Control method and aerosol generating device

Abstract

A control method and an aerosol generating device. The control method (S100) comprises: when receiving a heating starting instruction, on the basis of mapping relationships between time periods and energy parameters, respectively controlling, within a plurality of time periods, a power supply to provide corresponding energy for an induction coil, wherein the energy provided in each time period is composed of a plurality of high-frequency drive pulses, and the duration of the time period is greater than or equal to 500 ms (S10). Compared with conventional control modes depending on the real-time temperature of a heater and a temperature curve, the present control mode involves control of energy supply in different time periods; thus, the taste and vaping experience can be improved, dependence on temperature measurement devices can be eliminated, and hardware costs can be effectively reduced.

Description

A control method and aerosol generating device

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims priority to the Chinese patent application entitled “A Control Method and Aerosol Generating Device” filed with the Patent Office of China on July 28, 2023, with application number 202310942740.6, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of electronic atomization technology, and in particular to a control method and an aerosol generating device. Background Art

[0004] Aerosol generating devices use a heater to heat and bake an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol for the user. Conventionally, existing aerosol generating devices adjust the heater temperature by varying the power output of a power supply, controlling the temperature according to a pre-set temperature curve.

[0005] In some solutions known to the inventors of this application, a temperature sensor is used to collect the real-time temperature of the heater. Based on the deviation between the real-time temperature and the ideal temperature on the temperature curve, the power is adjusted to ensure that the heater temperature meets the ideal temperature on the temperature curve. However, this method relies on the accuracy of the temperature sensor and the rationality of the temperature curve.

[0006] Summary of the Invention

[0007] Some embodiments of the present application provide a control method for an aerosol generating device, which provides energy in time periods based on the energy requirements during the baking process of the aerosol-forming substrate to improve the taste and puffing experience.

[0008] In a first aspect, some embodiments of the present application provide a control method applied to an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device comprising an induction heater assembly and a power supply, the induction heater assembly comprising an induction coil configured to generate a varying magnetic field when a varying current flows therethrough; a susceptor configured to be penetrated by the varying magnetic field generated by the induction coil to generate heat, thereby heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol, the power supply being configured to provide energy to the induction heater assembly;

[0009] Methods include:

[0010] After receiving the heating start instruction, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods;

[0011] The energy provided by the time period is composed of a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses, and the duration of the time period is greater than or equal to 500 ms.

[0012] In some embodiments, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods includes:

[0013] During the current time period, controlling the power supply to continuously output a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil;

[0014] If the supplied energy reaches the set energy for the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy for the current time period and continue for a period of time.

[0015] In some embodiments, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods includes:

[0016] During the current time period, controlling the power supply to continuously output a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil;

[0017] If the total output duration of the high-frequency driving pulse reaches the preset output duration of the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period for a period of time.

[0018] In some embodiments, it further includes:

[0019] Determining a duration for which the power source stops supplying energy during a current time period;

[0020] If the duration meets a preset end time threshold of the current time period, the current time period is ended, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0021] In some embodiments, it further includes:

[0022] If the sum of the duration of the power supply continuously outputting multiple high-frequency drive pulses and the duration of the power supply stopping the energy supply in the current time period meets the preset time period length, the current time period is ended, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0023] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the susceptor; the method further comprises:

[0024] Acquire the real-time temperature of the receptor detected by the temperature sensor;

[0025] If the real-time temperature is less than or equal to the preset low temperature threshold, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply for the next time period to the induction coil.

[0026] In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

[0027] obtaining a resonant voltage of the induction coil;

[0028] If the resonant voltage is less than or equal to the preset low-voltage threshold, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0029] In some embodiments, after receiving the heating start instruction, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods according to a mapping relationship between time periods and energy parameters includes:

[0030] After receiving the heating start instruction, entering the temperature rising stage, the temperature rising stage includes a first time period;

[0031] During the first time period, according to the mapping relationship between the first time period and the energy parameter, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a maximum power manner.

[0032] In some embodiments, after receiving the heating start instruction, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods according to a mapping relationship between time periods and energy parameters includes:

[0033] After receiving the heating start instruction, entering the heat preservation stage, the heat preservation stage includes multiple second time periods;

[0034] In a plurality of the second time periods, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil according to the mapping relationship between the second time period and the energy parameter.

[0035] In some embodiments, the durations of the second time periods are the same; or, the durations of at least two of the second time periods are different.

[0036] In some embodiments, the set energies of the plurality of second time periods are the same; or, the set energies of at least two of the second time periods are different.

[0037] In some embodiments, the second time period has a duration ranging from 1s to 2s.

[0038] In some embodiments, after receiving the heating start instruction, controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods according to a mapping relationship between time periods and energy parameters includes:

[0039] After receiving the instruction to start heating, the system enters the suction phase, wherein the suction phase is provided with a plurality of third time periods;

[0040] In the plurality of third time periods, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil according to the mapping relationship between the third time periods and the energy parameters.

[0041] In some embodiments, the durations of the third time periods are the same; or, the durations of at least two of the third time periods are different.

[0042] In some embodiments, the set energies of the plurality of third time periods are the same; or, the set energies of at least two of the third time periods are different.

[0043] In some embodiments, the third time period is longer than 10 seconds.

[0044] In some embodiments, the energy corresponding to at least one third time period located in the early stage of the inhalation phase is greater than the energy corresponding to at least one third time period located in the late stage of the inhalation phase.

[0045] In some embodiments, during the inhalation phase, the temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the real-time temperature of the susceptor ranges from 10° C. to 50° C.

[0046] In some embodiments, within a single time period, the real-time temperature of the susceptor gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0047] In some embodiments, the resonant voltage of the induction coil is obtained, wherein within a single time period, the resonant voltage of the induction coil gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0048] In some embodiments, obtaining a resonant voltage of the induction coil;

[0049] If the resonant voltage is greater than a preset voltage threshold, an alarm message is output.

[0050] In a second aspect, some embodiments of the present application provide an aerosol generating device, comprising:

[0051] an induction heater assembly comprising an induction coil and a susceptor, the induction coil being configured to generate a varying magnetic field when a varying current flows therethrough, the susceptor being configured to be penetrated by the varying magnetic field generated by the induction coil to generate heat, thereby heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol;

[0052] a power supply for providing energy to the induction heater assembly;

[0053] The controller is connected to the induction heater assembly and the power supply, and is used to execute the control method according to the first aspect.

[0054] In some embodiments, the circuit in which the induction coil is located includes a resonant circuit and a half-wave rectifier circuit. The resonant circuit includes an induction coil and a capacitor connected in series. The half-wave rectifier circuit is connected to the capacitor and is used to perform half-wave rectification on the voltage signal of the capacitor to output the resonant voltage of the induction coil.

