM signal to the heater driver (150), so that the FET included in the power control unit (116) turns on and off according to the duty cycle of the PWM signal input from the microcontroller (113), thereby adjusting the amount of power supplied from the power supply unit (130) to the heater driver (150) and supplying it to the heater (160). Additionally, according to an embodiment, the microcontroller (140) can recognize the temperature of the heater (160) based on a detection signal input from the temperature sensor (180) and control the heater driver (150) according to the temperature profile.

[0023] In the aerosol generator (100), the sensing area (A) located above the heater (160) is an area where a cigarette recognition means (170) is placed to detect whether the cigarette (20) is inserted. Additionally, the cigarette (20) may have an area (21) with aluminum foil on the bottom, and when the cigarette (20) is fully inserted into the heater (160), it is located inside the heater (160) and is positioned so as not to overlap with the sensing area (A).

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 4 (a), the cigarette recognition means (170) may be composed of a first sensor unit (171) and a second sensor unit (172). According to an embodiment, the first sensor unit (171) includes a sensor capable of detecting changes in the surrounding environment, such as an electric field, a magnetic field, or temperature and humidity, such as an inductive sensor, a capacitance sensor, a Hall sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor, and has at least one channel. The channels (171a, 171b) provided in the first sensor unit (171) may be provided in the form of pads.

[0025] Additionally, according to an embodiment, the second sensor unit (172) includes a sensor capable of detecting physical changes, such as an ultrasonic sensor, a proximity sensor, a pressure sensor, or a touch sensor, and has at least one channel. The channel (172a, 172b) provided in the second sensor unit (172) may be provided in the form of a pad. For example, the second sensor unit (172) may be provided with a physical displacement member (172c, 172d) to detect physical displacement, and the physical displacement member (172c, 172d) may be formed in a structure capable of elastic deformation.

[0026] If there are two or more channels in the first sensor unit (171) and / or the second sensor unit (172), the accuracy and malfunction prevention function may be improved. For example, if a foreign substance that is not circular, such as a cigarette (20), is inserted, similar values ​​are not observed in multiple channels, so malfunction can be prevented.

[0027] In addition, according to an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4 (b), the first sensor part (171) and the second sensor part (172) of the cigarette recognition means (170) are placed on the FPCB, and the FPCB can be installed by being wound in a pipe shape as shown in FIG. 4 (a).

[0028] Additionally, according to the embodiment, a reference sensor (190) is placed in a sensing area (A) and connected to a microcontroller (140) to detect the temperature of the sensing area, and the microcontroller (140) calculates a correction value according to the temperature change according to the signal input from the reference sensor (190) and applies it to the signal input from the first sensor unit (171) and the second sensor unit (172) to recognize the cigarette (20). Since the temperature of the sensing area (A) in the aerosol generator (100) may change and affect the signal detected by the cigarette recognition means (170), the microcontroller (140) calculates a correction value according to the temperature change according to the signal input from the reference sensor (190) and applies it to the signal input from the first sensor unit (171) and the second sensor unit (172) to recognize the cigarette (20), thereby improving the accuracy of cigarette (20) recognition.

[0029] The operation of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a flowchart for conceptually explaining an example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining another example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for conceptually explaining another example of cigarette recognition according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram for conceptually explaining an example in which a cigarette is not recognized when a cleaning brush is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] According to the embodiment, the microcontroller (140) selectively recognizes only the cigarette (20) with aluminum foil, or recognizes the cigarette (20) regardless of whether or not it has aluminum foil.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 5 and 6, when a cigarette (20) with aluminum foil is inserted into a housing (110) in FIG. 5 (a), the area (21) with aluminum foil provided at the bottom of the cigarette (20) first passes through a sensing area (A), at which time the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected by the channels (171a, 171b) provided in the form of pads in the first sensor part (171) changes. In Fig. 5 (b), when the cigarette (20) with aluminum foil is fully inserted into the heater (160) through the housing (110), the area (21) with aluminum foil of the cigarette (20) passes through the sensing area (A), so the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected in the pad-shaped channels (171a, 171b) in the first sensor unit (171) returns to the original value, and the upper part of the cigarette (20) is harder than the lower part, so physical displacement occurs in the second sensor unit (171), causing the detection value in the pad-shaped channels (172a, 172b) to change, and the changed detection value is maintained while the cigarette (20) is inserted into the heater (160). Additionally, when the cigarette (20) is withdrawn from the heater (160), the detection values ​​of the first sensor unit (171) and the second sensor unit (172) change in the reverse process of the above-described process, and the cigarette (20) returns to the state before it was inserted.