[0055] The control method provided in an embodiment of the present application is applied to an aerosol-generating device, which includes an induction heater assembly and a power supply. The induction heater assembly includes an induction coil configured to generate a varying magnetic field when a varying current flows through it; a susceptor configured to be penetrated by the varying magnetic field generated by the induction coil to generate heat, thereby heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; and the power supply is used to provide energy to the induction heater assembly. The control method includes, upon receiving a heating start instruction, controlling the power supply to provide energy to the induction coil in a time-sharing manner according to a mapping relationship between a plurality of time periods and a set energy level, wherein the set energy level includes a plurality of high-frequency drive pulses.

[0056] In this embodiment, the entire baking process is divided into multiple time periods based on the energy requirements of the aerosol-forming substrate during baking. Multiple high-frequency drive pulses are assigned to each time period, allowing the aerosol-forming substrate to receive heat output from the receptors in each time period. This allows the aerosol produced after baking to quickly reach and maintain a smokable state. Compared to conventional control methods that rely on the heater's real-time temperature and temperature curve, this control method, based on the energy requirements of the aerosol-forming substrate during baking, aligns the energy settings for each time period with the characteristics of the baking process. This time-based control of energy supply can produce a pleasant-tasting aerosol while maintaining a smokable amount, thereby improving both mouthfeel and puff quality. Furthermore, time-based control of energy supply eliminates reliance on temperature detection devices, avoiding issues such as insufficient or excessive heat absorption by the aerosol-forming substrate due to inaccurate temperature detection. Furthermore, it effectively reduces hardware costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by pictures in the corresponding drawings. These exemplifications do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are represented as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute proportional limitations.

[0058] FIG1 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol-forming article inserted into an aerosol-generating device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0059] FIG2 is a schematic structural diagram of an aerosol generating device in some embodiments of the present application;

[0060] FIG3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an aerosol-forming article in some embodiments of the present application;

[0061] FIG4 is a schematic diagram of the working principle of the induction heater assembly in some embodiments of the present application;

[0062] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of a high-frequency driving pulse of a voltage in some embodiments of the present application;

[0063] FIG6 is a schematic structural diagram of an induction heater assembly in some embodiments of the present application;

[0064] FIG7 is a flow chart of a control method in some embodiments of the present application;

[0065] FIG8 is a schematic diagram comparing the temperature change of the sensor and the high-frequency driving pulse voltage in some embodiments of the present application;

[0066] FIG9 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the voltage Ufb and the sensor temperature in some embodiments of the present application;

[0067] FIG10 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the circuit in which the induction coil is located in some embodiments of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0068] The present application is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. The following embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present application, but are not intended to limit the present application in any form. It should be noted that those skilled in the art may make several variations and improvements without departing from the scope of the present application. These all fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0069] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clear, the following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0070] It should be noted that, if there is no conflict, the various features in the embodiments of the present application can be combined with each other and are all within the scope of protection of the present application. In addition, although the functional modules are divided in the device schematic and the logical order is shown in the flow chart, in some cases, the steps shown or described can be performed in a different order than the module division in the device or the order in the flow chart. In addition, the words "first", "second", "third", etc. used herein do not limit the data and execution order, but only distinguish between the same items or similar items with basically the same functions and effects.

[0071] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this specification and in the specification of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" as used in this specification includes any and all combinations of one or more of the relevant listed items.

[0072] In addition, the technical features involved in each embodiment of the present application described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

[0073] 1 and 2 illustrate an aerosol generating device 10 provided in some embodiments of the present application, comprising: a chamber 11 , an induction heater assembly 12 , a power supply 14 , and a controller 15 . The controller 15 is electrically connected to the power supply 14 and the induction heater assembly 12 .

[0074] The chamber 11 is configured to receive an aerosol-forming article 20 . The aerosol-forming article 20 can be inserted into or removed from the chamber 11 through an opening A on the aerosol generating device 10 .

[0075] As shown in Figure 3, in some embodiments, the aerosol-forming article 20 includes a filter segment 21 and a matrix material segment 22. The matrix material segment 22 includes an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate is a substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate can be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate can include solid and liquid components.

[0076] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material comprising volatile tobacco flavor compounds released from the substrate upon heating. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may include a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may further include an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerol and propylene glycol.

[0077] The aerosol generated by heating the matrix material segment 22 is delivered to the user through the filter segment 21, which may be a cellulose acetate filter. The filter segment 21 may be sprayed with a flavoring liquid to provide a flavor, or separate fibers coated with a flavoring liquid may be inserted into the filter segment to improve the durability of the flavor delivered to the user. The filter segment 21 may also include a spherical or cylindrical capsule, which may contain a flavoring substance.

[0078] FIG3 shows only the components of the aerosol-forming article 20 relevant to this embodiment. Accordingly, those skilled in the art who are familiar with this embodiment should understand that the aerosol-forming article 20 may further include common components other than those shown in FIG3 . For example, a cooling section may be provided for cooling the aerosol generated by heating the matrix material section 22 so that the user can inhale the aerosol cooled to an appropriate temperature.

[0079] The power supply 14 provides power for operating the aerosol generating device 10. For example, the power supply 14 can provide power to the induction heater assembly 12, which generates heat upon receiving power to generate heating energy, and power required by the display device, sensors, motors, etc. Furthermore, the power supply 14 can provide power required to operate other components provided in the aerosol generating device 10, such as the display device, sensors, motors, etc. The power supply 14 can be a rechargeable battery or a disposable battery. The power supply 14 can be, but is not limited to, a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. For example, the power supply 14 can be a lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) battery or a lithium titanate battery.

[0080] When the aerosol-forming article 20 is inserted into the chamber 11, the power supplied by the power source 14 causes the induction coil in the induction heating assembly 12 to induce the susceptor to generate heating energy. This heating energy is then transferred to the aerosol-forming article 20, raising the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate therein to generate an aerosol. The generated aerosol is then transferred to the user through the filter segment 21 of the aerosol-forming article 20 for inhalation.

[0081] The induction heater assembly 12 is used to heat the aerosol-forming substrate in the aerosol-forming article 20 to generate an inhalable aerosol. The induction heater assembly 12 includes an induction coil 121 and a susceptor 122. When a varying current flows through the induction coil 121, it generates a varying magnetic field. When this varying magnetic field penetrates the susceptor 122, it generates heat, thereby heating the aerosol-forming substrate and generating an aerosol.

[0082] In some embodiments, referring to FIG4 , the induction coil 121 includes a resonant circuit, which includes an induction coil and a capacitor connected in series, as well as two switches (K1 and K2). Specifically, the heating principle of the induction heater assembly is as follows: the capacitor C and the induction coil L form an LC oscillator. Since the switches K1 and K2 are alternately turned on, the DC voltage of the power supply is provided to the LC oscillator in the form of high-frequency drive pulses. As shown in FIG5 , a schematic diagram of the high-frequency drive pulse of the voltage is shown. The LC oscillator generates an inverting oscillation through the alternating energy storage and discharge of the capacitor C, forming an alternating current flowing through the induction coil L, thereby generating an alternating magnetic field in the induction coil L. The sensor 122 is induced to generate eddy current and generate heat in the alternating magnetic field.

[0083] Referring to Figures 6(a) and 6(b), in some embodiments, the induction coil is disposed on the outer surface of a tubular substrate. The tubular substrate is a tubular component axially extending from and surrounding the chamber. In some embodiments, the tubular substrate can be a tubular component made of a thermally insulating material.

[0084] It will be appreciated that the susceptor 122 is made of a metallic material, including metal or carbon. In one embodiment, the susceptor 122 may include a ferromagnetic material, such as ferrite, ferromagnetic steel, or stainless steel. In one embodiment, the susceptor 122 includes a nickel-iron alloy. In one embodiment, the susceptor 122 includes 400 series stainless steel, which includes 410, 420, or 430 grade stainless steel. In one embodiment, the susceptor 122 includes graphite or a graphite alloy. Thus, the susceptor 122 can generate heat in the changing magnetic field generated by the induction coil, converting electrical energy into thermal energy. The shape of the susceptor 122 can be customized by those skilled in the art. Referring to FIG. 6( a ), in some embodiments, the susceptor 122 is tubular and can serve as the inner wall of the chamber 11. When the aerosol-forming article 20 is inserted into the chamber 11, the inner wall of the susceptor 122 is in proximity with or in contact with the outer periphery of the aerosol-forming article 20. Thus, when the susceptor 122 heats up, the heat can be effectively transferred to the aerosol-forming article 20 to bake the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0085] Referring to FIG. 6( b ), in some embodiments, the susceptor 122 is in the form of a sheet, needle, or pin and is disposed within the chamber. When the aerosol-forming article is inserted into the chamber, the susceptor 122 penetrates the interior of the aerosol-forming article 20 and comes into contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. Consequently, when the susceptor 122 generates heat, the heat is effectively transferred to the aerosol-forming article 20, thereby baking the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0086] In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming article 20 includes a metal sheet or metal needle. When the aerosol-forming article 20 is inserted into the chamber 11, the metal sheet or metal needle acts as a susceptor 122. The changing magnetic field generated by the induction coil 121 generates heat, thereby baking the aerosol-forming substrate. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment, the susceptor 122 is disposable and is discarded after use of the aerosol-forming article 20.

[0087] In some embodiments, the sensor 122 is arranged upstream of the air inlet channel and is not in direct contact with the aerosol-forming substrate. Instead, when the sensor 122 generates heat, the heat can be effectively transferred to the air to heat the air, and then the heated air enters the aerosol-forming article 20 to bake the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0088] The controller 15 can control the overall operation of the aerosol generating device 10. Specifically, the controller 15 controls the operation of the power supply 14 and the induction heater assembly 12, and can also control the operation of other devices. In some embodiments, the controller 15 includes a memory for storing program instructions corresponding to the control method in any of the following method embodiments, and also includes a monitoring circuit or timer for monitoring the power supply time, a detection circuit or temperature sensor for detecting the temperature, etc. Thus, by implementing the control method in any of the following method embodiments, the energy supply is controlled in time periods to produce an aerosol with a good taste, and the amount of the aerosol can be maintained in a smokable state, thereby improving the taste and the suction experience. In addition, it gets rid of the dependence on the temperature detection device, avoids the problem of insufficient or excessive heat absorption of the aerosol-forming matrix due to inaccurate temperature detection, and can also effectively reduce hardware costs.

[0089] The following describes the control methods provided in some embodiments of the present application, using exemplary applications and implementations of the aerosol generating devices provided in the embodiments of the present application. Please refer to Figure 7, which is a flow chart illustrating the control methods provided in some embodiments of the present application. It is understood that the execution entity of the control method may be one or more controllers.

[0090] As shown in FIG7 , the control method S100 includes:

[0091] S10: After receiving the heating start instruction, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in multiple time periods; wherein the energy provided in the time period is composed of multiple high-frequency drive pulses, and the duration of the time period is greater than or equal to 500ms.

[0092] Among them, the mapping relationship includes a one-to-one correspondence between several time periods and energy parameters. These several time periods are distributed in the baking stage of the aerosol-forming product, that is, the time period from the start of baking the aerosol-forming matrix to the time when the aerosol-forming matrix is ​​consumed or substantially consumed. In other words, the entire baking process (service life) of the aerosol-forming product is divided into multiple time periods, and each time period corresponds to an energy parameter. In some embodiments, the energy parameters include parameters that can characterize the energy, such as the set energy, the number of high-frequency drive pulses, or the continuous output duration of the high-frequency drive pulse.

[0093] Based on the heating principle of the aforementioned induction heater assembly, it can be seen that the induction heater assembly first converts the electrical energy of the power supply into magnetic field energy, and then converts the magnetic field energy into heating energy. In other words, the heating energy is provided by the DC voltage of the power supply in the form of high-frequency drive pulses and converted into heat.

[0094] The energy parameters for each time period are determined based on the energy requirements during the baking process of the aerosol-forming substrate. In some embodiments, the energy parameters may be experimental values ​​obtained after the design of the aerosol-generating device is completed, based on the specific materials of the aerosol-forming substrate, and other factors, and may also be empirical values. It is understood that, using the energy parameter set energy as an example, the energy set energy can be adjusted based on the thermal insulation performance of the induction heater assembly, the heat transfer rate between the aerosol-forming substrate and the susceptor, and so on.

[0095] It will be appreciated that, in some embodiments, the mapping relationship may be pre-stored in the memory of the aerosol generating device for access by the controller. In some embodiments, the mapping relationship is stored in an external device that is communicatively connected to the aerosol generating device, such as a cloud server, a charging case memory, or a memory of the aerosol generating device connected thereto. The controller may access the mapping relationship from the external memory or server during operation.

[0096] Therefore, after receiving the instruction to start heating, the controller calls the mapping relationship and controls the power supply to provide energy to the induction coil in time periods according to a number of one-to-one corresponding time periods and energy parameters.

[0097] The heating start instruction may be a signal generated by a user operating an input element, or may be a signal obtained by relying on a sensor's detection signal. For example, a pressure sensor or an electrical parameter sensor may be used to detect the insertion of the aerosol-forming article 20 into the aerosol generating device 10, or an airflow sensor may be used to detect a start signal caused by the user's inhalation.

[0098] It is understandable that these multiple time periods can be distributed in the entire working stages of the aerosol generating device 10, namely, the heating stage, the heat preservation stage and the inhalation stage, or can be distributed only in the heat preservation stage, or only in the inhalation stage.