[0032] To explain an example of a case where only a cigarette (20) with aluminum foil is recognized, when the power of the battery (120) is turned ON in FIG. 6 (a), the microcontroller (140) in FIG. 6 (b) determines whether the detection value of the detection signal input from the first sensor unit (171) has changed. For example, the criterion for determining the change in the detection value may be a condition where the detection value rises above a certain threshold value and then returns to the starting point. If it is determined that the detection value has changed, the microcontroller (140) in FIG. 6 (c) determines whether the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) is maintained above the threshold value for at least 2 seconds. The time maintained above the threshold value must be at least 1 second to prevent malfunction, and it is desirable to determine whether it is maintained for at least 2 seconds for stable operation. When the microcontroller (140) determines that the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) is maintained above the threshold value for 2 seconds, in (d) of FIG. 6, the microcontroller (140) recognizes that the cigarette (20) with aluminum foil is inserted into the heater (160) and controls the heater driver (150) so that the power supplied from the power supply unit (130) is supplied to the heater to proceed with heating, and in (e) of FIG. 6, during heating, the microcontroller (140) determines whether the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) drops below the threshold value and is maintained above the threshold value for 1 second or more. If it is determined that the detection value drops below the threshold value and is maintained for more than 1 second, the microcontroller (140) determines that the cigarette (20) with aluminum foil has been withdrawn from the heater (160), and in (f) of FIG. 6, the microcontroller (140) controls the heater driver (150) to cut off the power supplied from the power supply unit (130) to the heater (160) and stop heating.If it is determined that the detection value in (e) of FIG. 6 falls below the threshold value and is maintained for more than 1 second, the microcontroller (140) controls the heating to proceed in (d) of FIG. 6.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIGS. 7 and 8, when a cigarette (20) without aluminum foil is inserted into the housing (110) in FIG. 7 (a), the lower part of the cigarette (20) passes through the sensing area (A). Since the cigarette (20) does not have aluminum foil, the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected by the channels (171a, 171b) provided in the form of pads in the first sensor part (171) does not change. In Fig. 7 (b), when a cigarette (20) without aluminum foil is fully inserted into the heater (160) through the housing (110), the value of the electric or magnetic field detected by the pad-shaped channels (171a, 171b) in the first sensor unit (171) remains unchanged, and since the upper part of the cigarette (20) is harder than the lower part, physical displacement occurs in the second sensor unit (171), causing the detection value in the pad-shaped channels (172a, 172b) to change, and the changed detection value is maintained while the cigarette (20) is inserted into the heater (160). Additionally, when the cigarette (20) is withdrawn from the heater (160), the detection value of the second sensor unit (172) changes in the reverse process of the above-described process, and returns to the state before the cigarette (20) was inserted.

[0034] To explain an example of a case where a cigarette (20) is recognized regardless of the presence or absence of aluminum foil, when the power of the battery (120) is turned ON in (a) of FIG. 8, a detection signal is input from the first sensor unit (171) to the microcontroller (140) in (b) of FIG. 8. For example, when a cigarette (20) with aluminum foil is inserted into the housing (110), the area (21) with aluminum foil provided at the bottom of the cigarette (20) passes through the sensing area (A) first, and at this time, the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected by the channels (171a, 171b) provided in the form of pads in the first sensor unit (171) changes. For example, when a cigarette (20) without aluminum foil is inserted into the housing (110), the lower part of the cigarette (20) passes through the sensing area (A). Since the cigarette (20) does not have aluminum foil, the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected by the channels (171a, 171b) provided in the form of pads in the first sensor unit (171) does not change.

[0035] Additionally, for example, in the case of a cigarette (20) with aluminum foil, the shape of the aluminum foil may differ depending on the type of cigarette (20), and the detection signal input from the first sensor unit (171) to the microcontroller (140) may differ depending on the shape of the aluminum foil.

[0036] For example, the microcontroller (140) determines, based on the detection signal input from the first sensor unit (171), whether the cigarette (20) has aluminum foil and / or if it has aluminum foil, the type of the cigarette (20).

[0037] In Fig. 8 (c), the microcontroller (140) determines whether the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) is maintained above the threshold value for 2 seconds or more. The time maintained above the threshold value must be at least 1 second to prevent malfunction, and it is desirable to determine whether it is maintained above 2 seconds for stable operation. When the microcontroller (140) determines that the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) is maintained above the threshold value for 2 seconds, in Fig. 8 (d), the microcontroller (140) recognizes that the cigarette (20) is inserted into the heater (160) and controls the heater driver (150) so that the power supplied from the power supply unit (130) is supplied to the heater (160) to proceed with heating. Additionally, according to the embodiment, the microcontroller (140) may control the display means not shown to display information regarding whether the cigarette (20) has aluminum foil, which is primarily determined based on the detection signal input from the first sensor unit (171), and / or the type of the cigarette (20) if it has aluminum foil.