[0099] The "heating phase" refers to the period of time after the aerosol generating device begins heating after activation. During the heating phase, the aerosol generating device needs to rapidly increase the temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate to reach the preheating temperature required to produce a satisfactory amount of aerosol. The "holding phase" refers to the period of time during which the preheating temperature or a temperature slightly below the preheating temperature is maintained. Aerosol can be generated during this phase, but is generally unlikely to be inhaled out of the aerosol generating device by the user. The "inhalation phase" refers to the phase during which aerosol can be generated by the aerosol generating device at a satisfactory rate and inhaled by the user.

[0100] In some embodiments, the controller controls the power supply to supply energy to the induction heater assembly according to the mapping relationship, and the energy supply in a single time period is performed according to the pre-set energy parameters corresponding to the time period.

[0101] In this embodiment, based on the energy demand characteristics of the aerosol-forming substrate during baking, the entire baking process is divided into multiple time periods, and corresponding multiple high-frequency drive pulses (i.e., energy is set) are set for each time period. This allows the aerosol-forming substrate to receive heat output and transmitted by the induction heating component in different time periods, and the aerosol produced after baking can quickly reach and maintain a smokable state. Compared with the conventional control method that relies on the real-time temperature and temperature curve of the heater for control, this control method, on the one hand, based on the energy demand characteristics of the aerosol-forming substrate during baking, makes the energy provided in each time period adapt to the characteristics of the baking process, and controls the energy supply in different time periods, which can produce an aerosol with a good taste, and the amount of aerosol can be maintained in a smokable state, thereby improving the taste and puffing experience; on the other hand, controlling the energy supply in different time periods can get rid of the dependence on the temperature detection device, avoiding the problem of insufficient or excessive heat absorption of the aerosol-forming substrate due to inaccurate temperature detection. In addition, the above control method can also effectively reduce hardware costs.

[0102] In some embodiments, step S10 specifically includes:

[0103] S11: After receiving the heating start instruction, the heating stage is entered, and the heating stage is set with a first time period.

[0104] S12: In the first time period, according to the mapping relationship between the first time period and the energy parameter, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a maximum power manner.

[0105] Referring to FIG. 8 , during the heating phase, the heating requirement is to enable the induction heater assembly to quickly reach the preheating temperature Tmax, so as to increase the heat transfer rate between the induction heater assembly and the aerosol-forming substrate.

[0106] In this embodiment, the heating phase corresponds to a first time period in the aforementioned mapping relationship. For example, the first time period may be the first time period in the mapping relationship. It will be appreciated that the first time period corresponds to an energy parameter, which can reflect the energy required to be provided during the first time period. The energy parameter reflects the energy required to enable the susceptor to reach the preheating temperature Tmax.

[0107] In some embodiments, to shorten the time to reach the preheating temperature and increase the heating rate, the power supply is controlled to supply the induction coil with energy reflected by the energy parameter corresponding to the first time period at maximum power. For example, if the maximum power is 20W and the energy corresponding to the first time period is 160J, the power supply is controlled to output at the maximum power of 20W for 8 seconds, and then cease output for the first time period after reaching 160J. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, as shown in Figure 8, if the maximum power is continuously output during the time period (t0-t1), the temperature will decrease due to natural cooling after reaching Tmax, and the subsequent heat preservation stage will be transitioned to.

[0108] In this embodiment, by controlling the power supply to output the energy required for the first time period at maximum power during the heating phase, the heating rate can be increased, so that the susceptor can quickly reach the preheating temperature, which is beneficial to improving the subsequent heat transfer rate.

[0109] In some embodiments, step S10 further specifically includes:

[0110] S13: After receiving the start heating instruction, the heat preservation stage is entered. The heat preservation stage includes multiple second time periods. In the multiple second time periods, according to the mapping relationship between the second time periods and the energy parameters, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil.

[0111] The holding stage refers to a period of time during which the preheating temperature or a temperature slightly below the preheating temperature is maintained, and aerosol generation continues during this period. It will be understood that during the holding stage, heating is required to maintain heat transfer between the aerosol-forming substrate and the heater, allowing the aerosol-forming substrate to continue absorbing heat from the induction heater assembly for a period of time (e.g., 5-8 seconds) to generate aerosol.

[0112] In this embodiment, referring to FIG8 , the duration of the heat preservation phase is divided into multiple second time periods. That is, the heat preservation phase corresponds to multiple second time periods in the aforementioned mapping relationship. For example, the total duration (t2-t3) of a single second time period is 5s-8s.

[0113] Each second time period corresponds to an energy parameter, which reflects the energy provided to the second time period. It will be appreciated that, given that the susceptor has reached the preheating temperature during the first time period, the energy parameter corresponding to the second time period reflects a significantly lower energy level than that of the first time period. This energy parameter is only needed to compensate for heat loss in the susceptor, maintaining the susceptor temperature at or slightly below the preheating temperature. In some embodiments, the set energy level for the second time period may be 10J-20J.

[0114] In this embodiment, according to the partial mapping relationship corresponding to the insulation stage, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil during each second time period, so that the aerosol-forming substrate can continue to absorb heat from the induction heater assembly to generate the aerosol required for the first puff.

[0115] In some embodiments, the set energy of the first time period is greater than the sum of the set energies of the plurality of second time periods.

[0116] It is understood that the aforementioned heating stage and holding stage constitute the preheating stage of the aerosol-forming article. During the heating stage, the susceptor needs to be rapidly heated from room temperature to the preheating temperature Tmax; during the holding stage, the susceptor is maintained at the holding temperature (equal to or slightly below the preheating temperature) to allow sufficient time for heat exchange between the aerosol-forming article and the susceptor, further absorbing heat to generate aerosol.

[0117] In some embodiments, the set energy for the first time period is greater than the sum of the set energies for the multiple second time periods, i.e., the set energy for the heating phase is greater than the sum of the set energies for the entire holding phase. This method facilitates the aerosol-generating substrate to quickly generate sufficient and desirable aerosols while also effectively avoiding heat waste during the holding phase.

[0118] In some embodiments, the durations of the second time periods are the same; or, the durations of the second time periods are not exactly the same.

[0119] Generally, the total duration of multiple second time periods (t2-t3) is 5s-8s, wherein the duration of each second time period may be the same or not completely the same. Those skilled in the art can set it according to actual conditions. It is understandable that within a second time period, there is a heating period in which energy is provided, and a natural cooling period in which no energy is provided. Please refer to Figure 8. The duration of any second time period is equal to the sum of the heating period t+ and the natural cooling period t-. During the heating period t+, due to the energy supply, the temperature of the sensor rises to Ta; during the natural cooling period t-, due to the heat loss, the temperature drops to Tb; after the temperature drops to Tb, it will be rapidly raised to Ta due to the energy supply in the next second time period, and then naturally cool to Tb. This cycle causes the temperature to change in a wave-like manner, and the average temperature can be maintained at the insulation temperature Tc.

[0120] In some embodiments, the second time period can be greater than or equal to 500 ms. For example, the heating period t+ is approximately 300 ms, and the natural cooling period t- is approximately 200 ms, which can maintain the susceptor at the holding temperature Tc. Given the temperature difference between the aerosol-forming article and the susceptor, and the fact that heat is transferred from a high-temperature object to a low-temperature object, heat is transferred from the susceptor to the aerosol-forming article. After the aerosol-forming article absorbs the heat, it bakes the aerosol-forming substrate to produce an aerosol. In some embodiments, the duration of any second time period ranges from 1 s to 2 s.

[0121] Those skilled in the art may determine the duration of the second time period based on actual conditions such as the heat preservation performance of the aerosol generating device and the baking characteristics of the aerosol-forming product.

[0122] It's worth noting that the second time period is greater than or equal to 500ms, and the controller controls the power supply to deliver continuous energy at a low frequency, consistent with the time period. Conventional PWM control typically delivers precise power at a high-frequency output frequency of approximately 100Hz, which differs from the intended purpose of this solution.

[0123] In some embodiments, the set energies of the multiple second time periods are the same.

[0124] In some embodiments, the set energy levels for multiple second time periods are reduced at least once. It is understood that after the hold phase ends and the inhalation phase begins, a transition from the hold temperature to the inhalation temperature is required. Furthermore, as the hold phase progresses, the aerosol-generating substrate accumulates sufficient heat. Therefore, providing relatively less energy in the latter stages of the hold phase can still ensure sufficient aerosol generation while also saving energy.

[0125] In some embodiments, the energy during the second time period is adjusted in the following manners: for example, by changing the input voltage of the induction coil, adjusting the resonant frequency by adjusting the resonant capacitor, or controlling the duration of multiple high-frequency pulse outputs to adjust the energy.

[0126] In some embodiments, the set energy levels for multiple second time periods can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, within these multiple second time periods, the set energy levels can decrease in multiple steps over time, where the second time periods covered by each step and the magnitude of the decrease can be adjusted based on actual needs. For example, within these multiple second time periods, the set energy levels can decrease linearly over time, where the decrease can occur linearly at a constant slope or at a variable slope. For another example, within these multiple second time periods, the set energy levels can change in a wave-like manner over time, i.e., the set energy levels can rise and fall over time.

[0127] In some embodiments, step S10 further specifically includes:

[0128] S14: After receiving the start heating instruction, the suction stage is entered. The suction stage is provided with multiple third time periods. In the multiple third time periods, according to the mapping relationship between the third time periods and the energy parameters, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil.

[0129] During the puffing phase, the aerosol-generating device needs to generate aerosol at a satisfactory rate when the user draws in. It will be understood that during the puffing phase, the heating requirement is to compensate for the heat loss carried away by the cool air drawn in, so that the aerosol-forming article can generate aerosol at a sufficient rate.

[0130] In this embodiment, referring to Figure 8 , the puffing phase is divided into multiple third time periods. That is, the puffing phase corresponds to multiple third time periods in the aforementioned mapping relationship. Each third time period is associated with an energy parameter, which reflects a set energy. It is understood that if the aerosol-forming article has accumulated a significant amount of heat and reached an aerosol-generating state, a lower energy level may be required in the third time period to compensate for heat loss. In some embodiments, the energy parameter corresponding to the third time period may reflect a set energy level of 5J-15J.

[0131] In this embodiment, according to the partial mapping relationship corresponding to the inhalation stage, the control power supply provides energy to the induction coil in a time-sharing manner, which can promptly compensate for the heat loss taken away by the cold air drawn in, so that the aerosol-forming product produces aerosol sufficient for inhalation.

[0132] In some embodiments, the durations of the third time periods are the same; or, the durations of at least two third time periods are different.

[0133] It is understandable that the suction phase includes multiple third time periods, wherein the duration of each third time period may be the same or not completely the same. Those skilled in the art may set it according to actual conditions. It is understandable that within a third time period, there is a heating period in which energy is supplied, and a natural cooling period in which no energy is supplied. Please continue to refer to Figure 8. The duration of any third time period is equal to the sum of the heating period t+ and the natural cooling period t-. During the heating period t+, the temperature of the receptor rises to Td due to the energy supply; during the natural cooling period t-, the temperature drops to Te due to heat loss; after the temperature drops to Te, it will be rapidly raised to Td due to the energy supply in the next third time period, and then naturally cool to Te. This cycle causes the temperature to change in a wave-like manner. During this process, the average temperature of the receptor is approximately Tf.

[0134] It can be understood that, when the energy provided by the energy parameter is constant, the longer the third time period is, the longer the corresponding natural cooling period is and the greater the temperature drop is; the shorter the third time period is, the shorter the corresponding natural cooling period is and the smaller the temperature drop is.

[0135] In some embodiments, the third time period may be greater than or equal to 500 ms. For example, the heating period t+ is approximately 300 ms, and the natural cooling period t- is approximately 200 ms. Given the temperature difference between the aerosol-forming article and the susceptor, and the fact that heat is transferred from a high-temperature object to a low-temperature object, heat is transferred from the susceptor to the aerosol-forming article. After the aerosol-forming article absorbs the heat, it bakes the aerosol-forming substrate to produce an aerosol sufficient for a puff.

[0136] Those skilled in the art may determine the duration of the third time period based on actual conditions such as the heat preservation performance of the aerosol generating device, the baking characteristics and the puffing characteristics of the aerosol-forming product.

[0137] It is worth noting that the third time period is greater than or equal to 500ms, preferably 1s-10s, or longer than 10s, and the controller controls the power supply to provide continuous energy at a low frequency. Conventional PWM control typically outputs precise power at a high-frequency output frequency of approximately 100Hz, which differs from the purpose of this solution.

[0138] In some embodiments, the energy corresponding to at least one third time period located in the early stage of the inhalation phase is greater than the energy corresponding to at least one third time period located in the late stage of the inhalation phase.

[0139] It is understood that by setting the energy corresponding to at least one third time period in the early stage of the puff phase to be greater than the energy corresponding to at least one third time period in the late stage of the puff phase, the aerosol generating device can generate sufficient aerosol in the early stage of the puff phase. Due to the heat accumulation of the aerosol-generating substrate, even a lower set energy level in the late stage of the puff phase can still ensure sufficient heating of the aerosol-generating substrate, without affecting the puff and taste, and effectively saving energy.