[0038] In Fig. 8 (e), during heating, the microcontroller (140) determines whether the detection value of the detection signal input from the second sensor unit (172) drops below the threshold value and is maintained for 1 second or longer. If it is determined that the detection value drops below the threshold value and is maintained for 1 second or longer, the microcontroller (140) determines that the cigarette (20) has been withdrawn from the heater (160), and in Fig. 8 (f), the microcontroller (140) controls the heater driver (150) to cut off the power supplied from the power supply unit (130) to the heater (160) and stops heating. If, in Fig. 8 (e), it is not determined that the detection value drops below the threshold value and is maintained for 1 second or longer, the microcontroller (140) controls the heating to proceed in Fig. 6 (d).

[0039] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram conceptually illustrating an example in which a cigarette is not recognized when a cleaning brush is inserted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 and FIG. 9, when the cleaning brush (30) is inserted into the housing (110) in FIG. 9 (a), the lower part of the cleaning brush (30) passes through the sensing area (A). Even though the column (31) of the cleaning brush (30) is made of metal, the brush (32) is made of plastic, so the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected in the channels (171a, 171b) provided in the form of pads in the first sensor unit (171) does not change. In addition, since the brush (32) is not hard, no physical displacement occurs in the second sensor unit (172), so the detection value in the channels (172a, 172b) provided in the form of pads does not change. In Fig. 9 (b), when the cleaning brush (30) is fully inserted into the heater (160) through the housing (110), even if the column (31) of the cleaning brush (30) is positioned in the sensing area (A), the column (31) is positioned at a distance that cannot be detected by the first sensor unit (171). Therefore, the value of the electric field or magnetic field detected by the pad-shaped channels (171a, 171b) in the first sensor unit (171) does not change, and since no physical displacement occurs in the second sensor unit (172), the detection value in the pad-shaped channels (172a, 172b) does not change. Additionally, when the cleaning brush (30) is withdrawn from the heater (160), the detection value of the first sensor unit (171) and the detection value of the second sensor unit (172) do not change.

[0041] The present invention is not limited to the specific preferred embodiments described above, and anyone with ordinary knowledge in the art to which the invention pertains can make various modifications without departing from the essence of the invention as claimed in the claims, and such modifications will be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claim 1 A housing; a battery supplying power; a power supply unit connected to the battery; a microcontroller connected to the power supply unit; a heater driver connected to the power supply unit and the microcontroller, respectively; a heater connected to the heater driver and into which a cigarette is inserted; and a cigarette recognition means disposed in a sensing area located above the heater and connected to the microcontroller; A temperature sensor connected to the microcontroller and detecting the temperature of the heater; wherein the cigarette recognition means is composed of a first sensor unit and a second sensor unit, each connected to the microcontroller, and the microcontroller recognizes the cigarette and controls the heater driver according to signals input from the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit, respectively, wherein the first sensor unit includes a sensor capable of detecting changes in the surrounding environment including either an electric field or a magnetic field, and the second sensor unit includes a sensor capable of detecting physical changes by having a physical displacement member that undergoes elastic deformation, and the microcontroller determines whether the cigarette is inserted using a first signal from the first sensor unit that detects a change in the value of the electric field or magnetic field when the aluminum foil provided at the bottom of the cigarette passes through a sensing area, and a second signal which is a detection value changed according to the physical displacement in the second sensor unit as the upper part of the cigarette is positioned in the sensing area, and the microcontroller An aerosol generating device characterized by recognizing that the cigarette is inserted into the heater when, after receiving a signal, the second signal is maintained at a preset value or higher for a preset time or longer. Claim 2 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the first sensor unit comprises at least one channel. Claim 3 An aerosol generating device according to paragraph 2, characterized in that the channel is provided in the form of a pad. Claim 4 An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor unit comprises at least one channel. Claim 5 An aerosol generating device according to claim 4, characterized in that the channel is provided in the form of a pad. Claim 6 An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first sensor part and the second sensor part of the cigarette recognition means are disposed on an FPCB, and the FPCB is installed by being wound in a pipe shape. Claim 7 An aerosol generating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a reference sensor disposed in the sensing area and connected to the microcontroller, and detecting the temperature of the sensing area, wherein the microcontroller calculates a correction value according to a temperature change based on a signal input from the reference sensor and applies it to a signal input from the first sensor unit and the second sensor unit to recognize a cigarette. Claim 8 delete

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