[0140] In some embodiments, the energy during the third time period is adjusted in the following manners: for example, by changing the input voltage of the induction coil, adjusting the resonant frequency by adjusting the resonant capacitor, or controlling the duration of multiple high-frequency pulse outputs to adjust the energy.

[0141] In some embodiments, during the inhalation phase, the temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the real-time temperature of the susceptor ranges from 10°C to 50°C.

[0142] As can be understood, referring again to Figure 8, during the puffing phase, energy corresponding to the energy parameter is provided in time periods, with a natural cooling period within each time period when no energy is provided. This causes the susceptor temperature to fluctuate roughly in a wave-like manner, based on the time period. The temperature difference between the highest and lowest temperatures in a third time period ranges from 10°C to 50°C.

[0143] For example, during the puff phase, the difference between td and te is 50°C, meaning the susceptor fluctuates within ±25°C of its average temperature tf during the puff phase. For another example, during the hold phase, the difference between ta and tb is 10°C, meaning the susceptor fluctuates within ±5°C of its average temperature tc.

[0144] In this embodiment, by supplying energy in time periods, the temperature of the receptor changes roughly in a wave-like manner with the time period as a cycle, and the temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature ranges from 10°C to 50°C. As a result, the aerosol generating matrix receives heat transferred in time periods, producing an aerosol with a good taste.

[0145] In some embodiments, within a time period, the real-time temperature of the susceptor gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0146] As can be seen above, a time period consists of a heating period t+ and a natural cooling period t-. During the heating period t+, energy is supplied to the induction coil in the induction heating assembly, and the real-time temperature of the susceptor gradually rises. During the natural cooling period t-, no energy is supplied to the induction coil in the induction heating assembly, and the real-time temperature of the susceptor gradually decreases.

[0147] In some embodiments, taking the energy parameter as set energy as an example, the aforementioned controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in multiple time periods includes:

[0148] A101: During the current time period, the control power supply continuously outputs multiple high-frequency drive pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0149] A102: If the supplied energy reaches the set energy for the current time period, the control power supply stops supplying energy for the current time period and continues for a period of time.

[0150] It is understandable that the current time period is any time period in the mapping relationship. When heating is turned on, if the accumulated heating time falls within time period a, then this time period is the current time period.

[0151] The controller retrieves the energy parameters of the current time period, and according to the energy parameters, the controller controls the power supply to continuously output a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0152] The set energy is the energy reflected by the energy parameter. The controller can control the power supply to output multiple high-frequency drive pulses continuously, thereby better replenishing the heat loss of the induction heater assembly and the aerosol generating substrate.

[0153] When the controller controls the power supply to output a plurality of high-frequency drive pulses, it synchronously counts the accumulated supplied energy that has been output.

[0154] If the supplied energy reaches the set energy corresponding to the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period and continue for a period of time.

[0155] The continuous period of time refers to the time from when the controller stops supplying energy to the induction heater assembly to the end of the current time period, which is also referred to as the natural cooling period mentioned above.

[0156] In some embodiments, if the supplied energy reaches the set energy corresponding to the current time period (the energy reflected by the energy parameter), the power supply is controlled to maintain a lower energy output for a period of time. It is understood that this lower energy output does not cause the temperature of the sensor to rise during the natural cooling period.

[0157] In this embodiment, by counting whether the supplied energy reaches the set energy corresponding to the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period, thereby being able to provide the set energy for the current time period accurately and quickly.

[0158] In some embodiments, taking the energy parameter as the number of high-frequency drive pulses as an example, the aforementioned steps of controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in multiple time periods include:

[0159] A103: During the current time period, the control power supply continuously outputs multiple high-frequency drive pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0160] A104: If the number of high-frequency drive pulses outputted reaches the preset number of pulses in the current time period, the control power supply stops the energy supply in the current time period and continues for a period of time.

[0161] It is understandable that the current time period is any time period in the mapping relationship. When heating is turned on, if the accumulated heating time falls within time period a, then this time period is the current time period.

[0162] The controller retrieves the energy parameters of the current time period, and according to the energy parameters, the controller controls the power supply to continuously output a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0163] When the controller controls the power supply to output multiple high-frequency drive pulses, it simultaneously counts the number of high-frequency drive pulses that have been output. Because each high-frequency drive pulse corresponds to a certain amount of energy, a preset number of pulses (a certain amount of energy) can be set. When the number of high-frequency drive pulses that have been output reaches the preset number of pulses for the current time period, the controller controls the power supply to stop supplying energy for the current time period for a period of time.

[0164] The continuous period of time refers to the time from when the controller stops supplying energy to the induction heater assembly to the end of the current time period, which is also referred to as the natural cooling period mentioned above.

[0165] In this embodiment, by counting whether the number of high-frequency driving pulses outputted reaches the preset number of pulses in the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period, thereby being able to provide the set energy for the current time period accurately and quickly.

[0166] In some embodiments, taking the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulse as an example, the aforementioned steps of controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in multiple time periods include:

[0167] A105: During the current time period, the control power supply continuously outputs multiple high-frequency drive pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0168] A106: If the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulse reaches the preset output duration of the current time period, the control power supply stops the energy supply of the current time period and continues for a period of time.

[0169] It is understandable that the controller retrieves the energy parameters of the current time period, and according to the energy parameters, the controller controls the power supply to continuously output a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil.

[0170] When the controller controls the power supply to output multiple high-frequency drive pulses, it simultaneously counts the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulses. Because each high-frequency drive pulse corresponds to a certain amount of energy, the output frequency of the high-frequency drive pulses is consistent, allowing a preset output duration to be set (the number of high-frequency drive pulses within the preset output duration is constant, i.e., the energy is constant). When the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulses reaches the preset output duration for the current time period, the control power supply stops supplying energy for the current time period and continues for a period of time.

[0171] The continuous period of time refers to the time from when the controller stops supplying energy to the induction heater assembly to the end of the current time period, which is also referred to as the natural cooling period mentioned above.

[0172] In this embodiment, by counting whether the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulse reaches the total output duration of the high-frequency drive pulse, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period, thereby being able to provide the set energy for the current time period accurately and quickly.

[0173] In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

[0174] A107: Determines the duration of the power supply stopping the energy supply during the current time period.

[0175] A108: If the duration meets the preset end time threshold of the current time period, the current time period is ended, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0176] In this embodiment, the natural cooling period is pre-set and is dependent on factors such as the thermal insulation performance of the induction heater assembly or the heat transfer requirements between the induction heater assembly and the aerosol-forming substrate. Therefore, after completing the energy supply for the current time period, during the preset natural cooling period, the controller controls the power supply to stop supplying energy to the induction heater assembly and timers to determine whether the duration of the energy supply suspension reaches a preset cut-off time threshold. If so, the current time period ends and the power supply is controlled to start supplying energy to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0177] In this embodiment, based on the heat transfer characteristics and the pre-set natural cooling period, the induction heater assembly is heated in time periods to provide an aerosol with a good taste without relying on a temperature detection device.

[0178] In some embodiments, the method further comprises:

[0179] A109: If the sum of the duration of the power supply continuously outputting multiple high-frequency drive pulses and the duration of the power supply stopping the energy supply in the current time period meets the preset time period length, the current time period is ended, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0180] It can be understood that the period corresponding to the power supply continuously outputting multiple high-frequency drive pulses is referred to as the heating period t+ above, and the period during which the power supply stops supplying energy in the current time period is referred to as the natural cooling period t- above. Therefore, the sum of the duration of the power supply continuously outputting multiple high-frequency drive pulses and the duration during which the power supply stops supplying energy in the current time period is the sum of the heating period t+ and the natural cooling period t-.

[0181] If the sum of the heating period t+ and the natural cooling period t- (i.e., a time period) meets the preset time period length, the current time period is ended, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0182] In this embodiment, by monitoring the duration of the time period and controlling the end of the current time period and the start of the next time period, the induction heater assembly is heated in time periods to provide an aerosol with a good taste without relying on a temperature detection device.

[0183] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to determine the temperature of the susceptor.

[0184] After the aforementioned step A20, the following steps may also be included:

[0185] A50: Get the real-time temperature of the temperature sensor.

[0186] A60: If the real-time temperature is less than or equal to the preset low temperature threshold, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply to the induction coil for the next time period.

[0187] The preset low temperature threshold is the lower limit of the temperature of the sensor. In some embodiments, those skilled in the art can set the low temperature threshold according to the preheating temperature and / or the heat preservation performance of the induction heater assembly.

[0188] Specifically, during the natural cooling period, if the real-time temperature of the sensor is detected to be lower than the low temperature threshold, it means that the heat loss is too much, which will affect whether the sensor can reach or maintain the target temperature (such as the insulation temperature or the suction temperature). In this case, it is necessary to control the power supply to the induction coil to start outputting energy for the next time period to ensure the temperature of the sensor. At this time, it is equivalent to ending the current time period and entering the next time period.

[0189] In this embodiment, by setting a low temperature threshold as the trigger threshold for ending the natural cooling stage and starting the next time period, the induction heater assembly can heat in different time periods to provide an aerosol with a good taste.

[0190] In some embodiments, after the aforementioned step A20, the following steps may also be included:

[0191] A70: Get the resonant voltage of the induction coil;

[0192] A80: If the resonant voltage is less than or equal to the preset low-voltage threshold, the current time period ends and the control power supply starts outputting energy supply for the next time period to the induction coil.

[0193] Referring to Figure 9, the resonant voltage Ufb of the induction coil has a step-linear relationship with the temperature of the sensor. Therefore, the temperature of the sensor can be derived from the resonant voltage Ufb and the step-linear relationship.

[0194] In some embodiments, at least in a single second time period or a third time period, the resonant voltage of the induction coil gradually increases as the temperature of the receptor gradually increases during the output of a plurality of consecutive high-frequency drive pulses. Subsequently, during a natural cooling period, the resonant voltage gradually decays and decreases due to the influence of damped oscillation and receptor resistance.

[0195] In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 10 , the circuit in which the induction coil resides includes a resonant circuit and a half-wave rectifier circuit. Referring to Figure 4 , the resonant circuit includes an induction coil and a capacitor connected in series. The half-wave rectifier circuit is connected to the capacitor to perform half-wave rectification on the capacitor's voltage signal, with the resulting voltage being used as the resonant voltage of the induction coil.

[0196] Specifically, as shown in Figure 10, the power supply voltage is 3.3V-4.2V, which is boosted to 5V by the Boost circuit. Switches K1 and K2 are alternately turned on, supplying the power supply's DC voltage to the LC oscillator (induction coil L and capacitor C) in the form of high-frequency drive pulses. The LC oscillator generates inverter oscillations through the alternating energy storage and discharge of capacitor C, forming an alternating current flowing through induction coil L. This generates an alternating magnetic field in induction coil L. This induces eddy currents in the sensor, causing it to heat up.

[0197] The half-wave rectifier circuit is connected in parallel with the capacitor C to perform half-wave rectification on the voltage signal of the capacitor and output it as the resonant voltage of the induction coil. In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 10, the half-wave rectifier circuit includes a first resistor R1, a second resistor R2 and a diode. The first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 connected in series are connected in parallel with the capacitor C, and the diode is connected in parallel with the first resistor R1. The output end of the diode is the voltage detection terminal (ADC). By setting the half-wave rectifier circuit in the above manner, the voltage wave (AC voltage) at both ends of the capacitor C is input to the diode after being divided by the first resistor R1. Based on the diode, only one half cycle of the AC voltage is allowed to pass through, and the other half cycle of the DC side is blocked. Thus, the diode converts the AC voltage into a DC voltage output. Thus, it is convenient to collect accurate real-time voltage Ufb at the voltage detection terminal (ADC), which facilitates the subsequent indirect determination of the real-time temperature through the ladder linear relationship as shown in Figure 9. In other embodiments, the half-wave rectifier circuit in the above embodiment can be replaced by a full-wave rectifier circuit, and its structure will not be described in detail here.

[0198] The preset low-voltage threshold is derived from the aforementioned low-temperature threshold through a step-by-step linear conversion. When the real-time voltage is less than or equal to the preset low-voltage threshold, it indicates that the sensor temperature is below the low-temperature threshold and excessive heat loss affects the sensor's ability to reach or maintain the target temperature (e.g., the holding temperature or the suction temperature). The power supply must be controlled to immediately provide heating energy to the induction heater assembly to maintain the sensor temperature. This is equivalent to ending the current time period and entering the next time period.

[0199] In this embodiment, the resonant voltage of the induction coil is detected to indirectly determine the temperature of the sensor, thereby determining whether the natural cooling period has ended. This method can eliminate the need for a temperature sensor, effectively reducing product costs.

[0200] In this embodiment, due to the correlation between the resonant voltage of the induction coil and the temperature of the sensor, it can be known that within a single time period, such as the second time period or the third time period, the resonant voltage of the induction coil also gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

[0201] In some embodiments, if the monitored resonant voltage exceeds a preset voltage threshold, an alarm message is output. The preset voltage threshold is derived from the high temperature threshold by converting it into a step-wise linear relationship. If the resonant voltage exceeds the preset voltage threshold, it indicates that the temperature has reached the high temperature threshold. Therefore, an alarm message is output to provide a high temperature warning, thereby protecting the aerosol generating device.

[0202] In summary, the control method in the embodiment of the present application, based on the energy demand characteristics of the aerosol-forming substrate during the baking process, divides the entire baking process into multiple time periods, and sets corresponding energy parameters for each time period (including multiple high-frequency drive pulses, corresponding to a certain energy), so that the aerosol-forming substrate receives the heat output and transmission of the sensor in the induction heating component in different time periods, and the aerosol generated after baking can quickly reach and maintain a smokable state. Compared with the conventional control method that relies on the real-time temperature and temperature curve of the heater for control, this control method, on the one hand, based on the energy demand characteristics of the aerosol-forming substrate during the baking process, makes the energy parameters of each time period (corresponding to a certain energy) adapt to the characteristics of the baking process, controls the energy supply in different time periods, can produce an aerosol with a good taste, and the amount of aerosol can be maintained in a smokable state, thereby improving the taste and puffing experience; on the other hand, controlling the energy supply in different time periods can get rid of the dependence on the temperature detection device, avoid the problem of insufficient or excessive heat absorption of the aerosol-forming substrate due to inaccurate temperature detection, and can also effectively reduce hardware costs.

[0203] It should be noted that the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative, wherein the units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected based on actual needs to achieve the objectives of this embodiment.

[0204] Through the description of the above embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus a general hardware platform, or of course by hardware. Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes in the above embodiment methods can be implemented by instructing the relevant hardware through a computer program, and the program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it can include the processes of the embodiments of the above methods. Among them, the storage medium can be a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a read-only memory (ROM) or a random access memory (RAM), etc.

[0205] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present application, rather than to limit them. Based on the concept of the present application, the technical features in the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations in different aspects of the present application as described above. For the sake of simplicity, they are not provided in detail. Although the present application has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. These modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application.

Claims

1. A control method, applied to an aerosol generating device, characterized in that: The aerosol generating device comprises an induction heater assembly and a power source, wherein the induction heater assembly comprises an induction coil configured to generate a changing magnetic field when a changing current flows through the induction coil; a susceptor configured to be penetrated by the changing magnetic field generated by the induction coil to generate heat, thereby heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol, and the power source is used to provide energy to the induction heater assembly; The method comprises: After receiving the instruction to start heating, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods respectively; The energy provided by the time period is composed of a plurality of high-frequency driving pulses, and the duration of the time period is greater than or equal to 500 ms.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods respectively includes: In a current time period, controlling the power supply to continuously output a plurality of the high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil; If the supplied energy reaches the set energy of the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop supplying energy in the current time period for a period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods respectively includes: In a current time period, controlling the power supply to continuously output a plurality of the high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil; If the number of high-frequency driving pulses outputted reaches the preset number of pulses in the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop the energy supply in the current time period and continue for a period of time.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in the plurality of time periods respectively includes: In a current time period, controlling the power supply to continuously output a plurality of the high-frequency driving pulses to provide energy to the induction coil; If the total output duration of the high-frequency driving pulse reaches the preset output duration of the current time period, the power supply is controlled to stop the energy supply of the current time period for a period of time.

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: Also includes: Determining the duration of the power supply stopping the energy supply of the current time period; If the duration meets the preset end time threshold of the current time period, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply for the next time period to the induction coil.

6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: Also includes: If the sum of the duration of the power supply continuously outputting a plurality of the high-frequency drive pulses and the duration of the power supply stopping the energy supply of the current time period meets the preset time period length, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting the energy supply of the next time period to the induction coil.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The aerosol generating device further comprises a temperature sensor configured to determine a temperature of the susceptor; the method further comprising: Acquire the real-time temperature of the receptor detected by the temperature sensor; If the real-time temperature is less than or equal to the preset low temperature threshold, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply for the next time period to the induction coil.

8. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The method further comprises: obtaining a resonant voltage of the induction coil; If the resonant voltage is less than or equal to the preset low-voltage threshold, the current time period ends, and the power supply is controlled to start outputting energy supply for the next time period to the induction coil.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that: After receiving the instruction to start heating, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, respectively controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods, comprises: After receiving the heating start instruction, entering the heating stage, the heating stage includes a first time period; In the first time period, according to the mapping relationship between the first time period and the energy parameter, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a maximum power manner.

10. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After receiving the instruction to start heating, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, respectively controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods, comprises: After receiving the instruction to start heating, entering the heat preservation stage, the heat preservation stage includes a plurality of second time periods; In the plurality of second time periods, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil according to the mapping relationship between the second time periods and the energy parameters.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The durations of the second time periods are the same; or, the durations of at least two of the second time periods are different.

12. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The set energies of the multiple second time periods are the same; or, the set energies of at least two of the second time periods are different.

13. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that The duration of the second time period ranges from 1s to 2s.

14. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that After receiving the instruction to start heating, according to the mapping relationship between the time period and the energy parameter, respectively controlling the power supply to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil in a plurality of time periods, comprises: After receiving the instruction to start heating, entering the suction stage, the suction stage is provided with a plurality of third time periods; In the plurality of third time periods, the power supply is controlled to provide corresponding energy to the induction coil according to the mapping relationship between the third time periods and the energy parameters.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The durations of the third time periods are the same; or, the durations of at least two of the third time periods are different.

16. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The set energies of the multiple third time periods are the same; or, the set energies of at least two of the third time periods are different.

17. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The duration of the third time period is greater than 10 seconds.

18. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that The energy corresponding to at least one of the third time periods located in the early stage of the inhalation phase is greater than the energy corresponding to at least one of the third time periods located in the late stage of the inhalation phase.

19. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that During the inhalation phase, the temperature difference between the highest temperature and the lowest temperature of the real-time temperature of the susceptor ranges from 10°C to 50°C.

20. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that In the single time period, the real-time temperature of the susceptor gradually increases and then gradually decreases.

21. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: Obtaining the resonant voltage of the induction coil; Wherein, within a single time period, the resonant voltage of the induction coil gradually increases, Then it gradually decreased.

22. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that Also includes: Obtaining the resonant voltage of the induction coil; If the resonant voltage is greater than a preset voltage threshold, an alarm message is output.

23. An aerosol generating device, characterized in that: include: an induction heater assembly, comprising an induction coil and a susceptor, the induction coil being configured to generate a varying magnetic field when a varying current flows therethrough, the susceptor being configured to be penetrated by the varying magnetic field generated by the induction coil to generate heat, thereby heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol; a power source for providing energy to the induction heater assembly; A controller, wherein the controller is connected to the induction heater assembly and the power supply, and is used to execute the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 22.

24. The aerosol generating device according to claim 23, characterized in that The circuit where the induction coil is located includes a resonant circuit and a half-wave rectifier circuit. The resonant circuit includes an induction coil and a capacitor connected in series. The half-wave rectifier circuit is connected to the capacitor and is used to perform half-wave rectification on the voltage signal of the capacitor to output the resonant voltage of the induction coil.

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